Hi CG, thanks for the warm welcome :-). Yes, I’ve done the BMR and TDEE calculations and I think I’ll write them down and tape them to my fridge so I’m reminded! I think Monday and Wednesday will be my regular days, with Thursday as a back up in case one day doesn’t go as planned.
Looking forward to getting and receiving support to keep on track 🙂

Well folks you’ve made my job hard! So many wonderful posts to reply to so….I will assure you that I’ve read them all but cannot possibly reply. I reckon you miss just one day around here & you’re done for!! GG sending lots of {{{ }}} your way for when heyou need them. If you need them today then use them otherwise save for another day when the blues hit. CG why not give yourself a breather in the middle of all your activity – say make one day a Go the the pool day then come home and just relax? Or make Tues & Thurs your days off or similar. You are doing unbelievably well & we don’t want to see you fall in a heap. We’d be lost without you!!

Had 2 lovely days away. Spent the last 2 hours of our trip sharing with each other about our daughter & grandkids. No great solutions but it was good to let each other know how we’re coping or not coping as the case was today – GG a bit like you it just reared itself up out of nowhere & swamped me. So we’ve cleared the air for another while & agreed that we simply have to wait. And just remember GG the more special/precious the relationship the harder the grief process. So yours was truly special & that’s very precious in its own right & something to hold on to tightly and treasure don’t forget that.

Well as you can imagine I haven’t fasted today & had a few treats. So tomorrow is a FD. Have house guests arriving for 3 days tomorrow (from our Alice Springs days) so fasting again will be difficult – would have loved to do a 3rd one. Never mind I’ll just have to put my dreams of hitting the 60’s on hold till next week.

CG you brought back memories of my nana. She lived near Swan Hill Vic on a dried fruit farm. We used to help our uncle spread out the grapes for raisins and apricots to dry on the racks. Nana had one cow and would make butter with the old butter pats & cream of course. We would get yabbies from the little dam & shimmy up the trees to pick almonds/walnuts at Christmas time. Nana almost always wore an apron – all day as far as I remember…guess she was always doing something! Then we’d help pick peas or beans or tomatoes or flowers from the gardens. There was 4 of us kids & we all fitted somehow! in a little Morris Minor car. One year going up there for Christmas we hit some floods & water flooded the car. Dad opened the doors to let the water out & our potty floated away. Some nice policemen caught up with us & embarrassed Mum by tapping on the door & saying Is this yours maam?! LOL guess it was my potty seeing I was the baby of the family! But then my brother was only a year & 2 days older so could have been for both. Mum had 4 of us in 4 years after the war. Byee all suejen XXXX

How much weight do you lose on a fast day ?

I weigh myself every morning and find after a fast day I have usually lost over 1 kg.
It builds up a bit over the next few days but obviously the goal is not put it all back on before the next fast day.

Sunshiney, welcome. I am in Brisbane. No sun today though! You can do this. The first week may be a challenge but if you can stick with it, you will never look back!
Today is my 59th birthday and I look so much better than I did last birthday and I feel great. I have lost 11 and a half kilos since November and just have a few to go.

Fit, I am a tad up this week due to no fasts. These days I only weigh on Friday mornings and am therefore emptier after fasting etc. So I know my few hundred grams isn’t actual fat. It is just yesterday’s bread! But next week!

Parley, I used to weigh daily early on and found it helpful despite all the advice not to. I did like to see what was happening but decided to cut back to after each fast day. I always lost about 500grams a week. Now, I only weigh in on Friday mornings and it is a while since I have lost that much in a week but that is totally because I am socialising too much, or at least socialising in the wrong way!

Anyway, I now don’t want to know what the scales say on NF days. I am only interested in the number after the 2 days are up as fluctuations can be demoralising and mostly dependant on water weight, I think.

Doggy. ThAt is great. If all you have put on is just a tad short of two kgs…after all that sickness. What a gal..I too love Richard Fidler and conversations. My fav program..

Parley , I too would imagine that the difference between FD and NFD is fluid. I only weigh on the day after FD for that reason. Too much fluctuation.

Can’t weigh this week as I do not have any scales handy. Will weigh for two weeks next Friday and hopefully get 2 FD,s in next week..

SJ. I agree you miss one day and you have lots of reading to catch up on. Very hard then they respond to all the posts but as long as we keep reading them and posting encouragement , especially to the newbeys, that should be all that matters.
Funny that I do not consider myself a new era aNymore after only just 6 weeks..
What a great group…???????

Good luck for today everyone. Especially to Change…CH , and SS. It is Friday and anxiously waiting SIL results. Once we get them hopefully will do some celebrating???????

