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28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day
Gin Stephens is unstoppable! And she won’t even pause until she’s introduced every potential reader to Intermittent Fasting. In her 28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day , she dispenses the “hows” and “whys” of IF day by day for a reader’s first month, giving IFers what they need to know, when they need to know it.
Supported throughout with inspirational case histories that add up to a troubleshooting primer, as well as tips, truths and tweaks, 28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day also has an important write-in aspect. Most IFers “fail” because they don’t think the practice is working, or think it’s only working because they are naturally reducing calories by time-boxing their daily eating. With simple, direct check-ins at the end of each of the first twenty-eight days, readers will stay on track by noticing how their bodies are reacting to IF, acknowledging “non scale victories” and setting a goal for the next it’s Gin’s version of habit formation, and it works!
28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day is a complete program. Almost everything except the time framework will feel new even to readers of FAST. FEAST. REPEAT. , from picking an entry speed (“Easy Does It”, “Steady Build” or “Rip Off The Band-Aid”) on Day One, to discovering your “Appestat” (Appetite Thermostat) in the middle of the month, to “Master the Delay” on Day Twenty-Eight.
Supported throughout with inspirational case histories that add up to a troubleshooting primer, as well as tips, truths and tweaks, 28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day also has an important write-in aspect. Most IFers “fail” because they don’t think the practice is working, or think it’s only working because they are naturally reducing calories by time-boxing their daily eating. With simple, direct check-ins at the end of each of the first twenty-eight days, readers will stay on track by noticing how their bodies are reacting to IF, acknowledging “non scale victories” and setting a goal for the next it’s Gin’s version of habit formation, and it works!
28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day is a complete program. Almost everything except the time framework will feel new even to readers of FAST. FEAST. REPEAT. , from picking an entry speed (“Easy Does It”, “Steady Build” or “Rip Off The Band-Aid”) on Day One, to discovering your “Appestat” (Appetite Thermostat) in the middle of the month, to “Master the Delay” on Day Twenty-Eight.
368 pages, Paperback
Published December 26, 2023
54 people are currently reading
4929 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 2, 2023
I have been dabbling on and off wirh IF fr a few years. I have been following Gin since I followed.
Her first book Delay Don't Deny is a great place to start.
As soon as I received my advance copy of this book, I dove right in and started my 28 days the next day.
I am feeling so much better than I was before.
Thank you, Gin, for making things so easy to understand and easy to follow. So much easier when you look at it with the perspective to delay till later than not being able to have it ever.
I highly recommend all of Gin's books to anyone who is interested in IF.
Her first book Delay Don't Deny is a great place to start.
As soon as I received my advance copy of this book, I dove right in and started my 28 days the next day.
I am feeling so much better than I was before.
Thank you, Gin, for making things so easy to understand and easy to follow. So much easier when you look at it with the perspective to delay till later than not being able to have it ever.
I highly recommend all of Gin's books to anyone who is interested in IF.
December 16, 2023
I just finished 28 Day Fast Start Day by Day by Gin Stephens @ginstephens and here are my thoughts.
Firstly, I am not new to intermittent fasting (you will see me call it IF). I have lost 57lbs in my journey so far and I literally have 11lbs to get to my ultimate goal weight. Gin Stephens started me on my journey about 2 years ago. I went into maintenance mode about 18 months ago and realized that I wasn’t where I wanted to be so this book set me back on my journey to a healthy body and mind.
Gin makes it very clear that IF is not a weight loss plan but a lifestyle. You cannot allow diet brain to railroad your success.
A clean fast means only having water, black coffee, green tea. You eat nothing and drink nothing else. There are some grey area drinks but I personally, only drink water outside of my window.
FAST stands for Fast clean, adapt, settle in and tweak.
She gives you a super easy plan to ease yourself into fasting over 28 days. I didn’t do this when I started but this book would have made things easier for me had it been around when I started.
She leads you through preparing to start and its written in simple and easy to understand terminology.
Make sure you take measurements because the scale can be a naughty little liar!
I love the fast check-ins so you can record your progress.
She does a swell job of explaining how IF works and she talks about how to make the most out of your window. Yes you can eat what you want during your window but you shouldn’t spend your window eating pizza the whole time. Listening to your body is paramount but don’t deny yourself the foods you love. She talks about over-eating and it's so easy to follow along.
I personally just got back into weight loss mode and I follow an OMAD approach. I eat one meal a day over the course of an hour then I don’t eat again until the next day. I have rheumatoid arthritis and IF keeps me from having to take cancer drugs to keep it in check. This lifestyle saved my life and gave me back my quality of life.
I think this book is an excellent resource for beginners and old hands like me that needed to reset my mindset and uncomplicate it again.
5 stars. Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my gifted copy
#ginstephens #intermittentfasting #28DayFastStartDaybyDay #weightloss #lifestylebook #arc #netgalley #smp #smpinfluencer #bookinfluencer #weightlossclub
Firstly, I am not new to intermittent fasting (you will see me call it IF). I have lost 57lbs in my journey so far and I literally have 11lbs to get to my ultimate goal weight. Gin Stephens started me on my journey about 2 years ago. I went into maintenance mode about 18 months ago and realized that I wasn’t where I wanted to be so this book set me back on my journey to a healthy body and mind.
Gin makes it very clear that IF is not a weight loss plan but a lifestyle. You cannot allow diet brain to railroad your success.
A clean fast means only having water, black coffee, green tea. You eat nothing and drink nothing else. There are some grey area drinks but I personally, only drink water outside of my window.
FAST stands for Fast clean, adapt, settle in and tweak.
She gives you a super easy plan to ease yourself into fasting over 28 days. I didn’t do this when I started but this book would have made things easier for me had it been around when I started.
She leads you through preparing to start and its written in simple and easy to understand terminology.
Make sure you take measurements because the scale can be a naughty little liar!
I love the fast check-ins so you can record your progress.
She does a swell job of explaining how IF works and she talks about how to make the most out of your window. Yes you can eat what you want during your window but you shouldn’t spend your window eating pizza the whole time. Listening to your body is paramount but don’t deny yourself the foods you love. She talks about over-eating and it's so easy to follow along.
I personally just got back into weight loss mode and I follow an OMAD approach. I eat one meal a day over the course of an hour then I don’t eat again until the next day. I have rheumatoid arthritis and IF keeps me from having to take cancer drugs to keep it in check. This lifestyle saved my life and gave me back my quality of life.
I think this book is an excellent resource for beginners and old hands like me that needed to reset my mindset and uncomplicate it again.
