2938: The Right (and Wrong) Reasons to Fast. Most People Are Doing It for the Wrong One
September 4, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readThe Right (and Wrong) Reasons to Fast
Fasting has been documented as a medical intervention for epilepsy as far back as 500 BC in the Hippocratic collections, and as a spiritual practice in Vedic traditions dating to 1500 BC. But according to the Mind Pump hosts, the modern fitness world has gotten it backwards: most people are fasting for the wrong reasons, and the most popular reason—weight loss—is actually the weakest argument for doing it.
Why Fasting Is Not a Good Weight Loss Tool
The hosts argue that fasting is no more effective for body composition change than any other diet. "It has the same effectiveness as any other diet. In other words, it's not effective. People fall off and it doesn't work." Compared to working with a coach on a high-protein diet with monitored macros, fasting "typically results in more muscle loss." There is no magic mechanism—people rediscovered that starving themselves makes the scale go down, but the long-term results are unremarkable.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:48) **Introduction & Thesis** - The hosts introduce the topic of fasting, stating that most people are doing it for the wrong reasons.
- 2 (03:09) **Historical & Spiritual Context of Fasting** - The hosts discuss the ancient origins of fasting as a medical and spiritual practice.
- 3 (06:31) **Wrong Reason #1: Body Composition** - Fasting is not an effective or superior method for changing body composition.
- 4 (07:43) **Wrong Reason #2: History of Restriction** - Fasting is dangerous for people with a history of eating disorders or restrictive patterns.
- 5 (12:10) **Beneficial Reason #1: Spiritual Purposes** - Fasting is a valuable tool for spiritual growth and detachment.
- 6 (14:11) **Beneficial Reason #2: Food Attachment** - Fasting can help break unhealthy attachments and patterns with food.
- 7 (15:47) **Beneficial Reason #3: Gut Health & Autoimmune Issues** - Fasting is an effective intervention for gut health and certain autoimmune conditions.
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Show Notes
MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women's Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version, and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
In this episode the guys break down the right and wrong reasons to use fasting — not for body composition, not for anyone with a history of restricting, but specifically for spiritual purposes, breaking food attachment, gut health issues, autoimmune conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, and before or during chemotherapy. They also cover a detailed breakdown of grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef over one week and how the nutrient differences add up, Legion's pre-workout Pulse and the 350mg caffeine discussion, the happiness and money meta-study showing what the happiest high earners actually do with their money, Justin addressing the Arlo dog backlash from listeners and why the military dog trainer couldn't figure him out either, and how to separate cravings from real hunger. Then they answer questions from Instagram on whether pull-ups replace lat pulldowns, if you can take a break from high protein, healing injuries in a calorie deficit, and how to activate rear delts instead of traps.
SPONSORS
Legion (Pulse pre-workout): https://buylegion.com/mindpump
Code: MINDPUMP — new customers buy one get one 50% off, returning customers get 20% cash back. 350mg caffeine, beta-alanine and more.
Butcher Box: https://butcherbox.com/mindpump
No code needed. Free ribeyes, NY strip steaks or filet mignons in every order for a year plus $20 off first box. Sal discusses the weekly grass-fed beef nutrient breakdown on air.
Seed Daily Synbiotic: https://seed.com/mindpump
Code: 25MINDPUMP for 25% off your first month.
LINKS
Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
0:00 - Intro
2:30 - How to use fasting for the right reasons — and who should never do it
4:51 - Reason 1: Spiritual purposes — the original and most powerful use of fasting
7:42 - Reason 2: Breaking food attachment — learning the difference between cravings and real hunger
10:54 - Reason 3: Gut health — why giving your digestive system a break has measurable effects
13:33 - Reason 4: Autoimmune conditions — psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis have the most data
18:12 - Reason 5: Before and during chemotherapy — how fasting mimicking diet improves
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