My Experience with Fasting – Intermittent Fasting
I’m retired now, so I’ve got time to think about my health. My friend George from the senior center kept talking about intermittent fasting and how it helped his energy. He showed me this app one Tuesday morning over coffee, and I figured why not try it. I’m not one for complicated gadgets or fancy charts, but this app surprised me. The first day I set it up, I chose a 16:8 plan—fast for 16 hours, eat for 8. It felt simple, like a kitchen timer on my phone. I remember my first full fast ended at noon on a Wednesday, and the app popped up a nice little congratulations message. That made me smile. I’ve been using it every day since, and I’ve actually lost a few pounds and feel less sluggish after meals. My daughter even noticed I’m not snacking as much. The app doesn’t nag me or get in my way. It just sits there quietly, tracking my hours. I don’t have to think about it much, which is perfect for someone like me who gets flustered by too many pop-ups. The only time I got confused was when I accidentally hit the wrong fasting schedule, but I figured out how to reset it in under a minute. It’s not perfect, but for a free app that does exactly what George promised, I’m happy.
Features Worth Noting
The best part for me is the big clock on the home screen. It shows how many hours I’ve fasted and how many are left. No tiny numbers or squinting required. I tap a button to start my fast after dinner, and the app does the rest. It sends a gentle reminder when my eating window opens. Not a loud alarm, just a buzz. That matters because I hate being startled. There’s also a little bar chart that shows my fasting history for the week. I glance at it to see if I missed any days. The app also has a section with tips about hydration and when to break your fast. I read one about drinking water first thing in the morning, and that little change helped me feel better. I haven’t used the community feature because I’m not big on chatting with strangers online, but I saw it’s there if I ever want to. The app stays out of my way. It doesn’t ask for my weight or force me to log meals, which is great because I don’t want to type in every bite of toast I eat.
What Needs Work
I wish the app had a bigger font option. The text is readable, but my eyes aren’t what they used to be. Sometimes I have to squint at the small print under the fasting clock. Also, the app sends notifications even when I’m done for the day. Like, I’ll be watching TV at 8 PM and it buzzes to remind me to start my fast. I already did that. It’s a minor annoyance, but I can’t figure out how to turn off just that one reminder without turning off all notifications. There’s no simple “stop reminding me” button. Another thing: the app shows ads occasionally. They’re for diet products and weight loss programs I don’t care about. I understand it’s free, but they pop up right when I’m trying to see my fasting hours. It’s a small thing, but it bugs me. If the developer could add a paid version without ads, I’d probably pay a few dollars to get rid of them.
Pricing
The app is completely free. I haven’t paid a single cent, and I’ve been using it for months. There’s no subscription or hidden costs that I’ve run into. I see some premium features in the settings, like detailed charts or advanced plans, but those are locked behind a paywall. I’ve never clicked on them because the free version does everything I need. I think it’s a fair deal. Other apps I tried before this one wanted $10 a month just to track hours. That felt like a rip-off for something so basic. Here, I get the core fasting tracker, reminders, and tips for nothing. If you need fancy stuff like meal suggestions or integration with a fitness watch, you’d have to pay. But for a retiree just trying to fast without hassle, the free version is plenty.
Developer Notes
The developer is Leap Fitness Group. I don’t know much about them, but their app feels solid. It updates every few months with small improvements. I remember one update added a “fasting streak” counter, which I actually like. It shows how many days in a row I’ve stuck to my schedule. That gives me a little motivation without being pushy. The app has a high rating on the store, 4.8 stars, and I can see why. It does one thing well. I’ve read a few reviews complaining about bugs after updates, but I haven’t had any crashes or glitches on my Samsung Galaxy S23. It runs smooth. If I ever needed support, I’d try the email listed in the app, but I’ve had no reason to contact them. The app just works.
Security & Privacy
I’m not too worried about privacy with this app because it doesn’t ask for much. When I set it up, I used my email and chose a password. I didn’t have to type in my name, address, or any health info. The app didn’t ask for access to my photos or contacts, which I appreciate. It only wants notification permission so it can remind me about fasting. I checked the privacy policy once—it was short and said they collect basic usage data to improve the app. Nothing about selling my info. For a free app, that seems honest. If you’re really paranoid, you could use a throwaway email. But for me, I feel safe enough. I’m not sharing my weight or meal log, so there’s not much to steal anyway.
How do I set up the 16:8 fasting plan in the Fasting – Intermittent Fasting app?
When you first open the app, you can choose a fasting plan like 16:8, which means fasting for 16 hours and eating during an 8-hour window. Simply tap to select it, and the app will guide you through starting your first fast. It works like a kitchen timer, tracking your hours automatically.
Can I see a large clock showing my fasting progress on the home screen?
Yes, the app features a big clock on the home screen that clearly displays how many hours you've fasted and how many remain, with no tiny numbers or squinting required. You just tap a button after dinner to start your fast, and the clock updates in real time.
I accidentally set the wrong fasting schedule. How do I reset it?
You can easily reset your fasting schedule by going into the app's settings or tapping on the current plan to change it. The process takes less than a minute, so you won't lose your progress or get stuck with the wrong schedule.
How can I stop the app from sending duplicate reminders after I've already started my fast?
Currently, the app doesn't have a simple 'stop reminding me' button for individual notifications, so you may need to turn off all notifications in your phone's settings to stop the extra buzzes. We recommend checking the app's notification settings for future updates that may allow more control.
How does Fasting – Intermittent Fasting compare to other fasting apps like Zero or BodyFast?
Unlike many competitors, this app stays out of your way with no nagging pop-ups, no requirement to log meals or weight, and a simple big clock display. It's ideal for users who want a no-fuss, free tracker without complex charts or community features, though it lacks advanced customization like larger fonts or granular notification controls.
