On this week’s episode of The Girlfriend Doctor, I had a conversation with Gin Stephens, a former elementary school teacher who turned to fasting as a way to lose weight after becoming obese. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Fast Feast Repeat as well as Cleanish and other books.

Fasting is not about what you eat, but when you eat. It’s become a healthy way to lose unwanted pounds and maintain optimal weight and health. Generally, intermittent fasting means not eating for 16 hours between dinner and breakfast, and then eating regularly for those other 8 hours. The hours may vary per person.

When you first take on intermittent fasting, you have to allow your body to get “fat-adapted” and then you can tailor your fasting so it’s easy. It’s all about learning to listen to the body and what rhythm feels good, and practice “intuitive eating.”

Intermittent fasting will not cause a lot of weight loss fast, in fact, in most cases, not for the first 28 days. But from that point forward, you can expect to see steady weight loss and better overall energy and health.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[4:57] Gin’s story of obesity

[12:24] Going through the adaptation period

[14:24] Figuring out how many fasting hours work for your body

[29:26] How fasting helps to identify intolerant foods

[37:10] Choosing what to eat while fasting

 

 

HOW TO CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

https:// https://www.ginstephens.com/

https://www.intermittentfastingstories.com/

https://www.ginstephens.com/all-blog-posts/

 

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“We can learn to tune into our hunger and satiety signals. We can be intuitive eaters. The weight will just fall off.”

 

“I’m just teaching about intermittent fasting because that’s what teachers do. I'm not a historian, but I can teach history. I'm not a mathematician, but I can teach math. I'm not a doctor or medical professional, but I can learn the information, do the research and then bring it to you.”

 

“During the adaptation period when your body is learning to be metabolically flexible, you have to kind of push through some of the harder feelings because your body is not fat-adapted when you begin. So it doesn't know how to tap into your fat stores for fuel.”

 

“I've gotten really great at listening to my body and knowing when I need to eat a little more or when I've had enough. So I like to eat when I eat, I really like to eat.”

 

“That hunger hormone that has been conditioned like a begging dog to get fed on a regular basis. So if you think about it that way, am I giving into my begging dog or am I trying to train this dog?”

 

 

To learn more about me and to stay connected, visit the links below:

• Website: The Girlfriend Doctor
• Instagram: The Girlfriend Doctor