In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Dr. Pete Patitsas, an emergency medicine doctor and author of The Athos Diet.

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.

Dr. Pete is Greek Orthodox, which has many ancient traditions including fasting. From the age of 7, he observed the fasting lifestyle his church follows, and it wasn’t until he was completing a research project in med school that he began to understand the powerful health benefits that are associated with fasting. His findings inspired his book, The Athos Diet, designed to optimize Orthodox Christian fasting for health benefits. The three pillars of his approach include intermittent fasting (with a daily 4-8 hour window), choosing nutritious foods, and gentle exercise.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Pete emphasizes the natural health-promoting aspects of cultural practices and ancestral ways of living, such as eating seasonally. He draws analogies between modern intermittent fasting and historical cycles of feast and famine, suggesting that facing natural challenges enhances resilience. Dr. Pete details his routine of eating within a four-hour window and fasting for 36 hours occasionally to boost clarity and health. This regimen is tied to his Orthodox beliefs, which he emphasizes have inherent health benefits that could prevent major diseases.

Gin and Dr. Pete delve into intermittent fasting's role in utilizing stored fat for energy, preserving muscle mass, and boosting growth hormone levels, which impact overall health and longevity. They also address the rising trend of obesity in children and the broader implications of dietary choices on public health.

Dr. Pete advocates for intermittent fasting as a holistic approach to health, going beyond mere weight loss to enhance mental and physical well-being. Dr. Pete underscores the benefits of traditional fasting practices, noting the remarkable longevity and cognitive health of monks following these regimens. As a parting message, Dr. Pete advises listeners to integrate intermittent fasting into their lives to experience its myriad benefits, stressing the importance of consistency and lifestyle changes in achieving long-term health and resilience.

Check out our sponsor Zoe at ZOE.com, use code IFSTORIES10 to get 10% off your membership

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

Visit Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com

Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.html

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 447: Dr. Pete Patitsas