When I first started fasting full days, it was very hard for me. I slept the entire day and woke up with enough energy to drag myself to the table and eat some food. Everyone has always told me that fasting would get easier the more I did it, but that has not really been the case for me. On minor fasts, I get up very early to eat breakfast, and I can also watch Netflix to get my mind off the hunger. On Yom Kippur though, I can't use electronics and I also have to sit and stand through hours of services while practically saying the same words over and over again. I have been fasting on all the fast days for four years now, and have not seen any change in the way my body reacts to it.
I have tried many techniques to help myself get through the fast easier. I have tried to eat a lot the day before the fast, I have tried to eat not very much the day before the fast. The one that worked best for me was not eating a lot starting a week before the fast, then the night before the fast eat a very large meal. This makes my experience a little better but not too much. The problem with doing this is that I have to start preparing for the fast a week in advance, and for very small results.
Every year I say that I really hate fasting and every year I get the same answer: "You will get used to it" I have had four years to get used to fasting, and nothing has changed. Does anyone have suggestions to make fasting and easier experience?
Hi Eden, I also have people tell me that it will get easier each time, but so far it hasn't. No matter how much I eat before the fast, I always find myself hungry 2 hours later. I honestly have no suggestions to make it easier.
ReplyDeleteHi Eden. In the past, I haven't really fasted full days and this year I actually did. For me, the most difficult part was also not having a distraction. A tip I have is, even though we're not supposed to drink water, it really does help. I got really lightheaded today from dehydration and just drank some water and some of the hunger pain actually went away. Maybe try to sneak in some water next time u fast and see if it helps!
ReplyDeleteHi Eden,
ReplyDeleteI wrote about the same topic! Fasting is very difficult and I do not like fasting at all. I was hungry the second I woke up on Monday. How was your fast? Also you should check out my blog because I talk about many very interesting benefits to fasting.
Hi Eden,
ReplyDeleteI do not really fast, but I can relate to the expression "it will get easier". Every time there is something like fasting in this case and people tell me it will get easier it never does. I started to not believe it because it does not change for me. I tried to fast a couple of times but purely could not do it because of the water. I am a big water drinker and am used to drinking so much water throughout the day that when it came to fasting I was unable to do it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Eden,
ReplyDeleteThe best tip I have for fasting is waking up as late as possible. Like if services start at 11 I will wake up at 10:30. This always works for me. Also, hanging out with family always keeps me entertained although towards the end we all get kinda moody and ready to eat.
I don't have any suggestions besides to think in the moment and not to always be anticipating the end of the fast because doing that will make you hungry.
ReplyDeleteHey Eden, my best suggestion that I implemented this year is sleep in the next day because most of the time will go by without you even noticing it. This year has been the easiest fast for me because I ate a lot of food the day before and constantly distracted myself so that I wouldn't think about how much time is left. Even though I'm not a fan of fasting, I think it teaches us lessons like discipline and being grateful for things you have in life.
ReplyDelete