Delay, Don't Deny: Living an Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle

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The most influential person for me along this journey has been a teacher from Augusta, Georgia, named Gin Stephens; she wrote an incredible book called Delay, Don’t Deny that lays out the principles I have followed almost since day #1. Her book has my highest recommendation for anyone interested in learning more about intermittent fasting. In fact, I was recently honored to be interviewed on Gin’s podcast, Intermittent Fasting Stories; it was gratifying to be able to tell her firsthand what an amazing influence she has had on my life. Here is the link for anyone who wants to hear more. I began slowly gaining weight around 10 years ago. I attribute this to a time of extreme stress which caused me to quit caring for myself physically. Prior to this I had always been what most would consider thin. It took a few years for the weight gain to become visible to others, and even then, most would not have considered it extreme. It wasn’t until about 2015 that it really became noticeable. Fearing I'd fall and get hurt or I'd randomly break into tears. I spent the next months wasting my time by watching TV and googling random things on the internet. I'm so thankful I did, because that was how I came across Gin's Facebook group. I joined the group to pass my time, thinking it would be a good waste of time. At that time, I didn't know that it would change my life. Elena is a wellness advocate. She struggled with her weight through many years of overeating and soothing herself with food. I quit weighing myself about a month ago (July 2017) and was down about 40 lbs. at that point. I currently am wearing a 38 waist jean and they are getting looser! I haven't felt this good since my 20s, seriously. I am no longer easily winded when I ride and have cut 5 minutes off of my bike commute to work! OMAD has been a miracle to me, allowing me to enjoy food (which I do) without guilt. No calorie, fat grams, or carb grams to count. If there was, I wouldn't do it. Period. I tend to be the kid who would be up the tree he was told to stay away from 5 minutes ago, and that inner rebel has persisted into middle age. Tell me I can't eat it and I will shove it into my pie hole while looking you right in the face, lol.

The Stages of Intermittent Fasting - Gin Stephens, author and The Stages of Intermittent Fasting - Gin Stephens, author and

Thank you to many of the IFers in the DDD community: Gin, Kim, Sheri, Jeethah - for sharing your stories ❤️ I'm 5'9" and always been "big boned" with an obese/overweight BMI. My highest weight was 192lbs in October 2016 and I've lost less than 20lbs since starting IF a year ago. I've always weighed "a lot," but that doesn't make it any easier to still have a BMI in the overweight range despite my commitment to clean fasting since day 1. For many, that small amount of loss would be a reason to quit. In July of 2022, Elena found IF through an internet search and began her IF journey. She had been raised with fasting as a part of her religion, but did not know it was also a way of healthy living. You may notice that you cycle through some of the steps more than once, but most people seem to experience most (if not all) of these stages somewhere along the way.I have almost always been overweight. In fact, as early as the age of 8 I can remember my mom putting me on a diet and taking me to T.O.P.S. meetings.

Success Stories - Gin Stephens, author and intermittent faster Success Stories - Gin Stephens, author and intermittent faster

