The Fasting Method Podcast

Why do we keep eating when we're not physically hungry?
Episode #248 🎙️ Dr. Jason Fung and Dr. Terri Lance explore hedonic hunger—the drive to eat for pleasure rather than physical need.
In this episode, Terri and Dr. Fung examine how ultra-processed foods are engineered to maximize reward, how dopamine and food addiction shape eating behavior, and why the advice to simply "eat less" misses the real problem. They also explore conditioned hunger and how environment, advertising, and daily habits can drive eating even when the body does not physically need food.
This conversation challenges simplistic calorie-focused advice and reframes overeating through a biological and behavioral lens.
👉 What you'll learn: • What hedonic hunger is and how it differs from physical hunger • How ultra-processed foods are engineered to maximize pleasure and minimize satiety • Why some foods can trigger addictive eating patterns • How food addiction parallels other addictions in the brain • Why "eat less" fails to address the real issue • How conditioned hunger and environment influence eating behavior
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Why we eat for pleasure, not just hunger 02:29 — What hedonic hunger really is 05:15 — How ultra-processed foods are engineered for reward 08:19 — Food addiction and why moderation advice can fail 12:45 — Why identifying the real problem matters 19:23 — Conditioned hunger and the food environment 23:20 — Social influence, habits, and automatic eating 27:21 — Using behavioral psychology to change eating patterns 33:06 — Why this is not your fault 38:20 — Mindset shifts, real food, and changing the conversation
📝 Transcript The transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/podcasts/
💛 Community Support Join The Fasting Method Community for guidance, accountability, and coaching support: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/community/
📘 The Hunger Code Pre-Order Bonus Bundle Order The Hunger Code by Dr. Jason Fung and receive access to a powerful bonus package, including The Hunger Code Masterclass and a guided 5-Day Fasting Reset, hosted by Dr. Jason Fung and The Fasting Method coaching team. ⏰ Deadline to claim the gift bundle: March 22 👉 Learn about the Masterclass + 5-Day Reset: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/the-hunger-code-masterclass-5-day-fasting-reset/ 👉 Claim your gift after pre-ordering: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/gift-with-purchase-offer
✨ Partner Offer 🧪 Curious about Aeira? Learn more at drinkaeira.com and use the discount code podcast10 for 10% off Aeira products.
📣 Connect With Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmethod/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheFastingMethod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/obesitycodenetwork
⚠️ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any products or services purchased does not create a healthcare provider–patient relationship. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

When motivation rises, intensity often follows — but more isn't always better.
Episode #247
🎙️ As March motivation kicks in, many people feel tempted to fast harder and faster.
In this episode, Megan Ramos and Dr. Terri Lance explore what it really means to "turn up the dial" on fasting — and how to do it strategically without sabotaging consistency. As vacations and summer plans approach, it's common to focus on how many pounds can be lost in a short window, but, as Terri reminds us, focusing on habits and behaviors instead of the scale leads to far more sustainable results.
Megan and Terri discuss alternate day fasting, planning in two-week blocks, building pivot plans for when life happens, and why meal planning is just as important as fasting structure. They also cover better progress metrics beyond the scale — including inches, body composition tools, glucose variability, and tracking hunger patterns.
If you're feeling inspired to fast more this spring, this episode will help you do it in a way that builds momentum — not burnout.
👉 What you'll learn:
• Why focusing on habits beats chasing pounds • How over-planning can sabotage progress • Why alternate day fasting improves consistency • The importance of building pivot plans • How to plan meals alongside fasting days • Why "you can't out-fast a poor eating relationship" • Better metrics to track than just the scale • How to carry consistency into summer
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — The travel deadline mindset trap 02:51 — Why March motivation surges 04:06 — Habits vs. outcome obsession 06:03 — The danger of over-aggressive plans 07:31 — The power of alternate day fasting 09:45 — Why you must plan your meals too 11:04 — You can't out-fast your eating relationship 13:38 — Micronutrients, balance, and sustainability 14:22 — Building "safe food" systems 17:31 — Better progress metrics than the scale 20:18 — Inches, body composition & ZOZOFIT 22:34 — Glucose variability & coefficient of variation 23:52 — Tracking hunger & cravings 25:02 — Closing strategy for spring
📝 Transcript The transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/podcasts/
💛 Community Support Join The Fasting Method Community for guidance, accountability, and coaching support: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/community/
📘 The Hunger Code Pre-Order Bonus Bundle Pre-order The Hunger Code by Dr. Jason Fung and receive access to a powerful bonus package, including The Hunger Code Masterclass and a guided 5-Day Fasting Reset, hosted by Dr. Jason Fung and The Fasting Method coaching team. ⏰ Deadline to claim the gift bundle: March 22 👉 Learn about the Masterclass + 5-Day Reset: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/the-hunger-code-masterclass-5-day-fasting-reset/ 👉 Claim your gift after pre-ordering: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/gift-with-purchase-offer
✨ Partner Offer 🧪 Curious about Aeira? Learn more at drinkaeira.com and use the discount code podcast10 for 10% off Aeira products.
