In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Bonnie Henderson from Pueblo, CO.

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Bonnie is a licensed clinical social worker. She unintentionally started skipping dinner five years ago while her spouse was away, which a medical professional later identified to her as intermittent fasting. Excited to learn that it came with health benefits, she began researching. Bonnie found Gin's book Fast Feast Repeat and adopted the clean fast, which resulted in gradual but sustainable weight loss.

Bonnie discusses the challenges and adjustments she faced when her husband retired and began preparing dinners each night, and she stopped fasting for two years. This led to weight regain, finding her at her highest weight of 165. Resuming an intentional intermittent fasting regimen, she committed to a 19:5 schedule from Monday to Thursday, and a more flexible eating pattern on weekends. This approach allowed her to regain control over her weight and enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting, such as reduced inflammation and relief from various other symptoms.

The conversation delves into the broader health benefits of intermittent fasting and touches on various lifestyle factors contributing to overall wellness, including sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Bonnie also shares how she integrates insights about the benefits of intermittent fasting into her therapy sessions. Gin and Bonnie underscore the significance of individualized fasting plans and the unpredictability of weight loss rates, emphasizing patience and persistence.

Bonnie concludes the episode by reflecting on how intermittent fasting has given her a renewed lease on life, initially adopting the lifestyle without the goal of weight loss, but experiencing numerous unexpected health benefits. She advises listeners to maintain patience and perseverance, understanding that individualized approaches are crucial. Gin encourages leveraging resources like podcasts and books to deepen understanding and confidently share the lifestyle's benefits, even if faced with skepticism. Through her own experience, Bonnie's final advice is to embrace intermittent fasting as a sustainable, healthy lifestyle choice that can positively impact overall well-being.

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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.

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

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Episode 454: Bonnie Henderson