5 stars. Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my gifted copy
#ginstephens #intermittentfasting #28DayFastStartDaybyDay #weightloss #lifestylebook #arc #netgalley #smp #smpinfluencer #bookinfluencer #weightlossclub
November 2, 2023
Easy to follow journal style book to get you going on your fasting lifestyle
January 15, 2024
28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day
The Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle So It Sticks by Gin Stephens
6h 59m read by the Author - Gin Stephens, Cory Censoprano (testimonials), and Sanya Simmons (testimonials)
switched to 354-page Paperback
Genre: Nonfiction, Health & Fitness, Intermittent Fasting, Reducing Diets,
Weight Loss, Natural Foods, Self-Help
Featuring: You Need The First Book, How To Guide, Daily Lessons, Charts, Write It Down, Quizzes, Fill-In The Blanks, Podcaster Testimonials, Heart of a Teacher, 3 Approaches to Starting, Weekly Plans, The Obesity Code, Black Coffee, Delay Don't Deny, Non-Scale Victories, Shaded Tabs on Pages, Checklists & Journaling, Companion Reading With - Fast Feast Repeat, Reflections, Eating Windows, Window Worthing Foods, Repetition, Autophagy, Saturday Is Not Special Occasion, Tweak It, Health Benefits, Metabolic Stability & Metabolic Instability, Getting Off Medications, Dealing With Hunger, Satiety Signals, Appestat, When Things Don’t Go According to Plan, Negative Nellies, Atomic Habits, Lifestyle Diseases, Fixed Mindset Vs. Growth Mindset, Homework, Next Steps, Index
Rating as a movie: PG
Quotes: "Here’s what this book is: As it says right in the title, it’s your 28-Day FAST Start day-by-day guide to starting (or restarting) your IF lifestyle so it sticks. What this book isn’t: a complete guide to all-things IF. That’s a different book: Fast. Feast. Repeat.: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny Intermittent Fasting. I want to be very clear: The book you are holding is a companion to Fast. Feast. Repeat. If you could only get one book, that’s the one you want. (Don’t tell my publisher I said that.) But you really need BOTH books. And this is not just me selling you two books. I promise. You’re going to save so much money on food and fancy coffee drinks this month that you could afford to buy thirty books with the money you’ll save. Another benefit of IF! You’re welcome.;-) So, why do you need two books, when Fast. Feast. Repeat. has everything you need to begin and implement an intermittent fasting lifestyle successfully, and to tweak it till it’s easy?
You could say that’s Fast. Feast. Repeat.’s greatest strength: it’s comprehensive. But you could also say it’s the book’s greatest weakness. What do I mean by that? It’s so complete that it can be overwhelming. I hear comments like this one all the time: “I gave a copy of Fast. Feast. Repeat. to my sister and she says it’s too long and she won’t read it.” Or someone will read Fast. Feast. Repeat. cover to cover and then feel like their brain is so overflowing with information that they don’t know what to do next. Information overload. And that is why this day-by-day guide was born. Not everyone is ready for ALL of the science found in Fast. Feast. Repeat. on day 1 of their journey. “Just tell me exactly what to do, Gin!” That’s what you have here. For the next month, I’m going to guide you through each day. This book is consumable and designed for you to write in as you go. If it helps, think about it as your IF success journal. I was a teacher for twenty-eight years, so my expertise is curriculum design: I’m trained to present content and to make sure it sticks. And I’m using many of the strategies I learned as an effective teacher here in this book. Every day, you’ll begin the day by confirming your daily fasting plan and setting your intention by creating achievable goals. There will be a daily lesson from me designed to give you the knowledge and motivation you need to keep going (even when it gets hard). All but a few of these lessons are short and sweet on purpose so you don’t get bogged down by too much information."
"F = Fast Clean, A = Adapt, S = Settle In, T = Tweak"
"If you quit, don’t let that stop you from trying again. Think about a toddler who is learning to walk. That toddler doesn’t fall down once and say, “Welp. Looks like walking isn’t for me.” No. That toddler gets up and tries again, as many times as it takes. Have you heard the Japanese proverb: Fall down seven times, get up eight."
"The clean fast is the one nonnegotiable rule that I will never waver on, and you shouldn’t, either: when you fast, fast clean. Otherwise, you are not really fasting."
"WHAT IS A “CLEAN FAST”?
YES!
Water (unflavored) Black coffee (unflavored) Any plain tea brewed from actual dried leaves only (black tea, green tea, etc., unflavored varieties only, loose or in tea bags) Mineral water, club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer water (unflavored) Minerals/electrolytes/salt (with no additives or flavors) Medications as prescribed by your health care provider
MAYBE …
We call this the “gray area”: Peppermint essential oil for breath freshening only, NOT for water-enhancing (select food-grade and use sparingly) Herbal tea with a bitter flavor profile Vitamins and supplements (There is no easy answer for all vitamins and supplements. Any that are clearly food-like or listed in the “No” column should be taken within your eating window.)
NO!
Food Flavored water Flavored coffee Fruity, sweet, or matcha teas Diet sodas Natural or artificial sweeteners Gum or mints Food-like flavors of any type (fruit juices, fruit flavors, etc.) Bone broth, broth, or bouillon Fat, including coconut oil, MCT oil, butter, etc. Cream, creamers, milk, or milk substitutes (of any amount or type) Supplements such as collagen, pre-workouts, BCAAs, exogenous ketones, etc."
"If you scored 0–4, you should start with the Easy Does It approach. If you scored a 6, you should consider either the Easy Does It or Steady Build approach. If you scored an 8–12, you should start with the Steady Build approach. If you scored a 14, you should consider either the Steady Build or the Rip Off the Band-Aid approach. If you scored a 16–20, you should start with the Rip Off the Band-Aid approach. Feel free to ignore this quiz if you find it to be hokey, and choose whatever plan feels right to you. Remember: you are in charge at all times."
"During the clean fast, these are our main goals: Keep insulin levels as low as possible during the fast; Tap into our own fat stores for fuel; and Experience increased autophagy and all the upcycling that comes along with it. (You may not yet know what autophagy is or why you should care … but I am going to explain it to you on day 5, so stay tuned!)"
"There's no reason to treat November and December as a free-for-all and then use January to fix it."
"Focus on the boundary of your daily eating window rather than the length of your fast"
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟☕️🍝
My thoughts: 📱 21% 1:28:07 Day 3 - I need to figure out how to shorten the first quote or eliminate it 😞 I was supposed to read the ebook then I thought audio would enhance it. I ended up with the audio first so I thought I'd just do it solo and worry about the ebook later but after starting, and realizing it's a lot of writing and checking I ordered the paperback and I'm switching to print. I'm not sure if I will finish the book and then do the day-by-day or read it one day at a time, but I'm pausing until my book gets here tomorrow. 😒 - Goodreads won't let me update my progress.
📖 Page 123 of of 354 Week 2 Plan - So glad I switched to print this is so much better I'm going to read along with the audio and then reread for a month while implementing the fast and filling in the data. I love the shaded tabs to mark the days.
📖161 Day 12: Lifestyle Versus Diet - What's The Difference? - I feel like I can be done with this book tomorrow, it's pretty easy to read, it's unfortunate that the reflection portion is repeated but it makes sense and will be beneficial once I start filling it in. I should skip it this round but I feel like I'm going to miss something and maybe the the repetition will start a mindset shift, I need the brainwashing.
This book is fantastic. The audiobook is formatted in a way to help with journaling but I strongly recommend the paperback version. I'm going to be rereading this one day at a time, it's actually 29 days and goes beyond 5 weeks. I think this book is a great way to break down your journey if you have a habit of losing interest, seeing results, or just need a good reflection boost.
Recommend to others: Yes! These books are very good.
