What if the problem isn’t your willpower — but the way we’ve been taught to eat?

In this powerful and refreshingly grounded episode of the Inspired Wellness Podcast, we sit down with Gin Stephens, New York Times bestselling author and host of the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast, for an honest conversation about intermittent fasting, midlife metabolism, and stepping out of diet culture for good.

Gin shares her personal journey from decades of dieting to discovering intermittent fasting — and why how you fast matters just as much as when. Together, we unpack common myths around fasting for women, cortisol concerns, and hormones, and explain why “clean fasting” can be a game-changer for energy, metabolic health, and long-term sustainability.

We also dive into Gin’s compassionate “cleanish” philosophy, which removes guilt and perfectionism from food, and explore her brand-new program Eat Like a Grown-Up, a 52-week, real-life approach to nourishing your body without extremes.

If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s feeling overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice — this episode will help you reconnect with your body, trust how you feel, and find an approach that actually works in real life.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why diet culture starts early — and why it’s so hard to break
• Gin’s personal journey from chronic dieting to intermittent fasting
• Why intermittent fasting is more than calorie restriction
• The difference between fasting and fasting clean
• Understanding insulin, the cephalic phase insulin response, and fat burning
• Does intermittent fasting raise cortisol in women? (What the research really shows)
• Why under-eating and over-exercising — not fasting — harm women’s health
• How intermittent fasting can reduce stress, brain fog, and decision fatigue
• Gin’s cleanish philosophy: removing guilt, shame, and food morality
• The truth about ultra-processed foods and seed oils
• Inside Gin’s new Eat Like a Grown-Up program
• Why trusting your body may be the most powerful health tool you have

About Our Guest

Gin Stephens is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and internationally recognized voice in the intermittent fasting space. A former elementary school teacher with a doctorate in education, Gin is known for her ability to make complex science approachable, practical, and sustainable.

She is the author of:

• Delay, Don’t Deny
• Fast. Feast. Repeat.
• Clean(ish)

Gin is also the host of the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast, with hundreds of real-life success stories from people around the world.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Gin Stephens’ Website: jenstephens.com
• Eat Like a Grown-Up Program (inside the Fast Feast Repeat App)
• Fast Feast Repeat App (Apple App Store & Google Play)
• Book recommendation: The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung

Final Takeaway

You don’t need another extreme plan, rigid rules, or fear-based messaging.

As Gin shares in this episode:

“You can trust how you feel. Don’t outsource your intuition to people who don’t live in your body.”

Whether you’re new to intermittent fasting or feeling confused by the noise around women’s health in midlife, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered, informed, and grounded.

 Listen now and start trusting your body again.

 Questions or topic requests? Email Michelle to be part of the conversation!

Email: [email protected]

Schedule a free discovery call with Michelle: theinspiredwellnesscoach.com

Follow Michelle on Instagram & Facebook: @TheInspiredWellnessCoach

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Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.