Unbelievable Freedom: How We Transformed Our Health and Happiness with Intermittent Fasting (Unbelievable Freedom Books)

Ryan and Kim Smith have written a highly relatable story of weight & food struggles, the various attempts to overcome, and the success that can be found with the intermittent fasting (IF) lifestyle. Both have their own unique stories and yet, it is easy to identify with one or both of them if you've ever struggled with food (and most of us have, in one way or another). I highly recommend this, especially if you have started to look into IF. They are both excellent resources for advice, suggestions, and encouragement. A great, quick read that is both honest and inspiring, with a healthy dose of humor as well.

Kim and Ryan share true feelings and emotions in their book. They put it all out there and I found so many passages that I read and thought to myself "YES! I know exactly what that feels like!" This was a quick read and I appreciate that they it wasn't filled with "how to's" and they made it more about their emotional, mental, and psychological journey. I feel like that allows people to connect with them more instead of them writing a book strictly about IF. I have not done IF, but I can absolutely identify with the struggles associated with weight loss. So inspirational to read about their challenges and triumphs; to know they didn't just set their mind to it once and poof their dreams came true, that can be said for many people trying to change a number of different habits, not just about food. I would recommend this book to anyone who has felt defeated by their current situation who needs a pat on the back and ray of hope! YOU can overcome whatever is happening to you, you just need to find the right/appropriate "fix" for you!

I enjoyed reading this book and I feel like I can do a 5 hour window for eating. I am excited to show this book to my sisters. It feels good to have a plan that is workable. Thanks to the authors for sharing their lives.

This is an inspiring and relatable story. Once you start reading, you’ll want to continue. You may wonder, “when are they going to talk about IF?!” But it’s important to examine the root causes of obesity first. I gave it 4 stars because the book needs some editing; there are occasional typos. Other than that, go Ryan and Kim ....and anyone else who embarks on this journey!

Kim and Ryan are not weight loss or fitness gurus. They are just two regular people who have opened up to share their stories in a very relatable way. They lived life, they had stress, they gained weight and lost it and gained it again. In short, they are real people just like me! Knowing that they have struggled just like I have with different weight loss approaches and then hearing their stories about finding Intermittent Fasting and how both of them have not only lost weight, but have easily maintained that weight loss without any crazy gimmicks was really refreshing and inspiring. I am at the beginning of my IF lifestyle and loving it. This is a book I will return to for inspiration along my journey!

This book was a very easy read. I read the entire book on a long flight. I could so relate to the struggles of Kim and Ryan. My husband and I met under similar circumstances and we have a small blended family (empty nesters now). He and I both gained an enormous amount of weight after the first year or marriage and have struggled for 14 years. Someone at work had lost noticeable weight and she told me about Delay Don’t Deny by Gin Stevens. I was about to download the book when I realized I had downloaded Unbelievable Freedom months ago. This was very inspiring. I have done intermittent fasting before but what I ate was restricted. I am going to give 2 weeks of IF with unrestricted food choices. Right now I am drinking black coffee - a first step!

For many months I consistently lost weight with IF, by eating healthy, whole foods, and avoiding processed foods, treats, & sweets. I ate to satiation, and didn’t really feel like I was on a diet. And, twice a month I would have an ‘anything I wanted’ meal. Then I read this book and another that is written in a similar vien. And, I started regularly having ‘whatever’ I wanted in my ‘eating window’ as the book describes. (I ate the ‘treats’ in limited amounts – while still eating mostly a healthy, whole foods diet). Weight loss stopped dead, and has remained so for 1 1/2 months – even though I have taken up exercise to get the scale moving. Nothing, nada. No weight loss; no reduction in measurements – though I do feel really good fasting for 19 to 20 hours a day.This book was a (very) enjoyable read, and the really pleasant and positive ‘feeling’ it gives off is so seductive that I started believing that I could follow their way and have the same kind of success they describe. Then my stall, and now I ask, “How can people really eat this liberally and ‘easily’ shed the pounds?” They say they so easily lost their weight without formal exercise. Well, I consider the amount of walking they do ‘exercise’. Walking 4 miles a day takes quite some time, and burns plenty of calories. That, I believe is the secret why they lost weight: eating within such a narrow window, and exercising for 1 1/2 hours a day (walking IS exercise). But, even then, I believe most people are going to have to rein in the treats, and act more like they are on a diet at some level if they expect to have successful weight loss.

This book is an easy read that hits at the true struggles of being overweight. From the ups and downs it describes the connection we have with food both physically and mentally. Definitely worth the read!

This is a book which will motivate you to start your own journey towards freedom. Highly recommended. If you are thinking of trying intermittent fasting, you should definitely read this one

I loved reading about Ryan and Kim. This book is so much more then just another diet book but a real story, told really well, in a very motivational way, in detail of how this couple transformed their lives after discovering intermittent fasting. I have started fasting myself this year with great results and compared to other diets it's been effortless, but I'm still on my journey and I love to read anything that motivates me in my new lifestyle. I think for someone overweight who has tried everything this book will really help because not only does it tell you what to do, it tells you how a real couple who had tried everything and really struggled eventually found intermittent fasting and it tells you exactly how it worked for them. If you have given up hope this book will make you determined to give it one last shot and to try intermittent fasting to change your life and live the life of your dreams. If you are already on your journey and losing weight this book will keep you positive and help you stick with it. I feel more motivated then ever after reading it.

This is a great book for those who don’t believe that Intermittent Fasting works, is sustainable or can become a permanent way of life for them. I read the Kindle version in two sittings and finished reading it at about midnight because I couldn’t put it down. It was like reading an autobiography where the reader becomes totally involved in the life of the author or, in this case, authors. It was honest, open and inspiring and, as a result of the authors’ experiences, the message of perseverance and never giving up could be applied to all aspects of our lives. It is a book for everyone who would like to make peace with food, overcome emotional eating or put dieting behind them, whether they have a lot of weight to lose or just a few pounds or just want to be healthy and maintain their weight. It doesn’t go into all the scientific ins and outs of IF because I don’t believe that was the purpose of the book, but they recommend books that do, including Gin Stephen’s book ‘Delay, Don’t Deny: Living an Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle’ which was the book that got them started on IF. Gin Stephens wrote the foreword to the book.

It is not overstating to say this book taps into the very spiritual life saving journey that a lifetime of eating issues is for those of us who struggle. The authors capture the pain of disordered eating while leading the reader to an understanding of a truly profound way of being with food and in life that is possible with a deep understanding of both past food issues and Intermittant fasting. Thank you!