Frequently Asked Questions

Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It doesn't specify which foods to eat — it focuses on when you eat them.

Common methods include the 16:8 method (fast for 16 hours, eat within an 8-hour window), the 5:2 method (eat normally 5 days, restrict calories 2 days), and OMAD (one meal a day).

Research suggests IF can support weight loss, improve metabolic health, reduce inflammation, and even enhance mental clarity.

Yes! FastTimer is completely free to download from the App Store and Google Play. The core features — fasting timer, basic plans, sleep tracker, and progress tracking — are available at no cost.

If you're new to fasting, we recommend starting with the 12:12 plan — fast for 12 hours (including sleep time) and eat within a 12-hour window. This is the gentlest introduction and most people are already doing it without realising.

Once you're comfortable, you can progress to 14:10 or the popular 16:8 plan. FastTimer's AI Coach can also recommend the best plan based on your goals and lifestyle.

No account is required to get started. FastTimer works fully offline and stores all your data locally on your device. Simply download the app, complete the quick onboarding, and start your first fast immediately.

Yes! Water, black coffee, and plain tea (without milk or sugar) are generally considered "fasting-safe" as they contain minimal or no calories and don't significantly raise insulin levels.

Avoid adding milk, cream, sugar, or sweeteners to your drinks during the fasting window, as these can break your fast.

Intermittent fasting is safe for most healthy adults. However, it may not be suitable for everyone. We recommend consulting your doctor before starting if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have diabetes or blood sugar regulation issues
• Have a history of eating disorders
• Are under 18 years old
• Take medications that require food

FastTimer is a tracking tool, not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalised guidance.

Some hunger is normal in the first 1–2 weeks as your body adjusts. Most people find that hunger comes in waves and passes within 20–30 minutes. Staying hydrated and keeping busy helps significantly.

After 2–3 weeks, your body adapts and hunger during the fasting window typically reduces substantially. Many users report feeling more energised and less hungry overall after the adjustment period.

Yes, and for many people it can actually enhance fat burning! Light to moderate exercise (walking, yoga, light cardio) during a fast is generally well-tolerated.

For intense training (heavy lifting, HIIT), consider scheduling your workout near the end of your fasting window or just after breaking your fast to ensure you have enough energy and can refuel quickly afterwards.

Any food or drink containing calories technically breaks a fast. This includes:

• Food of any kind
• Milk, cream, or sweetened drinks
• Fruit juice or smoothies
• Bone broth (contains calories)
• Supplements with calories (e.g., protein shakes)

Water, black coffee, plain tea, and most zero-calorie beverages do not break a fast.

FastTimer is available on both iOS (iPhone and iPad, iOS 15+) and Android (Android 8.0+). Download it free from the App Store or Google Play.

Yes! FastTimer is fully functional offline. Your fasting timer, sleep tracker, progress charts, and all core features work without an internet connection. Your data is stored securely on your device.

An internet connection is only required for the AI Coach feature.

You can switch your fasting plan at any time from the Plans tab. Simply browse the available plans, tap on one to learn more, and select it as your active plan. Your history from previous plans is preserved.

Yes! Once you start a fast, the timer continues running in the background even if you close the app or restart your phone. You'll receive a notification when your fast is complete.

Navigate to the Lifestyle tab in the app and scroll down to the Challenges section. You'll see the current active challenge. Tap Join Challenge to participate. Your progress is tracked automatically and you can see how you rank on the community leaderboard.

You can reach our support team via the Contact page on this website. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours on business days.

An Alcohol Fast is a streak-based challenge where you commit to zero alcohol for a set period. FastTimer tracks your alcohol-free days and shows you the benefits as you progress — better sleep, improved hydration, clearer skin, and more energy.

You can run an Alcohol Fast alongside your regular intermittent fasting plan for maximum results.

For the purposes of the Processed Food Fast, processed foods include anything that has been significantly altered from its natural state — packaged snacks, fast food, ready meals, deli meats, soft drinks, and foods with long ingredient lists containing artificial additives, preservatives, or refined sugars.

Whole foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fresh meat, eggs, and dairy) are all fair game.

Absolutely! Many users run all three lifestyle fasts simultaneously alongside their intermittent fasting plan. Each fast has its own independent streak counter so you can track them all separately.