Good work AGuy!
I remember at the end of my first fast week hankering after a steak. We went to the local pub and my husband misheard me. I had intended him to buy the 200gm steak, which seemed enormous. He bought the 600gm. I ate one tiny corner and pushed the rest away. I found I very quickly stopped eating as much. Just enjoy yourself, but stop eating the second you think you’ve had enough.
Have a good weekend both you and Nicki. P 🙂

Hi Nicky
Exactly what I do. I use Jamie Oliver’s method with zip lock bags (clearly labelled with fast or not fast!). I also freeze meat in 100gm portions so that I can use one between two on fast days and one each on other days.
I have used the ‘hide the food in the freezer’ trick for many years to stop the boys eating all the food. They soon developed a love of frozen sultanas and frozen grated cheese! P 🙂

Hi IHAW
Tiny ramekins and teaspoons is another clever trick. 🙂
Also, don’t eat anything until it is all served out, the spares put away and everyone sitting at the table. Sounds like the 50s, doesn’t it? But it works.
When I was at school (last century) we were never allowed to eat in public. In fact, it was my mum’s rule too. Imagine how much obesity could be avoided if that still applied? It looks awful too! P

Nicky, the Water Intoxication article refers to deaths caused by people drinking too much and not urinating to win drinking competitions. It says “under normal circumstances” this doesn’t happen.
Obviously one can overdo it, but then again it is a lot easier to get dehydrated and all the associated problems. I think Bay’s suggestion to fill a 2 litre jug and ensure you drink all of it in your day is a good idea. 🙂

You little beauty, Tim! Hip Hip Hoorah to you! fabulous effort. IHAW and I are dancing for you!!!!

I’m so pleased I was on line to hear it.
Thanks for the hug, too. 😉

You can join us on the Maintenance Chatbox thread now 🙂 P

Janecw , another welcome to Shs.

Jane you ask about cognitive decline I can only talk about my own experience.
Excuse personal data but I am 79, somewhat reclusive, Bipolar 1 with meds and have been on the fast for just over 6 weeks. During that time I have noticed a marked improvement in my mental state.

So much so that I posted briefly about it to this group and told my GP that there was a noticeable shift in being able to cope with life on a day to day basis. If I didn’t know better I would say I was almost in Mania!.
Short term memory has improved i.e. I am much more confidant in remembering and dealing
with things like appointments, dates etc.

I wasn’t quite Ga-Ga but heading that way and now do feel confidence in in the future.

There have been a few other posts alluding to a general feeling of ” Wellness ”

Can I suggest you plan to make your fast days when your flying…..miss the airline food! 🙂

Enjoy your time dieting, the journey is I assure you well worth it.

Cheers.
Tim.

Hi Mirjam.
Which country do you live in? There are so many posts now on this thread and the Maintenance Chatbox that I’m having trouble keeping up. 🙂 B

Purple and bayleafoz see you over at the M Chatbox but I will still be on here. To many good times.

Nosing around the other forums found simco has stirred with these comment.

” Current research indicates over one,half of daily caloric intake should come from fat calories- even better, saturated fat calories. ”

His statements leave a bit to be desired. On the other hand he has posted VG info.

By the way what was the other ” Maintenance ” thread,not Chatbox.

Being Fri evening its time for one of my 2 glasses of Vino. Only allowed 6 a week and at W/E.
Problem is I can’t count.

Have a good W/E.
Tim.

Oh my, I head off to work for a couple of hours and the site explodes again!

Wonderful to hear how well you’ve been doing Tim, you are such an inspiration and I really appreciate your warm hug! Thanks….I’ll do a little jig in your honour….haha!

Pulling back the years both physically and mentally, is so important for us all. If you think about it, losing weight in this way (5:2), lowers your blood pressure, glucose intolerance and cholesterol levels. Then it goes a long way to understanding the improvement of brain function too, with better blood flow, oxygen and glucose uptake right into the brain itself. And therefore better cognitive outcomes, and hopefully higher mental capacity and functioning in times of stress and ageing.

Have an excellent weekend my dears!

Hi Charlie,
Sorry to hear about your troubles but well done for keeping the weight stable despite them all. I can identify with the cold water from the tap, ours comes from a little 5,000 litre tank at the moment so the frosty mornings keep it cool but thank goodness no snow here. Tomorrow morning we’re sorting cows and calves and synchronizing to start the ai programme. But at least the sun will be shining to warm up the frost and the yards won’t be dusty 🙂
Cheers, VM

Hi Charlie,
I’ve really missed you and I’m so sorry things are difficult for you with this freezing weather, your calf muscle hurting, husband’s work and the farm. I really wish I could come and help you….I’ll send some good wishes and love your way, as well as a super giant hug!
Congratulations on sustaining your new weight over this tricky period, it’s no easy task when there are multiple stresses and the weather is crappy! So well done and things can only look up right? Please try to keep posting, you are definitely one of my favourite fasters, and it’s always so interesting on the farm. I love to hear everything that’s happening there.
One of the warm drinks I’ve found sustaining and tasty is the miso soup sachets from Woolies, which have around 28 calories, you just add boiling water and it’s quite filling. Maybe you could try them, if the normal soups aren’t doing the job?

