Does Fasting Sound Like the Worst Thing in the World to You?
Me too. Honestly, when I first heard about fasting, I thought, Absolutely not. Not for me.
Don’t worry—I’m not here to convince you that you have to fast. You don’t need to fast if it doesn’t feel right for you. But I am here to share why I fast and how it’s transformed how I feel in my body. You can draw your own conclusions from my experience.
I’ll keep this super simple, short, and hopefully helpful.
What Happens When You Eat?
Every time you eat, your blood sugar goes up. This is normal—it’s just how your body processes food. But here’s the thing:
Fats have the smallest impact on blood sugar.
Proteins are somewhere in the middle.
Carbs—whether they’re from fruit or your favorite sugary treat—cause the biggest blood sugar spikes.
When your blood sugar rises, your body releases insulin to bring it back down. Insulin helps store excess sugar in your liver, muscles, and eventually, your fat cells.
Here’s where it gets interesting:
When your insulin is high, your body stops producing as much human growth hormone (HGH). This matters because HGH helps your body tap into stored fat for energy. Without it, you can’t efficiently burn fat—you’re stuck running on sugar. So you have to keep eating every few hours to get more energy instead of tapping into the energy stores we all carry around with us, conveniently located on our butts, stomachs and thighs.
How Fasting Helps
The best way to boost HGH and start burning fat is to lower your insulin levels. And one of the simplest ways to do that? Fasting.
Here’s the cool part: fasting can actually make you less hungry over time. Not immediately—your body is used to burning sugar for energy, so switching to burning fat can feel uncomfortable at first. But once your body adapts, it gets easier. Eventually, it can even easy.
How to Get Started (Without Feeling Miserable)
If fasting feels intimidating, start small. Here's what worked for me:
Stop snacking between meals. Yes, even diet soda or coffee with sugar substitutes counts as a “snack.” (If you need coffee, stick to black coffee or a splash of heavy cream.)
Fast overnight for 12 hours. For example, finish dinner by 7 PM and don’t eat again until 7 AM. Simple, right?
If you want, once it’s easy to fast 12 hours overnight, start pushing breakfast later very gradually. You can decide when you’ve reached the right fast for you and your body.
Pro Tip: If you’re used to eating small meals and snacking to fill the gaps, you’ll need to switch it up. Focus on substantial meals with enough protein and fat to keep you satisfied for at least 4 hours. Think eggs with avocado, or chicken thighs with roasted veggies and olive oil. Don’t eat like a dieter who will be reaching for some baby carrots or grapes 2 hours later.
My Personal Experience
I’ve been fasting for years, but only just returned to it post-weaning a few weeks ago. Last weekend, after an indulgent brunch left me feeling extra hungry, I decided to tweak my approach. I upped my protein and fat intake, cut carbs dramatically, and just saw how long I could go without eating and without feeling hungry. I wasn’t interested in suffering!
The first few days felt like I was eating a ton —hello, butter on everything!—but suddenly, it clicked. Today, I realized I hadn’t eaten in 20 hours and wasn’t even hungry. (For the record, I decided to eat anyway to stay on schedule.)
Not feeling tethered to food all the time feels amazing. I’m no longer constantly thinking about my next meal. Instead, I feel more focused, productive, and in control. I’m thinking more about my life and less about my eating. Which feels like freedom.
I’m taking a break from the scale this year, so I have no idea if I’ve lost weight. But I do know I’m improving my health and my life. For me, that’s enough.
Why It’s Worth a Try
Fasting isn’t about deprivation—it’s about giving your body a chance to rest and reset. If you’re curious, start small. Focus on cutting out snacks, eating balanced meals, and letting your body adjust gradually.
Who knows? You might just discover that not feeling hungry all the time is one of the best feelings in the world.
