Fasting?

[Farmer17]

Not quick on the draw or heavy on the gas pedal, I'm talking about fasting food. Not to be confused with "fast food", fasting is a biblical event where you deny your body certain foods for spiritual reasons. That's about all I know about it,... and my church is going to be doing a "Daniel Fast" for 21 days starting Sunday and have invited me to participate. It's supposed to be cleansing to your body and your mind and it's talked about quite a bit in the Bible, and a "Daniel Fast" is pretty much a vegeterian diet with no meats, dairy, sugar, artificial sweetners or processed foods. I guess I'll give it a try(but I'm still wondering how a human body can function without meat), plus I'm told most adult males loose 10-12 pounds on it, which is some extra weight on me that I don't need. I'm getting all the crappy food out of the house(the food that I love) so I won't be tempted, but it still seems like it's going to be torture to go that long, and was wondering if anyone else here has ever "fasted" and if they have any tips for getting through it?

 

[P&R Fan]

My church does a 40 day fast at the beginning of every year. Nobody goes all 40 days but several people go two or three straight. My pastor challenged us to go three days with him a few times. He and I are pretty close so I took the challenge. First day was tough, but days two and three were actually pretty easy. I drank coffee (I'd DIE without it) juice and diet pop. One hint, chew gum. It makes it easier, plus your breath can get BAD! I didn't lose ten lbs, but I did lose a few. I think you should try it both for the health benefits and for the spiritual ones. See Isaiah 58:6.

 

[klondike]

Among Ruthenian and Ukrainian Catholics, the "black fast" forbids the use of meat, eggs and dairy products. Nothing is to be eaten on these days until dusk.

The "black fast" occurs on the 1st Day of Great and Holy Lent, Great Friday and Great Saturday.

It is also practiced by some on Christmas Eve.

So for 40 days in Lent it is bread (no butter) and vegetables.

When Easter approaches. you will be longing for an egg. Coffee is allowed

 

[USAF385]

My girlfriend hasn't eaten meat in over ten years, nor has she eaten dairy or any other animal product in five.. she's a vegan. So, you'll survive!

I'm Greek Catholic (Byzantine) and our Lent starts the Monday before Ash Wednesday. Three different days we do strict fasting (no meat / dairy) and on Wednesdays and Fridays no meat.

This is the third year I've given up meat all together during Lent. Actually, this year I'm not eating meat or beer.

The body can go for quite some time without any food, but prolonged fasting will have ill effects on the body. I usually start Lent with a period of total fasting (excluding water). Generally I'll go three days, the most I've gone was five.

 

[OKFC05]

any tips for getting through it?

1. Consult with your MD and be sure you don't have any conditions that could cause complications.

2. Be sure you get proper nutrition from supplements, fluids, vitamins, and your own fat. Fasting without doing anything else puts you on a straight fat diet (your own) and stresses your liver and kidneys.
It can kill you or cause onset of diabetes or kidney malfunction.

3. Examine your motivation and consider the risks and benefits (if any).

 

[Firehouse]

Goes without saying, if you suffer from Hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar, I wouldn't do any hard core fasting or you'll go into insulin shock which will kill you quicker than high blood sugar will. Be safe.

 

[Rule 303]

When one of my close friend who is a Vegan comes to town, we get all the good friends together and have a Barbque.
BarBque Guns and Leather. We always bring an old RG so the Vegan won't feel left out. We cook Ribeyes and sausage cooked on mesquite, baked potatoes (rubbed with bacon fat) and salad, plus Beverages. Always a good time had by all, even the vegan.

Rule 303

 

[bricker]

Check out the book by Jentzen Franklin on fasting. His church goes on a 21 day fast at the first of every year. Yeah, it's tough!

 

[m657]

There's a ton of reliable practitioners out there who can help prepare.

Personally I went on a 27 day complete fast, but only after preparing for a year with short but increasing length times.

When the concepts of glycolysis and glyconeogenesis are understood, and the effects of temporary ketoacidosis are known, and you do a LOT of study on the matter, fasting is a healthy and invigorating process.

I supervised many patients during my 32 years in practice in how to proceed with no detrimental effects.

There are a TON of opinions as well, most of which are not based on physiology. Make sure your advisor has academic credentials as well as experience.

And no, "meat" is NOT a required food for that length of time.

 

[BKDinTexas]

I second buying Jentzen Franklins book. My wife and I just finished a fast. She went all 21 days, I went 12. We fasted with raw fruit, raw vegetables and liquids. Nothing artificial, no sauces, just the above.

The third day is usually the hardest. Evenings will be tough sometimes. Avoid TV with all the food commercials if possible.

My wife lost 8 lbs in 21 days, I lost 20 lbs in 12 days!

If you are not doing it for spiritual reasons, i.e. to mature as a Christian and grow closer to Christ, don't bother. That is what it is really all about.

