1. Big Meal Night Before

What you do the night before you begin a fast sets the stage for the next morning. A big meal (especially a “cheat” meal) in the evening may affect your blood sugar and neurotransmitters that next morning making fasting more difficult or detrimental.

2. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol the night before may cause a drop in blood sugar and spikes stress hormones throughout the night.

3. Buffer

Allow for one buffer day in between a cheat meal or consuming alcohol to help your body reset, so you can start your fast with balanced blood sugar and stabilized hormones.