Tell us a little about yourself and why you decided to make a change to your health?
I had struggled with my weight from my late teens. I was an emotional and boredom eater.
When my husband and I wanted to start a family and it didn’t happen naturally I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism (have since had a total thyroidectomy) and PCOS.
I went through IVF to conceive my son and many subsequent failed rounds after that.
After all of that treatment I was the heaviest I have ever been at 120kg, enough was enough and I spent the next few years trying various different ‘fashionable’ diets which didn’t really work. At this point I did get into exercise too but that wasn’t enough on it’s own.
What goals did you achieve since adding fasting into your life?
Since adding fasting I have been able to get down to my goal weight of 60kg (Yes half of my former self!) It has also enabled me to continue with an intense Strength and Cardio exercise plan without feeling deprived of enough calories to be effective.
I can also live my life without feeling like I’m missing out on anything, food wise.
Finally, the weight loss has meant that I no longer suffer from PCOS
When it comes to fasting, what are your top 3 recommendations?
Build up to the longer fasting periods slowly – It’s a lifestyle change not a quick fix
Make your first meal after the fast count – for me it’s always protein heavy. This sets you up for the rest of the eating window.
I have found that the App really helps me keep to my timings as we know life can get in the way and it’s not always possible to be completely regimented with timings.
What is your favorite healthy food to eat? What is the recipe?
I’m no chef (and probably my historical reliance on takeaways and ready meals contributed to my original issues) but now I love anything that I know is clean. A fresh fruit smoothie with oats & 0% Fat Greek yoghurt is one of my favorites.
How did you manage to integrate this healthy lifestyle into your life?
It was really easy. The hardest part was giving up Soya milk in my morning coffee! I don’t drink black coffee so that was the hardest adjustment but I got there (I was probably a nightmare to be around in the morning for the first few weeks!) I now have water and that first cup of coffee at the end of my fast is simply the most amazing thing!
Other than that, just adjusting the dinner time in the evening for the family has been OK, we get up early so eating earlier in the evening actually works for us.
What motivates you to continue with this lifestyle?
It’s so easy. I don’t feel like I’m on a diet, the smaller eating window means that I don’t snack between meals and I make sensible choices for the meals that I eat.
What is your best piece of advice for those just starting to fast?
Give your body time to get used to it, you will find the fast week hard but once you pass that it is so easy. It helped me realize that I used to eat over half of my calorie intake when I was just sat on the sofa in the evening watching TV, when you realize this it’s easy to adapt your times to have the biggest impact.
Anything else?
Intermittent fasting has been a game changer for me, I am the healthiest and fittest I have ever been and I am so convinced by my combination of fasting and exercise that I am training to become a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Mentor to help others in the same position as I was in, using my first hand experience.
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