Hi all, am running late today, had a power outage here most of the day. Bloody wind! Only read yesterdays posts so far(before power cut), but will get to it.

Fit, just want to say thanks for the kind words, praise indeed from a second generation school principal. I really felt your closeness to your dad in your family history stories, can you imagine the impact of your’s and your father’s influence on the hundreds of students who passed through your hands? Teachers leave a legacy that goes far beyond their own time. You should all be proud of that. And I think there’s a lot of daddy’s girls on this thread.

I’ll drink to that! Have been bottling my wares and since I have no recipe for certain request challenges, tasting as I go. Interesting….there appear to be drunk ants everywhere, must be the honey! I found a local with a hive, CG (must have organic !) So I’m making a honey bourbon liqueur. It involves dropping a chunk of honeycomb, loaded with honey, into spirit already aged on wood,(I transferred it to a glass barrel. We’ll see what turns out after a few months further aging. might take your head off! but it sure will be smooooth. Gotta go sort a meal out now we have power. Later xx gyps

Up Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful day.

Doggie I too enjoy the Richard Fidler interviews. Don’t download as a podcast, although I should but have the ABC as my home page on my laptop and can access the program through that when I miss. Haven’t listened since OH has been home and it’s one of the things I will be taking back!

Jumped on my scales (which have been playing up) and they were so shocked they registered a decent weight first time!!! Pretty sure it is a truish weight too as they have chucked out some outlandish amounts previously. So only another couple of k’s to go.

CG reckon I’m just a little old rule breaker too. Ditto dairy products and at the moment have a wonderful vintage cheese block with mixed peppercorns. Just melts in the mouth and I sometimes shave off some and enjoy with a cuppa while OH goes for cakes/biscuits. Not sure who is eating more cals.
TGIF hope everyone has a great weekend. Welcome Sunny and any I have missed.
YY xx

Oh, and thank you all for the warm welcome! 😀

Hi everyone,
great reading all your blogs, I actually look forward to it, I am not much of a blogger, sorry.
However, reporting in is great for me and helps me commit.
CG wow your results are inspiring. A lady I work with has lost 26 kg on this program and is well over 60 years and looks wonderful.
Today went well, made healthy choices, have made my own museli for at least 3 breakfasts, I know it is carbs but I think it helps. Just 1/2 a cup with youguhut and berries …on NFD,s of course. I can share the recipie if you like. I find it prevents me from grabbing bad old crumpets or toast.
I am going to fit a FD Sunday as ran out of time this remaining week.
Wishing you all the best this weekend, I am off to a party with dreaded finger food, but I have put in a good effort this weekend.
87ks 157 cm.
ciao CC

Hello all, I just started 5:2 yesterday. Aiming for health benefits more than weight loss, but losing about 5kg would be great! Has anyone had issues with fatigue on the day after a fast? Have just skimmed over the last few posts & seems like a fantastic community you have going. 🙂

Happy happy birthday Up & welcome Sunshine & EmT…good to have you here. I’m enjoying the company of old friends from Alice Springs days so fasted for brekky & lunch only. Had my yummy mustard & maple chicken for dinner & apple crumble. We haven’t seen them for years …that’s my excuse. They will be with us for 3 days so won’t fit another fast in over the weekend either. Never mind tis lovely to see them. On the plus side they don’t drink so no alcohol was consumed by us!

Have a great weekend all. May not post again until Sunday we shall see how busy we are. Will try to be good some of the time I promise! suejen XXXX

GG hope there’s some sunshine peeping through the clouds for you today. CG lovely that you were able to get another massage & that they are so good for you. Excellent decision that you’re going to get one regularly…..well I believe that the massage makes the decision for you if it’s a jolly good one!

Hi all, thanks for the birthday wishes! Gypsy, I aim for elegant but can’t do much about height. I think I am average, 165 or 5’5″. At least that is average for our generation. Seems to be a lot of tall girls with big feet these days!

I was pretty good yesterday, all things considered, but haven’t seen my kids yet so more to come!

Welcome, Em, and Change, I am glad you find this forum useful even if you aren’t a poster!
Have a good weekend all!

Hello team. Welcome em T – what. good name. I’m sitting here spitting chips or just plain bloody annoyed as my knee is plying up again. I had to abort my early morning walk as it was too painful. I had a session with the ice pack and will have another go later on. Well my day went smoothly yesterday until I hopped into the odd glass of wine before dinner. Then I felt peckish so had some salty biscuits. And then some more ! I don’t usually buy them for myself but hubby (skinny as a greyhound) likes to munch on them. I will just have to be more self disciplined. This is the last weekend before the kids go back to school. I’m so looking forward to it as our usually quiet little community is hopping with holiday makers and their dogs. They all seem to set up a competition to see who can bark the most. No wonder I’m hopping into the wine.
Enjoy your day all.

