In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Janelle Samson from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia.
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Janelle is a chemist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Janelle shares her journey into intermittent fasting after a long history in the world of bodybuilding. Janelle explains she first heard about intermittent fasting during her bodybuilding days in the early 2010s, though at the time, she and others in the fitness community dismissed it as just another fad. She attempted fasting briefly under the guidance of someone who didn’t fully understand the clean fast principles, leading her to give up, concerned about muscle loss. Many years and life changes later—including pregnancy, motherhood, and the closure of gyms during the pandemic—Janelle found herself struggling with unexplained weight gain and low energy, even after trying traditional approaches to nutrition and fitness.
A turning point came when a coworker, whose sister’s doctor recommended intermittent fasting, rekindled Janelle’s interest. Janelle began her journey in June 2023, starting with a 14:10 approach and gradually narrowing her eating window as she learned more, eventually settling into a routine that worked for her lifestyle. Her initial research brought her to Gin’s book, Fast. Feast. Repeat., which she credits—as well as the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast and community—for giving her the knowledge and support to embrace clean fasting and the “delay, don’t deny” philosophy. Listening to the podcast episodes, Janelle connected deeply with the stories of others and found practical tools and reassurance in their diversity of experience.
Janelle’s approach to fasting has not been defined by rapid weight loss but by steady progress and substantial health improvements. She openly discusses her slow, “turtle” pace in shedding pounds, emphasizing how much better she feels in terms of physical energy and mental clarity. Throughout her two-year journey, Janelle has released over 20 pounds and, most importantly, shifted away from a restrictive, scale-obsessed relationship with food, particularly as a former bodybuilder. She highlights the newfound freedom she enjoys around food and eating—modeling a positive example for her young daughter and appreciating treats, family meals, and special occasions without guilt or diet mentality.
Janelle concludes her story by encouraging newcomers to immerse themselves in well-researched resources—particularly Gin’s books and the podcast—for practical guidance and support. She underlines the importance of keeping an open mind, especially for those with a diet-focused background or entrenched ideas about nutrition. Janelle’s final advice is to try intermittent fasting without overcomplicating it: read, learn, don’t stress about perfection, and remember it costs nothing to give it a shot. According to Janelle, intermittent fasting has been truly life-changing, and she urges others to discover its benefits for themselves.
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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