Episode 469: Bridget Mazenkas

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 

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