As to fasting, the things you mention...I think they're like the bare minimum. I've always been encouraged to try and give up something meaningful to me- to make it a real sacrifice. But I don't much like the word sacrifice...it makes it seem impractical. I think the truer intent of Lent and other periods of abstention the Church imposes is an opportunity for people to strenghten themselves, and work on their lives in ways they would have been putting off otherwise. It's about things we take for granted- instead of just winging it like most of us do, Lent is a good time to actually sit down and think about the kind of person we are- what the balance between good and bad in our life is, what we can do to improve ourselves.
It seems that our understanding of fasting is quite different. I don't see it as a sacrifice - as having to give something up. I see it as a period of purificating for the body and soul. However, since I do not practice fasting, I am not in the position to say whether people who do, experience this state of purity.
Here is the part of the article I found. It's taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy#Fasting
Fasting
The practice of fasting is one of many Jewish practices the earliest Christians kept, and which Orthodox Christians continue to keep to this day. The Orthodox approach to fasting is quite different from the Latin West who see fasting as a penitence for sins, almost a punishment and burden. The Orthodox, on the other hand, are reminded that perfect man, as in the garden of Eden, ate only vegetables, and sexual relations did not occur. The Orthodox seeks to recapture paradise through fasting, to regain a measure of purity. It is never looked on as a hardship or punishment, but rather a great privilege and joy. Fasting typically involves differing levels of abstinence depending on the day or season and ranges from a complete fast from all food and drink to abstinence from all animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, etc), olive oil, and wine. Shellfish and vegetable oils are permitted on certain days and weeks of the fast as is wine. Thus, most fasting guidelines resemble vegan vegetarianism with all frying/cooking done simply with water (no oil), and most vegetarian recipes are appropriate during fasts. In addition to restrictions on food, it is generally understood that married couples abstain from sexual relations during a fast. Monasteries typically have additional fasts, typically, they abstain from all animal products on Monday as well as Wednesday and Friday; and they never eat meat or poultry, fish being the only exception. The time and type of fast is generally uniform for all Orthodox Christians living within a particular jurisdiction; the times of fasting are part of the ecclesial calendar. In this way, the whole church fasts together, and the whole church feasts together (when the fast is broken). Infants, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people with other medical needs are often encouraged not to follow the usual fasting guidelines, but to work out alternatives with their priest or spiritual elder. Also, if someone wishes to follow a stricter fast, they are generally encouraged to do so only under the guidance of their priest or spiritual elder. Fasting without prayer was often called the "fast of demons" by the Church fathers, since the demons neither eat nor pray. Therefore, fasting should always be accompanied by prayer and almsgiving.
There are four major fasting periods during the year. They are:
The Nativity Fast (Advent or Winter Lent) which is the 40 days proceeding the Nativity of Christ(Christmas).
The Great Fast (Lent) which consists of the 6 weeks (40 Days) proceeding Palm Sunday, and Great Week (Holy Week) which proceeds Pascha (Easter).
The Fast of Sts. Peter and Paul which varies in length from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the date of Pentecost which itself falls 50 days after Pascha. It extends from the week following Pentecost to the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29th.
And the two-week long Fast proceeding the Dormission (death or repose) of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary)
In addition, except during “Feast� weeks, members of the Orthodox Church fast on every Wednesday in commemoration of Christ’s betrayal by Judas Iscariot, and on every Friday in commemoration of his crucifixion. Monastics often include Mondays as a fast day in commemoration of the Angels.
Because of the moveable nature of Pascha, the number of fast days varies each year, but in general the Orthodox Christian can expect to spend at least 1/3 of the year fasting.