Let’s Talk About Intermittent Fasting.

Last Updated on August 2, 2025 by Pen Pixel

I started intermittent fasting because I hated myself.

I mean full-on, “If I skip dinner maybe I’ll like my face more tomorrow” kind of hate.

And:

• Sometimes it’s not discipline. 
• Sometimes it’s punishment in disguise.

But we dress it up, call it a “health journey,” and pretend we’re healing when really, we’re just hiding.

The Key Takeaway.

Intermittent fasting can help you feel in control, give your digestion a break, and even sharpen your mind, but only if you’re not using it as a socially acceptable way to starve your emotions. Most people aren’t ready for that conversation. But here we are.

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

It’s not new. It’s just timing your meals, eating within certain hours, fasting the rest.

• Some do 16:8 (fast 16 hours, eat for 8). 
• Others do 20:4. 
• Some skip breakfast. 
• Some skip dinner.

It’s all the same game: Don’t eat all the time. Eat only sometimes.

The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting.

You finally feel… powerful. For once.

• You stop being a slave to cravings.
• Your tummy stops barking every 3 hours like a spoilt toddler.
• You’re sharper. Lighter. You’re not constantly thinking about what to eat next.

It’s like your brain gets a fresh breeze of air because food is no longer the boss of you.

But guess what?

That same feeling, of control, is addictive. And it can spiral.

• You start shrinking the window. 
• You skip the “eating window” altogether. 
• You feel proud when you don’t eat.
• And suddenly, you’re not practicing fasting… you’re practicing disappearing.

Your digestion gets a break.

Look, our guts are TIRED.

Eating non-stop is like leaving your phone on 10% battery while running five apps.

No wonder you feel bloated, foggy, cranky.

Fasting helps you hit pause. Let your system catch up. Reset.

You might feel lighter. Sleep better. Poop like royalty.

But it’s not a miracle cure.

If you’re eating rubbish during your “eating window,” don’t expect glowing skin and six-pack abs. This ain’t Hogwarts.

Mental clarity (a.k.a. You might actually finish a thought).

When you’re not digesting 24/7, your brain can focus. Fasting is weirdly energizing.

You get this light, floaty vibe, like your body’s running on clean fuel.

But careful, clarity is not the same as peace.

• Some people confuse mental alertness with mental wellness.
• You’re not healed just because you’re awake and hyper at 2PM on an empty stomach. Sometimes you’re just hungry.

That’s adrenaline talking, not enlightenment.

Risks of Intermittent Fasting.

Hormones, baby. Don’t mess with them.

Especially for women.

Our bodies are moody. Fickle. Strategic.

Too much fasting and your body goes into survival mode. 

• Your period might ghost you. 
• Your skin might rebel. 
• Your mood? A full-on telenovela.

I once fasted so hard, my period vanished for 2 months. Doctor said, “Oh, it’s stress.” I said, “No, it’s delusion.” I was trying to get skinny, not evaporate my uterus.

You become obsessed.

• You’re not fasting anymore. 
• You’re just watching the clock.
• 12PM feels like salvation.
• One minute past your “eating window” feels like sin.
• You cancel brunch with friends because “it doesn’t fit your window.”
• You stop enjoying food.
• You stop being fun.

You’re just this walking rulebook with hunger in your eyes.

If your life revolves around your fasting timer, it’s not healthy anymore. It’s just another jail cell.

You might be lying to yourself.

I know. Brutal.

But are you fasting because it helps your body… or because it helps you feel worthy?

Because you’ve attached your self-respect to how “disciplined” you are?

Let me say this louder for the people in the back: If your self-worth is tied to how little you eat, you don’t need a new diet. You need to talk to your inner child.

The Best Intermittent Fasting Practices.

Break your fast with something real.

Not sugar. Not garbage.

Protein, fiber, and water.

Give your body something that’ll keep your blood sugar from spiking like a TikTok trend.

Fast well, but break smart.

Your schedule, your rules.

Don’t copy that YouTuber who fasts 20 hours and eats like a bird. Listen to your life.

If you’re working night shifts, schooling, healing, or just tired, don’t punish yourself with rigid hours. You’re allowed to change the rules.

Fasting is a tool, not a commandment.

Take breaks. Real ones.

You’re not going to “undo all your progress” by eating breakfast once in a while.

• You’re not a robot.
• Give your body grace.
• Eat when you need to.
• Rest when you’re burnt out.
• Don’t die on the altar of discipline.

Sometimes intermittent fasting feels like freedom. Other times, it feels like hunger with lipstick on. And the line between the two? Isn’t always clear.