Episode 499: Claire Watson-Pople

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Helen Hitchcock from the Midlands in the UK. Join Gin in the Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There’s nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don’t Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there’s just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you’re new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren’t ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you’ll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don’t need to join our community to fast. But if you’re looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Helen is a lawyer. She shares her transformative journey with intermittent fasting, detailing how it helped her overcome decades of disordered eating and body image struggles. Her story reveals the complexities behind adopting new habits and the freedom she found in fasting. Helen's experience underscores the importance of self-acceptance and the impact of mindful eating on her life. Throughout the episode, Helen discusses how a chance encounter in 2022 sparked her interest in fasting. She reflects on her past challenges with calorie restriction and the resulting binge eating. By embracing fasting, Helen was able to quiet the relentless food noise, improve her confidence, and model strength for her daughters. She shares practical tips on navigating food labels, recipes, and social settings, emphasizing the benefits of fasting, such as improved sleep, mood, and digestion. For new intermittent fasters, Helen advises personalizing fasting windows and embracing flexibility. She highlights the importance of patience, self-compassion, and experimentation in finding what works best for each individual. Helen encourages beginners to share their journey and remain open to learning and adapting along the way. Join Gin in the Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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 L

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Erika Barnhart from Butler, PA. Join Gin in the new Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There’s nothing better than community to help with that. In the Delay, Don’t Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there’s just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. You can connect directly with Gin in the Ask Gin group, and she will answer all of your questions personally. If you’re new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group. After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group. Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that! There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like. Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math. If you aren’t ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you’ll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available. IF is free. You don’t need to join our community to fast. But if you’re looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at ginstephens.com/community. Erika is a salon operations specialist and host of The Pause and Fast podcast. Erika's journey into intermittent fasting began with skepticism but quickly transformed into a life-changing experience. She discovered fasting in March of 2023. Over three years, Erika experienced significant improvements in her mental clarity, confidence, and physical health. Her story highlights the power of fasting to improve overall wellbeing. Throughout the episode, Erika emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body and maintaining flexibility with fasting schedules. Erika's approach to social situations, travel, and consistency in fasting routines showcases the positive ripple effects on relationships, work, and self-image. Her health improvements, including better cholesterol levels and weight loss, underscore the benefits of fasting. For new intermittent fasters, Erika advises starting with grace and patience. She encourages embracing the natural rhythm of fasting and trusting the body's signals. By letting go of obsession with metrics and embracing intuitive fasting, newcomers can enjoy the journey and experience the cumulative health benefits over time. Join Gin in the new Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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 you

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Denise Masalky from Maine and Florida. Join Gin in the Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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. Denise is a retired elementary school teacher. Denise's journey with intermittent fasting began in 2022 when she decided to take control of her health at the age of 71. Initially curious about the benefits, she quickly embraced the practice, leading to significant weight loss and the reversal of her type 2 diabetes. Denise emphasizes that it's never too late to make sustainable lifestyle changes, highlighting the importance of starting immediately and sticking to a plan. Her story is a testament to the power of intermittent fasting in transforming health and well-being, even later in life. Denise shares her transition to alternate-day fasting (ADF) and how listening to her body's signals played a crucial role in her success. Denise's active lifestyle, combined with dietary adjustments, helped her shed 60 pounds, increase her energy levels, and maintain her weight. Her experience underscores the significance of viewing food as medicine and reducing processed foods for better health outcomes. Here is Denise’s seed cracker recipe: 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup sunflower seeds 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 2 tablespoons flax seeds 3 tablespoons arrowroot flour 1.5-2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup boiling water Mix all the seeds and seasoning Add oil and water Let it sit for a few minutes Roll it out between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Bake at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes turning halfway through. Let cool and break into pieces. For those new to intermittent fasting, Denise offers practical advice: be patient, consistent, and avoid listening to naysayers. She encourages beginners to trust their bodies and remain persistent, even when faced with discouragement. Denise's story is a powerful reminder that with dedication and the right mindset, anyone can achieve their health goals and enjoy a more vibrant life. Join Gin in the Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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, har

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Janine Rodriguez from Long Island, NY. Join Gin in the new Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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. Janine is a soon-to-be-retired middle/high school cooking teacher. She shares her transformative journey with intermittent fasting, highlighting her shift from decades of dieting to achieving sustainable body recomposition and food freedom. Janine emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and mindful eating, while also sharing the physical benefits she experienced, such as resolving health issues and improving body composition. Throughout the episode, Janine recounts her early struggles with weight and various dieting attempts, including low-fat diets, Jenny Craig, Atkins, Weight Watchers, and keto. The turning point came with intermittent fasting and the discovery of the clean fast, leading to significant body recomposition. She describes her current fasting routine, which includes flexible fasting windows, and shares insights on maintaining discipline while allowing flexibility for special occasions. For new intermittent fasters, Janine advises tracking your fasting time and incorporating exercise into your routine. She encourages beginners to embrace the journey with patience and self-awareness, focusing on the long-term benefits of a balanced approach to fasting and food enjoyment. Join Gin in the new Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Andrea Oliveau from southern California. Join Gin in the new Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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 a chiropractor and qualified medical evaluator. She reveals how her journey from extreme fasting to more relaxed fasting with intuitive eating transformed her health and relationship with food. Andrea shares how her initial quick weight loss through extended fasts led to burnout, yo-yo dieting, and hormonal damage. She explains how her body’s signals finally told her to stop ignoring her hunger and nutrient needs — turning fasting into a sustainable, nourishing practice. Gin and Andrea emphasize the importance of personalized fasting protocols over one-size-fits-all approaches, why considering data (like eating window/fasting duration and food quality) helps identify your unique “sweet spot,” and how trusting your body’s signals can improve both your physical health and emotional wellbeing. Andrea details her practical rules for making fasting 'easy'—like eating intuitively, skipping unnecessary measuring, and focusing on nutrient-dense foods—so fasting becomes a tool that works for you. At the end of the episode, Andrea reminds listeners that this is YOUR journey, and you should turn inward and focus on what your unique body needs for healing along the way. Join Gin in the new Fast Feast Repeat app for The Grown-Up Year: 52 Weeks to Listen, Play, and Nourish, as well as a growing collection of intermittent fasting resources. Go to app.fastfeastrepeat.com to join us or go to the App Store and download the Fast Feast Repeat app, available for both iPhone and Android. 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 l