Intermittent Fasting Stories

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Lisa Evers from Chatham, Ontario in Canada.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Lisa is a repeat guest, and she first appeared on episode 384 which came out in February of 2024. Lisa is a retired kindergarten teacher and an intermittent fasting coach. In this episode, Lisa shares how her lifelong struggles with body image and digestive issues led her to discover the fasting lifestyle for health benefits rather than weight loss.As Lisa delves into the transition to intermittent fasting, she emphasizes the relief and freedom from excessive food noise that it provided. This newfound clarity helped her realize a misalignment with her teaching career, prompting her to retire and explore new ventures like writing children's books and starting her coaching business. Lisa shares how intermittent fasting facilitated a major mental shift, helping her release old obsessive tendencies related to food and self-worth. She also discusses overcoming an "all-or-nothing" mindset, which now empowers her to make choices in alignment with her health and life goals.Throughout the conversation, Lisa highlights significant personal victories, including reduced digestive issues and pain, improved thyroid health, and increased mental clarity. She also touches upon the impact of diet culture and how intermittent fasting helped her detach from its toxic grip. Lisa's story emphasizes the importance of adaptation and self-awareness, noting her journey of learning to listen to hunger cues and understand personal body signals over pre-set eating schedules.Lisa concludes with advice for newcomers to intermittent fasting, urging them to practice clean fasting, to be patient and give the lifestyle time to show results, and to surround themselves with supportive, like-minded communities. Journaling is also encouraged to increase self-awareness and document the journey towards a healthier, more authentic self. Her closing words reinforce the idea that intermittent fasting can lead to unexpected and transformative personal growth.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Dana Hardy Bingham from Pittsburgh, PA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Dana, a retired teacher turned actor, director, wedding officiant, and part-time nanny, embarked on her fasting journey in September of 2023. Her primary motivation? The potential neuroprotective benefits against Alzheimer's and dementia, after witnessing the challenges firsthand through her in-laws' battles with these diseases. Dana highlights her transition to clean fasting, the shift from sugar-laden treats to healthier choices, and her remarkable non-scale victories, including increased energy and improved mental clarity. She candidly shares how intermittent fasting has transformed her relationship with food and her overall well-being. As the episode concludes, Dana offers advice for those new to intermittent fasting. She stresses the importance of consuming podcasts as a motivational resource to maintain dedication to the process. These shared experiences and solutions from others can help fasters feel less isolated and bolster their resolve. Dana wishes she had discovered intermittent fasting sooner, expressing gratitude for the transformative impact it has had on her life. Ending with a note of hope, she underscores that even if one starts later in life, it's never too late to reap the benefits of this lifestyle shift.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Enid Bush from Manalapan, NJ.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Enid is a retired teacher, currently teaching theater to young children, and she also works as a health coach. Enid shares her journey with intermittent fasting, which began when she discovered a health coach named Dr. Livingood, who introduced her to the health benefits of fasting. Inspired by his insights about autophagy, and encouraged by a nutritionist to work out on an empty stomach, Enid began fasting. However, it wasn't until she stumbled upon Gin's book, Fast Feast Repeat, that she realized she wasn't fasting clean, leading her to a deeper understanding and better implementation of the lifestyle.Enid discusses her struggles with diets in the past, detailing how she spent years trying various diets like Fit for Life, Herbalife, Weight Watchers, and different nutrition programs, only to find them restrictive and unsustainable. After beginning the clean fast on January 10, 2023, Enid noticed improvements in her well-being and recently celebrated two years in the lifestyle.Throughout the conversation, Enid emphasizes the transformation in her relationship with food. She highlights the joy of enjoying meals more thoroughly and describes how her tastes have naturally shifted towards healthier options, allowing herself to be more selective with what she eats. The episode also touches on her experiences with social expectations and perceptions about fasting, how she responds to skepticism from others, and the importance of understanding one's own body through personalized nutrition and fasting practices.Enid concludes by sharing her ultimate advice to those new to intermittent fasting: recognize the advantages of fasting beyond weight loss, particularly its healing potential. She advises newcomers to have patience, give their bodies time to adjust, focus on a clean fast, and believe in themselves. Emphasizing the freedom that comes with trusting one's own hunger signals and preferences, Enid advocates for a shift away from societal diet pressures and towards a more intuitive, satisfying eating experience.You can find Enid at embhealthcoach.com.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tracey Mullin from Channahon, IL.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Tracey owns her own cake decorating business. Tracey shares her journey to intermittent fasting, which began in March of 2017. Her lifelong experiences with different diets started in her childhood when she watched her mother experiment with various weight loss programs like Richard Simmons' Deal-a-Meal and Jenny Craig. Tracey recounts her own experiments with multiple diets and workout regimens in the 90s and early 2000s, leading to weight fluctuations that prompted her interest in more sustainable weight management methods.Tracey discusses a pivotal moment inspired by an Oprah episode featuring Michael Pollan, which led her to rethink her consumption of processed foods. She later embarked on an elimination diet under her doctor's guidance due to stage 1 liver damage. During this time, Tracey now realizes that she was inadvertently practicing a form of intermittent fasting, resembling a 19:5 pattern, which resulted in significant weight loss at the time, though she didn't maintain that loss long term when she reverted to her prior eating schedule.In 2017, Tracey found out about intermittent fasting through a beta program she enrolled in, and she started exploring other resources in the intermittent fasting community. When Tracey stumbled upon Gin's Delay, Don't Deny Facebook group, her relationship with intermittent fasting continued to evolve, particularly when she met her husband, who was also practicing intermittent fasting. Despite gaining some weight during 2020 amid the stress of the pandemic and major life changes, she prioritized returning to a protocol that balanced fasting with enjoying her meals. Tracey appreciates the flexibility of intermittent fasting and integrates a combination of exercise routines including running, walking, and strength training to maintain her wellbeing.Toward the end of the episode, Tracey reflects on the personal nature of the intermittent fasting journey and the importance of removing obstacles to allow the body to naturally heal and regulate itself. Her final advice to listeners is about being patient with the process, not getting discouraged by fluctuations, and staying motivated by learning from other people's stories. She underscores the value of allowing enough time for the body to adapt to fasting and suggests that listening to related podcasts can provide constant encouragement and insight.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Jalene Weigand from Anaheim, CA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Jalene is a preschool teacher, a nanny, and she owns a small soapmaking business. Jalene previously appeared on episode 350 almost two years ago, and she has been happily living the intermittent fasting lifestyle since the last time she came on the podcast. Her journey with intermittent fasting began in November of 2021. She describes her previous struggles with weight gain during menopause and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected her lifestyle and weight. Upon hearing a podcast with Laurie Lewis speaking about menopausal weight gain and how intermittent fasting helped her lose the weight, Jalene found hope and started immediately. The episode highlights her transformation and how intermittent fasting became the answer.Jalene's weight loss journey was not only about losing pounds but also about regaining her health, as she dealt with hormone issues and Hashimoto's. By incorporating a clean fast and prioritizing whole foods, Jalene found significant improvements in both her physical and mental health.Through it all, Jalene recounts her journey towards finding balance and control over her lifestyle. A 4 to 5-hour eating window and activities such as moving around actively with preschool children are part of her routine. She emphasizes the importance of finding a personalized approach that works for one's unique body and lifestyle. Jalene's experience is a testament to the power of listening to your body and adapting as necessary, whether through tweaking fasting schedules or incorporating different types of foods and activities that fit in with your individual needs.As a final piece of advice, Jalene encourages listeners, especially those new to intermittent fasting, to take pictures and measurements from the start, as it is a great way to track progress beyond the scale. She has learned to focus on how she feels rather than the number on the scale, reminding everyone of the importance of living life to the fullest and embracing the journey with intermittent fasting as a sustainable lifestyle change.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Natalie Willis from Devon in England.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Natalie works within the probation services. In September of 2019, after gaining weight when she stopped a previous method that wasn't working for her any longer, she discovered Gin's podcast, started intermittent fasting, and read Gin's books Fast Feast Repeat and Delay, Don't Deny. Even though she had heard about IF from a friend who lost weight using the 5:2 approach, Natalie favored the daily eating window approach and found immense satisfaction and success, losing around 30 pounds in a year and experiencing various health benefits.Natalie's preferred routine typically involves a four-hour eating window, though she explains that she moves her eating window around as necessary with her schedule. The conversation weaves through Natalie's past struggles with body image and a tumultuous relationship with food that started in her teenage years. She describes how joining Herbalife in 2014 set her on a positive path of health and wellness, although it became stressful with time. Transitioning to intermittent fasting brought a more natural and liberating approach to weight management for her. Natalie talks about the positive changes she noticed, such as improved mental focus, reduced joint pain, and overall better well-being. Growing her own food in an allotment has helped her pivot to a diet rich in vegetables and real foods.In sharing her non-scale victories, Natalie highlights rapid hair growth, improved dental health, and increased confidence. Her parting advice to newcomers is to embrace black coffee, exercise kindness towards oneself, and understand that intermittent fasting is a lifelong journey filled with seasons of change. Every day is a new opportunity to start fresh and find one's sweet spot in this sustainable lifestyle.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Melody Fields from Hamilton, OH.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Melody is retired, and works part time in a jewelry store. She embarked on her intermittent fasting journey at the end of August 2022, using September 1st as her fastiversary. After struggling with her weight for many years and experiencing significant weight swings, losing 80-100 pounds several times over her life, Melody decided to give intermittent fasting a try. She started with a 16:8 fasting schedule, quickly transitioning to a 20:4 approach, which she found to be comfortable and effective.During the discussion, Melody shared how intermittent fasting has not only helped her lose weight but also significantly improved her health and overall quality of life. Before starting intermittent fasting, Melody faced numerous physical challenges such as knee pain, difficulty walking, and the need for multiple medications, including those for acid reflux and allergies. Remarkably, she has been able to stop taking these medications and is no longer restricted by her previous health issues. One motivation for Melody was her desire to be an active and energetic grandmother to her two young grandsons, which intermittent fasting has allowed her to achieve.Melody also spoke about joining a supportive intermittent fasting community and how it bolstered her knowledge and commitment to the lifestyle. Alongside intermittent fasting, Melody incorporated walking into her daily routine, which began as simple as walking around a grocery store with a shopping cart for support and has now progressed to using a treadmill regularly. Her husband also joined her in intermittent fasting, which led to his own significant health improvements, including weight loss and normalized blood pressure.As the episode closed, Melody offered insightful advice to those just starting their intermittent fasting journey. She emphasized the importance of trusting the process, being patient with oneself, and not getting discouraged by the scale. Melody advised intermittent fasters to stay flexible, adjust as needed, and live their lives without forgoing fun experiences. Finally, she encouraged newcomers to seek community support and reliable resources, such as Gin's books, to stay informed and motivated.