What is the Best Fast Length? (Fasting Basics 3) | Jason Fung

Dr Jason Fung discusses the best fast lengths for you, including 16;8, Time Restricted Eating, 24 hour fasts, One Meal a Day (OMAD), 5:2 diet, extended fasting and more. Shorter fasts are best done more often, but longer fasts (extended fasting) are more powerful. The best fast is the one that fits into your lifestyle. Fit your fasting into your lifestyle, don't fit your lifestyle into fasting. Check out my blog at

More Information:
BOOKS:

The Obesity Code – Reviewing underlying physiology of weight loss and how low carb diets and fasting can help.

The Diabetes Code – Reviewing how type 2 diabetes is a reversible disease and dietary strategies.

The Cancer Code – Scientific exploration of how cancer develops –

Amazon:
USA –
Canada –

**Fasting Aids**
Pique Fasting Tea (recommended)

Fasting Community and Coaching:

YouTube Medical Lectures (for specialist physicians):

1. The Roots of the Obesity Epidemic –
2. Therapeutic Fasting – The Two Compartment Problem: ​​
3. Does Calorie Counting work? ​​
4. Two Big Lies of Type 2 Diabetes –
5. Reversing Type 2 Diabetes Naturally –
6. Insulin Toxicity – ​​
7. Saturated Fat – Friend or Foe?
8. Diet and Disease –
9. Dangers of Fructose –
10. Insulin Resistance –
11. Role of Hormones in Weight Loss –
12. The Obesity Code Lecture 1 –

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Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro
0:35 How Fasts differ
1:28 Fasting – 3 meals a day
3:16 Intermittent Fasting – Time Restricted Eating
4:04 Intermittent Fasting – One Meal a Day – OMAD
4:50 5:2 Diet
5:41 Extended Fasting

Joe Lilli
 

  • @BrianJohnson-cj8xf says:

    I used to weigh 296 lbs …. today I weigh 174 Lbs … where were you 25 years ago … God Bless you for what you do … You are changing lives … With your help I helped my daughter loose 90 Lbs in 5 months …. People this is REAL !!!

    • @sssimon954 says:

      What method did she use? 16/8 or longer fasts?

    • @geemom04 says:

      Thank you for sharing
      I really needed to know if this truly works bc I’m at my wits end tyvm👍😉

    • @fastedhuman4699 says:

      that is amazing bro

    • @BrianJohnson-cj8xf says:

      @@sssimon954 she is trying different ones but she does one 48 or 2 48 per week … she has 2 young children … but she is changing it up …. she uses green olives to get to the ends … they are fat … green olives … pecans … and macadamia nuts are the key to getting 6 more hours in a fast because they are mostly fats …. I eat 1x per day … I do not like the long fast. I use a 2 hour window … or just one meal a day….. I eat mostly low carb all the time … her as well … hope this helps you .. good luck

    • @sssimon954 says:

      @@BrianJohnson-cj8xf thx. So fat does not trigger Insulin?

  • @cocogomez2278 says:

    What I’m learning is that if I want my body to run the most efficiently, I must treat my body as a business. If I run my business with 3 shifts then I’ll have to pay for overtime and double time, increased workers comp claims, sick days, more electricity and gas to keep the building running, etc. All costs increase. However if I can get workers to work a 6 hour day, then they’ll have increased energy while I have decreased costs and overhead. Same with eating. The body will run more efficiently if it doesnt have to spend all it’s time digesting food. Itll be more happy and productive to do other things like repair cells and burn fat.

    • @tumblebugspace says:

      It’s rather unfortunate that you view your body as a “business,” because that is *precisely* what’s been made of it by the “food” manufacturers, which has gotten us where we are today. The model I prefer is to eat closer to the way our ancestors did, whole and unprocessed, instead of stuffing ourselves with packaged, preserved, and adulterated substances that have been rendered devoid of nutrients and *real* food value. It helps me to visualize my viscera and *consciously* ask them what they need and want. Carbohydrates full of antinutrients are never what I “hear” back from them! Of course, your business analogy is probably more suited to the rapacious capitalism we live under in Western civilization. Whatever floats your boat! Just offering an alternative to that.

