Hey! So you want to try fasting but don’t know what’s coming? I get it. When I first heard about fasting for beginners, I was like “Are you crazy? Not eat for a whole day?” But here I am, three years later, and it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
Let me tell you what really happened during my first week. Not the pretty Instagram version – the real, messy, “did I make a mistake?” version. Because that’s what you need to hear.
But First, Let Me Say This
Look, if you feel sick, dizzy, or just awful – eat something. I’m serious. This isn’t about being tough or proving anything. I learned this the hard way when I pushed through feeling terrible on day 3 of my second attempt. My mom had to bring me soup because I was being stubborn. Don’t be like me.
Day 1: “This Isn’t So Bad… Yet”
My first day started at 6 AM. I usually grab coffee and a bagel, but instead I just had black coffee. Weird, but doable. Around 10 AM, my stomach started making noise. That’s when I panicked a little.
I remembered reading about breathing exercises, so I sat on my couch and just breathed. In through my nose, hold it, out through my mouth. My dog, Max, kept staring at me like I was having a breakdown. But you know what? After 5 minutes, I felt calmer.
What Helped Me:
Just sitting quietly and breathing. Nothing fancy. My kitchen timer set for 5 minutes so I wouldn’t overthink it.
Day 2: “Why Did I Do This to Myself?”
This was the hardest day, hands down. At 12:30 PM (my usual lunch time), I opened the fridge three times. Not even hungry – just habit. My brain was like “It’s lunch time, dummy!”
My sister called right when I was about to give up. I told her I was struggling, and she said “Name 5 things you can see right now.” I thought she was being weird, but I did it anyway. My laptop, coffee mug, Max sleeping, a book, my house plant. Then she had me name 4 things I could touch, 3 sounds… you get it.
By the time we finished this little game, my hunger was gone. I was so surprised! Now I use this trick all the time – even when I’m stressed at work.
Real Talk:
Call someone when it gets tough. Don’t try to be a hero. My sister saved my first week just by being there.
Day 3: “Wait, Maybe I’m Just Thirsty?”
This day changed everything for me. I was feeling hungry around 2 PM, so I drank a big glass of water with some lemon. The hunger went away! Turns out, sometimes our bodies are just confused.
I started drinking herbal tea too. My grandma always said chamomile helps with everything, so I tried it. She was right – it made me feel cozy and less focused on food. I also discovered sparkling water. The bubbles made me feel like I was treating myself to something special.
My Drink List:
- Water with lemon (feels fancy)
- Peppermint tea (helps with hunger)
- Sparkling water (those bubbles are magic)
- Green tea (gives me a little energy boost)
Day 4: “My Body Wants to Move”
Something weird happened on day four. Instead of feeling tired, I had energy. Like, a lot of energy. I couldn’t sit still. So I went for a walk around my neighborhood. Just a normal walk – nothing crazy.
Walking helped so much! When I got back, I didn’t even think about food for two hours. My neighbor, Bob, saw me walking and asked what was up. When I told him about fasting, he said he does it too. Who knew Bob was a faster?
What I Did:
- Walked around the block
- Stretched in my living room (Max thought I was playing)
- Did some cleaning (my bathroom has never been cleaner)
Moving my body wasn’t about exercise – it was about giving my mind something else to focus on.
Day 5: “I Can Actually Do This”
This was my turning point. Instead of thinking about food all day, I spent maybe 20 minutes total dealing with hunger. The rest of the time, I felt… normal?
I started imagining how I’d feel at the end of the week. Proud, healthier, maybe sleeping better. My mom used to tell me to “picture the finish line” when I was running track in high school. Same idea here.
The Mental Game:
I wrote down why I started on a sticky note and put it on my bathroom mirror. Every morning, I’d read it and remember my “why.”
Day 6: “I Need a Hobby”
By day six, I realized I had a lot of extra time. Usually, I’d spend time cooking, eating, cleaning up after eating. Now what?
I pulled out this old puzzle I bought during the pandemic but never finished. Four hours later, I was still working on it and hadn’t thought about food once. My brain was too busy figuring out where the tiny blue pieces went.
Stuff That Worked:
- That puzzle (still haven’t finished it)
- Reading a book I’d been putting off
- Organizing my closet (found clothes I forgot I owned)
- Calling my college roommate (we talked for two hours)
Find something that makes you lose track of time. For me, it was puzzles. For my coworker Sarah, it’s knitting. For my brother, it’s video games.
Day 7: “I Actually Did It!”
I woke up on day seven feeling proud. Like, really proud. I’d done something I wasn’t sure I could do. I called my mom first thing and told her. She said she was proud of me too.
The hunger was barely there anymore. I had energy, my sleep had been great, and I felt… different. Stronger, maybe? More in control.
The Best Part:
I realized most of my eating was just habit. Real hunger is different from “I’m bored” hunger or “it’s 6 PM so I should eat” hunger.
What I Learned That No One Tells You
Here’s the stuff I wish someone had told me before I started:
Hunger isn’t constant. It comes in waves, usually lasting 15-30 minutes. If you can ride out the wave, it goes away.
Most “hunger” is in your head. I thought I was hungry at 12 PM every day because that’s when I always ate lunch. My body was just following my routine.
You’ll have more time than you expect. I spent so much time thinking about food, buying food, making food, eating food, cleaning up after food. Without all that, I had hours to do other stuff.
People will have opinions. My coworker Jim thought I was “starving myself.” My aunt worried I was getting sick. Just smile and change the subject.
It gets easier fast. Day 2 was terrible. Day 7 was easy. Your body learns quick.
If You’re Thinking About Starting
Start small. Don’t jump into a 7-day fast like I did – I was probably a little crazy. Try skipping breakfast for a few days first. Or stop eating at 8 PM and don’t eat again until noon the next day.
Have a plan for when hunger hits. My plan was: drink water first, then do the 5-4-3-2-1 thing, then call someone or go for a walk. Having a plan makes you feel less panicked.
Tell someone supportive. Not the person who’s going to lecture you, but someone who’ll cheer you on. My sister was my champion.
Most importantly: Listen to your body. If something feels wrong, stop. There’s no prize for suffering through a fast. The goal is to feel better, not worse.
Your first week of fasting for beginners is going to teach you stuff about yourself you never knew. You’re stronger than you think, and you have more control than you realize.
I’m not going to lie – it’s not always easy. But it’s not as scary as you think either. And the feeling of accomplishment when you’re done? Totally worth it.
You’ve got this. One day at a time.
