28-Day Fasting Experiment by a 70-Year-Old: Reality vs. Expectations

Does fasting work?

Trust me, as a 70-year-old woman, I’m cautious and often skeptical of all the weight loss methods. 

Because I’ve tried every diet out there and failed miserably. 

I couldn’t bear the hunger pains, counting calories or macros (the worst!), or having to eliminate my favorite foods from my life. 

This fasting experiment was a last resort for me. Something I’ve never done before. I was an absolute beginner.

Me before the fasting experiment

I would wake up every morning with an aching body. I was tired of carrying the weight around.

I would run out of breath after moving around the house. The pain in my joints was really tiring. And, oh, how I hated my reflection in the mirror! 

I was often daydreaming: head held high, feet light and graceful, strangers’ heads turning to take a second look at me. 

I saw myself as an active, youthful wife, mother, and grandmother.

But my body didn’t reflect my true inner self-image. 

I felt and looked heavy. Clothes didn’t fit me right anymore and I was constantly worried that people would judge me for my looks. 

I hesitated to order food in public places because it seemed I could read the minds around me. 

“You need to eat less.” 

“Oh, she shouldn’t be ordering that.”

“How about some salad instead of a cheeseburger?” 

The summertime was taking a toll on me, too. 

What was supposed to be the most fun time of the year, with barbecues and family gatherings, games with grandchildren, and long walks, became torture. 

I was sweating under too many baggy clothes, suffering from joint pains and constant fatigue. 

The rock bottom was when I started hiding snacks all over my house. This way, I could snack whenever I wanted without anyone seeing or judging me. 

I wasn’t ready to give up at 70.

I felt embarrassed and discouraged by who I’ve become. I didn’t… I couldn’t believe this was me. I wasn’t ready to give up at 70.

One day, I came across this simple-looking fasting challenge. An ad on social media, actually. It inspired me. 

To those who might not know what intermittent fasting exactly is: it’s eating within time blocks or windows that are ok with you. 

I wanted quick results and needed to be comfortable with what I was doing, so I went with the 16:8 fasting method. I gave myself 28 days to try out this fasting experiment. 

Before starting, I completed a short quiz that gave me all of the tools I needed to get ready for this new journey.

I got an e-book guide on fasting (I was an absolute beginner), daily instructions on what to do each day, meal plan guides, access to a private fasting community, and more. 

The quiz also calculated my BMI, which unfortunately showed I was in the obese category.

I was afraid to be disappointed again, and the results left me speechless

I felt uncertain when I first started this experiment. I had some nagging thoughts in my head that maybe I shouldn’t do it. I feared I would fail again.

But it was my only way out of the misery, so I gave it a go. Here’s how the first week went:

Day 1. 

I woke up with a thought that maybe I should start tomorrow. But then I gathered myself together, and with some virtual help on my side, I began my fasting experiment. It seemed doable. 

Day 3. 

The initial plan was to weigh in weekly, but I needed to know if fasting was doing anything to my body. So I stepped on the scale (something I dreaded doing in the past). 

The trim lines were blinking as I waited. It seemed like it took forever for the digits to show up. And here it was. I managed to lose 3 pounds already!

Days 4–6. 

I felt like a warrior! I cooked easy meals approved by a professional nutritionist, and I even allowed myself to tweak them a bit to my liking. 

Also, by this time, I formed a habit of setting daily fasting goals and reading useful bite-sized insights on the topic. All of which was sent to my email. I would mostly do this over my morning coffee.

Day 7.

I could already see my belly sticking out a bit less than before. My energy levels increased. The fasting experiment was going well.

It was not all roses

I was hungry at times. I had this bad habit of snacking late at night, and oh boy, was it hard to break. The good thing was that this program grants access to a closed community page where people can share their struggles and help each other. My nutritionist gave a few very useful tips, too.

One of the fasting benefits is that it reduces hunger (pangs) in time, and it took me a week or so to start feeling this effect.

Also, I had a hard time refusing Oreos and Hershey’s at first and really felt deprived. That was until I was reminded that intermittent fasting was not so much about what I eat but when I eat it. Knowing that I actually could have a dessert in my eating window was a relief.

One month in. The reality.

The following two weeks proved how important mindset and environment are to fasting results. 

Since my past weight loss experiences weren’t successful, I honestly thought this experiment would end in a day or two, with me eating a bar of chocolate from my secret stash.

I also thought hunger pangs would break me, but there were almost none. 

And I soon forgot my fear of having to spend most of my time in the kitchen, preparing food. Easy-to-make recipes were always at hand.

I felt constantly encouraged to stay on the right track with daily tips and progress tracking that were sent to my email.

I was fortunate to have guidance along the way.

Day 28.

Walking past the mirror in my sunny room, I realized for the first time how ill-fitting my clothes became on my leaner body. 

And how good and happy I finally felt. 

The differences in my size, mood, and health were and still are so evident it’s impossible not to notice.

The numbers speak for themselves:

I’ve lost 12 inches around my body. I went two sizes down!

For the first time in my life, I realized I lost weight without ever feeling that I denied myself anything.

The one program that set me up for success

For the first time in my life, I lost weight successfully. It wasn’t a matter of willpower because I don’t have much of that. Also, it wasn’t mere luck. I simply had all the right tools handed to me. 

I used MyFastingChallenge to guide me throughout the 28 days. 

It started with an insightful, free, 2-minute quiz. 

I answered a few simple questions and entered my height, weight at the time, and the weight I dreamed of achieving someday (little did I know how quickly and painlessly this would come true).  

Then I received instant feedback and calculations on my body state and how quickly and noticeably it could change in only 28 days. 

I was hooked. It was an eye-opening experience that I’ve never had before. Like someone was showing my future and how rewarding it could be if only I went with it. 

From the very start, when the beginner’s guide to fasting popped into my email, I knew I could trust this process.  

I get daily newsletters, including simple yet delicious recipes (with well-balanced macros) and workout plans that work perfectly with the fasting routine. 

I don’t have to worry about tracking my progress because they do that for me, too. 

It feels like I’m finally free and in control of my habits. 

I am sure that having credible and qualified help every step of the way for the first time in my life set me up for the amazing results that I achieved.

One month ago, I was an absolute beginner at fasting. Today – I’m slimmer, healthier, and happier than ever.

Can your transformation be just one quiz away?

There are no secrets. It’s just this one key element – the guidance throughout. 

It is achievable. And not complicated at all. 

All you need now are two minutes to take the quiz (click the button below). No commitment. No pressure. 

The least you will get from it are the insights and the vision of who you could become!