Steady
Intermittent fasting basics
Intermittent fasting is a pattern of when you eat, not a single diet menu. Most everyday approaches use an eating window — for example eight hours of meals and sixteen hours without calories.
Eating windows in plain terms
During the fasting stretch you typically drink water, black coffee or plain tea. During the eating window you take your meals as usual. Popular ratios like 16:8 are conventions, not rules of biology. What matters is a rhythm you can keep without missing nutrients or stressing your day.
Why people track elapsed time
A timer answers a simple question: how long since the last meal? Some apps also describe broad “zones” as hours add up. Treat those labels as orientation, not medical stages. Hydration, sleep and how you feel during the day still matter more than hitting a badge.
In Steady: fasting can sit beside stress and sleep, so a long fast on a rough-sleep night is visible as a full picture — not an isolated streak.
Who should be careful
Fasting is not appropriate for everyone. People who are pregnant, have a history of disordered eating, take certain medications, or have medical conditions that affect blood sugar should speak with a clinician before changing meal timing. Children and teens need different guidance than adults.
Keep the habit light
If tracking makes meals anxious, widen the window or pause the timer. The point is clarity, not perfection.
Steady is a wellness companion, not a medical device. This guide is for everyday understanding only and is not clinical or dietary advice.