In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Erika Delco from Charlotte, NC.

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 therapist and health coach. When Erika first heard about intermittent fasting, she was skeptical. Her skepticism shifted in 2018 after reading Gin’s book, Delay, Don't Deny, and Dr. Jason Fung's The Obesity Code. She shares her long history with dieting, starting from Weight Watchers in the ninth grade, and her eventual freedom from food obsession through adopting intermittent fasting.

Erika initially experienced about 5 pounds of weight loss but hit a plateau and didn’t lose any more weight for three years, despite still having weight to lose. She loved the freedom IF brought to her, but her weight was stuck. She began incorporating berberine, which led to a dramatic weight loss of 30 pounds between March and October of 2021.

Throughout the conversation, Erika highlights the importance of listening to your body and finding a fasting routine that fits one’s lifestyle. She emphasizes the health benefits she’s experienced over the years, noting how intermittent fasting helped her reduce instances of illness and manage her weight despite frequent travel. Gin and Erika discuss the mental aspects of fasting and food freedom, stressing the need for empowered choices over restrictive eating.

The discussion transitions to Erika's work as a health coach. She has developed a program called Finding Food Freedom Fast, combining fasting principles with strategies for building habits and managing emotional eating.

Erika concludes with final advice for new IFers: start gradually and be patient. She encourages them to find a routine that fits their lifestyle and to stay motivated by hearing others' stories and struggles. Importantly, Erika stresses that intermittent fasting should be approached as a long-term lifestyle change with an emphasis on the health benefits rather than just weight loss. She underscores the importance of consistency in one’s health regimen, listening to the body’s needs, and finding food freedom through empowered choices.

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

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Episode 456: Erika Delco

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