Are you having trouble losing weight no matter what you try? It could be because you're missing a few basic ingredients to weight loss. I know from personal experience struggling. I call these my "Catholic diet hacks" for social justice weight loss because they are based on the church's teaching on Lent. Use them to gear up your Lenten fasting. These tips are part of how I lost 100 pounds without drugs or weight loss surgery.
Mardi Gras is a Catholic festival season that culminates on Fat Tuesday and takes the faithful into Ash
Wednesday and the penitential season of Lent, The commonly known practice is Lenten fasting or
choosing something to give up for Lent and it's not just for the Catholic. Everyone, Catholic or not,
should quit feasting on Fat Tuesday and pick an addiction to give up for Lent. Don't worry, that's no
religious agenda, just common sense. Lenten fasting is healthy for everyone! Give up junk food for
Lent and you might lose weight, illness, debt, and depression! You don't have to fast for religious
reasons but a spiritual fast can be very healing.
And spiritual fasting isn't necessarily religious, it's a mind-body connection, an examination of
conscience, a personal reflection that frees the mind and soul of earthly trappings. Fasting is a very
Zen experience. Lent, Ramadan and Yom Kippur are ritual purgative fasts. Fasts such as the Buddhist
nyungne bring the elements of the self into focus and unity. Abstaining from mindless indulgences
and addictions, at least for a time, helps to align thoughts, actions, words and feelings. Lenten fasting
helps get priorities straight. Whatever addictions you give up for Lent will have less hold over you.
You find it easier to diet and lose weight as cravings aren't so intense and you are more easily
satisfied.
The Tao of Lenten fasting is inner cleansing through outward deprivation. On Shrove Tuesday and
Ash Wednesday a Catholic is "shriven" or purified and readied for prayer, meditation and almsgiving
and taking up the cross and following Jesus. Think of something negative that has a hold on you to
give up for Lent. Lenten fasting helps you concentrate on essentials. Beat depression and gain
confidence and strength knowing you're stronger than your cravings. If you offer your Lenten fasting
for particular intentions, you develop awareness of, sensitivity to and solidarity with the needs of
others. So you lose weight but also selfishness.
Being less focused on things can help you get out of
debt. You have more money to help those in poverty. This is the best medicine for depression!
Fasting is positive for health reasons. Abstaining from meat, alcohol, fats, sugar, sodium, junk carbs,
candy and dairy can help you lose weight and illness. In times past, people refrained from eating all
of these things during Lent. Now, a Catholic will generally choose one thing to fast from. If you have
trouble deciding? Pick meat or sweets to give up for Lent. You can lower bad cholesterol without
medication just by eating more fish and less meat and dairy. Drinking less alcohol helps cleanse the
liver which helps you lose weight. Try fasting on bread and water twice a week, You may shed 20
pounds during a Lenten fast, making no other lifestyle changes. Refraining from eating sweets and
caffeine, and practicing emotional health exercises can help you wean from an antidepressant and
beat depression naturally. A Lenten fast can heal obesity, depression, save you money and find your
inner joy!
Posts