    • @ady6837 says:

      @Much Dutch!! A very good analogy to understand the basic concept of body functions. 👏👍

    • @WanieB says:

      Great analogy!!

    • @jaredavalos3297 says:

      Excellent analogy!

    • @cocogomez2278 says:

      @@ady6837 Thanks!

  • @rockymountainskies1744 says:

    That’s probably the best tip I’ve heard in a long time- “Fit the fasting into your lifestyle, don’t fit the lifestyle into your fasting.”

    • @stefaniasmanio859 says:

      When somebody is great at helping people, he is great in any advice.

    • @kawtherarabiat3399 says:

      Agree

    • @ClintGilliam says:

      I agree, but if we are serious about our health, we need to sometimes adjust our lifestyle. I didn’t say completely alter it, but some or even many adjustments may be necessary (fasting, eating habits, exercising regularly for other health reasons, going out to eat less, etc.)

    • @auroraguy says:

      Absolutely

    • @terrim.602 says:

      Same here, but when fitting into my lifestyle, I may have lunch with the ladies one day or dinner with friends another. Is changing the time of eating in a day in the 24hour fast effective?

  • @drjasonfung says:

    Check out my video on why fasting works so well – https://youtu.be/ETkwZIi3R7w

    • @fifikhan79 says:

      I did a 93 hour fast because omad stopped working for me. Because I have low thyroid and very slow metabolism. I was getting so hungry and bad cravings because my body couldn’t access the nutrients it needed. My body felt so heavy and movement was becoming very difficult. I had enough and went straight into it.
      On the second day i felt so much better and i was almost scared of re-feeding at the end. I felt the omad working the next day.
      Could you please give more information on re-feeding after a long fast?

    • @pinksupremacy6076 says:

      Dr Fung, is there any concerns about safety when doing a long fast such as 7 days+? Do I need to monitor any blood work?

    • @casabellewong7605 says:

      Hi Dr Jason I got no time to make bone broth soup but my mum do make healthy soup almost everyday can I drink the soup to replace the bone broth. Or like miso soup kind. Hope you can give me a reply. I am not obesity but I want to fast as previously I have binge eating disorder due to some stress. So I hope to fast to clear out whatevrr junk food snacks store in my body.

    • @education-fk4ns says:

      Dr jason fung sir, I am 39 years old and I have recently diagnosed with diabetes type 2 just 21 days ago and I am very worried about my health, my Hba1c is 7.0, plz help me in choosing the right diet for diabetes type 2 reversal, plz reply

    • @aurora571000 says:

      Is there any danger that fasting will bring on mania for a person with Bipolar disorder? Should ppl w bipolar stick w Omad or 2mad and avoid longer fasts?

  • @richardbarnes4283 says:

    I fast 18 to 20 hours having 1 meal a day. 80 yrs old and feeling good. Keto life style 20 carbs a day.

  • @anniezzi7513 says:

    Longer fasts suit me better because once I start eating it is hard to stop.

    • @AidenFox02 says:

      That’s the same with me, I want to use this time while I am fasting to reshape the way I think about food after I stop my fast in 6 days

    • @trueblue1359 says:

      Can either of you give me some tips to get started or to get through day 1. I’m in a bad frame of mind and I always make an excuse come 4/5pm of day 1. It’s quite frustrating!

    • @codyg3305 says:

      Are you eating a lot of carbs?

    • @trueblue1359 says:

      @@codyg3305 yes, nothing processed but I eat rice and potatoes and acorn squash. Other than that its mostly protein and fat and other veggies.

    • @codyg3305 says:

      @@trueblue1359 even though your carbs are “clean” carbs, your body very much so reacts to the sugars in them the same way. Especially potatoes and rice which are prone to creating an insulin spike. Insulin spikes make you want more carbs when you come crashing down. This why a clean keto (look up mediterranean keto) is probably the best diet to combine with fasting. Eat clean fats, keep your carbs really low, and you’ll notice it is much easier to fast.

