Thoughts on food, rhythm, and listening to your body
Let’s get something clear straight away. Intermittent fasting is not a diet. It’s not a fix, it’s not a miracle, and it won’t make you a better person. But for me, it helps.
I’ve stopped and restarted it more than once. Usually when life gets a bit too much or stress takes over and structure feels like another thing to fail at. That’s the thing about rhythm, it only works when you’ve got enough room in your head to do it.
But when I’m in rhythm, it makes a difference. Not just to how I eat, but to how I feel.
I try to follow a 16:8 pattern most days, fast for sixteen hours, eat within eight. I aim for that six days a week, but I do not make a fuss if it doesn’t happen. Life happens. Sometimes I want breakfast. Sometimes I just need to eat something early because I feel off. And that’s fine.
Fasting is not about punishment. It is not about control. It is about finding a rhythm that gives you space to actually feel hunger again, and just as importantly, to notice when you’ve had enough.
I am still fat. I am, in fact, clinically obese even if I don’t feel it. I’m losing weight slowly and steadily, and I am not miserable. I am not denying myself anything. I eat what I want. I just do it more deliberately, and usually later in the day.
And something interesting happens when I’m in that rhythm. My tastes start to shift. I still reach for a ‘sharing’ bag of Minstrels or a packet of crisps sometimes. Let’s not pretend otherwise. But more often than not, I find myself wanting food that feels a bit more nourishing.
Real food. Cooked food. Things that actually satisfy but that does not mean boring food. I still want it to taste good. Who wants healthy food you do not enjoy? Not me. I’ll be sharing some of my recipes or tweaks soon, though calling them recipes might be generous. Tip number one: add spinach to pretty much everything.
Fasting is not entirely backed by large-scale clinical studies yet, so let’s be honest about that. But there is growing belief that it may reduce inflammation, support metabolic health, and help with focus. And I have to say, I do feel clearer in the mornings when I fast. We have all had that post-lunch slump, the fog, the urge for a nap. Fasting takes the edge off that for me, makes me more productive well into the afternoon.
That said, I’ve also noticed that longer fasts, say 20 hours or more, sometimes mess with my sleep. I tend to feel more wired, and not in a productive way. Though to be fair, my sleep isn’t always a strong point anyway — not when TikTok or a good book keeps me up far later than I should be, especially when I’ve got work in the morning.
This is not the only thing I’m doing, but it’s one of the things that’s helping. I feel more in tune with my body. I find myself actually listening to hunger and fullness cues rather than eating just because it’s time, or just because something’s there.
If you’re curious, Fast. Feast. Repeat. by Gin Stephens is a good place to start — warm, practical, and not pushy. And the team at ZOE have a solid overview of the pros and cons if you’re more science-minded or just like to know what you’re working with.
But let me be very clear. If you’ve ever had disordered eating, or if food control makes you feel powerful, or if you tend to punish yourself with restriction, this is not the answer. It is too easy to slide into starving yourself and call it discipline. That is not what this is about. Please take care of yourself first.
Fasting is not about fixing. It is about giving yourself space to feel again, especially in a world that is constantly shouting about what you should be doing.
It is not for everyone. It will not work for everyone. And even if it does work, it might not work all the time.
But when it does, it feels like clarity. It feels like peace. It feels like one part of life finally asking a little less of you, not more. Lord knows, not worrying about breakfast or mid morning snacks has freed up much needed brain cells for me.
And that, right now, is enough for me.
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