Book excerpt: Real-life advice and guidelines to take the guesswork and the fear out of fasting. Fasting is emerging as one of the most exciting medical advancements in recent memory. Its list of benefits extends far beyond weight loss and includes improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, protection against cancer and better cognitive function. While many of us may be able to handle the physical effects of fasting, the mental and social challenges are often daunting. There are so many opportunities to eat during the day, and sometimes it's rude not to participate in meals. what do you do with the time you used to spend eating? How do you navigate social situations while fasting? How can a food addict mentally prepare for a fast? Life in the Fasting Lane fills all of these gaps, and more, by bringing together three leading voices in the fasting community to provide a book written for both the body and the mind, helping people cope with all aspects - physical, social, emotional, medical - of fasting. It blends cutting-edge medical and scientific information about fasting with the perspective of a patient who has battled obesity the majority of her adult life.