You Lost the Weight—Now the Fun Begins: It's Time for a New (and Sexier) Relationship With Food #fasting

It's getting hot in here?? The Fast Patch exactly the same as our appetite suppressant patch called Curb, but repackaged and recommended for water-fasting. That means water only (tea or coffee is fine) for 24 to 72 hours.

By Dr. Zach L, Founder of InsideOut Wellness, Author of HCG 2.0, and Creator of The Fast Patch

First things first—congratulations. You're nearly through your HCG 2.0 protocol, the weight is coming off, your body is changing, and you’re proving to yourself that transformation is possible. I'm mostly speaking to 300 people that began the diet over the Labor Day Weekend, but if you've lost weight on the HCG diet, you know what I'm talking about.

But now comes the part most people don’t talk nearly enough about: maintenance.

After losing 20–30 pounds in such a short time, your body is very determined to replenish those fat reserves. That’s why the maintenance phase is so important. If you haven’t already, revisit my Quick Start Guide to HCG Maintenance. It’s still essential.

But today I want to share something even better. Something that will not only help you maintain your loss, but also reframe how you think about food so you never have to count calories or carbs again.

Why Fasting is the New & Improved Maintenance

Let’s be honest—nobody wants to count calories for the rest of their life. And if that’s your plan for maintaining your new weight, you’ll burn out quickly.

Furthermore, it's miserable. It takes all the fun out of food. You've heard me say it a thousand times, taste is an acquired sense. If you can utilize your time on the low-calorie phase of HCG 2.0 to practice eating vegetables and learning to how love them, life is going to get a lot easier for you.

I can't say enough about altering your tastebuds to love vegetables. And here is a tip, prepare them appealingly. Prepare them however you want. Add salt or butter, or even melt some cheese over them in the beginning - whatever it takes to enjoy eating them. I would go so far as to say pour chocolate over them, but that's gross, but it's also how important it is to maintaining your weight. Later, you can begin to reduce the butter or the cheese (or chocolate sauce). But early on, as you retrain your sense of taste, do whatever you have to do to fall in love with veggies - raw, steamed, blanched (my fav), grilled, experiment away!

But back to fasting...

I began fasting exactly a year ago and it's been life-changing. I honestly believe that fasting—done simply, safely, and sustainably—is the new next step. And I'm not talking intermittent fasting, I'm talking real fasting. Water, tea or coffee only. FASTING!!

Does it sound a little insane? Yeah! I thought so too. It sounded so crazy that, even the first time I tried it, I knew I needed a cheat code. So what did I do? I stuck on one of my Curb Appetite Suppressant Patches.

Here’s what fasting does for you:

• Reframes food. You learn the difference between food as fuel and food as pleasure.

• Simplifies eating. You realize how much time and mental space you dedicate to food. Fasting gives you that time back, but also helps you get it right.

• Sharpens awareness. You start to recognize patterns—when you eat out of habit, when you eat for comfort, and when you truly eat for nourishment.

• Builds confidence. Fasting isn’t about deprivation; it’s about clarity. Each completed fast reminds you that you’re in control.

Fasting isn’t punishment—it’s a perspective shift. A brilliant, earth-shattering perspective shift! It makes food enjoyable again without making it obsessive. Fasting makes the indulgences you love even more appealing and guilt-free!

Food as Fuel vs. Food as One of Life's Essential Joys.

One of the greatest lessons fasting teaches is balance. Food is fuel—yes—but it’s also culture, connection, and pleasure. In fact, I don't even feel comfortable calling food fuel. Carbs are fuel - nothing more, especially American-style, highly processed carbs. But food, real food minus the processing - adequate protein, phyto-nutritition from plants and a 1:1 ratio of good fats to bad fats. That is what we call food in the InsideOut Wellness community - just to be clear.

Back to my point, sharing a meal with family and friends is one of life’s greatest joys. I spend a lot of time abroad and Americans can't seem to figure that one out.

Fasting helps you clarify the difference. When you stop eating on autopilot, every bite becomes more intentional. And it's not just the eating, it's the shopping and the preparation.

That's what really blew my mind about fasting - the amount of time I spent thinking about food, but still getting it wrong. Simply put, it puts food into a much healthier and better perspective.

And here’s my golden rule for anyone transitioning from HCG back to the real world: fall in love with vegetables. If you can do that you’ll naturally begin to prefer nutrient-dense foods because they feel better.

I don’t care if you have to start the process of acquiring a taste for vegetables by melting cheese over broccoli, sautéing spinach in butter, or salting zucchini chips like French fries—just find a way to enjoy vegetables. Worry about the preparation of them later. Once vegetables are part of your daily rhythm, I can almost guarantee you’ll never have to count calories again.

The Fast Patch: Curb Reimagined

Now, let’s talk about the tool that makes all of this easier: The Fast Patch - AKA Curb.

CURB Appetite Suppressant & Metabolic Reset Patch

Buy Now

If you’ve been with me for a while, you already know about Curb, my appetite-suppressing patch. I use it myself every month when I fast. Well, I’ve rebranded it for an even bigger purpose: I'm calling itThe Fast Patch.

Here’s how it works:

• Protocol: One 24-hour fast per week. One 3-day fast per month.

• Support: The patch curbs hunger, sustains energy, and helps you stay calm and focused.

• Results: Autophagy (your body’s natural cell-recycling process), improved insulin sensitivity, better skin, sharper focus, and a healthier relationship with food.

I do this every single month. It’s not a diet—it’s a rhythm. And it’s changed my life. I actually look forward to it. I schedule when I know it will be most relevant - either before a big weekend to trim down or after a big weekend to detox. I'm good with indulgence. I do indulgence quite well and I believe that my fasting schedule will allow me to continue to indulge throughout my 50s and even throughout my 60s. Not to mention, I am HIGHLY productive on my 3-day fast. I'm wired. I use a patch per day. That might be way too much for some, but it works for me.

Fast Patch Packaging consists of 6 patches. The recommended dose is

• One patch per 24-hour fast

• One patch per day for your 3-day fast for a total of 6 patches per month.

That might be way too much for some, I'll admit. That's what works for me. In fact, you may have to cut patches in half for you 24-hour fast. For some, they might make you feel like you over-consumed on some high-quality coffee. If that's the case, make your adjustment. There isn't a cookie-cutter protocol that suits all.

Why Fasting is Having a “Hollywood Moment”

I stumbled onto this at my brother's golf studio in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

If you’ve noticed that fasting is suddenly everywhere, you’re not imagining it. Celebrities and wellness influencers are now catching on to what I’ve been practicing for the past 12 months.

• Fasting improves energy and productivity.

• It simplifies diet choices.

• It supports longevity and anti-aging.

• Autophagy! Autophagy! Autophagy!

But you don’t need to be in Hollywood to reap the benefits. You just need structure, support, and the willingness to see food differently.

Autophagy is possibly the most basic anti-aging essential there is! And it isn't prescribed or delivered in a tube! You body does it all by itself - and you are the facilitator!

Final Thoughts: A New Relationship With Food

Think of it this way: losing weight with HCG was the spark. But maintenance—done through fasting—is where the relationship deepens. It’s where food becomes less about fear and more about freedom.

With fasting and The Fast Patch, you’ll find yourself living in a body that feels lighter, clearer, and more energized—not because you’re “on a diet,” but because you’ve learned how to partner with food on your terms.

You’ve already done the hard part. Now it gets fun.

👉 Ready to take the next step? Learn more about The Fast Patch and see how one patch, one day a week, and three days a month can transform your maintenance phase into something sexier, cooler, and way more sustainable. Make the click!