Looks like the mysterious and highly informed simcoeluv has just given us all some interesting reading to chase up on, thanks you ‘international individual of mystery’…..it’s not the same as using a gender, but it’s the best I can do at this time of the morning….sorry! It’s wonderful to be pondering the wider health implications of this worldwide experiment we are currently conducting on ourselves, isn’t it? I’m hoping that we will all be leading the way to healthier ageing and living well without masses of drugs and pain.

I love the image of me dancing until I’m a very old lady, and wearing silly hats to embarrass my many great grandchildren.

Cheers all, live long and prosper!

Yes, me too. Sally Pearson is such an inspiration. Could you tell me where to find the simcoeluv article, please.

Charlie, Well done on maintaining through the various crises. Our water is also 4 C through the tap. Too cold for a cold day. We have snow on the hills and a heavy frost. The upside us a very sunny day. These days remind me of the Elioth Gruner painting of the vows in the early morning mist and frost. 🙂 B

Hi bay, simcoeluv left a post on Southern Hem. overnight, it might have gone to your spam or junk emails, it seems more and more posts from this site are finding their way there on my computer, not sure why but I always check nowadays, to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Cheers.

Just for update. Things are going well for me. I’m not fasting over the weekend but will be Monday.

I was pretty restrained last night although I indulged a little with a couple of drinks and some snacks.

In general, I’ve been eating better and I’m back at the gym.

I find that the efforts made during my fast day meant that I’m not inclined to over indulge on other days. I think this is for fear of offsetting or depleting the gains I may have made during fasting. If I can maintain this frame of mind I reckon the 5:2 diet could really work for me.

Thanks again for everyone’s kind support. I’ve read all the messages on this forum, and they are so often inspiring, and supportive. Wishing a great day to everyone here.

Congratulations Tim on entering the maintenance zone!!!! Thank you also for sharing your story. Changing how we eat is such a simple thing that has such far reaching effects.

The wintery weather this week has made fasting a bit tough, but I got through both fast days. Yesterday was interesting, though. I had my first binge in a very long time – lollies my kids brought back from camp. Certainly not as much as I used to eat, but my body didn’t thank me for it. I felt fairly off all night and skipped breakfast. I used too think nothing of eating sweets, chockies or bickies, dips and crackers until there were none left. I have come a very long way in the past 6 months.

Charlie I’m sorry you’ve had a tough time, and I’m glad you’re back. As a city girl I do love hearing about farm life. There are a few more SHers who live on farms now.

Enjoy the weekend all. 🙂

Simcoelov, twice now I have strongly disagreed with statements in your posts due to my taking
them as your own rather than as you say reporting on” Current research ”
The other concerned cholesterol which at the time I asked the question, who where you and did you have a medical background. I am a very cynical old sod and felt the two statements were an attack on established fact and were wrong and dare I say it subversive!

In finding my way round the fast diet site I came across your post regarding TDEE.
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/tdee-for-the-curious-or-why-dont-i-lose-weight-faster/
I found this more than help full and it seemed at odds with your two statements. Hence my wanting to know your background as you present as very methodical and knowledgeable, with
access to research papers and a wide insight into the medical profession.

Thank you for the link re Ketogenic diet as I wasn’t aware of the any link between anti-epileptic
treatment and bipolar disorder. I have also past this on to my youngest daughter ,50 , who has been an epileptic since 12.

Any success has been due to the support and encouragement of all who post here and not forgetting of course Michael Mosley.

Cheers,
Tim.

Charlie, that’s brilliant! Doing so well in exams, especially online study for uni courses is really something to be proud about! So a gold star and koala stamp for you! I’ll add in a one woman conga line which you may wish to join in….haha, I know it looks silly, but what’s a girl to do when there’s no one else to join in here? Pretend there’s a big line of dancing supporters on your team, that’s what!

So tell us what your line of study is, I’m intrigued! I’m considering adding to my remedial massage with an advanced diploma, but I hope to be doing it face to face, at my local TAFE next year.

I agree with you about increased memory, cognitive function, etc, but also want to add in increased self confidence and optimism. Because we know that in doing a long term change in eating habits like the 5:2, and seeing the measurable benefits with your own eyes, changes your perspective about your abilities to control your life and your goals…..so what you thought was once impossible, now is clearly possible, achievable, available for you to reach out and grab for yourself……I think that this is the key to the changes in habits that stick and become a part of who we are. And we know that because we were able to achieve with 5:2, that we become optimistic that other goals are achievable!

Once it starts happening, more than a few times, we gain a sense of mastery that is impossible to shake, because we own those changes, no one else can take them from us!

