| Author | |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 4:31pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Do you fast- on Fridays? On another day of the week? I have tried fasting on Fridays off and on with mixed results... the biggest result being that I am grumpy eating bread and water all day 
I know there are many ways to fast... anyone want to share their experiences? Just looking for some encouragement with this. Thanks.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sarah M
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 06 2008
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1423
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 4:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Listening attentively here. I have the desire to fast, and have read some really inspiring accounts of fasting, but somehow by 10 am I decide that if I don't eat something I'm-surely-going-to-be-a-monster-mother and-that-isn't-what-God-wants-right?  Also, I'm curious to hear if anyone fasts from anything other than food...?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TracyQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1323
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 5:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Instead of fasting from food on Fridays, due to low blood sugar at times, I fast from other things (hand held Yahtzee for instance ), doing some sort of sacrifice for the Lord on Friday is something all Catholics are supposed to do, I've learned. 
__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 7:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just wrote about our first ever observation of the Ember Days which involves fasting. Some of my fasting history is described there.
We do meatless Fridays year-round though that isn't all that big a deal for us since we only eat meat about once a week, anyway. But forgoing breakfast meats (bacon and sausage) is a pretty big sacrifice for me, I guess.
When I'm pregnant or nursing a little baby I observe meatless days still but I don't fast from food even on obligatory days. I do try to be penitential in my food choices--no dessert, etc. But I will often fast from something else instead (usually the computer).
Susan
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 7:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Fast?
The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
missionfamily
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1859
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 7:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My husband is a great faster. I'm plain terrible at it. Even at choosing other stuff. I want to try to get better though. I have a friend whose homeschooled kids are now in college. While they are in school, she fasts from one item for each of them--soda, sweets, mayo...I have seen firsthand the graces it wins and want to embrace the practice, but never seem to muster the fortitude. I'm interested to see if anyone can tell us how they've fostered the habit.
__________________
Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maddie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1804
|
| Posted: May 23 2008 at 11:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Before our recent hardships I was a feasting kind of gal. 
We always observe Fridays outside of Lent by either abstaining from meat or by saying an extra Rosary or Chaplet. Sometimes we forget and at the end of the day we may all say a Litany or on really bad days we'll say like three extra Hail Mary's.
Since I am nursing right now and can not really fast without becoming a penance to everyone, I have given up all sweets except on Sunday and I have given up my favorite food: cornbread salad. That has been SOOO hard, especially since I have trained all the deli employees at our local grocer to have it ready for me when they see me in the store.
This has been my attempt at fasting anyway, FWIW.
__________________
~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LucyP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 7:10am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We fast when you have to, abstain every Friday, and often fast on Friday too, or when we feel a special need. I don't know that there is an easy way. For years and years, I excused myself because of wild blood sugar levels, but then I found I could do it. My husband says to start fasting after dinner time so you sleep away part of the time I just find if I drink a lot, don't let myself have a busy/stressful day, and do lots and lots of offering up I can get through just fine. Also cook things I don't love to eat ;o) Often I will fast from one or two meals a day, rather than for three meals. If a prayer concern comes up or something I feel I want to do a penance for, I will fast from the next meal or two, or just eat bread with no butter perhaps.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 11:40am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I find that after a day of only bread and water, I am up early Saturday and looking for anything chocolate .
That seems unhealthy to me and not necessarily in tune with the whole spirit of fasting...
Well, it's a work in progress.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 2:31pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
It is a work in progress. Start slow and know that its supposed to be a sacrifice. There is no more obligatory fasting until next March. Start by giving up special foods on Fridays. Then switch to no lunch on Fridays--or only a snack. Then do two snacks and one meal. That's as far as I've gotten but I hope to be able to fast a bit more than that over time. It does take practice both for your spirit and your flesh. Starting with 24 hours of bread and water only might just set you up for discouragement.
Susan
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Vanna
Forum Pro
Joined: May 09 2008
Location: Kansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 331
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I recently read a book about the Medjugorie (probably completely misspelled) visitations. In it the people that Mary was visiting said that we should fast every Wednesday and Friday for people to repent of their sins.
Has anyone read anything about this?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LucyP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I wonder if it seems harder because the devil wants to discourage us. My mum, because she gets busy, often goes 12hours without food and doesn't really notice it. When our son was very ill, I didn't eat and totally forgot to do so. And when we first brought him home, we were always realising it was tea time and we hadn't eaten yet all day. When I was at school sponsered fasts were a popular thing to do, and it was just a sort of fun challenge. And around the world, lots of people only eat one meal a day, if that, because they are so poor, and they still carry on working etc. But me, I want to spend all day on the sofa!
I know I often do make excuses for myself. And if I start feeling irritable when I fast I am so quick to fly off to the bread bin for some carbs, rather than to fall to my knees and ask for strength.
