The Fasted State Journal

What Breaks a Fast: The Complete List

Monk fruit, allulose, diet soda, heavy cream, coffee with cream, MCT oil. Here's the honest, ingredient-by-ingredient answer on what actually breaks a fast, what technically doesn't, and why the technical...

Does Coffee Break a Fast? The Real Answer

Black coffee doesn't break a fast, but that's not the whole story. Here's what the research actually shows about caffeine, fat oxidation, autophagy, and exactly what turns your coffee into...

Intermittent Fasting for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Getting Started

Everything I'd tell someone starting intermittent fasting from scratch — which protocol to pick, the mistakes that make people quit in week one, who shouldn't fast at all, and how...

Best Electrolyte Drinks for Fasting: An Honest Comparison

I compared LMNT, Redmond Re-Lyte, Ultima Replenisher, and Optimize on the numbers that actually matter for fasting — sodium, potassium, magnesium, and what's hiding in the ingredient list. Here's an honest breakdown, including where our own product falls short.

Magnesium for Fasting: Why It Matters More Than You Think

Magnesium doesn't crash the way sodium does during a fast, but most people are already running low before they ever start their window. Here's why sleep and muscle cramps are...

Headache While Fasting: The Four Real Causes and What to Do About Each One

If you have ever felt a headache creep in a few hours into a fast, you already know how much it can throw off your day. It shows up right...

Stages of Fasting by Hour: What Happens to Your Body

A clear hour-by-hour breakdown of what fasting does to your body, including the one thing most people get wrong about when the clock actually starts.

Why You're Not Losing Weight in a Calorie Deficit

Struggling to lose weight in a calorie deficit? It's probably not your willpower or your metabolism. Here's why the numbers are so hard to get right and what actually works...

Electrolytes for Intermittent Fasting

Most people who struggle with intermittent fasting are not struggling because of hunger. They are struggling because their electrolytes are off. Here is how to fix it.

The Truth About Stevia and Fasting

Stevia has zero calories and no sugar. So why do most serious fasters avoid it? The answer comes down to what sweetness does to your body during a fast.

Do Electrolytes Break a Fast?

Zero-calorie electrolytes do not break a fast. But most electrolyte products are not zero-calorie. Here is what to look for on the label.

I Didn't Eat for 7 Days. Here's What Happened

It had been over a year since I'd done a true extended fast. I'd hit some 24-hour fasts, a few 36s, and maybe a 48 in there.

What Are Natural Flavors Really Made Of?

You've seen it on every label. Protein powders, electrolyte drinks, sparkling water, even your "healthy" snacks. What are "natural flavors," anyway? 

What Can I Drink While Fasting?

One of the most common questions I get from coaching clients: what can I actually drink during my fast? The short answer is water and black coffee.