Episode 438: Helen Blicharz

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Helen Blicharz from Detroit.

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. 

Helen is a mother of three who has had many careers over the years. She shares her inspiring journey of losing 120 pounds through intermittent fasting and lifestyle changes—and her journey isn’t over yet.

Helen was diagnosed with type two diabetes in 2018, which led her to explore various eating patterns, starting with the ketogenic diet and eventually transitioning to intermittent fasting in 2019. Throughout the episode, Helen emphasizes the importance of finding a sustainable approach to fasting that works for one's individual needs and preferences. She details her own journey, starting with a 12-hour fast and progressively increasing to a 16:8 method before settling on one meal a day within a three-hour window most days.

Helen's family has embraced the intermittent fasting lifestyle, as have coworkers. She highlights the importance of listening to one's body and making long-term, sustainable changes. Helen shares her current diet, which focuses on vegetables and protein while being mindful of her diabetes. She also discusses her love of monthly challenges, which have included challenges such as no sweeteners, no meat, and consistent exercise.

As the conversation concludes, Helen reflects on her journey and offers advice to her former self, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health over societal ideals of beauty. She encourages listeners to focus on making sustainable lifestyle changes, be patient with the process, and appreciate the journey of self-discovery and transformation that comes with intermittent fasting.

Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don’t Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and in audio. 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, a 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 an August of 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. Intermitt