Welcome to this “NURTURING MAY CHALLENGE”
May springs from the Greek goddess Maia, daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes. She was a “nurturer” and an “earth goddess”, which certainly explains her connection with this springtime month, when flowers and crops burst forth.
It’s hard to believe that @coda started this series of monthly challenges way back in May 2016 and so many of us have had amazing support to start and continue on our 5:2 journey.
I’ll share a bit about myself in a later post and hope to have many old timers and newbies to this WOL/Challenges join us for a Nurturing May 🤗
So, here’s how this works (same as it has always been):
1. Start your daily post with the day of the month, where you are from, and if you’re on a fast day (FD); a non-fast day (NFD) or a controlled day (CD) (e.g. for 1st of May it would go something like “Day 1 – UK – FD”).
2. Give a quick intro about yourself in the very first post – mostly for the benefit of the newbies. A brief blurb about your journey so far and what you aim get from this way of life (WOL). Also if you wish, your starting weight and any other measurements (waist, hip, bust etc) you aim to keep track of throughout the month. You can record this on the spread sheet or if you are unable to I’m happy to fill it in for you!
3. You can add any comments/questions/moans/whinges/triumphs… or anything you feel like you want to share with the rest of the forum. We all have good days and bad days, days we fall off the wagon and days when we hang in there for dear life………so if you want to share it – post it.
Recipes, tips, tricks and questions can also be shared – most of us are logged on at one time or another and can clarify things, offer advise, support etc when needed – this is the great thing about this international forum, there’s always someone online!!!!
Over the course of these monthly challenges, there have been small groups doing their own mini-challenges – called ‘pocket fasters’ or ‘pocketeers’ – they set a target and support each other through it. Anyone can join one of these groups or start a mini pocket list – it’s entirely optional and flexible.
5:2 basics – answers to many FAQs plus top tips:
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/
ABBREVIATION LIST – useful for those new to the challenges
Common abbreviations used throughout this challenge and added to on an ongoing basis:
16:8 – 16 hours fast 8 hours non fast
5:2 – 5 days NFD:2 days IF
ADF – Alternate Day Fasting (FD – NFD – FD – etc. etc. etc.…….)
B2B – Back to Back (consecutive FDs)
BMR – Basal metabolic Rate
CFD – Controlled Fast Day (a FD below your goal weight TDEE, whatever that is!!!)
DH, DD, DS – Darling Husband Daughter, Son
DTF – Dry ‘Til Fri (for those limiting the booze to weekend only ………….. & aiming for sainthood!!!!)
EE – Emotional Eating (reflex grazing out of a need for instant comfort instead of satisfying hunger)
EFS – Epic Face Stuffing (we’ve all had one of those days. Definitely due to a faulty OFF button!)
FD – Fast Day (500 cals)
HUNGER DRAGON – that dreadful psychological beast that sometimes cannot be satisfied. Some people even name theirs (e.g. @i-hate-lettuce has an inner warthog!)
IF – Intermittent Fasting
Keto – way of eating that generates Ketones
K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid!!!………………or Sexy!!!
LC – Low Carb way of eating
LCHF – Low Carb High Fat way of eating
LFD – Liquid Fast Day (incl. tea, coffee, miso, bone broth & water)
LOL – Laughing Out Loud
M/WOAM – Man/Woman on a Mission (courtesy of @i-hate-lettuce)
MFD – Modified Fast Day (800 cals) on the new Fast800, it’s a FD
NFD – Non Fast Day
OH – Other Half (eg spouse/partner)
OMAD – One Meal A Day
PFDS – Post FD Smugness (courtesy of @penz)
POCKET LIST – Names to “keep in your pocket” for a common goal for the day
TDEE – Total Daily Energy Expenditure (see the ‘how it works’ link on the home page to work out yours)
TRE – Time Restricted Eating
WFD – Water Fast Day (Water only)
WFH – Working From Home ……………….. Covid-19 enforced!!!
WOL – Way of Life
WOCA – Women Of a Certain Age
ZBC – Zero Breakfast Club
Here is the link for the May spreadsheet for those who want to use it – hopefully I have given access to all to input as they wish:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1McX4S6d0XSYz_LlonEeSm4G8Fbj42K3moA1jJ0c0faE/edit?usp=sharing
Amazingly I’m now in my 6th year of this WOL and my personal motto of “If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now” has kept me more or less within my maintenance range since getting there in December 2016 💃
1:29 pm
28 Apr 22