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The Laid Back Guide To Intermittent Fasting: How I Lost Over 80 Pounds and Kept It Off Eating Whatever I Wanted

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What if you could lose weight without cutting out foods that you love? That was the dream of Kayla Cox, who had struggled with her weight throughout her life. At age 30, she weighed 222 pounds and had tried every diet, sometimes with initial success, but she could never keep it off. Frustrated and feeling hopeless, she discovered intermittent fasting. In the process of losing 80 pounds, she learned she had been making weight loss too complicated. With intermittent fasting, there was no need to count calories, cut carbs, or do high-intensity workouts.

Through the process of learning how to practice intermittent fasting in this laid-back and sustainable way, she was able to get to her goal weight and keep it off for 5 years and counting. In this book, she shares her method, with tips and tricks that worked for her.

Kayla also shares her weight loss journey on her YouTube channel, Six Miles to Supper which to date, has over 57,000 subscribers.

123 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2018

176 people are currently reading
175 people want to read

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Kayla Cox

8 books19 followers

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5 stars
217 (58%)
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102 (27%)
3 stars
37 (9%)
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10 (2%)
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8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Cindy Rollins.
Author 20 books3,414 followers
May 27, 2019
I am going to say something really weird. This approach to dieting is what Morning Time is to homeschooling. It is the mindset of small achievements over the long haul. As a lifelone reader of diet books this is my all-time favorite book on the subject.
Profile Image for Carol Bakker.
1,544 reviews135 followers
May 24, 2019
I started listening to Kayla Cox's podcast, Six Miles to Supper, before I read her book; I greatly appreciate both. She lost most of her weight when she decided to be patient and lose one pound a week. I honestly can't imagine one cheat day a week, but it worked for her!

This book is full of little chunks of wisdom that I gleefully picked up while I read. Taking responsibility for your weight, Kayla writes, means taking action. Start looking at the scale as a data collection tool: "the subject weighs ..." Learn to enjoy this lifestyle. Make your plan as excuse-proof possible. To get past a plateau, be stubborn and be consistent.
Profile Image for Jeremiah.
13 reviews
June 1, 2021
Simple and straightforward. I really appreciated how the author described her evolving relationship with food. She expresses a sort of freedom I want to have one day.
35 reviews
May 31, 2025
This book was overall rather interesting to me, because I find the topic of intermittent fasting interesting in general. However, it really was not all that useful or informative in my opinion, which was disappointing. I also think the title is a bit misleading. This book is not really a guide to intermittent fasting at all, but rather, a very repetitive recounting of one person's specific experience with her version of intermittent fasting.

The author tells her own story, with the only general advice throughout the book being:
- make a plan (any type of plan) for your weight loss / weight maintenance
- make it extremely easy to follow, so that you can stick to it
- keep tracking your progress (for example, by weighing yourself daily). If your plan is not yielding any results after several weeks, experiment with it until you see results.

While I do like the simplicity of this, it was disappointing to see just how little the book offered. I listened to the audiobook version of this book on audible, which is ca. 3 hours long and was just not worth the money for me at all.

To save you three hours of your time, here is the plan that the author follows in her own life, which she repeats over and over again throughout the book:

- She eats once a day (OMAD), at dinner time, with her family
- she says she eats "a normal diet", including things like pasta and bread.
- She does not track calories, protein, or anything at all, she just eats what she likes and a lot of it, including some fast food and alcohol.
- one day a week, she has a cheat day, where she eats without any time restrictions
- there are a few exceptions throughout the year, where she is not doing intermittent fasting.
- Even though she is fasting, she still drinks 3(+) cups of coffee with milk throughout the day.
- Every single day without exception, she slowly walks 6 miles ( = 9 km), which is 14,000 steps, and takes her two hours every day.
- when she is hungry during her fasting window, she follows other activities (walking, talking to her partner, drinking coffee, etc.)

