European Union Forums

[sasha]

I am trying to respect ortodox christian fast by rules wich means that every wensday and friday it is fast and also there are long fastes and about 6 months you are fasting and other 6 you are not. It means no food of animal origin (even eggs, milk and chees are avoided). There are most of fasting days without any oils or greese (even of plant origin), and there are some days without eating (avoiding even water).

I think that occasional tolerance to hunger is very helthy. I think that everyone should not eat for a day or two once or twice in a year. I am trying to respect ortodox christian fast with all rules that it recomends just to see what happens and it is great. I am feeleng wery well and everything is in ballance.

[M.Helen]

fasting is good when you keep it once a year, I don't think it's normal not to eat a whole day. It may damage your nutritive system.

[Benn]

but, fasting includes not only not eating livestock products, it also involves a soul fasting - not kissing, not having sex, not drinking etc.
do you keep up these rules?

[sasha]

Sex is forbiden, but Lovemaking is not
I am not married and I should not be wanton and I am trying to respect all aspect of fasting. Married couples can make love, but shouldn't be excessive in it.

Fasting in eating is just the plain tool for soul fasting. It is neccesary tool and without it soul fasting can't be done. The helth is just spare effect of fasting.

[Jfish]

Sasha, from what I know fasting is beneficial for healthy persons. If a person is sick or have severe digestive problems fasting may be harmful for him especially when no food at all is consumed. I even heard that sick people a spared from fasting.

From the other point of view there are vegans that are fasting all the time... and they promote this diet as a more healthier and ecological way of life.

[Terry]

you can have avitaminosis - it's when the body suffers of lack of vitamins, be careful

[sasha]

It was conducted for thousands of years and it is a pattern for helthy life. Some people in history has analysed it and tried to make it scientific. They made pale copies and named it different, like diet, macrobiotics, vegan or similar. It was plain materialistic games with food. The faith lacks there. Fasting isn't whole withouth the faith, but faith makes it perfect.

Those who has some health problems should consult with a priest who gives blessing for another form of fasting.

[Terry]

anyway how can you live one day without eating meat? For instance, if I don't eat meat, I have a headache

[sasha]

I think you are imaging it. But that is religious question and the answer to your question can be connected with your faith.

Anyway, it is the first time I heard that someone have problems when he not eat meat. I have problems when I come back to meat because my methabolism is cleared of it. For couple of days after fasting I must slowly import meat in my menu, or I could have problems with my stomack.

[clearman]

I agree with sasha...
My mother has colon cancer. After a surgical procedure she had a strict vegetarian diet (without meat, cheese, coffee, oil, sugar…). Today she is OK.
Meat isn’t good (and fast-food also) for our health. Eat cereals in the morning and fruits every time you can. No coffee, chocolate, alcohol, if you can that!
The Greek monks eat only bread, fruits and olives, and sometimes they drink a little red wine. They live many, many years. Think seriously about fasting!

[Terry]

fasting is also similar to yoga way of life, correct?

[sasha]

I am against any exaggeration at fasting. I think that first I must get to the level of normal fasting, only then I could think about excessive fasting. I think that meat is important for body, but fasting gives us a pattern of feeding which assures equilibrium of things that body neads. Science reveals today all kinds of positive aspects of fasting, but it exists for thoulsands of years and only the faith of men preserved it. Maybe we are wasting our time trying to understand why it is helthy. I think that we do not nead to understand it in full, we just need to practise it and everything with helth will be OK. There would be less diabetes, hypertension, hart disfunctiallities and many methabolitical problems would be marginalized.

On other hand, I am not against trying to understand it in medical way, but I support practising it without understanding.

[clearman]

I agree with you, sasha.
Fast is more than a diet, is a “modus vivendi” for authentic religious life(could be Christian, Muslim, Jews…) and this practice followed us from ancient times.

On other hand, I am not against trying to understand it in medical way, but I support practising it without understanding.

We must believe it's healthy!

[Terry]

well if we believe, it will work, 'cause autosuggestion always works

[M.Helen]

Sasha do you still keep fasting every Wednesday and Friday? It's really difficult, how can you do that?

[sasha]

Almost every Wednesday and Friday. Now I am fasting every day. From Jun 23rd to July 12th it is st. Peter's fasting days. July 12th is st. Peter's day in ortodox church.
Longest fasting days this year will be from Novemder 28th until January 7th (ortodox christmas)

Somedays I do not eat anything what have even vegetable oil in it, somedays I use oil, somedays I eat fish (usually saturdays and sundays), and occasionally I could drink upon to two glasses of wine.

It isnt hard. When you get use to it, then you can't wait days of fasting to come. It is cheaper, healthier and easier.

[Benn]

why isn't fish allowed to eat during the fasting? If it's allowed partailly, then it isn't a sin to eat it from time to time.

[sasha]

Every day has its rules. Fish has meat, but at days of great saints, or weekends it is allowed (if you want to follow the rules). When someone wants to try fasting for the first time, or at some casis of illness, or when someone is weak, then he could eat fish every day (it is loosened fast). I am trying to follow all the rules as it is proposed by monks.

[jaroslav]

good for you, sasha

[Benn]

Sasha, and what happens if, for example, a crumb of fish remains in your teeth after the day when fish is allowed to eat?

[sasha]

OK, don't be mordant. I have tried to share my experience. We are all witout real names here, so I am not bragging, just trying to show that this is posible, and it could be fun doing it. Everybody could do whatever he wants as he is not endangering others. That goes for me to.

[Steven]

you say it can be fun? What exactly do you mean?

[sasha]

Trying to be stronger than your lust could be a funny game. Seeing people striving for meat could be revealing if it is not what you eat, like peace of wood or plastic. People are appoled if they realize you are not eating what they are used to. They are so eager to persuade you that it isn't possible, but it is, and it is very easy, you just must want it and accept it without much drama.

By the way, it's over now and I could eat everything(but I don't wish it so badly).

[M.Helen]

it's good you keep fasting, you will live to deep old. Really, this is the best diet for the organism, probably. You don't consume unneeded calories and you will never get fat, what can be better? Well done!

[Steven]

how can I begin fasting? It would be difficult, can you give me an advice?