How Fasting Saved My Life

Reclaiming health, purpose, and mindfulness behind bars.

By Michael Jorgensen

Who wants to live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life?

With the way I was living, you might have assumed I didn't give it one thought. Staring down a 25-year prison sentence, I believed my life was over, and I kind of gave up. I had developed an allergy to life; it was as if I was taking a one-way trip to hell. Life became grim, and nothing felt meaningful anymore. I only found trivial comfort in consuming overwhelming amounts of salt and sugar via sweets and chips from the commissary.

Fun fact: one honey bun is equivalent to one cigarette. I call it, “death by honeybun.” Subconsciously, I had this illusion that honeybuns would solve my problems, but that is never the case. The instant gratification found within too many sweet treats only leads to laziness, sugar hangovers, and, ultimately, contempt for oneself. You can only eat your problems away for so long before you put your health in jeopardy. One thing's for certain—I had become fat, lazy, and lethargic.

If I continued on that same trajectory, I probably wouldn't be here today. You wouldn't be reading this and you wouldn’t know what saved my life and what could potentially save yours.

I didn't find God, join a cult, or become a fitness nut. What I did find was intermittent fasting (IF). IF involves switching between eating and fasting, and it can be done in various ways. The most important thing is this: It's when, not what, you eat.

IF isn't some new fad, an extreme diet with a million restrictions, or a magic elixir. Those trendy diets often don't work anyway because of how restrictive they are. IF gives its user so much freedom and empowers one to take back control of their life and body. Most importantly, it's a lifestyle that has been around since the beginning of time, while we were hunters and gatherers. Back then, we didn't know where our next meal was going to come from. So, while we were out foraging and on the hunt, we went extended periods of time without any food—almost to the point of starvation. As a result, our bodies have evolved to rely on fasting for normal bodily functions like cellular rejuvenation (a sort of detoxification and recycling of old or dying cells) and burning excess stored fat.

Within a prison environment—which is notorious for its lack of nutrition, harsh conditions, and lack of control—IF empowers one to take back control of their life and eat, not when the institution commands, but when one wants to.

Numerous research studies have concluded that IF is linked to weight loss, which is a marker of better health. While reducing the eating window, the body burns stored fat, leading to potential decreases in body weight, body fat, and a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss, which is a byproduct of continued IF, has been shown to improve mood and overall well-being. Studies have also found that IF promotes verbal memory in people and working memory in animals.

While the body undergoes fasting states of more than eight but less than 24 hours (this is vital), two major things happen: ketosis and autophagy. Ketosis happens when the body burns through glucose (blood sugar) as a fuel source and switches to fat stores for energy. Ketosis suppresses appetite and enhances mental clarity and cognitive function. Autophagy occurs when cells no longer have to grow and focus on breaking down food. Cellular rejuvenation begins because these cells stop growing, dividing, and start repairing old damaged cells. Both have been shown to contribute to a healthier aging process.

Opponents may argue that IF is too difficult because of the hunger pangs. But while the first couple of weeks of IF will cause hunger pangs, these will subside after a short period of fasting as ketosis is also an appetite suppressant. On top of that, you can overcome the hunger pangs with coffee or water.

Also, opponents argue that IF is not healthy because it causes the body to go into starvation mode—the body shuts down energy output, and you'll stop losing weight. However, this belief is false; starvation mode occurs when the fasting cycle extends past 24 hours. At this point, the metabolism will slow down. As far as energy output goes, if you continue to eat enough protein during eating windows, you will retain the same energy output and can gain lean muscle mass.

IF is relatively inexpensive, easy, and effective for promoting overall health. You don't have to purchase fancy equipment, expensive supplements, or change religions. When I began my journey through the justice system, so much hardship caused me to want to give up. Essentially, I did because the opportunities are almost nonexistent, and I was being treated as less-than-human. I found temporary comfort in overeating.

Once I conquered WHEN I ate, I started to make better selections on WHAT to eat. Incorporating adequate nutritional options while intermittent fasting maximizes the potential of losing weight and becoming the best version of yourself physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Today, I try to stay away from anything high in salt, sugar, preservatives, and all fried foods as much as possible. I still have an occasional honey bun or bear claw, but it isn't on a regular basis. I now only purchase fish (sardines and salmon—the most beneficial), rice, peanut butter (high protein), oatmeal (complex carbohydrate which is slow digesting and keeps one fuller), nuts (good fat, high protein, and fiber), and health shakes (high in protein and essential vitamins) on commissary. All the other options should come with a warning label, but unfortunately don't.

If you are hesitant, think IF may be too demanding, or don’t have the funds for commissary, start by adjusting only your eating windows. Sixteen hours is the prime number for IF, and I try to fast for at least five days a week. After you start to see results, you can incorporate a better nutrition plan. This is how I began my journey with IF, but progressively I adjusted what I ate, not just when. It has proven to be exponentially better than IF alone. I have lost over 60 pounds in the last few years, am emotionally and cognitively in a much better place than ever before, and feel physically in my prime. I can thank intermittent fasting for giving me the tools to find purpose and put control back into my life.

The risks are nonexistent and the benefits astronomical, so the only question is not “Will you give it a shot?” but “When will you give it a shot?”