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Karen Gaul from Norwich in the UK.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Karen, a retired professional whose career was spent working with people, shares her lifelong journey with weight management and how she discovered intermittent fasting. She begins by recounting how she was placed on her first diet at the age of 9 due to her mother's fear of her becoming overweight. This set her on a tumultuous path of weight fluctuations that continued into adulthood. Despite these early struggles, Karen always maintained an active lifestyle, which included dancing, swimming, and various sports activities. Her first introduction to intermittent fasting came in 2019, inspired partially by her nephew who practiced it.Karen's pivotal change came in 2020 when she seriously began intermittent fasting after reading Dr. Chatterjee's books and Gin's book Delay, Don't Deny. She initially incorporated intermittent fasting by delaying breakfast and quickly found that her satisfaction increased, reducing the need to eat three meals a day. By first making changes in what she was eating and then adhering to an 18:6 or 16:8 fasting protocol, she managed to lose weight steadily, going from 174 pounds to 123 pounds by the end of 2020. Her daily routine settled into having brunch around 11 am and dinner by 6 pm.Karen also shares her health setbacks, particularly a diagnosis of stage 1A endometrial cancer just before her 70th birthday. Despite the shock, Karen's overall fitness and health put her in a good position for recovery. She underwent a total hysterectomy followed by 27 radiotherapy treatments. Throughout this trying period, Karen continued her fasting and credits it for helping her maintain focus and a healthy lifestyle. Two years later, she is cancer-free and attributes her successful recovery to her well-established fasting and wellness routines which include good sleep, moderate exercise, and a balanced diet.In concluding her story, Karen emphasizes the importance of patience for anyone starting with intermittent fasting. She advises learning what protocol suits you through your own study of one, and reminds listeners that achieving your health goals is a journey unique to each individual. Karen encourages new fasters to utilize available resources, ask questions, and find a supportive community, stressing that persistence and self-discovery are key to long-term success. Her outlook remains optimistic as she continues to evolve her practices, always looking forward to what comes next in her wellness journey.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Louisa Bangma who lives in West Melton in New Zealand.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Louisa is a business and project manager. She discovered intermittent fasting through a health webinar in 2022 where Gin was a speaker. Already familiar with the concept from Jason Fung's work and with the encouragement of her husband, Louisa was inspired by Gin's presentation and immediately bought the book Fast Feast Repeat. She began fasting in October of 2022 and fully committed to the clean fast by January 2023 after a period of easing in.Louisa has an extensive history with being critical of her body's size and dieting, starting from her teen years. Over the decades, she tried various methods such as Atkins, no-fat, and no-carb diets, and more. Despite early struggles, intermittent fasting brought remarkable changes. Over eight months, Louisa lost 22 pounds and noticed significant health improvements, including a reduction in her IBS symptoms, increased mobility, and a general feeling of wellness. By January of 2023, she had lost a total of 48.4 pounds and consistently felt better in her body.In addition to weight loss, Louisa experienced numerous non-scale victories, such as better sleep, reduced joint pain, and less reliance on her inhaler for allergies. Louisa's husband has also adopted intermittent fasting, which made the lifestyle shift easier and more enjoyable for them both.Louisa advises newcomers to immerse themselves in fasting education and to tailor the approach to their own needs and preferences. She emphasizes the importance of the clean fast, and recommends consuming whole and organic foods when possible, emphasizing vegetables, and also having the patience to let the process unfold. Louisa underscores that wellness is a long-term investment and encourages others not to expect quick fixes. Her final advice encapsulates her story: "It took years to get where you are now; it won't be undone in a month."Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Melissa Allison from Jerseyville, IL.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Melissa is senior director of managed care operations. She struggled with her weight from childhood, and learned about intermittent fasting when her doctor introduced the concept to her in 2019. Despite only losing 12 pounds over 18 months, she felt better. Gin highlights that not everyone experiences rapid weight loss.Melissa recounts significant life events, including pregnancy loss and the loss of her parents, and how these experiences impacted both her weight and health journey. She speaks candidly about her body's struggles with weight gain. During challenging periods, such as the loss of her parents, she found intermittent fasting to be a stabilizing force in her life. It provided her not just with physical benefits but also with a sense of control amidst chaos.Discussing her current fasting practices, Melissa explains how she's recently experienced a 30-pound weight loss and continues to aim for improved health and strength rather than a specific number on the scale. Melissa shares that her intermittent fasting journey helped alleviate both inflammation and arthritis pain. She highlights the importance of adjusting the eating window rather than solely focusing on the fasting duration. This approach has made intermittent fasting a sustainable lifestyle that she plans to continue indefinitely. Her story also touches on overcoming the desire to "break the rules" and finding what works best for her individual needs.Melissa leaves listeners with this essential advice: focus on the length of your eating window rather than the length of your fast to find greater flexibility. She emphasizes the value of listening to your body and adjusting accordingly while remembering that the goal is to feel healthy and strong, not just to meet a specific weight target. Despite life's difficulties, intermittent fasting can be a lifelong, beneficial practice that helps bring clarity, control, and improved well-being.Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Shoshana Grinstein from Israel.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Shoshana teaches English to kindergarteners. She grew up in Canada, and remembers being an emotional eater and having a negative relationship with her body image due to comments that were made about her size. She grew up without her mother, and took comfort in eating. She moved to Israel when she was 19, joining other family members there. Then, she started her own family. After having her third child, she had a miscarriage and went through a difficult grieving process. Fortunately, she found a counselor who helped her learn a lot about herself, and she also learned to speak to herself with love, which changed everything.Shoshana and her husband joyfully welcomed their fourth child in December of 2019, and then the world shut down for Covid. She recognized that amidst negativity, she wanted to raise her family in a positive home, and she began to listen to parenting podcasts, which led her to other uplifting podcasts. She heard intermittent fasting mentioned over and over, and it also began popping up on her Instagram feed, so she searched for a fasting podcast and found Intermittent Fasting Stories. She began immediately, and found herself easily doing a 16:8 in her first week. Eventually, she settled into a 20:4 as her sweet spot, though she is not overly strict about it and has learned to listen to her body.Shoshana lost 20 kg, or 44 pounds, in her first year, and even though she is not yet at her goal weight, she knows she will continue with intermittent fasting forever because of how great she feels.The conversation concludes with Shoshana sharing the joy and confidence that come from feeling great in her body, reflecting on how this has positively impacted her personal relationships. Shoshana's final advice is to be mentally prepared for intermittent fasting or any lifestyle change and to approach such transitions with a relaxed attitude. She stresses the importance of having the right tools and support, thereby ensuring a journey to better health and important self-discovery.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Lisa Pinchback from Charlottesville, VA.Lisa is a solo real estate attorney. Lisa shares her journey with intermittent fasting, which began in April 2023 after a recommendation from a friend during a real estate closing. She downloaded the podcast and bought Fast Feast Repeat immediately and decided to give fasting a try. Despite her lifelong struggle with weight and previous attempts with various diets and weight-loss methods, she found that intermittent fasting brought a sense of control and balance to her life, ultimately helping her reduce her weight from 157 to 137 pounds by November 2023.Lisa's story is filled with emotional highs and lows. She reflects on how her weight impacted her self-image from a young age, influencing her emotional eating habits and weight gain. Lisa also expresses regret about body shaming herself in front of her daughters and the potential impact it had on them. Throughout the conversation, Gin and Lisa touch on the broader implications of diet culture and societal pressures. They discuss Lisa's various weight-loss attempts over the decades, ranging from the Susan Powter low-fat diet to Weight Watchers and even medically supervised programs. Despite spending significant money—approximately $15,000 over the years—on consultations, exercise equipment, and various diets, Lisa found intermittent fasting to be the most sustainable approach she every tried. Both Gin and Lisa highlight the concept of "delay, don't deny," allowing occasional treats within moderation, and the empowerment and confidence that intermittent fasting brings.Towards the end of the episode, Lisa reflects on finding joy in new activities. Lisa's final advice to listeners is to embrace self-awareness and responsibility in food choices, be patient during periods of struggle, and enjoy the feeling of fitting into your clothes comfortably. She emphasizes the importance of having a supportive community and the benefits of intermittent fasting, which extends beyond weight loss to overall well-being, empowerment, and confidence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Erika Delco from Charlotte, NC. Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Erika is a therapist and health coach. When Erika first heard about intermittent fasting, she was skeptical. Her skepticism shifted in 2018 after reading Gin's book, Delay, Don't Deny, and Dr. Jason Fung's The Obesity Code. She shares her long history with dieting, starting from Weight Watchers in the ninth grade, and her eventual freedom from food obsession through adopting intermittent fasting.Erika initially experienced about 5 pounds of weight loss but hit a plateau and didn't lose any more weight for three years, despite still having weight to lose. She loved the freedom IF brought to her, but her weight was stuck. She began incorporating berberine, which led to a dramatic weight loss of 30 pounds between March and October of 2021.Throughout the conversation, Erika highlights the importance of listening to your body and finding a fasting routine that fits one's lifestyle. She emphasizes the health benefits she's experienced over the years, noting how intermittent fasting helped her reduce instances of illness and manage her weight despite frequent travel. Gin and Erika discuss the mental aspects of fasting and food freedom, stressing the need for empowered choices over restrictive eating.The discussion transitions to Erika's work as a health coach. She has developed a program called Finding Food Freedom Fast, combining fasting principles with strategies for building habits and managing emotional eating.Erika concludes with final advice for new IFers: start gradually and be patient. She encourages them to find a routine that fits their lifestyle and to stay motivated by hearing others' stories and struggles. Importantly, Erika stresses that intermittent fasting should be approached as a long-term lifestyle change with an emphasis on the health benefits rather than just weight loss. She underscores the importance of consistency in one's health regimen, listening to the body's needs, and finding food freedom through empowered choices.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Shanna Baritot from Rochester, NY.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Shanna is a national account manager for a pharmaceutical company, an author, and a repeat guest. She first came on the podcast for episode 298 in April of 2023.Shanna and her husband realized they needed to work on their personal finances when they stumbled upon a book about money. That book totally changed their lives. Shanna wished she could come across a book that would change her relationship with food the same way that she had changed her relationship with finances.Then, in October of 2020, she found Delay, Don't Deny. While she was listening to the audiobook, she became excited about what she was learning and she started intermittent fasting that very day. In the years since, she has not missed on day of fasting and is an intermittent faster for life. Intermittent fasting allowed Shanna to go from 170 pounds to around 135-139, and she is now living her goal lifestyle. Still, she recognizes that she has a bit more fat on her body that she would like to lose, so in her own personal study of one, she is doing some ADF. She is also paying attention to her food quality. Both Gin and Shanna talk about the power of making food swaps that are enjoyable, but more likely to help you reach your health and wellness goals. Throughout the episode, Gin and Shanna delve into the significance of listening to one's body and tweaking meal timing and strategies over time. They touch on Shanna's use of different fasting strategies like the two different types of down days that you can choose with an ADF protocol, and Shanna shares that she dislikes the calorie counting that goes along with the 500-calorie down day option. Gin suggests creating set down day meal options that are satisfying and that you enjoy to simplify the process.Both Gin and Shanna encourage listeners to embrace flexibility and make practical adjustments in their fasting routines. Shanna's final advice to listeners is to stay open to different strategies, listen to their bodies, and make small, sustainable adjustments for long-term success.Look for Shanna's book The Debt Diet if you want to learn more about how she got completely out of debt and changed her financial life forever.