Episode 472: Karen Hiebert

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

Gin has a new YouTube Channel! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert.

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. 

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: