Random conversations: A Chiro's take on Fasting

In today’s blog post, we take a more light-hearted approach, sharing glimpses of the random yet interesting conversations that arise during consultations.

In a recent session with a patient laying supine (on his back) and as I was just working on his shoulder muscles. Remembering that he had changed his job recently, I was asking how the new job was going. I asked,"How are the food options at MBFC?" Expecting the typical answer of little options or expensive salads, instead, he said, "I typically skip breakfast anyway... The company provides lunch, so that's great..."

Without thinking much, I asked, "Oh, so you do 16:8?" Instantly as he looked up straight into my eyes, I gasped a little (I could hide it behind my mask).

The inevitable came. "You do fasting too?"

The Fine Line Between Personal Experience and Professional Advice

At this point, I want to clarify—I’m always cautious about discussing topics outside my expertise. It’s one thing to casually chat about weight loss over coffee with a friend. It’s another to discuss it in a professional setting, where my expertise lies in spinal health, not nutrition. While weight management can impact back pain, I prefer to leave dietary advice to those more qualified. So, when such topics arise, I frame my response as a personal experience rather than a professional recommendation.

“Yeah, I do intermittent fasting (IF). My routine is black coffee (no sugar) in the morning, sending the kids to school, then starting work at 8:30 AM. I break my fast at lunchtime around 1 PM and have dinner by 7 PM, stopping food intake by 8 PM. So, I follow a 17:7 schedule—it fits my routine.”I replied.

He seemed intrigued. “The results have been amazing for me!”At this point, I realized he wasn’t seeking advice—he was looking for validation.

Why I Fast

“So, why do you do it?” he asked.

“For me, it’s about convenience and mental clarity,” I replied. “It fits my daily schedule, and I find it actionable.”

Before I could continue, he jumped in excitedly. “Yes! I feel that too!”

I went on, “To be honest, I didn’t do much research before starting. It was more of a ‘let’s see if this works’ approach. But the more I thought about it, the logic made sense. From an evolutionary perspective, humans were hunters and gatherers. We didn’t have refrigerators. We’d go out in the morning to hunt and feast later in the day. We ate what we caught and gathered.”

His eyes lit up. “I’ve never thought about it that way! That’s really interesting.”

“Well,” I smiled, “that’s just my personal take on it—I’m no expert.”