Hey Reader,
You’ve probably noticed—fasting advice is like coffee orders these days: endless combinations, each with its own loyal fan club. And if you’re post-menopausal, insulin resistant, or even dealing with pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or managing type 1 diabetes, picking the right style matters more than ever.
Let’s talk about three of the big names in the fasting world and what they bring to the table (or in this case, what they don’t bring until your eating window opens).
🍽 Gin Stephens – Delay, Don’t Deny
- Why people love her: Gin’s all about when you eat, not what you eat. Her “clean fast” (black coffee, tea, water only) is simple and sustainable. No calorie counting, no guilt trips.
- The catch: Works beautifully for metabolically healthy folks, but if your insulin resistance is stubborn, “eat whatever in your window” can keep blood sugar high if those foods are still high carb or processed.
🔬 Dr. Ben Bikman – The Metabolic Scientist
- Why people love him: Laser focus on insulin control through fasting and food quality. His mantra: low carb, prioritize protein, embrace healthy fats.
- The catch: More structured and restrictive of carbs—if you love flexibility, this can feel rigid at first. But the payoff is big for reversing insulin resistance and reversing metabolic diseases like pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes while offering excellent maintenance of type 1 diabetes. Just ask my friend and coaching partner Coach Mary Beth Oakley how well it's working for her.
♀ Dr. Mindy Pelz – The Cycle Strategist
- Why people love her: Tailors fasting to a woman’s hormonal rhythm. For post-menopause, she uses a mix of daily fasts and occasional longer ones for metabolic repair.
- The catch: If you’re not into extended fasts, her method can feel intense.
💡 My take for women in peri and post-menopause + insulin resistance:
Where is the sweet spot? Read more over on my blog 👇🏻
Bottom line: Don’t just fast “clean” or “dirty”—fast smart. The best fasting plan is the one that works with your body, not against it.
Variety is the Spice of Life: We've been applying several of these methods into our fasting and feasting rhythms over in our premium paid membership, Seasons in the Orchard. We are always trying fresh new ways of keeping things varied to keep our metabolisms from getting into a rut and stalling our progress.
If you've been a past participant in our Seedlings Reboot, you're eligible to join us. We've also set a brand new price point that makes this premium membership an absolute steal!
If you're a Seedlings Reboot alum, reply to this email to get the link to join Seasons in the Orchard.
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Helping women like you find their rhythm,
💕 Coach AJ
Certified Revelation Wellness LiveWell® Health Coach & Fast-Like-a-Girl Coach