Fasting...

[CkretAjint]

So today I am fasting (religious reasons). I started lastnight at 8:00pm, and have until 8:00 pm tonight. Right now it is 11:00 am and I just got my first hunger pains... Any helpful pointers for a first timer? I already asked if I can drink water, or chew gum. I am not allowed... :(

Anyone ever fasted before?

And please don't be mean and start listing yummy foods, or talk about that your having later for dinner or something...

[John G]

Just try and keep yourself occupied. If you can get lost in something that helps the most. No water? that sounds pretty harsh... and somewhat dangerous.

[morea]

ooh, you can't drink water?

I've only had to fast for medical reasons, and water was allowed. That was going to be my first suggestion.

Hmm... check this out:

http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Fasting%20Tips.htm

[Craig B]

No water for one day shouldn't be dangerous. A lady i work with fasts in a similar way form time to time, but I'm not sure if she's here today. I could see if she has pointers.

[CkretAjint]

I can drink it if I feel the absolute need for it. But I assume your not supposed to since you can just drink gallons of it, and be full. Which of course is not fasting...

I am surfing GDF to pass the time and keep busy. Stupis IT department took our servers offline so I can't do work work and stay busy. :(

[captain spanky]

3,3,3
3 minutes without air
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

thats how long the average human can last.

one day is no problem... just take your mind off food and you won't even notice it. Do something where you have to concentrate a lot... some really fiddly bit of work (with your hands not a computer)... do a complicated set of calculations for fun, make a paper model etc... watch a film/read a book you can really get into... sleep... just don't mention the food word to anyone ;) :D

[SpugNothuson]

The easiest way to get through fasting is to not think about it. Unfortunately you've already started to think so now it's time to occupy yourself.

Don't choose something tedious or boring to occupy yourself as you'll soon get a wandering mind, you need to find something that will occupy your mind in the fullest sense possible.

If you're doing this for religious reasons I assume you are indeed of the religious nature, are there some scriptures that you can read which deal with this subject? i.e. Learn more as to the whys and wherefores of the fasting ritual.

Once you've finished work go for a nice long walk. Unless it's scorching outside. If you do go for a walk try not to go past any fancy restaurants you like.

Chin up buddy, tomorrow this will have seemed to be easy and you'll know not why you considered it difficult. Be tons easier next time. :D

[carter the artist]

yeah, you just cannot think about it. I have never voluntarily fasted, but thanks to Uncle Sam there were times where logistics would not allow us our three hots and a cot. So in the army, there were times where I really understood the feeling of fasting.

[Exodus]

So today I am fasting (religious reasons). I started lastnight at 8:00pm, and have until 8:00 pm tonight. Right now it is 11:00 am and I just got my first hunger pains... Any helpful pointers for a first timer? I already asked if I can drink water, or chew gum. I am not allowed... :(

Anyone ever fasted before?

And please don't be mean and start listing yummy foods, or talk about that your having later for dinner or something...

If you are doing this for religious reasons it depends on what kind of fast you are doing. There is more than one... You could just fast from meats, you can fast from everything except water, etc... When I fast, I limit myself to fruit juices.

Also, if you are doing this for religious reasons. The rule of thumb is to pray to occupy your mind during your hunger thoughts. The first 24 to 48 hours are usually the most difficult. After that you typically will have a sense of euphoria. The object in religious fasting is to have more prayer time with God and to show that you are putting your trust & faith in him (or her, depending on the religion).

Hope that helps. :)

[CkretAjint]

Also, if you are doing this for religious reasons. The rule of thumb is to pray to occupy your mind during your hunger thoughts.

I agree, but I am stuck at work... Kinda hard to pray and work at the same time :(

[cornfed]

After a while, the hunger feeling will subside. I've had to fast before and I find that you have initial hunger pains and then it goes away. Hang in there and focus on why you're doing it, not how bad it feels. Fasting for religious reasons is a sacrifice. I guess the discomfort you're feeling would be part of what its about.

[Exodus]

I agree, but I am stuck at work... Kinda hard to pray and work at the same time :(

Not really, I pray while working all the time. You don't have to close your eyes to pray.

[PrintDriver]

Go someplace where there is no food. A library is a good place believe it or not.

<oh, you're at work, Sorry.>

[DesignVHL]

i'm jewish....and I fast for yom kippur every year...no food or water for 24hrs..i've been doing that since i was at least 13 - so I am used to it....i always wasn't working tho....but you just have to put your mind somewhere else really....keep yourself busy...read books, sketch, watch tv, take a nap - if your not working today...if u are, i know brain food is tempting but you'll be fine! JUST KEEP IT UP! :)

[frankster]

I'm impressed with anyone that can do this sort of thing. I find missing a meal or two will make me feel faint and dizzy. Goodness knows what trying to go without water too would do! I think the only time I go without food like that is when I am too sick to eat from a stomach bug or something and after about 10 waking hours of not eating the hunger pains go and it becomes difficult to get back into eating a full meal again. So, if you don't get dizzy from lack of food then I reckon the hunger pains should go away and by this afternoon you'll feel ok. Best of luck with it all. This is for the GF right?

[CkretAjint]

This is for the GF right?

Sort of. She doesn't require me to do this, nor did she ask. But I decided on my own to do this with her. To show her that I support her (and her religion since it is different then mine). :)

Plus I have never done it before, so it seemed like a reasonable challange to complete!

[carter the artist]

Hey you could always change Diety... but I doubt you are willing to take that path. :)

[CkretAjint]

Hey you could always change Diety... but I doubt you are willing to take that path. :)

The thought has crossed my mind...

[Kool]

If you're looking for a new deity there's a thread in here that has just about all of them. ;)

[CkretAjint]

If you're looking for a new deity there's a thread in here that has just about all of them. ;)

I know!!! I have read it many times over, unfortunately none really jump out at me... so sad!

[budafist]

A few of our printers fast. I feel really sorry for them on their feet all day. They get really light headed. I think they drink water a little if they feel like they are going to faint.

Try and stay away from anythingt that might make you break.

[D-Frag]

thats nice of you to embrace her religion like this. keep up the hard work and tomorrow eat like wild lion!

[CkretAjint]

Tomorrow? F that!! I have 1 hour to go before the feast begins!!!! :D

[Navian]

In my faith, we fast once a month (the first Sunday of the month), but we start after Saturday Lunch.

Here is my tip for you.. Start off in the morning before with foods that will "stick with you" such as Oatmeal.

It works for me, IMO it is much better to fast this way:

Saturday Breakfast (very decent, stays with you foods)
Saturday Lunch (again more stays with you foods)
Saturday Dinner say 4-5pm (about when the fasting starts), go to bed at your usual time (9-10pm)
Sunday Morning (church service, hard to eat anything while you are at church in the morning), get home around lunch time, do a few after church/family things, also the lunch time can be used to prepare a roast or something that takes a while to cook (low heat and slow cook). By the time you finish dinner on Sunday shows up, your fasting could be or just be a little over the 24 hours, AFTER your Saturday Lunch.

I do it all the time. It is healthy to fast (not all the time though... once a month is good) it helps your body burn off excess fat/liquids.. BUT I do NOT recommend going without water, if it is very hot (heat stroke), or if you take medicine (I don't recommend going with out food if the prescription requires it..), however if you keep it at moderate levels, you should still be fine.

hope that helps.

[morea]

thats nice of you to embrace her religion like this.

ditto to that!

I bet it means a lot to her that you would volunteer to support her in this way. It's certainly not an easy thing to do!

Good on you, Ckret Ajint. :)