Morning all our guests haven’t appeared yet so I have a little window of opportunity to post. They’ve been on the road in a caravan for 4 months up through Central Australia & then all around the west coast to here. Campers from way back. Had a lovely long dinner last night. But I’d have to say that there are BIG advantages to socialising and not drinking(not suggesting I’ll do it though!). Usually I would have served nibbles before dinner cos you need something with your glass of wine or whatever. And then after dinner as we know the alcohol increases your appetite, but last night was perfectly content to just have dinner & that’s it. So they are helping me to stay pretty well with PC days…..can’t ask for better guests than that eh? But when they’ve left I bet I’ll have a glass or 2.
Planning a few walks or sightseeing drives today & tomorrow & a lunch at one of our favourite olive grove cafes.
Doggie you’re in a bit of a recovery spiral aren’t you. Your body did so little for so long that now when you push the boundaries it objects & says Hold on….don’t like this. It’s partly an age thing (sorry) but also it’s a part of the 2 steps forward/1 step back process of getting over an illness. So hang in there & get ready to take the next 2 steps forward…..then 1 back! Frustrating I know but you’re getting there. {{ }}
CG enjoy your lazy day…sounds delicious.
Fit yes I was late posting last night but went straight to bed afterwards. Had been chatting & hearing the news of old friends all last night. We haven’t been back to Alice Springs for many years but they go back fairly regularly so had all the goss. We had 8 years there together & our kids were all good friends. Now they’re all over the world but they keep touch via facebook with many of them. Some have even made the trip over to California to catch up with our son.
My partial FD led to a gain of .2 so not worried about that – especially after my 2 days away travelling this week. Still in the low 70. somethings so looking good for next week. Have a lovely weekend all. Looking like pretty nice weather here. sj XXXX

EmT I haven’t had issues with fatigue the day after, only on fast days if I push the boundaries too much with exercise. I’d say just make sure you have a good healthy breakfast the day after FD with some protein whether that be eggs, milk, some cheese, nuts or yoghurt. All helps to get you back on track again. If you don’t like breakfast have a protein snack a bit later on.

Hi all, Raining here. Nice lazy day. Bloody scales are back up to the 86’s. Hohum, but I’m firming up, so hopefully it’s muscle, not fat! ….sigh… walking is really the best fatbusting exercise, but…. well… it’s raining. Good for the garden, think I’ll just watch it grow for a bit.

Welcome EM T, and yes, I sometimes get tired after a fast day and it can be reversed by a carb/fructose hit. Try a fruit smoothie for a fast zing and a more complex carb, like wholemeal sandwich, for sustained energy. Just be aware that if you are not equally expending that fuel/energy in activity, then the residual will be stored – as fat. It’s a big topic, but here are some basics:

Carbohydrates are the body’s fuel/energy source and a low carb diet can make you tired. Especially in conjunction with High protein, which actually drains energy for it’s own digestion (which is why it aids weight loss) . Protien is the body’s building blocks/healing material and takes much longer to digest, which is why it satisfies for longer, but a big steak dinner will leave you less energetic than a bowl of grapes. (lack of protein over time will also weaken you).

So, FIT, whilst I agree re protein being more filling (and satisfying for longer)have to disagree with it as an energy booster. I also agree that it is a good ploy to do lower carb and higher protein on an everyday basis. But it’s a matter of balancing it to match activity needs. So whilst exercising on low carbs is helpful to weight loss, maybe, over short bursts, it is not helpful for hard yakka, sport endurance or mental concentration (CHo’s also fuel brain function).
Don’t shoot the messenger! I got all this first hand from one of our top ranking footy coaches, Wayne Bennett, (who coached me on health issues for college footy stars back in the day). The rule of thumb was (for athletic competition) Quote: “Feed ’em pasta and potato to go the course, steak to fix the damage later and glucose/sports drinks on the field every 15 minutes to keep them on the ball”…..Unquote.

Hope that helps you Em T. Getting cold on fast days is also an energy issue, but we all put up with that because it would defeat our purpose to gobble food as a warming source. It’s all a matter of getting into a new mindset and tweeking 5:2 guidelines to your own needs. It will make you healthier, That I promise. I have reversed type 2 diabetes and lost 10 kgs (over a year) so far. Luck. xx Gyps

So… It’s all about CHANGE…and bein’ EMPTY…. Making hay while the SUN’S’SHINY…. teaching the Eskimos new stuff about snow, if ya’ get the drift.

