Book Review of Fast Like a Girl: A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones by Dr. Mindy Pelz
Fasting overview of the book ‘Fast Like a Girl’
After reading this book, I knew I needed to post a book review of Fast Like a Girl, A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones by Dr. Mindy Pelz.
As an older woman committed to a healthy lifestyle, I value fasting as one of my tools. Intermittent fasting is popular now, but I’m also looking at other variations of fasting for better health results.
“Fast Like a Girl” is an audiobook or book created especially for women who want to take advantage of the advantages of fasting. Dr. Pelz is considered a leading expert in the realm of fasting.
Dr, Mindy Pelz investigates the potential benefits of fasting on hormone balance, energy levels, and weight reduction. The book offers helpful advice for various fasting protocols, such as extended and intermittent fasting.
She explores the science of fasting, clearing up common myths and concerns while highlighting customized fasting methods. There are also many tips and hacks she includes for being able to fast for longer periods to help a person through the difficult aspects.
While this book would also be valuable to men, it’s targeted toward women because it provides practical steps for creating a fasting lifestyle based on a woman’s monthly hormonal cycles.
The author further breaks it down also according to life stages. Whether a person is in childbearing years with a monthly cycle or even perhaps does not have a cycle due to birth control methods or other factors.
The woman may be in the peri-menopause or post-menopause phase of life. The author does an excellent job of showing how to maximize fasting strategies based on each of these life-stage scenarios—strategies that work with a woman’s hormonal variations and not against them.
For me personally, when I feel like everything is out-of-whack hormonally with my body, doing a two to four-day fast helps things balance and sort themselves out in so many ways—fasting in a real go-to tool for me.
My Favorite Parts of the Book Fasting Like a Girl
Some of my favorite sections of this book discuss the benefits of fasting and what happens to the body at various stages of the fast. This is especially to re-read during some of the tough moments of the fast. Remembering the whys helps so much, and seeing all the great things your body is accomplishing helps inspire you to push through.
I loved the book portion that provides food recommendations based on a woman's current monthly cycle and the foods that support the various hormones.
Of course, an entire chapter is dedicated to fasting hacks. Tips and tricks to help make it easier when it is difficult. We all need those!
There is an entire chapter dedicated to breaking a fast, how to finish a fast correctly, what foods to eat first and at what rate. You do not want to rush out and just eat everything in sight. This is important because it can be tricky to re-engage with food after fasting.
From personal experience, I know that coming off a fast incorrectly can have some unpleasant side effects. There are ways to avoid this and help avoid a post-fast binge.
The book also has many amazing recipes, including fermented foods. You might enjoy reading my article — Fermenting Goodness: DIY Guide to Milk Kefir and its Health Benefits).
I made a purple cabbage and turmeric sauerkraut recipe from her book that turned out amazing, is among our favorites.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough for health-conscious women who want to improve their health and perhaps lose weight.
All rights reserved by Val Garner
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I think I need this book😁