Prakash Reddy Prakash Reddy Asked 9 months ago

What is the ideal fasting time for weight loss?

I'm trying to lose some weight, and my friend suggested intermittent fasting. I'm wondering how long I should fast to see good results. What is the ideal fasting time for weight loss?

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12 answers

Subramanian Swamy Subramanian Swamy Joined Feb 2026 8 months ago
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For weight loss and managing sugar, many people find a 14 to 16-hour fasting window helpful, like eating between 10 AM and 6 PM. However, if you have diabetes, long fasting can cause hypoglycemia, so please talk to your doctor before changing your meal timings.

Ramesh Chandra Ramesh Chandra Joined Jun 2026 5 months ago

Intermittent fasting is great because it doesn't cost anything, unlike expensive diet plans. Usually, starting with a 12-hour fast overnight is easiest. If you want to plan properly, get a basic blood lipid profile done first to track your progress over time.

Ranjit Sen Ranjit Sen Joined Jan 2026 9 months ago

In our community, we generally recommend starting with the 12:12 method (fasting for 12 hours) and slowly moving to 14:10 or 16:8 if your body adapts well. It is important to listen to your body and break the fast if you feel weak or nauseous.

Neha Sharma Neha Sharma Joined Jan 2026 9 months ago

I have been researching this topic and most health articles suggest that 16 hours of fasting is ideal for fat burning. But practically, even a 14-hour fast seems to show good results for beginners. It seems to depend entirely on your daily routine and work hours.

Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Joined Jan 2026 9 months ago

I tried fasting for 16 hours but I got terrible acidity and headaches by the 14th hour. Does anyone else get really anxious and sick during long fasts? I want to lose weight but I am scared of hurting my stomach.

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Rangarajan Pillai Rangarajan Pillai Joined Feb 2026 8 months ago

Our elders always practiced fasting on certain days, which was very gentle on the system. My family advises a simple 12-hour gap between dinner and breakfast. However, for structured weight loss, it is always best to consult your doctor to ensure your nutritional needs are met.

Meera Shah Meera Shah Joined Mar 2026 8 months ago

My daughter tried fasting for 18 hours and ended up feeling extremely dizzy and weak. I realized that a simple 12 to 14-hour overnight fast is much safer and more sustainable for young people. Don't let them starve themselves in the name of weight loss.

Satish Gupta Satish Gupta Joined Mar 2026 8 months ago

I tried fasting for 16 hours once, and by the 15th hour, I was dreaming about samosas! For middle-aged folks like us, a realistic 12-hour fast is more than enough. Just stop eating post-dinner snacks and you will see a difference.

Ananya Roy Ananya Roy Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

According to the study my doctor shared, a 14:10 fasting window is actually more sustainable for women compared to 16:8, as it doesn't disrupt hormonal balance. I followed this advice and managed to lose weight without feeling fatigued or losing my hair.

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Sunitha Mathews Sunitha Mathews Joined May 2026 5 months ago

From a practical clinical standpoint, 12 to 14 hours is a safe starting point for most adults. Anything longer should be done gradually to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Make sure your eating window contains wholesome, nutrient-dense foods rather than junk.

Kabir Mehta Kabir Mehta Joined May 2026 5 months ago

I do the 16:8 fasting method, skipping breakfast and eating only between 1 PM and 9 PM. It worked really well for my fat loss journey because it makes staying in a calorie deficit super easy. Just make sure you eat enough protein during your eating window.

Arjun Malhotra Arjun Malhotra Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

I recently lost 12 kgs over six months. I started with a 14-hour fast and gradually moved to 16 hours, which really helped control my late-night cravings. The key is to stay consistent and drink plenty of water during the fasting window.

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