Fasting Chronicles: Journey to Wellness

  Dear Fasting Guru, I know there are actual schedules like 16:8 etc., but would it still be considered intermittent fasting if you just went as long as you could in the day without eating? Or does it only work if you put your body on a "schedule"? Sorry if this is a dumb question. I'm a first-time mom to a 7-month-old and barely remember to eat until my partner gets home, let alone eat at the same time every day. Dear Overwhelmed First-Time Mom, First, let me assure you that there are no dumb questions, especially when it comes to navigating the challenging waters of motherhood and self-care. Congratulations on your bundle of joy! It sounds like you have your hands full, and it's entirely understandable to find it difficult to maintain a strict eating schedule. Intermittent fasting is indeed flexible. While many people follow structured schedules like 16:8 (16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating), it isn't the only way to reap the benefits. The essence of intermittent ...

  Dear Fasting Guru, Twelve years ago, I found incredible success with intermittent fasting (IF), losing 72 pounds and keeping off about 55 of those pounds until four years ago when I started a new job. I work for a railroad in the U.S. and we are on call 24/7, so I don’t have a set schedule anymore. My days consist of getting a two-hour call at any time, sitting on a train for 12 hours, and then spending the night out of town with only the food I bring or the limited options nearby. I usually stay in a hotel for 12-24 hours before another 12-hour train back home. My work times are highly irregular—one day I might start at 2 AM, then the next trip could be at 8 PM or 1 PM, with varying durations in between. This lack of a regular schedule has made it challenging to stick to IF. How can I manage to stay on track with IF given my irregular schedule? I often find myself bored in hotel rooms and end up on prolonged fasts, only to gorge when I finally get back home. Dear Seeking Balance...