Fasting for athletes

  • Thread starter Thread starter PrayRosary
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PrayRosary

Guest
I want to start fasting on wednesday and fridays, but I work out a lot. 3x week strength training and 3 x a week Wrestling and boxing. I really only see food as fuel, but I need a lot of it. I have goals I want to meet physically (gaining mass and strength), but fasting could seruously hinder them. Yeah I could eat a lot of fish I suppose, but then that kind of breaks the spirit of the fast. Any tips for me?

Oh and yes, I am fasting today. I just worked out and im already starting to feel a headache coming on from not enough calories.
 
Fasting during Lent on days that aren’t Ash Wednesday or Good Friday is voluntary.
 
Yes sir, but I am trying fasting in order to help with some spiritual obstructions I have come across. Im hoping that someone could recommend some foods or the best times to eat in order to not lose so much weight those days. A day of light eating gives me headaches and loss of At least 3 lbs.

I am far from an olympian or anything, but I am just trying to find a good balance.
 
I, too, would talk to a priest.

Clearly your desire to fast on Weds and Fridays may not be realistic considering your work out schedule. Perhaps a more modified form of fasting.

Perhaps, since we are only required to fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday, you just stick with that, but find something else to fast from? Perhaps less time on the internet or some other thing you like to do?
 
Marie5890 said:
I, too, would talk to a priest.

Clearly your desire to fast on Weds and Fridays may not be realistic considering your work out schedule. **Perhaps a more modified form of fasting. **

Perhaps, since we are only required to fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday, you just stick with that, but find something else to fast from? Perhaps less time on the internet or some other thing you like to do?
Click to expand...
Or a more modified form of working out. Which is more important your physical or spiritual life? 🤷
 
UncleBill said:
Or a more modified form of working out. Which is more important your physical or spiritual life? 🤷
Click to expand...
They are intertwined in my case. 🙂

But more to my point, there are more things to fast from other than food.

Some people eat very little to begin with, so fasting from food may not hold much spiritual benefit.

People can fast from all sorts of vices.
 
Marie5890 said:
I, too, would talk to a priest.

Clearly your desire to fast on Weds and Fridays may not be realistic considering your work out schedule. Perhaps a more modified form of fasting.

Perhaps, since we are only required to fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday, you just stick with that, but find something else to fast from? Perhaps less time on the internet or some other thing you like to do?
Click to expand...
Good advice thanks everyone. Ill speak to a Deacon I know.
 
Marie5890 said:
They are intertwined in my case. 🙂

But more to my point, there are more things to fast from other than food.

Some people eat very little to begin with, so fasting from food may not hold much spiritual benefit.

People can fast from all sorts of vices.
Click to expand...
It’s always best to stick with the directions of the Church…rather then to decide what is “better” for me.
 
UncleBill said:
Or a more modified form of working out. Which is more important your physical or spiritual life? 🤷
Click to expand...
The seminary i visited this past November actually requires their seminarians to do at least 2 days of working out (walking, running, lifting, basketball, football,etc.) during the week. They say that since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we have to take care of them the best we can both Physically and Spiritually.
 
Bballer32 said:
The seminary i visited this past November actually requires their seminarians to do at least 2 days of working out (walking, running, lifting, basketball, football,etc.) during the week. They say that since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we have to take care of them the best we can both Physically and Spiritually.
Click to expand...
I’d be surprised if the seminary encourages working out to the extent that it gets in the way of the churches fasting practices. 🙂
 
UncleBill said:
I’d be surprised if the seminary encourages working out to the extent that it gets in the way of the churches fasting practices. 🙂
Click to expand...
Well i don’t think they do it on those days. BUT i do know that they are to work out this week (Ash Wednesday week) on Mon. or Tues. Or Thurs. or Sat. because they do 24 hour fasts on Ash Wednesday and Fridays. 😃
 
UncleBill said:
It’s always best to stick with the directions of the Church…rather then to decide what is “better” for me.
Click to expand...
I apologize for not being clear. I have a physical medical condition. So my physical and spiritual well-being are intertwined. 😃

But we need to remember, the Church’s fasting practice is Ash Weds and Good Friday are the only days Catholic of the appropriate age are required to fast.
 
PrayRosary said:
Yes sir, but** I am trying fasting in order to help with some spiritual obstructions** I have come across. Im hoping that someone could recommend some foods or the best times to eat in order to not lose so much weight those days. A day of light eating gives me headaches and loss of At least 3 lbs.

I am far from an olympian or anything, but I am just trying to find a good balance.
Click to expand...
You need to talk to your priest. There are other ways of working through spiritual obstructions. You may also want to consider if your workout goals are appropriate or if you should put more emphasis in your time on other actitivies.
 
Bballer32 said:
The seminary i visited this past November actually requires their seminarians to do at least 2 days of working out (walking, running, lifting, basketball, football,etc.) during the week. They say that since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we have to take care of them the best we can both Physically and Spiritually.
Click to expand...
Regular exercise is certainly a good thing. However, regular exercise and recreation are not the same thing as the kind of workouts the OP is talking about. I doubt any seminarians are being encouraged to workout to the extent that they cannot fast without becoming ill.

Yes our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, but our minds and souls should still take priority over the ability to run a marathon, bench press 100s of pounds, etc.
 
There is no sin in being an athlete.

A good talk with a priest or a spiritual director can help OP with his specific vocation and path in life. 🙂
 
Fasting generally refers to solid foods. You could try protien milkshakes with your meals as your beverage.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top