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Author Topic: fasting for health reasons  (Read 807 times)

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Offline Jaynek

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fasting for health reasons
« on: July 12, 2019, 09:38:24 AM »
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  • I have been reading a lot about health benefits of fasting and have decided that I would like to start doing a water-only fast one day a week.  My first thought was to do it on Fridays since I am doing a religious fast on that day anyhow.  Then I start wondering if that would be secularizing the Friday fast.  (Additional information: due to my age, I do not have an obligation to fast.)

    I am interested in opinions on this.


    Offline Kazimierz

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #1 on: July 12, 2019, 02:11:52 PM »
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  • I would speak with your confessor first. Then your doctor. Just to be safe on both ends. :)

    I am often forced to fast. I offer it up (as usually I am in a lot of pain those days too) accordingly. If greater merit for those souls in greater need is granted because the day is a Friday (or any of the rogation days) God be thanked.

    If you were to choose another day  other than Friday, my choice would be Wednesday, as this follows the practice of Traditional religious communities. :pray: :pray: :pray:

    I will take any physical/medical benefits that come with fasting, as a secondary to the spiritual benefits.
    Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris
    Qui non est alius
    Qui pugnet pro nobis
    Nisi  tu Deus noster


    Offline B from A

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #2 on: July 12, 2019, 03:30:22 PM »
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  • I don't see any problem with it.  I think of it more like you are sanctifying a water fast by doing it in union with the Church's Friday abstinence & Our Lord's Passion.  

    Offline Stubborn

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #3 on: July 12, 2019, 04:13:12 PM »
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  • I don't see any problem with it.  I think of it more like you are sanctifying a water fast by doing it in union with the Church's Friday abstinence & Our Lord's Passion.  
    This.
    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse

    Offline Capt McQuigg

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #4 on: July 13, 2019, 12:33:06 PM »
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  • Sometimes health fasts are only 6 - 10 hours in length.  Anything longer and the concern is damage to your tendons or ligaments. 

    If you skip all after dinner snacks then you would have a daily fast from the end of dinner until the following days breakfast. 



    Offline apollo

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #5 on: July 13, 2019, 01:36:28 PM »
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  • Anything longer and the concern is damage to your tendons or ligaments.
    .
    Not true.  
    .
    There is no danger to your body during a fast, unless you
    have diabetes, cancer of the kidneys or possibly some other
    serious condition.  
    .
    Fasting is not starving as many people think.
    .
    Medical doctors know nothing about fasting beyond 24 hours.
    They used to teach in medical school that fasting for 10 days
    would kill you.  
    .
    Dr Shelton was the expert on fasting when he was living.
    He had a fasting place in San Antonio, TX for many years,
    where people would fast 14 to 60 days.  I fasted there 3
    times.  I met a guy who fasted 63 days.  The longest fast
    at that place was 90 days.  
    .
    I have fasted 20 days, 25 days and 30 days at different
    times in my life.  My longest fasts were done at a fasting
    retreat place.  The only thing I had while fasting was distilled
    water.  
    .
    Dr Alan Goldhamer has a fasting place that I recommend:
    https://www.healthpromoting.com/
    .
    When fasting at home, you can fast 3 to 7 days, but you
    need to learn how to break a fast.  You start with watermelon
    4-6 ounces every two hours (fruit is OK also).  It takes an
    equal amount of time to break the fast.  Fast 7 days, then
    breaking it takes 7 days.  
    .
    Fasting one day a week is OK, unless you have a serious
    condition like diabetes.  Even with diabetes you can fast at
    a fasting retreat place under supervision.
    .
    Fasting Can Save Your Life is a good book to start with:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0914532421/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0914532421&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20 />.
    The first 5 days of a fast, you lose the most weight, usually
    2 pounds per day.  After that ... 1 pound per day.  For this
    reason some people like a 5-day fast.
    .
    The longest fast on record by a human is 132 days.
    Snakes have been know to go for 2 years without eating.
    .
    The hardest part can be breaking the fast.  You have a
    tendency to eat too much.  One man fasted 24 days and
    then went to a restaurant and had a large steak dinner.
    He died in the hospital within 2 days.
    .


    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #6 on: July 13, 2019, 02:40:05 PM »
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  • For me it was 3 day fast during Lent.  
    May God bless you and keep you

    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #7 on: July 13, 2019, 02:54:58 PM »
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  • https://www.drfuhrman.com/retreats/17/california-summer-health-getaway


    https://lifestartretreats.com/locations/weimar-ca/

    Catholics shouldn’t do yoga because it could open doors to demons.
    Maybe healthy eating with concentration to avoid sin should be more encouraged during sermons.   
    St Ignatius silent retreats is a good way to pray and fast.  Too many Catholic functions and events focus too much on really unhealthy food.  One chapel there are donuts, coffee, cookies and hotdogs chips after Mass every Sunday which is not healthy.   Pancake breakfasts are really unhealthy and there are many who eat without grace by priest at one traditional chapel. And portions are out of control.  It is gluttony. 

    SSPX St Ignatius silent retreat we were taught to have reasonable portions.  Mortification.  To stop eating when we had enough instead of being stuffed and over full.  





    May God bless you and keep you


    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #8 on: July 13, 2019, 03:22:31 PM »
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  • I forgot to mention about listening to recording about young girl in Hell as we ate really helps too.  
    May God bless you and keep you

    Offline apollo

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #9 on: July 13, 2019, 04:47:30 PM »
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  • I forgot to mention about listening to recording about young girl in Hell as we ate really helps too.  
    That recording is called, "The Story of Annette, a Soul in Hell"
    and you can read it here:
    .
    http://drbo.org/annette.htm

    Offline apollo

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #10 on: July 13, 2019, 04:52:14 PM »
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  • St Ignatius silent retreats is a good way to pray and fast.  
    .
    Except they put delicious food in front of you three times a day,
    so you will have to skip every meal. 


    Offline Your Friend Colin

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #11 on: July 13, 2019, 05:29:08 PM »
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  • That recording is called, "The Story of Annette, a Soul in Hell"
    and you can read it here:
    .
    http://drbo.org/annette.htm
    Wow. Thank you for posting that.
    Tempis fugit, momento mori

    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #12 on: July 14, 2019, 07:56:29 AM »
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  • Thank you, Apollo for the link to that. 

    Yeah. The food was good.  I wanted to go to retreat to grow spiritually and ended up losing weight.  




    May God bless you and keep you

    Offline Jaynek

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    Re: fasting for health reasons
    « Reply #13 on: July 14, 2019, 09:18:57 AM »
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  • I don't see any problem with it.  I think of it more like you are sanctifying a water fast by doing it in union with the Church's Friday abstinence & Our Lord's Passion.  
    Thanks for this.  It is very helpful and inspiring.