Pandemic? What's an Intermittent Faster to do?

This is not going to be a post with medical tips for how to use intermittent fasting to survive in a pandemic.  I am not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV.  Don't look to me for your medical advice, in fact.  There are people for that.  

But, I am a person, just like you. I am an intermittent faster, just like you.  And I AM STRESSED.  Just like you.  

Deep breath. Yep. Me, too. I’m also feeling the effects of stress during these uncertainties. Anyone else feeling weepy, or panicked, or just generally out of sorts?  Anyone looking longingly at the snack cabinet, or the fridge, or, heck...the liquor cabinet?

Yep. We probably all are feeling this, to one degree or another. 

The world feels OUT OF CONTROL.  Our brains cry out to be soothed.  We reach for food. 

This article explains why we have a tendency to turn to food when we are stressed:  https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat. See?  Biology.  It's not your fault.  

Be strong, friends. In this season of our lives, we have little control of what is happening in our world. But, we CAN lean into our daily fasting practice. 

Maybe today your window is longer than you wanted it to be. That’s okay. 

Maybe today you reached for comfort foods. That’s okay. 

Maybe this season in our lives will be a story of weight maintenance rather than weight loss. That’s also okay. 

Whatever happens, though, leave the guilt at the door. Social distance yourself from the guilt, in fact. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR GUILT in our lives right now.  QUARANTINE THAT GUILT somewhere that you can't see or feel it.  

Fast clean, and allow yourself to feel empowered as you do.  

None of us knows what the future holds.  While we wait for our world to heal, relax into your life as you can.  Create your new-normal, and develop new routines.  Look for joy and beauty in your life. Turn off the news.  Connect with friends and loved ones virtually.  Make time to have fun.

You can use this as a time to strengthen your intermittent fasting practice rather than allowing it to fall by the wayside.  

How can you use this time to strengthen your IF practice?  I have a few suggestions:

If you are looking for intermittent fasting inspiration, listen to episodes of the Intermittent Fasting Stories podcast.  You can listen for free on any podcast app, and starting in April, there will be 2 episodes per week for you to listen to:  one on Tuesday, and one on Thursday.  It's impossible to listen to these stories and not feel inspired.  

Read (or reread) my books:  Delay, Don't Deny and/or Feast Without Fear.  Delay, Don't Deny will remind you why you choose to live an intermittent fasting lifestyle, and Feast Without Fear will teach you why we are all different when it comes to what foods work best for our unique bodies...so you can leave all food-related guilt by the wayside. (Amazon is not shipping paperbacks at the moment, but the Kindle version is available for immediate download.  You can also listen to DDD for FREE on Audible if you are a new subscriber.  Click HERE.)

Listen to The Intermittent Fasting Podcast (available on any podcast app) to hear listener questions and other IF-related chat from me and cohost Melanie Avalon.  

Join my support group.   Our community is coming together during this difficult time to support one another through it.  NOTE:  As of 9/21, we are welcoming new members in our off-Facebook community.  Go to ginstephens.com/community to find out more.  

Fast on, friends.  We've got this.