Episode 470: Joanna North

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Joanna North from Devon in the UK.

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Jo is a psychologist and psychotherapist who specializes in mental health and well-being. She shares her journey with intermittent fasting, which began in earnest about a year ago after listening to Gin's appearance on the Zoe podcast. Before that, she had experimented with 5:2 fasting for several years but found it ineffective and also difficult due to not practicing the clean fast. Jo recounts how learning about clean fasting was transformative, leading to rapid and noticeable changes in how she felt, changes in her body, and changes in her relationship with food.

Jo discusses her past struggles with weight, starting from childhood, including how calorie counting and diet culture negatively affected her. She highlights the relief and freedom she felt when she stopped focusing on calories and began listening to her body. This change has improved her relationship with food, allowing her to enjoy meals fully without the guilt and anxiety that used to accompany eating. Jo explains how the clean fast has replaced her former reliance on snacks and emotional eating.

The conversation delves into the psychological aspects of dieting and body image, with Jo reflecting on how her identity was tied to being overweight for much of her life. Through intermittent fasting, she has redefined her self-perception and embraced a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Jo also shares insights from her experience with the Zoe program, which complemented her fasting regimen by focusing on personalized nutrition.

In closing, Jo offers advice to those new to intermittent fasting. She suggests starting with a broad eating window to ease into the process comfortably and gradually shifting to shorter windows as the body's adaptation improves. This gradual approach allows individuals to find a natural balance that feels right for them, enabling them to enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting in a way that is sustainable.

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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