Hello!
I’ve been doing some 18:6 and 16:8 fasts for the past few weeks, but haven’t been able to follow through with a longer fast, because of my daughter.
We’ve always had dinner as a family at the table. If I sit at the table and watch them eat, I bet she’d ask why I’m not eating (and then also insist she’s fasting and doesn’t want to eat) or I would be unable to resist eating something and breaking my fast. I could pretend I’m not hungry (& assuming no one can hear my belly rumble, I might be able to pull it off), but she will also want to use that excuse in the future (I can already hear “I’m not hungry for dinner right now, but will be for dessert/snacks later”).
Surely, some of you have children - how do you set a good example for them (especially little girls) while still doing something that could be regarded/misused as an unhealthy behavior if not managed carefully?
I’m a believer that you should fast around your life, not live around your fast. If dinner is the problem you can easily do OMAD, have a ball at the dinner table.
I’m also a believer that children should always feel protected, but that they don’t need to feel like they are the center of their world but part of it. Have your children understand that if they want to be there for mommy, that they can help tremendously by cooperating in specific ways. If you want to have a longer fast it is not an unreasonable request. Excuse yourself from the table for those days. When they ask your husband he can tell them that we are all helping mommy with her health routine and that we can all help by letting her be for a while.
If cooking is a problem pre cook meals or better yet; send them with your husband and your blessings to Chuckie Cheese or similar joint with similar horrible food. If he takes them to fun places on a regular basis they may even look forward to your longer fasts.
Just pretend and don’t make a big deal of it? Do you think she pays attention to you that closely? I have young kids so I don’t know. Could you say that you had to eat earlier or that you ate the food whilst cooking it because you will we’re hungry and we’re just going to sit down with them? Would they believe or understand that?
I guess my kids are more self-centered. lol
They never ask me. They’re two daughters age 7 and 2. The 2 year old, of course, doesn’t say anything about it. The 7 year old just knows that if we’re making spaghetti that daddy doesn’t eat it because he doesn’t like it. But I don’t think that she has put it together that I don’t eat anything at all when we have spaghetti.
I do honestly not like spaghetti. But my wife and daughters like it. On my two fast days they always have spaghetti or Captain D’s. I really don’t care for either.
Hi, the first few times I told them I wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t eating (which was true….I sat and had my usual array of hot water drinks, while we chatted). By dinner time I’m almost 24 hours into my fast and not tempted. Thereafter I told them the truth, that fasting was helping me with my health and digestion. I make sure that what I serve them is a more carb-heavy meal, or leftovers, that evening, rather than a protein-centric meal on the evenings when I am eating. Supper time is as much about conversation and manners as it is about The grub. To make it feel special and different for me, that’s when I most enjoy a splash of pickle juice with my hot water. Party time! Ha. Best wishes!