In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Karen Hiebert from Winnipeg, Canada.

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Karen is a retired director of corporate communications. Karen discusses her journey to intermittent fasting which began last year after an alarming weigh-in at her doctor's appointment revealed she weighed 209 pounds. Prior to this, Karen had always been naturally slim due to a high metabolism, but menopause brought changes to her body that led to significant weight gain over time. Determined to make a change, Karen initiated her own strict diet plan, but soon realized she needed a more sustainable approach, leading her to discover intermittent fasting.

Karen highlights the impact of menopause on her weight and shares how she initially attempted calorie counting and low carb eating to tackle her weight gain. However, the turning point came when she discovered Gin's book, Fast Feast Repeat, which opened her eyes to the importance of her body’s insulin response and the hormonal aspects of hunger and satiety. This insight led her to embrace intermittent fasting wholeheartedly, integrating it with a focus on whole, healthy foods, which brought about remarkable changes in her health and well-being.

Nine months into her intermittent fasting journey, Karen proudly shares that she has lost a total of 49 pounds and feels rejuvenated. Her eating window is typically from noon or 1 PM to 6 PM, and she follows an 18:6 schedule to maintain her weight. Karen has reintroduced carbs like home baked sourdough bread into her diet, and enjoys the occasional treat, balancing her diet to enjoy both health and indulgence.

Karen's advice to listeners is to stay curious and open to learning throughout their intermittent fasting journey. She emphasizes the importance of asking questions, absorbing as much information as possible, and taking progress pictures to capture the remarkable changes. This mindset, alongside her excitement and positive attitude, has been instrumental in her success with intermittent fasting, and she hopes it can inspire others to achieve their own health goals.

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.  

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