My Fresh Start with Fasting (and Doing Hard Things)

I didn’t plan to start this journey. Honestly, it began at what felt like rock bottom.

After our family vacation, I got really sick. Sick enough that, for the first time in years, I actually went to the doctor — and if you know me, you know I don’t go unless it’s my last resort. They weighed me as usual, and the number on the scale stopped me in my tracks. It was a weight I had only ever seen in the late months of pregnancy — six, seven months in — when I was carrying another life inside me. Except this time, I wasn’t.

The very beginning of motherhood. Carrying my first baby, carrying a love I didn’t yet know could be so big.

Yes, I knew my weight was up. But living in my old, stretched-out Lulu leggings, sports bras, and loose tops, I hadn’t fully felt the difference. Pair that with a summer of solo parenting — swim team, activities, pool days, endless meals and messes — and there wasn’t space to even look in the mirror. My routine was survival: quick shower, teeth brushed, sunscreen if it was a good day. That was it.

But sitting there in the doctor’s office, I finally looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t recognize the woman staring back. I looked unhealthy in every way. Of course I was sick, so that didn’t help, but it was more than that. I wasn’t just a sick mom — I was becoming the opposite of the role model I want to be for my kids. And it broke me.

This was my rock bottom. Sitting here, I had two choices: keep sinking or start climbing. I chose to climb.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about weight. A younger version of me would’ve made it about the number on the scale. I grew up with toxic thoughts about my body and battled serious body dysmorphia. For decades, food and mirrors were enemies.

A reminder to my younger self: you were beautiful then, you are beautiful now, and your worth was never in question.

But through yoga, personal growth, and the messy, beautiful work of motherhood, my perspective has evolved. I’ve given birth to four humans. I’m raising four incredible kids. My body tells that story — and I’ve learned to love it.

The love is loud, the house is full, and my gratitude runs deep — for them, and for the body that made me a mom.

Still, lately, I’ve been struggling. Not with body image, but with energy, headaches, and motivation. I haven’t had the strength to do the workouts I used to love. It got so bad I even made another doctor’s appointment — my first real check-up in over a decade. But it was two weeks away. And I couldn’t wait that long to make a change.

That’s when intermittent fasting came back on my radar. I had dabbled with it before and loved the way it gave me focus and balance. But nine years of pregnancies and breastfeeding meant I had to pause. Now, after years of pushing through exhaustion, detoxing from caffeine, and carrying the weight of fatigue (literally and figuratively), I decided to circle back. With nothing to lose, I began again.

My First 23-Hour Fast

I’ll be honest: I didn’t think I could do it. But I did. The funny little, competitive, number-focused voice in my head kept whispering, “Go for 24. Just do it. It makes sense.” But the voice of reason reminded me that stopping at 23 would let me eat earlier and give my body time to digest before bed. Plus, my husband had just finished his final CFA exam and made the most delicious curry — how could I say no to that?

So I ate. And you know what? That meal tasted like victory. I had done something hard, something I didn’t think I could, and I didn’t let perfection or “just one more hour” steal the win.

Since Then

Since that first 23-hour fast, I’ve done two extended fasts — one for 20 hours and one for 40 hours — with the rest of my days falling into a 16:8 rhythm (16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating).

The 40-hour fast wasn’t nearly as difficult as I had anticipated. Of course, there were plenty of hard moments — especially preparing and serving snacks and meals to my kids at what feels like a constant pace — but I made it. And it was incredibly empowering. Yet another reminder that I really can do hard things, and exactly the kind of proof I needed.

This journey is still fresh — less than two weeks in — but already it’s reminding me of something important: I can still do hard things.

One of our family mottos is exactly that: we do hard things. My caffeine detox, my fasting journey, even learning to swim this summer — they’re all different versions of the same truth.

Sometimes the hard things we choose end up unlocking parts of ourselves we thought we’d lost.

What I’ve Noticed So Far

In just these two weeks, I’ve already started noticing changes:

• Cravings: My afternoon sugar cravings — which used to hit especially hard when I was drinking caffeine — have dropped dramatically. I no longer feel like I “need” sugar to survive the after-school chaos.

• Energy: I’ve felt more energized during workouts.

• Motivation: While I still sometimes feel resistance to start a workout (this has been true for months), every single time I get going, I notice how much fasting has boosted my endurance and strength.

• Inflammation: The achiness in my joints — something that had been creeping in more lately — has decreased significantly. I feel lighter and less weighed down in my body.

These little shifts feel like signs that I’m moving in the right direction.

And there’s another layer too. I’ve had a long history of a complicated relationship with food.

For years, I thought about food constantly — overanalyzing, battling cravings, or struggling not to overeat. Food took up far too much real estate in my mind.

Since I began fasting again, oddly enough, I don’t find myself thinking about it nearly as much. Instead of feeling obsessed or trapped, I feel like I’m finally on the verge of building a healthier relationship with food — one that supports me, rather than controls me, and aligns with the lifestyle I want.

Moving Again

With the gym daycare closed and back-to-school mornings, I hadn’t worked out all week. But I finally got a sitter on Thursday so I could teach my yoga class (which was incredible). I had an extra 30 minutes, so I thought, why not? and tried a quick leg workout.

Here’s the miracle: it felt amazing. Stronger than I’d felt in weeks. I lifted heavier, I felt motivated, I felt energized — and it was on a fasted stomach. No coffee. No pre-workout. Just me, showing up.

My Curious Brain

If you know me, you know I’m deeply curious — and my kids inherited that same spark. I like to understand the why behind things, and fasting is no exception. So while folding laundry or washing dishes, I’ve been sneaking in podcasts to learn more:

• Dr. Pradip Jamnadas – Fasting for Survival: A passionate lecture on why fasting may be one of the best “medicines” for modern health.

• Andrew Huberman – Effects of Fasting & Time-Restricted Eating: Science-heavy, but fascinating, on how fasting impacts fat loss and long-term health.

• Steven Bartlett with Dr. Ben Bikman – Insulin & Glucose: A reminder of just how much sugar and insulin resistance drive weight gain and health struggles.

• Steven Bartlett with Dr. Mindy Pelz – The Truth About Ozempic & Food: Candid conversation about what’s really harming us and how fasting can reset the body.

I’m just getting started here, so if you have favorite fasting resources — podcasts, books, or personal stories — drop them in the comments. I’d love to learn from you.

Final Thoughts

This whole thing is less about food and more about freedom. Freedom from caffeine controlling my mornings. Freedom from the voice that says, “you can’t.” Freedom to feel strong and capable in my body again.

And as I’ve noticed my sugar cravings dropping, my energy and endurance rising, my joints aching less, and even the constant food chatter in my head finally quieting — that freedom feels closer and closer. These shifts aren’t just physical. They’re emotional. They’re mental.

They’re reminders that my body can heal, reset, and support me when I give it the chance.

I don’t know exactly where this road will take me, but right now, it feels hopeful. Tired, yes. A little foggy, sure. But also alive.

Because sometimes, doing the hard thing shows us just how much we’re capable of — and how much peace and possibility we’ve been carrying all along.

✨ If you’re standing at the edge of something hard right now — whether it’s fasting, a caffeine detox, parenting hurdles, or just showing up for yourself in a new way — know this: you’re not alone, and you’re capable of more than you think. Share what hard thing you’re leaning into this week, and let’s cheer each other on. 💛

With you, always, as we walk this beautiful road of life,

Kelly