The Self-Experimentation Lifestyle - Discover What Works for You!

If you have ever taken a science class, you know what an experiment is. It is (according to Oxford) “a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.” Remember that high school chemistry class where you proved that water exists in three states? As a solid, it is ice; as a liquid, it is water; and as a gas, it is vapor.

I had a conversation with a friend the other day, and this is how it went (note that we were meeting for breakfast):

She: What will you have to eat?

Me: I am going to have an omelet and toast. What about you?

She: Oh, I will have a cup of green tea. I do I-F.

Me: IF. What is I-F?

She: Intermittent fasting. I don’t eat for 16 hours, so my first meal of the day is at 1 p.m.

Me: Oh wow! Yeah, I used to do that too! How is it working for you?

She: Well, I don’t really know. I haven’t seen a change, but a few friends are doing it, and they have lost a lot of weight. I’m still waiting to lose for that to happen to me.

Me: Hmmm. Really? How long have you been doing it?

She: Oh, about a year.

At this point, I am thinking to myself, Wait. What? You have been doing this for a year, have yet to lose the weight you expected, and are still doing this? Something about this needs to be rethought.

So, I asked her if she remembered high school science class and doing experiments in high school science class. And she did – her favorite was when they tested gravity to prove if it was real.

I asked her what she would think of using her body as a science experiment. That does sound scary, but I didn’t mean giving your body to a researcher. I told her how she could become a researcher, using her body to experiment.

Using yourself as an experiment can be a powerful and eye-opening process.

Let’s break down her situation into a science experiment using the scientific method:

Observe: I do not fit into my clothes. I have put on a bit of weight.

Question: How can I lose this weight?

Research -I can restrict the number of calories I eat daily. I can exercise more. I can go for a walk every day. I can stop eating sugar. I can intermittently fast. I can eat different foods.

Hypothesize: The best way to lose weight is through intermittent fasting.

Experiment: Undergo a lifestyle change from eating when you wake up to holding off until 16 hours have passed since you had dinner.

Test hypothesis: After a reasonable period, ask yourself, How do I feel? Have I lost weight?

Draw conclusions: If you enjoy this way of life and have lost weight, your hypothesis is correct, and you have proven that I-F works for you. If you are not feeling good and have not lost weight, then IF is not for you, and you should think about going back to the research part of your experiment and devising a new hypothesis to test.

The concept of experimenting on oneself can be applied to many aspects of life. Some of the fun experiments that I have tried over the past few years have been evaluating the effects of reducing alcohol in my system, testing out the theory that being well-hydrated leads to benefits in skin health, digestion, and energy levels, determining how different sleep patterns affect my waking hours, experimenting with what meditating for 15 minutes a day does, testing out what walking for 30 minutes a day does for my mind and body.

The key to using yourself as an experiment is to approach each experiment with self-awareness, curiosity, and consistency. It is crucial to record your observations as you proceed, as these observations will be the basis of your conclusions for the experiment. You can note the comments mentally or physically, like in a journal or in the notes section of your phone. It is most important to remember that you are a unique individual and that what works for one person may not work for you. Conduct your experiments to learn about yourself and find life practices that benefit you!