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Bonnie Henderson from Pueblo, CO.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Bonnie is a licensed clinical social worker. She unintentionally started skipping dinner five years ago while her spouse was away, which a medical professional later identified to her as intermittent fasting. Excited to learn that it came with health benefits, she began researching. Bonnie found Gin's book Fast Feast Repeat and adopted the clean fast, which resulted in gradual but sustainable weight loss.Bonnie discusses the challenges and adjustments she faced when her husband retired and began preparing dinners each night, and she stopped fasting for two years. This led to weight regain, finding her at her highest weight of 165. Resuming an intentional intermittent fasting regimen, she committed to a 19:5 schedule from Monday to Thursday, and a more flexible eating pattern on weekends. This approach allowed her to regain control over her weight and enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting, such as reduced inflammation and relief from various other symptoms.The conversation delves into the broader health benefits of intermittent fasting and touches on various lifestyle factors contributing to overall wellness, including sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Bonnie also shares how she integrates insights about the benefits of intermittent fasting into her therapy sessions. Gin and Bonnie underscore the significance of individualized fasting plans and the unpredictability of weight loss rates, emphasizing patience and persistence.Bonnie concludes the episode by reflecting on how intermittent fasting has given her a renewed lease on life, initially adopting the lifestyle without the goal of weight loss, but experiencing numerous unexpected health benefits. She advises listeners to maintain patience and perseverance, understanding that individualized approaches are crucial. Gin encourages leveraging resources like podcasts and books to deepen understanding and confidently share the lifestyle's benefits, even if faced with skepticism. Through her own experience, Bonnie's final advice is to embrace intermittent fasting as a sustainable, healthy lifestyle choice that can positively impact overall well-being.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Jaimie Lawson from Greenwood, IN.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Jaimie works in corporate finance for a large company. On the day that Gin and Jaimie recorded the episode, it was 18 months to the day from when Jaimie began IF, and also the day that Jaimie hit one-derland (weighing below 200 pounds) for the first time in over 40 years.Jamie candidly discusses her past experiences, including her weight loss journey, the personal losses that shaped her, and her commitment to intermittent fasting. She recounts struggling with weight issues since childhood, going to Weight Watchers with her mom at age 12, and experiencing significant weight fluctuations over the years.Jamie shares the emotional and psychological challenges she faced, including divorce, and the grief after the loss of a partner and two sisters. Despite these hurdles, she felt a spiritual presence guiding her through hard times. She speaks fondly of reconnecting with her now-husband, David, drawing strength from their shared past and mutual support. Jamie recounts her life-changing experiences working with disabled children in India, which deepened her understanding of love and care, further influencing her approach to family and health.Throughout the episode, Jamie emphasizes the importance of a supportive community and the small, achievable goals that helped her stay motivated. She discusses her dietary habits, focusing on incorporating a variety of plant foods to improve her health. Jamie also highlights her positive health outcomes, including stopping multiple medications, enhanced mobility, and emotional well-being. She attributes much of her success to the knowledge gained from the intermittent fasting community, podcasts, and books, and recounts sharing these practices with friends and family, many of whom have also embraced intermittent fasting with positive results.As the episode concludes, Jamie offers heartfelt advice to listeners: stay motivated, be patient with oneself, and celebrate the small victories along the way. She encourages everyone to view intermittent fasting not just as a weight loss tool but as a lifestyle that brings holistic benefits. Jamie's journey underscores the importance of adjusting goals to make them achievable and finding joy in the process of personal growth and health improvement.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tanja Brown from Waldorf, MD.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Tanja is the Chief People Officer for Tactical Air Support, a defense contractor. She never had a weight issue growing up, but suddenly started gaining weight in her mid to late 20s. She did her first diet when she was 26, and lost 75 pounds with Weight Watchers. Over the years, she would yo-yo back up, and then take the weight back off with Weight Watchers. After her daughter was born, she tried WW one more time, but was tired of counting and tracking.In 2021, Tanja began struggling with intense shoulder pain. All her doctors could suggest was to take anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate the pain. She remembered that she had heard somewhere that intermittent fasting helped with inflammation. So, on February 28th, she decided that she would begin immediately. On March 1st she got started, and she began researching intermittent fasting.Her research led her to Gin's podcasts, and it wasn't long before Tanja was fasting clean. She started with a 16:8, but shifted quickly to a 20:4, which is the protocol she uses most days, even in maintenance.Tanja had remarkable results—dropping 30 pounds in her first month, which isn't typical, but reflects her body letting go of a lot of inflammation. Her shoulder pain was 50% resolved after just two weeks. She went on to lose over 100 pounds, going from 260 to her current maintenance range of 150-155 pounds. At 5' 11”, Tanja feels great in her body. Tonja's transition from structured diet plans like Weight Watchers to finding freedom with fasting highlights a significant shift, enabling her to focus on wellness without the need for special products or extensive tracking.Tonja emphasizes consistency and persistence, employing the hashtag "Consistency is Key" to inspire others. Her journey showcases significant lifestyle changes, with her orthopedic surgeon noting her impressive progress and advocating for fasting as an alternative to surgical interventions.Towards the end, Tonja discusses the balance between maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enjoying life's pleasures without striving for the lowest possible weight. She encourages listeners to focus on feeling better and to remain consistent with intermittent fasting. Tonja's final advice is to persist in the journey, emphasizing that small, consistent steps lead to transformative results, and to remember that celebrating health is more important than adhering to rigid dietary rules.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Nicki Torossian from London, Ontario in Canada.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Nicki is a sales representative for a Belgian bra and swimwear company. She remembers always struggling with her weight as a child, and she accompanied her mother to Weight Watchers meetings at the age of 10. By the time she was 13, she was 175 pounds, and at 5' 4”, she was overweight and felt self-conscious about her size. At the age of 16, she went on Nutrisystem and found success, losing 50 pounds and getting down to 133. She recalls taking one of their diet pizza meals to Christmas dinner, because she was afraid to eat real food. Nicki's family moved before her senior year of high school, and she started school at her new weight. No one knew she had been overweight, and she felt amazing. Unfortunately, she slowly began regaining the weight, and when she went to college, she got up to 185. She gave up trying to lose weight, and after college she found herself over 200 pounds for the first timeThat is when the real struggles began. She married a chef, and continued to gain weight, ending up at her highest weight of 272 pounds. Desperate, she crossed the border into the US and had gastric bypass surgery. Her surgeon explained that the surgery was just one tool, and that it was going to be up to her to change how she ate long term to see success.After the surgery, Nicki got down to 135 pounds and felt amazing. She and her husband divorced, and she found herself in a new relationship. That began a period of slow regain, where she regained about 40 pounds.Around that time, she began exploring a plant based diet. While she didn't lose any weight, she ended up finding intermittent fasting in March of 2019. She got started, and after about a year, she was able to re-lose 35 pounds. She has maintained in her goal range for the past 6 years. Even better, she surpassed her size goal. She hoped to be a size 14 for life, but she finds herself wearing clothing sizes she never dreamed of, and is happiest in a comfortable size 8.Nicki's relationship with food and eating has been transformed, and she credits that to her changed hormones and also her understanding of the power of real food. She has soft skin, an improved mood and a sense of calm, and she doesn't get sick. She also loves the energy she has while fasting.At the end of the episode, Nicki tells listeners that it's physically possible to go for longer periods without hunger, something she would not have believed before starting IF. Thanks to IF, she is living a life where she can enjoy food without guilt, and it doesn't get any better than that.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Angela Robinson from Lubbock, TX.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Angela is a retired elementary math teacher. She first heard of intermittent fasting in September of 2021. She noticed that a Facebook friend of hers looked great, and she messaged her to find out what she was doing. Her friend told her about Delay, Don't Deny, and Angela not only loved the sound of it, she started the next day.Like so many guests on the podcast, Angela's struggles spanned back to childhood. She dieted for decades, getting heavier and heavier over the years. Finally, in 2015, she found herself at a high of 280 pounds. Desperate, she turned to weight loss surgery. She lost 80 pounds in the first year, but gradually began regaining weight, finding herself back up to about 228.When she begin IF in 2021, she immediately found intermittent fasting to be a sustainable and empowering lifestyle change, reducing guilt and freeing her from constant food struggles. Still, she didn't lose any weight for the first couple of years of her IF journey. Finally, she began to see weight loss, and she has gotten below her lowest post-surgery weight, settling in the range of around 184-189.Gin and Angela discuss the numerous benefits of intermittent fasting beyond weight loss. Angela highlights significant improvements in her skin, reduced brain fog, and enhanced mood. Angela's typical routine involves eating between 2 and 6 pm, focusing on fruits and veggies, and enjoying the flexibility and empowerment that come from having control over her food choices. Angela also notes that her journey with intermittent fasting has positively influenced her family, with her sons adopting healthier habits.Gin and Angela discuss the psychological freedom and lack of restriction that intermittent fasting provides. Angela emphasizes that she continued fasting even during periods when her weight did not decrease simply because of how great she felt overall.As the episode wraps up, Angela advises newcomers to intermittent fasting to stick with it, stressing that substantial results may take time. She underscores the importance of patience, consistency, and a positive mindset, reminding listeners that intermittent fasting is not just about weight loss but about overall well-being and freedom. Through shared experiences and support, both Gin and Angela encourage listeners to embrace intermittent fasting for its holistic benefits, setting a positive example for those around them.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Pam Merriam from McKinney, Texas.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Pam first heard about intermittent fasting in 2020, in a low carb group. Someone in the group mentioned Gin's book Delay, Don't Deny, and Pam was intrigued. She got the book and started immediately. Something just clicked, and Pam knew that she would be an intermittent faster forever.Pam had lost 50 pounds, but over time she saw slow and steady weight regain. Even though Pam was not seeing weight loss success, she felt so much better as an intermittent faster that she never considered stopping. Throughout the years, she remained curious about the choices she made and the foods she ate. She knew she had a lot of inner work to do in order to shed the figurative and literal layers surrounding her.In 2024, Pam's dad went into hospice and passed away, and when she returned home, she didn't feel good in her body. She had a pair of her dad's jeans, and made it a goal to fit into those jeans. Pam decided it was time for her to begin to feel comfortable in her body again. She started a daily walking practice, and she loves to get out before the sun comes up. She also recognized that she feels better without sugar, and also needs to limit starchy carbs to feel her best. In addition to adding walking and dialing in the food choices that make her feel her best, Pam began ADF, with Monday, Wednesday, and Friday down days. Pam has lost 8 inches from around her waist since the spring of 2024, and she was able to comfortably fit into her dad's jeans when the family got together to celebrate his life in the fall. She also fit into a goal jacket, and she feels powerful, strong, and capable.Pam encourages new IFers to find a way to be patient with the process. She recommends that you identify yourself as an intermittent faster, making it part of your identity. In addition, we all need to make the choices that are best for us, recognizing that we are all going to be different. Along the way, we are each empowered to figure out what makes us feel our best.