Nick Viall, the former Bachelor star and podcast host, recently shared something pretty bold on The Viall Files—he decided to go on a water fast. Not your typical “New Year, New Me” detox, but a full-on fast where you don’t eat for days. And of course, fans had questions. Why do it? How did it go? What did his wife think? Nick didn’t hold back.
Why Nick Chose to Fast
It all started with a little inspiration from home. Nick said his mom gave him the idea. Yup, that’s right. His own mom tried it, and that gave him the final push. “If my mom can do it, why can’t I?” he said on his January 9 podcast episode. At 44, Nick said he’d been eating way too much sugar and his diet just wasn’t where he wanted it to be.
Instead of jumping into another trendy diet or gym challenge, he opted for a water fast. That meant he would go without food—just water, bone broth, and electrolytes—for several days. The original plan was a full week, but Nick quickly decided to cut it down to four days.
No, He’s Not Telling You to Try It
Right from the start, Nick made it clear this wasn’t about setting an example. “I’m not recommending it to anyone,” he said. In fact, he didn’t even want feedback. “Good or bad,” he told listeners, “I’m doing this for me.” That’s a pretty honest take, and it was refreshing to hear someone not trying to push a trend or sell a method.
Water fasting isn’t new. People do it for different reasons—weight loss, spiritual clarity, or even to tackle chronic health issues. Nick mentioned he heard about its possible benefits, including reduced inflammation and better brain health. But he didn’t pretend to be an expert. This wasn’t a health guru talk—it was a guy trying something new to reset his habits.
How It Actually Felt
Nick didn’t sugarcoat the experience either. “It was a tough first night,” he said. And things didn’t exactly get better right away. He admitted to feeling weak and super tired during the first 24 hours. That’s pretty typical when your body is adjusting to no food. But by the time he spoke about it, he seemed to have hit a better groove. “I’m delightful right now,” he said—but also admitted that “last night sucked hard.”
So yeah, it’s not all mental clarity and inner peace right off the bat.
Natalie Joy Was NOT Amused
Nick’s wife, Natalie Joy, made a surprise appearance during the episode—and let’s just say, she had some thoughts. “He’s been nothing but a bitch this whole time to me,” she said, jokingly but with a hint of “I’ve had enough.”
She described him as “hangry” and said he’d been snapping at her throughout the fast. “Do you want me to boil you some eggs? Because this is insane,” she recalled asking him one night. Honestly, who hasn’t tried to support their partner during a health kick only to end up on the receiving end of a hunger-fueled meltdown?
Natalie’s honesty added a whole other layer to the story. It wasn’t just Nick in his head trying something—it affected his household too.
Not a Long-Term Thing
Even though the fast was only four days, Nick didn’t pretend like he was making a permanent lifestyle change. He called it a “temporary” thing, more of a reset than a new normal. And he was very clear: this was his decision, not a trend he wanted others to follow.
He didn’t glorify the hunger. He didn’t act like it made him feel superhuman. He kept it real, admitting it was hard, admitting he got cranky, and admitting it wasn’t for everyone.
