My perspective on fasting & options beyond food

Episode #221: My Perspective on fasting & options beyond food 

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Welcome back to *A Joy To Be Me*! Did you know that this month marks the 5-year anniversary of this podcast? What a wild five years it has been—am I right? As we navigate this post-COVID era, many of us are seeing it as a wake-up call to readjust our lifestyles to better align with our true needs. This silver lining encourages us to prioritize what matters and embrace a healthier, more mindful way of living. It’s inspiring to see many of my clients making significant life changes and laying strong foundations for their health and well-being during this time.

Recently, a client asked for my insights on fasting, particularly the "Fasting Like a Girl" movement, which I hadn’t explored before. While fasting isn't something I typically focus on, I have many thoughts on the subject that I haven’t shared publicly. For me, fasting has naturally integrated into my life—not as a way to fix something, but as a gradual, organic process. I believe it encompasses more than just food, and today, I’d like to delve into that.

First, let me share a bit about myself and the reason I chose podcasting, which ties into our topic. Understanding ourselves—our strengths and weaknesses—can illuminate the healing paths that truly support us, helping us navigate excesses and misdirected focuses.

I’m passionate about learning and driven to share what I’ve discovered. For those into astrology, this is largely influenced by my Sagittarius rising and a 9th house stellium, with all three of my Virgo placements in the 9th house. This combination emphasizes Virgo traits—health, analysis, and organization—while the 9th house embodies philosophy and higher learning. My Virgo Sun (core personality), Virgo Mars (drive), and Virgo Mercury (communication) compel me to discuss topics of organic healing and to organize and analyze this information. I’m literally designed to do this! Plus, my Sagittarius influence drives my mission to teach higher concepts, making me a health philosopher and mentor.

I love diving deep into learning and often absorb a lot of information quickly. However, when I reach my limit—whether from fatigue or emotional stress—I find myself shutting down. It’s crucial during those times to take a break, rest, and reconnect with my body while processing what’s happening in my life. It seems obvious when I say it out loud, right? But before embracing my gifts and path, I struggled with this.

In today’s world, it’s easy to max out our capacity, even while engaging in what we love. We’re bombarded with information, much of it low-quality or even toxic, especially regarding health and fasting. We need to become skilled at filtering what we take in; otherwise, we risk absorbing more than we should, holding onto it when we should be letting it go.

This is where fasting comes into play. It allows us to break down what’s already in our system and manage excesses. To find peace within ourselves, we often need to abstain from taking in more first.

I do see value in fasting from food. Personally, I believe we should eat during daylight hours and avoid eating after sundown. It’s a straightforward approach that aligns with our circadian rhythms. Eating seasonally can also help our bodies regulate naturally. 

That said, fasting in our modern context deserves research and thoughtful consideration - and just because a health expert is adamant about it or has created a whole movement around it doesn’t mean you need to do it NOW or the way it’s being taught.

It’s not about rigid dieting; it’s about understanding how to incorporate fasting into a more optimal lifestyle. I don’t personally use therapeutic fasting in my work because I’ve seen it become trendy in ways that can be harmful. I've noticed an increase in disordered eating and metabolic instability, which is why I hesitate to promote fasting as a primary or long term solution. Many people need a lot of healing, a lot of nourishment and to feel safe in their bodies before they can benefit from fasting as a natural practice instead of a desperate fix. 

Historically, our ancestors didn’t constantly restrict calories; they experienced cycles of abundance and scarcity. Modern life, with its constant availability of food and light, disrupts this natural rhythm. We often approach diets without considering our circadian biology.

I believe in a gradual approach to fasting—not strict protocols but rather replacing old habits with new ones. The first step could be detoxing our conditioning, starting with a digital detox to allow for silence and self-reflection. Our lives are increasingly digital, and while it’s a part of our reality, we need to find ways to fast from it. The constant barrage of information affects our brains, physiology, and emotional health in ways we may not totally realize considering this way of life has only been a few decades . . . we need to fast from this form of excess even MORE so than food IMO because the messaging is only going to increase as we go deeper and deeper into the digital virtual age.

I want to recommend an audio book I recently listened to on a road trip: The Voice of Silence by Helena Blavtsky  if you are on a healing journey and have turned it into a path of self discovery as well. Her teachings on self discipline are excellent and timeless IMO as she wrote this book in the late 1800s. It’s on YT and it does have ad interruptions unless you have a paid account and it’s a male speaker since Helena is no longer alive and with us.  

Many of my clients, especially women, express anxiety about their health, often turning to online resources late at night or health forums, which only exacerbates their stress. I encourage finding strategies to reduce this overwhelm. While abstaining from technology entirely may not be feasible, we can learn to use it less. I remember a simpler time before smartphones and the internet dominated our lives, and I believe many could benefit from reconnecting with that simplicity. Our nervous systems aren’t cut out for this much input. 

So, how can we incorporate fasting in a beneficial way without falling into rigidity? Fasting and hormesis—our bodies’ ability to adapt to stress—are powerful concepts worth exploring. Hormesis shows that we can grow stronger when exposed to various stressors, including limited food intake. However, fasting isn’t the only way to experience this; other stresses like exercise and mental challenges can also enhance our resilience.

