Fast Like a Girl: A Woman's Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones

I love Fast Like a Girl! I have been practising fasting for years and this book has been a game-changer for me in refining my intermittent fasting (IF) practice. It provided me with invaluable insights on how to adjust fasting according to my body’s needs and hormonal cycles—something I hadn’t understood before.Pros:Tailored to Women’s Needs: The book explains how fasting affects women differently due to our hormonal cycles. I finally understood why I struggled with fasting at certain times of the month and how to modify my approach accordingly.Practical and Science-Based Advice: The author breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand, science-based explanations. It’s not just theory—there are actionable tips that helped me refine my fasting schedule, making it more sustainable and effective.Cycle-Specific Fasting Tips: One of the most helpful sections is the guidance on how to adjust fasting practices depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. It’s an eye-opener for any woman who’s struggled with inconsistent energy levels or results during fasting.Empowering and Supportive Tone: The tone of the book is empowering and supportive, which is refreshing in the wellness space. It feels like getting advice from a knowledgeable friend who truly understands the unique needs of women.Staple Recommendation: I now recommend this book to all the women in my life, whether they’re beginners to fasting or seasoned practitioners. It’s a must-have resource for anyone looking to optimize their health through fasting.Cons:Not Ideal for Non-Fasting Readers: The book is primarily focused on intermittent fasting, so it may not be as useful for readers who aren't interested in or open to fasting practices. However, for those looking to understand fasting better, it's a fantastic guide.Fast Like a Girl is now about the staple recommendations I make to any woman looking to take control of her health and fasting practices. It helped me refine my approach to intermittent fasting and provided crucial insights into how to make fasting work with my body, not against it. Highly recommend for women seeking to burn fat, boost energy, and tailor fasting to their unique needs!

In 2021, I lost 30 lb by doing a calorie restriction diet (I was using Noom). I really loved Noom and I feel like I learned a lOt from it. And I would recommend it for the psychology aspect. However, I did not have success in keeping the weight off afterword. By the beginning of 2024, I had gained all the weight back. I just couldn’t keep up with the calorie counting. It was too meticulous. And I never achieved the state of being able to ‘feel’ when I did or didn’t need calories (without counting).Now, I have begun fasting (using this book as a guide). I’ve lost 15 lb so far (after 2 months). It’s the same pace of progress that I had with Noom, BUT I feel so much more confident that I will be able to maintain my weight once I get the fat off this time.That’s because fasting is *simple.* You just don’t eat. It takes no time to plan the meals and count the calories; no time cook, eat, or do dishes; no time to do anything. All you do is save time (and money).And now that my body has gotten used to it, I feel fantastic while I’m fasting. When doing calorie restriction, I felt so tired all the time. And cold. Now I know that was because I wasn’t unlocking my fat to be burned for energy — I was keeping insulin high with ~5 small meals a day, and so (because insulin blocks fat burning) my body had to lower its energy output since I’d lowered the energy input.Noom helped me to learn the psychology behind my eating habits (and lots of nutrition and exercise info), and now fasting is helping me to lose weight in a much more sustainable way. If someone asked, I might recommend a combination of both Noom & fasting.With calorie restriction, I really felt like I was on a diet. And I was eager to be done with it so I didn’t have to deal with the calorie counting and the fatigue anymore. With fasting, I feel really comfortable with it as a sustainable lifestyle. Sometimes, I may gain a little weight (vacation, holidays, celebrations, etc). Then, I’ll just lose it by fasting. It’s so empowering.This book has been hugely helpful in my journey. Dr. Pelz lays out everything you need to know in a very simple format. I’ve also found her YouTube channel to be really helpful. In addition to her, I watch videos from Dr. Fung, Dr. Ekberg, and Dr. Jamnadas. They’re all incredibly informative. But Pelz is the only one that addresses what women’s bodies need. We have different hormone patterns than men.Overall, 5 stars for this book. Dr. Pelz is a modern day hero!

Easy to read and understand. Great information. This is my go- to book on fasting. There are many other books on this subject( I’ve read many of them), but this one makes it easy to find the information you’re looking for.

** Fast Like a Girl"** by Dr. Mindy Pelz is an empowering and informative guide that focuses on the transformative benefits of fasting tailored specifically for women’s unique hormonal and health needs. Drawing from her expertise and popular YouTube channel, Dr. Pelz addresses the frustrations many women experience with traditional one-size-fits-all dietary advice that often overlooks their specific health concerns.In this comprehensive manual, Dr. Pelz outlines a 30-day fasting reset that not only harnesses the power of the menstrual cycle but also provides strategies for those who no longer have a cycle. She guides readers through the nuances of starting with intermittent fasting, safely extending fasts, and breaking fasts with nutrient-rich foods designed to enhance metabolic health. Additionally, the book includes over 50 recipes aligned with her innovative ketobiotic and hormone feasting food plans, offering delicious ways to support women’s hormonal health. **"Fast Like a Girl"** equips women with the knowledge and tools they need to reclaim control of their health through fasting, ultimately reinforcing the idea that understanding their bodies can make them unstoppable in their wellness journey. This engaging and practical read is a must for anyone looking to incorporate fasting into their lifestyle while honoring their body's natural rhythms.