How you prepare yourself for Fasting?

Question

What do you do to prepare yourself, and what do you do while you are fasting?

I was raise Catholic but my Father was Moslem and around this time of year he would start preparing for his fast he had this ritual of preparing himsef. He always invited me to join him but I never did, around this time of year I always think of him. He is long gone now and I decide that I will try fasting for a few days.

Answer 1

Very early, the Church realized that it was necessary to regulate fasting to prevent people from doing spiritual or physical damage to theirself. If you are not Christian, ignore everything below and find a leader in your religious group. They will provide you with the requirements for physically and spiritually safe fasting. If you have no religion, don't fast. I fast because I am religious. If you are not religious then fasting is a stupid thing to do.

First prayer and almsgiving go hand in hand with fasting. If you don't do the other two, do not fast.

Second, have a healthy pattern of scriptural reading. The Church has several different patterns in use for fasting periods, but it is of primary importance that it is healthy and not biased.

Third, have a spiritual director.

Fourth, find out which of the canonical methods of fasting fit you. For example, is it appropriate for you to do without any animal products for 40 days?

Fifth, determine the boundaries in time and the sequence of events to follow the fast. Easter is the boundary of the Great Fast. Christmas of the Fast of the Apostle Phillip. The Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Peter and Paul for the Apostle's Fast and the Feast of the Holy Dormition for the Dormition Fast. What comes next?

Finally, prepare yourself with readings for several weeks prior to the fast so you will not mistake yourself for a holy person by doing this. In fact, parts of the Church prescribe a no fast period prior to that to remind you of the danger of becoming the Pharisee from the Publican and the Pharisee story. Not only are you not to engage in penitential acts, but you are to be celebrating. There is a danger you really are a pharisee and not a publican. If you are uncomfortable chilling with friends, kicking back and being useless and not watching what you eat then that is a warning you may be a little phariseeical.

Answer 2

hmm, I don't do anything special.. I just decide I will be fasting the day or night before and then I don't eat the next morning.
I'll usually go until 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
And if I get past that I see how much further I can go.
The 3 o'clock thing is just because I don't like making big promises that I'm not sure I can keep, such as saying to myself "I'm gonna go ALL day, til 12 AM without food!"
I could just not say anything at all, but if that were the case, who knows when I would break fast.
it's just a personal thing, I'm sure all do it differently.

I do not eat anything and I do not take vitamins the only thing I do drink is water. (though I admit I accidentaly chewed a piece of gum. It's hard but important to remember that you're fasting when you do)

Oh yes, and I don't disfigure my face and appear as though I were fasting :P (some of you may know what I'm talking about)

"16“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6

Oh yes, and when I break fast I usually try to eat something small and wait a while then gradually eat more.

Last time I fasted I ate too fast and got a stomach ache. o_O not wise.

Answer 3

I always get in my "last hurrah" before fasting. I do a juice fast, drinking mainly water and juices made from whole foods only, for 3-4 days. I supplement with fiber to cleanse the colon.

More important is how you break a fast. Your stomach may have shrunk, and may be extremely sensitive. My favorite first meal is a dish of steamed, plain veggies and a scoop of brown steamed rice, which I pick up at the local health food store. Them I stick with whole foods only for at least a week.

Enjoy it...the first day is pretty awful, but after that you won't feel hungry anymore. Wait till you see how clear your eyes and skin gets. It's pretty cool.

Answer 4

The best preparation for fasting as listed in the Methodist guide to fasting. Page 24 simply reads,

PIG OUT.

Answer 5

Good question, I do not do anything to prepare. I should, I suppose. I just do it. And when I am fasting I do as little as possible. After about 3pm I have ZERO energy. Sometimes that Iftar meal can not come fast enough!

Answer 6

you are referring to the eid fasting, if i'm not mistaken. I've seen some of my friends to that, but i think it's the faith that makes it possible for such type of fasting where even you'r own saliva is not to be taken in.

otherwise, the other fasting's, just require you to minimize your food consumption a few days before the actual day/s of the fasting, to make it easier to go without food altogether.

Answer 7

1. Gorge.
2. Don't eat anything.
3. After the fast, gorge.

Answer 8

I pray, and when I fast, that little feeling in my stomach that normally is a reminder to eat becomes a reminder to pray.

Answer 9

First, you go to sleep. Then you wake up and don't eat anything until you're hungry. I tried this while I was in jail and i actually gained 42 pounds in one month!!

Answer 10

i pray and read Quran may be watch some TV after break fast.
what do i do to prepare myself? hmmm nothing really!!


have a wonderful Ramadan!!!
and may Allah accepts from us all!
peace!!