Nutrition and Fasting

[Alegrias16]

Great Lent was my first fast. I was an Inquirer during the fast but kept the fast as best I could. (Now 10 days away from Chrismation.) The first two weeks were pretty good. Mid-Lent I had a spike in migraine activity and started to feel overly lethargic. It took several weeks after Pascha to get the migraines back to normal frequency (average 18 per month, fewer if I follow a ketogenic diet -- high fat, moderate protein, ultra low carb) and to return to normal energy. And I'm still having mad cravings for eggs.

I want to keep the fasts, but I'm struggling with how to do that and stay nourished so that my body doesn't go off the deep end. I have celiac, a dairy allergy, and allergies to some tree nuts. Legumes (beans and soy) trigger migraines, and most grains wreck my intestines. Normally I eat meats, veggies, fruit, seeds, and non-bothersome nuts; I don't eat junk food except for the ocassional bit of coconut milk ice cream or french fries. During Lent I had a light breakfast of veggies and shellfish (yes, I know shellfish are a no), a lunch of tahini over veggies and miracle noodles or something similar, and homemade vegan soup or almond butter with penitential grain-free bagels (I burned them during baking) for dinner each day. I increased my coconut and avocado intake to be sure I got the necessary fats since not consuming oil. For the migraines to increase, energy to drop so low (as in falling asleep during the day and after any kind of activity), and having insane egg cravings for weeks, something was lacking. (On the up side, I lost 8 lbs.)

Any suggestions on how to improve nutrition for the next fast in a few weeks? Thank you!

 

[Reformed2]

I only eat twice a day, a real big meal for lunch and an Apple before bedtime. Anything more than that and my body simply can't metabolize it unless I work out a lot. Every body is different though.

 

[Another Lazarus]

I want to keep the fasts, but I'm struggling with how to do that and stay nourished

Your willingness keep you strong !!!

 

[AMM]

I'm not Orthodox, but isn't there an exception to the fasts for the sake of health or illness?

 

[Bluerose31]

Great Lent was my first fast. I was an Inquirer during the fast but kept the fast as best I could. (Now 10 days away from Chrismation.) The first two weeks were pretty good. Mid-Lent I had a spike in migraine activity and started to feel overly lethargic. It took several weeks after Pascha to get the migraines back to normal frequency (average 18 per month, fewer if I follow a ketogenic diet -- high fat, moderate protein, ultra low carb) and to return to normal energy. And I'm still having mad cravings for eggs.

I want to keep the fasts, but I'm struggling with how to do that and stay nourished so that my body doesn't go off the deep end. I have celiac, a dairy allergy, and allergies to some tree nuts. Legumes (beans and soy) trigger migraines, and most grains wreck my intestines. Normally I eat meats, veggies, fruit, seeds, and non-bothersome nuts; I don't eat junk food except for the ocassional bit of coconut milk ice cream or french fries. During Lent I had a light breakfast of veggies and shellfish (yes, I know shellfish are a no), a lunch of tahini over veggies and miracle noodles or something similar, and homemade vegan soup or almond butter with penitential grain-free bagels (I burned them during baking) for dinner each day. I increased my coconut and avocado intake to be sure I got the necessary fats since not consuming oil. For the migraines to increase, energy to drop so low (as in falling asleep during the day and after any kind of activity), and having insane egg cravings for weeks, something was lacking. (On the up side, I lost 8 lbs.)

Any suggestions on how to improve nutrition for the next fast in a few weeks? Thank you!

Perhaps some soups could be nice. Your body still must be nourished.

 

[Phronema]

I'm not Orthodox, but isn't there an exception to the fasts for the sake of health or illness?

I was going to say this same thing. I think it'd be best to get with a priest to figure out how to best construct the fast for you and your health individually. Of course I'm not Orthodox, but hopefully one of them will be along soon.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Yes, talk to your priest. The fast is mitigated for medical needs. The purpose is to discipline the body, not throw yourself into a condition where you can't pray or attend Church anyway. To hold the fast under those conditions could even be prideful.

Shellfish ARE generally allowed, btw.

It is very common to restrict red meat, or red meat and chicken but allow fish, etc. as needed. But talk to your priest. That's definitely the right answer, and work it out with him.

Feel better!

 

[Reformed2]

I always thought fasting is starvation? How is eating multiple times a day a fast? I don't mean this in a hurtful way but when I fast I don't eat anything at all just water.

 

[Phronema]

I always thought fasting is starvation? How is eating multiple times a day a fast? I don't mean this in a hurtful way but when I fast I don't eat anything at all just water.

Here is a link that may be helpful. In particular, I have posted a portion of the pertinent information below, along with the link.

https://oca.org/questions/dailylife/orthodox-fasting

The purpose of fasting is not to “give up” things, nor to do something “sacrificial.” The purpose of fasting is to learn discipline, to gain control of those things that are indeed within our control but that we so often allow to control us. In our culture especially, food dominates the lives of many people. We collect cookbooks. We have an entire TV network devoted to food [the “Food Channel”]. We have eating disorders, diets galore, weight loss pills, liposuction treatments, stomach stapling—all sorts of things that proceed out of the fact that we often allow food, which in an of itself cannot possible control us, to control us. We fast in order to gain control, to discipline ourselves, to gain control of those things that we have allowed to get out of control. Giving up candy—unless one is controlled by candy—is not fasting. It is giving up candy, or it is done with the idea that we fast in order to suffer. But we do not fast in order to suffer. We fast in order to get a grip on our lives and to regain control of those things that have gotten out of control. Further, as we sing during the first week of Great Lent, “while fasting from food, let us also fast from our passions.”

