As a Christian I would like to tell you my opinion on this subject.
Very often people tend to forget that fasting differs from dieting.
Hence, there are all these advices on various "tricks" and "optimizations" :-)
What is missed here is that when you are fasting - you are not trying
to reduce your body weight or improve your mental abilities :-)
In fact, the fasting has nothing to do with you - this is done by you only
to praise The Lord, who has created you, is looking after you
and forgives your sins.
And if one finds fasting too hard and starts making a shortcuts,
it is better not to fast at all - there will be no value in this
"eating trickery" for you :-) (or anyone else).
The fasting is all about God and He gives you the strength to fast -
but you need to ask Him by praying, reading The Bible, caring about
your brothers and sisters, helping other people, giving to poor.
And if you find fasting too hard - most probably you are trying to fast
for wrong reason or your dieting has nothing to do with The Lord.
Personally, when fasting four times a year, I try doing good Christian
things - helping people around me, charities, those in needs.
Trying to put my own interests even further away, making peace with enemies,
asking for forgiveness of people that I hurt somehow. Working on my project
"Read and Think: The Bible for command line people" :-)
This is what fasting is for me and these are my "special tricks" :-)
The best source to read about fasting is The Bible:
................ == THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW == ...................
=== Chapter 6, Verse 16 ===
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance:
for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in
secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
As a Christian I would like to tell you my opinion on this subject. Very often people tend to forget that fasting differs from dieting. Hence, there are all these advices on various "tricks" and "optimizations" :-)
What is missed here is that when you are fasting - you are not trying to reduce your body weight or improve your mental abilities :-) In fact, the fasting has nothing to do with you - this is done by you only to praise The Lord, who has created you, is looking after you and forgives your sins.
And if one finds fasting too hard and starts making a shortcuts, it is better not to fast at all - there will be no value in this "eating trickery" for you :-) (or anyone else).
The fasting is all about God and He gives you the strength to fast - but you need to ask Him by praying, reading The Bible, caring about your brothers and sisters, helping other people, giving to poor. And if you find fasting too hard - most probably you are trying to fast for wrong reason or your dieting has nothing to do with The Lord.
Personally, when fasting four times a year, I try doing good Christian things - helping people around me, charities, those in needs. Trying to put my own interests even further away, making peace with enemies, asking for forgiveness of people that I hurt somehow. Working on my project "Read and Think: The Bible for command line people" :-)
This is what fasting is for me and these are my "special tricks" :-)
The best source to read about fasting is The Bible:
................ == THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW == ................... === Chapter 6, Verse 16 === 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Thank you,