My Journey With Fasting

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. I’m sharing my personal experience with fasting. Always consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or lifestyle!

GETTING STARTED

About eight months ago, I stumbled upon the idea of fasting while reading Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy by Sadhguru. Around the same time, I started hearing more about intermittent fasting and its potential benefits for gut health, particularly in managing symptoms of IBS.

Now, I don’t know if I had IBS a I'd never been diagnosed, but I was certainly struggling—bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, cramps, midday energy crashes, high sensitivity to common foods. And despite everything I tried, I wasn’t losing weight. So, rather than follow a rigid fasting schedule, I decided to listen to my body. As Sadhguru suggests, I began to only eat when my intestines felt truly empty to try and get my body to relearn to use Ketosis for energy production.

NOTE: Ketosis is a natural state where your body breaks down stored fats in the absence of glucose.

RESULTS AFTER TWO WEEKS

Within two weeks of starting (keep in mind I wasn't being totally strict) I had already noticed a major shift in my health—about 60% of my symptoms had faded.

But I was often feeling hungry and low blood sugar - not good.

RESULTS AFTER TWO MONTHS

I continued fasting but allowed myself to have a high fat snack (yoghurt or tuna). Now 80% of my symptoms were gone unless I had fast food take out. My digestion felt smoother, my energy was steadier, and I was no longer feeling enslaved to cravings or even meal schedules. And here’s the kicker—no more migraines! I used to suffer from migraines every couple of weeks, lasting for days.

I was still fighting off hunger though on more low blood sugar. Sometimes I'd fast for breakfast and sometimes lunch - depending on how my body felt.

RESULTS AFTER ONE YEAR

Over time, I noticed my metabolism also adapted. I continue to experience very few IBS symptoms but my energy lasts even longer and is more intense now. My body has fallen into more of a 'routine' of fasting but still isn't always the exact same so I continue to listen and make eating decisions based on whether I am empty or when I feel my energy has dropped. The extra energy has been amazing and Iam able to maintain my weight more easily.

NOT PERFECT

That said, I don't have it down to a science. I am still learning how to snack.

GO WITH THE FLOW

I’ve learned that my body’s needs vary day by day. Some mornings, I wake up and know that my body doesnt need to eat so I wait. Other days, lunch isn't necessary, or I realize I’m fine to go without dinner. Sometimes I recognise the need for something small, so I reach for something nourishing like cheese, meat, nuts, or carrot sticks. Other days, my body wants to consume all three full meals. It seems to depend on the kind of food I ate at my last meal and my activity level in between.

The key for me has been flexibility. No rigid rules—just responding to what my body wants.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

This journey has also reshaped my relationship with food. I no longer eat just because it’s “time to eat.” Instead, I eat with intention and enjoyment. I still break my own rules sometimes—like that one time I gave in to a greasy fast-food craving at dinner... I regretted it at 2 AM when severe cramping woke me up. My gut had spoken loud and clear.

What I’ve realized is that your body will talk to you if you’re willing to listen.

It's really important to know that a solution that worked for me, may not work for everyone else. Fasting is NOT for everyone. My husband, for example, has an ectomorphic body type. He burns fat quickly and has a high metabolism. When he goes without food for too long, he feels terrible and stays that way until he eats. Fasting doesn’t work for him, so whats important is he listens to his body. Listen to yours and notice:

• When do I get energy slumps?

• Do I feel good after eating that?

• What times do I usually get cravings?

• Am I full or am I still eating just to finidh whats on my plate?

FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

I’ve become convinced that modern health is about understanding that every body is different. What works for one person might not work for another, and that’s why personalized, nuanced solutions matter.

My advice? Approach your health like a scientist. Experiment. Try something new for a while and observe how your body responds. If fasting (or any other habit) makes you feel better, keep going. If it doesn’t, let it go. Never do it out of guilt or shame—do it out of self-love.

At the end of the day, the goal is not to follow trends but to create a lifestyle that genuinely makes you feel your best.

For more insights on fasting, you might find Fast Like a Girl: A Woman's Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting by Dr. Mindy Pelz helpful. This book offers a comprehensive look at using fasting for healing and fat burning, tailored specifically for women.

Thanks for reading!