Episode 452: Tanja Brown

In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Tanja Brown from Waldorf, MD.

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Tanja is the Chief People Officer for Tactical Air Support, a defense contractor. She never had a weight issue growing up, but suddenly started gaining weight in her mid to late 20s. She did her first diet when she was 26, and lost 75 pounds with Weight Watchers. Over the years, she would yo-yo back up, and then take the weight back off with Weight Watchers. After her daughter was born, she tried WW one more time, but was tired of counting and tracking.

In 2021, Tanja began struggling with intense shoulder pain. All her doctors could suggest was to take anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate the pain. She remembered that she had heard somewhere that intermittent fasting helped with inflammation. So, on February 28th, she decided that she would begin immediately. On March 1st she got started, and she began researching intermittent fasting.

Her research led her to Gin’s podcasts, and it wasn’t long before Tanja was fasting clean. She started with a 16:8, but shifted quickly to a 20:4, which is the protocol she uses most days, even in maintenance.

Tanja had remarkable results—dropping 30 pounds in her first month, which isn’t typical, but reflects her body letting go of a lot of inflammation. Her shoulder pain was 50% resolved after just two weeks. She went on to lose over 100 pounds, going from 260 to her current maintenance range of 150-155 pounds. At 5’ 11”, Tanja feels great in her body. 

Tonja's transition from structured diet plans like Weight Watchers to finding freedom with fasting highlights a significant shift, enabling her to focus on wellness without the need for special products or extensive tracking.

Tonja emphasizes consistency and persistence, employing the hashtag "Consistency is Key" to inspire others. Her journey showcases significant lifestyle changes, with her orthopedic surgeon noting her impressive progress and advocating for fasting as an alternative to surgical interventions.

Towards the end, Tonja discusses the balance between maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enjoying life's pleasures without striving for the lowest possible weight. She encourages listeners to focus on feeling better and to remain consistent with intermittent fasting. Tonja’s final advice is to persist in the journey, emphasizing that small, consistent steps lead to transformative results, and to remember that celebrating health is more important than adhering to rigid dietary rules.

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Get Gin’s books at: https://www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html. Good news! The second edition of Delay, Don’t Deny is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook. This is the book that you’ll want to start with or share with others, as it is a simple introduction to IF. It’s been updated to include the clean fast, an easier to understand and more thorough description of ADF and all of your ADF options, and an all new success stories section. When shopping, make sure to get the second edition, which has a 2024 publication date. The audiobook for the second edition is available now! 

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Do you enjoy Intermittent Fasting Stories? You’ll probably also like Gin’s other podcast with cohost Sheri Bullock: Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts.  

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