  • @gleehanson4775 says:

    You changed my life, Dr. Fung. Seriously. I’m 63 and was morbidly obese for 40 years. I “happened across” your videos over 2 1/2 years ago when my daughter in law scared me to death saying they were fasting as a part of becoming more healthy. I really connected with your message and saw where I was headed. No doubt I would be type 2 diabetic before long. That scared me me further and I jumped aboard and unlike the decades of yo yo dieting I had experienced, I’ve changed my way of eating and I’m never turning back. I’m down 105 pounds and am only 30 pounds from a very healthy weight. I say all that to say this…thank you! Seriously, I can’t express it sufficiently. Thank you.

    • @kalishnikov27642 says:

      great job!
      do you eat l ow carb or usually stick to healthy food without thinking too much about carbs

    • @nicocontreras5366 says:

      It´s never too late.

    • @ciaranbyrne62 says:

      I recently did 12 days and 22 hours water fasting. I went from 15 stone 9 pounds to 13 stone 13 pounds. I ate soup for a few days then started to eat a carb free keto diet and in ten days I am back to 15 stone. I am going to start OMAD and eat at 10am from now on. I will endeavour to get to 14.5 stone using this method. It’s all a learning experience. I was getting very lethargic from day 11. I don’t know how they do 21 days never mind 40. Maybe I will try again water fasting in 6 months. See if I can go longer.

    • @silvergirl7810 says:

      This was very inspiring to read!

    • @rhalawanji says:

      Super inspiring! Thanks for sharing 🙏

  • @vt4508 says:

    I started watching Dr Fung’s videos and learned about intermittent fasting 4 month ago and started fasting 16 hrs a day. I would not eat breakfast and start eating lunch at 12pm and stop eating after 7pm. I’m 41 and had fatty liver disease ever since I was 20 years old. I went for a routine check up and had a blood test the other day and for the first time in 20 years I don’t have fatty liver anymore. I was so happy and excited and will never go back to eating breakfast anymore.

  • @Hollycat50 says:

    Fasting takes practice. Fasting longer takes a leap of faith. I recently did a 3-day fast and broke a psychological barrier. Now, 36-48 hour fasts are normal and not a challenge. Try a 3-day. And keep trying until you get through it. 👍🥳

    • @AmbuBadger says:

      I hear you! I was doing 16-hour fasts and out of the blue I decided to just hold out a little longer without giving myself a definite finish line. Well, I was able to go almost 48 hours, and I didn’t feel bad at all! In fact, I had no brain fogginess or feeling of needing a nap. I found that it helped to have a shot glass of salt handy to dip a fingertip into whenever I felt hungry, a little bit of salt kept my hunger at bay.

    • @ledyba57386 says:

      This is great advice! Three day fasts are a good time period. I’m doing 72hr days consecutively and losing weight like crazy. You get used to the fasting really quick.

    • @Hollycat50 says:

      @@ledyba57386 How often do you do a 3-day fast? Just finished my first 87 hr fast and feel fabulous. It really does get easier.

    • @ledyba57386 says:

      @@Hollycat50 I used to to 4-5 day fasts, but I can’t sustain that. So now I do anywhere between 24-72 hr fasts. I really try to aim for 72. It’s harder when you do it dry.

    • @ledyba57386 says:

      @@Hollycat50 And congrats on your 87 hr fast!!!! Excellent!

  • @thegoods2240 says:

    Most of my life I never ate breakfast. Then I retired, and with new found time on my hands I started eating breakfast. Big mistake, I gained 30lbs in one year! About a month ago I stopped eating after dinner, and began skipping breakfast again, so basically I eat in a 6 hour window, lunch at noon, and dinner over by 6pm. I’ve lost over 20lbs already.

    • @SimasAlan says:

      That is good to hear, same here. when i was a teen i was kinda of skin kid, but i was a strong athletic kid, and i almost never ate at breakfast simply was not hungry enough, after my 30’s, i started eat every day, and my weight kept on going up. I am also starting today on that regime (18 hour fasting) Plus i am hitting the gym, hopefully i will lose some kg that fast, cause i’ve got lose at least 60 lb.