Here is what I would have liked to learn from a book about intermittent fasting - ALL OF THIS WAS NOT ADRESSED IN THE BOOK AT ALL:

- What exactly are the health benefits/ weight loss facts behind intermittent fasting? Could you name some interesting scientific research studies or historical/cultural background information?
- Nutritional advice: Is volume eating, protein, or fibre intake important to improve the way you feel during intermittent fasting?
- What type of meal should you eat if you are doing OMAD? How can you ensure that you get enough of everything your body needs in one meal each day?
- intermittent fasting versus portion control: when to choose "OMAD", "TWOMAD" (two meals a day), or another type of timeframe, according to your lifestyle, dietary needs, etc.
- how to avoid binge-eating or overconsumption during your eating time window
- how to combine intermittent fasting effectively with a demanding day job, or low energy levels
- Benefits of intermittent fasting OUTSIDE OF weight loss
- what types of sport or exercise are advisable in general? Can you combine high-intensity exercise with intermittent fasting? What are some examples of low-intensity exercise, apart from walking?
- how to integrate healthy habits like walking into your life if you have little free time?
- what role does sleep play?
- how much water do you actually need, and how to drink enough water
- any other general weight loss or health advice related to IF.


Something that I've noticed in a lot of health/fitness/lifestyle content is that a lot of advice or inspiration comes from full-time influencers, self-employed people, or stay-at-home parents /etc.- from people who have a lot more time flexibility and possibly also a lot more free time than the average person. This can be annoying, as a lot of the advice is not very relatable to someone with a full-time job / a job outside of the home / etc. Based on some of the things said in this book, I think a lot of the author's personal strategy is not easily applicable to many people. She says walking 2 hours per day (14,000 steps) is easy, because "the average American watches 5 hours of TV per day". As a non-American, I can not assess whether this is true or not, but personally, I would find it difficult to find 2 hours of walking time every single day - many people already find it hard to walk 10,000 steps consistently.

Most annoyingly, perhaps, the author keeps claiming that her daily walking habit barely impacted her weight at all, and that almost all of her weight loss success comes from the intermittent fasting. Which may be true, but it would have been nice to really see a side-by-side comparison: how useful is exercise when it comes to weightloss? What other options do you have in terms of movement?

I just wish this book had included some more information on things like nutrition, muscle gain/fat loss, metabolic rate, calorie intake/ meal prep/ recipe ideas, etc, - just a bit more actual health advice or general information. I feel like I've learned more from a lot of 20-minute YouTube videos than from this guidebook. Of course, the idea to keep things simple is good, but if you want to write a guidebook for people, maybe make it a bit more informative? Give people options / concrete, adaptable advice that they can try! Or include some more scientific information, or survey results/comments from your friends or people online, who have also had success with Intermittent fasting! Or maybe, talk to an expert, like a personal trainer or nutritionist, and include some of that advice in the book. It just would have been nice if there had been a little more information in this book.

No hate towards the author at all, I'm sure she means well and congrats on her amazing weight loss success!
Profile Image for Alli.
135 reviews8 followers
July 31, 2019
This is the only book about eating that didn’t make me feel enslaved, deprived, and as if I was heading towards another failure. It is practical, sensible, and I think it will work for me.

I love that she stresses how this plan worked specifically for her without insisting that it will work for everyone, how she encourages an attitude of inquiry and experimentation, and that she insists this is a long, slow, and steady way to lose and maintain a healthy weight. If you haven’t found that ideal workable plan then definitely read this one.
2 reviews
January 4, 2020
I enjoyed the book and thought it was very interesting. However, it is more of one person's documentation of their experience with IF with little/no scientific background. Additionally, it really wasn't that long. For me, even though it was interesting, the cost was just high for what you got. I probably would have rated it higher for $5 vs. $10.
Profile Image for Ann Warren.
697 reviews
April 26, 2021
I loved her simple, straightforward plan and ideas from her own journey. Great tips and encouragement if interested in intermittent fasting. She also has a blog and YouTube channel if interested: Six Miles to Supper.
30 reviews11 followers
July 22, 2019
A hefty dose of encouragement. Thank you Karla Cox.
2 reviews
April 9, 2020
This book offers great advice on how to get to and permanently stay at a great weight. It's certainly the best book I've ever found on intermittent fasting and on the subject of weight control more generally.

I got into intermittent fasting using Kayla's basic principles: doing the experiment of one on yourself and adapting your plan to meet your own needs, tastes and lifestyle, keeping it simple, making sure it's always easy for you with planned flexibility as desired and required, learning to exercise patience, being consistent in your execution etc...etc...

