In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Chelsea and Ros, two friends from Dalby which is in Queensland, Australia.

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.

Ros is a teacher aid, and Chelsea and her brother run a building company. Ros found intermittent fasting first, after a long struggle with her weight. She got to her highest weight of 153 kg, which is 337 pounds, and her doctor suggested that she have bariatric surgery. She knew that she didn’t want to have surgery, and looked for another option. She was able to use Ozempic, losing 20 kg. But then there was an Ozempic shortage, and Ros told herself that there was no way she was going to allow herself to regain the weight she lost, so she started walking. She ran into a friend of hers who looked great, and her friend told her about intermittent fasting. Ros started immediately. Thanks to IF, she not only didn’t regain the weight she had lost, but she kept losing, going from an Australian size 26 to a size 16, which is similar to a US size 12. Ros shares that the appetite correction she feels as an IFer is a similar way to shut off the “food noise”, just as Ozempic does, but without the side effects she experienced while taking Ozempic.

Eventually, Chelsea decided to begin IF herself. She describes herself as a former sugar addict, and Ros’s results inspired her. Chelsea discusses her struggle with weight-related shame and her complex relationship with food, particularly her tendency toward sweets which has often hindered her progress. She also touches upon her battle with gestational diabetes and the mental health struggles following an ectopic pregnancy. Her personal challenges underline the importance of finding a balance that goes beyond mere weight loss.

Ros and Chelsea discuss the cultural pressures around food and the significance of supporting each other through their health journeys. They share insights into the physical and psychological benefits they've experienced, including improved skin health and energy levels, highlighting that intermittent fasting has much more to offer beyond weight loss. They each also experienced unexpected healing: Ros healed quickly after major surgery, and Chelsea had a skin issue clear up without needing intervention, amazing her dermatologist.

Ending the episode, Ros and Chelsea offer advice to listeners considering intermittent fasting. Ros underscores the effectiveness of having a strong motivation and the importance of understanding the science behind fasting. Chelsea advises on the mental shift needed to make intermittent fasting a sustainable part of life rather than a quick fix. Both stress the importance of patience, support, and personal adaptability in making any health-driven lifestyle change. They express enthusiasm about their ongoing journey and encourage listeners to give intermittent fasting a try, with an emphasis on its transformative potential beyond the scale.

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, and hardback. 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, a 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 an August of 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is coming soon, but has not yet been recorded, so if you listen to the first edition audiobook, you’ll also want a copy of the ebook or a paper copy to see the updates.

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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