🎙️ Is Fasting Helping or Hurting Your Wellness Journey?

🖋️ A word from our editor…

I’ve tried fasting before. It made me feel clearer, more focused. But what I’ve learned—both from my own experience and from listening to people like Amy and Jono—is that fasting isn’t a shortcut. It’s not a fix-all. And it’s definitely not something everyone should do.

What I liked about this conversation is how grounded it was. Amy talks about what worked for her, but also how fasting can be risky for anyone dealing with body image struggles. Jono keeps it practical, reminding people that it’s one tool, not the whole answer.

There’s no pressure to follow a plan or get it perfect. Just a reminder that what works will look different for everyone—and that’s okay. If you’re thinking about fasting, diet, or how to build better habits without burning out, this episode is a great place to start.

— Hao Nguyen, Editor

🍳 “It’s not about starving yourself—it’s about finding something sustainable that works for your lifestyle.”

Fasting is everywhere. From biohackers preaching its anti-aging benefits to fitness influencers swearing by the 16:8 method, it's easy to get swept up in the hype. But behind every trend is a more personal, nuanced reality—something Amy and Jono from No Business Being A Castano tackled head-on in a recent listener Q&A episode about wellness.

While the duo aren’t doctors, they’ve lived through enough physical transformations and health journeys to offer grounded advice—and their take on fasting is refreshingly balanced.

The Appeal (and Risks) of Fasting

Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity as a tool for weight management, energy improvement, and even cellular regeneration. Amy shares that she’s dabbled in fasting herself—not the extreme 24-hour kind, but time-restricted eating that fits into her lifestyle. “It just really boosted my energy levels,” she said. For her, intermittent fasting wasn’t about punishment—it was one part of a larger wellness shift that included emotional healing, better sleep, and strength training.

But she’s also clear-eyed about its risks. “I can see how it can be triggering for someone,” Amy admits. Fasting can lead to obsessive thoughts around food or reinforce disordered eating patterns, especially for people with a history of body image struggles. That kind of honesty isn’t always part of wellness podcasts, but it's exactly what makes their conversation feel different.

The 8-Hour Window Explained

Jono breaks down the common 16:8 method: eat within an eight-hour window (say, 10am to 6pm) and fast the remaining 16 hours. From a personal trainer’s perspective, he sees it as a helpful tool—not a rule. “It enables people to manage calories without obsessing over every bite,” he said, adding that it naturally limits mindless snacking and can simplify meal planning.

But he also stresses consistency and personalization. “It’s not about starving yourself—it’s about finding something sustainable that works for your lifestyle.”

Anti-Aging & Cell Repair—or Just a Trend?

Amy and Jono both reference the research around fasting and its purported anti-aging benefits, including cell renewal in a fasted state. While they admit they're not scientists, they highlight how some people swear by it for skin, digestion, and overall vitality. It’s another reminder that for every benefit fasting might offer, context is everything.

So, Should You Fast?

Here’s what Amy and Jono’s take boils down to: if fasting feels good in your body and helps you simplify your routine, great. But it’s not a magic bullet, and it’s definitely not for everyone—especially if you're using it to avoid dealing with deeper health or emotional issues.

Amy’s own transformation didn’t hinge on fasting alone. It came from shifting her mindset, healing emotionally, and building habits she could actually maintain. As she put it, “It wasn’t an overnight thing. This is just who I am now.”

That’s the part that matters most—wellness that sticks isn’t built on restriction, but on self-respect.

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