Feast Without Fear: Food and the Delay, Don't Deny Lifestyle

I seriously have over 50 health, fitness and diet books, not because I'm overweight (the first book - "Delay Don't Deny: Living and Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle" cured that) but because I have always been interested in health and nutrition. Gin Stephens is not a doctor or a nutritionist, she is a normal person just like you and me. Except, lots smarter. Her first book, Delay, Don't Deny, is my favorite book on Intermittent Fasting, up there with the guru, Dr. Jason Fung. This is the follow up. Unlike many second books, this does NOT repeat the info in her first book. So the first book is awesome (read it, I'm not kidding) but once you've kind of mastered the art of Intermittent Fasting, you really start thinking, ok what is the actual best food for me to put in my body? Gin explains how to figure this out for each of us - it's different for everyone, based on our own bodies, our genetic makeup, our microbiome, and our histories. It's truly a guide for optimal health. Ok that's not all,Gin is synthesizing and presenting all this amazing science in an easy-to-understand way. This is all NEW STUFF, too - the very most recent science that is changing how we deal with all sorts of health issues from obesity to the leading causes of death. She addresses the most recent knowledge on the Microbiome, and gut health, and ethnographic studies about populations who are the longest living on the planet - to inquire what is it that makes those people so healthy? It's a brilliant followup to her first book. Like that one, this book is well written - it's organized well, each chapter builds on the others, easy links to the actual studies, Not just citations, LINKS to the ACTUAL STUDIES with tips on how to read them. And, if you need to get to those studies later, there is a whole webpage of the links. She is HELPFUL. The tone of the book is KIND, she is funny, she is warm, it feels like you're sitting in her sunroom having an iced tea and chatting about all these incredibly interesting things. It's also incredibly empowering to realize you can be fit and healthy and not have to eat in any specific way, you get the opportunity to learn what is the most optimal way for you. That is power! not like all new-age inspirational, but very grounded in what is actually possible. It's pragmatic, full of actual facts, presented in such a lovely, accessible way. This book could easily be my favorite book on healthy eating, up there with Michael Pollan. That's a pretty damn high bar, and Gin is all over that.

Dump all your reservations and try this for 30 days if you don't like it all your fat will be returned to you.

I began my most recent weight loss journey on April 28, 2016. I joined Weight Watchers and weighed in that first meeting at 191.4 (At 5' 3 1/2" , that out me in size 16-18 pants and extra large tops.) I steadily lost weight and by the end of the year I was at "goal" of 139. The problem now would be MAINTAINING. I was sick and tired of being "good"! One day my cousin mentioned The Obesity Code to me. I read it and my world changed! Next I read The Complete Guide to Fasting which have me more understanding of the process. But then I found Delay, Don't Deny and was finally SET FREE! With her new book, Gin Stephens has added even more to my arsenal of information to equip me to be successful for life. Oh, and by the way, I am still slowly losing weight now weighing in at about 131. No more counting calories for me! I just do IF from 18-23 hours a day and then eat whatever I like in my window! That's true freedom! Thanks, Gin!

I finished this book in less than 24 hours. After reading Gin's first book, I eagerly awaited the second and purchased it within minutes of it being available. At 44 I can finally be free of the prison that food has kept me in since childhood. Anorexic and bulimia during my teen years and alternating between slim and overweight my whole entire life, it's time to change my relationship with food. Thanks to IF I can finally really listen to what my body has to say. Thank you Gin.