The Ultimate Guide to Starting (or Restarting) Your Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle So It Sticks by Gin Stephens
6h 59m read by the Author - Gin Stephens, Cory Censoprano (testimonials), and Sanya Simmons (testimonials)
switched to 354-page Paperback
Genre: Nonfiction, Health & Fitness, Intermittent Fasting, Reducing Diets,
Weight Loss, Natural Foods, Self-Help
Featuring: You Need The First Book, How To Guide, Daily Lessons, Charts, Write It Down, Quizzes, Fill-In The Blanks, Podcaster Testimonials, Heart of a Teacher, 3 Approaches to Starting, Weekly Plans, The Obesity Code, Black Coffee, Delay Don't Deny, Non-Scale Victories, Shaded Tabs on Pages, Checklists & Journaling, Companion Reading With - Fast Feast Repeat, Reflections, Eating Windows, Window Worthing Foods, Repetition, Autophagy, Saturday Is Not Special Occasion, Tweak It, Health Benefits, Metabolic Stability & Metabolic Instability, Getting Off Medications, Dealing With Hunger, Satiety Signals, Appestat, When Things Don’t Go According to Plan, Negative Nellies, Atomic Habits, Lifestyle Diseases, Fixed Mindset Vs. Growth Mindset, Homework, Next Steps, Index
Rating as a movie: PG
Quotes: "Here’s what this book is: As it says right in the title, it’s your 28-Day FAST Start day-by-day guide to starting (or restarting) your IF lifestyle so it sticks. What this book isn’t: a complete guide to all-things IF. That’s a different book: Fast. Feast. Repeat.: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny Intermittent Fasting. I want to be very clear: The book you are holding is a companion to Fast. Feast. Repeat. If you could only get one book, that’s the one you want. (Don’t tell my publisher I said that.) But you really need BOTH books. And this is not just me selling you two books. I promise. You’re going to save so much money on food and fancy coffee drinks this month that you could afford to buy thirty books with the money you’ll save. Another benefit of IF! You’re welcome.;-) So, why do you need two books, when Fast. Feast. Repeat. has everything you need to begin and implement an intermittent fasting lifestyle successfully, and to tweak it till it’s easy?
You could say that’s Fast. Feast. Repeat.’s greatest strength: it’s comprehensive. But you could also say it’s the book’s greatest weakness. What do I mean by that? It’s so complete that it can be overwhelming. I hear comments like this one all the time: “I gave a copy of Fast. Feast. Repeat. to my sister and she says it’s too long and she won’t read it.” Or someone will read Fast. Feast. Repeat. cover to cover and then feel like their brain is so overflowing with information that they don’t know what to do next. Information overload. And that is why this day-by-day guide was born. Not everyone is ready for ALL of the science found in Fast. Feast. Repeat. on day 1 of their journey. “Just tell me exactly what to do, Gin!” That’s what you have here. For the next month, I’m going to guide you through each day. This book is consumable and designed for you to write in as you go. If it helps, think about it as your IF success journal. I was a teacher for twenty-eight years, so my expertise is curriculum design: I’m trained to present content and to make sure it sticks. And I’m using many of the strategies I learned as an effective teacher here in this book. Every day, you’ll begin the day by confirming your daily fasting plan and setting your intention by creating achievable goals. There will be a daily lesson from me designed to give you the knowledge and motivation you need to keep going (even when it gets hard). All but a few of these lessons are short and sweet on purpose so you don’t get bogged down by too much information."
"F = Fast Clean, A = Adapt, S = Settle In, T = Tweak"
"If you quit, don’t let that stop you from trying again. Think about a toddler who is learning to walk. That toddler doesn’t fall down once and say, “Welp. Looks like walking isn’t for me.” No. That toddler gets up and tries again, as many times as it takes. Have you heard the Japanese proverb: Fall down seven times, get up eight."
"The clean fast is the one nonnegotiable rule that I will never waver on, and you shouldn’t, either: when you fast, fast clean. Otherwise, you are not really fasting."
"WHAT IS A “CLEAN FAST”?
YES!
Water (unflavored) Black coffee (unflavored) Any plain tea brewed from actual dried leaves only (black tea, green tea, etc., unflavored varieties only, loose or in tea bags) Mineral water, club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer water (unflavored) Minerals/electrolytes/salt (with no additives or flavors) Medications as prescribed by your health care provider
MAYBE …
We call this the “gray area”: Peppermint essential oil for breath freshening only, NOT for water-enhancing (select food-grade and use sparingly) Herbal tea with a bitter flavor profile Vitamins and supplements (There is no easy answer for all vitamins and supplements. Any that are clearly food-like or listed in the “No” column should be taken within your eating window.)
NO!
Food Flavored water Flavored coffee Fruity, sweet, or matcha teas Diet sodas Natural or artificial sweeteners Gum or mints Food-like flavors of any type (fruit juices, fruit flavors, etc.) Bone broth, broth, or bouillon Fat, including coconut oil, MCT oil, butter, etc. Cream, creamers, milk, or milk substitutes (of any amount or type) Supplements such as collagen, pre-workouts, BCAAs, exogenous ketones, etc."
"If you scored 0–4, you should start with the Easy Does It approach. If you scored a 6, you should consider either the Easy Does It or Steady Build approach. If you scored an 8–12, you should start with the Steady Build approach. If you scored a 14, you should consider either the Steady Build or the Rip Off the Band-Aid approach. If you scored a 16–20, you should start with the Rip Off the Band-Aid approach. Feel free to ignore this quiz if you find it to be hokey, and choose whatever plan feels right to you. Remember: you are in charge at all times."
"During the clean fast, these are our main goals: Keep insulin levels as low as possible during the fast; Tap into our own fat stores for fuel; and Experience increased autophagy and all the upcycling that comes along with it. (You may not yet know what autophagy is or why you should care … but I am going to explain it to you on day 5, so stay tuned!)"
"There's no reason to treat November and December as a free-for-all and then use January to fix it."
"Focus on the boundary of your daily eating window rather than the length of your fast"
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟☕️🍝
My thoughts: 📱 21% 1:28:07 Day 3 - I need to figure out how to shorten the first quote or eliminate it 😞 I was supposed to read the ebook then I thought audio would enhance it. I ended up with the audio first so I thought I'd just do it solo and worry about the ebook later but after starting, and realizing it's a lot of writing and checking I ordered the paperback and I'm switching to print. I'm not sure if I will finish the book and then do the day-by-day or read it one day at a time, but I'm pausing until my book gets here tomorrow. 😒 - Goodreads won't let me update my progress.
📖 Page 123 of of 354 Week 2 Plan - So glad I switched to print this is so much better I'm going to read along with the audio and then reread for a month while implementing the fast and filling in the data. I love the shaded tabs to mark the days.
📖161 Day 12: Lifestyle Versus Diet - What's The Difference? - I feel like I can be done with this book tomorrow, it's pretty easy to read, it's unfortunate that the reflection portion is repeated but it makes sense and will be beneficial once I start filling it in. I should skip it this round but I feel like I'm going to miss something and maybe the the repetition will start a mindset shift, I need the brainwashing.
This book is fantastic. The audiobook is formatted in a way to help with journaling but I strongly recommend the paperback version. I'm going to be rereading this one day at a time, it's actually 29 days and goes beyond 5 weeks. I think this book is a great way to break down your journey if you have a habit of losing interest, seeing results, or just need a good reflection boost.
Recommend to others: Yes! These books are very good.
