“I tried the 18:6 intermittent fast for a month – here’s why I loved it so much”

Cup of black coffee on pink background

Credit: Getty

Strong Women


“I tried the 18:6 intermittent fast for a month – here’s why I loved it so much”

By Miranda Larbi

8 months ago

8 min read

Everyone from Dr Tim Spector to Jennifer Aniston is a fan of intermittent fasting, but it’s a way of eating that divides the wellness world. Some experts say women need that early morning meal to promote better sleep later on in the day, while others believe that giving your digestive system a regular, proper break leads to less bloating and more energy. So, what’s the truth? And how difficult is it to do? To find out what benefits it genuinely has to offer, Strong Women editor Miranda has been giving the 16:8 fast a go for a month. All that means is finishing dinner by 8pm most evenings and delaying the first meal of the day until 12pm. Here’s how it’s been going.


A weekly dose of expert-backed tips on everything from gut health to running.

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.

Already a subscriber? Sign In

Get unlimited digital access from £2.99/month

Cancel online anytime