Maybe it is an area where God asks different things of different people. I am a fatty so I have big ole reserves that could see me through a major fast, whereas someone small might need food more quickly. And everyone's metabolism works a little differently, right? I used to be amazed that dh would fast and seem normal whereas I would start feeling I had lost the power of speech!
This is such an interesting thing to think about. Thanks for asking the question, Melinda.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Red Cardigan
Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 470
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think two things are important to consider when fasting.
The first is that if we're proud of our doing so, or if others notice us doing so, or if we have to explain that we're doing so (outside of Lent, of course) then the spiritual benefits may not be as forthcoming. What we do in secret pleases our Father so much more!
The second is that fasting from food, while an ancient and admirable custom, isn't by any means the only way to fast. Some posters mentioned health issues, like low blood sugar or nursing--fasting from food when doing so might cause harm to your body is never a good idea. There are many other things to "fast" from, so don't be discouraged if others you know can go hours without food while you would collapse into a pile of goo if you tried that! Just think of something else that you enjoy, and give *that* up instead. It could be a simple thing, like cream in your coffee or reading catalogs or a particular bath/body product you don't actually *need* to use, but just like.
Melinda, thanks for reminding me to think about this!
__________________
http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: May 24 2008 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have to say that I do find it awkward at times to act "in secret"... seems like there is always a food event of some type on Fridays, and there I am holding the brownie pan just to be near the chocolate molecules . It is hard to pass up food at times without a lot of questions.
In college I used to start my fast Thursday night at dinner and then end it after lunch on Friday, so there would be no full day without a regular meal. That seemed to help as far as blood sugar issues. But now I try to do it all on one day, as I feel like I can make it through just fine, although not always with a smile on my face. Still working on that part...
But so far I can say that it truly makes me appreciate what I eat and be more grateful for it, plus think twice about what I automatically put in my mouth. Outside of Lent, I hadn't done any fasting for quite some time, and then I read a story of a mother of eight who only ate brown bread and water on Fridays. It was only as an adult that her son writing the article realized why. I could not get that story out of my mind and felt like I needed to revisit the whole fasting concept. Not easy, but a good project for me.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: May 26 2008 at 11:04am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Red Cardigan wrote:
The first is that if we're proud of our doing so, or if others notice us doing so, or if we have to explain that we're doing so (outside of Lent, of course) then the spiritual benefits may not be as forthcoming. What we do in secret pleases our Father so much more!
The second is that fasting from food, while an ancient and admirable custom, isn't by any means the only way to fast. Some posters mentioned health issues, like low blood sugar or nursing--fasting from food when doing so might cause harm to your body is never a good idea. There are many other things to "fast" from, so don't be discouraged if others you know can go hours without food while you would collapse into a pile of goo if you tried that! Just think of something else that you enjoy, and give *that* up instead. It could be a simple thing, like cream in your coffee or reading catalogs or a particular bath/body product you don't actually *need* to use, but just like. |
|
|
TracyQ wrote:
| doing some sort of sacrifice for the Lord on Friday is something all Catholics are supposed to do, I've learned. |
|
|
These are great points. I have to echo TracyQ and say that what is require of Catholics is making an extra sacrifice on Friday, preferably abstaining from meat. There is no fasting allowed.
And bread and water fasting is even beyond what the Church recommends for fasting. The rule on required fasting days is "to reduce the amount of food eaten from normal. The Church defines this as one meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal in quantity. Such fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The fast is broken by eating between meals and by drinks which could be considered food (milk shakes, but not milk). Alcoholic beverages do not break the fast; however, they seem contrary to the spirit of doing penance." See EWTN.
With those regulations in mind, fasting is a bit more doable if you paired a hard boiled egg and a slice of bread.
I would also say that I do not fast except moderately on the days we are obliged, both for health reasons and for my state in life reasons.
Too many times I've read and heard the recommendations from spiritual directors, saints, founders of orders that people in active vocations, like mothers, fathers, teachers, workers need to nourish their bodies with food. Fasting can be a detriment to their health and performance of duty in their vocation. Fasting from things we like in small things (mortifications) is more effective and more recommended for our state in life. It's a grander and glorious thing to do a wonderful fast, but I'm choosing a more invisible route and doing smaller mortifications according to my state in life.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
So Blessed
Forum Rookie
Joined: Jan 11 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 61
|
| Posted: May 26 2008 at 5:37pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We do meatless Fridays year round too.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
chicken lady
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2315
|
| Posted: May 26 2008 at 6:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have a dear friend who gave up chocolate until Roe vs Wade is over turned. She has been at her fast for about 10 years now.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: May 26 2008 at 8:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
chicken lady wrote:
| I have a dear friend who gave up chocolate until Roe vs Wade is over turned. She has been at her fast for about 10 years now. |
|
|
A true saint!
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Do you fast?
