I started intermittent fasting in mid or late January, and after two months of battling hunger pangs, cravings, and my late-night food gremlin mode, I finally feel ready to spill the beans (and not just eat them).

Have I turned into a fitness model? Nope.

Have I lost weight? A few kilos, yes.

Do I feel more mindful about what I eat? Absolutely…

Except for those days when my body decides I need to eat everything in sight like a squirrel preparing for hibernation.

If you’re thinking about intermittent fasting for weight loss, muscle gain, or just better eating habits, grab a cup of tea/chai/latte/coffee ☕ (because I can’t function without it) !!

⏳ My Flexible Fasting Routine (When I’m Not in Full-Time Snack Attack Mode 🍕)

I don’t do hardcore, military-style fasting. Instead, I adjust based on my energy, workouts, and, let’s be real—mood swings.

✅ 18:6 Fasting (Most Days) – I fast for 18 hours and eat within a 6-hour window. Sounds intense, but half of it is just sleeping.

✅ 16:8 Fasting (14 Days a Month) – Some days, I give myself a little more time to eat because balance.

✅ 12-Hour Fasting (Survival Mode 🐷) – When my body screams for food like a toddler throwing a tantrum, I cut myself some slack and fast for just 12 hours.

(When I’m on my period, I’m not intermittent fasting—I’m intermittent feasting, and I have zero regrets.)

🚨 But then… there are nights when I totally mess up! I wake up at 2 AM, convince myself I’ll just drink water, and next thing you know .. I’m inhaling biscuits, bread, and anything that isn’t nailed down. If you have a security camera, you’d catch me mid-bite, looking guilty.

🚧 The Struggles of Fasting (Because It’s Not Always a Smooth Ride)

🥴 Afternoon Headaches – Some days, my fasting ends early.. not because I’m weak, but because my head starts throbbing like a bad techno beat.

🚰 Water Intake? Who’s She? – I barely drink 1 litre a day. Tea should count as hydration, right?

🏋️‍♀️ Gym Energy Crisis – Some days, I feel like a beast. Other days, I feel like a soggy noodle and need to break my fast early.

🍫 Snack-Mode Activated – Oh, you say some women don’t get cravings during those days? Good for them. Meanwhile, I’m over here inhaling chocolate like it’s oxygen and treating carbs like a basic human right. My fasting window? Cute. Irrelevant. Non-existent.

🏃‍♀️ Best Workouts to Pair with Intermittent Fasting

To make sure I actually lose weight (and not just lose my mind from hunger), here’s what I do:

👣 Walking (12,000 steps a day) – Simple, effective, and makes me feel productive even when I’m just walking to get another cup of tea.

💪 Strength Training (3–4x a week) – More muscle = higher metabolism = more food I can eat without guilt.

🔥 HIIT (Twice a week, if I have the willpower) – Short, brutal, but burns calories like magic.

🧘‍♀️ Yoga (When I want to “exercise” but also just lie down) – Still counts, right?

🥗 Best Foods to Break Your Fast (Without a Food Coma)

🥑 Healthy Fats: Start with all sorts of dry fruits, nuts, seeds, or olives or avocado ( if you want fancy ) to ease your digestion and keep energy levels stable.

🥣 Light & Easy-to-Digest: A bowl of vegetable soup, a smoothie, or a banana with almond/peanut butter, am even trying lentil soup as it’s gentle on the stomach but still nourishing.

🍳 Protein-Packed Options: Eggs (if you eat them), tofu, Greek yogurt with berries, or a protein smoothie, or just multigrain bread with cottage cheese is also great for muscle recovery and satiety.

🥒 Hydrating Foods: Coconut water, cucumbers, oranges, or watermelon—because your body needs hydration just as much as food.

🌾 Good Carbs, Not Junk: Quinoa, oats, whole-grain toast, or sweet potatoes—instead of diving into a plate of fries like you just won a food lottery.

🛑 What to AVOID (Unless You Want a Sugar Crash & Regrets)

❌ Fried & Greasy Foods – Your gut has been resting, don’t shock it awake with fast food, heavy cheese-loaded dishes, or deep-fried anything.

❌ Refined Sugar Bombs – Cakes, pastries, candy, sugary cereals, or biscuits = a sugar high followed by a crash that makes you question your life choices.

❌ Coffee or Tea First Thing – I know, I know… but hear me out.. Having caffeine on an empty stomach can spike cortisol and mess with digestion. Eat first, then sip your latte.

The goal is to gently wake up your digestive system, not send it into shock. Start light, wait 30–45 minutes, then go for a full meal. And no, an entire pizza is not a “light meal.” 😆

💡 Lessons Learned (Some Wise, Some… Not So Much 🤷‍♀️)

✔️ Fasting doesn’t have to be perfect. Some days, I ace it. Some days, I eat my weight in snacks. Balance.

✔️ Consistency over perfection. Even if I go off-track for a few days, the overall routine still works.

✔️ Indulgence is part of the process. The world won’t end if I eat cake (or three).

So, if you’re thinking of trying intermittent fasting, just know—some days, you’ll feel like a health queen, and other days, you’ll be knee-deep in snacks at 1 AM. And that’s okay. Just get back on track, and you’re still winning. 💪✨