Yes — sleep absolutely counts as part of your fasting period in the Lasta Fasting Tracker (and in intermittent fasting in general).
Why Sleep Counts Toward Your Fast
When you're asleep, your body isn't consuming any calories from food or caloric beverages (water, plain black coffee, unsweetened tea, and most zero-calorie drinks are typically allowed and don't break a fast). This natural overnight period without intake is a true fasting state.
The word "breakfast" itself comes from "break the fast" — referring to the meal that ends the overnight fast after sleeping. So, every night of sleep automatically contributes hours to your daily fasting window.
How This Benefits Your Fasting Routine
Including sleep makes longer fasting windows much easier and more sustainable. For example:
- Finish dinner at 8:00 PM and eat your first meal at 12:00 PM the next day → You've completed a 16-hour fast (8 hours awake + ~8 hours of sleep) with relatively little effort.
- A standard 12:8 schedule (12-hour fast) can often be achieved just by not eating late at night and having breakfast at a normal morning time.
This built-in overnight fasting reduces hunger challenges, supports better adherence, and aligns naturally with most people's daily rhythms.
Tips to Maximize the Benefits of Sleep in Your Fasting Window
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Prioritize quality sleep — Aim for 7–9 hours per night. Good sleep not only extends your fasting period effortlessly but also boosts overall health benefits like:
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Better hormone balance
- Enhanced mood, focus, and energy
- Stronger recovery and metabolic health
- Time your eating window wisely — Finish your last meal 2–3 hours before bed to avoid digestive discomfort and allow a cleaner overnight fast.
- Stay hydrated — Drink plenty of water in the evening and upon waking (it doesn't break your fast and supports sleep quality).
- Use Lasta's tools — Set reminders for your fasting start/end times, log how you feel during fasts, and review your fasting history to see how consistent sleep patterns help you hit longer streaks and better results.
- Be consistent — Aligning your fasting window with your natural sleep schedule (e.g., eating earlier in the day if you're an early sleeper) makes fasting feel effortless over time.
Combining solid sleep hygiene with a well-planned fasting schedule amplifies the benefits of intermittent fasting — from weight management and metabolic health to mental clarity and sustained energy.
You're already getting hours of "free" fasting every night — make the most of it! 🌙⏳
If you're unsure how your sleep aligns with your current fasting plan in the app, want to adjust your window, or have questions about what breaks a fast, check the Fasting tab or reach out to Lasta support via the in-app menu. Happy fasting and sweet dreams! 💤
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