‘The Fast Lane: The Snake Diet for the Brave’

Hey Skinny readers, welcome back to another Skinny Chef Diaries weekly blog! I trust you had a blessed week. Can you believe December is already knocking at our door? Let’s soak up the great weather South Africa has to offer. Let the heat work its magic sweat dripping, calories burning, and summer vibes taking over where winter left off.

This week, we’re not serving up your average foodie blog. Oh no, Skinnies  we’re diving into one of the most controversial, hard core, and oddly fascinating diet trends out there! Before you get too cosy in your spring comfort zone, let’s be real most of us tiptoe around hunger. But the Snake Diet? It grabs hunger by the tail and hisses: “Not today!”

If you’ve ever fantasised about skipping meals like a reptile, welcome to the fast lane. Let’s slither through this one together.

What is the Snake Diet?

Let’s get real snakes are famous for their unique eating habits. They gulp down large meals, then survive for long stretches on minimal sustenance. This biology lesson sparked the birth of the controversial Snake Diet.

The Snake Diet is an extreme fasting protocol created by Cole Robinson, a self-proclaimed “fasting coach” with a flair for shock value wellness. He claims to have lost 45.3 kg in five months that’s roughly 5 kg a month, Skinnies! Inspired by snake eating patterns, he promotes large meals followed by long fasting periods.

Core Principles:

Robinson believes that the human body can achieve rapid weight loss and improved health by mimicking the metabolic patterns of Snakes

1. Prolonged fasting (48–96 hours or more)

2. Tight feeding/eating windows (1–2 hours max)

3. Electrolyte-rich “snake juice” during fasting

4. Minimal meals focused on low-carb, high-fat foods

I know what you’re thinking: This is crazy! It’s not just intermittent fasting — it’s intermittent feasting. The goal? To trigger ketosis, torch fat, and “detox” the body.

How Long Does the Snake Diet Last?

There’s no set timeframe. The Snake Diet is guided by your body’s hunger cues. In practice, followers may extend fasts for several days.

One variation, the Snake Juice Fast, involves consuming only water mixed with electrolytes (aka snake juice) for days on end. Some followers allow themselves a small meal or snack every few days.

Yoh Skinnies, this is next level fasting. I know I’m the champ when it comes to fasting but even I would struggle with this one!

Skinny Chef Hack:

 Add a touch of Irish Sea Moss to your snake juice. Don’t know about it? Check out my earlier blog where I rave about its wonders during fasting.

Potential Benefits of the Snake Diet

Although research is limited, followers report:

1. Rapid weight loss (thanks to extreme calorie restriction)

2. Improved insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control

3. Mental clarity from ketosis and reduced sugar intake

4. Less inflammation and bloating

5. Freedom from food addictions and emotional eating

Skinny Chef Note: Nothing worth having comes without risks we’ll get into that shortly.

A Quick Slither through History

The Snake Diet slithered onto the scene in the late 2010s, fuelled by Robinson’s viral YouTube

videos and DIY snake juice recipes. He claims it mirrors ancestral eating patterns, where humans fasted for days between hunts.

While it loosely draws from evolutionary biology, most nutrition experts caution: Humans are not snakes. Extended fasting without medical guidance can be dangerous.

What Does Science Say?

Direct research on the Snake Diet is scarce, but studies on fasting and ketosis give us some clues:

1. Ketosis promotes fat burning and reduces appetite

2. Fasting can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and other markers

3. Electrolyte balance is non-negotiable without it, fasting risks fatigue, dizziness, and even heart issues

How to Safely Try the Snake Diet

Brave enough to test it, Skinnies? Here’s how not to crash:

1. Consult your doctor, especially if you have any health conditions

2. Start slow try a 24-hour fast before pushing into 72 hours or more. Yoh, 72 hours without eating? You’ll definitely be skinny, haha!

3. Stay hydrated with DIY snake juice (water, potassium chloride, Himalayan salt, baking soda, Epsom salts)

4. Break fasts gently with low-carb, high-fat meals

5. Listen to your body fatigue, dizziness, or nausea = red flag

6. Don’t skimp on nutrients  consider supplements for vitamins and minerals

Best Foods for the Snake Diet

When it’s finally time to eat, keep it simple and keto-friendly:

• Lean proteins: fish, chicken, eggs

• Healthy fats: avo, olive oil, nuts

• Low-carb veggies: spinach, broccoli, zucchini

• Hydration heroes: bone broth, herbal teas

Avoid: sugar, grains, processed foods.

The Final Slither

Skinnies, here’s my take: the Snake Diet is not for the faint-hearted. It’s bold, controversial, and definitely not mainstream. For those brave enough to hit the fast lane, it offers a radical reset and a new perspective on hunger, discipline, and metabolism.

And yes  I’m chuckling as I write this. Snakes don’t do brunch… and neither will you!

Thank you for tuning in, my Skinnies. Love you all!

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE & MOST IMPORTANTLY STAY SKINNY. SAME TIME, SAME PLACE.

Creative Director: Shadre Leonard