November 4, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Griffin for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Let's start with what I didn't like 1st:
1- I have to buy another book to read this book. Not going to happen honestly. I don't have the desire to read tandem to understand a book.
2. I didn't like that it was 28 days. Why not 30? Why not 31? My months would look odd.
Disclaimer: I did not read 1 section a day because it's 28 days and I didn't want my review in limbo for that long. Will I go back and do this day by day, yes. Why? Because I like to intemperate fast and this is a great guide for that.
The things I liked:
Gin feels Approachable. There's a few other people that come into the book with their own stories and there's science backed evidence in there. As a nurse, I appreciate that. I also like that this person is a retired teacher. It made me understand why the book is written how it is written, because I'm also a teacher. This makes the breakdown even better! Why? In order to succeed, you must do vs being told to do.
I really enjoyed the end of chapter checkin. The eating window checkin was great for mindfulness. I appreciated the NSV (non scale victory) because honestly, the scale is evil. I LOVED THE REFLECTION!!!! this part in and of itself is the best. If you're truly honest with yourself in this book, you'll know reflecting can lead to success. But, I can't leave out my second fav part: preparing for success (strategies and goals for tomorrow)! This is huge! You must have a strategy to be successful or it is just a dream.
They're are so many great pieces of information in here that, regardless if you IF or not, are beneficial to your health. I feel this book was well written. But I'm still deducting 1 star for #1 and 1 for #2. I am working through a 75 hard and feel this book will be a great guideline to follow for it.
Let's start with what I didn't like 1st:
1- I have to buy another book to read this book. Not going to happen honestly. I don't have the desire to read tandem to understand a book.
2. I didn't like that it was 28 days. Why not 30? Why not 31? My months would look odd.
Disclaimer: I did not read 1 section a day because it's 28 days and I didn't want my review in limbo for that long. Will I go back and do this day by day, yes. Why? Because I like to intemperate fast and this is a great guide for that.
The things I liked:
Gin feels Approachable. There's a few other people that come into the book with their own stories and there's science backed evidence in there. As a nurse, I appreciate that. I also like that this person is a retired teacher. It made me understand why the book is written how it is written, because I'm also a teacher. This makes the breakdown even better! Why? In order to succeed, you must do vs being told to do.
I really enjoyed the end of chapter checkin. The eating window checkin was great for mindfulness. I appreciated the NSV (non scale victory) because honestly, the scale is evil. I LOVED THE REFLECTION!!!! this part in and of itself is the best. If you're truly honest with yourself in this book, you'll know reflecting can lead to success. But, I can't leave out my second fav part: preparing for success (strategies and goals for tomorrow)! This is huge! You must have a strategy to be successful or it is just a dream.
They're are so many great pieces of information in here that, regardless if you IF or not, are beneficial to your health. I feel this book was well written. But I'm still deducting 1 star for #1 and 1 for #2. I am working through a 75 hard and feel this book will be a great guideline to follow for it.
December 27, 2023
28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day is an excellent how-to manual for anyone who wants to begin an intermittent fasting lifestyle in a structured manner. It is written in a workbook format, with daily journal activities and mini-lessons, as well as a daily testimonial from individuals who are experienced fasters. It looks to be easy to follow and inspiring for a person that would like to improve their health.
I have not read any other books on the topic of intermittent fasting, nor have I tried it myself. After reading the digital ARC of this book, I am highly motivated to begin and will be purchasing a hard copy so I can work through the daily activities. Gin Stephens' writing style is easy to read, and she explains the topic in understandable language. The FAST Start is broken down into readily manageable steps, with simple yet valuable exercises to complete every day. I can hardly wait to get started.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of 28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day by Gin Stephens. The opinions in this review are my own.
I have not read any other books on the topic of intermittent fasting, nor have I tried it myself. After reading the digital ARC of this book, I am highly motivated to begin and will be purchasing a hard copy so I can work through the daily activities. Gin Stephens' writing style is easy to read, and she explains the topic in understandable language. The FAST Start is broken down into readily manageable steps, with simple yet valuable exercises to complete every day. I can hardly wait to get started.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of 28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day by Gin Stephens. The opinions in this review are my own.
September 25, 2023
I am an avid, everything vegan, immune boosting health aficionado. I have read all of Gin Stephens books and have enjoyed and learned from each and every one, and this one is no different. I am constantly advocating the immune boosting benefits of fasting to anyone who is interested and I am a regular 36 to 48 hour weekly faster. For those that want more information, I direct them to Gin's books. This one is great because it provides organized step by step guidance for those that are new to the protocol and encourages and expounds the many benefits. Thanks to Gin and her commitment to teaching this life saving way to improve your health.
September 19, 2023
Great Information for Intermittent Fasting
The author clarifies that this book is not to be confused or mistaken for his book: Fast. Feast. Repeat.: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny Intermittent Fasting. He states that this book, that I'm reading and writing this review for is a companion to Fast. Feast. Repeat. However, this is a stand-alone book.
He provides background information on Intermittent Fasting (IF) and explains the methods which he provides in this book. He discusses what a clean fast is, the basics and its importance. Plus, he provides a diagram to help readers understand the clean fast.
The author provides weekly plans during which you have a different IF schedule almost daily. During your IF, the authors provides daily guidelines and a journal type format that can be very beneficial in recording pertinent information during youth 28 day Intermittent Fasting.
This is a great book that can be very beneficial in your overall health. Highly recommend.
The author clarifies that this book is not to be confused or mistaken for his book: Fast. Feast. Repeat.: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny Intermittent Fasting. He states that this book, that I'm reading and writing this review for is a companion to Fast. Feast. Repeat. However, this is a stand-alone book.
He provides background information on Intermittent Fasting (IF) and explains the methods which he provides in this book. He discusses what a clean fast is, the basics and its importance. Plus, he provides a diagram to help readers understand the clean fast.
The author provides weekly plans during which you have a different IF schedule almost daily. During your IF, the authors provides daily guidelines and a journal type format that can be very beneficial in recording pertinent information during youth 28 day Intermittent Fasting.
This is a great book that can be very beneficial in your overall health. Highly recommend.
Want to read
November 15, 2023This is great resource for anyone looking to start of 28 day fast! It was super easy to follow and there was great information on intermittent fasting for anyone who isn't familiar with it.
May 15, 2024
Definitely helps you get back on track if you've fallen off the IF wagon. Recommended pairing with Fast. Feast. Repeat. for best results and comprehensive info.
September 24, 2024
What a fun and informative book. This book is perfect for those just starting intermittent fasting, coming back to intermittent fasting after a break, or those who would enjoy some daily inspiration to get you back on track.
This book is meant to be read over 28 days. Each day you will record your goals and thoughts then read about a fasting topic for that day. At the end of the day you record how you did. I found this to be so motivating. This daily reminder/goal setting helps to push you to complete fasts on those tough days.
Another part of the daily reading includes a “Inspiration Spotlight” from various intermittent fasters. You get to hear other people’s stories on how intermittent fasting has changed their life. They also detail their struggles and give you advice at the end.
All in all, this was a great book, I highly recommend this to anyone thinking about intermittent fasting, starting fasting again, or if you want some motivation to continue.
