It's a bit late, but a few notes on the 9th of Ab/Av.
Before the fast
Drink lots of fluids, preferably water.
Avoid colas and sugared drinks.
Most recommend avoiding caffeinated drinks - coffee, tea, colas, etc. My wife insists that loading up on coffee before the fast puts enough caffeine in her system for the duration.
Eat a good meal a couple of hours before the fast starts.
Load up on starches - rice, pasta - and proteins - lentils are good.
The final meal, סעודת מופסקת , traditionally only water, pita, and one cooked food, typically a boiled egg, is eaten sitting on a rug or low chair before heading off to synagogue for services.
Some rabbis tell congregants that it's a good idea to have it in mind that a person is allowed to drink water until a few minutes before the actual fast begins. Water but no food.
A quick note on medicines: ASK YOUR RABBI.
Before leaving the house for the synagogue, trade leather footwear for non-leather shoes.
Be careful; many "sneakers" are leather, and many "regular" shoes are non-leather (plastics and other man-made materials). It might say somewhere on the shoe what materials were used. The shoes you wear for Yom Kippur are suitable for Tisha b'Ab.
No non-leather shoes? Wear clean socks and doff the shoes when entering the synagogue.
Plan to sit on low stools or chairs or on a rug/carpet at the synagogue. (The practices also should be followed at home.) The elderly and infirm may sit on regular chairs if unable to sit and rise from the low stool or the floor.
Leather belts are permitted.
Driving is permitted.
Work, while discouraged, is permitted.
Many congregations have special programs to help pass the time between services. Keeping occupied with something is the best way to pass the time.
Study of mourning-related and otherwise "sad" texts is permitted; study of Torah (biktav/written and ba'al pei/oral) is prohibited.
Sefardi men do not wear tallit or tefillin for the morning service.
Sefardi cohanim do not bless the kahal during the morning service.
But wait - do not despair.
What was missing in the morning is added to the afternoon service.
No bathing - even in cold water. Washing after a bathroom break is just up to the fingers.
No marital relations; some people sleep on a low bed or a blanket or rug on the floor sans a pillow. Sefardim never sit directly on the floor nor do they prostrate themselves directly on the floor (on Yom Kippur) - there always is a rug or other material between the person and the floor.
Children are not obliged to fast until 12 (girls) or 13 (boys) although if they CAN, they should be allowed to fast a little. Small children should be given their regular meals without extra treats.
CAVEAT: I am not a rabbi nor do I play one on tv. But I DO listen to my rabbi and I read what other rabbis write and convey what I learn to this blog.
May you have an easy fast.
