intermittent fasting
/ˌɪn.tə.ˈmɪ.t.ənt ˈfɑː.stɪŋ/
Very CommonAn eating pattern that cycles between defined windows of eating and not eating, usually on a daily or weekly schedule.
Often abbreviated as IF online. The community is large and takes it seriously as both a weight management tool and a longevity practice.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | intermittent fasting genuinely changed my body more than any gym routine | The person found IF more effective for body composition than exercise alone. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | i do 16:8 intermittent fasting so i just skip breakfast | The simplest version of IF is framed as just skipping breakfast. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | the hardest part of intermittent fasting is watching everyone eat brunch | Social situations during the fasting window are the main challenge. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | been doing intermittent fasting for 6 months, down 18 pounds | A sustained IF practice produced significant weight loss. |
Use it when
- Describing an eating schedule that alternates fasting and eating periods.
- Referring to IF as a weight management or wellness practice.
- Explaining why someone skips breakfast or eats at unusual hours.
Do not use it when
- You mean not eating for multiple consecutive days.Use “water-fasting” instead.
- You mean eating once a day specifically.Use “omad” instead.
Variations and related forms
Intermittent fasting vs OMAD
intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a broad category covering any scheduled eating window.
VS
omad
OMAD is one specific extreme version: one meal per day, no eating window.
Origin and context
A long-established nutritional concept that entered mainstream wellness culture through popular books and podcasts in the 2010s, with online communities forming on Reddit and social media from roughly 2012 onward.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/intermittent-fastingUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0