Intermittent Fasting Stories

Latest Episodes:

Episode 470: Joanna North Jun 12, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Joanna North from Devon in the UK.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Episode 469: Bridget Mazenkas Jun 05, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Bridget Mazenkas from Massachusetts.

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.

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Episode 468: Lisa Evers May 29, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Lisa Evers from Chatham, Ontario in Canada.

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.

Lisa is a repeat guest, and she first appeared on episode 384 which came out in February of 2024. Lisa is a retired kindergarten teacher and an intermittent fasting coach. In this episode, Lisa shares how her lifelong struggles with body image and digestive issues led her to discover the fasting lifestyle for health benefits rather than weight loss.

As Lisa delves into the transition to intermittent fasting, she emphasizes the relief and freedom from excessive food noise that it provided. This newfound clarity helped her realize a misalignment with her teaching career, prompting her to retire and explore new ventures like writing children's books and starting her coaching business. Lisa shares how intermittent fasting facilitated a major mental shift, helping her release old obsessive tendencies related to food and self-worth. She also discusses overcoming an "all-or-nothing" mindset, which now empowers her to make choices in alignment with her health and life goals.

Throughout the conversation, Lisa highlights significant personal victories, including reduced digestive issues and pain, improved thyroid health, and increased mental clarity. She also touches upon the impact of diet culture and how intermittent fasting helped her detach from its toxic grip. Lisa's story emphasizes the importance of adaptation and self-awareness, noting her journey of learning to listen to hunger cues and understand personal body signals over pre-set eating schedules.

Lisa concludes with advice for newcomers to intermittent fasting, urging them to practice clean fasting, to be patient and give the lifestyle time to show results, and to surround themselves with supportive, like-minded communities. Journaling is also encouraged to increase self-awareness and document the journey towards a healthier, more authentic self. Her closing words reinforce the idea that intermittent fasting can lead to unexpected and transformative personal growth.

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Episode 467: Dana Hardy Bingham May 22, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Dana Hardy Bingham from Pittsburgh, PA.

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.

Dana, a retired teacher turned actor, director, wedding officiant, and part-time nanny, embarked on her fasting journey in September of 2023. Her primary motivation? The potential neuroprotective benefits against Alzheimer’s and dementia, after witnessing the challenges firsthand through her in-laws' battles with these diseases. Dana highlights her transition to clean fasting, the shift from sugar-laden treats to healthier choices, and her remarkable non-scale victories, including increased energy and improved mental clarity. She candidly shares how intermittent fasting has transformed her relationship with food and her overall well-being. As the episode concludes, Dana offers advice for those new to intermittent fasting. She stresses the importance of consuming podcasts as a motivational resource to maintain dedication to the process. These shared experiences and solutions from others can help fasters feel less isolated and bolster their resolve. Dana wishes she had discovered intermittent fasting sooner, expressing gratitude for the transformative impact it has had on her life. Ending with a note of hope, she underscores that even if one starts later in life, it's never too late to reap the benefits of this lifestyle shift.

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Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.com

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Episode 466: Enid Bush May 15, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Enid Bush from Manalapan, NJ.

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.

Enid is a retired teacher, currently teaching theater to young children, and she also works as a health coach. Enid shares her journey with intermittent fasting, which began when she discovered a health coach named Dr. Livingood, who introduced her to the health benefits of fasting. Inspired by his insights about autophagy, and encouraged by a nutritionist to work out on an empty stomach, Enid began fasting. However, it wasn't until she stumbled upon Gin's book, Fast Feast Repeat, that she realized she wasn't fasting clean, leading her to a deeper understanding and better implementation of the lifestyle.

Enid discusses her struggles with diets in the past, detailing how she spent years trying various diets like Fit for Life, Herbalife, Weight Watchers, and different nutrition programs, only to find them restrictive and unsustainable. After beginning the clean fast on January 10, 2023, Enid noticed improvements in her well-being and recently celebrated two years in the lifestyle.

Throughout the conversation, Enid emphasizes the transformation in her relationship with food. She highlights the joy of enjoying meals more thoroughly and describes how her tastes have naturally shifted towards healthier options, allowing herself to be more selective with what she eats. The episode also touches on her experiences with social expectations and perceptions about fasting, how she responds to skepticism from others, and the importance of understanding one's own body through personalized nutrition and fasting practices.

Enid concludes by sharing her ultimate advice to those new to intermittent fasting: recognize the advantages of fasting beyond weight loss, particularly its healing potential. She advises newcomers to have patience, give their bodies time to adjust, focus on a clean fast, and believe in themselves. Emphasizing the freedom that comes with trusting one's own hunger signals and preferences, Enid advocates for a shift away from societal diet pressures and towards a more intuitive, satisfying eating experience.

