How do you fast? In need of fasting advice and tips

[AlbertDerGrosse]

Start small and work up from there. Pick a day and tell yourself that you’re going to fast until a certain hour and for a particular intention. Once you have that mastered take up a traditional day of fast, say, a Friday, or an Ember Day, or a Vigil, etc. It eventually becomes second nature to you. I fast for various intentions when the need arises, but I also fast on the Ember Days, the ferias (Monday through Saturday) of Lent, the Wednesdays and Fridays of Advent, the vigils of Pentecost, All Saints, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas.

The important thing is to remember why you’re doing it and to not lose sight of the greater significance, lest you start fasting for fasting’s sake.

 

[Aquinas11]

Microbiological virulence doesn’t wane just because you’re hungry

False. Intermittent fasting helps gut microbes so when you’re not eating they can focus on cleaning house and keeping their populations intact and increase the diversity of your gut bacteria. This is key for immune and overall health—and rises your body’s resistance to bad guy bacteria.

Also, researchers discovered daily fasting activates a gene that strengthens the gut barrier that gives protection from harmful microbes, toxins, and other substances that can leak into the bloodstream and cause immune reactions.

 

[Mary888]

Pray more on the days you fast. So God helps you through it. Especially when you get hungry.
I for one fast better if I have decided to just do it, no small compromises. The possibility of cheating, if it is my brain, consumes me. If I know I have decided on vegetables only today it gets easier rather than “I will fast… if I can.”
In the beginning headaches may occur so be prepared.
Better to start on a day when you are busy rather than when you have nothing much to do so maybe you overthink things and hunger thoughts may come in your head.

 

[therese1998]

I am both diabetic and have had considerable reconstruction surgery on both my stomach and intestines.

Not sure if fasting is so very good for me and, quite possibly, I should look into it more. When I feel the need to “do more”, I tend to literally “do” more. I committed to praying the Gospel every morning, then I committed to adding a prayer for my departed loved ones and the Holy Souls in general. Then, I became a lector, then a CCD teacher. These things are long term commitments and require more self-discipline and time investment than you’d think …especially for someone who fights the “I could just say the heck with it and go back to bed” feeling a LOT. It’s all good, though, because it means that “suffering” permits me opportunity to help my Church, please God and unite myself with Christ on the Cross. When I am overwhelmed by just…my life stuff or with sin in the Church (instances of greed, of pride, of lack of charity, etc), I add a rosary to my day. During times of scandal and the reminder of deep sin/evil that can permeate the world and even our Church, I add that rosary over several days. To me, the intermittent prayers or rosary or other penance takes place of the intermittent fasting.

I really should discuss this with my doctor, but trust me when I say most medical professionals will brush this off with an “absolutely not”…not because of the dangers (although, they are certainly present), but because of a lack of understanding about the spiritual benefits of fasting and also because it is so easily abused and, you know…lawsuits.

 

[jtwp5]

Intermittent Fasting 101 — The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

This is a detailed guide to intermittent fasting (IF). Studies show that it can help you lose weight, improve health and perhaps even live longer.

www.healthline.com

I do IF about daily, I’m young, only 21. I started it when I got to college and lost about 50lbs but that was with a low carb diet as well. I’m used to not eating until noon now. Normally I eat between 12-6PM. Though sometimes have to adjust depending on schedule. I workout in morning while fasted.

To me fasting is more of a dietary tool, I fast during lent and it doesn’t bother me that much since I’m already used to it. Now if I only eat one meal I do feel a little hunger pains towards the end of day. I guess I could understand how someone used to eating breakfast would feel fasting for a day.

There’s studies showing promise for those with insulin resistance, been trying to get my mom to do it or at least not snack between meals, she’s T2D. People have fasted for centuries whether for religious reasons or because food was scarce. There is a danger if you don’t do it properly but I feel like many people have had at least one day where they’re so busy and then it’s the end of the day and they realized they didn’t eat. That’s a 24hr fast.

 

[Sarcelle]

Same here.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There is a danger if you don’t do it properly but I feel like many people have had at least one day where they’re so busy and then it’s the end of the day and they realized they didn’t eat. That’s a 24hr fast.

