Fasting--does anyone do this regularly?

[Andruschak]

It’s important to distinguish dieting from fasting: one diets for the health of one’s body, whereas one fasts to the salvation of one’s soul.

And there can be nos fasting without prayer: the latter gets us closer to God, the former, farther from what’s not God’s.

Thank you for bringing up the topic. I HAVE been wondering at just what makes the difference between a diet and a fast.

Opinion: The motivation differs. Diets tend to be a way to loose weight and/or maintain weight with an attempt to make it as hunger-free as possible. Carefully portioned between meal snacks can help this out.

Now a fast may or may not help you to loose weight or maintain it, but it does so with no attempt to reduce hungar pangs. In the case of CFP, we have a moderate dinner, a smaller supper, and no snacks. Fluid milk, fruit juice, coffee, and other liquids are OK between meals.

In fact, I DO drink fruit juices when at work to keep my energy up. I don’t need juice or milk on my days off, not being as active. So I don’t drink them. I do drink AA coffee, and some would say that is a mighty penance right there.

But I am getting more and more accepting of the hunger pangs.

CFP also encourages an active prayer schedule. It would really help if I could memorize Psalm 51

 

[Augustine]

You know, sometime late last year I decided to fast every lunch on business days. To my horror, I got used to it and could to it with no strain whatsoever. I say to my horror because I realized about it on the days of obligatory fasting this past Lent: they were as any other day!

Then I decided to fast of traditionally penitential days, Wednesdays and Fridays. Was I glad to feel the hunger pains again and even dread on the day before! Now I have something to offer to the Crucified Jesus, to be more like Him praying the Gethsemane and nailed to the tree.

 

[mercygate]

It’s important to distinguish dieting from fasting: one diets for the health of one’s body, whereas one fasts to the salvation of one’s soul.

And there can be nos fasting without prayer: the latter gets us closer to God, the former, farther from what’s not God’s.

Hee, hee. His holiness, Big Ben, in an essay on fasting refers to dieting as “aesthetic fasting.”

 

[Augustine]

It’s important to distinguish dieting from fasting: one diets for the health of one’s body, whereas one fasts to the salvation of one’s soul.

BTW, I believe that Bp. Sheen said this. He’s always had clever sound bites.

 

[mommyof4]

It’s important to distinguish dieting from fasting: one diets for the health of one’s body, whereas one fasts to the salvation of one’s soul.

And there can be nos fasting without prayer: the latter gets us closer to God, the former, farther from what’s not God’s.

I need to do both. I’m about 30 lbs overweight and my cholesterol level is high. I just wish there was some objective test that could tell me the condition of my soul.

 

[CRW]

This past year, I have begun fasting more frequently. I read somewhere that fasting is like “praying with your body”. I have found it very helpful, both spiritually and emotionally. I’ve started fasting nearly every day—not food necessarily, but fasting from activities, bad habits, etc., and offering it up for my intentions or the intentions of others.

Anyone else have this experience? I would like to hear from those who fast regularly. How has it strengthened your relationship with God? Your spiritual life? Your outlook on life?

The wife and I keep the tradition of not eating meat of Friday. We missed one Friday recently and felt like we were in mortal sin. We tried bread and water on Wednesday and Friday for several months but found it too difficult or we were just too weak in commitment.