If you have any medical conditions, special dietary requirements, or chronic diseases, it’s smart to consult a doctor before giving intermittent fasting a shot. Anyone who tries it should also plan to be highly self-aware while fasting — if it’s not agreeing with you, or if you need to eat a little something to hold you over and avoid an even more serious problem, that’s just fine. It takes our bodies time to adjust, and some require more than others. And for the ladies out there: Keep in mind that hormones can make it harder for women to follow a fasting plan than for men. “Be cautious at first, and start slowly [with a shorter fast],”