Day 5, Emden Germany, NFD

Hi everyone, it’s time to get back on track again after.

@penz thank you so much for taking the lead this month and @at for making the spreadsheet again. I’m glad to see many familiar names and new ones too.

I’m a Dutchwoman living in the North of Germany, married, 64 years old, 163 cm/5’4″ tall. My weight was 56 kg/123.5lbs all my adult life until starting a new job in 2011 where my weight crept up to 72.9 kg. I read the book and joined the challenges on and off from March 2017 on. I lost 20 kg very quickly but gained half of it back after retirement in March 2018. I don’t think I’m in maintenance anymore, my pants are a bit tight on the waist. I haven’t weighed myself for a while as my clothes fitted well until now. The plan is to do FDs when my DH is at work, when he’s not, we’re having breakfast together.

As I’m not much on the internet anymore (I really don’t need more depressing news at the moment) I haven’t read any posts so just hope everyone is fine.

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 5 – Canada – FD

Good morning. Just a quick check in to stay accountable and start a pocket list.
@stitchincarol – so looking forward to your report on hypnosis, interesting.

Pocket list
@dvw

Day 5 – Rural Nebraska, USA – CD

Yesterday’s FD went well, and the scales this morning were down another pound, so that adds to the motivation I’m already feeling. Today and tomorrow will be the real gauge of how effective the hypnosis is; tonight, DH and I are going out to eat (a luxury that we can enjoy in Nebraska) and tomorrow I intend to fast.

So here’s the scoop on hypnosis. First of all, despite what you see on TV/movies, there is no possible way for people under hypnosis to be forced into behavior they’re not willing to do. When you’re under hypnosis, you are aware of every word, still thinking in the way that you think, but simply massively relaxed so that your subconscious is very aware of everything/every word. That’s what makes it effective, is that the hypnotist gives suggestions and encouragement that your subconscious hears and processes and takes to heart. We spent 2.5 hours on fine-tuning the things my gal would say, so that was not a fast process.

I went under hypnosis “live” on Tuesday evening, and have listened twice a day since then to the recording she made of that session; I will continue to listen twice a day until our next session a week from today (Friday morning). The things we settled on her saying included being content with smaller portions, eating/drinking healthy and nutritious foods/beverages, enjoying the contrast between FDs and NFDs, being eager to do the things that are always on my to-do list (not the language she used, but a fast way of explaining to you what she said, the point being to keep me busy and away from the kitchen, nibbling on food), and always excited for the goal of a slimmer me.

So, very basic stuff, relevant to probably all of us. Has it worked? That’s where the truly honest part of me has to wait to say. I’ve usually been good during the week, and always have struggled on Fridays and Saturdays, so I won’t know how effective it’s been until I’ve experienced today and tomorrow. I’m busy planning away for what we’ll eat today and tomorrow, so that will hopefully give good results.

One thing that’s definitely different is that I again CARE about losing weight. For several months now, I’ve given lip-service to the idea of losing weight, but those words were more a result of knowing I SHOULD care, rather than a result of actually caring. Now, I’m again feeling the excitement of anticipating a lower weight each week–huge progress, since that excitement is directly related to my willingness to follow through on appropriate behavior. Make sense what I mean?

So I’ll let you know in the next few days how today and tomorrow go. Plus, on Sunday, my boys will be here and we’ll have brunch and then Guinness Pie and Lemon Posset for supper (clearly not anything that’s inherently diet-friendly!), so we’ll see how tough it is to skip the beer and limit the quantities of food consumed.

@snowflake56 Welcome back!!! It’s so good to see your name again!

@penz You’re being a perfectly lovely host; no worries! And here’s the saying that goes perfectly with your decision to throw away your roast chicken: “it can either go to waste or it can go to waist; your choice.” 😂

@toady Yup, many times the reviews have told me what I needed to know, but I too ignored them; sometimes you have to experience things to know what reviews were relevant and what reviews were just sour grapes. Well, hopefully you have a good long time before they raise your own rent.

