Carb fasting questions

Before you start

Is carb fasting the same as keto?

No. Keto keeps carbs very low every day so you stay in ketosis. Carb fasting removes carbs on scheduled fast days and puts them back on normal days. You visit ketosis; you do not live in it.

How many fast days a week?

It depends on how much you want to lose. Skip carbs for one meal a day if you have little to lose. Three fast days a week, not back to back, is the usual start for steady fat loss. Four to five weekday fast days with carbs on the weekend is for people with more to lose.

What do I eat on a fast day?

Protein, fat, and non-starchy vegetables: eggs, meat, fish, olive oil, leafy greens. The aim is near-zero carbohydrate, not less food. You should finish a fast day satisfied.

Can I eat whatever I want on normal days?

Close. Aim for about 80 percent whole foods and 20 percent whatever you enjoy. Two or three slices of pizza on a normal day is the plan working, not the plan failing.

Is it safe for everyone?

For most healthy adults, alternating carb intake sits within normal eating. If you are pregnant, manage diabetes, take medication that affects blood sugar, or have a history of disordered eating, talk to your clinician first. The site has a page on exactly who should be careful.