People who’ve never fasted typically experience very mild and brief periods of discomfort, ranging from gnawing hunger to headaches, irritation, and low energy. But if you stay busy and hydrated, you, like many others, may find that your fasting periods are happier and more productive than when you’re eating!

The most basic form of fasting involves nothing more than an early dinner or a late breakfast, which may be nothing to you at all. As you attempt longer fasts, your relationship with food will be challenged. You’ll have to be mindful in assessing whether the feelings you’re experiencing are actual hunger, thirst, or a need for fulfillment.