This book is meant to be read over 28 days. Each day you will record your goals and thoughts then read about a fasting topic for that day. At the end of the day you record how you did. I found this to be so motivating. This daily reminder/goal setting helps to push you to complete fasts on those tough days.
Another part of the daily reading includes a “Inspiration Spotlight” from various intermittent fasters. You get to hear other people’s stories on how intermittent fasting has changed their life. They also detail their struggles and give you advice at the end.
All in all, this was a great book, I highly recommend this to anyone thinking about intermittent fasting, starting fasting again, or if you want some motivation to continue.
October 6, 2024
This book despite being blurbed as a book you can read on it's own is nothing but a mouthpiece for the authors previous book. Every page is a plug for her previous book and it really became annoying and disrupted my reading experience. Gin if you wanted these books sold as companion books then please list it in your description as a duet. I'm not sure what Gin's nutritional qualifications are but she's not a dietitian or nutritionist so these are her thoughts and practices. I believe she's a schoolteacher which accounts for her gift to waffle.
December 1, 2023
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Intermittant Fasting (IF) has become very popular in recent years, especially in the keto/low carb communities. There were promising studies in the beginning about weight loss, health, disease reversal that unfortunately did not pan out with more recent and robust studies. The consensus among the researchers is that there is no health benefit but it could help with weight loss since you stop the mindless snacking when limiting your eating window.The author is up front that this is a companion workbook and is not intended to be a stand alone - she says you will need to buy her bigger book to understand all the fine points and then use this book as a guide or workbook to actually doing the process. So if you want to start using this book, you might as well buy her other book at the same time. Because this is a workbook, I highly recommend the hardcover and not the digital (Kindle). Things didn't translate well into a digital version and you're supposed to be writing in it morning and night.
Although she is not a doctor (she is a former school teacher), she uses her skills here well to give a clean and easy-to-follow plan to get a person started on intermittent fasting. She offers three plans to choose from: Easy Does It (twelve hour eating window, low carb ease in breakfast and lunch, plus a regular dinner); Steady Build (8 hour eating window, including lunch and dinner); Rip of the band-aid (6 hour eating window, including lunch and dinner). What this means is that you only eat within the window period - no late night or early morning snacking. Of course, you can choose to skip dinner and eat breakfast instead if you choose the smaller eating window that typically skips breakfast.
This is a day-by-day plan. Mindfulness principles are here: in the workbook for each day you will: a) state which IF window you are using, write our your personal goals for the day, read a daily lesson from the author about IF issues such as cravings, foods, etc.), extra reading (usually from her other book, a specific chapter about what she was briefly discussing in this workbook), testimonials and their advice, motivational words, reflecting on how the day went, a fast check in to rate the difficulty and what you did, goal versus results check in, writing down how you felt and how it went, non scale victories, reflections (e.g., listening to your body and aha moments, something on your mind, preparing for success goals for tomorrow/strategies).
There are some conflicting statements. One of the most annoying is that she says you can eat anything (yes, even Doritos) but to 'listen to your body' and ask if it makes you feel good and whether you should eat the junk food. So if you like guilt trips, this is a great book for that. Similarly, her meal planners all specifically state low carb despite her saying over and over to eat whatever you want (not surprising though since she quotes Dr. Fung and Dr. Bikman as her heroes and cake/cookies/ice cream/Doritos are definitely not low carb). Certainly, those interested in low carb/Atkins should really do their research about the short term and long term detrimental effects to health from the saturated fat and heavy amounts of cholesterol those diets entail (heart attack anyone?).
So yes, if you want to start IF and think it might be your avenue to lose weight, this workbook makes it easier than just reading the larger book she has written. It is intelligently laid out and could make the difference between frustration and success. Certainly, it's a great way to train your body not to crave the snacks all day and night. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
August 5, 2023
I've been a book reviewer for both indy and traditional publishers for about 9 years now. I don't often review the self-help, health or diet genre. Just kinda shy away from those, as over the years I have tried so many diet plans. And, none worked. Some made me literally sick. Others I just couldn't follow long term because they were so restrictive, or I just saw no results. I made a pact with myself after my last failed attempt (Keto) -- no more diet books!
In the past, the one lifestyle / eating change that did work for me long term was Intermittent Fasting. I did IF for two years and felt amazing. Then life happened. I was in a bad place in my personal life and IF was just not sustainable for me.
But I got offered a review copy of Gin Stephens newest book at exactly the right point in my life to revisit IF. I accepted the review copy -- and started reading.
OMG! The 28 Day FAST Start Day-By-Day is the first book by Gin Stephens I have read. I didn't even recognize her name when I first started reading. I did IF previously using books by Bert Herring. I started reading this new book....and it was like Gin was talking to me. And I believed what she had to say as she backs it up with science and logic. I read a bit in this new book. Then went directly to my library to check out a copy of her previous book: Fast, Feast, Repeat. I went back and forth between my review copy of 28 days and FFR, feeling more and more motivated to jump back in to a fasting / IF lifestyle.
And, I did it. Right then. Set my type of Fast Start on a Saturday afternoon, and started my 28 days on Sunday. I'm going into the last week of the Fast Start now, and this is amazing! I already feel better. I can see changes in the way I feel, my skin is clearing up, and my weight is going down. I have more than 100 lbs to lose...so this is just a start to the journey.
But, I can honestly give this book a resounding positive review because I'm actually following the steps and doing the things.
I have actually messaged with the author several times. She is a genuine, lovely person and knows her stuff. This book is for real. It doesn't make empty promises, and IF is a lot of work. But it's worth it, and makes a huge difference if you put in the work and dedication it requires to fast clean, stick to an eating window, and change your relationship with food.
The daily reading in this book is wonderful. The real life examples are motivating. And you can even keep a daily journal about your IF FAST start right in your copy of the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone starting an IF journey! Just be aware that you really need to also read Fast, Feast, Repeat as part of this 28 day FAST Start. Buy both books. You will not be sorry!
Love it!!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
In the past, the one lifestyle / eating change that did work for me long term was Intermittent Fasting. I did IF for two years and felt amazing. Then life happened. I was in a bad place in my personal life and IF was just not sustainable for me.
But I got offered a review copy of Gin Stephens newest book at exactly the right point in my life to revisit IF. I accepted the review copy -- and started reading.
OMG! The 28 Day FAST Start Day-By-Day is the first book by Gin Stephens I have read. I didn't even recognize her name when I first started reading. I did IF previously using books by Bert Herring. I started reading this new book....and it was like Gin was talking to me. And I believed what she had to say as she backs it up with science and logic. I read a bit in this new book. Then went directly to my library to check out a copy of her previous book: Fast, Feast, Repeat. I went back and forth between my review copy of 28 days and FFR, feeling more and more motivated to jump back in to a fasting / IF lifestyle.
And, I did it. Right then. Set my type of Fast Start on a Saturday afternoon, and started my 28 days on Sunday. I'm going into the last week of the Fast Start now, and this is amazing! I already feel better. I can see changes in the way I feel, my skin is clearing up, and my weight is going down. I have more than 100 lbs to lose...so this is just a start to the journey.
But, I can honestly give this book a resounding positive review because I'm actually following the steps and doing the things.
I have actually messaged with the author several times. She is a genuine, lovely person and knows her stuff. This book is for real. It doesn't make empty promises, and IF is a lot of work. But it's worth it, and makes a huge difference if you put in the work and dedication it requires to fast clean, stick to an eating window, and change your relationship with food.
