In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Rachel Jones from southwest Florida. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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.  Rachel and her husband run AJ’s Yacht Service in southern Florida, and Rachel also works as a corporate registered nurse. The conversation begins with a glimpse into Rachel's health journey, exploring her long history with weight fluctuations, various diets, and her eventual disillusionment with perpetual dieting. She shares how becoming a mother and reflecting on her energy levels inspired her to prioritize wellness and strength over simply chasing a number on the scale. Rachel recounts her initial exposure to intermittent fasting back in 2017, driven by her husband’s interest, but she admits she wasn’t ready for it at the time, remaining skeptical as a health professional. It wasn’t until 2022, when she was researching anti-aging strategies and holistic wellness, that intermittent fasting resurfaced as a method worth considering. By that point, Rachel had already lost a substantial amount of weight, and her primary motivation for intermittent fasting was its potential for health and longevity rather than weight loss alone. She describes how adopting functional fitness and shifting her mindset led to sustainable changes, allowing her to model a healthy, positive lifestyle for her young daughter. Throughout the episode, Rachel reflects on the importance of mindset, discipline, and personal development, emphasizing that intermittent fasting became part of a broader self-care and self-love journey. She is candid about her ups and downs, including periods of weight regain and her experimentation with alternate daily fasting (ADF). Rachel also highlights the freedom she has gained—freedom from food obsession, food guilt, and diet challenges—by listening to her body and embracing a flexible fasting window, typically from mid-afternoon to early evening. She mentions the numerous non-scale benefits she’s noticed, such as improved sleep, better metabolic health, and increased resilience, and how her approach to nutrition is now much more intuitive and enjoyable. As the episode concludes, Rachel encourages newcomers to intermittent fasting not to adopt an extreme approach from the start. She reminds listeners that the process does not have to be perfect or rigid—starting small and focusing on building belief and understanding is key. Rachel’s final advice is to do your research, engage with supportive communities, and don’t feel pressured to conform to others’ expectations or share your new lifestyle before you’re ready; above all, intermittent fasting is a personal journey, offering sustainable health and true freedom for those who stick with it. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Tatsiana Bender from Fort Worth, TX. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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.  Tatsiana is a CPA, and she moved to the Texas from Belarus when she was 20. Tatsiana shares her unique and humorous entry into intermittent fasting—prompted by wanting to match her stated weight on a life insurance application after a festive Fourth of July. She recounts her quick initial weight loss, how a serendipitous YouTube video introduced her to Gin’s book Fast Feast Repeat, and her realization that a “clean fast” made a difference. Tatsiana describes that, although she never struggled significantly with her weight growing up in Belarus, moving to America exposed her to a drastically different food culture and led to weight fluctuations, especially after having children. Tatsiana reminisces about her childhood in Belarus with seasonal, simple foods, and homemade sweets being the norm. She contrasts this experience with her first exposure to America’s abundance of processed foods and shares how returning home helped her effortlessly lose the weight she’d gained during her stay. The conversation naturally moves to food traditions—like gardening and preserving homegrown vegetables at her family's summer house (dacha)—and reflects on how these habits cultivated appreciation for natural, unprocessed foods. Tatsiana finds it amusing that what was once a necessity is now recognized as the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Her health journey gained depth when she started to focus on what foods make her feel best and support her long-term well-being. Tatsiana opens up about testing various diet strategies like Whole30, experimenting with plant-based cooking inspired by Dr. Fuhrman, and participating in Zoe’s program to learn more about her body. She shares insights from wearing a continuous glucose monitor, revealing how her body handles sugar and fats, and describes small but significant lifestyle upgrades, such as switching to cleaner water and crowding out processed snacks with vegetables. Tatsiana explains that intermittent fasting, once started for weight loss, gradually led her to a sustainable pattern of eating that emphasizes health and nourishment over dieting. To wrap up, Tatsiana offers encouragement to those just starting out: arm yourself with knowledge and do intermittent fasting the right way—she especially recommends reading Fast Feast Repeat for clear guidance. Tatsiana emphasizes that it’s all about making steady progress with small, lasting changes, not perfection or overnight results. Most importantly, she reminds listeners that this is a lifestyle, not a diet to start and stop, and urges everyone to approach fasting and healthier living one baby step at a time. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Alyssa Welling from West Des Moines, IA. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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. Alyssa is an administrative assistant for the parks and recreation department. Alyssa explains how she initially dismissed IF as “unhealthy” when someone first mentioned it to her, but grew curious after plateauing on Weight Watchers following two close pregnancies. She recounts how, beginning in early 2020, she dove into fasting podcasts and adopted a gentle 16:8 approach, gradually shortening her eating window as her comfort and understanding grew. Alyssa describes how immersing herself in fasting resources helped her unlearn pervasive diet culture messages like the need for constant meals and snacks. The conversation delves into Alyssa’s challenges and milestones, from her significant weight fluctuations due to multiple pregnancies and postpartum experiences, to the setbacks she faced after a bout of Covid that caused her to regain some of the weight she had lost. Then, Alyssa became pregnant with her third child, which meant she needed to take a break from IF. After her third baby was weaned, Alyssa went back to IF, but she didn’t see the weight loss she was hoping for. Despite that, she never abandoned IF, citing the mental clarity and stress reduction it provided as reasons to stick with the lifestyle regardless of the scale. A pivotal point in Alyssa’s journey came when she confronted the reality that her eating habits—particularly mindless binging and snacking during her eating window—were undermining her progress. Diagnosed with ADHD and binge eating disorder, she used calorie tracking for awareness and shifted her focus to intentional, satisfying meals, and avoided grazing and finishing her children’s leftovers. Alyssa added regular, enjoyable treadmill walks to her routine and cut out alcohol, which improved her food choices and boosted her well-being. These changes, paired with intermittent fasting, helped her shed over 100 pounds, reaching a weight lower than she dreamt possible, and transforming both her confidence and quality of life. Alyssa wraps up by offering heartfelt advice for those starting out with intermittent fasting: don’t expect drastic changes overnight and avoid focusing on a specific finish line. She emphasizes that lasting success comes from treating IF as a sustainable lifestyle, allowing ample time to adapt, maintaining a clean fast, making foods work for your body, and not being afraid to make adjustments if progress slows. Alyssa also encourages listeners to be open about fasting without shame and to remember that growing bodies—like those of children—need to eat differently. Ultimately, she underscores that giving yourself the grace to adjust and the patience to persevere are the keys to enjoying the many benefits IF has to offer. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Janelle Samson from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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.  Janelle is a chemist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Janelle shares her journey into intermittent fasting after a long history in the world of bodybuilding. Janelle explains she first heard about intermittent fasting during her bodybuilding days in the early 2010s, though at the time, she and others in the fitness community dismissed it as just another fad. She attempted fasting briefly under the guidance of someone who didn’t fully understand the clean fast principles, leading her to give up, concerned about muscle loss. Many years and life changes later—including pregnancy, motherhood, and the closure of gyms during the pandemic—Janelle found herself struggling with unexplained weight gain and low energy, even after trying traditional approaches to nutrition and fitness. A turning point came when a coworker, whose sister’s doctor recommended intermittent fasting, rekindled Janelle’s interest. Janelle began her journey in June 2023, starting with a 14:10 approach and gradually narrowing her eating window as she learned more, eventually settling into a routine that worked for her lifestyle. Her initial research brought her to Gin’s book, Fast. Feast. Repeat., which she credits—as well as the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast and community—for giving her the knowledge and support to embrace clean fasting and the “delay, don’t deny” philosophy. Listening to the podcast episodes, Janelle connected deeply with the stories of others and found practical tools and reassurance in their diversity of experience. Janelle’s approach to fasting has not been defined by rapid weight loss but by steady progress and substantial health improvements. She openly discusses her slow, “turtle” pace in shedding pounds, emphasizing how much better she feels in terms of physical energy and mental clarity. Throughout her two-year journey, Janelle has released over 20 pounds and, most importantly, shifted away from a restrictive, scale-obsessed relationship with food, particularly as a former bodybuilder. She highlights the newfound freedom she enjoys around food and eating—modeling a positive example for her young daughter and appreciating treats, family meals, and special occasions without guilt or diet mentality. Janelle concludes her story by encouraging newcomers to immerse themselves in well-researched resources—particularly Gin’s books and the podcast—for practical guidance and support. She underlines the importance of keeping an open mind, especially for those with a diet-focused background or entrenched ideas about nutrition. Janelle’s final advice is to try intermittent fasting without overcomplicating it: read, learn, don’t stress about perfection, and remember it costs nothing to give it a shot. According to Janelle, intermittent fasting has been truly life-changing, and she urges others to discover its benefits for themselves. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Andrea Moon from Bloomfield Township, MI. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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.  Andrea is not only a retired elementary music teacher but also a piano composer, karate instructor, and women’s self-defense teacher. They dive right into how Andrea discovered intermittent fasting in 2023 after hearing about it from a friend, initially reacting with skepticism before getting curious and quickly diving into podcasts and resources. A structured person by nature, Andrea took to tracking her fasting hours with an app, finding the visual goal-tracking motivating, and soon made fasting a daily habit, even amidst travel and a busy, active lifestyle. Andrea shares several anecdotes highlighting how intermittent fasting has become more mainstream, citing moments in pop culture and interactions with global karate colleagues who also fast. She describes her initial fasting experience, gradually finding what worked best for her, including experimenting with alternate day fasting (ADF) and 500-calorie down days. Andrea found joy in making down days a fun challenge by cooking satisfying meals within calorie limits, and she emphasizes the flexibility and long-term sustainability she now feels with intermittent fasting. A significant part of the conversation centers on mindful eating, overcoming toxic diet culture, and the freedom that comes from ditching rigid calorie restriction. Andrea candidly recounts her