resetA 12:12 schedule divides a regular day into a 12-hour fasting window and a 12-hour eating window. Finishing dinner at 7 pm gives a 7 am end time the next day. The notation describes time; it does not prescribe what or how much to eat.
Three ways to place the window
| Last food or caloric drink | 12-hour window ends | Eating window |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 pm | 6:30 am next day | 6:30 am–6:30 pm |
| 7 pm | 7 am next day | 7 am–7 pm |
| 8:15 pm | 8:15 am next day | 8:15 am–8:15 pm |
These examples assume an ordinary day without a clock change. They are arithmetic examples, not personal recommendations.
The first useful question is whether the times reflect your real routine. If dinner finishes at 7 pm but you have a milky drink at 9 pm, a record intended to describe a calorie-free interval needs to account for the later drink. There is no benefit in making the record look tidier than the evening actually was.
Breakfast and dinner both matter
Write down the time breakfast needs to happen, then subtract 12 hours to find the previous evening’s endpoint. A 6:45 am breakfast corresponds to 6:45 pm the previous day. If that clashes with dinner, reconsider the timetable instead of treating the clock as an obligation.
Sleep is included in those 12 hours. You do not restart the count when you wake up or add sleeping hours afterwards. Our overnight timing guide explains the calculation.
Track the actual interval
In Reset, choose the 12:12 preset and record the actual start. End the session when it actually ends, even if this differs from the target. You can correct a late start using the time editor.
Use the free schedule calculator to check another start time. A 12-hour window is not proof of a particular metabolic state or a reason to progress to a longer target. Review the safety context and discuss dietary changes with a qualified clinician.