@songbirdme So glad your silence is just reflective of being busy and nothing serious. 💗

@northgeorgia How lovely to have 225 two days in a row! My fingers are crossed that you stay nice and low until your next FD!

@at What a great quote/idea about all the comfort-alternatives to comfort-food!

Have a great day, everyone, full of successes, however you define them today!

Day 5 UK NFD

Delighted to have pulled a b2b yesterday – i’d forgotten how much easier it is to fast the day after a FD.

Weekly weigh day – after 3 FDs this week i’m down precisely 0.5lbs! But mindful that not all progress can be measured on the scale I’ve also measured & am down 0.5 inches/1.25cm from my bust, waist & hips. My fat suit is slowly shrinking.

I have a fridge full of delicious vegetables and am already thinking about food for the weekend – a spicy tofu scramble with tomatoes & spinach for brunch tomorrow, courgette salad with a spicy lemon dressing to accompany the slaw, a butternut squash dal and either vienna plum cake or some squash & apple muffins to share with my mother and bench visitors for teas next week. I’m so glad to be back in the happy place where a fridge full of colourful vegetables feels like the most exciting abundance.

This has definitely been the best start to a month I’ve had in a while. January got off to a fast start but I felt so unwell – this feels like the beginning of actual motivation for the first time in over a year. I’m v grateful for sleep, hydration, yoga, meditation, sunshine & wonderful challenge buddies in helping me grow forward.

@snowflake56 lovely to see you again
@daffodil2010 pacing for a WOL helps get our heads in a much more helpful place. hope you have good weather for your weekend walks and garden pottering.
@stitchincarol great to hear about your hypnosis experience, thanks for sharing
@at enjoy your treat meal tonight – you’ve earned it!

Strength to all fasting today. Whatever the day brings, go gently x

USA. Day 5. FD800

Welcome back, Snowflake56! Also, I am also curious, stitchincarol, to see how the hypnosis works. So far I have only known people to use it to stop smoking but this sounds excellent, too.

Pocket List Day 5

@dvw
@ccco FD800

DTF
@ccco

Small list today! I hope I found th right one! 🙂

Day 5 UK NFD

Not a bad day, not a good day! My report card would read ” must do better!” . But as I’ve had 4 good days this week I’m viewing the week as a partial success! The weekend always presents a challenge but will try to limit any potential damage!

Day 5 – NSW, AU – MFD

Weighed myself this morning – 89.5kg or 197lbs which means for the first time since probably mid last year I’m below 200lbs!! Had a 21 hour fast day yesterday and eating window of about 2.5 hours, as well as lots of peppermint tea and water of course. Lunch of sweet potato topped cottage pie, a hot cross bun and packet of Belvita Mini’s and that did me for the day and clocked in about 801 calories. Proud of myself for that small achievement and might even have a NFD tomorrow and get some vegetarian pizzas.

Day 6, Emden Germany, FD

Thanks for the welcome back @at, @stitchincarol, @basyjames, @michelinme, @ccco and @northerndawn! The last 3 months were difficult, apart from losing our lovely cat, old health problems came back again. My blood levels are back in the low normal range now and I’m allowed to give 5:2 another go. I need it, I’m 3.6 kg/8 lbs over my maintenance weight, more than I thought it would be. I’ll just have to eat healthier and it will be gone again.

@stitchincarol Thank you for explaining how hypnosis works.

@at I’m sure you enjoyed your delivered dinner, it would be nice to have something like that overhere.

@michelinme and @northerndawn It’s so nice to read your positive posts!

Pocket list day 6
@snowflake56

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 6 – Canada – FD

I had a good FD yesterday so today I’ll try another. First task today is to package up the almonds and pumpkin seeds and give them to my sister. As you say @basyjames, they’re far too tempting.

