Why Fasting Isn’t Just About Food - It’s About Focus
In a world of constant consumption, food, media, and other distractions, intermittent fasting (IF) offers something radical: clarity. It’s not just a diet. It’s a discipline. A lifestyle that aligns perfectly with the Grit Passion Mindset: pushing through discomfort, staying focused on long-term goals, and building a body and mind that reflect your inner strength.
Dr. Jason Fung, a leading expert in fasting and metabolic health, describes fasting as “a transition between storing energy and using energy.” When you fast, your body stops relying on constant external fuel and starts tapping into stored fat, improving insulin sensitivity, boosting energy, and even triggering cellular repair through autophagy.
Key Benefits of Intermittent Fasting (According to Dr. Jason Fung)
- Fat Loss Without Muscle Loss: Fasting burns fat while preserving lean muscle, especially when paired with resistance training.
- Improved Metabolic Health: Lower insulin levels, better blood sugar control, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Mental Clarity & Focus: Many people report sharper thinking and better decision-making during fasted states.
- Hormonal Optimization: Increased growth hormone and testosterone levels during fasts support strength and recovery.
- Autophagy: Your body cleans out damaged cells and regenerates new ones during longer fasts.
How to Start: A Grit-Driven Fasting Plan
Week 1–2: Ease In with 16:8
- Fast for 16 hours, eat during an 8-hour window (e.g., 11 AM–7 PM).
- Focus meals on protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
- Skip breakfast, hydrate aggressively (water, black coffee, herbal tea).
Week 3–4: Level Up to 20:4
- Shrink your eating window to 4 hours (e.g., 2 PM–6 PM).
- One small snack + one large meal.
- Begin training in a fasted state to boost growth hormones and fat burn.
Week 5+: OMAD (One Meal a Day)
- Eat once daily, ideally post-workout.
- Prioritize nutrient density: steak, eggs, avocado, greens.
- This is where grit meets simplicity; no snacking, no grazing, just one powerful refuel.
Monthly Challenge: Extended Fasting
Once or twice a month, push into a 36–60 hour fast. This isn’t just for fat loss, it’s for mental toughness and cellular reset.
- Prep: Eat clean the day before, and hydrate well.
- During: Electrolytes (salt, magnesium), black coffee, bone broth, if needed.
- Break the fast: With a small protein-rich meal, then a larger one 2–3 hours later.
Dr. Fung emphasizes that prolonged fasting enhances autophagy and deep metabolic healing, especially when done periodically.
Mindset Matters: Grit, Passion, and Purpose
Fasting isn’t easy. But neither is building a business, leading a family, or transforming your body. As someone that has battled with my weight my entire life, I know the alternative is harder; gaining weight or dealing with obesity, makes doing regular activities in life, that much harder. Deciding to skip a meal or two and pushing through the hunger pangs is a whole lot easier. That’s why it’s perfect for men who live by grit and passion.
- Grit: Push through hunger waves. They pass. You grow.
- Passion: Channel your energy into workouts, goals, and creative pursuits.
- Mindset: Reframe fasting as a tool—not deprivation, but empowerment.
Final Tips for Success
- Track your fasts with apps like Zero and Fastic AI or download my GPM Fasting Tracker.
- Lift heavy. Train fasted. Recover smart.
- Don’t fear hunger, it’s a signal of growth, not weakness.
- Join a community or accountability group to stay sharp.
- Check back here at GritPassionMindset.com for more tips and tricks related to fasting.