  • @rkslounge8117 says:

    Currently on a 62 hour fast and I feel great. Break that psychological barrier and keep going. You GOT this!

    • @UndesignatedGod says:

      Im currently on a 64 hour fast. Only having water when I feel it necessary especially after an hour long sprint/walking. I have a deadline to meet by Dec. 17. I feel great. It really is the psychological barrier. Especially when other people around you are like “yo im gonna ubereats some wendys, get some spicy chicken sandwich” nd then in the back of your head you’re like “damn… Their chicken sandwiches do be slapping sometime” its having the resilience to say no. If everything goes according to plan, I will meet my deadline. Tomorrow is gonna be the first real test to see how strong my resilience is. Wish me luck.

    • @rkslounge8117 says:

      @@UndesignatedGod That’s awesome. Good luck bro. Kill it !

    • @UndesignatedGod says:

      @@rkslounge8117 i have a question for you, what did you do with the stomach pain? Not like your stomach growling for food, but just this constant stomach pain. Its weird cause it wasnt occurring the past days until today.

    • @rkslounge8117 says:

      @@UndesignatedGod I haven’t experienced that actually. For me the first 2 days, it was intense hunger and then it disappeared. Try maybe drinking Coconut Water twice a day. It could help

    • @UndesignatedGod says:

      @@rkslounge8117 ok thank you very much.

  • @erickasauceda8095 says:

    Hello Dr. Fung. I had a stroke 2 1/2 yes ago. When I was at the Rehabilitation hospital, the Nutritionist told me about Intermittent Fasting, but did not go in to details about how to do it. Just told me the different schedules. Have been doing IF since then. Unfortunately, I did not change my diet. I came across your channel 2 weeks ago and on March 20,2022 did a 16/8 properly eating 2 times. This week I changed it to 18/6 and today I am completing a 24 hr fast
    I feel great

    • @trishkline6507 says:

      That’s awesome Ericka. I love Dr Fungs book, The Complete Guide to Fasting which has recipes and so much more in there. Best wishes. God bless🙏🏻🙏🏻

  • @margaritawelch1838 says:

    58 hours into my fast. Sick and tired of the cravings and the , if I’m really honest, over 50 pounds extra weight. I want to take back control of my appetite and this is the best way to break the physical and psychological barrier. Lost 5 pounds so far! Good luck to all of us fasters!

    • @debann2864 says:

      Wow, your doing great!

    • @margaritawelch1838 says:

      @@debann2864 Thanks! I lasted 3 days. Now I am doing 2 day fasts for each week, then OMAD for the remaining days. I refuse to become a statistic, haha. You know, when you hit your forties and you blow up. I don’t want this unhealthy body anymore

    • @anitaknight3915 says:

      @@margaritawelch1838 you’re doing great!!! Water fasting really helped me break sugar cravings addiction and brings tons of benefits. Longest I did was 15 days. First 3 days are hardest mentally. I’d like to implement more omad long term fasting for long term weight loss.

    • @debann2864 says:

      Good luck to you! You can do it!💝🥰

    • @margaritawelch1838 says:

      @@anitaknight3915 Omigosh! I’m not sure I can stretch it out that long. But my oh my, the benefits really make prolonged fasting an option. I’m thinking the most I can do is five days, because in the weekends family expects me to eat out with them and I’d like to share my one meal for the day with them. You certainly give me inspiration to push the envelope!

  • @SweetBuLivingLife says:

    I am on day 5 of a water and tea fast 😀. I was going to just do 3 days, but am feeling pretty good so kept going and now aiming for 7 days. I’ve been adding sea salt, trace minerals and electrolyte powder to some of the water in the morning. Then just plain water or tea for the rest of the day. I have lost about 11 lbs, which I am very excited about 😁 So far, my longest fast and counting!

