Anybody doing whole Lent fast?!

Heck to the NO! haha

I did that two years ago. I made it 2-3 weeks. I definitely admire anyone who follows the Ramadan fasting now.

I am, but slightly adapted - I allow other sensible drinks between sunrise & sunset - I check the times daily.
So far, so good. It's really making me think about food differently, breaking the grazing habit! Yes I'm losing a bit of weight but that's not the primary reason for doing this. I don't fast on Sundays.
I'm a progressive Christian so I'm not doing it for tradition's sake either, pleased to find someone else who is going down this road.

My denomination doesn't celebrate Lent so I have never heard of the Lenten fast before. It sounds very difficult, but also like an experience that would mean more to me (if I did it) than other giving-up-for-Lent goals I've heard of. I hope it goes well for you!

I have done my best here so far and have been successful.. but again there are only two fasting days during lent ash Wednesday and good Friday.. all other Fridays are for abstaining from meat... you can by choice fast from good friday till easter to mark the suffering of Jesus.. I gave up the normal snacks, ice cream etc.. but also gave up time as in attending adoration more and daily mass more often

No, but I did pack a tofu lunch today

courtney_love2001 wrote: »

No way I would die Just on Ash Wed and Good Fri. Definitely the no meat on Friday though!

This. I gave up coffee for lent. It was an addiction to me and I don't even crave it anymore.

I've never head of this kind of Lenten fast. I've heard of that for Ramadan.. But I thought Lent was more about no meat, nothing decadent, etc. if you're going to do it all. The Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops has listed only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as official fast days.

I'm not Catholic and have never participated in lent in my life. I knew a guy when I was around 14 who fasted for lent (he was older). He originally would eat popsicles during the week, but started feeling like that was "cheating" so he cut that out and literally ate nothing all week. To my knowledge, he didn't eat on Sundays either, but I'm betting he probably had at least something once a week. By the end, he was skin and bones and very sickly looking. I don't know how he did it!!!

I do, but not "only water" for the day.
I fast and have two small meals during the day and one larger meal in the evening. The two smaller meals must equal less than the one dinner meal when they are added together. Any beverage is okay, including a glass of milk. But not something that is supposed to replace a meal like a protein smoothie (which I have with my breakfast meal). No meat from birds or mammals, but I haven't had those in 20 years anyways as I am always a pescotarian (fish+vegetarian). So that one is easy for me.
Lent fasting is not really about "giving up" things, but taking away worldly distractions and focusing on God. Anyone who has health reasons not to fast is certainly excused (and can do other things during Lent). I didn't fast for 8 years as I was pregnant/breastfeeding almost continually during that time. I still refrained from desserts, attended extra prayer services and mass times, and spent the time of Lent examining my heart and growing closer to God.
Hope that helps. God bless you!


P.S. (It doesn't matter that Lent is partly over. Start when you can.) Also, Sunday afternoon we have family meal in the afternoon- around 2-3 p.m. with my whole family and my in-laws. That day is somewhat exempt. Just don't go crazy and eat all day long. That isn't the spirit of the fast.
As for dieting and loosing weight, yes, I am trying to do that, too. Lent helps me refocus my junk food cravings to being prayerful instead. Healthy habits I start in Lent follow me for months afterwards (although I usually regress later on... and gain weight... I struggle with Depression and my weight yo-yos with how I am feeling. I have gained, lost, gained, and am working on re-losing 60 lbs. in the last 5 years! So frustrating).

I'm Eastern Orthodox. We eat basically a vegan diet during Lent (or we're supposed to -- I haven't been very good at it in recent years): nothing with a backbone, no dairy, no olive oil or wine (because both were traditionally kept in animal skins). There's no Ash Wednesday; we have Meatfare Sunday, which is the last day to eat meat, followed by Cheesefare Sunday, the last day to eat dairy and clean out the fridge.

The purpose of Lent is not to lose weight. It's a religious observance that, (in great generalities), by self denial, prayer and atonement you are better purifying yourself to prepare for the arrival of God (Easter). Not only are you supposed to be following a straighter and narrower path regarding food and drink, you should all be involved in prayer/meditation/contemplation, and also atonement, giving to others, the poor, the hungry, etc. This concept has varied over the centuries depending on who wrote it, it's not actually in the Bible.

Its based on pagan ritual like much of the traditions of Christianity. I'll let you go research that on your own. Maybe that's a good thing to do for Lent, discover why you're doing it.

And maybe the self sacrifice and giving to others the excess of your life is a general goodness one should do on a regular basis, something I always thought Christianity was supposed to encompass.

The meaning of lent is to lose thyself, to defeat the Fleshly desires of this world, total oblation of the inner self, to find thyself dwelling in the Oneness of God. A journey to purity.
As far as Ramadan goes, the muslim way did not come about till nearly seven hundred years after Christ Jesus, and the building of his church, which, that in fact is the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The one true faith that Christ Jesus formed, this side of heaven.
May God bless all of you abundantly throughout this Lenton journey, and may all receive total absolution on devine mercy sunday.
it is real, God given, may you seek this out today.

starwhisperer6 wrote: »

I forgot lent this year I am not catholic but I have always enjoyed the idea of breaking what we think are addictions for a period of time to remind myself that I control me. I usually give up all added sweetener or coffee. Im a little sad I didn't do it this year!

Don't be sad. Since you're not doing it as a religious observance, you could do it any time--now, next month, for the six weeks before your birthday, etc.

You might want to think of a different name for it, since appropriating the name of what is for some a solemn religious observance for your own period of self-improvement might be offensive to some people.

Orphia wrote: »

No, and I'm not sacrificing any goats or sons, or stoning any adulterers either.

If there was a "Like" button, I'd click it!