Fasting and abstaining in general

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camero2010

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Hello brother and sisters,

I have a question about fasting and abstaining in general. Ie. Not just during Lent.

I have been only eating one full meal (or what I consider a full meal) a day for almost eight years now and I also abstain from “land” meat (not fish) on Fridays. I have done this due to social, mood related and occasionally for monetary reasons.

I guess you can say that I am a loner and now that my wife has decided not to want to be married any longer I don’t have any one significant to share a social meal(s) with anymore. (I am Green card visa and don’t have any relatives here)

My daily calorie intake is already probably below the average recommended level, but due to a conservative metabolic rate (and getting used not eating), I am not underweight, but do constantly live with a low grade hunger most of the day, which I ignore.

Ok so here is what I need to clarify. My regular eating habits are already more severe than the church recommended “One full meals and two smaller meals”, so how should I fast and abstain with real meaning in my situation?
 
Combine your sacrifice with prayer and reflective meditation. However, your abstinence may not be having the desired affect. Being in a mild state of starvation is likely having a negative affect on your ability to concentrate and function.

That your wife is leaving you does raise a red flag as well.

I do not want to judge. but might you be taking your abstinence to an unhealthy level? Might it be beneficial to first ask, “how do I repair my relationship with loved ones” rather than delving deeper into abstinence.

I pray you find the answers you are seeking.

God bless!
 
Northern_Nate said:
Combine your sacrifice with prayer and reflective meditation. However, your abstinence may not be having the desired affect. Being in a mild state of starvation is likely having a negative affect on your ability to concentrate and function.
Actually, I function normally now. I am doing pretty well at my job and my boss seems to think so too. Of course if I need to do strenuous work and need the extra energy, I might eat something before or after the exertion. No need = no eat.
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Can’t do anything about that now. She is living/ been seeing another man for 2-3 years now (one year since I found out) and it doesn’t look like things are going to change anytime soon. My story on this is on this forum somewhere.
I do not want to judge. but might you be taking your abstinence to an unhealthy level? Might it be beneficial to first ask, “how do I repair my relationship with loved ones” rather than delving deeper into abstinence.
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Not at all. Shamefully, my eating habits now (except Fridays) are not because I am intentionally eating so little as an offering/sacrifice to God. For my current style of living, I am probably at the lower end of what is healthy in the long run. Since there isn’t much to cut out food wise, perhaps I should cut/abstain from something else? There are official guides when it come to abstaining/fasting from food, but not much about other things.
I pray you find the answers you are seeking.
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God bless!
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Thank you.
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From the sounds of it, you are already fulfilling the requirements for fasting and abstaining due to your current situation. The Church is not and does not ask us to live unhealthily. In your situation I would not reduce your current food intake at all. However, you should probably ask your priest about your specific situation because I don’t have the authority to make that judgement.

I would also suggest that instead of fasting from food, you could fast from other things like TV, radio, news, etc. Instead of reading for entertainment, read more scripture, get involved in a Bible study or some other activity with your local parish that you normally would not do.

It’s not just about giving up something, it’s primarily about giving up yourself for God to grow closer to him and that can be done in countless ways.

I hope that’s helpful.
 
I think I understand what I need to do now and I will ask my priest about the food fasting thing.

I don’t watch TV that much, but I do play video games to take my mind off my marital situation and other stuff, but I can sacrifice some of that and try to pray for healing/forgiveness instead.
spiderweb said:
From the sounds of it, you are already fulfilling the requirements for fasting and abstaining due to your current situation. The Church is not and does not ask us to live unhealthily. In your situation I would not reduce your current food intake at all. However, you should probably ask your priest about your specific situation because I don’t have the authority to make that judgement.

I would also suggest that instead of fasting from food, you could fast from other things like TV, radio, news, etc. Instead of reading for entertainment, read more scripture, get involved in a Bible study or some other activity with your local parish that you normally would not do.

It’s not just about giving up something, it’s primarily about giving up yourself for God to grow closer to him and that can be done in countless ways.

I hope that’s helpful.
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Another great thing to give up is your free time. How about helping out at a soup kitchen or some other place where those who are in need are? I try to give of my time at our church’s fish fry each lent and I also volunteer at a soup kitchen each week where the homeless and needy come. It will not only help others, it will take your mind off any issues you may have while you are spreading the Good News of the gospel. Remember, you may be the only bible that some may ever read.

God bless!
 
If you are simply wondering how the fasting requirement might apply to someone who usually only eats one meal a day, I could be wrong but it seems that the fasting requirement is aimed at reducing our total food intake for the day by more than one-third. So, in your case, that would seem to mean eating less than two-thirds your normal portion at your daily meal.
 
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