Some good side effects. Your senses (all of them) will become sharper, your stress will lessen, and your body will detoxify itself. You will lose weight!

Read the book each day of your fast and go to freedomyou.com for lots of info on fasting. Good luck and God bless!

 

[Babalooie]

IMHO make sure you take your vitamins and plenty of fluids. Some say that yogurt helps. If you have a medical condition, make sure you check with your doctor. If you start feeling lightheaded, you may want to temporarily stop your fast and seek medical attention before restarting.

Some say that meditation and prayer work for them. If you're willing to try it, send me an email or PM and I'll fix you up with one of my Soldiers Rosaries.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Greek Orthodox here. 40 days is a long time. I will be fasting until Paska (Greek Easter). Pretty standard for Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Lots of Lenten soup.

 

[scoutsdad]

I have been a vegetarian for a couple of decades, and a vegan when in my own home. I gave up alcohol 7 years ago, because I couldn't be one with our creator. Enough said.

 

[klondike]

This woman did not understand what a reasonable fast was. Water only for several weeks?


Fla. Woman Dies at Home After Weeklong Religious Fast
Saturday, March 13, 2010

BARTOW, Florida —  Authorities say a 55-year-old woman died alone in a bedroom of her central Florida home after locking herself in the room for several weeks for a lengthy religious fast.
Evelyn Boyd told her husband, a preacher at a Pentecostal church in the city of Bartow, not to disturb her when she locked herself in the room Feb. 7 to fast and pray with only water to drink. Family members forced open the door March 5 and found her dead.
Sheriff Grady Judd told the St. Petersburg Times that deputies don't expect to file charges, though the investigation continues. A precise cause of death has not been determined.
The woman's husband, John Boyd, told the paper he didn't check on his wife because she felt she was doing what God called her to do and he wanted to respect her privacy.

 

[m657]

The last day of my 27 day fast I cut and split and hauled 2 cords of wood in addition to attending graduate school full time. I lost 35 pounds during that time.

There are a host of preparations required to make a water fast a therapeutic rather than suicidal process.

 

[klondike]

Farmer17 - How has the fasting gone?

 

[NCTexan]

The focus on fasting should be to focus on God and not the physical aspects of losing weight, etc.

I have never done it but some have found that if approached properly has some real spiritual benefits.

As for the significant change in diet, your body will readjust to the "new norm" in about a week. The first week is the challenge.

I went through some 'sugar loss blues' when I did phase one of the SouthBeach diet. However, after 7-10 days later my body accepted what I fed it.

How about an update?

 

[Farmer17]

The fast is over today, and I didn't even realize it at first! I normally drink about 3 large cups of coffee in the morning and I thought that would be the first thing I would get when the fast was over, but I could now really take it or leave it. I'm not hungry and our church is having a big ham and turkey lunch with 4 or 5 kinds of desserts today and I may have a few bites, but I think I'll just keep eating vegetables. The fast wasn't hard at all, it was just extremely annoying when I got hungry and then realized the crap I had to eat. But now, I could easily just keep eating the Veagan type of diet and feel healthier and keep loosing weight. I lost about 10 lbs and if I lost about 15 lbs more I could maybe have some "six pack" abs. That would be pretty cool to have "abs" at 51 years old, as I haven't had any for over 20 years and I figured they would be gone forever. I had a slight craving for a diet Coke yesterday, I ususally drink 3 or 4 a day, so I'll probably get one later but I'm kinda afraid to have one. I feel like once my body starts injesting the junk type food again the cravings for it will become extreme, especially sugar and sweets. I prayed a lot but didn't really feel any enhanced spiritual connections, and the construction industry is still terrible here, but maybe some good luck and "blessings from above" will come soon.

 

[Farmer17]

Update on the fast.

It was over yesterday and I could eat anything I wanted but I didn't really crave anything. I continued to stay on the same diet but had a tiny amount of ham, mash potatoes, and peach cobbler at our church lunch.....and it gave me diarreah! Any one remember the scene from "Dumb and Dumber" when the guy puts a whole bottle of laxative in his buddy's drink? It was pretty bad. This morning I drank coffee for the first time and the first sip tasted awful, but a couple of sips later and it tasted wonderful. I downed the first cup and then wanted another and after two cups, my heart was racing and I was talking a mile a minute. I got in my truck and I was driving like a fireman on the way to a fire and all of the sudden, I could not remember where I was going. It's kinda scary how powerful caffeine really is, and I think I'm going to try to drink decaf or avoid it altogether. I used to drink several diet sodas a day and I don't even want one now, and currently I'm looking forward to staying on the Veagan diet and loosing some more weight but may have a small amount of chicken or fish occasionaly.

 

[NCTexan]

Congratulations on making it through and for the update.