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- Feb 12, 2026
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I have been following a fasting routine of sorts for the last six months or so. The plan is simple, meditate every morning and consume only oats. Then put off lunch until I couldn't stand it.
At first it was simple packaged instant oatmeal and a cup of tea. Over time it became just a cup of tea with oatmilk in it.
On days I had oatmeal and a fruit of some kind, I could often go without another meal until dinner usually around 7 PM.
On days I went with just the oatmilk, I could often still make it to dinnertime with no trouble besides being a bit cranky.
But I've learned somethings about myself and my values that outweighs the perceived benefice of these practices.
Denying one's self things the body is desiring is a fairly common form of meditation within nearly all religious practices. A powerful point of reflection by asking if our body truly "needs" the thing it is desiring. It even has the benefit as noted by Tech Bro and Twitter founder for keeping our minds sharp.
I'm here to confirm these tech bro claims (Much to my dismay), that I do feel more alert. My mind more sharp. Better mental clarity! So long as I have a bit of caffeine as well. My meditation sessions are better when I am hungry, my work is better, my focus is better, all of it.
But there is a limit to hunger that I worry about.
I personally have struggled with Crohn's disease and was forced by my ailment to be bedridden and unable to eat at all for several months save for the broth of ramen noodles and occasionally the noodles themselves. So I'm aware of how hard it can get for me and I still pull through, but it also means I know what the mind numbing effects of consistent starvation means. This experience was, not shockingly, quite traumatizing.
I started my fasting ritual as a way to microdose what I went through to over come it's lasting effects on my mind. this was inspired both by the stoic oatmeal fasts and their dedication to facing their fears in a small controlled way so that they could not be controlled by them. Further their resolve to never overindulge made me recognize that it was my fear of hunger that had caused me to become a nervous eater. Presumably to make up for lost lunches.
So now that I am diving into the more ascetic practices that value a more extreme cusp of a starvation diet, I don't think I'll even attempt to get to those levels of days long fasts. I know what the worst of it entails and I'd rather have a heathy enjoyment of good food with my time left on this earth as I'm not convinced there will be another life. The Stoics and their respect for the body is winning over the Buddhist disdain for it.
At first it was simple packaged instant oatmeal and a cup of tea. Over time it became just a cup of tea with oatmilk in it.
On days I had oatmeal and a fruit of some kind, I could often go without another meal until dinner usually around 7 PM.
On days I went with just the oatmilk, I could often still make it to dinnertime with no trouble besides being a bit cranky.
But I've learned somethings about myself and my values that outweighs the perceived benefice of these practices.
Denying one's self things the body is desiring is a fairly common form of meditation within nearly all religious practices. A powerful point of reflection by asking if our body truly "needs" the thing it is desiring. It even has the benefit as noted by Tech Bro and Twitter founder for keeping our minds sharp.
I'm here to confirm these tech bro claims (Much to my dismay), that I do feel more alert. My mind more sharp. Better mental clarity! So long as I have a bit of caffeine as well. My meditation sessions are better when I am hungry, my work is better, my focus is better, all of it.
But there is a limit to hunger that I worry about.
I personally have struggled with Crohn's disease and was forced by my ailment to be bedridden and unable to eat at all for several months save for the broth of ramen noodles and occasionally the noodles themselves. So I'm aware of how hard it can get for me and I still pull through, but it also means I know what the mind numbing effects of consistent starvation means. This experience was, not shockingly, quite traumatizing.
I started my fasting ritual as a way to microdose what I went through to over come it's lasting effects on my mind. this was inspired both by the stoic oatmeal fasts and their dedication to facing their fears in a small controlled way so that they could not be controlled by them. Further their resolve to never overindulge made me recognize that it was my fear of hunger that had caused me to become a nervous eater. Presumably to make up for lost lunches.
So now that I am diving into the more ascetic practices that value a more extreme cusp of a starvation diet, I don't think I'll even attempt to get to those levels of days long fasts. I know what the worst of it entails and I'd rather have a heathy enjoyment of good food with my time left on this earth as I'm not convinced there will be another life. The Stoics and their respect for the body is winning over the Buddhist disdain for it.
