• Elon Musk said last year he lost weight through intermittent fasting and lifting weights.

• He was able to lose 20 pounds but got some help from a weight-loss drug.

• I tried intermittent fasting for a month, and I felt less tired and more productive at work.

Elon Musk said he lost more than 20 pounds last year by "fasting periodically," as well as taking Wegovy, Novo Nordisk's brand of semaglutide.

I didn't want to take a drug, but I decided to try intermittent fasting for a month to see if it helped me lose a few pounds too.

I talked to the fitness coach Farren Morgan, who explained that intermittent fasting focuses on when — not what — you eat. "By fasting for a certain number of hours as you carry out your training and daily routine, you ultimately burn more fat and prevent or reverse some diseases," he said.

Morgan recommended starting with an "easy" plan, also known as the "16:8" pattern, where you only eat within an eight-hour window. "Most people find it easy to stick to this particular fasting plan because it's achievable and sustainable long-term," he said.

There's also the "5:2" pattern, which involves eating normally five days a week but consuming as few as 500 calories on the other two days.

The most challenging plan, according to Morgan, is the "Eat Stop Eat" plan, or fasting for 24 hours once or twice a week. "Those that choose this challenging plan experience optimal regulation of their blood-sugar levels, improved cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol, and changes to their metabolic functions to further weight loss," Morgan said.

Fasting beyond 24 hours at a time, however, won't help you reach your fitness goals sooner, Morgan said. "Instead, you could break down your muscle mass to store more fat in response to your starvation, which is why it is crucial to maintain a healthy and balanced diet during your eating periods."

He advised anyone considering intermittent fasting to first consult their doctor, especially if they have a preexisting medical condition.