I'm new

This topic contains 10 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by AussieTeacher 7 years, 4 months ago.

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Cherie1819

11:34 am
9 Jul 17
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Hi everyone,
I’m new to 5:2. I’m turning 46 in a couple weeks and have put on 20 lbs in the last year. I’m on HRT for menopause and believe that has been a factor in my weight gain along with a very sedentary job. I can’t seem to lose weight and it’s most in my tummy and thighs. Has anyone had any luck on 5:2 being on HRT? I’m using fitness pal and am amazed of how many calories I eat in a day. I thought that I was eating conservatively until I actually saw my daily calorie intake computed 😲. Any tips or advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Liathanail

12:33 pm
9 Jul 17
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Hi,

Welcome to you. I’m in a similar position to you. I’m 42 but went through early menopause because of cancer treatment at 35 and have been on HRT ever since. I’ve been doing 5:2 since 22nd May and lost 10lbs so far.

What I’ve discovered so far is that properly logging your calories in MyFitnessPal really helps to get a sense of what works for you, and conversely what foods contribute to you gaining weight so you can still have them but in smaller portions.
The other big thing that seems to really make a difference is drinking lots of water. I now drink 2.5-3 litres a day and it helps to keep you feeling full and helps your body to actually burn off the fat. It also stops water retention from making it look like you haven’t lost weight when you have. 5:2 has also really helped me to recognise when I’m genuinely hungry and how often I eat because I’m bored or because it is a meal time.

In short, it’s a lot easier than you think it will be and you’ll likely be surprised how quickly you adapt to a different way of eating. I’d also add that there is a great, really supportive community on here and everyone is really welcoming.

Best of luck on your 5:2 journey!

Dextersmom

9:08 am
10 Jul 17
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Good morning.

Well today is my first day and after the shock of the scales this morning (in which I weighed 10 lbs more than I thought I did) ! It’s made me a very fired up person. I have Agressive Rheumatoid Arthritis and had a rather large Steroid injection on Friday which doesn’t help with the “heck I could eat a whole cow at one sitting” syndrome but of course makes moving around slightly easier.

I’ve done my measurements and am having my black coffee and hot lemon water prior to getting up. Rather glad I read some of the previous posts as ah ha that FitBit is lurking in the spare room so that will go back on today.

Good luck to one and all and I am delighted to have found this forum.

LJoyce

12:25 pm
10 Jul 17
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Cherie – I’ve been on HRT for bout 9 months have only started 5:2 in January – I’ve lost the 9kg I wanted to, although it was at a slow pace. I actually struggled more with my weight in the 2 years that I put up with menopause symptoms than I do now on HRT. I’m happy with my current weight now but have continued using 5:2 to help me manage my weight long term.

Hi Dextersmom, I also have RA but I use the “biologics” not steroids for treatment – I’m currently having abatacept (Orencia) infusions 4 weekly. Luckily my treatment doesn’t stimulate my appetite. I do normally schedule a fast day on the day before treatment as it substantially reduces the side effects from the immune suppressant treatment.
I found that I lost weight slowly but steadily on 5:2 even though the RA limits the amount of activity I can do. There are a number of others with chronic illness on this forum that also found 5:2 worked even though their disease limited their activity levels. I hope 5:2 works for you too.

Sally50

2:52 pm
10 Jul 17
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Hi I’m new too, just started today and managed not to eat anything til 2.30. I turned 50 last year and although I’m fairly healthy (except drinking too much) the pounds are creeping on. Part of my problem is that I cook for a living so am always surrounded by food! I’m going to try this initially for the 5 weeks before my summer holiday but hopefully it will become a long term thing. I know everyone’s different but anyone found they lost a decent amount in the first month or so?

Cherie1819

3:53 pm
10 Jul 17
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Hi. This is very encouraging to me. I’m still working on getting my estrogen up which will hopefully aid in weightloss. Today is my official start day of 5:2.

LJoyce

2:47 am
11 Jul 17
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Sally50, I don’t envy you. Staying away from the kitchen on fast days is a must for me. I can’t imagine doing a fast day when I had to spend hours cooking everyone else lovely meals. As to your question, I had a large loss in week one (mainly water weight I’m sure) and then tiny losses after that, but ended up losing 9kg (20 pounds) over 3 months on 5:2. I’m maintaining now, but still using 5:2 as a tool to help with that.

Lizzie F72

7:55 am
11 Jul 17
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Hi Everyone. I’m a newbie too – I have just started my first fast. Hoping to make sustainable changes, but imagine I may have given up by lunchtime. I’ll let you know how I get on by bedtime :o)
Best wishes to everyone who is fasting today – hope it’s a good day.

Sally50

8:43 am
11 Jul 17
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Thanks LJoyce for the support! I’ve chosen days (Mon & Thurs) where I won’t have to spend all day in the kitchen, but I’m just going to have to be tough when I do have to cook! I didn’t find Day One too bad, I guess I have enough food / nutrition knowledge to make 500 calories stretch quite far…but the downside was a terrible night’s sleep! I don’t know why as I felt wiped out from lack of food, but when I went to bed I felt like I’d drunk 16 double espressos and hardly slept a wink! I’ve read similar comments on here and hope it doesn’t carry on like that…oh also didn’t lose any weight but it was only Day One!

KeeCon

6:02 pm
11 Jul 17
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Hello All!

I am new as well – just starting my first FD today. We shall see how it goes!
I will be turning 60 in October and hope to have my clothes fit better, my double chin be less and generally just feel more comfortable in my own skin by then.

I enjoy everyone’s posts and plan to come read more if I start to feel like I have to have a cookie!! haha
Best of luck to all of us

KeeCon

AussieTeacher

4:16 am
12 Jul 17
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Hi all,

I started 5:2 on Sunday and have only completed one FD but have lost 1.3 kg. My back went out on Monday afternoon after I had been weeding for a few hours in the garden and then went for an hour walk, so I have hardly been able to move, which has made it easier not to overeat!!

I am hoping to hang in for the long haul as I really want to lose 25+ kg, but I need to focus on one day at a time as previous diets haven’t worked and my self confidence in relation to actually instituting any real change is probably at an all time low. I have never joined a forum before, so hopefully mutual interest and support will make the difference!!

Best wishes to you all.