I Stopped Fasting for a Year - Here's What It Taught Me (& Other Habits I'm Giving Up)

After 30 years in health, Dr. Mindy is calling time on the rules.This solo episode is one of the most personal things she's shared on this podcast. It covers two big ideas: the science and story behind why she stopped fasting for most of the past year and the five health habits she's deliberately walking away from in 2026.First, flex fasting. When cortisol is high from grief, trauma, illness, perimenopause, or chronic stress rigidly pushing through long fasting windows doesn't support the body. It depletes it. Dr. Mindy shares what happened when she lost a close friend and found herself in an acute stress state, what the research says about prolonged fasting and the HPA axis, and how she developed a new approach she's calling flex fasting: a more intuitive, body-led way to use fasting as a tool without turning it into a rule.Then the five things she's giving up: counting (macros, biometrics, followers, all of it), the gym, other people's urgency, productivity over health, and information overconsumption. Each one is a direct response to what the wellness industry has quietly done to us — turned health into a full-time job with a performance review.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Fast Like a Girl: https://www.drmindypelz.com/booksAge Like a Girl: https://www.drmindypelz.com/booksSubstack Article "I Stopped Fasting for a Year": https://substack.com/@drmindypelz/Carb Manager App carbmanager.com, available on iOS, Android, and webThe Movement Diet: Redefining Fitness at Every Age with Katy BowmanStudy: Prolonged Fasting, HPA Axis & Cortisol - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12736288/Study: Estrogen & Cortisol Regulation - https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/102/12/4457/4587523Midlife Women Fasting Trial - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65678-zStudy: Self-Selected Fasting Windows - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03375-yBEAM Minerals, use code MINDY for 20% off: https://www.beamminerals.com/?oid=4&affid=648LMNT, get a free sample pack with your order: https://bit.ly/drinklmntpelzTo view full show notes, resources mentioned, transcripts, and more, visit👉 https://drmindypelz.com/ep343 Connect with Dr. Mindy:Join Reset AcademyWatch the episodes on YouTubeFollow Dr. Mindy on InstagramSubscribe to Dr. Mindy’s newsletterDisclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, fasting routine, or lifestyle.