Fasting at Work: Is the Challenge Worth the Reward?

If you are a working professional who works while fasting, we have some things that you must know. Fasting can make you feel irregular and lazy. Fasting at work can affect your daily activities greatly if you do not do it often.

During this time, employees' work, energy level, and productivity can change significantly. Occasional fasting is practiced and encouraged in some cultures around the world for its health benefits. But it comes with its perks and downsides, especially if you work a 9 to 5 job.

The challenge is maintaining the eating window or the interval in which to eat. Maintaining that same concentration, and meeting work deadlines in between that can also be a task for some.

The most popular fasting among working professionals is intermittent fasting. It requires you to fix an eating window for 6-8 hours. Some other types of fasting can be for religious and dietary purposes.

Read on to find out about different kinds of fasting people practice and how to keep your energy level up with them.

Different Reasons People Fast at Work

People fast, whether during work or not, for multiple reasons. Some people do it for vanity, while others do it for their health-related conditions. As mentioned, reasons for fasting can vary from person to person. Here are some of the common ones:

1. Weight Loss:

A study that spanned from 2013 to 2016 found that around 49.1% of adults in the US tried to lose weight by fasting for 12 months. Thus, weight loss contributes significantly to one of the main reasons for fasting.

Suggested Read: Learn How To Lose Weight At Work With These 11 Useful Tips

2. Heightened Energy Levels:

Work stress can make employees want to eat more. People usually consume more junk food while working. This leads to extra weight gain due to physical idleness.

3. Religious and Spiritual Reason:

People have fasted for religious and spiritual reasons over many centuries. This is one of the main reasons people fast at work too. Muslims fast during the whole month of Ramadan. On the other hand, Hindus and Christians have specific fasting days year-round.

4. Doctor-Prescribed for Improved Health:

Fasting at regular intervals can keep individuals at their optimum health levels. That is why many doctors also prescribe different types of patients to fast at least once a week. It detoxifies the body and clears the system.

How Does Fasting Work?

The fundamental concept of fasting is abstaining from food. When you don't consume food, your body starts utilizing its fat reserves. This leads to calorie burn, fat loss, and, ultimately, weight loss. Fasting improves the body's metabolism, detoxifies it, and heightens energy levels.

Types of Fasting You Can Do While at Work

Fasting at work can be challenging. But there are different kinds of fasting that help professionals work efficiently even when their stomach is empty.

1. Intermittent Fasting:

This method is probably the most popular kind of fasting in the world. It involves eating within specific periods or fasting schedules. The most popular is 16/8, or 16 hours of eating and 8 hours of fasting. This can help people lose weight without having to consciously cut out calories.

2. Alternate-Day Fasting

This method involves fasting on alternate days and eating regularly on non-fasting days. But you don't have to fast completely even on your fasting days. You can eat 25% of the calories you would eat on a typical day.

3. Time Restricted Eating:

Time-restricted eating is one of the most popular types of fasting. In this type, you have a fixed time when you eat and when you fast. The most popular one is a 12-hour eating window.

Benefits of Fasting at Work

People would much rather stay at home when they are fasting than at work. But from a scientific standpoint, fasting on a workday can have its benefits. Some of the significant benefits of it include-

1. Increased Workability and Productivity:

People who fast at work have reported experiencing increased productivity. This is due to increased focus and a boost in metabolism. Fasting burns fat, makes you feel light, and boosts energy.

2. Better Weight Management:

People fast to lose weight and for religious reasons. Therefore, it is better to fast and have a typical working day than to fast and be at home in bed. The working part helps speed up the process of weight management.

3. Reduced Stress and Improved Mood:

Fasting can improve people's mood and reduce their stress levels. This leads to better engagement and productivity at work.

4. Boosted Immune System:

People have linked fasting with detoxifying the body and strengthening the immune system. This process is better effectuated when we have a typical day while fasting.

5. Mental Clarity:

A fast effectively boosts our body’s metabolism and increases our mental clarity and focus.

Suggested Read: Foggy Focus? 5 Ways to Deal with Brain Fog at Work

Challenges of Working While Fasting

Honestly, it is easier said than done. Working while fasting is a challenge for many. Either maintaining that same energy level becomes a struggle, or you miss eating on time due to deadlines. Fasting at work takes a big piece.

