In a world full of overpriced health fads, calorie-counting apps, and miracle detox teas, one simple, ancient practice still reigns supreme for weight loss: fasting. That’s right — not eating can actually be good for you. And best of all, it’s free.
Whether you’re hitting a plateau, trying to shed stubborn fat, or just want to reset your body without spending a fortune, fasting could be your secret weapon.
🚫What Is Fasting?
Fasting is simply not eating for a set period of time. It gives your body a break from digestion and forces it to burn stored fat for energy instead of constantly relying on food.
There’s no expensive shakes, no calorie tracking, no weird supplements — just you, some water, and a bit of willpower.
⚖️Why Fast for Weight Loss?
Here’s why fasting is effective, especially for stubborn belly fat and weight loss plateaus:
- Burns body fat instead of sugar
- Lowers insulin (the fat-storage hormone)
- Reduces inflammation
- Improves metabolic flexibility (you run better on fat!)
- Helps break unhealthy eating patterns and cravings
🧂The Basics: How to Do It Safely
Fasting doesn’t mean starving. Fasting is a conscious choice to temporarily go without food for health, while starvation is the involuntary lack of food with no control or end in sight. Fasting means giving your body time to rest, reset, and tap into fat stores. Here’s a safe and simple way to start:
🕑 16:8 Intermittent Fasting (daily)
- Fast for 16 hours, eat during an 8-hour window (e.g., 12–8pm)
- Great for beginners, works well with a low-carb or carnivore diet
- Easy… skip breakfast… but not black coffee 🤣😋☕
🔁 24-Hour Fast (1–2 times a week)
- Eat dinner, then don’t eat again until dinner the next day
- Drink water, black coffee, tea, and electrolytes
🧘 3–5 Day Extended Fast (once a month or seasonally)
- Typically means 48 hours or more without solid food.
- Common durations: 3 days (72h), 5 days (120h), 7+ days.
- Ideal for deeper fat loss, insulin reset, and breaking food addiction
- Stay hydrated and keep your electrolytes up
- Only non-caloric intakes: water, electrolytes, black coffee, plain tea.
- Refeed gently with broth and simple meals
💧 What You Can Have While Fasting
- Water (lots!)
- Black coffee
- Green or herbal tea
- Salt, magnesium, potassium (essential for avoiding fatigue and headaches)
Avoid anything with calories, sweeteners (even stevia), or artificial junk. No Carbs, beware carb addiction.
🍲 Refeeding: Don’t Blow It
When you finish a fast, don’t binge on junk. Your body is like a clean slate — so feed it well:
- Bone broth, eggs, or meat
- Cooked veggies (if not strict carnivore)
- Avoid sugar, processed food, and seed oils
Start small, chew slowly, and enjoy the flavours!
💰 Fasting: The Cheapest Health Hack Ever
Forget $300 detox kits. Fasting costs nothing and saves you money:
- Less grocery shopping
- No snacking, no takeaways
- No fancy supplements
Use that extra cash for something worthwhile — like a good book, a train trip, or just topping up your rainy day fund.
🧠 Mindset & Tips
- Keep busy: clean the shed, go for a walk, read
- Listen to podcasts: Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, or even audiobooks about fasting (tip: use Libby or borrow from the local library)
- Track your fasts with a free app like Zero
- Don’t panic if you feel a bit off — it’s usually just carb withdrawal
🚀 Final Thoughts
Fasting isn’t a fad — it’s how our ancestors survived and thrived. It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about gaining control over your health, energy, and habits.
So if you’re stuck in a rut, struggling with stubborn fat, or just want to simplify life — give fasting a crack. It costs nothing, fits any lifestyle, and could be the most effective thing you’ve never tried.
Your body already knows how to fast — you just need to get out of its way.