How to Fast for Advent — and Have the Best Christmas ever

There’s more to fasting than bread and water - Photo by Kamil Szumotalski on Unsplash

Intermittent fasting wasn’t created in the last decade, it’s a human creation with a long and virtuous history that will make us all healthier, happier, wealthier, allow us to truly enjoy the Christmas feast and stay slim for the new year. As Martin Luther might have said, “The belly god doesn’t need to be fed every time he growls.”

So, this year I don’t want to spend more money than I have, overeat and booze from late November for four to six weeks. I don’t want to make resolutions that I never keep, that mean I struggle with my weight all the way to spring just to be another target in a shopkeeper’s sales demographic.

The “fast before feast” maxim of early Christians has all but been forgotten but I believe, right now, is the perfect time for a revival.

Let’s fast for advent instead of gorging on cheap little chocolates from cardboard imitations of Christmas.

And let’s face the truth, you really can’t feast without a fast, feasting every day is just gluttony.

NOW RELAX, BECAUSE . . .

The advent fast isn’t hard. You don’t even have to be a churchgoer. It’s great for kids and old people. And you certainly don’t need to indulge in religious guilt if you do have one glass of egg-nog or a mince pie. Just be mindful of what…