📣 Connect With Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmethod/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheFastingMethod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/obesitycodenetwork
⚠️ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any products or services purchased does not create a healthcare provider–patient relationship. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

What really happens when you try to quit sugar — and why perfection isn't required to experience freedom.
Episode #246 🎙️ You don't have to be perfect to change your relationship with sugar.
In this episode, Coaches Terri and Heather explore what actually happens when people try to quit sugar — especially when perfectionism and cultural pressure get in the way. They discuss the common fear of "missing out," why short-term challenges can be powerful experiments, and how reducing sugar can quiet food noise, reduce cravings, and improve fasting success.
Rather than framing sugar as a lifelong ban, this conversation focuses on practical experience: What happens when you step away for 30 days? What do you learn? And how do you avoid the all-or-nothing trap that derails so many attempts at change?
👉 What you'll learn: • Why perfectionism sabotages most sugar resets • How catastrophizing keeps people stuck • Why short-term challenges are easier to commit to than lifelong rules • What happens to cravings and food noise when insulin drops • How cultural and family traditions influence food choices • The difference between moderation and abstinence • Why "dose makes the poison" • How to evaluate whether sugar truly adds value to your life
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Sugar and the "but I like it" belief 02:11 — The idea of a "Free February" reset 04:08 — What the no sugar, no grains challenge revealed 06:27 — Why perfectionism derails progress 09:03 — Culture, holidays, and food identity 12:10 — Why short-term experiments work 13:48 — The early discomfort phase 16:15 — Sugar is everywhere: environmental priming 19:22 — Would your event really be better with sugar? 22:28 — Vacation, Disney, and defined indulgence rules 24:29 — Touching the hot stove: learning from experience 25:31 — Final reflections and encouragement
📝 Transcript The transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/podcasts/
💛 Community Support Join The Fasting Method Community for guidance, accountability, and coaching support: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/community/
📘 The Hunger Code Pre-Order Bonus Bundle Pre-order The Hunger Code by Dr. Jason Fung and receive access to a powerful bonus package, including The Hunger Code Masterclass and a guided 5-Day Fasting Reset, hosted by Dr. Jason Fung and The Fasting Method coaching team. ⏰ Deadline to claim the gift bundle: March 22 👉 Learn about the Masterclass + 5-Day Reset: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/the-hunger-code-masterclass-5-day-fasting-reset/ 👉 Claim your gift after pre-ordering: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/gift-with-purchase-offer
✨ Partner Offer 🧪 Curious about Aeira? Learn more at drinkaeira.com and use the discount code podcast10 for 10% off Aeira products.
📣 Connect With Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmethod/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheFastingMethod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/obesitycodenetwork
⚠️ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any products or services purchased does not create a healthcare provider–patient relationship. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Why shorter fasts often stop working once insulin resistance is established — and what therapeutic fasting is actually designed to do.
Episode #245 🎙️ If you're fasting daily and still feel stuck, you may be stopping right before the real metabolic shift begins.
In this solo episode, Megan Ramos explains why shorter fasts — like 14–18 hours — often stop producing results once insulin resistance is established. She breaks down what insulin resistance really means (even without a diabetes diagnosis), why hormones and life stage change your fasting response, and when time-restricted eating is no longer enough.
This episode blends commonly asked questions with foundational strategy, helping you understand when it's time to move beyond short daily fasts and how to safely use therapeutic fasting to actually break insulin resistance.
