Fasting was something I stumbled upon by accident. It happened when I started a physically demanding job that kept me so busy, I barely had time to scratch my head—let alone eat! I worked six days a week and ended up fasting for about 17 hours a day. On my one day off, I was too tired to think about food. When I did eat, it was usually just one meal before I had to prepare for the next day. To be honest, I mostly ate fast food because I had no time to cook, yet I still lost weight. Walking 10 miles a day also contributed to the weight loss, but I genuinely believe it was the fasting that helped me shed 40 pounds in just three months.

I couldn’t maintain that job and eventually had to quit. Even though I was no longer walking 10 miles a day, I continued fasting, which helped me keep the weight off for over a year. I did some exercise, like using the elliptical for an hour 2–3 times a week, but that was pretty much it. When I initially lost the weight, I was glowing. I looked younger, and even my fine lines faded. When I compared photos of myself from eight years ago, I was shocked to see I looked younger at 43 than I had at 34.

Curious about why this happened, I started researching fasting and discovered that it’s essentially a fountain of youth. Fasting helps your body produce collagen, which makes your skin look younger. It also promotes healing by repairing damaged cells through a process called autophagy, which happens more frequently when you’re in a fasted state. The longer you fast, the greater the rate of autophagy.

Fasting is also said to reduce the risk of cancer. An article published in Cancer Science, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, states, “Emerging evidence suggests that intermittent fasting might help prevent and treat cancer by boosting the efficacy and tolerance of anticancer drugs and improving cancer patients’ quality of life through various adaptive biological mechanisms.” The study also notes that fasting improves general health by preventing diseases like diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative conditions.

If you Google the benefits of fasting, you’ll find a wealth of information that’s truly fascinating. We’ve been misled into thinking we need to eat several meals a day. If you’re in good health, fasting can help you stay that way. Of course, some people may not be able to fast for medical reasons, but if you’re interested, it’s best to start slow. Don’t dive in all at once—gradually stop eating earlier each day and break your fast later. Soon, you’ll find yourself fasting for 24 hours without even flinching! I routinely did one- or two-day fasts and even completed a three-day Esther fast without water for spiritual reasons, which was incredibly liberating. Fasting is mentioned throughout the Bible as a way to draw closer to God.

I’m a huge advocate for fasting. Let’s support each other on this health and weight loss journey. We can draw closer to God, get healthier, and lose weight at the same time! Are you in? Comment, like, and subscribe below, and let’s do this together! Join my brand-new Facebook group, “Let’s Age Backwards by Fasting,” where we can support each other. Find the group here: Let’s Age Backwards by Fasting.

Reference: Tiwari S, Sapkota N, Han Z. Effect of fasting on cancer: A narrative review of scientific evidence. Cancer Sci. 2022 Oct;113(10):3291-3302. doi: 10.1111/cas.15492. Epub 2022 Aug 10. PMID: 35848874; PMCID: PMC9530862.

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If you want more information on the Esther fast, click the image below