I posted this a few hours ago and realized I posted it in another thread rather than starting my own. So, here goes, again:

Hi All – This is my second round of the Fast Diet. I have been overweight since I quit smoking 12 years ago and replaced nicotine with food. Since then, I had a child, had my thyroid removed due to hashimoto’s and thyroid cancer, and developed rheumatoid arthritis. About a year ago I bought the Fast Diet book, started the diet enthusiastically, and stuck with it until the holidays, when I slowly went from 4:3, to 5:2 to 6:1 to 7:0…where I have been for the past 6 months. I originally lost 30 pounds and then leveled off, and since stopping, have gained back 8 pounds. So, it is time to get refocused and recommitted. I hope that by sharing the process in the forum, I will be encouraged by others’ progress and eventually have my own encouragement to offer. Interestingly, I recently had my annual blood work done, and even with tumbling off the wagon, my numbers were so much better than when I started a year ago. My glucose, bp, and “bad” cholesterol were much lower, my “good” cholesterol had risen, just to mention a few areas, and my doctors were very pleased. Both my gp and rheumatologist have encouraged the 5:2 plan, by the way. I will be 50 next summer and want to get healthier so that I can be around to watch my 10-year-old grow up! Good luck to all those who are starting off!