The daily reading in this book is wonderful. The real life examples are motivating. And you can even keep a daily journal about your IF FAST start right in your copy of the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone starting an IF journey! Just be aware that you really need to also read Fast, Feast, Repeat as part of this 28 day FAST Start. Buy both books. You will not be sorry!
Love it!!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
March 14, 2025
One more book on IF by Gin Stephens. This one is recommended to go in pair with Fast Feast Repeat - her previous book, but if you want to buy just one of them - than Fast Feast Repeat is better choice, it has more theoretical info. But this one is great too. It is conceptualized as manual to help you start or re-start IF with introspection. It leads you trough first 28 days of fast, which are critical period in forming a habit more or less.
I have been listening to the audio book, it is read by Gin herself and it is great. I like her voice, narration style, writing style, flow of thoughts, it is easily comprehensive, she really do good job on explaining , encouraging and empowering. The book contains also inserts from Gin's podcast on IF told by persons who are already on IF journey for a while. Personally I like to listen those experiences as I am myself on IF journey for quite some time and listening to other people's stories keeps me going and gives me feeling of community and belonging. It is fascinating how our stories are similar and different in the same time.
Most of the things that person will experience, encounter or question on their IF journey are explained and mentioned in Gin's books.
In this book she tells how IF it is not always easy, but also it is not easy to be obese and sick, nothing is easy always... I needed to hear this, because in the moment when I picked up this book I was in phase when if became kind not easy to me (stagnation on the scales and push backs)....
Introspection that she offers are also helpful such as a non scale victories, relation / freedom around the food, respecting the signals of satiety etc... those of us that are on IF journeys are often not the person to whom this comes so naturally, we must (re)learn those things.
After the reading all the books, now I plan to grab the first one she wrote Delay, don't deny.
I have been listening to the audio book, it is read by Gin herself and it is great. I like her voice, narration style, writing style, flow of thoughts, it is easily comprehensive, she really do good job on explaining , encouraging and empowering. The book contains also inserts from Gin's podcast on IF told by persons who are already on IF journey for a while. Personally I like to listen those experiences as I am myself on IF journey for quite some time and listening to other people's stories keeps me going and gives me feeling of community and belonging. It is fascinating how our stories are similar and different in the same time.
Most of the things that person will experience, encounter or question on their IF journey are explained and mentioned in Gin's books.
In this book she tells how IF it is not always easy, but also it is not easy to be obese and sick, nothing is easy always... I needed to hear this, because in the moment when I picked up this book I was in phase when if became kind not easy to me (stagnation on the scales and push backs)....
Introspection that she offers are also helpful such as a non scale victories, relation / freedom around the food, respecting the signals of satiety etc... those of us that are on IF journeys are often not the person to whom this comes so naturally, we must (re)learn those things.
After the reading all the books, now I plan to grab the first one she wrote Delay, don't deny.
December 21, 2023
The 28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day is an accompanying workbook for the author’s 2020 book, Fast, Feast, Repeat. The author repeatedly states you must read the older book too. I haven’t read the other book but its blurb states that it has a 28-day fasting plan within it. I’m confused. Why do I need this book then?
It appears that this handbook just cuts down on the writing requirement of the original book. Instead of writing down which plan you followed each day, you can just circle it. It even has prewritten “strategies [used] to manage my feelings today” to circle.
There are some rah rahs to IF included here and it does make you feel not so alone on your IF journey. Since I haven’t read the first book, I don’t know if those parts are included there as well. But I would assume so.
I wanted an intermittent fasting book without all the boring research. What I got was a book with preprinted forms to complete with constant sales pitches for a book with all the research. I could just type up one copy of the daily check in form and make 28 photocopies to use and buy the other book for instructions and motivational stories. I wish the author had added more concrete information to this book instead.
If you have more money than time, buy both the 28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day and Fast, Feast, Repeat. Otherwise, just buy the earlier book and save yourself some money for a new smaller pair of jeans. 3 stars because this book isn’t bad—just unnecessary. It will encourage me to buy, or check out, Fast, Feast, Repeat so it works as a marketing tool at least.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
It appears that this handbook just cuts down on the writing requirement of the original book. Instead of writing down which plan you followed each day, you can just circle it. It even has prewritten “strategies [used] to manage my feelings today” to circle.
There are some rah rahs to IF included here and it does make you feel not so alone on your IF journey. Since I haven’t read the first book, I don’t know if those parts are included there as well. But I would assume so.
I wanted an intermittent fasting book without all the boring research. What I got was a book with preprinted forms to complete with constant sales pitches for a book with all the research. I could just type up one copy of the daily check in form and make 28 photocopies to use and buy the other book for instructions and motivational stories. I wish the author had added more concrete information to this book instead.
If you have more money than time, buy both the 28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day and Fast, Feast, Repeat. Otherwise, just buy the earlier book and save yourself some money for a new smaller pair of jeans. 3 stars because this book isn’t bad—just unnecessary. It will encourage me to buy, or check out, Fast, Feast, Repeat so it works as a marketing tool at least.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
June 11, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4. I think this book is a motivational addition to her previous books. The same information is reiterated though it does have lots of stories. I can't help liking Gin in each of her books, though I do wish she would accept the reality that IF doesn't work for everyone or in order to work, may need much stricter guidelines than hers. For instance, blood sugar levels with IF can be MUCH higher if you don't break the fast with a very low carb meal. And even all meals in fasting windows. Ask me how I know. 🙃 So then not only does it feel like a diet, but a restrictive one on steroids. I realize this isn't an issue for everyone and my rating reflects that. It has obviously helped many people, but I do think it is important to acknowledge that it isn't a magic bullet, nor will it necessarily work for everyone. We are all individuals and that is okay. I do agree with her that you do need to stick with it for awhile to see if it really works, but I'm also not one for blindly telling people to do something after they have tried and it isn't working just because it worked for me and anecdotally other acquaintances. So be realistic, continue it if it works for you, and don't, if it doesn't. And realize that if doesn't, it may not be you that failed it, but the diet (or er, "lifestyle" as she and every other diet book call it) that failed you. I still found this to be an enjoyable read and a decent revisit to her previous books.
April 20, 2024
As an RN, and someone who suffers from an autoimmune disease, I'm a firm believer in "Food Is Medicine". What and how we eat has a profound influence on our health. As an intermittent faster and a fan of Gin Stephens, this is an excellent book to ease your way into IF. A wonderful companion to her book Fast, Feast, Repeat, this book holds your hand as you navigate the first 28 days. But if you want a more in depth explanation of the details and the science behind IF, don't neglect to read her book Fast, Feast, Repeat. In fact, I think it's imperative to own both books.
An invaluable resource for the intermittent fasting lifestyle, whether you choose IF for weight loss or for the health benefits. I highly recommend the paperback vs the e-book so you can write in the pages and easily refer back to earlier chapters. I bought the paperback book after reviewing the kindle version.
This is the starter book but if you only want to read one book, I recommend her prior book, Fast, Feast Repeat. Not everyone wants the science....if that is you then try this quick start!
Don't miss the 2 podcasts Gin Stephens hosts: Intermittent Fasting Stories, and Fast, Feast, Repeat, Intermittent Fasting for Life.
