I think the fasting calendar sets a lot if people up for eating issues and problems with alcohol. I knew people who would binge after a fast, well everyone binges and drinks too much on Pascha and Christmas. But even smaller fasts set people up in this way. If you are slightly inclined towards disordered eating it's just dangerous.

I'm still married to an Orthodox Chistian and have to go to church as we are raising our daughters in the church. They're hitting their teen years and hate it. Can I ask you a personal question? When did you know you were trans? My oldest recently started getting pixie cuts and only wears boys slacks and button up shirts to shirts to church (with the occasional tie). We let her. I don't really care what people think. She hasn't expressed any interest in changing her pronouns or anything. She's on the autism spectrum and I got her this book about being an autistic teenager and there's a section about sexuality and pronouns so I used it as a jumping off point to talk to her about it. She said she wants to stay she/her for now. I know she gets bullied at school for dressing in boy's clothes. Anyway, I didn't mean to get too personal and you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. Her dad doesn't understand how upset it makes me that he supports a church that would deny her communion if she transitioned. I don't receive the sacraments anymore or support the Orthodox Church. I'm very open with my kids about my beliefs (or lack of beliefs).

All the best to you. I hope you are able to create a new family of people who love you as you are. I'm trying to do that myself. ❤️