We try, we stumble( some…hic.. more often than others.. ) but we get up and watch each other’s back. Commiserate over character lapses to do with fridge doors and pantry stashes. And when all else fails, there comes a roll of thunder…(wait for it!) and the boss gives us a serve about unethical topic practices. And we do better!…sigh… so best I get the soda water….so hate to drink alone…. yoohoo! is anybody out there?

Hi All!….wherever ye are! Where is everyone…..poor Gypsy wasting her sweetness on the desert air!!!! ( except for the few reliables). Never mind, you get more interesting as Zelda takes over! 🙂 But, leave some bourbon for CG or she’ll kill you! 😆 I bow to your superior wisdom re carbs and protein, Matron 😉 – so take heed EmT and I’m sure you’ll feel less tired on FDs.
Change – you are making good choices and will continue to go from strength to strength, keep up the good work!
Up – you don’t just aim for elegant, you are rocking elegant! 🙂
CG – your body obviously took control and said sleep is what’s required, so I’m sure it will do you good. Hope you had a very restful, lazy day xxx
Doggy – don’t get disheartened, you are still making progress and remember how CG had a similar experience….you will get there xxxx
SJ – sounds like you are having the best of times, well deserved and I hope you have a fantastic remainder to your weekend 🙂
PH – so glad to hear that your SIL had some good news and enjoy your precious family times together (( ))
GG – I’ve no idea what a Bathurst weekend is but it sounds like some of the rugby, soccer, snooker, cricket, darts etc etc etc marathons that my OH gets stuck into. How nice that he took you out for a meal first….very wise man! 😉 Enjoy the book; nothing better for a bit of well-earned ‘me’ time ((((( ))))).
I’m off to visit my MIL (since my OH is away). She is 94 and sharp as a tack and very interesting to talk to. She loves to hear about all the family especially good news; so I’ll fill her in on the christening and the wedding and also I just heard yesterday that my daughter in college in England is to receive a chancellor’s award for academic achievement – so great news all round. Have a great weekend everyone and remember PC all the way! BRING IT ON 🙂 🙂 🙂

Ha, thanks, Fit!

GG, I know all about Bathurst. Everything stops here too. My husband loves it but 2 crashes in 2 days, don’t know how the second one survived. I even used to live in Bathurst for a couple of years. In years gone by we had to troop down to Wollongong from Sydney just to watch the race with my husband’s family every year!
These days we don’t but everything also stops for F1 Grand Prix’s and sometimes Moto GP.

PH enjoy the Gold Coast and the good news.

Bought myself a new size 12 dress today and feel great in it. Got a Sportscraft birthday voucher and combined it with a 30% off sale so did OK! Definitely inspiring me to keep up the good work!
Cheers all!

I am still about, but I have had to get out in the garden and get the weeds down before summer. In one week we have gone from having heaters on in the house to melting in the heat.

I am now down to 68.9kgs helped along by the change to salads during the week. (Jan 89kg Aug 80.5kg.) Its nice just to go down to the garden and pick vegetables for tea. Most of the summer vegetables are now coming up. I still have to cover tomatoes at night as we are still getting frosts. It was quite nice to have to get some new clothes during the week as my others were too big. Nice feeling.

Happy Sunday all. My day started at 7am ESDST so Bathurst can take OH’s day up. We were up with tea and poached eggs OH only as I am doing a fast … really need to kick this bloody 75kgs in the derry.I am a comfortable size 14. Have not even considered trying on the size 12 bikini I brought last summer …..That is my goal and also my 68kgs.
FIT- sorry i did not explain the race…. its international ….so assumed everyone knew of its existence.
UP- congratulations on the size 12. You will really knock them out in your new dress. I remember a pic of you looking stunning.
Have a wonderful day…..enjoying all that you have planned and prepare for your FD tomorrow……..GO GALxxxxx

Hello everyone. Thanks SJ & Cg for advice on my ups and downs. You are both right. I am certainly no longer a spring chicken. More like an old broiler! CG you are right about the weather. Years ago when I sufferd from chronic back pain I could tell days before the barometer showed that we were in for a change in the weather. I was up before sunrise today and their was a spectacular pyrotechnic show of lightening over the sea. We’ve had no rain though but some is forecast for later. I’m about to check out my rather large collection of meds and check if I have any antiinflammatories left. I did manage a short walk today though so that was good. Also managed to water my pot plants which is fun in itself with a puppy determined to bite at the water and get himself sopping wet.
Yeh I know about the Bathurst too. I’m not a fan but have a brother in law who watches every Grand Prix, car race of any description on TV. I’d sooner watch paint dry. I’m just happy that it’s cricket season again.
GG you mention that you also enjoy reading. Do you have any good books you can recommend. I enjoy good fiction plus that occasional thriller.
Enjoy the day team. Which of you coined the phrase ” eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we diet?”