I'm terrible at fasting, advice?

[Blue_Rose]

Are there any prayers, articles worth reading or advice on how to go about fasting?

Should I go hours without food, abstain from certain things or just eat only a little?

I struggle with fasting because of nausea and find it so hard. I’m weak.

Any advice would be great.

• Rose

 

[Bodhi303]

Hi Rose,

Fasting is definitely hard to do…but that’s part of why its so potent in our spiritual journey. So be proud you find fasting hard, that just means you were putting in effort, which is what is pleasing to God.

Im sure there is an orthodox way to fast but truthfully try not to over think it. Just focus on the point of it. Its a romantic gesture towards God, and to offer to Him as a humble gift and/or as recompense (new word I’ve been dying to use, I hope I used it correctly) for our dishonoring God.

However you choose to fast make it a true sacrifice from the heart. There should be a hint of discomfort so food fasting sounds about right for you. I’m also in the middle of a fast. I always do a food fast cause I love to eat. I usually do sunrise to sunset, but in the summer I go until 5pm or 6pm because after that I’m a grumpy pants to my family and it can get ugly. lol
So if you choose a food fast,I recommend adapting it to your needs without losing the since of sacrifice. My rule, if it was hard to do, then it was worth it doing.

I think for my next fast I might try a vow of silence…But having a chatty child might make that difficult.

May Our Lord find whatever fast you choose pleasing…

 

[wild_thing]

I would always ask the advice of your confessor or parish priest before you try fasting. Obedience is more pleasing to God than penance, so following his advice is important. It also assures you that you will be doing God’s will rather than your own.

If you are cleared for fasting, then follow the guidelines of the Church- which is two light snacks and one full meal. Beverages, such as water, tea, etc, are unlimited.

If you find that that this is too much for you, you can fast in other ways- eating meals that are healthy for you but you do not particularly like, abstaining from favorite foods certain days, going meatless on Fridays, etc.

 

[Joe_5859]

If you are feeling nauseous, I would hesitate to tell you to just push through it. It would probably be best to (as Wild Thing suggests) consult a priest (and possibly a doctor).

In the mean time, perhaps you can fast in other ways. Although fasting from food is a great spiritual practice, I think we can fast in many ways whether fasting from TV or internet or listening to music or pretty much anything.

The best way to get stronger in the practice is to start small. When we dive into the deep end from the get go, it doesn’t always work out well for us. But when we slowly acclimate ourselves, we find ourselves capable of more than we realized.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

How do you define fasting?

People have many different definitions and some are easier than others. Some people consider fasting to mean eating nothing for a day or more; others might consider bread and water to be a fast.

On the two days a year (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) that the Church requires us to fast, she doesn’t ask that much of us: one full meal, and if needed, up to two smaller meals that don’t equal a full meal. See usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm

If you’ve ever had to skip breakfast for a medical test or grabbed a bag of chips for lunch because you didn’t have time to eat, you’ve pretty much managed to meet the Catholic requirements at the beginning and end of Lent.

 

[revert_jen]

I could never do a fast that didn’t allow me to drink at least water. A food fast works best for me.

I’ve always found that (assuming you don’t have problems with lactose) milk is your friend when fasting. Protein, carbs, it has enough to keep you going, without all the sugar in juice. So basically I go on a milk and water fast.

It may not work for you, but it helps me.

–Jen

 

[WilT]

Are there any prayers, articles worth reading or advice on how to go about fasting?

• Rose

first of all if you have some kind of medical condition that requires a steady intake of food than you are obstained from having to fast and don’t need to. Now, If you want to fast then here are some things I do to help me through it.
1… Do it for God. (keep that in your mind)
2. Ignore the hunger pangs
3. Don’t think of food. Redirect your thoughts and it will go away(on and off)
4. It is hard so recognize it is but keep focused on the fast.
5. Take it one step at a time. A short fast first and then once you have succeeded, increase the time.
6. It basically is a discipline of the body that needs conquering or directing. The stomach is not to rule you, but you must assert some authority over your body.
7. If you have done any sports training in the past you will have some understanding of discipline the body and going beyond the pain threshold.

I hope this helps. good luck.:tsktsk::crying: just kiddin! God Bless you in your attempt.

 

[WilT]

Obedience is more pleasing to God than penance, so following his advice is important. It also assures you that you will be doing God’s will rather than your own.

If you are cleared for fasting, then follow the guidelines of the Church- which is two light snacks and one full meal. Beverages, such as water, tea, etc, are unlimited.

 

[Ophelia23]

Sometimes I will fast from a particular something rather than food in general. I am still breastfeeding my infant and nixing food for the day seriously impacts the flow of things. But for example, refusing to eat one (or perhaps many more) of the cookies I’ve baked for my family is a real challenge! Especially while I’m baking them. I mean, no nibbles of the cookie dough?! That’s TOUGH! But I will sometimes allow that to be my fast and I offer the temptation up for whomever I am praying for at the time. Just another idea.