2938: The Right (and Wrong) Reasons to Fast. Most People Are Doing It for the Wrong One
Sep 04, 2026
MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women’s Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version, and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
In this episode the guys break down the right and wrong reasons to use fasting — not for body composition, not for anyone with a history of restricting, but specifically for spiritual purposes, breaking food attachment, gut health issues, autoimmune conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, and before or during chemotherapy. They also cover a detailed breakdown of grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef over one week and how the nutrient differences add up, Legion’s pre-workout Pulse and the 350mg caffeine discussion, the happiness and money meta-study showing what the happiest high earners actually do with their money, Justin addressing the Arlo dog backlash from listeners and why the military dog trainer couldn’t figure him out either, and how to separate cravings from real hunger. Then they answer questions from Instagram on whether pull-ups replace lat pulldowns, if you can take a break from high protein, healing injuries in a calorie deficit, and how to activate rear delts instead of traps.
SPONSORS
Legion (Pulse pre-workout): https://buylegion.com/mindpump
Code: MINDPUMP — new customers buy one get one 50% off, returning customers get 20% cash back. 350mg caffeine, beta-alanine and more.
Butcher Box: https://butcherbox.com/mindpump
No code needed. Free ribeyes, NY strip steaks or filet mignons in every order for a year plus $20 off first box. Sal discusses the weekly grass-fed beef nutrient breakdown on air.
Seed Daily Synbiotic: https://seed.com/mindpump
Code: 25MINDPUMP for 25% off your first month.
LINKS
Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
0:00 – Intro
2:30 – How to use fasting for the right reasons — and who should never do it
4:51 – Reason 1: Spiritual purposes — the original and most powerful use of fasting
7:42 – Reason 2: Breaking food attachment — learning the difference between cravings and real hunger
10:54 – Reason 3: Gut health — why giving your digestive system a break has measurable effects
13:33 – Reason 4: Autoimmune conditions — psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis have the most data
18:12 – Reason 5: Before and during chemotherapy — how fasting mimicking diet improves cancer cell response
24:14 – Grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef — the nutrient difference over one week adds up more than you think
29:00 – The guys compare their Butcher Box orders and why they all live off ground beef
34:41 – Legion Pulse pre-workout — 350mg caffeine, beta-alanine and the bathroom timing problem
41:35 – The happiness and money meta-study — what the happiest high earners do differently
52:53 – Justin addresses the Arlo dog listener backlash — the military dog trainer gave up
1:02:37 – Sal on fasting before podcasts for mental sharpness
1:08:49 – Q&A: If you only do pull-ups, are you missing anything by skipping lat pulldowns?
1:14:23 – Q&A: Can you take a break from 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight?
1:16:58 – Q&A: Can you rehab and heal from an injury in a calorie deficit?
1:18:31 – Q&A: How to activate rear delts instead of traps