@at – love your comfort quote, I think I’ll print it out and stick it on my refrigerator door, thanks
@stitchincarol – thank you for your hypnosis report, very interesting. I understand completely what you mean about truly ‘caring’ about weight loss. I’m sure this will make such a difference.
@basyjames – thanks for quote – it made me smile 😊
@michelinme – your meals sound lovely, healthy and delicious
@northerndawn – maintaining your weight during the winter months is a great achievement! Thank goodness Spring is almost here.

Have a lovely day.

Pocket list day 6
@snowflake56
@dvw

Day 6 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD

Well, yesterday had more calories than I would have chosen, but that’s what happens when you’re eating in a restaurant and limited to the choices on the menu. I chose a salad, but had it made into a wrap, and brought home half of it, so that felt noble. Eating the sweet potato fries that came with it did NOT feel noble, LOL, but they were yummy! Today is another FD to make up for yesterday and to prepare for tomorrow. I’m going over to do church secretary work this afternoon, so that should help me ignore food until supper.

@northerndawn Given my propensity for gaining weight when I’m not paying attention, the fact that, while I didn’t lose weight, I also didn’t gain any since last summer (at least until the last week of December when my kids were here for Christmas), was a huge celebration to me in having learned how to maintain. You are exactly right for labeling your own experience practice in maintaining. Now for both of us to lose enough to be at the weight we intend to maintain for the long term! 😁

@toady I was a big fan of The Biggest Loser when it was on, and your accomplishment is what they called reaching “one-derland”! Congratulations!

@mogaman Have you considered using My Fitness Pal to log your calories? There’s a free version that many on this forum use.

@snowflake56 I’m sure those 8 pounds seem huge to you, but if it’s any comfort, the idea of “only” 8 pounds to go seems joyous to me! I’m glad your health problems are back under control, and cyber hugs to you as you resume this WOL.

@i-hate-lettuce How exciting to have a travel date. I’ll cross my fingers with you in hopes it actually works out!

@northgeorgia Nice weigh-in today! I’ll just bet you’re right that you’ll lose some weight next week.

Pocket list day 6
@snowflake56
@dvw
@toady (MFD)
@stitchincarol

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@stitchincarol (dry until Easter)
@northerndawn (dry until Easter)

ZBC 🚫
@stitchincarol – every day!
@at – every day!

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@at (probably)
@stitchincarol

Day 6 Florida USA FD @stitchincarol I’ve used the Lose It App to record what I eat since 2013. I think I’m guilty of choosing the lower number if they offer a range of choices for #of calories in a given item (like gelato.) I’m going to get serious and sideline gelato for March.

Day 6 UK NFD

Yes @mogaman that’s exactly what I do , I really don’t know why I’m only cheating myself , I’m trying to go for the correct not the lowest option but it’s difficult 😬

Day 6 USA (Illinois) NFD

Judged solo and ensemble contest all day. Heard some nice renditions, voice and piano, and only ate 1/2 a cinnamon roll for breakfast, Greek salad for lunch. Good day – Cabernet and creamed herring now for supper. Goodly amount of wine. All is well. My ILLINI basketball team is fabulous.

Onward and downward.

Day 6 – NSW, AU – NFD

Although I managed a 22 hour fast overnight I didn’t have a day of restrictive calories, devoured a pizza and a half during the course of the day and did boring things like washing my work clothes and listening to podcasts while diamond painting.

Started fasting again at 7:30pm, though did get woken up at 1:30am with a belly ache and it seemed like my body didn’t agree with something I had eaten… but plus side was I’m sure I would’ve lost nearly half a kilo overnight!

Day Seven, UK, NFD

My husband is saying that I am looking slimmer but I am not seeing it on the scales at all! Weird eh?! I do seek reassurance in numbers!

I must get round to measuring myself as I’m sure I will see a difference if he is seeing a bit of a difference. Also I’m getting back into one pair of jeans that haven’t seen action since last summer!