The intermittent fasting protocol that I developed using Kayla's basic principles is adapted to suit me. I do more or less an 18:6, which I got into extremely slowly with a long adaptation period; I don't do any cheat days but I do allow lots of flexibility for social occasions and vacations. Execution of my IF plan slowly brought my BMI down to 21.5, which is great for a 60-year-old, medium-built woman. In the year since, my plan has allowed me to maintain my weight very steadily at the same pleasing level.

Like Kayla, I did not modify my diet. I eat more or less healthily most of the time, but I do also very much value enjoyment of food, including - "gasp" - SUGAR!!!! I don't do calorie or carbohydrate counting or any other type of recording or measurement of food. The intermittent fasting alone, obviously results in me eating less on a regular basis and that's why I'm now -- easily!!!! -- maintaining a weight that's about 20 pounds lower than previously.

I highly recommend this practical, encouraging book and all of the wise advice contained in it. It's the best!!!
1 review
January 15, 2025
An intermittent fasting gem

I have read countless health, diet, weight loss books over the years. I learned something from most of them. But many are long, complicated, or just don't fit with my age or lifestyle. I've tried, with great success, IF in the past, but life got weird and I quit and of course all weight and then some came back on. I felt fabulous when practicing IF. But I read or heard it wasn't great for me. Like all of you reading this, I read that vegan is best, carnivore is best, intuitive eating is best, fasting this way or that way is the only way, macros is best, and on and on. And WHAT we should be eating, supplementing with, cutting out - so overwhelming and different depending on who you listen to. It was kind of paralyzing. Something Kayla said just clicked so firmly - bottom line, I have the freedom to decide what is right and works for me. Biggest gem in the book - make it easy. I already was familiar with the science of IF. I just needed the encouragement to do it my way - the way that is easiest, most pleasurable, and with the results I want. The book is easy to read in one sitting and I began to implement what I learned immediately. I started yesterday. I feel better in 1 day than I have in a while. Maybe because I know this is so easy and sustainable. Excellent, excellent advice in a few easy to read pages. I'm very grateful to Kayla.
Profile Image for Lorena.
14 reviews
November 16, 2018
So eye-opening to me!

Who knew that there was a way to lose weight/fast with such a laid back approach? I didn't think it was possible! Kayla's story first caught my attention on YouTube, as I was intrigued by this popular practice called intermittent fasting. The "laid back" approach is definitely more my style, albeit slower, but more sustainable in my book. I've tried so many other diets and methods and I have still been getting steadily heavier every year. So, what do I have to lose!? Several pounds and a bunch of negative self talk and emotions with it! Kayla does a great job walking you through the process as she shares all the discoveries she made in her own successful journey. I'd encourage anyone to give this approach a try. This book has really enriched my journey, and I'm already finding success with it!
Profile Image for Sharon.
22 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2019
Worth Buying

I recently came across Kayla's YouTube channel, Six Miles to Supper. I appreciated her style and advice, so I bought this book. Glad I did! She is very clear in laying out her experience and philosophy of intermittent fasting. I finished the book in a few days and started on my own IF journey right away. I love how she doesn't let anything in this journey discourage her, she doesn't change her plan too quickly, and she doesn't get thrown by the times she chooses to break her rules. I like the summary at the end of each chapter. Ill be going back to re-read those bullet points to stay motivated. Thanks for a very helpful book!
Profile Image for Glasgowgal.
748 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2022
Intermittent Fasting

I really like Kayla's laid back approach to intermittent fasting. I have read all the sciencey books about the benefits of fasting and just wanted to hear from someone who actually follows it. I follow Kayla on her YouTube channel and have always found her very positive and she gives good advice, the number one being, take it slow and don't stress about it! The free tracking spreadsheet she offers on her website is extremely helpful. Without that, I wouldn't see that I am actually losing even though the scale shows otherwise. Thanks for sharing your story, Kayla. Happy and healthy travels!
23 reviews
January 3, 2023
Six miles away from finding your better self

