Intermittent fasting is not the best approach for most women, especially those in their 30s and 40s. Hormonal fluctuations make extended fasting windows risky—I skipped breakfast for a month and my cycle went haywire, with energy crashes by noon. The research on fasting often excludes female participants or ignores how cortisol and estrogen interact with hunger signals. I'll stick to balanced meals over skipping them; who else has seen adverse effects?