Christian Fasting & Fasting for Weight Loss: Similarities & Differences

One of the posts here on JessConnell.com that receives continual attention is this post, from 2016:

• Christian Fasting, For Moms <—- In that article, I discuss biblical methods of fasting, a Christian attitude toward fasting, benefits of fasting, and how/when fasting can dovetail with various physical conditions of motherhood (pregnant and/or breastfeeding, in particular).

Few people write about what it’s like to fast, while pregnant, nursing, or taking care of little people, and whether or not it can be safe, or done at all.

Similarly, it is rare to examine the modern phenomena of fasting for weight loss, and how these may/may not be combined with, or similar to, Christian fasting (or biblical fasting). That’s what I’d like to do here in this article.

What is FASTING FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

People fast for weight loss in various ways.

For the last century or so, fasting has been used in clinical settings for the obese, and experimented with for other health conditions (like diabetes and memory loss). The practice of fasting has recently gained popularity with a rise in “intermittent fasting.” Facebook groups, YouTube talks, books, and more, have focused on it and brought the old idea of fasting into the modern era.

Intermittent fasting means going without food for shorter lengths of time (for example, 16:8 would mean that in a 24-hour day, you’d spend 16 hours fasting, and leave yourself an 8-hour eating window). Doing so can lessen caloric intake, moderate blood sugars, improve sleep, and can result in varying levels of ‘success’ in regard to weight loss/regulation. (More information on intermittent fasting can be found BY CLICKING HERE.)

Other modern fasting methods include: OMAD (one meal a day– which can have similar outcomes to intermittent fasting by limiting hours of eating and providing a natural boundary for caloric intake), alternate day fasting (fasting for 24 hours, every other day), 5:2 fasting (eating 5 days, and fasting 2 days, each week), and even extended fasting (varying lengths of days) for weight loss.

{Note: regardless of your physical state, input from a doctor is recommended if you plan to undertake these.}

What is CHRISTIAN FASTING?

Christian fasting, or biblical fasting, refers to a spiritual discipline of abstaining from food.

When Christians fast, they are choosing not to eat food in order to single-mindedly devote themselves to the pursuit of God through Scripture and prayer. There is not a required length of time for spiritual fasting. Some people in Scripture devoted themselves to a fast for a particular purpose, and some for a certain length of days.

For me, fasting has been an important and valuable means of drawing near to God. During this time I can give a larger portion of my day to prayer, Bible reading, meditating on Scripture, and allowing my physical weakness to drive me toward dependency and, ultimately, toward the Lord.

I shared more about my personal experiences with fasting in this article. I specifically shared about how I made decisions and plans about fasts amidst the varying states of motherhood: pregnancy, breastfeeding, while feeding the family, etc. Many Christians (men and women, but especially moms) continue to write and leave comments, about that article and how it has helped them.

With the rise in popularity of fasting for weight loss, I thought it could help others if I examined the ways that these two:

• fasting for weight loss
• Christian fasting

are similar to, and how they are different from, one another.

SIMILARITIES

I have noticed these similarities between fasting for weight loss & Christian fasting:

• Both involve going without meals.
• Both typically result in fewer calories taken in to the body.
• Both/any form of fasting should be undertaken with the consideration of medical input and the opinion of your doctor.
• Both involve or can induce physical processes, like:
  • potential headaches/weakness/tiredness the first few days
  • the potential for physical hunger to pause somewhere around day 3-5
  • changes in the digestive system
• Both bring about health benefits like autophagy, improvements in our blood sugar/insulin responses, and may improve our sleep.
• Both may result in long-term improvements to our mental and physical health.
• Both require self-discipline.
• Both can affect our mood and reveal unpleasant emotions.
• Both can reveal ways we are ruled by food, comfort, and feelings.
• Both can bring about a sense of serenity, mental clarity, and focus.

DIFFERENCES

And I’ve noticed these differences between fasting for weight loss and Christian fasting:

• Christian fasting is not connected with or concerned about weight loss. In the Bible, while healthfulness is sometimes indirectly associated with fasting (i.e., Daniel and friends), fasting is not in any way linked with weight.
• Christian fasting is consistently connected with prayer. Fasting for weight loss has no such stated intent/practice.
• Biblical fasts were a natural part of life, undertaken alongside feasts (Old Testament rhythms under the Law involved both fasting and feasting), whereas fasting for weight loss may deliberately discourage times of “feasts,” (as this could undo the benefits of weight loss during fasts) and may instead encourage specific dietary restrictions or eating approaches during times between fasts.
• Christian fasting is to be done in a way that is discreet (see Matthew 6:16-18), whereas fasting for weight loss may or may not be public and discussed freely.
• Christian fasting is not routinized or formatted. There is no number of “hours” or days recommended for a Christian fast. Ultimately, whether you will fast, and how long you will fast, is a matter between you and the Lord.
• Christian fasting focuses specifically on spiritual matters and spiritual outcomes, not physical or weight loss goals.

OTHERS?

Have you fasted in one (or both) of these ways? What similarities and differences do you see?

Do you have any questions, points for discussion, or insights to add? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING: FASTING IN 2024?

As we head into a new year, many people may set weight loss goals, or have health outcomes they are hoping for. Many may include some form of fasting in their plans.

One question we may have, especially with the modern focus on fasting is:

IS IT OK TO FAST FOR SPIRITUAL REASONS, ALONGSIDE DESIRING THE WEIGHT LOSS/PHYSICAL BENEFITS?

As I’ve processed through these thoughts for myself, the answer I’ve come to is: Yes! God built our bodies as He did, knowing that fasting would bring about the weight loss and physical helps that it does. It is still OK to fast for spiritual reasons, if we are overweight, obese, or some other way in need of those physical helps, and to welcome those other outcomes alongside the spiritual goals we have.

For me, while I’m fasting for spiritual reasons, it has helped to purposefully set aside some part of the day to specifically intake Scripture in one of these ways:

• reading the Bible
• studying/outlining a Bible passage
• listening to an Audiobook form of the Bible (sometimes for a set length of time, sometimes an entire book or more all at once)
• copying down the Psalms, word-for-word

as well as including other forms of worship as well, like:

• singing hymns/spiritual songs of praise, worship
• spending time alone in prayer and solitude
• resting and using the time while I am waiting to fall asleep, or waking up, for prayer and gratitude to the Lord
• sitting in silence and journaling about whatever items God brings to mind
• noting people who I have harmed and prayerfully blessing them, journaling about those things, and seeking to rectify those wrongs and put things right between us.

My encouragement to you, whether or not you have fasted in the past, would be to consider if there may be a place for Christian fasting in your 2024.

ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF FASTING

Though this article is focused on physical fasts involving food/physical hunger, there are other options if you are (due to medical conditions or for some other reason) unable to engage in that way.

Even if you are unable to go without food:

• Can you go without devices or media ‘noise’ for a number of hours or days?
• Could you abstain from social media?
• Could you refrain from some form of creature comforts (like wine, sweets, or some other “go-to” in your life) for a length of time so that you can instead deliberately turn to the Lord for comfort and joy?
• Could you do a sugar fast— choosing to cut out treats, extras, and ‘cheap’ dopamine hits and turn to God with those longings for joy and delight instead?
• Could you, for a length of time, wake up 30-60 minutes earlier and intentionally use that time for connection with God?
• Could you cut out some regular undertaking and devote that time to Scripture and prayer?

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

James 4:8

Draw near and seek the Lord. Ask Him to give you insight about ways you can turn your heart, body, soul, and mind to Him in 2024. He is so good, and He loves to draw near to His people.

Grace and Peace,

Jess