Fasting from food....it's hard

[TrueLight]

This forum is awesome and you are all teaching me so much.

I fasted yesterday.

I couldn’t find the post that suggested you not drink water, but I did that and it made it easier. So from 12AM to about 3 pm, I had no water. It wasn’t as hard as I thought although after a while it became difficult for me to concentrate at work. I wanted to go home and lie down, lol.

At about 3 I had about 1/4 cup of water because I noticed my lips were getting dry. At about 5 I had about 1/2 cup taken in little sips.

I had started out wanting to fast for the whole day even though I know it is not a requirement. In the end, I decided to have one small meal with my family.

Fasting was a good experience. It was good to “deny the flesh.”

 

[Joannm]

This forum is awesome and you are all teaching me so much.

I fasted yesterday.

I couldn’t find the post that suggested you not drink water, but I did that and it made it easier. So from 12AM to about 3 pm, I had no water. It wasn’t as hard as I thought although after a while it became difficult for me to concentrate at work. I wanted to go home and lie down, lol.

At about 3 I had about 1/4 cup of water because I noticed my lips were getting dry. At about 5 I had about 1/2 cup taken in little sips.

I had started out wanting to fast for the whole day even though I know it is not a requirement. In the end, I decided to have one small meal with my family.

Fasting was a good experience. It was good to “deny the flesh.”

I don’t think anyone posted not to drink water. Drinking water is important, especially if you are fasting. I had a glass of water at my desk all day and drank a lot. It is important to keep hydrated since as you noticed, you started to feel negative effects of fasting.

 

[Joannm]

This forum is awesome and you are all teaching me so much.

I fasted yesterday.

I couldn’t find the post that suggested you not drink water, but I did that and it made it easier. So from 12AM to about 3 pm, I had no water. It wasn’t as hard as I thought although after a while it became difficult for me to concentrate at work. I wanted to go home and lie down, lol.

At about 3 I had about 1/4 cup of water because I noticed my lips were getting dry. At about 5 I had about 1/2 cup taken in little sips.

I had started out wanting to fast for the whole day even though I know it is not a requirement. In the end, I decided to have one small meal with my family.

Fasting was a good experience. It was good to “deny the flesh.”

I don’t think anyone posted not to drink water. Drinking water is important, especially if you are fasting. I had a glass of water at my desk all day and drank a lot. It is important to keep hydrated since as you noticed, you started to feel negative effects of fasting.

 

[Padraig1972]

eh yes, that is the whole point of a sacrifice.

We forget in our culture what it is like to be really hungry.

I think as new and first time fasting catholic that it is for the good. Because, i try to imagine what it was like for Lord Jesus Christ to be in the desert for 40 days without food or water and being tempted by the devil.

Also thinking about that there are many people in our world, in the western part of it as well that starves every day. This is indeed a time of learning, sacrificing and not at least, testing.

To be hungry, really love and focus, i think it is much more important than anything before in my life. Yesterday, ash wednesday i went 24 hours without food or drink and it worked fine. It was a interesting step in my life for sure and learningfilled one.

I wish you all a happy thursdat and a happy Lent. Take good care of each others and pray for those who struggle.

 

[ejopko]

My advise is to start slowly like others have said. This Ash Wednesday was my first fulll day of fasting with only water and one meal, but it was something I had to prepare myself for. I could have never dived right into this cold turkey. Something that helps me is to read scripture or pray the rosary to refocus the reason for the fast.

 

[fbl9]

May i ask what of of those that have physically demanding jobs.I tried fasting using two small meals and no snakcs, one bottle of water, by 8pm i couldn’t hold a coherent thought.So broke the fast and ate snacks.
For myself i have found it is easier to go without drink than food.

 

[Lormar]

May i ask what of of those that have physically demanding jobs.I tried fasting using two small meals and no snakcs, one bottle of water, by 8pm i couldn’t hold a coherent thought.So broke the fast and ate snacks.
For myself i have found it is easier to go without drink than food.

If you have a physically demanding job, fasting is not expected of you. Speak to your priest about this.

 

[mattkubes]

I don’t think anyone posted not to drink water. Drinking water is important, especially if you are fasting. I had a glass of water at my desk all day and drank a lot. It is important to keep hydrated since as you noticed, you started to feel negative effects of fasting.

That’s true, but abstaining from water can also be worked in as part of a fast. It’s not expected anymore, but I still think a true fast carries great spiritual benefits. The Fatima visionaries sometimes gave up water just so they could offer up even more suffering for the conversion of sinners.

I think it’s great that the OP wants to learn to fast more diligently - maybe reflect on the words of Pope Benedict XIV in Non ambigimus, keeping in mind that fasting played a much more prominent role in Lent during his pontificate:

“The observance of Lent is the very badge of Christian warfare. By it we prove ourselves not to be enemies of Christ. By it we avert the scourges of divine justice. By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should men grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God’s glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls. Neither can it be doubted that such negligence would become the source of misery to the world, of public calamity, and of private woe.”

Have a blessed Lent, everyone!

 

[HeWillProvide]

My 2c worth.

If you are not used to fasting your body will cry out for food. As you practice more the body seems to understand what is going on. Drink lots of water and don’t fast to the stage where it is dangerous to your health or being able to concentrate properly.

Also, remember in Muslim countries during Ramadan more food is eaten than any other time of the year as they eat a lot during the night time to compensate.

I would advise thinking of fasting as a discipline rather than purposely causing pain and discomfort. Better to gradually increase the discipline slowly rather than purposely causing maximum discomfort. And don’t worry if you break your fast, you are only human. ( i assume )

I like this. Thank you.

 

[Ignatios]

i have trouble with fasting from food.
i know it’s not supposed to be easy but what are some tips that will help me do it more?
like, imagining all the starving people in the world, or imagine jesus doing it for 40 days. what else?
i do a very poor job at fasting

Dear brother in Christ, greetings to you, I heard you and I couldn’t pass this without responding to it, here is how we do it at the Holy Orthodox of GOD, 1) we the Orthodox do not just jump into the fasting, we ease into it, like we stop eating Meat products two weeks before the Fasting begins,2) the following week we stop eating dairy products, and then lent begins, inwhich we don’t eat or drink anything from midnight to noon next day, and when we do eat we only eat vegetables, Now was I able to do that just like that from the “get go”, NO, I wasn’t, it took lots of prayers and focus on the LORD our saviour, it took me about 4 years before I was able to acheive the fasting I mentioned above, start with whatever you can the first year, but only do what you think you can and ever year add something to it untill you can fast as suggested.
remember that we live in world that is filled with corruption and we are weekened by this corruption, so in order to pull out of it it takes practice and devotion and time, this is why GOD granted us many years to live.
GOD bless you dear brother and be with you, I will mention you in my prayers tonight, †††

 

[Ignatios]

OOO and please pray for me a sinner, because I am having a very hard time this fasting season.
In CHRIST.