When I was 12 we did a fast as a monthly practice for a religion I no longer practice. That was when I was introduced to fasting and to be honest I hated it. It was never explained as to why we were fasting. It was placed on the calendar and I just knew once a month on Sunday I was going to be hungry and irritable.

Now, I’m an adult and I began fasting again for health reasons. Now that I understand how to fast without going crazy and Hulk smashing everything in sight it is far more endurable.

This is me when I was eating all the damn eclairs. Still not at my heaviest, but getting there. I eat my feelings and sometimes those feelings are drenched in chocolate ganache and creme anglaise.


I don’t go crazy with it. The longest I fast is typically 13–16 hours five days a week and once a month I fast for 18–24 hours. I also like to exercise in my fasting state as I feel really energized. I’ve felt my stamina and endurance improve dramatically in the past year since I started experimenting with fasting. Recently, I ran an 8 mile obstacle course race during a 16 hour fast and felt great up to mile 6 and then my body aches (tendonitis in my knee) started breaking me down mentally. But, my energy levels did not flag, so I consider that a positive result.

I know a few people who fast 48–96 hours once a month and they are healthy and happy. Personally, I don’t have the mental discipline to commit to that yet as I am happy with the results I have right now.

Intermittent fasting has just been a natural progression in my fitness journey. Using mindful eating habits, cooking more at home, and consistent exercise has rounded out the practice and helped me lose a lot of unwanted and unhealthy weight. Consider that two years ago I was at my heaviest floating between 235–240 with a 38 inch waist. At 41, I am in great shape and my weight is now floating between 195–200 with a 35 inch waist.