Do you fast?

[Penumbra]

Fasting plays a role in most major religions. Science has shown specifically why fasting can improve mental clarity, which likely plays a big role in why it's used for so many spiritual moments.

Intermittent fasting or occasional moderate fasts are also popular among people trying to optimize health, because it can promote autophagy, burn body fat, run the brain on ketones, increase longevity, etc.

Do you do any fasting, religious or secular or otherwise? If so, what sort of fasting do you do, and what are your experiences with it?

 

[savagewind]

I consider fasting is eating nothing for at least a day and drinking only water. I fasted only once in my life and it was for almost three days (if I am remembering correctly). At the time, it wasn't as hard as I imagine it would be now. Then I lived alone. Now I live with people and I am the cook.

I have "fasted" for operations also.

 

[Rival]

I fast, for both secular and religious reasons. Fasting is proscribed for Christians as I'm sure most people know. I have both good and bad experiences with fasting, but nausea is a side effect I often have during longer fasts. I drink a lot of water during a fasting period and take chewy multivitamins (non-chewy ones cannot be taken sans food because it makes you feel sick).

 

[Estro Felino]

To us Christians, fasting help us develop a willpower, a strength of will. I do fast sometimes, when I pray for the world.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I do it for religious reasons only. I'm not against fasting for other than that, but I'm a glutton who doesn't fast unless have to. The kind of fasting I do is the full fasting of any consumables, with the addition of paying double attention for avoid sins like lying or bad mouthing. It lasts thru day time only.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Once a year, on the death anniversary of my father. But on many days non-veg fare is not allowed in our family - for the whole month of Shravana (20th July to 18th Aug., 2016, Lunar Calendar), Eight days in March/April Navaratri, Eight days in Sept/Oct Navaratri (now, worship of the Mother Goddess), and various other auspicious days including the full moon days (Purnimas), which is very uncomfortable for me but can't go against the head of the house (my wife). Total, say two months in a year.

 

[Penumbra]

Thanks for the responses everyone. ^-^

I did a three day fast once just to have the experience (mostly water, and a little bit of juice), and now occasionally do 16-36 hour pure water fasts for health.

I've had purely positive experiences with it, which has led me to be more and more interested in the science behind all of its beneficial effects.

 

[YmirGF]

Fasting plays a role in most major religions. Science has shown specifically why fasting can improve mental clarity, which likely plays a big role in why it's used for so many spiritual moments.

Intermittent fasting or occasional moderate fasts are also popular among people trying to optimize health, because it can promote autophagy, burn body fat, run the brain on ketones, increase longevity, etc.

Do you do any fasting, religious or secular or otherwise? If so, what sort of fasting do you do, and what are your experiences with it?

I only fast between meals.

 

[buddhist]

Fasting plays a role in most major religions. Science has shown specifically why fasting can improve mental clarity, which likely plays a big role in why it's used for so many spiritual moments.

Intermittent fasting or occasional moderate fasts are also popular among people trying to optimize health, because it can promote autophagy, burn body fat, run the brain on ketones, increase longevity, etc.

Do you do any fasting, religious or secular or otherwise? If so, what sort of fasting do you do, and what are your experiences with it?

Yes, I fast from midday to dawn on every Uposatha day as the Buddha recommended. It has served to improve my physical and mental health.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is of 'fast type'. He observes the Eight/Nine day 'Navaratri' fast twice a year and takes only lime water during these days - no food, whether he is in India or on tour. Since he is a 'fast type' person, I believe that he must be fasting on other auspicious days as well.

 

[psychoslice]

I am not the body or the mind, so I don't need to fast, if you believe you are the body and mind then fasting may be for you.

 

[Penumbra]

I am not the body or the mind, so I don't need to fast, if you believe you are the body and mind then fasting may be for you.

The implication there is that not only are you not your body, but that things that affect your body don't affect you.

By that logic, if you're not your body, do you even need to eat at all? Why not just perma-fast?

 

[Quagmire]

I just broke a 40 hour+ fast this evening.

If I were more disciplined I'd do this every week.

Edit: not doing too bad though: this was the 4th or 5th time I've done it since the beginning of last summer, anywhere from 36 to 70-something hours..

 

[psychoslice]

The implication there is that not only are you not your body, but that things that affect your body don't affect you.

By that logic, if you're not your body, do you even need to eat at all? Why not just perma-fast?

The body dies what it does, its no concern with who I am, there is no one home, but the dog still needs feeding.

 

[meghanwaterlillies]

I'm going to fast again its hard to catch Lucifer when you haven't done it in a while. You know like running and stuff you get tried quicker.

 

[Ana.J]

I do fast, but not for religious beliefs, just for health and cleansing.

 

[Penumbra]

I just broke a 40 hour+ fast this evening.

If I were more disciplined I'd do this every week.

Edit: not doing too bad though: this was the 4th or 5th time I've done it since the beginning of last summer, anywhere from 36 to 70-something hours..

Awesome.

I started fasting several years ago when you told me some of your experiences with fasting. You were my catalyst. ^-^

First I did a 3 day fast back then, and ever since then I've only done shorter ones, up to 36 hours max, or more frequently 16-20 hour ones. My main limitation with frequency and duration is simply that my BMI is already low around 18.5, and a lot of that is actually muscle, so my body fat percentage must be extremely low, and I have to be careful not to lose any weight by tapping into my fat reserves too much. If anything, I'd prefer to be 10 pounds heavier.

The first longish one was kind of spiritual in a secular sort of way (testing mental fortitude, purposely encountering a novel experience, etc), but the others are all for physical and mental health, so I have to balance the benefits of fasting with being scrawny.

What is your main purpose for fasting, currently?

 

[Penumbra]

I do fast, but not for religious beliefs, just for health and cleansing.

Yeah, pretty much same here.

 

[Penumbra]

I'm going to fast again its hard to catch Lucifer when you haven't done it in a while. You know like running and stuff you get tried quicker.

What do you mean by catching Lucifer, if I may ask?

 

[Wirey]

All the women say I'm fast. That count?