

Intermittent Fasting Stories
Gin Stephens
Are you ready to be inspired? Tune in each week to hear real-world stories from successful intermittent fasters, including their best tips to help you find success. Intermittent Fasting Stories is hosted by Gin Stephens, author of the New York Times bestseller Fast Feast Repeat, as well as her other books: Cleanish, Delay, Don't Deny, and Feast Without Fear. Looking for a community of like-minded intermittent fasters? Go to ginstephens.com/community for more information and to join.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2020 • 57min
Debbie Young
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Debbie Young, a health coach from Bend, Oregon who uses intermittent fasting with her clients.This episode is brought to you by Audible. Audible is the leading provider of spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, ranging from best sellers, to celebrity memoirs, news, business, and self-development. To try Audible for free and get your free audiobook, visit Audible.com/ifstories or text ifstories to 500-500.Prior to IF, Debbie lost weight with Keto, but then gained all of it back, plus more. She eventually found herself pre-diabetic with high blood pressure, and, at 5' 0’, weighing 155 pounds. "I lost who I was," she says. Debbie first came across Dr. Jason Fung. In an attempt to jump back into Keto, she followed his "Fat Fast," which is 48 hours of only ingesting fat. Around this time, Debbie found the Intermittent Fasting Podcast, and after listening to all of them, realized that she was fasting wrong. She was already fat-adapted, but switched to a clean fast in July of 2019. She started with one meal a day with a 3-4 hour window. After a year of IF, Debbie has lost 30 pounds. Her A1C and blood pressure levels have both normalized. She is no longer pre-diabetic, and no longer an emotional eater: "I'm no longer obsessed with food!" The advice she'd give new IFers: "Clean fast! Low carb at first can help your hunger. As you're adjusting to IF, when you feel hungry, drink water, wait 15 minutes, and know that you're burning fat. That wave of hunger will go away. Ride the wave!"You may find Debbie on Instagram: @debyourhealthcoach and for her coaching services: www.coachdebbieyoung.comGet Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensListen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 22, 2020 • 57min
Tammy Roach
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tammy Roach from Louisville, KY.This episode is brought to you by Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative and Feals Premium CBD Oil. Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative: Are you looking for the highest quality meat? Look no further than Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative! Healthy animals raised outdoors with sunlight, fresh air, and clean grass. No hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. Go to grassrootscoop.com/IFSTORIES to get $35 off your first order and receive free shipping!Feals Premium CBD Oil: The world of CBD oil can be confusing. For premium CBD oil that you can trust, go to feals.com/ifstories. Become a member and get 50% off your first order plus free shipping.Tammy is the Director of Testing Services at the University of Louisville. On the day this interview was recorded, it was also her 50th birthday!Tammy shares that she was heavy her entire life. She tried countless diets, even having gastric bypass surgery. In October of 2019, Tammy ran into a girlfriend who had lost weight with IF. She told Tammy about Delay, Don't Deny. Tammy ordered it that very day and began IF almost immediately. Within three days of IF, she noticed her knee pain was gone. "I felt amazing!" Tammy has lost 50 pounds, and has gone from a size 2X to a size 12. She can now go into her closet and put anything on because everything fits! Her relationship with food has completely changed, which is definitely something to celebrate.Tammy and a friend created a Facebook group called "Measure Me L-if-E." The group is to support and encourage their friends with living the IF lifestyle. It has been a true joy! "The struggle with weight my whole life has led me to where I am now, and helped me find my calling." The advice she'd give new IFers: "IF is harder at first, but it gets easier over time. Whereas a diet is easy first but harder to stick to. Listen to the IF Stories podcasts every day. Take pictures to see the changes. Give yourself grace." You can learn more about Measure Me L-if-E at: www.measuremelife.com Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 15, 2020 • 56min
Jerry Nelson
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Jerry Nelson of Floresville, TX.This episode is brought to you by Green Chef and Audible! Green Chef is a USDA certified organic company that makes eating well easy and affordable with plans to fit every kind of lifestyle. Go to greenchef.com/ifstories80 and use the code ifstories80 to get $80 off across 4 boxes, including free shipping on your first box. Audible is the leading provider of spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, ranging from best sellers, to celebrity memoirs, news, business, and self-development. To try Audible for free and get your free audiobook, visit Audible.com/ifstories or text ifstories to 500-500.Jerry is a Postmaster for the United States Postal Service. He was always tall and big as a kid, and he played football in high school. He joined the military out of college, and had to lose almost 50 