I’m so glad the sun is coming out, the daylight longer and that spring is around the corner. Your cows are so lucky to have a loving owner who cares so much. Remember, we’re all on this strange experimental journey together, like a funny disjointed family, spread far and wide, but still interested and supportive of all the ups and downs…that’s what makes it so interesting, don’t you think? You are not alone!

Cheers and hugs for now.

Hi SH mates.

Charlie, so glad you’re feeling better and well done on your exam results. Sympathy for your OH’s position – hopefully only a short setback. It’s so good for the self-esteem to perform well, especially against the younger students. I’ve joined IHAW’s conga line for you. It will also help me warm up as it was so cold even in the house this morning that my tablet computer wouldn’t start.

MM, do complete your uni application – what field? Ditto for you about self-esteem improvement. I went back in the early 80s to bring my qual’s up to date when we moved to a city after years in the bush and the empty nest was on the horizon. I’m not especially clever but the one thing we all know as we get older is how to work hard, and to my great surprise I won the university medal for my 2nd BSc (first straight out of school in the 1960s), was offered a funded Hons year and then commercial scholarship for PhD! I never intended to go beyond the ordinary degree. Hoodathortit as they say in the classics 🙂
Best wishes, n

Tim, glad you found it at least.

My aunt’s dementia specialist told me the difference between mere forgetfulness and real ‘marble loss’ is that ultimately we do remember, unlike dementia where the memory never comes back.

When I forget yet again where my glasses &c. are I tell myself that it’s because I’m now so old that most of my brain cells are already full 😉

cheers, n

Wow, Nicky, University Medal. That’s seriously impressive! Well done! B

Charlie , you are my inspiration and I think you’d make one hell of a lawyer! And I agree that unfortunately we live in an unequal society, especially in relation to the justice system. It reminds me of a wonderful piece of graffiti I saw once…’there’s no justice, there’s just us!’, I wish you all the best and know you’ll do fabulously!

Nicky, great job on being awarded such a prestigious honour! We are lucky to have such great minds amongst us, and it always shows with your engaging witty comments!

Soon I’m going to be a mother of a doctor….a PhD of pure maths kind, not the medical sort….so I live vicariously through his achievements….Haha! He gives wonderful hugs and has a caring heart, which I adore. We are all attending this ceremony soon and I’m looking forward to going back to Hobart for the event.

Happy Monday fasting tomorrow everybody!

Hi wanderer, it’s good to hear from you and that you are continuing in the 5:2 woe.

I recommend rechecking your total calorie needs on the calculator here, to keep under that normal calorie needs of your non fast days. Also looking into your stress and ways of coping with it. There are lots of good classes in meditation, mindfulness, yoga and even seeking out a counsellor who might help you in feeling less stressed and anxious.

The most important thing is to not give up on yourself, and to be kind to yourself, rather than being critical and angry with yourself. Often we have ridiculously high expectations of perfection, which set ourselves up for failure, rather than going slow and steady, setting simple achievable goals and putting one foot in front of the other…..making baby steps towards our healthy future.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Welcome Wanderer
I back up ihaw and jane.
I have just had a complete blood test result (I have been on 5:2 since April 13 and reached goal after 1 year). My results are outstanding. Well worth having the comparison from before.
All the best, everyone, with your great healthy adventure. Purple

Wanderer23 Hi. Heavens only 2 family of blocks of chocolate in a week what a wimp 🙂 when I was dragging the lower lip for weeks I used to have block a day, best comfort food around, but boy do you put on the weight.

Its great that you post about your stress. There might not be a medico amongst us but you will have a very warm welcome, bags of sympathy and understanding and great support on your journey. Your among friends

Re weight loss I found simcoelovs info on TDEE here very helpful.
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/tdee-for-the-curious-or-why-dont-i-lose-weight-faster/ll
Also his https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/warnings-to-newbies/ well worth a read.

Cheers,
Tim.

Happy Fast Day all!
I’m smiling 😀 and doing the happy dance because, despite my little binge, the scales were kind. 500g down this week! Yippee!! Yesterday’s walk in the sunshine might have done the trick, even if it was still freezing.

Wow CharlieG, what an interesting life! All your life experience will help when you do start working in youth justice or indigenous affairs. Very harrowing, but extremely important.

NickyF, my background is in health care. I haven’t worked since my youngest (nearly 3 now) was born. I haven’t missed the job, even though I have missed using my “professional” side a little. I was too keen to get out into the world and travel to do the extra honours year back then, but have been contemplating doing a research masters degree for a while. A friend of mine has started graduate studies in clinical research at Melb Uni, and I’m really excited about joining her. I’ll start with one subject this semester, which luckily is the core subject, and I’ll see how far I go. I’m aiming at entering the workforce in a year or so, and there seem to be plenty of positions available in clinical research, and hopefully there’ll be scope for a research masters or PhD in there somewhere too. While I have always kept up to date professionally, it’s not the same as “studying” again. I hope my mathematical abilites have not disappeared – I was quite good at maths way back when.