UK newbie starting today – buddies and advice greatly appreciated

This topic contains 17 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by zen123 9 years ago.

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zen123

8:49 am
14 Nov 15
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Hi, I’m taking the plunge today, gained 20 pounds since hitting 50 and need to reverse it asap. Armed with the book and this forum/site I’m hoping to get started and to lose some weight before Christmas wreaks its usual havoc! Look forward to hearing from you.

And… exhale

1:06 pm
14 Nov 15
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Good luck – with a bit of planning and resolve, it really works. There’s some great advice on this site. I’ve found it useful to keep a note of all of my food – it’s tedious, but it’s helped me understand where I’ve been gaining calories unaware (one slice of cheesecake = 450 kcals. I had no idea it was so much!) and stick to my TDEE on non-fasting days. The fasts have been simple and almost enjoyable, at least since I discovered that a miso soup at lunchtime keeps the headaches away. I try to drink a cup of black/herbal tea before every meal too. Keep us posted on your progress!

zen123

1:35 pm
14 Nov 15
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Hi And … exhale, thanks for the advice, I will certainly try miso soup if headaches start. Might be useful to keep me warm too, feeling the cold on my first fast day.

Pot-bellied Heron

1:42 pm
14 Nov 15
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Welcome, Zen.
You’ll find plenty of info here if you look hard enough.
Just learn to ignore the guff, pseudoscience, received wisdom and tired old dieting myths that you may come across and instead seek out the original and ongoing studies relating to intermittent fasting.

zen123

11:09 am
15 Nov 15
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Hi Heron, thanks for the advice, I’ve been watching a few documentaries and it does seem a good plan to follow, lots of potential health benefits. My first fast went great, not too hungry, very cold though, I’m in UK so weather doesn’t help. Woke up not in the least bit hungry today so toying with a consecutive fast day, lets see if I manage to last.

Pot-bellied Heron

12:30 pm
15 Nov 15
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Yes, I find that I plan all manner of enormous breakfasts but I’m rarely as hungry as I think I’m going to be.

red56

5:02 am
16 Nov 15
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I am starting this week too, in the lead up to Christmas. My first fast day was fine and I have found that on subsequent days I am less hungry. You can actually eat a lot for 500 cals if you plan it. I start with two eggs from our chooks without toast and that keeps me going. I roast some veggies for dinner and put a tablespoon of cream and plenty of pepper and fresh herbs on them and that really fills me up. But I only use tomatoes, mushrooms, carrot and onion, no,potatoes. But alcohol,is my problem I love my wine. Any tips???

zen123

9:07 am
16 Nov 15
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Hi Red56, it sound like its suiting you well. I used to have hens too, cant beat fresh eggs. I cut back on alcohol a few years ago by substituting with hot drinks, stopped the post-wine munchies.
Hi Heron, only day 3 but I haven’t fancied breakfast yet and certainly find I’m much less hungry than usual.
I tried a consecutive fast day purely because I didn’t get hungry after the first but didn’t manage to stuck to 500 cals.

Pot-bellied Heron

9:09 am
16 Nov 15
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I presume you’re not boozing on your fast days?
I love my drink but I realised from the off that it had no place in a fast. I still drink as much as I like on every single feed day but a 50% reduction in overall grog consumption (I’m on aternate day fasting) is pretty good.

craftymama

9:32 am
16 Nov 15
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Hi there,
I am a newbie and am starting today too.
I hope to be able to lose 20 kilos over time and have hope that my energy levels will also increase, along with better sleeping.
Good luck with your journey, I have herbal teas at the ready and have so far only eaten 2 boiled eggs. I am skipping lunch and going for a healthy dinner.

craftymama

9:33 am
16 Nov 15
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any tips on where I can find calorie count for vegetables and chicken breast?

red56

11:35 am
16 Nov 15
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Try the app “Mt Fitness Pal” it has calorie counts for just about everything you can think of, even Vegemite ( I am an Aussie)

zen123

8:39 am
17 Nov 15
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Hi Craftymama, how did your first fast go yesterday? I’m trying my second one today (tried one the other day and it turned into a non-fast day).

craftymama

9:19 am
17 Nov 15
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Hi there zen123, thanks for checking in on me.
Yesterday went quite well, I found lunch time the hardest but got through it and by the end of the working day I was not even hungry and felt much clearer in my head. I had some soup when the children were in bed.
I am not sure whether I stuck to 500 calories, but lost 2 kilos (weighed yesterday morning and this morning)
Good luck today, you can do it, just have faith in yourself and try and keep busy when you get hungry.

UpTipp

9:26 am
17 Nov 15
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Hi Zen123. I’ve been doing the fast diet for 20 weeks so far and a few things have helped me, firstly, if you suffer from headaches use dioralyte, I found the headaches crippling at the beginning, turns out I needed salts! Secondly, I have all my calories in one meal in the evening, I tell myself I am not fasting just postponing my dinner, then I have my 500kcal meal, feel satisfied and sleep like a baby. Keep hydrated throughout the day but be careful of fruit teas, they contain asparthame, sugar, calories. Sweeteners definately make your hungrier! Weigh yourself on the same day (naked) each week, same scale, same time, and don’t weigh the day after a fast as it will be a false indicator. And lastly, for some people, they will steadily lose 1lb a week, I didn’t, iniatially I lost 4 or 5 lbs then it went up and down, I’ve kept a diary of my losses and gains and I can see my pattern 3 losses to 1 gain but in saying that 20 weeks later I am 12lbs down. I know that is not the weightloss most people want or expect but I am happy with it since I don’t have a massive amount to lose, I have 6lbs left to get to my goal 125lbs and at 5ft 6 I think that’s the right weight for me. Best of luck, hope this is of some help.

red56

9:18 pm
17 Nov 15
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Hi Upp Tip, do you mean that if you weigh the day after a fast day it will be falsely low, or falsely high??? How long does it take for your digestion to work and reflect a fast day? I have had two fast days now and seem to have lost .5 kilo which I am pretty pleased with. Because it’s summer here (39 C) here today it’s hard to get out and do my usual walking so .5 in a week is great for me. My goal is to,lose 5 kilos which will put me at 65k and I was hoping to do this by Christmas mmmmm.
Zen123 perhaps try to cut up some carrot stick or cucumber and have them ready to munch on, this has helped me starting off. I have also been sucking in sugar free sweets.

zen123

4:04 pm
19 Nov 15
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Hi craftymama, glad your fast day was painless and weight going in the right direction. Thanks for the tips uptipp and red56. Ive ended up doing almost alternating day fasts for my first week as I’ve found the fast days relatively painless and if I see good results I’m more likely to stick at it. Bringing my weigh day forward to tomorrow as Saturday not a good day, fingers crossed for the same ales tomorrow.

zen123

11:45 pm
20 Nov 15
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Over the moon with a 5lb loss after my first week. Obviously I know this is a one off and I will be very happy with one or two pounds loss in future weeks, wouldn’t be surprised if I don’t lose anything next week. I’ve found it surprisingly enjoyable and am looking forward to my next fast day.