Fasting: and why I no longer do it

Published 9.30.2025; reformatted 8.20.2026: So Netflix has a documentary series about various aspects of the Wellness Industry. I watched the first episode about Essential Oils, but the reality is that I know nothing about Essential Oils— and I'm not sure I want to learn about them. I think I've always assumed that they were a scam… and certainly the documentary doesn't dissuade me from that opinion.

So after that less than interesting beginning, I looked at the titles of the remaining segments, and the only one I wound up watching was about Fasting. Now, I do know a bit about fasting… though I've never done a "proper" fast where I didn't eat for days. I have intermittent fasted (a better word is eating) in the past. I have an entire series where I discuss the 5:2 "fast" diet (which was really intermittent fasting). However, my experience with the 5:2 came to an end after I suffered a bit of "distress" and I haven't done it since. I did lose weight on it, mostly because it imposed a calorie restriction (you can't lose weight unless you restrict calories in some way… there is no escaping the energy balance.)

At this point, I guess I'll just go ahead and do a personal update here, I am deliberately trying to maximize my fiber intake, and trying to let that create a deficit. I also added two cardio days to my gym workout, so that means I head to the gym 5 days a week. I think adding cardio has helped create a deficit as well. I am very slowly losing weight without tracking anything, except my heart rate during workouts. So I would consider this effort a success. Based on impedance, my body fat percentage continues to slowly decrease, which my lean mass remains roughly the same. So that's also good (if the numbers are to be believed… and for me, the trend if your friend, rather than fixating on the actual numbers.)

All of which is to say that fasting is not for me. Totally not eating for days is not something I've ever tried, nor is it anything that tempts me. And at least according to the documentary, total fasting or water fasting can be dangerous. Particularly during the refeeding portion of the experience, when food is re-introduced. That's why (and this was one of the main points of the documentary) having medical supervision (by ACTUAL doctors) is so important.

However, the documentary begins with a dude (and men apparently react better to fasting than woman or so my trainer says) who does intermittent fasting in Silicon Valley as well as real fasts. He eats a low carbohydrate diet (which I am unwilling to do) and sells a brand of ketone powders. I have never taken one, nor will I ever. He requires his employees at HVMN to fast— not sure how that would work as an Human Resources (HR) issue. He probably only hires true believers though.

Next they speak briefly to Tom Stackpole, who is a journalist.

My notes:

Tom Stackpole, journalist
OMAD is mentioned as part of intermittent fasting
“Optimizing, or an eating disorder”

Christy Harrison, registered dietician says fasting is not for everyone.
Fasting is one of the most popular diets

Good God, she practices intuitive eating
Discusses yoyo dieting, didn’t call it that, but that’s what she meant.

Water fasting is mentioned. And this is going to go to the cancer treatment.

And there he is. the King of water fasting, Dr Alan Goldhammer and True North

True North does monitor them and has doctors on site.

But then they talk to the widow of a guy who went to a place called Tanglewood Wellness Center
It was cheaper than True North

He fasted for 32 days, then started to refeed, And it’s one of the most dangerous parts of water fasting

Tried to leave, but got left at a hotel by himself. He fell down the stairs and had head trauma. died 2/1/2011
Loren Lockman is the director. And it’s in Costa Rico

He takes stage 4 cancer… but Longo said it’s not possible. Can’t fast to heal cancer

This Lockman claims that 90% of breast cancer were healed.
BP plummets… they do NOT have a doctor on site. RED FLAG
These are not medically supervised fasts.

He’s a salesman
Plummetting BP is dangerous… people pass out and fall
Which is probably what happened to the guy that died.

Dietician points out the dangers of fasting. Says fasting can make cancers worse.

Mike Maser is listed as an entrepreneur.
Had lymphoma
He did water fast during chemo after doing his own research
Only did 2 of 6 rounds of chemo and them was declared cancer free
Low carb with lots of vegetables is his current diet

Every quarter does 5 day water fast
Then intermittent fast 16-18 hours

He’s in remission, does not think he beat cancer

And then they talk to Valter Longo
He goes over the mice data, which is impressive, but is data on mice. He is running tests in humans, but the results are unknown.

He is as cautious as ever.

True North came off a LOT better than Tanglewood… apparently with fasting, you get what you paid for.