pounds in order to be accepted. This began a vicious cycle of intense exercise, weight loss, injury, then weight gain. While serving, Jerry crushed both his back and skull, and in recovery gained all the weight back. With the steroids he was prescribed and the all-day snacking, he eventually climbed to 470 pounds. Finally, in 2001, Jerry had gastric bypass surgery. He says, "It saved my life." He lost almost 300 pounds in a year and a half. As a result of this massive weight loss, he was able to run marathons, averaging 100 miles a week! He was eating 7-8 small meals throughout the day, and over the next 13-14 years, his weight gradually crept back up to 370 pounds. Jerry says he felt like a failure: "I have everything else under control, how come I can't control my weight?" In April of 2017, Jerry needed knee replacement surgery, but the surgeon told him he must lose weight first, sharing intermittent fasting with him. Jerry read The Obesity Code then Delay, Don't Deny. He began with 16:8, moving to 20:4. He did OMAD, (One Meal A Day) and has lost around 162 pounds now weighing 205 pounds.The advice Jerry would give to new IFers: "Have a plan. Give IF time. You didn't get here overnight. Forgive yourself. Don't be dogmatic. Change it around, and don't get complacent."Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 8, 2020 • 54min
Layla Rysavy
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Layla Rysavy, a correctional counselor from Fort Dodge, Iowa.This episode is brought to you by Ritual and Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative.Ritual Essential Vitamins: Ritual left out mystery additives, synthetic fillers, and shady extras that can be found in some traditional multivitamins. All of Ritual’s ingredients are obsessively-researched and science-backed. Go to ritual.com/ifstories to save 10% per month for your first three months!Grass Roots Farmers Cooperative: Are you looking for the highest quality meat? Look no further than Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative! Healthy animals raised outdoors with sunlight, fresh air, and clean grass. No hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. Go to grassrootscoop.com/IFSTORIES to get $35 off your first order and receive free shipping!Layla shares that she has lost 100 pounds-- twice. The first time she lost it with Weight Watchers and exercise, and the second time she lost it with restrictive calorie counting and intense workouts. A fitness instructor at the time, Layla was in the gym 4-5 hours a day! But the weight came right back on when she stopped working out.By 2019, Layla had reached her highest weight of 275 pounds. She was depressed, highly inflamed, and had trouble moving due to severe Plantar Fasciitis. She shares: "I was the biggest I'd ever been, and had resigned myself to eating whatever I wanted, and to get as fat as I had to, and die." She did not want to track or count another macro nor calorie ever again. During a hair appointment, her hairdresser (and dear friend) shared intermittent fasting with her. Layla listened to The IF Podcast, and was instantly hooked! She immediately began IF,and has been fasting ever since. Layla began with 16:8, gradually increased to 18:6, and eventually settled into 20:4. To get past a plateau, she did ADF(Alternate Day Fasting), and found 4:3 helped her lose an additional 8 pounds. She has gone from around 280 pounds to 198 pounds! The health benefits Layla has experienced are incredible! Her psoriasis and plantar fasciitis are both gone, her psoriatic arthritis is greatly reduced, and her phlebitis, (vein inflammation) and sleep apnea have vanished. Her recent blood work showed all of the the inflammatory markers that were extremely high before IF are now on the low side of normal. Layla exclaims: "It's as if the inflammation never existed!" She feels more in control, joyful, empowered, and positive.The advice Layla would give new IFers: "Saturday is not a special occasion. Hunger is not an emergency. Show yourself some love and grace. Consistency over time is what matters. Settle in and let it be a lifestyle. Remain calm!"Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 1, 2020 • 59min
Laurie Lewis
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Laurie Lewis from Portland, OR. Laurie is a repeat guest (from episode 4) and two years later, Gin and Laurie talk about all things maintenance.This episode is brought to you by Grove Collaborative and Better Help.Grove Collaborative delivers healthy home, beauty, and personal care products directly to you! For a limited time, when my listeners go to grove.co/ifstories you will get a FREE cleaning gift set plus free shipping with your first order.Join over 1 million people taking charge of their mental health. Better Help will assess your needs and match you with your own licensed professional therapist. As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting betterhelp.com/ifstories.In the two years since episode 4 aired, Laurie has become an IF coach and author. She is also one of the moderators in the Delay, Don't Deny Facebook groups. On the day this interview was recorded, Laurie celebrated three years of IF! Laurie first found IF when she gained 50 pounds after menopause. "I was emotionally, mentally, and physically a basket case." She knew that her massive weight gain was not normal, and she no longer recognized herself. While visiting her mother in Colorado, she shared her discouragement. Her sweet mother prayed for the answer. That evening, Laurie Googled "How