Welcome to another installment of the Mental Mettle Podcast, where host Coach Matt Thomann embarks on a new Monthly Mettle Challenge – this time, exploring the often misunderstood practice of fasting. This episode dives beyond the dietary aspects, revealing how fasting can unlock mental clarity, boost self-discipline, and even deepen spiritual connections.

Fasting: More Than Just Missing Meals

Coach Thomann acknowledges his initial hesitation about this challenge. As a self-proclaimed "big guy" who loves to cook and eat, abstaining from food felt daunting. However, he approaches it with an open mind, eager to discover the potential mental and spiritual benefits.

The Mental and Spiritual Dimensions of Fasting

This episode challenges the notion of fasting as mere deprivation, instead positioning it as an intentional practice for gaining clarity and self-control. Matt explains how he is hoping it will break some of his bad habits.

Coaching Guidance from Aubrey Ghafari

To navigate this challenge, Coach Thomann enlists the guidance of Aubrey Ghafari, an ICF-certified coach from Larong, who helps him clarify his intentions and develop a specific plan. Their coaching session explores:

  • Identifying the "Why": Understanding the underlying motivations for fasting beyond weight loss.
  • Shifting the Mindset: Reframing fasting as an opportunity for growth rather than a form of punishment.
  • Creating a Practical Plan: Developing a sustainable approach to fasting that aligns with individual needs and goals.

Dana Thomann weighs in

Dana and Matt talk about ways that fasting is incorporated into their religion, and how important it is.

Biblical and Spiritual Connections

The episode also delves into the rich history of fasting in religious traditions, particularly within Christianity. Coach Thomann explores how fasting is woven throughout scripture as a means of seeking God's guidance, strengthening one's faith, and fostering spiritual renewal.

Unlocking Potential Benefits

Whether you're a seasoned faster or simply curious to learn more, this episode invites you to view fasting through a new lens – as an opportunity for:

  • Enhanced Mental Sharpness: Breaking free from food-related distractions to sharpen focus and clarity.
  • Increased Self-Discipline: Strengthening willpower and self-control through intentional abstention.
  • Deeper Spiritual Connection: Creating space for reflection, prayer, and connection with something greater than oneself.
  • Intentionality: Learning how to be intentional about what you eat and when.

Is Fasting Right for You?

This episode encourages listeners to approach fasting with careful consideration and guidance, particularly for those with underlying health conditions. It emphasizes the importance of listening to your body and finding a sustainable approach that supports your overall well-being.

Ready to Explore the Power of Fasting?

Tune in to Episode 92 of the Mental Mettle Podcast to discover how fasting can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, spiritual growth, and mental toughness.

Contact Coach Thomann at coachthomann@gmail.com for a free coaching session!

Are you ready to forge your mettle?

More From Mental Mettle

Episode 162: Six Throws: Years of Preparation, Seconds to Perform with USA thrower Rachel Richeson
What if years of preparation came down to just six throws? Episode 162 of The Mental Mettle Podcast explores that question through the story of Team USA hammer thrower Rachel Richeson, whose journey shows how elite performance is built through patience, belief, and the ability to trust the work when it matters most.
Episode 161: Faith, Ironman, and Stage 4 Cancer: Just Keep Tri-ing with Jim Logan.
What happens when a lifelong endurance athlete is suddenly told he has Stage 4 cancer and only months to live? In Episode 161 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann talks with Ironman competitor and author Jim Logan about what it means to keep moving forward when life turns into a fight for survival.
The Power of Being a Beginner Again: Why Choosing Hard Things Builds Mental Toughness
In sports, business, and life, most people want to stay where they feel competent. That makes sense. Confidence feels good, and competence is efficient. But one of the fastest ways to grow mentally is to intentionally step into situations where you are not yet good, not yet comfortable, and not yet in control.
Episode 160: Ryan Davis is not a great coach despite his anxiety; he is a great coach because of it.
In Episode 160 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Roanoke Benson girls basketball coach Ryan Davis for a conversation that challenges how we think about anxiety, pressure, and leadership.
Episode 159: Be Willing to Be Bad – From Hoops to Team USA Handball with Katie Timmerman
What if real growth starts the moment you stop trying to be good at everything? In Episode 159 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt talks with USA Team Handball player and Olympic hopeful Katie Timmerman about choosing the unfamiliar, embracing beginner status, and building confidence through failure.
The Power of Responding Well: Why Your Response Matters More Than What Happened
Life does not always give warning before it changes. A diagnosis, a betrayal, a firing, a loss, a collapse in confidence, or a crisis at home can arrive so quickly that it feels like the ground disappears beneath your feet. In moments like that, the event itself matters—but what happens next matters even more.