#641
Digital Balance, Linked to Weight and Healthness App.
For most of my adult life, I’ve relied on structure and routines. But over the past 9 months, I’ve taken it a step further—with a practice that’s simple, powerful, and deeply rewarding: Intermittent Fasting (IF).
🕰️ The Rhythm That Changed My Life: 6 PM to 9:30 AM
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Last meal of the day? 6 PM sharp.
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First meal of the next day? 9:30 AM.
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No food, no sugar in between. Only black coffee at 3 AM.
That’s it. This 15-hour fasting window, paired with mindful meals at:
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9:30 AM (Breakfast -Puffed rice with Nuts and Wheat Kanjii 365 days, Lalitha knows)
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1:30 PM (Lunch) (Rice/Sambar/ Vegetables/ ButterMilk)
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6:00 PM (Dinner) (Starter, Roti 2, Vegetable, Buttermilk+ fistful of rice) + 1 Banana.
…has brought a level of physical ease, mental calm, and energy I didn’t know I was missing.
"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most."
– Abraham Lincoln
For me, what I want most is health with simplicity—and this fasting routine has helped me get there.
✅ The Tangible Results So Far
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Weight loss:
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17 kg down over 9 years, and
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4 kg lost just in the past 9 months since following IF strictly. (Yes when Children come to India, the weight goes North, 2-3 Kilos, can't refuse to their request for a happy meal, junk food!)
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Vital signs: Normal across the board—BP, sugar, heart rate, sleep patterns.
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Sleep:
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A good 6 hours of deep sleep daily.
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No mobile screen 2 hours before bed—this single act improves sleep like magic.
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Energy:
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I wake up every day at 2:45 AM sharp, without an alarm.
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My phone remains untouched until 4:30 AM—this gives me 1.5 hours of stillness, silence, and self-reflection.
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Steps walked:
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A minimum of 15,000 steps daily—my body craves it now.
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🧠 But Why Does Intermittent Fasting Work?
The science behind it is clear and increasingly proven.
During fasting:
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Insulin levels drop, encouraging fat-burning.
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Human Growth Hormone (HGH) increases, which promotes cellular repair.
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Autophagy kicks in – the body clears out damaged cells.
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Inflammation reduces, aiding heart and brain health.
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Digestive system rests, enhancing nutrient absorption during eating windows.
Essentially, it aligns with the body’s circadian rhythm—our natural biological clock.
🛑 What I Strictly Avoid
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Packaged foods, however tempting.
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Sugary snacks, diet drinks, and refined carbohydrates.
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Late-night “comfort bites” that only cause insulin spikes.
“If it comes in a packet with a mascot on it, it’s not for your stomach—it’s for the shelf.”
Instead, I enjoy:
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Fresh fruits (within the window)
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Nuts and seeds (especially post-lunch)
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Home-cooked, sensible meals—without fear or overanalysis. No Vegetable packaged oil whatsoever. Oil is from Cold press shop.
🌍 Real People. Real Results.
Intermittent Fasting is not just theory. Globally, and in India too, many have benefitted from it:
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Dr. Jason Fung, a nephrologist from Canada, has reversed type 2 diabetes in thousands of patients through fasting protocols—especially in South Asians, who are insulin-resistant by genetics. My Aim is not this... Just get on with life. I am not hoping reversal.
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Hugh Jackman (Wolverine actor) used intermittent fasting to sculpt his lean physique while staying strong and active.
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Akhilesh, 48, a Chennai-based software architect, shared in The Hindu how he lost 12 kg and reversed early diabetes by following a 16:8 fasting model for six months.
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Rujuta Diwekar, celebrity nutritionist, while not a fasting advocate, has acknowledged that time-restricted eating with good sleep and movement improves metabolism in urban Indians.
🧘♂️ My Lifestyle Anchors That Support Fasting
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Fixed meal timings
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Black coffee at 3 AM (no milk, no sugar with a tinge of Cinamon)
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No mobile / Screen post 6 PM
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Mindful sleep and screen discipline
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Simple home food
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Walking 10,000 steps without fail
It’s not about chasing numbers—it’s about trusting your body’s rhythm.
🎯 Conclusion: A Gentle Discipline, A Lifetime Gift
Intermittent fasting isn’t a “quick fix” or a glamorous health trend. It’s a gentle discipline—something ancient, deeply personal, and surprisingly liberating.
It teaches you:
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To listen to your body, not external noise.
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To say “no” to temptations that offer short-term pleasure and long-term damage.
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To reclaim control over your energy, sleep, digestion, and mental clarity.
And most importantly, it gives your mind and body space to breathe—without the clutter of constant chewing, snacking, and over-processing.
“Let food be thy medicine, and fasting be thy healer.”
– Adapted from Hippocrates
Give it a try. Not for weight loss. Not for trends. But for yourself.
What do you think?
Karthik
24/3/25.
PS: Good music finds you,if you are a fan of it.... I was mesmerised by this song... Boy close to 2 Billion views. I heard it 100 times on JK Sax the Saxophone version. Wonder I got curious to know the original version!! Boy blown over!!! As they say, when student is ready, the teacher appears. Same is true for a great music.
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