Sacrificing your morning bagel or skipping that afternoon latté? Congratulations, you're now a member of the fasting cult. But before we mark you with a leafy green kale tattoo, let's clear the air around what fasting really entails. Setting those taste buds on airplane mode, fasting simply means becoming best buddies with hunger for a defined bracket of time.

A myriad of reasons, from religious obligations to bravely battling diseases, or even tangoing with time to slow aging - fasting has become a trendy health haute couture. And let us break it to you, it ain't merely a fad. Crisp science-backed evidence suggests, done right, fasting can be a lean mean weight loss machine. Additionally, it can enhance protection against diseases, and yes, even slow down aging. So, it's not all about groaning stomachs and grievous glares at untouched French fries.

However, recently the fitness world has started flirting with fasting by integrating it with exercise. Inspired or insane? Well, the jury is still out. Some research paints a pretty picture that working out on an empty stomach can supercharge your weight loss and gratify the gains from fasting. Contrastingly, other studies sarcily smirk: exercising hangry can tamper with your workout results and energy levels.

Here's how it works. Imagine your body like a miserly king, always hoarding up his precious glucose (aka carbs) for energy. When you fast, your sneaky body burns away your stored glucose until there's nothing left. With no glucose in sight, your body has no choice but to begrudgingly turn to burning body fat for energy. This covert operation usually begins after about 10 to 12 hours of fasting. Now, the plot twist: Intermittent fasting (IF), a fasting sub-genre, is not about WHAT you eat, but WHEN you do.

IF comes in varied styles: Daily, which involves short fasts for 12 to 20 hours every day; Weekly, cutting out food for an entire day once a week or a month; and Finally, Alternate-Day fasting, eating every other day with no grub on fasting days.

IF lets you match your eating/fast phases with your workout playlist. The goal? Make sure your workouts take place when your body is pumped with energy and not in the throes of a food coma. If you're a brave soul exploring workouts during your fasting phase, be ready to face off with fatigue, and if you're not Hydragod, the mere mortal beast of dehydration too.

Religious fasts can be a different beast altogether. They come bearing blessings but also restrictions that can complicate workouts, especially those that deny even a sip of water. Navigating workout timing during periods like Yom Kippur or Tisha B'Av, which involve a solid 24-hour fast, can be more complex than a kale-wrapped Rubik's cube.

Also, note that diving back into your regular eating pattern post-fast can be akin to a space probe re-entering Earth's atmosphere. You got to do it right or risk excessive bloating and discomfort. Keep it simple and light, avoid sugar bombs and fat traps, and choose foods that hold hands with your digestive system pleasantly.

Now, unfortunately, fasting coupled with workouts doesn't roll out a red carpet for everyone. Consult a health expert before joining this new wave fitness revolution. People dealing with health issues, pregnant or nursing women, and those with eating disorders are better off skipping this potentially jittery joyride.

Chances are, the idea of exercising while fasting might be enough to make you go 'Nope, I'd rather eat kale'. And that's okay. Because at the end of the day, what matters is listening to your body and finding a fitness routine that feels blessedly right for you. Remember, you don't always need to beat the sun to punch your workout cards or fast to feel fabulously fit. Because as far as we're concerned, if you're committed to eating your kale and breaking a sweat once in a while, you're already winning the game of life.