Inspired by his best friend’s battle with cancer, Dr. Frank Merritt has engineered The 17 Hour Fast, which offers maximum benefits from a minimum fasting method that promotes an enriching mind, body, and soul experience. Drawing on years of medical practice as well as VitalityPro research protocols developed with iconic athletes, respected nutritionists, and behavioral/exercise psychologists, The 17 Hour Fast embodies a minimum effective dose (MED) strategy, harnessing the powerful health and performance advantages of longer fasts while avoiding many of their pitfalls. The 17 Hour Fast is also carefully synchronized and choreographed with diurnal/nocturnal hormone patterns, sleep hygiene, personal growth and relationship-building techniques, and suggested training/recovery activities to create a potent combination for success.

The 17 Hour Fast can help anyone:


- Cut cholesterol, reduce bacterial overgrowth, and lower toxins
- Start making lifestyle changes that lower body weight and BMI and reduce body fat
- Improve digestive issues like IBS, fatty liver disease, and acid reflux
- Boost physical and cognitive performance
- Break free from habitual and boredom-related eating
- Create a rich, fully engaged experience before, during, and after fasting
- Achieve many of the benefits of a 48-hour fast in less than half the time, while avoiding many of the risks of more extreme fasts
- Overcome food-related psychological and behavioral issues while turning destructive habits into healthy ones
- Reduce sugar dependence
- Achieve more restful and restorative sleep
- Use fasting to strengthen work-life balance, improve relationships, and focus on helping others

The 17 Hour Fast is founded on a bedrock of cutting-edge scientific data and presented in an intuitive and approachable way by Dr. Merritt and acclaimed writer Phil White (Unplugged, Game Changer, and Waterman 2.0). This book includes inspiring insights from the likes of:


- Hall of Fame football coach Gene Stallings
- NCAA All-American and NFL player Jeremiah Castille
- Cy Young winner Barry Zito
- General Mark McQueen
- Writer/director Sam George
- Pro surfing pioneer Randy Rarick
- Athlete/coach Brandon Rager
- Human performance coach and NYT bestselling author Brian Mackenzie
- World champion quadriplegic surfer Jesse Billauer
- Award-winning musicians Peter Furler, Mac Powell, and Jon Micah Sumrall