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Answers

What does the archive say about intermittent fasting?

Short answer

Intermittent fasting is about when you eat, not what. The most common version is 16 hours fasting with an 8-hour eating window. I practice it myself, on and off, but it is not the be-all, end-all. Food is food, and fasting is one protocol among several that work.

By Dai Manuel, CrossFit L2, HYROX L2, Precision Nutrition, NeuroChange Practitioner. Last reviewed 28 September 2026.

Who this is for

Healthy adults. Skip fasting if you have a history of disordered eating, are pregnant, or have a condition that requires regular meals. Ask your doctor first.

What are the main approaches?

The most popular is 16:8, fasting 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window. There is also 5:2, restricting calories on two non-consecutive days a week, and full 24-hour fasts. Each is a different way to create the same basic effect: less time spent eating.

Do you actually do this yourself?

I practice it, but not all the time. I go through periods of doing it and periods of not. There is real benefit in it, but it is not the end-all. Food is food, and fasting is one protocol, not a requirement.

What are the real risks?

It is not for everyone. Possible downsides include nutrient deficiencies if you do not eat enough in your window, disrupted sleep if you fast too close to bed, and in some cases it can feed an unhealthy obsession with food timing. Watch for that last one especially.

Should I try it?

If it fits your life and you are not prone to an unhealthy relationship with food, it can support weight management and may have other benefits worth reading into. If it makes you miserable or obsessive about the clock, it is not worth it. Hitting your protein and calorie targets matters more than when you eat them.

Coaching, not medical advice. Read the health notice.

Common questions

Will fasting alone make me lose fat?
No. You still need a real deficit; fasting is just one way to get there.
Can I lift while fasting?
Yes, many people do. Time your protein around your window either way.
Is 16:8 better than 5:2?
Neither is better. Pick whichever fits your schedule and you will actually stick to.

Keep going

Where Dai has talked about this

Episodes (28)

  • Episode · jump to 1:44

    Unlocking the Ancient Secrets of Intermittent Fasting: A Time-Tested Path to Peak Health

    Now the types of intermittent fasting, and there are a few. The most popular the 16-8 method Fasting for 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window. There's also the 5-2 approach, where you eat normally for 5 days and restrict calories for 2 non-consecutive days. And let's not forget the 24-hour fast, or as I like to call it oops, I forgot to eat diet. Now. Each method has its fans, and the best part is you can choose one that fits your lifestyle. Whether you're a breakfast skipper by nature or someone who doesn't mind calling it an early night with a cup of herbal tea instead of a midnight snack, there's a fasting rhythm that can work for you. Let's move on to the benefits. Did you know that intermittent fasting can do more than help you lose weight?
  • Episode · jump to 0:09

    Unlocking the Ancient Secrets of Intermittent Fasting: A Time-Tested Path to Peak Health

    Hello health enthusiasts, and welcome to another episode of the 2% Cell Lotion. I'm Don Manuel, your guide to a healthier, more vibrant life just 2% at a time. Today, we're zeroing in on a topic that's been buzzing in the wellness world for a number of years Intermittent fasting, or IF for short. Whether you're a seasoned faster or maybe just curious about those empty plate Instagram posts, we keep seeing this episode's for you. So what's the deal with intermittent fasting? Well, first of all, it's not just a modern trend, but a practice as ancient as time. Historically, fasting has roots in various cultures and religions, used not only for spiritual purification, but also as a necessity in times when food supplies are scarce. Now fast forward to today and science is uncovering how these periods of fasting could be a key to unlocking a host of health benefits.
  • Episode · jump to 3:22

    Unlocking the Ancient Secrets of Intermittent Fasting: A Time-Tested Path to Peak Health

    Imagine this you start intermittent fasting and find out you can't stand your own cooking because you're too hungry to taste anything. Just kidding, but really it's all about balance and making informed choices. As we wrap up today's episode, think about how intermittent fasting might fit into your life. Could it be the key to not just a slimmer waist but a healthier, longer life? Or maybe it's just a way to feel a bit more in control in our often chaotic world. If today's topic sparked your interest, consider sharing this episode, leaving a review or subscribing for more insightful dives into health and wellness. Your support helps keep this show running and our community growing. Thanks for tuning into the 2% Solution. I'm Diamond Wall, reminding you to live a little better each day. Catch you next time when we'll explore another fascinating facet of our health.
  • Episode · jump to 32:19