1. Irritation and Fatigue:

A study was conducted with 52 women in the US. It found that the women were more irritable and tired during the fasting period than during the non-fasting period. This shows that people who fast experience some level of fatigue, which can affect their work.

2. Difficulty in Concentration:

While fasting improves concentration and mental clarity for many, it can also cause the opposite for some. Some people find it hard to focus when their stomachs are empty and they are hungry, which can lead to malfunction at work.

3. Digestive Issues:

Some people experience digestive issues, such as stomach gas, when they are fasting. These issues can affect their work quality and make it challenging to meet deadlines.

Tips for Safe Fasting at Work

Strategies for safely fasting at work can vary from person to person. As everyone is different, strategies also differ. Here are some tips you can incorporate into your fasting regime at work.

1. Restructure Your Workload

Structuring and maintaining a healthy workload are essential. You must emphasize maintaining a healthy workplace pressure before choosing to fast. Finish more demanding tasks during your eating days and keep low-pressure tasks for the fasting days. This will allow you to work more restfully than on regular days.

2. Let Your Colleagues Know:

Who you work with can help you on your fasting days. Informing your colleagues that you are going on a fast can help minimize work stress and keep your mind off hunger.

3. Stay Hydrated:

Don't let your body be depleted of fluids. Drinking plenty of water can help you stay focused during the fast and achieve your goal of weight loss by draining out toxins.

4. Avoid Rigorous Activities:

A workplace is full of energy-draining activities. Interacting with the team and completing the work on time is draining enough. But, on fasting days, avoid more rigorous activities that need more energy.

5. Take Breaks

Whether fasting or not, relaxing at work and taking breaks is necessary to maintain that mental balance. Taking proper breaks from work on a fast helps you keep the work going without getting exhausted.

Is Fasting at Work Safe for You?

While fasting sometimes can be a healthy habit, it is essential to tune into your body's limits. Fasting at work can also be quite challenging, depending on the type of work you do. Here are some points to consider when fasting on workdays.

1. Type of Job:

The nature of the job you do is an essential factor in your fasting. Physically rigorous and mentally challenging jobs can make fasting a burden for you.

2. Health Condition:

You should consider your overall health conditions before taking up any kind of fasting. While working, people experience great stress and strain, and bad health on top of fasting can make things worse. So, listen to your body's needs before setting a fasting regime.

3. Work Culture:

Believe it or not, your work culture can enable or disable you to fast. A healthy and supportive work environment will make your fasting period smoother. Whereas a toxic and pressurizing culture can significantly affect your work and fasting.

How to Help Your Employees During Their Fasting?

A good organization can either support you during fasting or worsen it. Here are some ways that an organization can help and support its employees while fasting.

1. Manage the Workload with Teammates

An organization can help its fasting employees by shifting some workload within the team. This restructuring will relieve some pressure off their shoulders.

2. Schedule Meetings in the First Half

Managers and team leaders can schedule meetings in the first half when the fasting employees have more energy.

3. Flexibility of Work

HRs of the organization can be considerate and approve work-from-home options for the employees if needed.

4. Provide Resources

Organizations can provide resources like juices and fruits to support fasting employees.

Bottom Line

Working while fasting is easier said than done. Fasting can affect some people more than others. Some people get the benefits more easily than others. At the same time, some feel drained due to the pressure at work.

Therefore, you must listen to your body's needs and smoothen the process. Don't go into rigorous fasting if you have never tried it before. Also, always get a doctor's opinion before adopting a healthy habit like fasting. So, good luck achieving your weight loss goals!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is fasting safe for everyone?

Yes, fasting is safe for everyone. But before taking up any regime, do consult your doctor.

2. Does drinking black coffee during fasting help?

Yes, drinking black coffee during fasting at work is helpful. It has a low-calorie value, metabolism-boosting, and hunger-suppressing qualities.

3. How long does it take to see the results of fasting?

It depends upon your fasting regime and your metabolism. You can typically start seeing results in about a month.

4. Can I eat lean protein during fasting?

It is a good idea to eat lean protein to break your fast, as it can help you feel full for longer.

5. How do you not feel sleepy at work while fasting?

To not feel drained and sleepy, you can try drinking coffee, tea, or water at regular intervals.