One of the things I love most about intermittent fasting—especially OMAD (One Meal a Day)—is the flexibility it gives me. But let’s be honest, sometimes that flexibility can feel a little tricky. We get used to our routine, our usual eating window, and then… life happens.
Last night, my plan was simple. Eat dinner within my usually one-hour(ish) eating window, clean up dinner, and move on with my evening. And that’s exactly how it started. I had a delicious meal, wrapped it up, and even got in a workout afterward.
Then, later in the evening, my son asked for a brownie. I had made them days ago, but I hadn’t even touched them yet. As I warmed one up for him, the smell hit me, and I realized… that sounded really good to me, too.
So, I went for it.
I warmed up my own brownie, topped it with whipped cream, and enjoyed every. single. bite. And just like that, my eating window stretched from one hour to 4.5 hours.
Did I stress about it? Nope.
I fasted before, I fasted after, and I moved on.
This isn’t something I do every day, but when I want that flexibility, I give it to myself without guilt. Because here’s the thing—OMAD isn’t about perfection or sticking to a set minute limit. It’s about sustainability. It’s about making this a lifestyle I love, not a rigid set of rules that make me feel trapped.
If I had told myself, “No, you can’t have that brownie because your window already closed,” I probably would have gone to bed thinking about it. I might have even woken up frustrated, feeling restricted. But because I allowed myself that moment of enjoyment, I was satisfied and able to move on without guilt or overthinking. Also, today I am not thinking of the remaining brownies. I enjoyed the dessert without it becoming an obsession.
Giving myself grace and the ability to say “yes” when I truly want something helps me stick with this long-term. OMAD works for me because I make it work for me—not the other way around.
So if you ever find yourself in a situation where your eating window stretches longer than planned, take a deep breath. One meal, one day, one decision isn’t going to make or break your progress. What matters most is consistency over time, and that includes making room for joy and flexibility.
Cheers to a joyful fast and a joyful life!