👉 What you'll learn: • Why 14–18 hour fasts often stop working • What insulin resistance really means (with or without diabetes) • Why insulin doesn't drop into a healing range until around 24 hours • How menopause and estrogen dominance affect fasting results • The difference between time-restricted eating and therapeutic fasting • How to structure 24-hour fasts to rebuild your fasting "muscle" • Why heavy cream and fat-based fasting aids can stall progress • How to use the "rule of three" to improve eating days
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Why short fasts stop working 02:00 — The 16–18 hour plateau 07:03 — The 24-hour insulin drop explained 10:06 — Menopause, estrogen dominance, and insulin resistance 11:11 — Starting with time-restricted eating properly 13:11 — Batching 24-hour fasts 16:43 — What therapeutic fasting actually means 18:01 — Electrolytes and salt: what to use and when 22:31 — Why fat-based fasting aids stall progress 23:33 — Eating day mistakes 24:59 — The "rule of three" for food variety 30:26 — Satiation, fatty protein, and dialing it in 32:06 — Closing thoughts
📝 Transcript The transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/podcasts/
💛 Community Support Join The Fasting Method Community for guidance, accountability, and coaching support: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/community/
📘 The Hunger Code Pre-Order Bonus Bundle Pre-order The Hunger Code by Dr. Jason Fung and receive access to a powerful bonus package, including The Hunger Code Masterclass and a guided 5-Day Fasting Reset, hosted by Dr. Jason Fung and The Fasting Method coaching team. ⏰ Deadline to claim the gift bundle: March 22 👉 Learn about the Masterclass + 5-Day Reset: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/the-hunger-code-masterclass-5-day-fasting-reset/ 👉 Claim your gift after pre-ordering: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/gift-with-purchase-offer
✨ Partner Offer 🧪 Curious about Aeira? Learn more at drinkaeira.com and use the discount code podcast10 for 10% off Aeira products.
📣 Connect With Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmethod/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheFastingMethod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/obesitycodenetwork
⚠️ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any products or services purchased does not create a healthcare provider–patient relationship. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Why calorie counting fails — and why hunger, not willpower, drives eating behavior.
Episode #244
🎙️ If calories alone controlled weight, calorie counting would work. But it doesn't — because hunger is the real driver.
In this episode, Dr. Terri Lance is joined by Dr. Jason Fung to unpack why the traditional "eat less, move more" model fails so many people. They explain why calorie counting ignores the biology of hunger and how hormones, food quality, and different types of hunger determine whether calories are burned or stored. This conversation reframes weight gain as a biological process — not a personal failure — and lays the groundwork for understanding eating behavior through hunger regulation rather than willpower.
👉 What you'll learn: • Why calorie counting fails for long-term weight loss • How hunger — not willpower — drives eating behavior • Why hormones determine whether calories are burned or stored • The difference between homeostatic, hedonic, and conditioned hunger • How ultra-processed foods disrupt satiety and increase hunger • Why focusing on hunger leads to more sustainable results than restricting calories
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Why calorie counting became the dominant model 02:50 — Calories vs hormones: what really controls fat storage 05:00 — Why identical calories have different effects on hunger 08:03 — The alcoholism analogy: why "just eat less" fails 10:39 — Asking "why" to find the real cause of weight gain 11:45 — Homeostatic hunger and the role of hormones 13:42 — Hedonic hunger, food addiction, and ultra-processed foods 18:43 — Hunger, metabolism, and why restriction backfires 22:18 — Conditioned hunger and social environment 26:35 — Body weight set point and the "thermostat" analogy 32:29 — Food processing, digestion, and hormonal response 37:07 — Why calorie math leads to blame and shame 41:01 — Closing reflections and what comes next
📝 Transcript The transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/podcasts/
💛 Community Support Join The Fasting Method Community for guidance, accountability, and coaching support: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/community/
📘 The Hunger Code Pre-Order Bonus Bundle Pre-order The Hunger Code by Dr. Jason Fung and receive access to a powerful bonus package, including The Hunger Code Masterclass and a guided 5-Day Fasting Reset, hosted by Dr. Jason Fung and The Fasting Method coaching team. ⏰ Deadline to claim the gift bundle: March 22 👉 Learn about the Masterclass + 5-Day Reset: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/the-hunger-code-masterclass-5-day-fasting-reset/ 👉 Claim your gift after pre-ordering: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/gift-with-purchase-offer
✨ Partner Offer 🧪 Curious about Aeira? Learn more at drinkaeira.com and use the discount code podcast10 for 10% off Aeira products.
📣 Connect With Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmethod/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheFastingMethod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/obesitycodenetwork
⚠️ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any other products or services purchased does not create a healthcare provider–patient relationship. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.