 

[Reformed2]

Here is a link that may be helpful. In particular, I have posted a portion of the pertinent information below, along with the link.

Orthodox Fasting - Questions & Answers

The purpose of fasting is not to “give up” things, nor to do something “sacrificial.” The purpose of fasting is to learn discipline, to gain control of those things that are indeed within our control but that we so often allow to control us. In our culture especially, food dominates the lives of many people. We collect cookbooks. We have an entire TV network devoted to food [the “Food Channel”]. We have eating disorders, diets galore, weight loss pills, liposuction treatments, stomach stapling—all sorts of things that proceed out of the fact that we often allow food, which in an of itself cannot possible control us, to control us. We fast in order to gain control, to discipline ourselves, to gain control of those things that we have allowed to get out of control. Giving up candy—unless one is controlled by candy—is not fasting. It is giving up candy, or it is done with the idea that we fast in order to suffer. But we do not fast in order to suffer. We fast in order to get a grip on our lives and to regain control of those things that have gotten out of control. Further, as we sing during the first week of Great Lent, “while fasting from food, let us also fast from our passions.”

I misunderstood there is a denominational difference I'm sorry. I need to pay attention to what groups things are posted on. I dont notice as much when im on CF on my cell phone ☺

 

[Phronema]

I misunderstood there is a denominational difference I'm sorry. I need to pay attention to what groups things are posted on. I dont notice as much when im on CF on my cell phone ☺

No worries, brother. I certainly didn't intend for my post to put you off, hopefully it didn't.

 

[Reformed2]

No worries, brother. I certainly didn't intend for my post to put you off, hopefully it didn't.

Oh no of course not, not at all. ☺

 

[ArmyMatt]

talk to Father. remember you want to keep the spirit of the fast, whether or not you can keep the letter of it. God knows your heart

 

[FireDragon76]

I have very similar problems (I don't have celiac but I am gluten sensitive, as well as problems with dairy). Lutherans aren't all that strict about fasting, though. They ate a lot of chicken, pork and bean soup at the parish during Lent (with copious amounts of pork). I had to take some enzymes to deal with the beans (the worst are onions for me). I couldn't give up chicken but I did give up pork and red meat.

I was going to suggest coconut butter for you to eat as that might not be considered an oil, but it has fat calories. That's another thing I ate during Lent. Some brands are made from whole coconut, and do not have added oil.

 

[Alegrias16]

Thank you all. I will speak with him. We'd spoken the second week of Lent about fasting, but I may not have expressed well enough the restrictions I'm under already to keep things from going off kilter. And at that point I didn't know just how bad things would get. I also found myself worrying about food during Lent, which I should not have been doing at all and something I hadn't done in years. The fasting in other ways was greatly helpful, and some of that has now become habit, increasing time for prayer and study. Thank you!

 

[ArmyMatt]

one of my Godsisters has some kind of issue where she cannot digest plant protein, so she has to eat meat throughout the year. she and her priest have worked it out so she can fast as well, even if not from meat.

 

[Jesus4Madrid]

Great Lent was my first fast. I was an Inquirer during the fast but kept the fast as best I could. (Now 10 days away from Chrismation.) The first two weeks were pretty good. Mid-Lent I had a spike in migraine activity and started to feel overly lethargic. It took several weeks after Pascha to get the migraines back to normal frequency (average 18 per month, fewer if I follow a ketogenic diet -- high fat, moderate protein, ultra low carb) and to return to normal energy. And I'm still having mad cravings for eggs.

I want to keep the fasts, but I'm struggling with how to do that and stay nourished so that my body doesn't go off the deep end. I have celiac, a dairy allergy, and allergies to some tree nuts. Legumes (beans and soy) trigger migraines, and most grains wreck my intestines. Normally I eat meats, veggies, fruit, seeds, and non-bothersome nuts; I don't eat junk food except for the ocassional bit of coconut milk ice cream or french fries. During Lent I had a light breakfast of veggies and shellfish (yes, I know shellfish are a no), a lunch of tahini over veggies and miracle noodles or something similar, and homemade vegan soup or almond butter with penitential grain-free bagels (I burned them during baking) for dinner each day. I increased my coconut and avocado intake to be sure I got the necessary fats since not consuming oil. For the migraines to increase, energy to drop so low (as in falling asleep during the day and after any kind of activity), and having insane egg cravings for weeks, something was lacking. (On the up side, I lost 8 lbs.)

Any suggestions on how to improve nutrition for the next fast in a few weeks? Thank you!

I think it is great that you want to keep the fasts. Living a Christian life without fasting would have seemed bizarre to the disciples, yet so many Christians do just this.

You should always agree a fasting regime (other than that called by the Church) with your Spiritual Director.

Could you eat what you normally do, i.e. veggies, fruit, seeds, and non-bothersome nuts, with more avocado and coconut, and then find some meat substitutes? The most obvious substitute would be shellfish, which is allowed. I eat a lot of octopus during Lent. I eat shrimp all the time as well.

Does falafel cause migraines? These are great.

Congrats on the weight loss!

 

[Lukaris]

I always thought fasting is starvation? How is eating multiple times a day a fast? I don't mean this in a hurtful way but when I fast I don't eat anything at all just water.

Also, remember that the prophet Daniel still ate in his fast ( eating grains). See: Daniel 1.