own weight plateaus and how shifting away from eating while distracted—especially stopping the habit of eating in front of the TV—made a real difference in her progress. She encourages listeners to track their weight over weeks, not days, and to adjust their process (including mindful, plated meals) rather than simply trusting the process when stuck. Both Gin and Andrea also reflect on the pitfalls of diet brain, the importance of eating real foods over ultra-processed choices, and the culture of comparing oneself to unrealistic standards. Andrea finishes the episode by sharing her advice for anyone starting out: celebrate finding intermittent fasting, consistently plate your meals, avoid distracted eating, and prioritize some form of exercise or stretching routine. She advocates for patience, embracing the journey, and seeking out community to find inspiration and support along the way. Andrea’s story is a testament to adapting intermittent fasting to fit your life, making mindful choices, and prioritizing long-term health and enjoyment over short-term restriction. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Julie Troger from Monroe Township, NJ. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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 retired, and worked as an educational sign language interpreter for 25 years. Julie found intermittent fasting in January of 2024. Initially, Julie was searching for a healthy lifestyle that would help her age well and remain healthy into her later years, especially as she witnessed the severe dementia, heart disease, and diabetes affecting the women in her family. Determined to break this cycle, Julie found intermittent fasting while researching ways to lower her risks for these conditions. As Julie delves into her past, she recounts her dieting struggles that started from a very young age. She shares how she felt as though she was "on a diet" most of her life, losing and gaining weight repeatedly, even as she was very active as a competitive swimmer in her early years. This lifelong struggle with weight peaked at 272 pounds when she was 48. A health scare at that time served as a turning point, prompting her to take serious action about her weight and health, leading to a successful 100-pound loss over 13 years through traditional dieting methods. Even though she lost 100 pounds, every day was a struggle because she had to think about everything she was eating all day long. It took a lot of mental energy. The pandemic brought new challenges as Julie gained weight back, but finding intermittent fasting marked a profound change. The approach led her to find balance, effectively losing an additional 45 pounds without the struggle she had experienced before. Julie describes the lifestyle not just as a means to manage weight but as a holistic approach to health, impacting positively her mood, energy, and even her physical reactions, such as allergies and asthma. Julie's final advice to listeners emphasizes the importance of starting the journey and being persistent. She encourages finding an exercise regimen you enjoy, making it a habit, finding a strong "why," and prioritizing oneself in this lifestyle journey. Whether motivated by a health reason or the more traditional pursuit of weight loss, Julie's approach stands as a testament to the transformative power of adopting intermittent fasting as a sustainable lifestyle—empowering oneself every step of the way. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Karen Hiebert from Winnipeg, Canada. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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 a retired director of corporate communications. Karen discusses her journey to intermittent fasting which began last year after an alarming weigh-in at her doctor's appointment revealed she weighed 209 pounds. Prior to this, Karen had always been naturally slim due to a high metabolism, but menopause brought changes to her body that led to significant weight gain over time. Determined to make a change, Karen initiated her own strict diet plan, but soon realized she needed a more sustainable approach, leading her to discover intermittent fasting. Karen highlights the impact of menopause on her weight and shares how she initially attempted calorie counting and low carb eating to tackle her weight gain. However, the turning point came when she discovered Gin's book, Fast Feast Repeat, which opened her eyes to the importance of her body’s insulin response and the hormonal aspects of hunger and satiety. This insight led her to embrace intermittent fasting wholeheartedly, integrating it with a focus on whole, healthy foods, which brought about remarkable changes in her health and well-being. Nine months into her intermittent fasting journey, Karen proudly shares that she has lost a total of 49 pounds and feels rejuvenated. Her eating window is typically from noon or 1 PM to 6 PM, and she follows an 18:6 schedule to maintain her weight. Karen has reintroduced carbs like home baked sourdough bread into her diet, and enjoys the occasional treat, balancing her diet to enjoy both health and indulgence. Karen's advice to listeners is to stay curious and open to learning throughout their intermittent fasting journey. She emphasizes the importance of asking questions, absorbing as much information as possible, and taking progress pictures to capture the remarkable changes. This mindset, alongside her excitement and positive attitude, has been instrumental in her success with intermittent fasting, and she hopes it can inspire others to achieve their own health goals. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Judy Cronander from Macomb, MI. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a community coaching session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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.  