40 Day Lenten Water Fast

by Kate
(Monee, IL USA)

I am a 49 year old woman who is pretty healthy. Could stand to lose 20-30 pounds but more importantly was looking to gain some spiritual benefits from a water fast. As the Lord fasted for 40 days I wanted to experience the same thing. I started at 8pm on Tues Feb 16, 2010.

By tonight I will have completed 7 full days of fasting. I wish I would have started this in the beginning but just found this page. Anyway to prepare, I started by doing 3 or 4, 1 to 2 fasts. Only water nothing else. The one and two day fasts I found very easy.

My thoughts since starting the 40 day fast... It is not easy...the first day or two was no big deal, by day 3 I had pain in my legs, it only lasted for 2 days so that wasn't too bad.

I have been tired during the day (everyday)and if the opportunity arises I take a nap -- but working full time it is not always possible. On several days 3 thru 5 I had a lot of back pain. It was in the sides of my back so it might be where the kidneys are but I think that has subsided.

I love lighting candles and I thought it would be soothing until the awesome scent made me have mad hunger pangs this was day 4, so I suggest not buring candles especially if they are food scented. I guess the worst part for me now is insomnia, I am only getting about 4 good hours of sleep a night, this has been from the onset and terrible heartburn.

You wouldn't think water would give you heartburn but it is and is almost unbearable. I must admit I have taken a couple of Tums here and there. I am looking for the spiritual benefits from fasting and I fully intend to go the full 40 days unless I get really sick or black out and hurt myself but so far so good.

I have read that you will get mental clarity and increased energy from this and I am still waiting for that. Will post more as I progress.

Kate