We believe it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. We ourselves do not receive communion unless we are making regular confession of our sins to a priest and are at peace with other communicants. This leads to the general topic of fasting. Altogether this adds up to nearly half the year. Here, as elsewhere, expect great variation.
Nobody's fast is anyone else's business.
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The important point is that the fast is not rigid rules that you break at grave risk, nor is it a punishment for sin. Fasting is exercise to stretch and strengthen us, medicine for our souls' health. In consultation with your priest as your spiritual doctor, you can arrive at a fasting schedule that will stretch but not break you. Next year you may be ready for more.