* I received the digital e-book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
An invaluable resource for the intermittent fasting lifestyle, whether you choose IF for weight loss or for the health benefits. I highly recommend the paperback vs the e-book so you can write in the pages and easily refer back to earlier chapters. I bought the paperback book after reviewing the kindle version.
This is the starter book but if you only want to read one book, I recommend her prior book, Fast, Feast Repeat. Not everyone wants the science....if that is you then try this quick start!
Don't miss the 2 podcasts Gin Stephens hosts: Intermittent Fasting Stories, and Fast, Feast, Repeat, Intermittent Fasting for Life.
* I received the digital e-book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
December 20, 2023
My experience with “28-Day Fast Start Day by Day” by Gin Stephens was generally positive. The book provided a structured approach to intermittent fasting, but I found it occasionally repetitive. Maybe this repetition served as a motivator throughout the journey.
What truly stood out were the interview blurbs in each daily section, which made me feel like I had a companion on this fasting journey. The interactive elements, such as the ability to write in the book and track progress, made the experience more engaging.
However, I couldn’t help but feel that the book’s strong connection to “Fast. Feast. Repeat.” limited its standalone appeal. Perhaps an app format would have made it more accessible, considering it complements another book. I believe more comprehensive information and reduced repetition could enhance its value for readers who might not invest in both books.
Gin Stephens’ background as a teacher shone through in the workbook-style presentation, making it user-friendly. Yet, envisioning it as a spiral-bound workbook could boost its practicality and ease of use.
I appreciate Gin Stephens, Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ability to read this book early and give my honest review.
What truly stood out were the interview blurbs in each daily section, which made me feel like I had a companion on this fasting journey. The interactive elements, such as the ability to write in the book and track progress, made the experience more engaging.
However, I couldn’t help but feel that the book’s strong connection to “Fast. Feast. Repeat.” limited its standalone appeal. Perhaps an app format would have made it more accessible, considering it complements another book. I believe more comprehensive information and reduced repetition could enhance its value for readers who might not invest in both books.
Gin Stephens’ background as a teacher shone through in the workbook-style presentation, making it user-friendly. Yet, envisioning it as a spiral-bound workbook could boost its practicality and ease of use.
I appreciate Gin Stephens, Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ability to read this book early and give my honest review.
January 17, 2024
Let me start by saying my review is coming from someone this diet will not work for. I wanted to and this book gave me a quick synopsis and I will not be trying it. And for that I’m glad I read this one.
The author states from the very beginning that this is the companion book to her other book on the topic and that you need both books to fully understand the topic. I don’t know if I agree. You get a great start on IF from this book but maybe you want to know more on the why, you need the other. The author gives great explanations and directions.
For me realizing the “plan” is basically cutting your eating window to 4 or 5 hours won’t work for me. The end 28 days is to eat your calories in one meal and one snack. That’s a lot of calories in those two meals. And to try and keep them healthy would mean a lot f volume. For me it wouldn’t be sustainable for life, which this diet needs to be for it to succeed.
The author states from the very beginning that this is the companion book to her other book on the topic and that you need both books to fully understand the topic. I don’t know if I agree. You get a great start on IF from this book but maybe you want to know more on the why, you need the other. The author gives great explanations and directions.
For me realizing the “plan” is basically cutting your eating window to 4 or 5 hours won’t work for me. The end 28 days is to eat your calories in one meal and one snack. That’s a lot of calories in those two meals. And to try and keep them healthy would mean a lot f volume. For me it wouldn’t be sustainable for life, which this diet needs to be for it to succeed.
October 30, 2023
I received an advanced copy of this book.
As someone who has an interest in Intermittent fasting, but no knowledge this book was a good starting point to have a basic understanding on the topic.
Gin is a good writer and did a good job at capturing my interest on the topic and didn't bore me.
I was a little turned off at the beginning when she tried to do a bit of a selling job to get you to buy her "Fast, Feast Repeat" book and telling you you needed to have both books. It was a bit of an overkill to be honest.
The book has a good structure to help keep you focused with a day by day journal entry for 28 days to write in how the fast was going.
Overall, it's a good book on the topic of Intermittent fasting. I knew nothing going in and was given a great introduction to the topic and had some great takeaways from the book.
As someone who has an interest in Intermittent fasting, but no knowledge this book was a good starting point to have a basic understanding on the topic.
Gin is a good writer and did a good job at capturing my interest on the topic and didn't bore me.
I was a little turned off at the beginning when she tried to do a bit of a selling job to get you to buy her "Fast, Feast Repeat" book and telling you you needed to have both books. It was a bit of an overkill to be honest.
The book has a good structure to help keep you focused with a day by day journal entry for 28 days to write in how the fast was going.
Overall, it's a good book on the topic of Intermittent fasting. I knew nothing going in and was given a great introduction to the topic and had some great takeaways from the book.
July 1, 2023
If you are beginning an intermittent fasting lifestyle this book is a great place to start. Stephens really does explain how this plan can be personalized for each of us and what works of us as individuals. The 4-week plan is also very flexible and if one decides it isn’t working it is ok to take a break and resume later. It can also be incorporated into most people’s lifestyle very easily.
One valid complaint I have read is that the book very much encourages the purchase of her book Fast, Feast, Repeat. The book is good and a great compliment to this book. However, there are other authors with books that would compliment this book similarly.
Thank you @netgalley and @stmarintspress for my free e copy of this book for my review.
One valid complaint I have read is that the book very much encourages the purchase of her book Fast, Feast, Repeat. The book is good and a great compliment to this book. However, there are other authors with books that would compliment this book similarly.
Thank you @netgalley and @stmarintspress for my free e copy of this book for my review.
February 2, 2024
Fast clean
Adapt
Settle in
Tweak
This is Gin Stephen’s newest iteration of her “Delay, Don’t Deny”, and “Fast, Feast, Repeat” books.
Less theory, and more practicum, it’s part guide, part workbook, part cheerleader.
I particularly enjoyed the three streams: Easy Does It, Steady Build, and Rip Off the Band-Aid.
As I’m the kind of person who learned to knit by making a cabled sweater, the latter approach very much appeals to my Chaotic Good Energy.
I also love that she encourages readers to stay off the scale for the entire month.
My only issue is that, to get the most out of THIS BOOK, you really need her OTHER BOOK.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great, but it makes you side-eye this book a little.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this helpful ARC.
Adapt
Settle in
Tweak
This is Gin Stephen’s newest iteration of her “Delay, Don’t Deny”, and “Fast, Feast, Repeat” books.
Less theory, and more practicum, it’s part guide, part workbook, part cheerleader.
I particularly enjoyed the three streams: Easy Does It, Steady Build, and Rip Off the Band-Aid.
As I’m the kind of person who learned to knit by making a cabled sweater, the latter approach very much appeals to my Chaotic Good Energy.
I also love that she encourages readers to stay off the scale for the entire month.
My only issue is that, to get the most out of THIS BOOK, you really need her OTHER BOOK.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great, but it makes you side-eye this book a little.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this helpful ARC.