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Deborah Ventrice from Bristol, RI.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Deborah is an interior designer and a business owner. When she was a child, she suffered from lymphedema, which caused her body to retain lymphatic fluid and made her body unrecognizable. She was teased relentlessly by the other kids, and doctors only offered low calorie diets as a solution. After hospitalization for a severe illness, the lymphedema resolved itself, and when she went back to school, the other kids didn't recognize her. From that moment, she became aware of the importance of how you looked when it came to social acceptance. She ended up with a focus on body building and athletics, and maintained her muscular body for most of her adult life. After witnessing the fall of the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11, Deborah realized that she had PTSD, and her therapist helped her connect her current feelings with the way she felt as a child. Understanding those connections helped her work through those feelings.After going through surgical menopause, Deborah began gaining weight rapidly. She had maintained around 130-135 for most of her adult life, but suddenly found herself around 165. Out of desperation, she tried a low-calorie high protein program, but she knew that the ultra processed foods were not going to be the best option for her body, even though she lost weight rapidly. She knew it was unsustainable.Deborah found IF in January of 2021. At first, she wasn't fasting clean, but when she made the transition to the clean fast, it changed the whole experience for her. Initially, she lost more weight than was right for her body, because she became scale-focused and enjoyed the lower numbers she was seeing. Eventually, she recognized that she was at a lower weight than was sustainable, and she regained enough weight to end up back in a healthy weight range for her body. As she approaches semi-retirement, Deborah remains steadfast in her commitment to intermittent fasting and healthy living. Since there is a family history of heart disease, she went through a round of testing and her cardiologist called to give her the good news that her heart is extremely healthy, and she credits it to her healthy lifestyle. Her final advice to listeners is to be honest with yourself about your personal struggles and to start with clean fasting. She encourages listeners to openly share their stories to support and help one another.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Dr. Pete Patitsas, an emergency medicine doctor and author of The Athos Diet.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Dr. Pete is Greek Orthodox, which has many ancient traditions including fasting. From the age of 7, he observed the fasting lifestyle his church follows, and it wasn't until he was completing a research project in med school that he began to understand the powerful health benefits that are associated with fasting. His findings inspired his book, The Athos Diet, designed to optimize Orthodox Christian fasting for health benefits. The three pillars of his approach include intermittent fasting (with a daily 4-8 hour window), choosing nutritious foods, and gentle exercise. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Pete emphasizes the natural health-promoting aspects of cultural practices and ancestral ways of living, such as eating seasonally. He draws analogies between modern intermittent fasting and historical cycles of feast and famine, suggesting that facing natural challenges enhances resilience. Dr. Pete details his routine of eating within a four-hour window and fasting for 36 hours occasionally to boost clarity and health. This regimen is tied to his Orthodox beliefs, which he emphasizes have inherent health benefits that could prevent major diseases.Gin and Dr. Pete delve into intermittent fasting's role in utilizing stored fat for energy, preserving muscle mass, and boosting growth hormone levels, which impact overall health and longevity. They also address the rising trend of obesity in children and the broader implications of dietary choices on public health.Dr. Pete advocates for intermittent fasting as a holistic approach to health, going beyond mere weight loss to enhance mental and physical well-being. Dr. Pete underscores the benefits of traditional fasting practices, noting the remarkable longevity and cognitive health of monks following these regimens. As a parting message, Dr. Pete advises listeners to integrate intermittent fasting into their lives to experience its myriad benefits, stressing the importance of consistency and lifestyle changes in achieving long-term health and resilience.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, use code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membershipGet Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Noelle Frazier from western Michigan.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Noelle is a mom of three and she owns a small cleaning company. Initially introduced to intermittent fasting by her sister-in-law in 2016, Noelle's first attempt was unsuccessful because she wasn't fasting clean and also she was attempting to homeschool her kids, which made it challenging. Then, in October of 2022, Noelle decided to try intermittent fasting again, and this time she found Gin's work and began fasting clean. Her first month was a challenge, as she found herself overeating when her window would open. After her body adapted to fasting, however, she had a renewed sense of peace around food, and the urge to overeat went away. Gin emphasizes that this is a normal part of the body's adjustment period. Noalle has been amazed at how intermittent fasting has calmed her anxiety, and she also feels like the “fog” has lifted. She has endurance for her physically demanding job, and enjoys mental clarity throughout the day. She is currently within a healthy weight range, and is learning to navigate maintenance. As they touch on themes of self-acceptance and body image, Noelle and Gin discuss the psychological impact of intermittent fasting. They agree on the importance of positive self-perception and instilling these values in their children. Concluding the episode, Noelle stresses the significance of self-advocacy. Her final advice to listeners is to consider dedicating your fast to someone else, and take the pictures along the way. You will be so happy to have the photos when the scale isn't moving.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, and use the promo code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Mara Hallisey from Weathersfield, CT.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Mara is a licensed marriage and family therapist She first found fasting in 2019, and tried extended fasting, but had limited success. Her frustration eventually led her to try the Galveston diet by Dr. Mary Claire Haver in June of 2019, which not only helped her shed pounds but also introduced her to the benefits of fasting. She started out with macro tracking, which helped her adopt a more balanced approach to eating which has stuck with her. However, the initial weight loss journey had its ups and downs, especially during menopause.Mara experienced a mental funk by January of 2020 due to the weight gain of menopause, and planned a yoga retreat for self-care, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to cancel the retreat. Despite the challenges, the lockdown brought precious family bonding time as her daughters returned home from college. This period, which Mara describes as "stolen time," allowed for unexpected moments of joy and indulgence. During the lockdown, Mara also explored hypnotherapy for weight loss, unearthing deeper emotional issues related to self-imposed guilt, and learning the importance of forgiveness and implementing personal rules that provided the discipline she needed.Mara achieved her weight goal of 145 pounds in six months. In 2021, she discovered Gin's work and delved deeper into intermittent fasting. Initially hesitant to change her habits, Mara eventually embraced a clean fast with positive results. Gin and Mara also discuss Dr. Mary Claire Haver's insights on perimenopause and the importance of proper education in women's health, as well as Mara's and Gin's positive experiences with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).Mara shares her personal triumphs over insomnia, brain fog, and the incredible feeling of restful sleep after starting BHRT. She has also experienced powerful mindset transformations along the way. In closing, Mara emphasizes the importance of finding personal solutions that work for you, highlighting the necessity of balancing discipline with freedom. Her final advice to listeners is to trust the process and also learn to trust your body again.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, use code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Lucy Marsden from Leicestershire in the UK.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Lucy is a repeat guest, and she first appeared on episode 134. She began living the intermittent fasting lifestyle in 2017, after learning about Dr. Michael Moseley's 5:2 approach. She went to Facebook to find a group about intermittent fasting, and ended up in Gin's original Facebook group where she soon became an active member and later a moderator. Lucy's preference for a balanced, nutritious diet aligned with her job as a cookery teacher, making it more practical for her to eat less frequently throughout the day. Over time, she adapted to a relaxed one meal a day approach, which is the lifestyle she lives today. Gin and Lucy talk about how they both define “one meal a day” as a multi-course meal that spans several hours, rather than one plate of food in a short period of time. Lucy discusses the significant dietary changes she made based on her Zoe test results, eliminating foods like white rice, pasta, and bread that didn't work well for her body. She found delicious swaps such as barley and pulses such as lentils and beans, which she incorporates into weekly meal preparations. Lucy's meal prep routine involves making weekly pulse mixtures and mega salads composed of various sprouts, herbs, and whatever ingredients she has on hand, optimizing her efficiency in the kitchen. She emphasizes the practical approach of batching and freezing meal components for quick and healthy eating options throughout the week. Her dietary adjustments have not only boosted her nutrition but have also introduced her into the world of easy ferments, leading her to work on a new book that simplifies the fermenting process with recipes like pineapple kraut.Lucy and Gin reflect on their mutual experiences going through the Zoe program, which encourages you to work with your unique body to find the foods that work best for you. Despite initial disappointing results, Lucy has seen significant improvements in her health and microbiome scores by focusing on probiotic foods and transitioning to healthier fats like olive oil. A particular highlight is Lucy's fondness for creating versatile, flavorful meals without strict measurements, featuring fresh, nutritious ingredients. Her latest cookbook, I'll Have What Lucy's Having, is designed to be user-friendly, providing tips on batch cooking, freezing, and growing sprouts, targeting everyday convenience rather than complex, time-consuming recipes. Throughout the episode, both Gin and Lucy underscore the transformative benefits of intermittent fasting, particularly for gut health and overall well-being. Lucy's personal anecdotes reveal how fasting has become a sustainable lifestyle that doesn't feel at all like a restrictive diet, allowing her to enjoy foods like cheese and avocados freely. She advises newcomers to gradually delay meals and reduce eating frequencies, insisting the practice will become easier with time and adaptation. Lucy's final advice is clear: the journey to adopting intermittent fasting should be simplified, emphasizing real, high-quality foods eaten within restricted time windows to enhance health without overcomplicating the process. You can find Lucy at https://fresherbites.co.uk/.Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, use code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membershipGet Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Angela Eckhart from Danielsville, PA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Angela is a forensic evidence technician, and she is also a writer and a professional editor. Angela began researching intermittent fasting in April 2022 as she approached menopause, aiming to prevent and manage potential weight gain. Angela is unlike many guests in that she never needed to lose weight and has maintained within a healthy weight range, which she credits to her genetics. But she knew that it was important to be proactive as she aged. Angela found intermittent fasting in April of 2022, and became convinced of the health benefits. She began with an 8-hour window, though she now tends to have a 4-5 hour daily eating window most days. She has maintained her weight within a healthy range for her body throughout her IF journey.Both Angela and Gin reflect on the health benefits of intermittent fasting, with Angela sharing that her parents saw significant improvements in their A1C levels after both becoming intermittent fasters.Their discussion turns to the modern food landscape, and how reading Ultraprocessed People was a real eye opener. Angela elaborates on her preference for fresh ingredients and healthier options, and the importance of reading labels while shopping. She also reflects on her past snacking habits and the shift towards more nutrient-dense choices, attributing many positive health changes to intermittent fasting.Ending the episode, Angela advises beginners in intermittent fasting to read foundational books like Fast Feast Repeat or Delay, Don't Deny, and to engage with the fasting community for support and motivation. She emphasizes the importance of clean fasting for better health outcomes and encourages listeners to embrace the journey towards healthier living.