I Need Help Finding a Healthy Way of Fasting

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Joshua_M

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Hello all,
I am apart of the Ninevah 90 challenge; I’ll spare you the details, but if you want to check it out see this link.


The challenge asks that you fast Wednesday and Friday. I am currently struggling with finding a healthy format of fasting. We all know the 1 normal meal, two snacks fast as outlined by the USCCB.

My problem is that as apart of this challenge I am also trying to enforce healthy eating habits so that I gain weight. I have been underweight for years and I’m just now starting to get to my target weight.

My problem is that I cannot gain weight while fasting two days out of the week. My body and mind also start shutting down and doing weird things. (Imagine random muscle spasms and brain fog)

So what do I do? I could fast from technology, however, I play video games as a bonding activity with my sister, text my accountability partner, along with my entire education being online; it’s not very practical.

So my question is that if I cannot fast from all technology or food, what can I fast from?

Just in case you ask, I am currently fasting from sweets and eating between meals on all days except Saturday night / Sunday.
 
i think it depends on your age & medical condition

when i was younger i was capable of some pretty strict food fasting

now that i am older, i struggle w/ even the relatively lax modern rules of lenten catholic fasting

maybe you should consult w/your doctor?
 
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Be imaginative when it comes to fasting. For you fasting from food does not sound like the best thing to do. (I am saying this simply upon what you have said, I can’t give medical advice.). The best piece of advice I ever had was not to fast in a way that you know is impossible. I used to ‘give up’ the usual stuff for Lent (chocolate, alcohol etc.). My real challenge was the year I gave up my snooze button - and then using the extra time to say Morning Prayer. Try it. It will lead to more benefits than just saying your morning offering. (Or if you already jump out of bed with the lark, set your alarm half an hour earlier.)
 
that is opus dei like fasting

cold showers are the WORST
 
Please remember God does not require you to fast to the detriment of your health. If you need to put on weight for medical reasons you are covered. The Church has very clear guidelines on fasting and you do not need to do it on the days it is required if you have a medical condition or are below/above a certain age.
 
I like your enthusiasm. I wish the Christians community would have more people like you. My advice is that you should not overwork yourself. Fasting continually requires self discipline and consciousness of the Lord. It takes growth to reach that state. You cannot force yourself to grow, though. If you have such high expectations of what you’ll gain by fasting, you are coming at this from the wrong angle. As you set up high expectations, when you inevitably do fall, you’ll fall into despair or anger-- neither of which are healthy states of mind.

So the main thing I want to get across is to relax. It’s great to fast, but if you are doing so while you intend to gain weight, you are, in my opinion, only setting yourself up for disaster. You’d have to eat a hugely exaggerated meal in order to gain weight while fasting. Don’t put your body through that-- show some respect to your body. 🙂
 
Perhaps eat only 2 meals…one is going to be smaller than the other.

Eat more on Sundays perhaps? Or look into more calorie full options?
 
Joshua_M said:
… what can I fast from?
Click to expand...
I am Byzantine Catholic. We fast differently by abstaining from certain kinds of foods.

2018
  • Abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great Fast.
  • All adults who receive Communion abstain from meat, eggs, and milk products on the first day of Lent, Clean Monday, February 12 (equivalent to Ash Wednesday for the Latin Church) and on Great and Holy Friday, March 30.
  • These are the minimum requirements; however, the faithful are encouraged to do more.
 
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What other things do you like to do? Perhaps you could fast from some of those?

Blessings
 
I fast for health reasons, and the doctor I"m following advises against fasting for anyone who is underweight (as well as children and pregnant women).
Looking for another way to fast is a great idea. Or you could follow the Byzantine way, which looks healthy enough.
I tried fasting from TV (movies mostly) one year and it was hard. It all depends on what you are used to doing.
 
I’m also doing Nineveh 90. I find the suggested bread and juice fast to be pretty unhealthy. Nevertheless, I am doing it 1 day a week because it’s pretty close to the Flame of Love fast for Monday (I moved my fast day from Wed to Mon so I could do Flame of Love fast and N90 fast on same day). I just stay up late and eat a small meal after midnight, especially since I buy awful tasting bread because otherwise eating a loaf of great bakery bread isn’t penance.
I do an egg and grapefruit fast for the Friday which is 2 eggs and 1 grapefruit before 6 pm and eat a healthy dinner after 6.

I would strongly suggest if you have any health issue from the fasting, don’t do it. I know there’s not much left to fast from if you’re strictly following all the N90 rules - TV and Internet are already supposed to be limited. I would suggest you skip the fast and just say an extra rosary for the Poor Souls on the 2 fast days.
 
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naval prisoners get 3 days bread & water

they all seemed to survive it

i used to do 3 days water & milk & i am still alive 🙂
 
Naval prisoners are in a cell and do not have to spend their days driving around or doing brainwork. I’m also the type who tends to pass out when I don’t eat enough.

If you drink juice with the bread all day like N90 says you can, then you could probably do fine on the sugar in the juice (same for milk) but the Flame of Love fast requires nothing but water with the bread till at least 6 pm.

Edited to add, the good news is I’ve lost about 12 pounds since N90 started, even though I’ve been unable to do the exercise part of the program yet because I’ve either been exhausted, completely out of time due to work and praying, or there was a foot of snow on the ground.
 
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Clearly you shouldnt be fasting.
Just give up a luxury you really like.
Consult your priest not us if you suffer from scruples.
 
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Fasting from small things is a lot more penance for me than, say, bread and water for a day. For example,refraining from salting my morning eggs, or giving up that third cup of morning coffee, or eating a bit more of something I don’t particularly love rather than that other food I love too much.
Many people have food issues these days and struggle every day to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. I’m one. So violently upsetting a healthy routine is counterproductive in all sorts of ways.
 
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If you’re underweight why are you fasting? Why not give up something else
 
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