I did 3 omad days last week and I plan to do 3 next week as well

@snowflake56 – welcome back 😊 Sorry to hear about your health ….

Right!! OPINIONS please! I’m really genuinely interested to read everyone’s point of view on EXERCISE and weight loss…

Dr Krista Varady says exercise is irrelevant from a weight loss perspective

Apparently Felipe Jacka and Rangan Chatergee (spelling of all three people’s names may be wrong – apologies) also say exercise makes no difference to weight loss. Obviously they emphasise the importance of exercise for physical and mental health of course.

My own personal finding is that exercise makes a huge positive difference! But maybe I’m unusual?????!

Would love to hear everyone’s point of view? 😀

2nd post

@fivetwofan5252 thanks, I’m well again, it’s something that comes and goes. I really dislike exercise and all I do in the morning is a bit of stretching and going up and down the stairs as much as possible during the day. Before we had this endless lockdown, my DH and I did ballroom dancing three times a week, we have no idea when it will start again. In Summer we walk a lot but we always need a goal, we both can’t walk just for walking.

Day 7 – Lisbon, Portugal 16:8

The plan is going well and in the meantime I have already received the results of the blood tests.

I have high cholesterol (333) 🙁 it seems that I need take medication…

I will enjoy the sun and take a walk.

Good Sunday everyone
Nuno

Day 7 USA (Illinois) NFD

Yesterday’s contest judging was tedious but fun. All the entrants were submitted as recordings that we watched on little ChromeBooks with a separate window for their musical score. I watched 45 singers, small groups, and pianists. My biggest loss was not remembering to bring my computer glasses. Luckily, the lunch I ordered was a delicious Greek salad, very healthy. Only had 1/2 a cinnamon roll for breakfast. Yeah for that day.

@snowflake56 – oh so great to see you back again. Hope your health issues are all behind you with sunny skies ahead.

@nellen – glad to see you’ve made it back too. Life does get in the way, doesn’t it? Someday I sure would love to see the cherry blossoms around the reflecting pond in D. C. The only times I have been around there were hot, humid, sunny days!

@stitchincarol – fascinating reading about your hypnosis experiences! Interesting, too, to read that your new added motivation to want to lose weight is especially enhanced by hypnosis.

@northerndawn – more thaw and melt today here too. Yeah! Spring is soon upon us!

Onward and downward.

Day 7 – NSW, AU – NFD

Only managed a 12 hour overnight fast, ate some more pizza but did do 20-30 minutes at the gym… have no motivation for exercising, but that’s just the depression looming again, and sadly medication is not going to help as I tried it but the dizziness isn’t worth it. Hopefully back to under my TDEE tomorrow.

Day 8, Emden Germany, FD

@songbirdme Thanks, it’s good to be back. You must have been exhausted yesterday, after seeing and listening to so many entrants. Having to use extra glasses is annoying, you always have to make sure to take them with you. Have you tried multifocus glasses? My DH has them, I tried them as well but they gave me headaches and dizziness.

@nellen I hope things have calmed down. Well done on maintaining your weight in stressful times, not any easy thing to do.

@lilymartin I find it difficult to cook delicious low calorie food, nothing beats the taste of butter and cream. I wished a plain salad would make me happy but it doesn’t.

Pocket list day 8
@lilymartin
@snowflake56

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 8 – Lake District UK – FD

Good morning everyone

Glum drizzly morning this morning, walk with purpose though, into the next village for a few bits of shopping. Then once again sort through the wardrobe, unfortunately some of the clothes I bought last summer are now too big.
So a serious check and bundle stuff up for local school who raise money through a clothes bank.

@snowflake56 – I can’t really be doing with salad either, unless height of summer and is really crisp and fresh. The Hairy Dieters books are good, substitute cream with creme fresh and use a lot of herbs and spices to add flavour, we have quite a few of their recipes we use regularly. Excellent.