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Julie Linville from Bonney Lake, WA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Julie is an administrative assistant in a school district in the special education department. As she went through her 50s, she experienced the hormonal changes related to surgical menopause and then developed Graves' Disease, and she felt awful. After getting the Graves' Disease under control, she began gaining weight. As an adult, she had always maintained between 142-148, so when she got on the scale and saw 164, she knew that something had to change. But she also had the thought, “this is just who I am now,” figuring that both the weight gain and sluggishness are simply what happens as we age.Fortunately, she found a YouTube video in January of 2023 that explained intermittent fasting and recommended Gin's book Fast. Feast. Repeat. She downloaded the book and got started right away, and a couple of weeks later, her husband joined her. Within 2-3 days, Julie felt better. The brain fog she had been living with lifted, and pain she had been living with resolved. By the time her birthday rolled around in April of that year, she was down to 150, and she kept going, eventually getting back down to her goal range. She had been a size 8/M her entire adult life, but now finds herself wearing a size 6/S. Julie is motivated to continue living the intermittent fasting lifestyle forever, because she wants to avoid the dementia that her parents faced as they aged. She also wants to remain strong and capable as she ages, and she loves the way she feels as an intermittent faster. As the episode closes, Julie recommends that new intermittent fasters focus on the health benefits and how much better you are feeling. She emphasizes that you should stick with it, and don't put so much emphasis on the scale. Know that everyone is different, but that wonderful things are happening in your body.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Carter Willmann from Huntington Beach, CA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Carter is a musician and a music teacher. He was a kid of the 90s and early 2000s, and grew up with lots of processed foods always around. He remembers always being self-conscious about his weight and his stomach. When he went off to college, his weight began to go up even more, until he eventually found himself at 280 pounds. In 2015 while he was working on his Masters degree, Carter decided it was time to take control of his weight. He was able to get below 200 pounds through a great deal of hard work. His routine included extensive meal planning, heavy workouts, and yoga, but eventually, this intense lifestyle became unsustainable. Meeting his husband in 2017 added significant changes to his life, including a reduction in his commitment to workouts, leading to weight gain.During the pandemic, Carter experienced the same shifts many did—losing access to yoga classes and transitioning to virtual teaching. Despite these challenges, he adapted and maintained work continuity. Eventually, he found himself back up to around 260 pounds. He had a wake-up call that led to him quitting drinking permanently, and that also began his quest to better health. He felt he needed to “cleanse” his body, and that led him down a YouTube rabbit hole that took him to the concept of autophagy and fasting. He started intermittent fasting seriously after reading Dr. Jason Fung's The Obesity Code and Gin's book, Delay, Don't Deny, both of which profoundly influenced him. His 2023 New Year's Resolution was to incorporate a daily eating window, which has led to slow and steady weight loss ever since. He is down to 185 pounds and wears size 32/30 pants these days. Carter's personal gains from intermittent fasting have included improved posture, fewer ear infections, increased energy levels, and a revived passion for gardening. His mother has joined him in intermittent fasting, shedding approximately 40 pounds, and his husband also adopted an intermittent fasting lifestyle, losing about 20 pounds.Carter discussed the importance of setting a good example rather than persuading others to try intermittent fasting. His journey emphasized finding sustainable routines by integrating fasting with other pillars of health like exercise, sleep, and mental well-being.Closing the episode, Carter shares advice for beginners, suggesting they start with a manageable eating window. He emphasizes the importance of patience and gradual improvements over time. He encourages listeners to view fasting as an essential but previously overlooked component of health that, when balanced with diet, exercise, and sleep, can create a positive feedback loop leading to overall well-being. Carter's story underlines that making gradual, sustainable changes can pave the way for long-lasting health improvements.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Binay Curtis from the San Francisco, CA area.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Binay is a fitness expert and nutritionist, and she discovered intermittent fasting by accident about 6 years ago, when she realized that she felt better when she delayed eating until after she had worked out for the day. She was very excited to find that what she was doing has a name—intermittent fasting—and that it's actually a healthy lifestyle. Since that time, she hasn't looked back.Binay credits Gin's podcast with helping her adapt to clean fasting, which she now openly shares with her nutrition clients. She highlights the importance of listening to your body, overcoming traditional dietary advice that may not be the right fit for you, and focusing on real, nutritious foods.Both Gin and Binay emphasize the profound benefits they've experienced through intermittent fasting, such as increased strength, muscle visibility, improved sleep, and increased energy. They address common misconceptions about fasting, particularly for women, and stress the importance of personal experience over external advice. Binay discusses exercising in a fasted state and how she maintains and builds strength without traditional weightlifting.Additionally, the episode touches on family dynamics and healthy role modeling, with both Gin and Binay sharing anecdotes about their children and their conscious food choices. Binay discusses her work as a nutritionist, focusing on the challenges of identifying suitable foods for children with allergies and sensitivities. She recently launched the "Body by Binay" app to provide a supportive community for individuals worldwide, emphasizing the importance of accountability and engagement. Her virtual HIIT classes offer varied and engaging workouts that prevent boredom and maintain high participation levels. And she does them all in the fasted state. The episode concludes with practical advice from Binay, stressing the significance of nourishing the body with nutrient-dense foods during a specific eating window and recognizing the body's hunger and satiety signals. She highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to health and fitness that aligns with personal lifestyles and preferences. Binay's final advice encourages listeners to start where they feel comfortable with intermittent fasting, make small tweaks along the way, and always pay attention to how they feel from the inside out for sustained success. You can connect with Binay through her website: https://www.bodybybinay.com/.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Amanda Hutchens from Tyler, TX.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Amanda is a neonatologist who works in the NICU. Amanda shares the struggles with body image that she has had since high school, including disordered eating behaviors that led to weight loss success but were not healthy for her body or sustainable for the long term. During her college and medical training years, and the early years of parenthood, she faced weight fluctuations, anxiety, and postpartum depression. Despite trying various diets throughout the years, Amanda gave up when those approaches were not sustainable, and she reached her highest weight of 306.2 pounds in 2023. Her parents had been successful with IF, following Dr. Jason Fung's approach, and they recommend IF to Amanda. Though she wasn't ready the first time she heard about it, when she started in 2023, she found intermittent fasting to be the natural and effective solution she needed. After reading Gin's book Fast. Feast. Repeat. and Dr. Jason Fung's The Obesity Code, she was ready to start fasting. Within a year, she lost 130 pounds and experienced a dramatic improvement in her health, no longer needing medications for reflux, blood pressure, depression, or anxiety.Amanda discusses the importance of focusing on long-term health rather than falling for fad diets and restrictive eating plans. She highlights the value of consistency, self-compassion, and patience in her journey. Both Gin and Amanda reflect on the simplicity and natural effectiveness of intermittent fasting compared to other marketed weight loss programs. They emphasize the importance of not reverting to old habits and maintaining a lifestyle that supports long-term health and well-being.To wrap up, Amanda shares numerous non-scale victories she achieved, such as better physical comfort on airplanes, increased mobility, and a sense of strength through exercise. Her final advice to those starting their intermittent fasting journey is to read Fast. Feast. Repeat. and understand the science behind fasting. Amanda emphasizes the significance of consistency, self-compassion, and patience, encouraging listeners to be kind to themselves as they embrace this new lifestyle for improved health and well-being.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Helen Blicharz from Detroit.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Helen is a mother of three who has had many careers over the years. She shares her inspiring journey of losing 120 pounds through intermittent fasting and lifestyle changes—and her journey isn't over yet.Helen was diagnosed with type two diabetes in 2018, which led her to explore various eating patterns, starting with the ketogenic diet and eventually transitioning to intermittent fasting in 2019. Throughout the episode, Helen emphasizes the importance of finding a sustainable approach to fasting that works for one's individual needs and preferences. She details her own journey, starting with a 12-hour fast and progressively increasing to a 16:8 method before settling on one meal a day within a three-hour window most days.Helen's family has embraced the intermittent fasting lifestyle, as have coworkers. She highlights the importance of listening to one's body and making long-term, sustainable changes. Helen shares her current diet, which focuses on vegetables and protein while being mindful of her diabetes. She also discusses her love of monthly challenges, which have included challenges such as no sweeteners, no meat, and consistent exercise.As the conversation concludes, Helen reflects on her journey and offers advice to her former self, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health over societal ideals of beauty. She encourages listeners to focus on making sustainable lifestyle changes, be patient with the process, and appreciate the journey of self-discovery and transformation that comes with intermittent fasting.Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and in audio. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Alison Pizanie from Medford, NJ.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Alison is an elementary special education teacher, and the author of The Regain Remedy.Alison shares her lifelong battle with weight problems and emotional eating. Alison describes how anxiety and shyness led her to use food for comfort from childhood, perpetuating a cycle of emotional eating, dieting, and weight fluctuation. She recounts her experience with various diets and weight loss methods, from Weight Watchers to the cabbage soup diet, and she ultimately opted for weight loss surgery in 2016. Despite initial weight loss success, losing 90 pounds in the first year, Alison faced numerous challenges post-surgery, including physiological side effects and eventual weight regain. Her turning point came when she discovered the book Delay, Don't Deny, which introduced her to intermittent fasting and transformed her approach to weight management.Alison notes how adopting intermittent fasting helped prevent further weight gain and soon she began to see her weight trending back down. She was delighted with ten pounds of loss the first year, which turned into twenty, getting her back to her lowest post-surgery weight. At that point she realized she still had fat to lose, and decided to focus on consistent fasting windows, particularly on weekends, and has gone on to lose seven more pounds, and she is still slowly losing.While telling her story, Alison provides insight into the physiological aspects of weight regain post-surgery, such as stomach stretching and calorie intake through liquids and slider foods. Since approximately 75% of patients experience “considerable” weight regain within 6 years, she wants to provide hope to this large community that there is a solution, which motivated her to write her book, The Regain Remedy, available on Amazon.Gin and Alison discuss the importance of finding the right eating window for your body. They highlight mindful eating and celebrate non-scale victories, such as increased confidence, energy levels, and reduced clothing sizes.The episode concludes with a reflection on the tangible success Alison has achieved through intermittent fasting. Alison finishes by offering her final advice: embrace intermittent fasting with a slow and conservative approach, understand the science behind it, trust the process, and consult with your doctor to tailor the lifestyle to your individual needs. She emphasizes that the magic is in the repeat.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tara McKinney from Weyburn, Saskatchewan.