March 1, 2024
What I really wanted from this book was a beginners guide to how one might feel day to day when starting IF, some tips to staying on track, different things that might come up. You know, to help a beginner along the journey. I did not get that. I got rehashed lessons from fast feast repeat, with no timely advice about ‘you might feel this kind of way, and that’s ok.’ Why would you put your commentary on hunger on day 16, when the ravenous, gutting hunger was in the first 14 days only?!
I have read fast feast repeat which is really good and comprehensive, I didn’t need another of the same. I also listen to Gin Stephen’s podcast which I love. This book in particular, I did not need, but I’m still going forward with IF!
I have read fast feast repeat which is really good and comprehensive, I didn’t need another of the same. I also listen to Gin Stephen’s podcast which I love. This book in particular, I did not need, but I’m still going forward with IF!
August 1, 2023
This is a companion book to Gin Stephens' Fast. Feast. Repeat. book. And it will help if the reader has already read that book, which goes deep into the science of fasting and how the body responds to prolonged fasting windows. I read Fast. Feast. Repeat., and it's what got me reading this book.
This book is a manual and journal of sorts with just enough information to get you going, and personal motivation stories thrown throughout the chapters. This book will be best read in paperback format so one can take notes on it.
If you need an extra push into IF and more accountability, this book will do that.
This book is a manual and journal of sorts with just enough information to get you going, and personal motivation stories thrown throughout the chapters. This book will be best read in paperback format so one can take notes on it.
If you need an extra push into IF and more accountability, this book will do that.
September 20, 2023
Won in a giveaway. Got it bc I need to lose weight and I need a "discipline" not a food quota to make the weight come off and stay that way. I already thought that IF was useful before and I tried it once for a few weeks before but stopped because I got too deep too fast.
I think this was an overall helpful book; I needed a "daily devotional" for the habit, and this kickstarted the habit. I think the closer I got to the end the more I faded. I dislike the daily reminder that the author wrote a different book that she recommends(Hint: "requires") us to read. That actually makes me not want to get the other book at all. This should stand alone; it really should have enough information to stand alone, and the redundancy is annoying. Actually, if there's so much material in the other book, why not just add it in this one and cover it bite by bite in this one to completion?
I also get that she's a teacher; I can tell it in the writing in a bad way. Actually maybe that's what the repeated "encouragement" to get her other book is. It's her teacher habits coming out, and I hate teacher habits.
The testimonials are interesting, but I also see that most of them ended up as professional promoters of IF and they are mostly between 2 and 5 years of the habit; which is admittedly about how old this fad has gone on for. (yes, I did call it a fad, because a different dietician made a good point, this is totally just repackaged "skipping breakfast.") I did need the repackaging though; because it's been drilled into my head that any missed meals are bad, no matter what your hunger signals say. I think that's been one of the things that I have had to gently "unlearn" over a long time; and that unlearning began happening before I got to this book.
This book is more like a "Daily devotional" version of IF. It "makes" you make a journal entry and think about how you feel, and continue your commitment to "the goal" (IF habit formation).
I needed the "daily devotional," so it's been a good tool for me. There's not been any bashing or accusation for the things that didn't go right during the attempt, and it's all been pretty gravy and tips.
After going through a month of this, I think I feel better about my decision making for meals, but I think it's not in the way the book intended(?) Anyways. I give it a grudging 4 stars because it did what it set out to do.
I think this was an overall helpful book; I needed a "daily devotional" for the habit, and this kickstarted the habit. I think the closer I got to the end the more I faded. I dislike the daily reminder that the author wrote a different book that she recommends(Hint: "requires") us to read. That actually makes me not want to get the other book at all. This should stand alone; it really should have enough information to stand alone, and the redundancy is annoying. Actually, if there's so much material in the other book, why not just add it in this one and cover it bite by bite in this one to completion?
I also get that she's a teacher; I can tell it in the writing in a bad way. Actually maybe that's what the repeated "encouragement" to get her other book is. It's her teacher habits coming out, and I hate teacher habits.
The testimonials are interesting, but I also see that most of them ended up as professional promoters of IF and they are mostly between 2 and 5 years of the habit; which is admittedly about how old this fad has gone on for. (yes, I did call it a fad, because a different dietician made a good point, this is totally just repackaged "skipping breakfast.") I did need the repackaging though; because it's been drilled into my head that any missed meals are bad, no matter what your hunger signals say. I think that's been one of the things that I have had to gently "unlearn" over a long time; and that unlearning began happening before I got to this book.
This book is more like a "Daily devotional" version of IF. It "makes" you make a journal entry and think about how you feel, and continue your commitment to "the goal" (IF habit formation).
I needed the "daily devotional," so it's been a good tool for me. There's not been any bashing or accusation for the things that didn't go right during the attempt, and it's all been pretty gravy and tips.
After going through a month of this, I think I feel better about my decision making for meals, but I think it's not in the way the book intended(?) Anyways. I give it a grudging 4 stars because it did what it set out to do.
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January 29, 2024***These are my random thoughts after finishing the book. Some of the thoughts are an overall review of the book, or any questions/feelings that nagged at me throughout. There will almost definitely be spoilers. Read at your own risk.*** ‐----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you to publishers for ARC
- stars
Good guide to start intermittent fasting
Didn't realize you had to get another companion book with it
Feels weird to rate this because I didn't go through all the days, but seems helpful and author has an encouraging, conversational tone
Thank you to publishers for ARC
- stars
Good guide to start intermittent fasting
Didn't realize you had to get another companion book with it
Feels weird to rate this because I didn't go through all the days, but seems helpful and author has an encouraging, conversational tone
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
This book had some interesting information and I appreciated the journal aspect of this book and the simplicity, however I thought the writing was very annoying. I felt like someone was constantly yelling in my ear as I was reading this book. Also, one meal a day?! That’s not healthy. I understand everyone’s bodies are different and one method may be right for one person and not for another, but after reading this book I feel I wasted my time.
I would only recommend this book if you feel that you and your doctor are curious if intermittent fasting could be right for you.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy.
I would only recommend this book if you feel that you and your doctor are curious if intermittent fasting could be right for you.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy.
January 13, 2025
This book really helped me begin the IF lifestyle. Without my daily routine of starting the day with an inspirational story and ending it with journaling a reflection and setting goals for the next day, I don’t know if I would have made it through the 28 days. Gin is so relatable and I love her writing style! Short and sweet and to the point, with enough science to understand the why but not overwhelm. As a teacher, I could tell she was a teacher!
This book is a great companion to Feast, Fast, Repeat. I am so thankful to have discovered this health plan and have her guidance in the beginning. I hope to be celebrating my first “fastiversarry” next year while 40 and feeling fabulous!
This book is a great companion to Feast, Fast, Repeat. I am so thankful to have discovered this health plan and have her guidance in the beginning. I hope to be celebrating my first “fastiversarry” next year while 40 and feeling fabulous!
July 17, 2023
I have read a couple of books by Gin Stephens and enjoy them all. I will be purchasing this book as soon as it comes out because it is a workbook style and will be so helpful for anyone new to or wanting to delve deeper into their intermittent fasting lifestyle. This book is a great easy read and yet has a lot of the science behind why IF works and is a perfect companion to Fast, Feast, Repeat by Gin Stephens.
Thank you to #stmartinspress and to #netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest and independent review.
Thank you to #stmartinspress and to #netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest and independent review.
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