What is Eat Stop Eat?
Eat Stop Eat is a book on intermittent fasting by Brad Pilon, who studied fasting during his graduate degree in nutrition and first published the book in 2007, years before intermittent fasting became popular. The current version is the 5th edition, and the sales page is co-written with fitness coach Adam Steer. Neither author is a medical doctor, and both say so.
The core idea fits in one sentence: one or two times a week, go 24 hours without food (for example, from dinner to dinner), and eat responsibly the rest of the week. There are no special foods, supplements or meal plans to buy.
How the method works
Because the fast runs from one meal to the same meal the next day, you never go a full calendar day without eating. A typical week might look like this:
| Monday | Normal day; finish dinner at 7 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Fast: water, black coffee or plain tea; eat dinner again at 7 pm |
| Wed to Fri | Normal, sensible eating |
| Saturday | Optional second fast, with at least a day or two between fasts |
The book stresses that the fasting day is not followed by a "reward" feast, and that the method only works if the other days are ordinary, balanced meals. It also covers how to combine fasting with resistance training to protect muscle.
What's inside the book
- The fasted state: what happens in your body between meals and why it has mostly disappeared from modern eating.
- Common fears, one by one: metabolism, hunger, muscle loss, blood sugar, cortisol and the "breakfast is the most important meal" idea.
- How to fast the Eat Stop Eat way and why the book prefers 24 hours over longer fasts.
- What to do while fasting: drinks, staying busy and handling the first hunger waves.
- A chapter on fasting and women, plus how to design your own workout program around fasting days.
- Keeping results: how to use the method for maintenance once you reach your goal.
- A reference list of the studies the author drew on.
Buyers also get a short Quick Start Guide and a free 15-day email coaching series called "The Advocate".
What the research really says
The sales page leans on dramatic numbers, so it is worth separating hype from evidence. Clinical trials that compared intermittent fasting with ordinary daily calorie reduction generally find that both approaches lead to similar weight loss. Fasting is not magic; its real advantage is that some people find it easier to stick with than cutting a little from every meal. That is the honest reason to try Eat Stop Eat: a routine you can follow, not a shortcut.
Results vary a lot from person to person, and the book itself says it offers no weight-loss guarantee. We do not repeat the specific figures from the sales page because we could not verify them for the general public.
Price and guarantee
| Formats | Instant digital version, or paperback shipped to you (with or without the digital copy) |
|---|---|
| Price | At the time of writing, US$ 10 for the digital version and US$ 19 for the paperback options, shown as a limited-time discount; check the official page for today's price and shipping |
| Guarantee | 60-day money-back guarantee |
| Checkout | Processed by ClickBank, the retailer of record |
After checkout you may see extra offers. They are optional, so read each one before you click, and keep your ClickBank receipt.
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Pros and cons
What we like
- Very simple rule, easy to fit into a busy week.
- No special foods, supplements or apps to buy.
- Low price, especially the digital version.
- Takes muscle and exercise seriously, not just the scale.
- One of the longest-running books on the topic, now in its 5th edition.
Keep in mind
- A 24-hour fast is hard at first; headaches and irritability are common in the early weeks.
- The sales page uses hype and bold numbers; the book is calmer and more useful.
- Not suitable for everyone (see the next section).
- Written by a nutrition researcher, not a physician.
Who should not fast
Talk to your doctor before trying any fasting plan, and do not fast without medical supervision if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, have a history of eating disorders, have diabetes or take medication that lowers blood sugar or blood pressure, are underweight, or have kidney, heart or other chronic conditions. Stop fasting and seek care if you feel dizzy, faint or unwell. Drink enough water on fasting days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink coffee while fasting?
The book allows calorie-free drinks such as water, black coffee and plain tea during the fast.
How often do I fast?
Once or twice a week, with at least a day or two of normal eating in between. The book explains why it does not recommend longer fasts.
Is it a digital or a printed book?
Both are available. The digital version arrives instantly; the paperback is shipped to you.
What if it's not for me?
The official page lists a 60-day money-back guarantee. Keep your ClickBank receipt; refunds can be requested through ClickBank's customer support.
Our verdict
Eat Stop Eat is a low-cost, well-structured introduction to weekly 24-hour fasting. It will not melt fat on its own, but if you want a flexible routine that does not require counting every calorie, and your doctor agrees it is safe for you, it is the clearest place to start.
Eat Stop Eat
5th edition · digital or paperback · quick start guide
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This review is based on the official product information and publicly available research, not on a paid endorsement. Product images are provided by the seller. It is not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.