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Tara is a grade 1 teacher. She began intermittent fasting in 2021, committing to 28 days even though she thought there was no way it was going to work for her. 3 ½ years later, she is an intermittent faster for life. Tara reflects on her weight fluctuation struggles over the years, influenced by health issues and the toxic diet culture presented in society and through magazines. She tried so many things over the years, including Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal, Beachbody, and intermittent fasting finally became a sustainable solution for her. Tara has noticed significant positive health changes despite her initial doubts. Tara's perseverance shines through as she recounts stopping food tracking after 27 years and trusting her body to guide her.Gin and Tara discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, not just for immediate benefits but for long-term well-being, to stay active for their children and future grandchildren. Tara shares how eating habits have changed over time, from cutting back on sugar to finding healthier options like homemade protein balls to close her eating window. The conversation touches on the challenges of cravings and making nutritious choices within your eating window, emphasizing the significance of selecting high-quality, satisfying foods.The episode also spotlights the emotional and physical benefits Tara has experienced through intermittent fasting. Tara shares about her supportive online community, where she engages with friends daily to provide mutual encouragement and advice. Gin and Tara discuss the pressures and unrealistic expectations perpetuated by toxic diet culture, appreciating the empowerment that intermittent fasting offers by reconnecting individuals with their natural body signals.Tara concludes by offering her final advice: Listen to the stories of others, but remember that we are all unique. Trust the journey of intermittent fasting, and find a supportive community that shares your goals and understands your challenges. She emphasizes that regaining trust in one's body is crucial for long-term success and health.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of "Intermittent Fasting Stories," Gin talks to Melissa Nishimoto from Orting, WA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Melissa is a stay-at-home mom of four, and her kids range in age from 1 ½ to 10 ½. Melissa started intermittent fasting in May of 2020. She was 14 months postpartum, and needed to tackle pregnancy weight gain. A friend of hers had just learned about the 5:2 approach, which Melissa thought sounded hard, but they soon learned about the daily eating window approach and decided to give it a try. When Melissa had questions about the fast, she searched and found Gin's book, Delay, Don't Deny. She began with a 16:8 fasting pattern but quickly moved to 20:4, which felt natural despite needing to make meals and snacks for her kids throughout the day. Melissa saw her weight drop from 135 pounds to a low of 109 pounds.Then, in December of 2021, Melissa became pregnant with her 4th child. She stopped intermittent fasting until she was done with both pregnancy and nursing and found that her weight didn't go down as quickly this time, but she eventually got back down to the weight range that feels good, and is currently maintaining somewhere around 113 pounds. She feels good in her body, she is actively building muscle, and she models living a healthy and active lifestyle for her kids. She balances fasting with morning workouts and a diet rich in vegetables and protein while also enjoying sweets. Melissa emphasizes the non-scale victories of fasting, such as improved sleep, energy, and overall health, underscoring the larger benefits of metabolic flexibility and a stronger immune system.Toward the end of their discussion, Melissa reflects on how her parents' balanced diet practices influenced her. Closing the episode, Melissa offers advice to new intermittent fasters: persevere and stick with fasting despite initial challenges. She stresses the importance of focusing on overall health rather than solely on weight loss, finding joy in small victories, and being patient with oneself in the journey towards better health.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Adam and Katie Bergdahl from New Richmond, WI.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Adam is in the lawn care industry and Katie is a scheduler at a clinic. Adam always felt he was “too small” as an athlete in high school and couldn't seem to gain weight, but all of that reversed after he played football in college and gained weight over time, ending up at an uncomfortable 270 pounds. He dabbled with various weight loss approaches such as keto, but didn't enjoy eating feeling like a math problem. No matter what he did, he couldn't get below 250 and would yo-yo back up to 270. Then, in 2022, he heard a jiu-jitsu martial artist on the Joe Rogan podcast who explained intermittent fasting. Intrigued, Adam began researching, and was even more excited when he discovered some IFers in the crossfit community who shared how IF helped them gain muscle. He started that day, with a gentle 12:12 that he gradually increased to 16:8. Now, he flexes his IF approach from day to day as it fits his schedule.His wife Katie watched what he was doing for a few weeks and then joined him. She started with 14:10, which she gradually expanded to 16:8 and then 18:6. She finally began to see weight loss at 18:6, and now has settled into a 20:4 pattern most days. She talks about the psychological challenge of focusing on numbers and the importance of shifting the mindset to celebrating non-scale victories, such as reduced inflammation and transitioning to black coffee.They both find themselves gravitating towards healthier options like fruits and vegetables, while still allowing themselves occasional sweets without guilt. The discussion addresses the societal shame associated with certain foods and how intermittent fasting has shifted their perspective, promoting a healthier relationship with food. Adam admits to his ongoing struggle with temptation but finds reassurance in ultimately making healthier choices.As the episode continues, they discuss the significant psychological and emotional aspects of weight management. Katie shares her eventual decision to stop daily weigh-ins, finding both freedom and trust in her body through intermittent fasting. Adam and Katie also talk about how fasting has positively impacted their relationship and self-confidence, and Katie opens up about the difficulties of finding wholesome food during hectic times.Wrapping up, Adam emphasizes the importance of flexibility in intermittent fasting, discussing how rigid approaches can lead to plateaus. They both encourage beginners to start slow, enjoy the journey, and focus on non-scale victories. Adam advises paying attention to body composition, while Katie recommends taking before-and-after pictures and seeking educational resources. Together, they underscore the strength found in community and learning from others' experiences.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Danielle Doyle from the Outback of Australia.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Danielle is a cook on a cattle station. She is also a cookbook author and podcaster, and you can find her by going to https://misschardy.com. Danielle shares her journey with intermittent fasting, which she began in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Growing up, she was active in gymnastics and jazz ballet, but Danielle's lifestyle changed after leaving school, leading to weight gain. She experimented with various weight loss methods, such as Weight Watchers, keto, and even the cabbage soup diet, but found these approaches unsustainable. Danielle discovered the concept of intermittent fasting through Michael Mosley's "Fast 800" and then transitioned to the clean fast with the daily eating window approach, which she found more manageable.Danielle finds that fasting gives her energy to get through her busy day, and helps her feel more comfortable in her body. Both Gin and Danielle agree on the importance of understanding and listening to their bodies, emphasizing that sustainable weight and overall well-being are more important than the numbers on the scale. Danielle attributes her success to the clean fast, which has helped regulate her hunger waves and maintain her energy throughout the day. She also incorporates alternate day fasting from time to time, such as when she has been on a trip and her honesty jeans are a bit tight.Danielle concludes with advice for listeners: focus on finding a fasting routine that fits your lifestyle and makes you feel good. She stresses the importance of not obsessing over the scale but rather embracing a healthier, sustainable approach to eating and weight management. Intermittent fasting, she notes, should enhance your life, providing increased energy and comfort rather than being a source of stress.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tangie Callahan from Virginia Beach, VA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Tangie is a pastor, a pastor's wife, a life coach, a mother of four, and a new grandmother. Despite enduring past trauma, including sexual violation and disordered eating in her youth, which led to decades of yo-yo dieting, Tangie has managed to find peace and contentment through fasting, choosing foods that work well for her body, and listening to her body when it comes to both food and exercise approaches.Tangie's intermittent fasting journey began in 2022. The director of her gym explained intermittent fasting to her when she came in desperate, seven weeks before her daughter's wedding. Tangie started right away, and felt amazing by the wedding. Over time, Tangie has found the schedule that works best for her, and she stresses the importance of tailoring your fasting schedules to your individual needs, pointing out that more fasting isn't always better.The conversation then delves into the broader topic of personalized nutrition and how our bodies uniquely respond to various foods. Tangie recounts her negative experiences with the keto diet and how going through the Zoe program and switching to a diet of one-ingredient foods dramatically improved her health. She also shared her struggles with body dysphoria and negative self-talk, highlighting a pivotal moment of spiritual and physical healing when she began practicing positive affirmations. Gin and Tangie discuss the significant impacts that thoughts and words can have on our bodies, supported by scientific evidence.As the episode concludes, Tangie shares her weight loss progress, and the discussion switches to practical advice for others on similar journeys. Gin suggests using goal clothing instead of scales to measure success and focusing on a healthy lifestyle rather than just weight loss. Tangie's final advice: customize your food choices and fasting windows based on what feels right for your body, incorporate positive affirmations into your daily routine, and always make conscious decisions to improve your physical and mental health.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Hjørdis Marie Jenshaug, also known as Marie, from Norway,.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Marie is a teacher, and she teaches English and Norwegian to students in 1st-4th grade. Marie first learned about intermittent fasting in the spring of 2022, and she was first interested for the potential health benefits, as she had been experiencing aches and pains related to a chronic health condition. Marie was a skinny child, and didn't worry about her weight as she was growing up. That changed when she moved to England and started gaining weight slowly. She recounts dealing with multiple health issues, including a diagnosis of epilepsy and a discouraging prognosis about having more children, which led to depression, and further weight gain. She shares how these experiences motivated her to explore intermittent fasting, inspired by a fit and healthy couple she met during her travels.The discussion turns to the practical aspects of intermittent fasting, with Marie emphasizing the benefits of clean fasting and the positive impact it had on her health, including reduced aches, fewer headaches, and an overall better relationship with food. Gin and Marie also talk about societal misconceptions about fasting, the importance of whole foods, and non-scale victories. Marie describes how intermittent fasting has brought her freedom and adaptability in her eating habits, helping her manage social events and special occasions without guilt.Towards the end of the episode, Marie offers valuable advice for those new to intermittent fasting. She encourages beginners to take photos and measurements to track their progress, focus on clean fasting, and avoid pushing the lifestyle on others. Instead, she suggests planting seeds and waiting for the right time when individuals are open to listening. Marie's journey is a testament to the transformative power of intermittent fasting, reinforcing that it's a sustainable lifestyle choice rather than a temporary or short-term fix.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Chelsea and Ros, two friends from Dalby which is in Queensland, Australia. Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Ros is a teacher aid, and Chelsea and her brother run a building company. Ros found intermittent fasting first, after a long struggle with her weight. She got to her highest weight of 153 kg, which is 337 pounds, and her doctor suggested that she have bariatric surgery. She knew that she didn't want to have surgery, and looked for another option. She was able to use Ozempic, losing 20 kg. But then there was an Ozempic shortage, and Ros told herself that there was no way she was going to allow herself to regain the weight she lost, so she started walking. She ran into a friend of hers who looked great, and her friend told her about intermittent fasting. Ros started immediately. Thanks to IF, she not only didn't regain the weight she had lost, but she kept losing, going from an Australian size 26 to a size 16, which is similar to a US size 12. Ros shares that the appetite correction she feels as an IFer is a similar way to shut off the “food noise”, just as Ozempic does, but without the side effects she experienced while taking Ozempic.Eventually, Chelsea decided to begin IF herself. She describes herself as a former sugar addict, and Ros's results inspired her. Chelsea discusses her struggle with weight-related shame and her complex relationship with food, particularly her tendency toward sweets which has often hindered her progress. She also touches upon her battle with gestational diabetes and the mental health struggles following an ectopic pregnancy. Her personal challenges underline the importance of finding a balance that goes beyond mere weight loss.Ros and Chelsea discuss the cultural pressures around food and the significance of supporting each other through their health journeys. They share insights into the physical and psychological benefits they've experienced, including improved skin health and energy levels, highlighting that intermittent fasting has much more to offer beyond weight loss. They each also experienced unexpected healing: Ros healed quickly after major surgery, and Chelsea had a skin issue clear up without needing intervention, amazing her dermatologist.Ending the episode, Ros and Chelsea offer advice to listeners considering intermittent fasting. Ros underscores the effectiveness of having a strong motivation and the importance of understanding the science behind fasting. Chelsea advises on the mental shift needed to make intermittent fasting a sustainable part of life rather than a quick fix. Both stress the importance of patience, support, and personal adaptability in making any health-driven lifestyle change. They express enthusiasm about their ongoing journey and encourage listeners to give intermittent fasting a try, with an emphasis on its transformative potential beyond the scale.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, but has not yet been recorded, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tracey Mack from Taylor, MI.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Tracey is a return guest, and she first appeared on episode 300 which aired in April of 2023. She works for the federal government and is the author of a book called Intermittent Fasting for Life: Experiment of One.Tracey shares that she found intermittent fasting in January of 2022 when she was feeling desperate to lose weight after years of yo-yo dieting. She didn't struggle with her weight until after she had her kids, but at that point the cycle of losing weight every January only to regain it by the following year had begun. She tried many diets along the way, and after one more attempt at a popular diet plan, she only lost 13 pounds in 18 months, and knew there had to be a better way.After finding a book about intermittent fasting in a bookstore one day, Tracey realized that this was something she could do, and she started immediately with a 16:8 approach. Over time, she gradually moved to a 4-hour eating window most days, leading to steady weight loss and a more sustainable lifestyle. She reached her goal of a wearing a size 8 and settled into a comfortable weight range.Tracey continued her personal study of one as she experimented with carnivore, which she was following when Gin interviewed her for episode 300. Over time, her digestion suffered, and she knew she needed to make a change. In 2023, she had a dietary transition that includes prioritizing plant-based meals and eliminating processed foods and sugars. This shift led to her dropping twenty more pounds effortlessly, and she feels amazing. Tracey and Gin explore the impact of dietary choice on both our weight and how we feel, highlighting Tracey's daily routine that begins with a nutrient-rich green smoothie and includes high-quality animal products alongside her plant-focused meals.Ending the episode, Tracey provides advice for anyone new to intermittent fasting or looking to redefine their relationship with food and health: educate yourself thoroughly, start gradually, and treat the process as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary diet. She advocates for immersing oneself in the intermittent fasting community and consistently stresses the importance of listening to one's body, finding what personally works best, and embracing the journey.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html.Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition has not yet been recorded, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Aleena Urbas from Ohio.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Aleena is a stay-at-home mom of two teenage girls. Her struggle with body image began at the age of 14 when a high school boyfriend told her that she was “fat”. That led her down a challenging path of eating disorders that began with anorexia and developed into bingeing and purging. She carried the shame of her disordered eating for decades.Aleena thought she found the answer to her struggles when she joined a religious-based diet program and began attending their church. Despite achieving her lowest weight in 2011, Aleena discusses the emotional trauma and pressure she faced, which ultimately led her to leave what she refers to as a diet “cult”. This marked a positive turning point in her life, bolstered by the strong support system she found in intermittent fasting groups where she formed meaningful friendships that helped her through her most challenging times.Both Aleena and Gin share the mental shifts they have experienced through their fasting practices. Aleena emphasizes how fasting helped her not only in understanding which foods worked best for her body but also in healing her relationship with food. She describes moving away from viewing fasting as a form of punishment to seeing it as a means of connection and self-care. Furthermore, Aleena and Gin discuss the pitfalls of ‘revenge fasting' and the importance of approaching fasting with a mindset focused on gratitude and empowerment, rather than restriction and control.To conclude, Aleena offers advice to those new to or struggling with intermittent fasting. She stresses the importance of letting go of fear, embracing faith in oneself, and being present in the moment. She encourages listeners to avoid keeping secrets that could hinder progress, to seek support from a community or inner circle, and to see each day as an opportunity for a fresh start. Aleena's parting message is one of encouragement to connect to either a higher power or your own inner strength, finding joy and liberation in the journey towards a healthier relationship with food and oneself.Get Gin's books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don't Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback. This is the book that you'll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It's been updated to include the clean fast, a thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition has not yet been recorded, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you'll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Paula Johnson from Sanibel Island, FL.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Paula is a recently retired occupational therapist, and currently works as a naturopath and a health coach. She is also the author of a book called Nature's Child. Paula first heard about intermittent fasting from a friend on a girls' trip in July of 2022. While Paula only had about 15 pounds to lose, she had been unable to lose those pounds no matter what she tried along the way, so she was immediately intrigued with the concept of intermittent fasting.Early in her journey, she found Gin's books and learned about the clean fast. She said the clean fast was an immediate game changer, and she was able to fast with ease, settling into her current protocol of a daily 3-5 hour window, with an occasional meal-less day followed by an up day. That approach led to Paula losing the 15 pounds she wanted to lose and has allowed her to settle into a goal lifestyle that feels sustainable.Paula has always been interested in food and nutrition, and has seen the impact that foods have on the kids she worked with as an occupational therapist. That led her to go back to school to become a naturopath so she could better guide parents through the challenges of finding what their kids need to heal, and it was also the inspiration for her book, Nature's Child.Paula shares her non-scale victories since starting intermittent fasting, which include reduced hip pain, softer skin, and better overall energy levels.Ending the episode, Paula offers valuable advice for anyone looking to start intermittent fasting. She emphasizes the importance of taking initial measurements, adhering to a clean fasting protocol, and viewing the entire process as a holistic health journey rather than just a weight loss plan. Paula encourages listeners to listen to their bodies and adjust their fasting and dietary strategies accordingly, ensuring that they are mindful of both physical health and overall well-being.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Sandra Sexton from Texas.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Sandra is the technology director for a school district. Sandra's fasting journey began in January of 2022 when she experienced unexplained stomach pain. Her Pubmed search led her to fasting as a therapeutic approach, and she researched fasting and decided to give it a try.Prior to IF, she experienced weight gain and a series of serious diagnoses including fibroids, a goiter, and Hashimoto's, which led to multiple surgeries. Despite these challenges, her shift to what she considers to be a “Paleo-ish” diet led to improvements in her migraines and weight management, but the real turning point came after the painful episode initially suspected to be a gallbladder issue in 2022. Instead of opting for surgery, Sandra delved into research and discovered the potential benefits of intermittent fasting for her specific ailments.Sandra explains how intermittent fasting not only helped alleviate her stomach pain but also brought noticeable improvements in her overall health. She recalls how adopting a fasting schedule contributed significantly to her intestinal and eczema issues disappearing, with her Hashimoto's thyroiditis even going into remission. Throughout the conversation, Sandra emphasizes the importance of personal health research and adjusting dietary plans to align with one's specific needs, particularly highlighting her approach to eating real, whole foods.Discussing the psychological and practical aspects of intermittent fasting, Gin and Sandra note the importance of adjusting fasting and eating patterns to suit different lifestyles and situations, such as stress, dining out, and celebrations, underscoring the need to remain flexible and mindful of one's body responses.Ending on a note of empowerment, Sandra encourages listeners to embrace the concept of "n equals one," where individuals are urged to experiment and find what uniquely works for their bodies. She advises against the one-size-fits-all approach in diet and medicine, advocating instead for mindfulness in fasting, eating clean-ish, and focusing on how foods interact with personal health. For anyone embarking on a similar journey, Sandra underscores the significance of understanding and listening to one's body, making adjustments as necessary to pave the way for a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Kaitlyn from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Kaitlyn is a medical device reprocessing technician. Kaitlyn shares her journey with intermittent fasting that began on August 11, 2021, highlighting both the challenges and positive transformations she has encountered along the way. Despite a struggle with weight that began in her early childhood, Kaitlyn's path took a turn when she decided against buying larger clothes and instead found intermittent fasting. Beginning with a 16:8 fasting schedule, she gradually experimented with longer fasting windows such as 24-hour fasts and 18:6 schedules, while dealing with the ups and downs of fluctuating progress and the seduction of old eating habits.Kaitlyn has gravitated over time towards whole foods and she highlighting her family's appreciation for gardening. However, beyond her diet and fasting schedules, Kaitlyn opens up about the other side of weight loss—the emotional struggles that many of us can relate to.As the episode comes to a close, Kaitlyn reflects on her overall 58-pound weight loss to date, and the profound ways in which it has enhanced her life—from reducing physical discomforts to emboldening her to embrace activities like paddleboarding and hiking. Ultimately, her story is one of perseverance, learning, and self-discovery. Kaitlyn's parting advice to the audience reiterates the value of patience and persistence. She emphasizes not to rush the process or to be too hard on oneself when progress seems slow, advocating for the significance of understanding one's body and finding balance between fasting, eating, and living a full, healthy life.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Karen who lives in the Pacific Northwest.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Karen is an accountant. Karen opens up about her challenging childhood, marked by her parents' struggle with addiction, and how a supportive teacher offered her stability in a turbulent time. Her weight and eating habits, which were influenced by family dynamics and financial constraints, led to body image issues. This struggle was compounded by Karen's negative experiences with the healthcare system, where she often felt dismissed due to her size, especially when seeking help for her chronic back pain and hormonal imbalances. Karen's turning point came with the discovery of intermittent fasting in the spring of 2018, when her husband suggested that she try IF to help with PCOS.After initially resisting the idea of fasting, she discovered that contrary to her fears, her hypoglycemia improved and she felt better overall, even before substantial weight loss occurred. Despite concerns about the impact of fasting on women's hormones, Karen found that her menstrual cycle regulated, and her symptoms became better managed over time. She emphasizes that intermittent fasting became progressively more beneficial and speaks candidly about her initial slow weight loss, urging patience and a long-term approach for those new to fasting.Karen has lost an impressive 70 pounds overall, but also has seen improved hormonal regulation, clearing up of a variety of skin issues, and healing of her lifelong GERD.As Karen and Gin delve deeper into Karen's story, they highlight the emotional and physical benefits that Karen experienced with intermittent fasting. She recounts how she had to relearn the ability to hear her body's hunger and satiety cues. Now, she enjoys the flexibility of varying her fasting schedule and focuses on protein-rich meals without obsessing over calories or counting anything. Karen has seen not only weight loss but muscle growth, challenging the misconceptions we sometimes hear about fasting leading to muscle loss.Ending the episode on an empowering note, Karen shares advice for newcomers to intermittent fasting. She encourages listeners to approach fasting with patience, avoid rigidity, and focus on long-term health. By celebrating non-scale victories and listening to their bodies, individuals can enjoy the gradual, positive shifts that come with this lifestyle change. Karen's parting words resonate with positivity: rather than being disheartened by the scale, one should embrace the journey, trust in the process of intermittent fasting, and look forward to the holistic improvements it brings.