I have had many of those days, but unfortunately some of them ended with me passing out in a public place and waking up outside not knowing what happened. Or having to sit down while the room swam before my eyes.

 

[jtwp5]

If you are hypoglycemic you shouldn’t be fasting. But that doesn’t mean others without those issues can’t fast. God didn’t design our bodies to suddenly eat themselves when one goes without food for a day.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The issue is that people often do not know they have an issue with fasting until something bad happens to them doing so. Most people, especially young people, don’t go to the doctor and get all kinds of blood workups and so forth before they do a fast. Also, you specifically mentioned that a lot of people just happen to go 24 hours without eating when they are busy, so I am responding with what can happen when people do this. You seem to think most people can go 24 hours without food and be just fine. I’m saying that is often not the case.

We constantly have fasting threads on here that all go the same way:

OP: “I’m interested in spiritual fasting”

Poster 1: “It has these great medical benefits, just look at Dr. Quack’s page over here”

Poster 2: “I’ve fasted for 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ more days at a time, it’s awesome, I got all these great new insights and it’s also really good for my body/ my weight loss/ etc”

Me: “Actually we’re not supposed to give medical advice on here, and also going without food for long periods of time can be dangerous (lists some dangers), you should talk to your doctor.”

Other posters: “Just because it’s bad for some people doesn’t mean it’s bad for all people to do”

Etc

 

[jtwp5]

Moral advice is given off here too, people have a free will, and in the end can do what they want.

 

[womanatwell]

I have milk, OJ and coffee in the morning, try to eat a main meal at 11am and smaller meal at 4pm 6 days a week. On Sunday I am more free with eating (no fasting on Sunday).

I am aware others can have problems with blood sugar, etc. and should certainly be careful until they get into the right routine for themselves. I eat a balanced diet and so far have no health problems with this eating schedule. I am very happy with all of this except for one thing: I have trouble with temptation. I can go many weeks doing fine and then I just lose it. The advice to the OP for fasting should include how to fight temptation to overindulge, either by eating larger meals than necessary or at times between meals or including junk food. I’ll also be paying attention because I know it probably includes prayer but I surely don’t have it licked.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I really should discuss this with my doctor, but trust me when I say most medical professionals will brush this off with an “absolutely not”…not because of the dangers (although, they are certainly present), but because of a lack of understanding about the spiritual benefits of fasting and also because it is so easily abused and, you know…lawsuits.

I have health issues that could potentially be exacerbated by rigorous fasting. Nevertheless, on the advice of my spiritual director, I embarked upon just such a regimen. But I asked my doctor first. Sure, he doesn’t know anything about the spiritual aspect of fasting, but he does know about the medical aspect and both should be taken into account, particularly by those with pre-existing conditions. Approaches to serious fasting involving only a priest or only a doctor miss half of the equation. I cannot emphasize this enough, especially for those who have medical issues that could be made worse by fasting on any level.

Fasting is not supposed to harm us. I have often been told not to attempt any extreme fasting without the counsel of a spiritual director, and I agree with that. I have also been told not to attempt any extreme fasting without checking with my doctor, and I agree with that as well. It doesn’t guarantee that nothing will happen, but at least my doctor can monitor me and intervene if needed in order to preserve my health.

Now, what’s extreme for me might be perfectly safe for someone else and deadly for others still. Everyone is different. I guess the best advice I could give someone contemplating a fasting regimen outside of what the Church requires is not to look at what someone else does and say “I’m going to do that also.” That person’s fasting practice may be totally wrong for you, both medically and spiritually. Each person looking to fast should seek and do what’s right for him/her. Figuring out what that is can be easier with the help of a spiritual director and medical professional and is indeed essential for some of us.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The terms of service of the forum specifically prohibit giving medical advice, as well as legal advice and some other types of advice.
The direct quote from the FAQ is as follows:

1. Do not offer or solicit medical, psychiatric, psychological, or legal advice.

Giving medical advice is a violation and cam be flagged, as this is a self-moderating forum.

There is no prohibition on “moral advice” here.

I would suggest you familiarize yourself with the forum rules in the FAQ if you are going to post here.