In the Orthodox Church, choosing to honor a "strict" Lenten fast is a spiritual and physical commitment. This year Great Lent is seven weeks long.
Weekdays:
No meat, no fish (with a skeleton), no dairy, no oil (e.g. olive or vegetable)
Shellfish (such as lobster, shrimp, crab, oysters, scallops, clams, mussels, etc.) are allowed.
Vegetables and Vegetable products including grains (rice, wheat, flour, non-egg pasta) are allowed.
Fruit is allowed.
Weekends:
Add the oils back in.
No alcohol. Go easy at meal time. No eating between meals.
Some special days are more or less restrictive.
EZ-PZ, right?
Slavyanka is Orthodox. Because of health issues the last few years she has gotten a dispensation from her priest to allow her to have meat and dairy. This year, she's feeling better so I suggested we do the full Lenten fast, if for no other reason that I will likely lose 20 lbs. on it.
When we were first going out she suggested that some people extend their fast to sex. I made it clear that was not something I was willing to give up. She hasn't brought it up again.
