Episode 473: Julie Troger

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Julie Troger from Monroe Township, NJ.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. Julie is retired, and worked as an educational sign language interpreter for 25 years. Julie found intermittent fasting in January of 2024. Initially, Julie was searching for a healthy lifestyle that would help her age well and remain healthy into her later years, especially as she witnessed the severe dementia, heart disease, and diabetes affecting the women in her family. Determined to break this cycle, Julie found intermittent fasting while researching ways to lower her risks for these conditions.As Julie delves into her past, she recounts her dieting struggles that started from a very young age. She shares how she felt as though she was "on a diet" most of her life, losing and gaining weight repeatedly, even as she was very active as a competitive swimmer in her early years. This lifelong struggle with weight peaked at 272 pounds when she was 48. A health scare at that time served as a turning point, prompting her to take serious action about her weight and health, leading to a successful 100-pound loss over 13 years through traditional dieting methods. Even though she lost 100 pounds, every day was a struggle because she had to think about everything she was eating all day long. It took a lot of mental energy.The pandemic brought new challenges as Julie gained weight back, but finding intermittent fasting marked a profound change. The approach led her to find balance, effectively losing an additional 45 pounds without the struggle she had experienced before. Julie describes the lifestyle not just as a means to manage weight but as a holistic approach to health, impacting positively her mood, energy, and even her physical reactions, such as allergies and asthma.Julie's final advice to listeners emphasizes the importance of starting the journey and being persistent. She encourages finding an exercise regimen you enjoy, making it a habit, finding a strong "why," and prioritizing oneself in this lifestyle journey. Whether motivated by a health reason or the more traditional pursuit of weight loss, Julie's approach stands as a testament to the transformative power of adopting intermittent fasting as a sustainable lifestyle—empowering oneself every step of the way.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! Join Gin’s community! Go to: ginstephens.com/communityDo 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.  Share your intermittent fasting stories with Gin: [email protected] Gin’s website at: ginstephens.com Check out Gin’s Favorite Things at http://www.ginstephens.com/gins-favorite-things.htmlSubscribe to Gin’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.