Judy is retired, and she ran accounting departments for most of her career. Judy shares how a health scare in August of 2020 led her to discover intermittent fasting. After a hospitalization, Judy realized that many of her health issues were linked to her weight, prompting her to start intermittent fasting as a lifestyle change rather than just another diet. Initially skeptical about another dieting attempt, she soon found herself embracing intermittent fasting as a lifestyle. Judy's journey with intermittent fasting began with rapid success—she lost 39 pounds in just four months, ultimately shedding 90 pounds in her first year. Her second year of fasting involved significant body recomposition, with her size changes indicating fat loss even when the scale didn't go down. Judy details her struggles with various diets over the years, including Weight Watchers, where she initially found success but eventually regained the weight. This time, intermittent fasting offered a sustainable solution. Throughout her fasting journey, Judy has experienced numerous health benefits, including improved mobility, reduced joint pain, and significant reductions in markers like triglycerides, A1C, and fasting glucose levels. These health improvements, alongside the consistent support from her husband, affirm the effectiveness of intermittent fasting. Judy also speaks candidly about overcoming challenges, such as weight fluctuations after trips and the need to find her fasting "mojo" again with Gin’s 28-day fast start program. For those starting intermittent fasting, Judy advises patience and emphasizes that it is a lifestyle change rather than a diet. She notes the importance of setting behavioral goals rather than focusing solely on the scale. Recognizing and avoiding foods that may hinder progress, like sugary or heavily processed items, and celebrating non-scale victories are key to long-term success. Judy’s story exemplifies the transformative power of intermittent fasting, demonstrating that it’s never too late to start a journey toward 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, 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html Subscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA 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 Joanna North from Devon in the UK. Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a community coaching session, or an an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert. 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.  Jo is a psychologist and psychotherapist who specializes in mental health and well-being. She shares her journey with intermittent fasting, which began in earnest about a year ago after listening to Gin's appearance on the Zoe podcast. Before that, she had experimented with 5:2 fasting for several years but found it ineffective and also difficult due to not practicing the clean fast. Jo recounts how learning about clean fasting was transformative, leading to rapid and noticeable changes in how she felt, changes in her body, and changes in her relationship with food. Jo discusses her past struggles with weight, starting from childhood, including how calorie counting and diet culture negatively affected her. She highlights the relief and freedom she felt when she stopped focusing on calories and began listening to her body. This change has improved her relationship with food, allowing her to enjoy meals fully without the guilt and anxiety that used to accompany eating. Jo explains how the clean fast has replaced her former reliance on snacks and emotional eating. The conversation delves into the psychological aspects of dieting and body image, with Jo reflecting on how her identity was tied to being overweight for much of her life. Through intermittent fasting, she has redefined her self-perception and embraced a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Jo also shares insights from her experience with the Zoe program, which complemented her fasting regimen by focusing on personalized nutrition. In closing, Jo offers advice to those new to intermittent fasting. She suggests starting with a broad eating window to ease into the process comfortably and gradually shifting to shorter windows as the body's adaptation improves. This gradual approach allows individuals to find a natural balance that feels right for them, enabling them to enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting in a way that is sustainable. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html 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 Bridget Mazenkas from Massachusetts. 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.  In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Bridget Mazenkas from Massachusetts. Bridget is a social worker for a healthcare system and a mom of two boys. Bridget discusses her tumultuous past, including struggles with addiction that began at 17 and her path to recovery at 24, which marked the start of her health journey. Bridget also recounts her early battles with weight, stemming from childhood insecurities and a series of diets, starting from Weight Watchers at a young age. She explored various diet plans over the years, including keto, Noom, and even a celebrity diet she acquired through a relative, but none provided lasting results. After a second open-heart surgery in 2020, Bridget was advised by a cardiologist to try intermittent fasting, a recommendation that resonated with her after previous unsuccessful attempts. Once she learned about the importance of the clean fast, Bridget found success, losing 30 pounds from June to October 2021 with an initial morning eating window and later adapting to Alternate Day Fasting (ADF). Her schedule evolved as she balanced a demanding life as a mother, wife, and professional, finding ADF the most suitable for her lifestyle. Bridget attributes part of her success to the support of her husband, who also engages in intermittent fasting, as well as the community and resources she discovered along the way, including Gin's books and podcasts. Her taste in food has significantly shifted, and she now enjoys a variety of fruits and vegetables that she didn't appreciate before. Despite the occasional struggle with emotional eating, Bridget focuses on mindful eating and maintaining the balance she has achieved. Bridget's advice to those starting out with intermittent fasting is to find a support system or a "fasting buddy," emphasizing the importance of community and shared experiences. This support mirrors her recovery journey, where having a community made a significant difference. Listening to others' stories on the podcast and connecting with like-minded individuals helped her maintain motivation and perspective. She wants listeners to know that while confronting skepticism from others, what truly matters is the health and well-being that fasting has brought her, a message she feels is both empowering and universal. 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/community Do 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.com Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com  Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.