You can find Enid at embhealthcoach.com.

Join Gin’s community! Go to: ginstephens.com/community

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Episode 465: Tracey Mullin May 08, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tracey Mullin from Channahon, IL.

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.

Tracey owns her own cake decorating business. Tracey shares her journey to intermittent fasting, which began in March of 2017. Her lifelong experiences with different diets started in her childhood when she watched her mother experiment with various weight loss programs like Richard Simmons’ Deal-a-Meal and Jenny Craig. Tracey recounts her own experiments with multiple diets and workout regimens in the 90s and early 2000s, leading to weight fluctuations that prompted her interest in more sustainable weight management methods.

Tracey discusses a pivotal moment inspired by an Oprah episode featuring Michael Pollan, which led her to rethink her consumption of processed foods. She later embarked on an elimination diet under her doctor's guidance due to stage 1 liver damage. During this time, Tracey now realizes that she was inadvertently practicing a form of intermittent fasting, resembling a 19:5 pattern, which resulted in significant weight loss at the time, though she didn’t maintain that loss long term when she reverted to her prior eating schedule.

In 2017, Tracey found out about intermittent fasting through a beta program she enrolled in, and she started exploring other resources in the intermittent fasting community. When Tracey stumbled upon Gin's Delay, Don’t Deny Facebook group, her relationship with intermittent fasting continued to evolve, particularly when she met her husband, who was also practicing intermittent fasting. Despite gaining some weight during 2020 amid the stress of the pandemic and major life changes, she prioritized returning to a protocol that balanced fasting with enjoying her meals. Tracey appreciates the flexibility of intermittent fasting and integrates a combination of exercise routines including running, walking, and strength training to maintain her wellbeing.

Toward the end of the episode, Tracey reflects on the personal nature of the intermittent fasting journey and the importance of removing obstacles to allow the body to naturally heal and regulate itself. Her final advice to listeners is about being patient with the process, not getting discouraged by fluctuations, and staying motivated by learning from other people's stories. She underscores the value of allowing enough time for the body to adapt to fasting and suggests that listening to related podcasts can provide constant encouragement and insight.

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Episode 464: Jalene Weigand May 01, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Jalene Weigand from Anaheim, CA.

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.

Jalene is a preschool teacher, a nanny, and she owns a small soapmaking business. Jalene previously appeared on episode 350 almost two years ago, and she has been happily living the intermittent fasting lifestyle since the last time she came on the podcast. Her journey with intermittent fasting began in November of 2021. She describes her previous struggles with weight gain during menopause and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected her lifestyle and weight. Upon hearing a podcast with Laurie Lewis speaking about menopausal weight gain and how intermittent fasting helped her lose the weight, Jalene found hope and started immediately. The episode highlights her transformation and how intermittent fasting became the answer.

Jalene’s weight loss journey was not only about losing pounds but also about regaining her health, as she dealt with hormone issues and Hashimoto's. By incorporating a clean fast and prioritizing whole foods, Jalene found significant improvements in both her physical and mental health.

Through it all, Jalene recounts her journey towards finding balance and control over her lifestyle. A 4 to 5-hour eating window and activities such as moving around actively with preschool children are part of her routine. She emphasizes the importance of finding a personalized approach that works for one's unique body and lifestyle. Jalene's experience is a testament to the power of listening to your body and adapting as necessary, whether through tweaking fasting schedules or incorporating different types of foods and activities that fit in with your individual needs.

As a final piece of advice, Jalene encourages listeners, especially those new to intermittent fasting, to take pictures and measurements from the start, as it is a great way to track progress beyond the scale. She has learned to focus on how she feels rather than the number on the scale, reminding everyone of the importance of living life to the fullest and embracing the journey with intermittent fasting as a sustainable lifestyle change.

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Episode 463: Natalie Willis Apr 24, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Natalie Willis from Devon in England.

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.

Natalie works within the probation services. In September of 2019, after gaining weight when she stopped a previous method that wasn't working for her any longer, she discovered Gin’s podcast, started intermittent fasting, and read Gin’s books Fast Feast Repeat and Delay, Don’t Deny. Even though she had heard about IF from a friend who lost weight using the 5:2 approach, Natalie favored the daily eating window approach and found immense satisfaction and success, losing around 30 pounds in a year and experiencing various health benefits.

Natalie’s preferred routine typically involves a four-hour eating window, though she explains that she moves her eating window around as necessary with her schedule.

