Tips on fasting

[maxdouglas402]

Any tips on fasting?

What are some good foods to eat before and after a fast?

What are some spiritual recommendations?

How do I become “good” at fasting?

Are there any church teachings on ways to fast?

 

[Jala]

Dear maxdouglas402–

(I am not Catholic, and I don’t know if the Catholic Church has specific recommendations, but these are general recommendations based on my own fasts.)

Before a fast, I would recommend eating as healthy as possible–lots of fruits and veggies, and limit the amount of junk food you eat. Afterward, you might want to start back with only juices at first, to avoid too much of a shock to your digestive system; then work your way up to easily digested, juicy fruits (melons, grapes, etc.), then veggies, then starches/grains, dairy, and meat (if you eat them).

Of course this would depend on how long your fast is–the longer the fast, the slower you should ease back into eating. If you’ve only been fasting for a day or two, then you might only need a day to acclimate back to “real food.” If it’s a week or longer, you might want to only do juices/fruits the first day after the fast, add veggies the 2nd day, and wait a few days to add foods that are harder to digest.

Jala

 

[maxdouglas402]

awesome advice! i will try that. I have tried fasting before and every time after i fast it always seems i make up for what i didnt eat the day before when i break the fast.

So ill try easing out of it they you recommend

 

[Robert_Caritas]

I would also like to hear about this from experienced people.

In any case, something that I can recommend is to give up something that you want at meal time, and offer up the suffering that this will cause you. If this is too hard at every meal, try making a commitment to do it for a certain period of time and for certain meals, like 9 days (a sort of novena). If you like sweets (or some other nutritionally unnecessary thing), you could give them up except at breakfast for 9 days for example.

The important thing is to do this with a spiritual intention – so not to lose weight or to simply improve self-discipline, but to offer up your suffering, and to fulfill the desire to serve God better. So make sure to be praying everyday that you do this!

While this is not exactly fasting, it is a good way to improve how we relate to food. I can tell you that I am very grateful for what it has done in my life.

Best!

Robert

 

[louisak]

The word fasting has been applied in different ways. For some, it means abstaining from all food. There is also the practice of consuming only bread and water, this is also a type of fasting. This is what I do on my fasting days.

 

[chataranga]

A great book I have titled “the sacred art of fasting” by Father Thomas Ryan csp. Offers insight into the ways several different traditions fast, why and how. It helped me to get started in a direction that works for me. Blessings.

 

[vjnycguy]

Any tips on fasting?

Well, for starters you should do a different type of fast that doesn’t involve not eating. All you do is eat two small meals and one normal meal. (Breakfast and lunch are the small ones and dinner is the normal one.) You’re allowed to drink water, but only water. When I fast I drink a lot of water because that’s what keeps me not hungry than if I didn’t. I usually only eat a normal dinner and not breakfast or lunch.

What are some good foods to eat before and after a fast?

Any foods are good for before and after. Not sure if there are specifics.

What are some spiritual recommendations?

Well, in times of trouble when you think that you can’t not eat because you’re so extremely hungry, I’d recommend to pray and drink a nice big glass of water.

How do I become “good” at fasting?

Start with the small. Eat two small meals and one normal. Then the next time you skip the first and only have one small and one normal. Then you can try only eating the one normal. Once you get really good with that you can skip all three. Once you’re good at that. Try drinking less water each time. Once you have very little water, try going the whole day without eating or drinking (unless you physically have to, ie - cardiovascular exercise) Then you have completed a full fast… no water, no food.

Are there any church teachings on ways to fast?

Not sure.

 

[Muzhik]

I’m interested in any tips for fasting for people with Type 2 diabetes.

 

[DaveBj]

If you’re going on a complete fast, stop caffeine consumption at least 48 hours before the fast starts. The body’s detox process frequently involves headaches, and the combination of the hungries and headaches can be overwhelming.

 

[maxdouglas402]

A great book I have titled “the sacred art of fasting” by Father Thomas Ryan csp. Offers insight into the ways several different traditions fast, why and how. It helped me to get started in a direction that works for me. Blessings.

Ill be checking this book out. Thank You

I’m interested in any tips for fasting for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Ive heard of fasting where you only drink juice. Im not extremely familiar with Type 2 Diabetes but I know with juice you can keep some carbs in your body and keep your sugar level up. But dont risk hurting yourself!