@fivetwofan5252 – You’re not wrong, ‘exercise alone is not enough’ a combination of diet/exercise and a dose of will power I believe is the best way. I really made a determined effort to ‘change my ways’ making my mind up in July 2019 and never looked back, fallen off the wagon on holidays and occasions, but determined to get straight back on, no conning myself and no excuses.

Pocket list day 8
@lilymartin
@snowflake56
@i-hate-lettuce

Day 8 – Canada – FD

Good morning. I’m going for a good FD today and determined to stay under 800 calories. I was down 1.4 pounds this morning and I’ll take it! I have found in the past when I see a loss on the scale I then go a bit crazy with food – not this week. Today I’ll walk (a chilly but sunny day -12) and do a quick HIIT session.

I’ll also watch a bit of curling 🥌 on the tube, the best Cdn men’s teams are playing this week in the Brier. Great fun.

Stay strong 💪 all.

Pocket list day 8
@lilymartin
@snowflake56
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@dvw

Day 8 USA/DC FD800
Good morning all. It is beautiful here – I think spring may be making her entrance.

@fivetwofan5252 – I have found that exercise is really critical for my mind – I take yoga, spin, and strength classes and walk. While that may sound like a lot, it’s really not. It averages out to about 45 minutes a day (not including walks). And when I miss a day I really know it. But you are right, exercise alone will not result in weight loss. The IF, 5:2 plan, is really the only thing that has ever worked for me. It keeps me aware of how much I eat and has taught my body (nothing will ever teach my mouth and taste buds) what it means to be full and when I have eaten enough. that may sound silly – but for me – it has been a long lesson to learn and I am still at it.
Enjoy the outside all. Just think – between the vaccines and spring – we may all really be able to go outside again, unencumbered.

P.s. on the weight front – alcohol!!! I did Dry January, and then have continued on. I used to have a glass or two of wine almost each evening. No longer. Once I get to go out to eat with people I will of course return to wine, but no longer will I indulge each evening – all that really did was lower my resistance to food, make me sleepy, disrupt my sleep in the middle of the night and add lbs that were hard to get off.
Much as I love a glass of wine (am Italian by heritage) when I return, I need to really do so in moderation!!

Day 8 UK FD
Day 7 EFS
Day 6 EFS

So I made all the rookie mistakes over the weekend. chocolates came thru the post, a lovely treat from a dear friend and just I ate them. All that sugar woke my dragon and I spent the rest of the weekend eating most unhelpfully – despite all the lovely vegetables twinkling away at me from the fridge. Result – this morning i am up 7 WHOLE POUNDS on Friday!

i know it is – hopefully, most likely – Easy On Easy Off weight, but still it’s a real shock to the system! I didn’t sleep very well at all and woke up feeling as tho I have a hangover, with huge amounts of joint pain that my usual meds aren’t even touching. Plus I’ve lost the mental focus and concentration that I finally rediscovered last week after months of post-covid health issues.

To rebalance the scales – literally and metaphorically – i’m going to fast for the next 3 days. I know I feel better when fasted so this is for future me. I’ve written notes and stuck them over the house to remind me what I’m doing and why, and hopefully this will keep me strong. I’m also going to bed Very Early tonight.

Yesterday I batch-cooked enough butternut squash, courgette and spinach dal for 5 main meals so that should keep me going for a couple of weeks FD food. I also have tomatoes, spinach and courgette for salads along with cabbage, carrot & apple for slaw. There are heaps of berries in the freezer, citrus fruit & apples in the fridge and no shopping coming in this week except for my big fruit & veg box. I have heaps of peppermint tea, root ginger and vegemite for hot & salty drinks plus litres of fizzy water. I can do this!

Pocket list day 8
@lilymartin
@snowflake56
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@dvw
@michelinme (day 1 of b2b2b)

USA. Day 8. FD800

Pocket List Day 8

@lilymartin
@snowflake56
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@dvw
@michelinme (day 1 of b2b2b)
@songbirdme
@ccco. (FD800)

DTF
@ccco