to lose stubborn, menopausal weight," and up popped IF. She stayed awake all night watching IF videos and reading everything she could about it. She had found the answer! Laurie began with 16:8 but soon discovered that 20:4 was her sweet spot. She has lost more than 50 pounds, and now weighs what she did in high school. She still keeps her 20:4 fasting routine.Laurie talks about her book, Celebrating Your Vibrant Future; IF for Women 44 to Forever. It is a 90-day workbook and daily journal that guides women toward understanding their physiology while learning how to fast clean, using Gin's clean fast guidelines. Laurie's workbook takes you on a journey to ensure you can IF for the rest of your life! The advice she'd give new IFers: "A shift in mindset is part of being successful with IF, as IF isn't something you're doing for a short time. IF is going to get you to a place that will enable you to feel good every day. Fasting is repair. Use honesty clothing with no stretch to gauge your progress. Eat the foods you love, and the foods that love you back. Fast clean and enjoy delicious food!"Laurie Lewis' website is: FastForwardWellness.com Find Celebrating Your Vibrant Future; IF for Women 44 to Forever on Amazon. Laurie also holds group programs, called Fast With Laurie.Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 24, 2020 • 59min
Todd White
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin speaks to Todd White, founder and CEO of Dry Farm Wines. This episode is brought to you by both Dry Farm Wines and Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative. To try the wines from Dry Farm Wines and see why Gin and her husband Chad are such fans, go to dryfarmwines.com/IFStories. You’ll get an extra bottle of wine for just a penny with your first order. Are you looking for the highest quality meat? Look no further than Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative! Healthy animals raised outdoors with sunlight, fresh air, and clean grass. No hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. Go to grassrootscoop.com/IFSTORIES to get $35 off your first order and receive free shipping!Todd lives in Yountville, CA. He began IF with keto six years ago. He now follows a modified keto diet. He began IF with 16:8, eventually moving to OMAD (One Meal a Day). Todd says, "Going to OMAD was the single most important advancement in my wellness, than anything else I have ever done. I felt so much better." He follows OMAD to stay healthy and lean.Todd says that, "eating less and eating less often, along with controlling blood sugar, can help avoid the over-production of insulin." This is also known as hyperinsulinemia, about which he says: "I believe is the leading cause for most chronic illnesses."Todd explains the mission of Dry Farm Wines, which is the largest importer and reseller of natural wines in the world. They do not sell domestic wines, as there is no wine produced in the US that meets their standards of purity. He explains what sets Dry Farm Wines apart from the rest: it is always grown without chemicals, organically/bio-dynamically. It is also fermented with wild, natural yeast, and there are absolutely no additives. The process of dry farming means less water, resulting in a lower in alcohol content and wines that are almost free of natural sugars.Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 17, 2020 • 54min
Kim Rains
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Kim Rains, a registered nurse from Renton, WA.This episode is brought to you by Audible! Audible is the leading provider of spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, ranging from best sellers, to celebrity memoirs, news, business, and self-development. To try Audible for free and get your free audiobook, visit Audible.com/ifstories or text ifstories to 500-500.Kim shares that she was always overweight, even as a kid. In the sixth grade she was put on a diet. She did Weight Watchers for many years prior to IF, never reaching her goal weight. Kim heard about IF while at her Crossfit gym. She overheard a conversation and decided to research it. At this point, she was pre-diabetic, and worried about developing Type 2 Diabetes. She knew it was time to do something. In February of 2019, Kim read The Obesity Code and Delay, Don't Deny, and joined Gin's Facebook group. She followed 20:4 and found that a midday window worked best for her. Kim has lost almost 50 pounds. Her A1C is now down to 5.5, and she is no longer pre-diabetic. Kim's husband, son, and daughter all do intermittent fasting now.The advice she'd give new IFers: "Take a lot of pictures to see your progress!"Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.com Follow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 10, 2020 • 49min
Kit McCall
