“I Could Never Fast” — The Lie That Kept Me Hungry
Fasting isn’t beyond you. It’s your doorway to clarity, freedom, and God-designed healing.
For years, I believed fasting was beyond me.
I had deeply rooted beliefs about food, hunger, and what my body “needed.” The idea of going without food for an extended period felt extreme—even dangerous. I remember how afraid I felt the first time I intentionally skipped a day of eating; it stirred something deep inside me. Back then, I couldn’t imagine the kind of fasting the Bible spoke of—it seemed unrealistic, even impossible. But now, those fears are gone—and for good reason.
Long before I ever began my fasting journey, something deep within me whispered… Am I missing something?
Years ago, driven by a bit of my competitive nature, I pushed myself to the edge of a three-day fast, hitting 70 hours. I treated it like a personal challenge, a game I could win. It proved to me that I could fast—but it also revealed something deeper: fasting wasn’t just physical. It was spiritual. Mental. Emotional.
Over time, I’ve softened my fasting approach. The intensity gave way to intuition. Instead of using fasting as a test of willpower, it became a gentle and faithful rhythm. Now, I’m deeply grateful that food no longer controls me. I can sense what my body, mind, and spirit need and make choices out of a space of peace and connection.
But my fasting journey didn’t start with long fasts. It began with small steps.
How I Started
I began simply by observing. I paid attention to how often I was eating—and more importantly, why. I wrote it down. No judgment, just curiosity. This gave me clarity and confidence. I could increase my fasting window by simply one hour at a time.
And slowly, over time, my body adapted. I began to tap into a deeper rhythm that felt natural, even freeing.
But here’s the secret that truly changed everything:
I began by nourishing myself with animal-based foods rich in healthy fat and protein. This simple shift reset my metabolism and helped me become fat-adapted—that is, my body became able to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on the constant sugar rollercoaster that our modern culture normalizes.
This is a huge part of the problem: the lie that we must eat every few hours, the cravings, the blood sugar crashes—these are not our design.
Once I began eating proper, ancestral nutrition, fasting came naturally. I just wasn't hungry in the same way. I didn't need to snack. I had space to listen to what my body actually needed, rather than being ruled by the next craving.
The Gift of Stewardship
This is the true fruit of fasting: stewardship. It’s not about willpower. It’s not about extremes. It’s about alignment with your design.
You were born into a miraculous body, handcrafted by God, designed to heal, to restore, and to thrive. But constant eating disrupts that design.
Proper food and fasting allow you to return to it, and the results are undeniable.
A Story from Coaching
An Amish man I worked with didn’t think fasting was possible. He could hardly skip a single meal without triggering a migraine. But after working together, removing grains, sugars, and processed foods, and eating only nourishing, animal-based foods for two months—everything changed.
By the end of our coaching time, his headaches had significantly decreased. He was shocked when he effortlessly completed a 36-hour fast. It wasn’t forced. It was natural. And it brought him freedom: from food addiction, from relentless negative thoughts, from brain fog, and into a stronger, more grounded prayer life.
He told me, "I felt like I was in a dark hole with no way out. Now there is hope."
That’s the power of healing by God’s design. That’s the fruit of returning to solid ground—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Your body is a temple. Are you treating it that way?
What might shift in your life if you began to honor it—not with perfection, but with presence, wisdom, and care?
Where to Begin
Don’t start fasting by just not eating. Begin by fueling yourself properly.
Then you take small steps. Extend your fast by one hour. Observe how you feel. Be a gentle scientist with your body. Let go of fear. Let go of control.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin living as God made you.
Look at Your Story:
Where have I believed the lie that I could never fast?
What would it look like to fuel my body in a way that supports healing and freedom?
What’s one small step I can take this week to steward my wellness story more intentionally?
Because fasting is not just about food. It’s about clarity. It’s about healing. It’s about freedom.
You were not made to live in cycles of craving and shame. You were made for peace and clarity.
If you’d like to experience more of this in your life, I invite you to:
Read my book: Return to Simple: A Journey of Hope and Truth
Explore coaching: Learn more about The True-Hearted Way, my 12-week Christ-centered coaching experience.
It would be an honor to walk with you as you step off the sugar-burning rollercoaster and onto the solid ground of simple, ancestral healing.
With hope,
Kim VanDolah