    Why Your To-Do List is Toxic: A Wake-Up Call from Mister Productivity aka Mark Struczewski

    I'm really big on organic foods because I had a friend of mine who's a doctor and she developed some medical issue and then she got a whole bunch of tests and found out that she had a toxic buildup in her and then, once he started eating organic, she started feeling better. So I go out and I make sure my deodorant is not toxic and all those things people don't think about. Again, small hinges small hinges shut big doors. And if you want to start getting healthy, number one, keep listening to Dye's podcast. And number two, keep listening to Dye's podcast. And number two, educate yourself. Like I'm reading Dr Peter Atiyah's book. Outlook. I'm reading it again, but it's important to educate yourself.
  • Episode · jump to 4:26

    Why Starting Your Day with One of the 7 Best Breakfast Proteins Will Change Your Life

    Is it the end, all be all and the absolute? I think there's a lot of interesting information coming out about it. I am someone that practices intermittent fasting, but I don't do it all the time. I go through periods where I do it. I'll have an episode where I talk just about intermittent fasting specifically because I know there's a lot of misconceptions, that there are also a lot of confusion around what is intermittent fasting and, more importantly, why should I care? But how can I do it and do it well and safely Right? So another misconception is that we basically don't need protein in the morning. But here's the truth Starting your day with a protein-packed breakfast helps kickstart your metabolism, gives you energy, but it also keeps you satiated longer throughout the day.
  • Episode · jump to 18:12

    Chapter 6: The Art of Mindful Eating: A Dialogue with Kathy Smart

    For anyone who suffers from a mid-morning slump or afternoon cravings, this advice is significant If you're having cravings or even late-night dinges. Look at your breakfast. This relates to the GI rating of the foods you eat. When you have protein first thing in the morning, it helps you to stabilize your blood sugar for the whole day. This will have a domino effect and will set you up to succeed. To make the success truly sustainable and enjoyable, pick a high protein or low GI food that you really like, she advises, such as steel cut oats, smoked salmon or zesty omelettes. Going for a couple of pieces of toast and orange juice at breakfast will spike your blood sugar, and what goes up must come down, kathy reminds us. When it comes down, you start to crave sugar and carbohydrates and so you're up and down all day and therefore you get moody Foods and Moods.
  • Episode · jump to 30:50

    Embracing Health After 40: Philip Pape's Guide to Fitness, Food Freedom, and Mindful Living

    And I've had clients who want to train fasted and I'm like give it a shot, and what you could do is a quasi approach where you drink some like liquid carbs partway through the training to get going and then it sustains you before you get to your next feeding. But yeah, no, I don't train fast. I have a banana and a protein shake half an hour before I read a book. That's like my one time of just reading fiction usually Books in the dark, in the cold, northeast, reading my book Usually it's an ebook and then I hit the weights and that gets the day started and I know that. So here's where science says lifting in the afternoon is slightly higher performing than lifting in the morning. But there's a lot of other science that says lifting in the morning and other benefits for mood and mental health and a lot of other things.
  • Episode · jump to 0:08

    Why Starting Your Day with One of the 7 Best Breakfast Proteins Will Change Your Life

    Hey there, my 2% Collective Wellness Warriors. Your host back again. Dai Manuel is bringing you another episode of the 2% Solution. Today we're discussing starting your day with high-protein breakfast, so let's get ready to fuel our day in the best way possible. I remember way back when this is going way back, but at the ripe old age of 15 years old. You know this is like over 30 years ago but when I was at my largest, you know, I was morbidly obese, bmi in the 40s, extremely sedentary, very unhealthy, and I decided to make some changes. I won't go into all the details today, but I did share this story in an earlier episode.

Articles (1)

  • Article · What to do instead of tracking

    Eating fat does not make you fat, revisited

    Tracking is a diagnostic tool. It is excellent for two or three weeks if you genuinely have no idea what you are eating, and after that it becomes a substitute for changing anything. The men who get lean and stay lean are almost never the men with the longest logging streaks. What works instead is structure, decided in advance, so that the decision is not being made by a hungry version of you at 4pm. This is the single change with the best ratio of effort to effect that I know of. Thirty to forty grams. Eggs, Greek yogurt, leftover meat from dinner, a shake if you must. It changes what you want to eat at 3pm more than anything you do at 3pm. Olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, oily fish.

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