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Kate Weakley from the southern coast of New South Wales in Australia.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Kate is a homeschooling mom of 4, a new teacher, and she also helps her husband run his chiropractic business. Kate's personal journey with intermittent fasting began after reaching her highest weight of 231 pounds. Following the challenges of motherhood that led her to put self-care on hold, Kate found a path to sustainable change through IF. She delves into her experience of trying the "Fast 800" diet, and her shift to the Delay, Don't Deny approach to fasting in 2020, detailing how COVID-19 was both a setback due to a return to regular eating and a blessing in disguise that provided her family with more quality time together and improved sleep for her.Kate and Gin candidly share their past battles with extreme diets such as the Fast 800 for Kate and the HCG diet for Gin, acknowledging the difficulties and potential negative impacts of these types of diets that call for severe calorie restriction. They contrast those experiences with the benefits of intermittent fasting, celebrating the freedom and ease it provides compared to the constant restriction they had previously endured. Kate recounts her remarkable weight loss journey, dropping from 220 to 158 pounds at her lowest, and how she experienced body recomposition, resulting in a significant reduction in her clothing size, while her overall health, including her hair, nails, skin, vision, and mental clarity, improved noticeably. Both reflect on finding the right balance in protein intake, with Gin discussing the protein leverage hypothesis, and how they've learned to listen to their bodies to determine individual nutritional needs, rather than adhering to generic dietary advice.Kate's narrative extends beyond her own transformation to include her family's wellness journey. With intuitive eating at its core, Kate's children benefit from the opportunity to eat according to their hunger while her husband practices a 16:8 fasting method. Drawing from her weight loss experience, Kate relays how she embraced a more fulfilling and active lifestyle, recently completing a 54 km hike in New Zealand, and how at 50, she pursued a master's degree in teaching, attributing her renewed focus and clarity to her fasting regimen. Both Kate and her husband advocate for intermittent fasting within his chiropractic practice, suggesting resources such as the book Fast. Feast. Repeat. to those curious about the lifestyle.The episode concludes with Kate offering heartfelt advice to newcomers to intermittent fasting. She suggests that a successful start consists of prioritizing restful sleep, tracking the eating window honestly, and delighting in delicious, nourishing foods. Emphasizing the importance of listening to one's own body and cravings, Kate highlights the mental satisfaction that comes with enjoying what we eat. Beyond diet, she encourages a trust in the process and the self, reminding listeners that the journey to health is as unique as the individual embarking on it. Her final words of wisdom reflect her journey's theme: to find joy and empowerment through intuitive, mindful fasting and eating.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Cheryl Beckerich from Indianapolis, IN.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Cheryl loves to knit, she writes knitting patterns, and she works as marketing and communications manager for a church. She recounts how a podcast by Joanna Penn led her to explore intermittent fasting after hearing Gin as a guest. Despite her religious familiarity with fasting, its connection with weight loss was a novel concept for her.Cheryl lost around 20 pounds over the first six months of her intermittent fasting journey, typically fasting between 18 and 20 hours a day. She enjoys traditional foods without guilt and stays active. Her body has settled into a healthy weight range for her height, and she doesn't have to think about what she does from day to day—the lifestyle feels natural, and it's simply what she does. In her final advice to newcomers to intermittent fasting, Cheryl stresses the importance of easing in and maintaining a clean fast by avoiding any consumables that mimic the taste of food, like gum or diet beverages. Her parting words encourage beginners to stick with it and trust the process, highlighting the significance of perseverance for long-term success and overall wellbeing.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Rivka from Los Angeles, CA.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Rivka works in business banking. She candidly shares her battle with health issues such as frequent migraines, depression, PMDD, and anxiety, along with her experiments with multiple diet regimens including bulletproof coffee, raw veganism, and the gluten-free diet. These experiments brought some relief but often came with their own set of problems, like new food intolerances. Rivka's backstory is interwoven with her experience of immigration, a difficult work permit situation, and the transition to motherhood, illustrating her resilience amidst adversity.Throughout the conversation, Rivka delves into her professional life, from the early days in business banking to the high-pressure environment of financial trading in England. Her work experiences, coupled with her dietary trials such as the 5:2 diet, offered little in terms of sustainable health improvements. Rivka describes how the simplicity of clean fasting led to a significant improvement in her health, eliminating migraines, improving her mood, and contributing to hormonal balance. The discussion touches upon the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza and the importance of mindfulness in choosing an eating window along with food choices that work for your body.Concluding the episode, Rivka reflects on the lifestyle changes that have brought the most positive impact on her life. She offers advice to listeners, stressing the importance of personalizing one's diet based on individual health needs, rather than blindly following trends. Rivka highlights the transformative effect of intermittent fasting on her mental health and recommends finding an eating pattern that feels natural, advising listeners to nourish their bodies thoughtfully.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Cyrus Khambatta who lives in Florida. Cyrus is the co-author of New York Times bestseller Mastering Diabetes, cohost of the Mastering Diabetes podcast, and also manages a coaching community that helps people reverse insulin resistance permanently through dietary and lifestyle changes, including intermittent fasting. Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Cyrus has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and worked for NASA before returning to school to earn a PhD in nutritional biochemistry. Cyrus shares his personal journey that led him from battling multiple autoimmune disorders—including a type 1 diabetes diagnosis— to exploring the science of nutrition, ultimately achieving a remarkable tenfold increase in insulin sensitivity through dietary changes.In Cyrus's first year of managing his diabetes, he found that his insulin needs kept going up, even though he was following the low carb approach his doctors had recommended. He was introduced to the concept of a whole food plant-based diet, and since he was frustrated by his experiences managing his blood glucose, he was willing to try anything. He was shocked to discover that within one week, he went from requiring 42 units of insulin per day to only 24 units per day. He knew he wanted to understand what was happening in his own body, and was inspired to go back to school to learn more.Cyrus explains the science of how whole food, low-fat plant-based diets are conducive to both improved blood sugar levels and improved insulin sensitivity, despite common misconceptions to the contrary. Cyrus delves into the scientific research, which underscores the negative impact of high-fat diets on insulin sensitivity. Diving deeper into the science, Cyrus and Gin discuss Cyrus's experiments on calorie restriction and intermittent fasting with laboratory animals, showcasing the significant reversal of insulin resistance. Cyrus wraps up the episode with advice for listeners who may be grappling with similar health issues or seeking healthier lifestyles. He underscores the essentials: belief in the process, openness to new information, and embracing the robust scientific evidence supporting plant-based diets combined with intermittent fasting. Encouraging personal research and understanding, Cyrus leaves listeners with a powerful parting message – to approach one's health journey with curiosity, to avoid being swayed by prevalent dietary myths, and to seek empowerment through knowledge, concluding with an invitation to explore the wealth of resources available, such as his Mastering Diabetes program, for anyone ready to take control of their health and well-being. You can connect with Cyrus and his team through https://www.masteringdiabetes.org/.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Becca who lives in Dorset in England.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Becca works for a local company that makes candles and other lifestyle products. She first heard of fasting about 10 years ago from a friend, as she was interested in losing a little weight before her wedding. The original 5:2 program by Dr. Michael Moseley was popular at that time, and she gave it a try, but it was very difficult for her to stick to.A few years later, Becca found herself with a bit of weight to lose, and she found Dr. Moseley's new program, which was marketed as “fasting” but actually was a very low-calorie diet where you eat 800 calories a day for up to 12 weeks, followed by a switch to the Mediterranean diet. Becca lost weight very quickly, but found herself caught up in a cycle of over restricting, binging in response to the over restriction, and then regaining the weight just as quickly. This cycle lasted for about a year.In 2021, Becca faced mysterious pelvic pain that her doctors couldn't diagnose. The pain was intense and in desperation, she searched for a way to heal her body naturally. She learned that fasting could help with excess inflammation, and she found Fast Feast Repeat and read it, beginning her intermittent fasting lifestyle the next day. Becca's family has a history of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so she is motivated to live an intermittent fasting lifestyle for her health. She has settled into an intermittent fasting routine that feels easy, and she knows this will be her forever lifestyle. With a long-term, sustainable approach, Becca opts for an adaptable fasting schedule with a 18-19 hour fast most days, and does not confine herself to strict eating windows. As the conversation draws to a close, Becca shares the lessons she's learned on her fasting journey. She advises newcomers to intermittent fasting to approach it steadily and avoid overdoing it. Becca emphasizes the importance of integrating weight-bearing exercises and Gin and Becca emphasize self-kindness in both self-talk and dietary choices.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Suzanne from Howard County, MD.Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Suzanne is a management consultant. She learned about IF through a random ad that popped up on Facebook, and she found Fast Feast Repeat two weeks later, at which time she implemented the clean fast. She immediately felt less bloating, and knew that fasting was going to be right for her as a lifestyle.Suzanne struggled with hormonal balance after several traumatic pregnancy losses, and she was able to find a functional medicine practitioner near her to help her get her hormones back in balance. She also learned that she has a dairy allergy, and changing the foods she eats, coupled with intermittent fasting, has made a great deal of difference in how her digestive system functions. Suzanne shares her genetic risk of type two diabetes and is relieved that she has both excellent blood work and weight loss as tangible evidence of her health improvements since starting fasting. Both Gin and Suzanne share their experiences with the impacts of both food choices and alcohol on sleep quality and how their bodies feel, emphasizing the importance of listening to one's body, especially through life's hormonal changes.As the episode draws to a close, Suzanne shares impactful non-scale victories, like her waist size reduction and enhanced flexibility, and talks proudly of her daughter, who has also adopted intermittent fasting for maintaining her health and simplicity as she goes off to college. In her final advice to the listeners, Suzanne tells listeners to just start. She suggests beginning with a simple twelve-hour fast if you need to, urging listeners to engage with the wealth of resources available on intermittent fasting, especially Gin's book, Fast Feast Repeat.Get Gin's books at: http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html, including her latest bestseller 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day, the Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle so it Sticks, New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., and Cleanish, available wherever you buy books! Delay, Don't Deny is available on Amazon. Join Gin's community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You'll probably also like Gin's other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comVisit Gin's website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin's Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.