Written for FastingLane.com by Megan LaGrossa

Being quarantined allows us to get to things we often put on the back-burner. I decided to clean out my closet. While cleaning, I came across a picture of myself from my friend’s wedding in May 2015. That picture documents the heaviest I have ever been, weighing at 227 lbs. I looked at myself in the photo and saw just how uncomfortable I felt in my own skin. I have always struggled with my weight, and I was the poster child for every fad diet out there. To this day, my mother still asks me if I am “dieting”. 

In August of 2015, I decided enough was enough. I began my fitness journey by exercising and eating better. I knew I wanted to have a child, but I would never be able to successfully carry a child in “that body”.  I was determined to reverse old habits and find my way. Fast forward to March 2017. Still stuck in some of my old habits, I was desperate to get rid of my weight. At that point, I was stuck at 215 lbs. I had lost 12 lbs. and kept it off for two years, but I was stalled again. One of the fitness trainers I followed was looking for people to be a part of her “diet beta test”. I eagerly signed up. It was an online course that taught me about how my body works. In the course, I learned about Dr. Jason Fung and his research on intermittent fasting. During the program, I began to eat a low carb, healthy fat diet. I began shortening my eating window. After three weeks of this lifestyle change, we were challenged to try an extended fast that could be assisted with bone broth and coffee, if we wanted to. 

I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person, so I went all in and was determined to complete a three day fast. I am happy to say I did it and was so proud of myself! At that point, four weeks into incorporating intermittent fasting, and completing a three day fast, I was down to 197 lbs. I lost 18 lbs. in four weeks! I am not one to lose weight quickly, so I was stunned to say the least. 

I forgot to mention that during that time, my husband and I were trying, unsuccessfully, to have a baby. In March of 2017, just before I started intermittent fasting, I told my husband I was done trying and I was happy to be a crazy cat lady/mom to our 3 cats. The next month, I completed the three day fast, and even though we gave up “trying”, I found out in the beginning of June that I was pregnant! I still joke to this day that fasting is the reason I got pregnant. But, is it really a joke or did my intermittent fasting balance my hormones and help me to get pregnant? 

I obviously stopped fasting during my pregnancy, which took some getting used to. I had a hard time eating before 1pm as I had successfully done for a few months. Once I had my son, I quickly went back to fasting, and picked up where I left off. This is not to say I haven’t had MANY bumps and detours on my journey. In fact, since having my son and continuing to fast, I have only gotten down to 189 lbs., but I have had so many other NSVs!

Being quarantined since March 16th, I allowed old habits to creep back in and make me feel helpless. I got on the scale this past Wednesday, April 8th and was so upset that I had gone up to 193.6 lbs. When I looked in the mirror, all I saw was bloat. The mental struggle I have had over the past few days/weeks has been rough, especially for someone who has battled anxiety and depression since my early 20s. As I was getting ready for the day on Wednesday, I was watching Good Morning America, and saw a segment on intermittent fasting. Dr. Jason Fung was featured speaking about the benefits of fasting. The segment also highlighted Eve Mayer, who co-authored her new book, Life in the Fasting Lane with Dr. Fung and Megan Ramos. Two names I have been reading about and learning from for three years! I was so inspired by Eve’s story and realized enough was enough! I was taking back my health. 

I purchased a copy of the book on my Kindle that night and decided I would start reading it the next day. When I finally got around to it (trying to read with a 2-year-old is no easy task), I decided to just skim the chapter titles and see what was in the book. Chapter 21: Getting Back on Track. I read the chapter, and realized it was exactly what I needed to read at that moment. I could have continued to beat myself up for not being more in control for the past 3-4 weeks. I could have continued to scrutinize every bloated part of my body and grumble at myself in the mirror. Or… I could forgive myself and start again. Eve shares in this chapter a moment of weakness, which admittedly was a much shorter time frame than my last 3-4-week binge, but at the end she shared empowering advice. This bump in the road is just that. It doesn’t define me.

The nice thing about fasting is that every day is a new day to try again. The health benefits that I have experienced from fasting over the past 3 years have been amazing. I mean, fasting helped me to have my son, the love of my life! Not to mention the mental clarity I desperately need as a mom and teacher. Sometimes we must look back to see how far we have come. I am so grateful to Dr. Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, and especially Eve Mayer for helping me to get past this bump in the road and remind me that it’s okay to get off track as long as we keep moving forward.