Kayla was fat, unhappy with herself and found her way to what worked for her. In this book she outlines her journey through her weight loss and gives sage advice on how to do intermittent fasting well and what to expect along the way. She also has a YouTube channel six miles to supper and comes across as a very caring and encouraging coach for people struggling with getting back to their best. Give her book a go, there's nothing to lose but misconceptions and weight.
Profile Image for Katie Boring.
80 reviews
April 15, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I got introduced to it through Kayla's Youtube Channel which I subscribe to. In her book she talks about how she found intermittent fasting, and Omad, and 6 miles a day everyday. She also talks about how she formed a plan, so you could make up your own plan, similar to hers to get the weight off. I'm going to be doing that, except no cheat day. I've been doing Intermittent fasting for awhile now, but still wanted to read her book.
2 reviews
July 30, 2019
How IF looks when easy

Kayla really makes IF easy and she breaks it down to easy to understand and more importantly easy to follow guidelines. A good book if you don't want to be bogged down by science and just want encouragement from someone who has been through the struggle of attempting weight loss before. Highly recommended.
3 reviews
April 17, 2020
Excellent! Well written and easy to read and understand the author's points. Practical. Real world advice. Highly motivational. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to try OMAD or any variation of intermittent fasting.

There are about a dozen (maybe fewer) formatting issues with the Kindle edition wherein a line only contains a couple of words. Otherwise, I would have given it a 5.
9 reviews
September 27, 2020
Enjoyed

Good practical advice for someone who walked the journey of IF. As we all know this is a journey of 1 on what works but really liked all the self help recommendations suggested and others books as well. Being a perfectionist myself I think your approach may definitely help me as well. Thanks!
Profile Image for Julia.
774 reviews26 followers
December 30, 2021
Kayla has a simple and encouraging way of describing her successful weight loss through intermittent fasting. She gives lots of tips and advice, from her experience, for how to make it easy and practical. She doesn’t go into the science behind it, just how it worked for her, with many examples of how you can fine tune it to your own personality and needs.
288 reviews
February 27, 2022
A good quick read with useful and realistic advice.
I've started Fasting for almost 2 years now and I used this book to get further insights from someone who has done the same but for longer.
I haven't lost 80 pounds, almost half of that, but I'm not far from my "ideal weight".
What was useful was some of the tips regarding Kayla's mindset and overall approach.
7 reviews
May 19, 2019
Great book on I.F.

Excellent book on I.F. Kayla gives great strategies on weight loss and keep it off. I have already recommended her book several times Her use of checklist at the end of each chapter was very helpful. Learned a lot and gained a different perspective on I.F
1 review
July 10, 2019
Great Read!!!☺ Real informative!!!☺ Loved the honesty!!!☺ Intermittent Fasting / OMAD explained!!!☺



Easy reading material!!!☺ No needless information all helpful ready to imply info!!!☺ Would definitely read other books by this author!!!☺
13 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2019
Great resource if you want to lose weight!

Kayla shares her journey in an easy to read, relatable format. Very helpful to those of us trying to get our weight under control. Check out her YouTube channel too!
Profile Image for Frank.
25 reviews
May 6, 2020
An easy book to get through in a single sitting and the concept is pretty laid back. Enjoyed her story, although the section on PMS didn't apply to me it did give me insight into what my Wife is going through while she diets.
15 reviews2 followers
May 5, 2021
To the Point

I really appreciate this book after reading several others that dwell way too much on the biological/science aspects of losing weight and fasting. This was practical and easy to relate to with concrete ideas that can be applied to most people.
4 reviews
September 24, 2021
such practical and important advice about making your own plan

I love Kayla’s practical advice and how honest she is. She hits it on the head when she talks about. Testing your own plan that you enjoy and feels easy to you.
Profile Image for Holly Persyn.
11 reviews
May 11, 2019
Love this book!

I am so excited to hear about someone losing weight and still being kind to themselves and allowing freedoms. I can’t wait to try this approach!
1 review
June 12, 2019
Excellent

I can relate to Kayla in so many ways! I can truly say this is one of the most inspirational and helpful books I have ever read regarding weight loss!!
Profile Image for Jen.
23 reviews8 followers
August 17, 2020
I really appreciate her “laid back” way of fasting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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