The period of Lent is a holy time on the Christian calendar, marked by self-reflection and the examination of one\u2019s life, choices and habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, many observe this period by voluntarily foregoing certain earthly luxuries or vices in an effort to emerge on the other end an improved person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Del Hall of Cincinnati, Ohio, that luxury is solid food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Lent began March 6, Hall initiated a fully liquid diet in order to become less dependent on fatty foods and sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only, the fluid he settled on consuming to provide his greatest sustenance is beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of day 18 of Hall\u2019s beer-only fast, the radical diet is working \u2014 at least in terms of weight management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Army vet, who is the director of sales at Fifty West Brewing Company, is down over 25 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel amazing,\u201d Hall told the Cincinnati Enquirer<\/a>, before admitting the early stages were the least enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDay two and three were pretty rough. I wanted to bash some Taco Bell after a few beers because that\u2019s what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hall\u2019s fasting inspiration comes from 17th century Bavarian monks, he said, who would observe the holy time of Lent through fasting on a \u201cBock Beer Diet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFasting is a big part of being human and we don\u2019t really do that anymore,\u201d he said in a YouTube video documenting his progress. \u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily about the weight loss as it is the challenge of replicating what the monks did” over a 46-day fast. \u201cIt\u2019s about the journey and learning about yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shedding pounds and the dependency on bad foods, however, will certainly be a positive outcome of completing the endeavor, he told the Enquirer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope when this is done\u2026 when I\u2019m hungry and there\u2019s bad food available, I opt to not eat anything at all,” Hall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately for Hall, a variety of beers are readily available in his profession, and he\u2019s taken full advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m a typical human, I want variety,” he told the Enquirer. \u201cI don\u2019t eat the same thing every day. I don\u2019t want to drink the same thing, either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether that variety will sustain him until Lent\u2019s April 18 conclusion remains to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hall\u2019s progress, meanwhile, can be tracked through his Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n