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Kit McCall from Herman, Maine.This episode is brought to you by Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative and Ritual.Grass Roots Farmers Cooperative: Are you looking for the highest quality meat? Look no further than Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative! Healthy animals raised outdoors with sunlight, fresh air, and clean grass. No hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs needed. Go to grassrootscoop.com/IFSTORIES to get $35 off your first order and receive free shipping!Ritual Essential Vitamins: Ritual left out mystery additives, synthetic fillers, and shady extras that can be found in some traditional multivitamins. All of Ritual’s ingredients are obsessively-researched and science-backed. Go to ritual.com/ifstories to save 10% per month for your first three months!Kit is a video producer. He was always on some kind of diet and workout program. He'd lose weight, stop the program, and gain all the weight back. "It's always been a roller coaster," he shares. Kit’s weight crept up throughout his thirties, and he eventually found himself at 405 pounds. He had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low testosterone, severe acid reflux, low energy, and felt discouraged. He and his wife had briefly tried IF, but "it didn't stick for me." Kit's wife then found Delay Don't Deny, and IF became a lifestyle for her. He watched her amazing transformation, and her success was the inspiration he needed to do it himself. In April of 2019, Kit began IF with 16:8. He decided not to work out, but to instead focus on the fast alone. After eight months of 16:8, he moved to 23:1 during the week, keeping longer windows on weekends. After a year of this routine, Kit had lost 76 pounds. Kit has experienced multiple health benefits: his cholesterol, blood pressure, and testosterone all normalized. His psoriasis and acid reflux are both gone. He has incredible energy and feels great! Kit and his wife are more active. They're not constantly thinking about food, which allows them to be more productive.The advice he'd give new IFers: "Take it one day at a time. Get into the IF Facebook groups, because the info and stories and success of the community will help you. Everyone is different, so don’t compare yourself to others.”Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.com Follow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 3, 2020 • 55min
Laurel Wilson
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Laurel Wilson from Fresnillo, Mexico.Grove Collaborative: Grove is the online marketplace that delivers healthy home, beauty, and personal care products directly to you! order. Go to grove.co/ifstories to get a FREE cleaning gift set plus free shipping on your first order. Better Help: Do you wish you had someone to talk to? Better Help matches you with licensed professional counselors in a safe and private online environment. Go to betterhelp.com/ifstories to get 10% off your first month. Laurel is a volunteer music teacher in her children's school. Laurel shares that she has lost at least 80 pounds five times in her adult life. In February of 2019, her husband shared The Obesity Code with her, along with information on how to do a clean fast. Skeptical and doubtful at first, Laurel decided to do her own IF research. She found Gin's podcasts and joined her Facebook groups. After reading all that she could on IF, Laurel decided it was something she could indeed try! Both she and her husband found that IF was relatively easy for them, and within the first six months they had each lost almost 70 pounds. A year later, Laurel has almost lost 100 pounds. She typically fasts from 20-21 hours a day. She feels great, has great energy, and no longer hides from being in pictures. Her joint pain is gone. Her acid reflux went away. IF will be her lifestyle forever!The advice Laurel would give new IFers: "It's not your fault that you're overweight. It's not about willpower. IF sounds like an extreme diet, but it is not! Do the research to find the medical proof as to why IF works. IF is adaptable and flexible, and it can adjust to your life."Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.comFollow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 27, 2020 • 54min
Navin Hettiarachchi
In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Navin Hettiarachchi. Navin is the director of health, wellness, and performance for the NBA's Washington Wizards.This episode is brought to you by Feals CBD Oil: The world of CBD oil can be confusing. For premium CBD oil that you can trust, go to feals.com/ifstories. Become a member and get 50% off your first order plus free shipping.Navin found intermittent fasting in 2015, while trying to optimize his own health. IF immediately clicked for him, and he continues to keep an 18-21 hour daily fast. Navin constantly seeks to find things he believes in so that he may pass ideas along to his players. IF is one of the strategies he recommends.Navin explains that there are four pillars to health: sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, and movement. He calls this The Dashboard to Health. If you look at your nutrition, your skin, how you feel, how you are sleeping, and your energy level, you have a clear picture of your overall health. He says to "get those pillars in line" for optimal health. He also talks about how nutrition, exercise and IF are all highly individual to each person. "Like a thumbprint," he explains. IF helps Navin to stay balanced mentally, physically and spiritually.The advice Navin would give to new IFers: "Start slow with IF. Instead of having breakfast, go for a walk, exercise."Get Gin’s books, including her latest New York Times Bestseller, Fast. Feast. Repeat., available wherever you buy books! http://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.htmlShare your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.com Follow Gin on Twitter @gin_stephensFollow Gin on Instagram @GinStephensConnect with Gin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gin-Stephens-370557866639779Listen to Gin on the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast: Intermittent Fasting Stories on iTunesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.