As a medical practice manager in primary and geriatric medicine, I am in the trenches with patients who have chronic illnesses due to obesity. Type II diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are especially prevalent in our overweight patients and many express depression and frustration in wanting to lose weight, but feeling hopeless in their ability to do so. Nothing they have ever tried works for the long-term. Intermittent Fasting is still a radical idea to most of the population and certainly to our patients. How can a medical provider encourage a patient to delay breakfast? Or worse, yet, delay lunch too? How in the world do we communicate the science and rationale of IF to the mainstream population without sounding completely whacko?Enter, Gin Stephens. Although, the author reiterates throughout her books and podcasts, “I am not a medical doctor,” allow me to quote her very impressive credentials : "Gin earned a Doctor of Education degree in Gifted and Talented Education in 2009, a Master's degree in Natural Sciences in 1997, and a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1990. She has been teaching elementary school for 27 years, and has worked with adult learners in a number of settings over the years." Thusly, Gin is able to take the scientific research and her own life experiences with IF and distill them down to a understandable learning experience for the masses. It is my opinion that this ability to do so will be the impetus, the prime mover, in steering this country, once and for all, in a direction that promotes healthy permanent weight loss, and emphasizes not only, the end of dieting, but solid nutrition, reduction of disease and long, healthy lives. It has to be done. The American health care system is rapidly moving to a paradigm of “prevention” instead of “treatment” and physicians that accept health insurance, especially Medicare, are being held accountable; reimbursements will soon be tied to sustained patient health. Treating disease is expensive! The most significant way to reduce health care expenses is to get healthy; learn how to reach an appropriate BMI with IF, and as Gin emphasizes, eat right according to your own individual genetic requirements, while keeping abreast of the new research on gut microbiome and how it affects your own individual physiology. This book, in conjunction with Gin’s primer Delay, Don’t Deny will be leaders in educating people around the world to finally get a grip on understanding how to get healthy, not only for us, but the upcoming generations. We must set an example for our families and communities and thanks to Gin Stephens we will understand how.

I bought this book once I had already started following the "Delay Don't Deny" intermittent fasting system.It really helped me get past that "But what should I be eating"?" stage.Many people swear by a keto style of eating but that is not something I would want to do. However, "Feast Without Fear" makes it clear that the important part of intermittent fasting is the fast and not the feast.What we eat is less important than when we eat. What a revelation.The studies on how there is not a 'one size fits all' style of eating for everyone was enlightening. That part alone is worth reading the book for!So now, I'm learning to listen to my body, eating the nutritious food that I love, enjoying an occasional treat, and still becoming slimmer and healthier.No going back.

This book could have been added as another chapter to Delay Don't Deny, which is the authors original book about Intermittent fasting. The first chapter just goes over the premise of the original book and then annoyingly any other information or research is then linked to as a reference, not very helpful when you buy the paperback version. And there is no way I'm going to sit and type in the very long links into my computer/tablet. Basically the message is, eat a mediterranean diet along side IF.

This is the 2nd Best book I have bought in years ( you need to read the other book by this author first, Delay Don't Deny that was the Best book I've bought in years to start your journey ) .It just makes sense when you are reading this book and something clicks right away. It's like suddenly All the pieces of the puzzle are placed in front of you one by one to make a whole picture.Both these books make enjoyable food choices / healthy choices and weight lose, so easy yet until now has been so hard to do for years.They both just blend so well together and help you make fasting not only work and become part of your life but enjoyable too.This author has the nack to simplify details and information in such a way, that it feels like you are having coffee with a very good friend who is talking and helping you through the different stages. Amazing Books.

Gin Stephens writes in a fashion that is easily understood. As a kindle edition it is easier to go straight to the reference links to examine the studies in greater detail. The information is informative and clear. This book covers diet food group myths, gut health, optimum diets and lifestyles from people who lead long lives in the blue zones and testimonials. There are no recipes in this book.In conclusion, what types of food works for one person may not work for another. It's all about listening to your body and see how you feel after you eat certain foods. This book promotes eating real foods and ignoring all the dietary noise in the media and social media platforms. I highly recommend you add this book to your reading list.

Another great book by Gin following on from Delay, Don’t Deny and her maintenance journey. Lots of links to studies so you can read and make your own judgements- having these studies together to dip into are invaluable. I want to start to look after myself not just with IF and OMAD but from the inside too. A great follow up book - thank you Gin!