    • @SweetBuLivingLife says:

      I made it to 8 full days of fasting…I’m proud of myself and am going to let this be a good foundation to a much healthier life 🥰

    • @Buttersideup says:

      I’m on day 5 of a fast. Not sure if I should keep going ..but your post is encouraging!

    • @SweetBuLivingLife says:

      @@Buttersideup Excellent!!! Always listen carefully to your body. It will tell you how far to take anything 🙂

    • @Penelope416 says:

      This is encouraging to hear and I’m happy that it’s worked out well for you. I have been fasting for over 24 hours now and working on my second day of fasting. I had a goal to do 5 days of fasting, but I will see how it goes. After the first day I’ve noticed some benefits and felt really good. so I will continue to try fasting for the next 24 hours.

    • @SweetBuLivingLife says:

      @@Penelope416 Great job so far and best wishes 🙂

  • @martycarmichael3885 says:

    I do a 24 hour fast every Monday and a 48 or 72 hour fast once a month. I didn’t need to lose weight, but I’m very active and it’s really knocked down inflammation in my body.

    • @gykg3202 says:

      Great habit!

    • @shinjinisarana09 says:

      Thankyou

    • @jodyjackson5475 says:

      Me too !! I do a 36 -40 hour fast every Monday. From dinner Sunday till sometime Tuesday. It definitely gets easier. I’ll do a longer (3-5 days) fast a couple times a year

    • @reyrey4261 says:

      I’ve been doing intermittent fasting for about a month and decided to do a 5-day prolonged fast. I have chronic inflammation in my chest area for more than a year, but it’s not a big deal because it only hurts when I press on my chest bones. After the 2nd day of fasting, the area of pain started getting smaller. And after 5 days, the chronic inflammation in my chest was all gone. Now, I can press on my bones hard and feel zero pain.

    • @martycarmichael3885 says:

      @@reyrey4261 That’s awesome! Let that body heal itself.

  • @yvonnerobinson2951 says:

    Started 18/6 intermittent fast 12/27/22 and today 1/27/23 I’m down 14lbs. No more back pain, no more inflammation in my body. My blood sugar readings are good. I’m in constant ketosis n I’m happy for that. 161lbs today and on my way down. I feel great in my body and I want to thank these doctors for showing us the tools to tap into our bodies own defense and healing.

    • @dhoward1234 says:

      So glad it’s working for you.. Doesn’t work for me sadly 😢 I’m on a one month with gaining only with the same method 😢

    • @thetampabaynononsenserealt785 says:

      How are you doing now? I love the 18/6 IF

    • @thetampabaynononsenserealt785 says:

      @@dhoward1234 what are you eating when you break your fast? Try to stay away from carbs and sugar when you first break your fast. For example, I’ll break my fast with eggs and a small amount of protein. About an hour later I’ll have carbs.

    • @elizabethkoenig5185 says:

      Whatare you eating on your “feed” days?

    • @Centannicocktails says:

      Hello Yvonne! I started 16/8 9 days ago. May I ask, what did you also include calorie deficit when you did eat like 1200?? Also, what about the headaches? Thank you❤

  • @yvettesalazar9605 says:

    I am currently at 18hrs fasting for 72hr total fasting. Wow! I am so excited in making this part of my lifestyle. I’ve been abusing my digestive track for too long and I am getting back to a healthy weight. If Jesus did it for 40 days surely 3 days a breeze. May you be Blessed in health n longevity!

  • @wolfcruise says:

    One day the Noble Prize will be awarded to this guy ! Dr Fung you are amazing !! Thank you for all you do and the countless people you have helped and are helping !

  • @petelove9731 says:

    The beauty of YouTube, watching this three years later and just starting out on fasting.

  • @24carrotgold8 says:

    I maintained therapeutic ketosis in conjunction with chemotherapy and immunotherapy but also fasted 3 days before and 2 days after 18 infusions. I RESOLVED stage 3 endometrial cancer. Thank you Prof Thomas Seyfried for your protocol which not only starved the cancer of glucose but with fasted exercise hindered glutamine from feeding the cancer also.😊

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