Why We Fast: The Physiology Behind the Pause

By Dr. Zach, Founder of The Fast Patch and InsideOut Wellness and Weight

Loss

My bamboo treatment "room" in Ubud, Bali.

In all my travels—I've seen patients in nine different countries with thousands of doctor/patient and patient/doctor interactions—I’ve always searched for a simple message that could resonate across every culture, every language, every situation, and everybody. Something deeper and more meaningful than calorie counting. Something beyond scales and macros. A message that could restore health and reframe the way we think about food of all types and kinds.

That critical message is this,

"Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for your health is nothing at all. You fast." ~Dr. Z

What Is Fasting, Really?

Fasting isn’t about punishment or deprivation — it’s about perspective.

It’s giving your body the space to do what it was designed to do: heal, cleanse, and regenerate. When you remove the constant noise of digestion, your body doesn’t shut down. It wakes up. It shifts from consuming to repairing.

That’s when the real magic begins — focus sharpens, energy steadies, and clarity takes over.

And that’s why I created The Fast Patch.

It’s a simple tool to support that transformation. One 24-hour fast per week. One 3-day fast per month. That’s it. No counting. No gimmicks. No deprivation.Not a diet — a reset.

Autophagy: Your Body’s Internal Cleanup Crew

One of fasting’s most remarkable benefits is autophagy, which literally means “self-eating.” It sounds unsettling, but it’s actually the body’s built-in recycling system — its way of cleaning out damaged cells, misfolded proteins, and metabolic waste, then using them to create stronger, healthier ones.

Think of autophagy as cellular composting. You’re breaking down what’s old and unnecessary to make room for what’s new and efficient.

This process:

• Improves cellular efficiency

• Supports longevity

• Reduces inflammation

• Enhances skin clarity and tone

• May even protect against neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases

But autophagy doesn’t happen while you’re snacking your way through the day. It activates when your body gets a break from constant digestion — when you fast.

Ketosis: Burning Clean Fuel

Fasting also leads to ketosis, a metabolic state where your body stops burning sugar (glucose) and starts burning fat for energy.

Here’s why that matters: glucose burns fast and dirty. It spikes insulin, creates inflammation, and leaves you with highs and crashes. Ketones — the energy molecules created from stored fat — burn cleaner and longer.

I like to say glucose is lighter fluid; ketones are jet fuel.

You can feel it — the calm energy, the sharper focus, the mental clarity that settles in around day two of a fast. It’s your body running on its most efficient fuel.

And while your body was designed to store fat for survival — a valuable adaptation when famine was a real threat — in today’s world, that same mechanism works against us. We’re surrounded by food, never giving our bodies a reason to tap into those reserves. Fasting reminds your metabolism how to function the way nature intended.

InsideOut Wellness: Where It All Began

The predecessor toThe Fast Patch, was InsideOut Wellness and Weight Loss. I founded IOW with the belief that true health radiates, fundamentally, from the inside out. It was an aesthetically driven chiropractic practice that might have been a little ahead of it's time, especially in the heartland, good 'ol St. Louis, Missouri. Not the most progressive of places to a progressive wellness clinic.

The logical continuation of an aesthetically driven chiropractic practice was introducing a weight loss plan, which is what led me to research the original HCG Diet. I understood the physiology behind the Simeons Protocol HCG Diet, but the actual 500 calorie part of the plan itself was very primitive and void of all of the present research regarding ketosis based weight loss - so I rewrote it. In 2013, I published HCG 2.0- Don’t Starve, Eat Smart, and Lose; A Modern Adaptation of the Traditional HCG Diet. It now has over 600 five-start reviews on Amazon and it has helped thousands achieve rapid yet sustainable weight loss. If you're still now a believer, visit our private Faceboook group and ask. It has over 21,000 success stories.

HCG 2.0 was called "The Best Diet You've Never Heard of" by eWellness Magazine.

That book — and the thousands of success stories it created — became the foundation for InsideOut Wellness. HCG 2.0 taught dieters how to target stored fat and protect lean muscle while living in a state of nutritional ketosis. It was never about starving; it was about strategy.

The Fast Patch carries that same message forward — but with even more simplicity. It helps you get the same fat-burning and regenerative benefits of ketosis and autophagy, without the math, menus, or calorie counting.

It’s fasting made simple — backed by science, powered by awareness.

The Fast Patch: Fasting, Simplified

The Fast Patch was born from my own journey. I’ve practiced in eight countries, worked with patients from every walk of life, and learned that health is universal — but complexity is not.

Fasting works because it’s primal. It doesn’t require fancy equipment, apps, or tracking devices. It requires only intention.

The Fast Patch just makes it easier. With natural metabolic boosters, appetite suppressants, and B-vitamins, it supports energy, mood, and focus so you can fast without fatigue or distraction.

It’s not a gimmick. It’s a guidepost — a reminder that hunger isn’t the enemy, that there’s wisdom in stillness, and that food is meant to nourish, not numb.

The Strategic Side of Fasting

Fasting isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s strategic.

You can fast before an event to slim down and feel your best — I personally lost 11 pounds in 3 days before my 50th birthday golf trip in Mexico. Or you can fast after an event to detox and recalibrate.

I lost 11 pounds in 3 days on the Fast Patch! Only to be called a LOSER by Larry David! It's true!

Either way, it’s about balance, not restriction.

Fasting gives you control in a world built around constant consumption. It helps you slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with your body’s natural intelligence.

Final Thought: From Reset to Revelation

Fasting once a week and once a month isn’t just a wellness protocol — it’s a form of self-awareness. It’s a reminder that your body already knows what to do.

Every time you fast, you invite renewal — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

And The Fast Patch is there to make that process smoother, smarter, and sustainable.

If you’re ready to quiet the noise, balance your metabolism, and reconnect with your body’s natural rhythm, welcome to The Fast Patch.

It’s time to fast — not just to eat less, but to live more.