In this episode of Intermittent Fasting Stories, Gin talks to Jerry Nelson of Floresville, TX.

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Jerry is a Postmaster for the United States Postal Service. He was always tall and big as a kid, and he played football in high school. He joined the military out of college, and had to lose almost 50 pounds in order to be accepted. This began a vicious cycle of intense exercise, weight loss, injury, then weight gain. While serving, Jerry crushed both his back and skull, and in recovery gained all the weight back. With the steroids he was prescribed and the all-day snacking, he eventually climbed to 470 pounds. Finally, in 2001, Jerry had gastric bypass surgery. He says, "It saved my life." He lost almost 300 pounds in a year and a half. 

As a result of this massive weight loss, he was able to run marathons, averaging 100 miles a week! He was eating 7-8 small meals throughout the day, and over the next 13-14 years, his weight gradually crept back up to 370 pounds. Jerry says he felt like a failure: "I have everything else under control, how come I can't control my weight?" 

In April of 2017, Jerry needed knee replacement surgery, but the surgeon told him he must lose weight first, sharing intermittent fasting with him. Jerry read The Obesity Code then Delay, Don't Deny. He began with 16:8, moving to 20:4. He did OMAD, (One Meal A Day) and has lost around 162 pounds now weighing 205 pounds.

The advice Jerry would give to new IFers: "Have a plan. Give IF time. You didn't get here overnight. Forgive yourself. Don't be dogmatic. Change it around, and don't get complacent."

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