The conversation weaves through Natalie’s past struggles with body image and a tumultuous relationship with food that started in her teenage years. She describes how joining Herbalife in 2014 set her on a positive path of health and wellness, although it became stressful with time. Transitioning to intermittent fasting brought a more natural and liberating approach to weight management for her. Natalie talks about the positive changes she noticed, such as improved mental focus, reduced joint pain, and overall better well-being. Growing her own food in an allotment has helped her pivot to a diet rich in vegetables and real foods.

In sharing her non-scale victories, Natalie highlights rapid hair growth, improved dental health, and increased confidence. Her parting advice to newcomers is to embrace black coffee, exercise kindness towards oneself, and understand that intermittent fasting is a lifelong journey filled with seasons of change. Every day is a new opportunity to start fresh and find one’s sweet spot in this sustainable lifestyle.

Join Gin’s community! Go to: ginstephens.com/community

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Episode 462: Melody Fields Apr 17, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Melody Fields from Hamilton, OH.

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.

Melody is retired, and works part time in a jewelry store. She embarked on her intermittent fasting journey at the end of August 2022, using September 1st as her fastiversary. After struggling with her weight for many years and experiencing significant weight swings, losing 80-100 pounds several times over her life, Melody decided to give intermittent fasting a try. She started with a 16:8 fasting schedule, quickly transitioning to a 20:4 approach, which she found to be comfortable and effective.

During the discussion, Melody shared how intermittent fasting has not only helped her lose weight but also significantly improved her health and overall quality of life. Before starting intermittent fasting, Melody faced numerous physical challenges such as knee pain, difficulty walking, and the need for multiple medications, including those for acid reflux and allergies. Remarkably, she has been able to stop taking these medications and is no longer restricted by her previous health issues. One motivation for Melody was her desire to be an active and energetic grandmother to her two young grandsons, which intermittent fasting has allowed her to achieve.

Melody also spoke about joining a supportive intermittent fasting community and how it bolstered her knowledge and commitment to the lifestyle. Alongside intermittent fasting, Melody incorporated walking into her daily routine, which began as simple as walking around a grocery store with a shopping cart for support and has now progressed to using a treadmill regularly. Her husband also joined her in intermittent fasting, which led to his own significant health improvements, including weight loss and normalized blood pressure.

As the episode closed, Melody offered insightful advice to those just starting their intermittent fasting journey. She emphasized the importance of trusting the process, being patient with oneself, and not getting discouraged by the scale. Melody advised intermittent fasters to stay flexible, adjust as needed, and live their lives without forgoing fun experiences. Finally, she encouraged newcomers to seek community support and reliable resources, such as Gin’s books, to stay informed and motivated.

Join Gin’s community! Go to: ginstephens.com/community

Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.com

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Episode 461: Karen Gaul Apr 10, 2025

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In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Karen Gaul from Norwich in the UK.

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, a retired professional whose career was spent working with people, shares her lifelong journey with weight management and how she discovered intermittent fasting. She begins by recounting how she was placed on her first diet at the age of 9 due to her mother's fear of her becoming overweight. This set her on a tumultuous path of weight fluctuations that continued into adulthood. Despite these early struggles, Karen always maintained an active lifestyle, which included dancing, swimming, and various sports activities. Her first introduction to intermittent fasting came in 2019, inspired partially by her nephew who practiced it.

Karen's pivotal change came in 2020 when she seriously began intermittent fasting after reading Dr. Chatterjee's books and Gin's book Delay, Don't Deny. She initially incorporated intermittent fasting by delaying breakfast and quickly found that her satisfaction increased, reducing the need to eat three meals a day. By first making changes in what she was eating and then adhering to an 18:6 or 16:8 fasting protocol, she managed to lose weight steadily, going from 174 pounds to 123 pounds by the end of 2020. Her daily routine settled into having brunch around 11 am and dinner by 6 pm.

Karen also shares her health setbacks, particularly a diagnosis of stage 1A endometrial cancer just before her 70th birthday. Despite the shock, Karen's overall fitness and health put her in a good position for recovery. She underwent a total hysterectomy followed by 27 radiotherapy treatments. Throughout this trying period, Karen continued her fasting and credits it for helping her maintain focus and a healthy lifestyle. Two years later, she is cancer-free and attributes her successful recovery to her well-established fasting and wellness routines which include good sleep, moderate exercise, and a balanced diet.

In concluding her story, Karen emphasizes the importance of patience for anyone starting with intermittent fasting. She advises learning what protocol suits you through your own study of one, and reminds listeners that achieving your health goals is a journey unique to each individual. Karen encourages new fasters to utilize available resources, ask questions, and find a supportive community, stressing that persistence and self-discovery are key to long-term success. Her outlook remains optimistic as she continues to evolve her practices, always looking forward to what comes next in her wellness journey.

Join Gin’s community! Go to: ginstephens.com/community

Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: gin@intermittentfastingstories.com

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