Several years ago, I walked happily into my doctor's office seeking treatment for my cold/flu that I had for several weeks. Not a big deal. As my eyes met the doctor's, my heart sank. Right away, I knew that the words that would soon flow out of his mouth would be words of despair. As I felt the heart-breaking energy in the room, it happened. He announced in the same tone that he would a death that I was a diabetic. He went on to inform me that it was due to my weight. Then, at age 61, I stopped eating animals. I’m an artist and was doing illustrations of adorable creatures...and something snapped inside. Practically overnight, I became a vegan. I immediately lost 20 pounds while I figured out what I could eat. Within a few months, I realized there were some astounding health benefits to my new lifestyle. My blood pressure and cholesterol plummeted enough that I no longer needed medication. Acid reflux disappeared as well. That encouraged me to start researching plant-based diets. At age 63, I discovered Dr. John McDougall (and several other plant-based physicians) and started eating high carb low fat. That’s also when I started following Dr. Douglas Lisle, psychologist, and learned the why’s and wherefore’s of so-called emotional eating. I credit these two doctors with saving my life and sanity. By age 68, I was down to 147 pounds...but couldn’t seem to get any lower. I wondered if that was going to be my body’s final resting weight. Oh, I could have sacrificed and severely dieted my way lower, but I was trying to get out of my diet mentality, not sink further in. We both feel so good going into this next phase of her treatment! You won't find two sisters who support and feel about each other the way she and I do. I "retired" last year so that I can be there for her every step of the way through this cancer. I live in Cleveland now (moved from Richmond, VA 3 years ago) and she is in Columbus. I am so grateful for the 2 hours drive since it used to be 7 hours from Richmond. I think my car could actually drive itself there. Tammy is a caregiver. Over the years, she tried all of the diets and even diet pills. When she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in June of 2022, she did some research and found Delay, Don’t Deny. Tammy immediately began her IF journey and felt better right away! The best part? I have returned to my home cuisine, which I enjoy eating with my family every night. My food has no restrictions – wholemeal grains and millet, lots of dal, nuts & seeds, fermented food, all kinds of fruit & vegetables, full fat yoghurt and cheese.At some point on my Facebook feed I started getting information about Intermittent Fasting from various sources. One that I remember suggested that women should fast 12-14 hours, then have their first meal. I dabbled with that for some time and felt great doing it. Once we learned to speak the natural "fast and feast" language of our bodies, appetite correction sorted out our eating habits effortlessly. Fasting taught me that I was never a glutton weak in willpower, nor was I ever "eating my feelings." My inability to stop eating--and to stop eating toxic garbage--before finding the fasting lifestyle was directly caused by the effect of insulin on my cells. As soon as fasting balanced my hormones, I appeared to have herculean control over food. But I've learned it's not about control, nor even food at all, it's about fasting's power to heal our bodies, change our relationship to eating, and prolong our lives.

All Blog Posts Gin Stephens, author and intermittent faster - All Blog Posts

quote GinaJaffacake] @LovelyGirlCompetition, thanks. I didn’t realise it took 10wks. I do feel healthier after just under 2wks but I’m guessing that’s due to the big increase in my water consumption. My calories are under 1200 a day so I’m surprised I’m not losing just from that. Meanwhile, I found running in 2003 and truly enjoyed it, training almost daily, completing 5 half marathons over the years and successfully managing my weight with it. I’d brag to friends that I never diet, and run so I can eat and drink whatever I want, whenever I want. And I did. The metabolism of my 30s made it possible. LovelyGirlCompetition, thanks. I didn’t realise it took 10wks. I do feel healthier after just under 2wks but I’m guessing that’s due to the big increase in my water consumption. My calories are under 1200 a day so I’m surprised I’m not losing just from that. With intermittent fasting I get to choose my results and I choose to take care of my body. I want to live a long healthy life. I love healthy food – foods that offer me strength, health, nutrition, and mental clarity. Foods that keep my agency intact. I love intermittent fasting because I gained self-control, self-discipline, a body of health, and a passion for life. I can eat without gaining weight because I am not overindulging all day. I feel like my body was never designed to eat all day long, my digestive system needs that break! Using fat for a fuel source is genius – I have never had this much energy! I love my body. I even love taking care of my body. I feel like I am communing with God when I exercise. Previously exercise was a “bad word”. Try exercising while holding 100 pounds of cement – it is miserable!!! But now, I love to take care of my body. It’s also important to “avoid any protein-filled liquids such as bone broth, because that can halt autophagy [the cellular process that breaks down and recycles damaged molecules], which you want to promote while fasting,” explains Stephens.I was already doing the old calorie in calorie out diet (had just started) and thought "I can do this and it is much easier". I currently use the 16-8 method. I eat my first meal at noon and close the window at 8:00 pm. I routinely stretch it to 18-6 several times a week. I had a routine physical a few months prior to starting IF. My numbers were all very good. I had to get a physical for insurance recently. ALL of my numbers had improved. Mind you, they were already good. I was at a sales meeting recently and someone I hadn't seen in approximately 3 years came up to me and said, "I didn't speak to your earlier because I wasn't sure that was you. You look so YOU. I remember you being older!"