Guest Blog Post! Featuring Masha Twinkletoes

This poem was written by Masha Twinkletoes and she shared it in our online support group the other day.  Well, we all loved it so much that I asked for permission to post it here on my website.  You can also find a YouTube link of Masha reading her poem to you at this link.  

I hope y'all enjoy this Seuss-style IF poem as much as I do!  
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Once upon a time, in a land far away
Lived a woman who battled poor health every day
Digestion so slow, immune system so weak
She needed a change, a reset, a tweak  

For as long as she knew, she’d always been “round”
She’d tried all the diets, losing pound by pound
First low fat, then Slim Fast, then Atkins, then juicing
Counting calories, macros, restricting, reducing 

Getting her hopes up, “This must be the way!”
Yet gaining it all back at the end of the day
And blaming herself for not sticking it out
“YOU QUIT YET AGAIN?!” she’d hear herself shout

Feeling tired and cranky, discouraged and sad
Till one day she saw yet another new “fad”
Her friend had been fasting and seeing results
“Hmm… Is this legit? Or one of those cults?”

With nothing to lose, and desire to try
She settled on reading “Delay, Don’t Deny”
It sounded so easy, too good to be true
Eat what you want, while losing weight too?

Just make sure your windows are properly spaced
Eating 6 meals a day should be replaced
By fasting at least 16 hours per day
Drinking water, plain tea, and black coffee’s OK

Without hesitation she jumped in with both feet
Fasting long as she could, before she would eat
At first the days dragged, as her body adjusted
They say “trust the process” so the process she trusted

A few pounds came off, but there was no huge change
Her fasting routine she’d switch up, rearrange

Months passed and she noticed her appetite ceased 
Her thighs, and her hips, and her waist had decreased
Her weight was the same, but her shape was brand new
Less pudgy, more toned, and her confidence grew

But how does this work? Whats the science behind it?
The answer is there, you just have to find it 

“Obesity Code” was next on her list
If insulin’s high, your fat will persist
High insulin’s triggered by eating all day
But fasting helps fat stores just melt away

However, take note, it’s not always so quick
Sometimes your body plays a neat trick
Fasting is known to increase HGH
It helps you look younger, reversing your age
It builds you more muscle, bone density rises 
Your weight *may* increase, but you’ll lose a few sizes

Autophagy ramps up as you lengthen your fast
Recycling old cells, and renewing at last 

But, isn’t fasting like starving, you wonder confused
NO, your body has plenty of fuel to be used
But don’t calories in equal calories out?
NO! they aren’t all equal, without a doubt

OK, but I’m hungry, which means I should eat
Those nagging old thoughts can be so hard to beat
It’s all in your head though, just take a deep breath 
You’ll soon get to eat, you’re not starving to death

And don’t get discouraged, this isn’t a race
Everyone’s journey has it’s own pace

Eating non-stop is what got us all here
Our signals of satiety have all disappeared
Hormonal imbalance is now the new norm
Our mindset and habits we must reform 

After reading and researching all through the night
Our heroine sighed, and took her last bite
Closing her window, and shifting her thinking
To long-lasting health, and her belly fat shrinking

Months flew by quick, her weight stayed the same
But her mind was at peace, no guilt and no shame
Digestion improved, her immune system stronger 
Her nails and hair grew longer and longer

Her skin cleared up, and her wrinkles receded 
Her eyes looked much bigger, she felt she’d succeeded 
In shifting her mindset, and settling in
To fasting and feeling OK in her skin

She realized healing inside must come first
The weight will fall off when the damage’s reversed 
Clean fasting is key, it’s not worth it to cheat
Just stick to your guns, success will taste sweet

She fasted, she feasted, she lost and she gained
Through hard times and hurdles, determined remained
She knew that she finally found “The Way”
Fasting and feasting, don’t deny, just delay!

By: Masha Twinkletoes