As we navigate modern living, we must critically evaluate our choices. It’s easy to prioritize comfort over health, but by embracing hormesis, we can reclaim our strength and resilience. This journey isn’t just about fasting; it’s about pushing boundaries across all areas of life.

I encourage you to reflect on how you can incorporate principles of fasting, abstainance or resilience-building practices into your life to align with your health goals. 

Fasting Approaches in Light of my 7 Pillars

Let’s explore some fasting practices that align with my 7 pillars of health: light environment, water, air and breath, movement, food, connections/relationships and purpose.

Here are a few personal examples to consider—see if any resonate with you:

Sun & Natural Light Exposure

First off - Fast from the misconception that sunlight is harmful to your health.  

- Avoid artificial light from sunset to sunrise.  This can be done in a titrated way over time with the goal of reducing harm. 

- Before making any dietary changes, I wouldn’t recommend fasting from food unless you've improved your light environment. Light is foundational. And make sure whatever health expert you do rely on for fasting advice implements this piece.
Light is our number one nutrient, this has to take precedence. 

Water

- Consider abstaining from tap water. 
Water trumps food too 

- Abstain from using single-use bottled water. The reliance on plastic is not only negligent but also harmful, as we’re now consuming around a credit card’s worth of microplastics each week. If we collectively fast from plastic, it would benefit us all.  80% of plastic water bottles end up in landfills, rather than getting recycled (we are running out of land to fill folks - I would rather see land restored to flourishing ecosystems and food forests -how about you?) If you are gonna drink  bottled water get it in glass 

Fast from the idea that convenience, such as buying plastic water bottles is actually convenient. 

Fast from taking showers in chlorinated water (not everyone has a whole house filter system and some people have just drinking water filtration solutions - you can get a shower filter that at the very least takes out the chlorine) also we don’t need to shower every single day -have you considered that? It’s such a modern thing. 

Air/Breath

- Fast from shallow breathing, holding your breath, and mouth breathing. 
I trained myself out of mouth breathing without mouth tape. If you are having trouble use the tape as training wheels for a bit then try it again without it. 

- Abstain from fast rapid breathing when you are stressed : noticed when you do this : tell yourself to pause slow down and breath then practice: inhale for 8 -exhale for 8
Breathe at 4 breaths per minute, for 4 minutes to calm your nervous system 

Movement

- Abstain from slouching and prolonged sitting.  

- Prioritize movement and good posture to support your physical health.
Find 1-3 new structural movements that train your body to hold your frame better as well as breathe better and practice them daily for 30 days. This may yield even greater benefits than a food fast AND improve your confidence.
I think a lot of people don’t know how to move their body from the ground up in a functional foundational way in large part due to being a sitting society - there is plenty here for us all to consider. 

Food

- To align with ancestral eating patterns, consider having fasting days where you consume only plant-based foods. This isn’t about becoming vegetarian but acknowledging that our ancestors sometimes relied on foraged plants when hunting was unsuccessful. We've swung too far in our consumption of animal products I’ll definitely be talking about that more this year - check out my episode on why we want to eat more fibers.

- Fast from cheap, ultra-processed foods and from eating in a rushed, stressed state. Instead, practice mindful eating. It’s not just about fasting from food but also about how you approach your meals.

Community & Connection  

- Many people eat out of boredom or social habit rather than genuine hunger. It’s common to eat what’s available at social gatherings simply to fit in or due to peer pressure. Some women hesitate to start coaching with me because they fear their partners might sabotage their efforts.  

- Fasting as a reaction to overindulgence isn’t a sustainable strategy. Instead, you can cultivate discipline over time. If this is challenging for you, it may be a signal to work on your boundaries. Just because food is present doesn’t mean you need to partake. While we are social creatures, we can still honor ourselves and choose differently, even when others around us don’t.

Purpose & Being YOU

- Fast from societal expectations that dictate who you should be. 

- Let go of conditioning that obscures your true self. I call this “deconditioning” to recondition yourself to embody the joy of being you. It has taken me my whole life to do this and it’s why I shared a bit at the beginning about embodying my unique traits. 3

We often hear that we can 'have it all,' but too often, this comes at the expense of our health and well-being. Many of us are beginning to realize that what we truly seek is inner peace and a sense of harmony within ourselves.

In a world overflowing with distractions, it’s crucial to prioritize our health and reconnect with what truly matters. Clearing physical and emotional clutter is a powerful way to create space for this harmony. Just as some people find value in mindful fasting, I encourage you to create your own version of this today. Take one small action inspired by this episode.

If you’re struggling with chronic health issues—such as poor sleep, low energy, or digestive problems—let’s explore how we can work together to find personalized solutions. Many people feel overwhelmed by health trends and endless information, unsure of the right steps to take. By identifying your unique imbalances, we can create a clear path forward—no more guesswork or trying countless strategies that don’t resonate with your needs.

After our first session, many clients express a newfound clarity about their health journey. If my approach resonates with you, I invite you to book a discovery call. We’ll discuss your health challenges and determine if we’re a good fit to work together. There’s no pressure to sign up—this call is for those genuinely interested in making a change.

BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL 

Take that step towards reclaiming your well-being. I look forward to connecting with you!

I hope you found this episode helpful - until next time, be well!