AT, I was just looking at the magnificent spreadsheet again – Lord knows I couldn’t do it. Just wanted to note that all of my weight recordings would be in lbs (some are listed in kgs). I truly don’t care and don’t even know the difference – maybe kgs is better – haha… But, if you are totaling at the end or something, just a heads up.

Again, great job !

day 12, NFD/Day 13, FD USA
Erika45: great spelling of your name (I, too, a with a K, my name is German in origin from my German Dad). And I, too, blew control over the weekend … started off strong, then Sunday by afternoon, I started eating mindlessly. Perhaps I’ll try a FD on Sunday next week.
Easier FD today, knowing I went off yesterday. What was it that set me off? sugar. I have been so darn good avoiding sugar and feeling so much better, but after a few chocolate chips and an oatmeal cookie (granted 1) I got that spike or taste in my mouth and then went into a downward spiral. Note to self: I am a happier person without sugar. How many times must I write the same note to myself. Good luck all of you lovelies! I do feel like my mindset is back, so I am shifting into high gear now the next half of this challenge!!

Weighing in on the weighing debate (too much? ok), checking the scales most mornings works for me at the moment, although I tend to record only what I like seeing. Even if I had a bad day before (or, my hunch is, the day before that actually), it keeps me on track.

I know once I’ll hit a plateau and won’t be able to explain a non-change or even gain by bending the rules before, I’ll get less interested in the scales, but hope that I will stick with 5:2 anyway (and as doable as I have been finding especially the FDs I do think I will). I have also started measuring bust/waist/hips but am much less keen on doing this daily, so I hope this would also keep a few surprises in store every so often (weekly, maybe even monthly).

Day 13 FD. Placentia, Ca. USA
Sorry I’m such a looser! I haven’t checked in for a few days. I think I may have lost 1 ot 2 lbs. I didn’t have a great weekend though and gained 1 back. I find the FD pretty easy so far. I have to keep watching myself on the NFD’s so I don’t ruin it.

Day 13 Wisconsin, USA FD

First Day, First Fast! I have to say, it wasn’t too awful. No crazy hunger pains, no hard-to-deny cravings. I had a headache for part of the day but I actually woke with one, so it really had nothing to do with the fasting. I tend to get headaches and migraines more often than not, so I’m actually curious if down the road, headaches will reduce with a healthier lifestyle.

I decided I wanted to fast a full 16 hours before eating, but then realized that I was stupid last night and ate some baked chips right before bed. So, to do a full 16 hours, I had to wait until 3:00 to finally eat something. Also, out of habit, I put fiber in my morning coffee (10 calories), and can someone tell me – when you do a FD, do you completely abstain from calories, or is that bit of fiber supplement OK?

I wanted to go to the gym this morning, but we had a snowstorm roll in, about 12 inches so far and still going, and the roads this morning sucked. I decided to stay in rather than head over to the gym. I will still get my 10,000 steps in today, though (I have a FitBit), I was pretty active with cleaning, shoveling, etc. I’m used to going to the gym right after dropping the kids off at school, with nothing but coffee in me, so exercising on an empty stomach isn’t new to me and actually preferable. I’m typically starving when I get home, though, so ….. We’ll see how that goes. LOL

3:30 meal was giant plate of spinach and greens, 3 ounces of herbed poached chicken breast, avocado, tomato, cucumber, cottage cheese. Drank a cup of chicken broth (15 cal) while getting the kids’ dinner ready. Dinner was another salad, mostly veggies, a bit of feta on it. I stayed right under 500 calories – yay! I did reserve 17 calories for this sleep stuff that I drink at night if I can’t get to sleep. I figured tonight I’d need it so I wouldn’t lay there thinking of food.

Very proud that I made panko-crusted baked chicken legs, alfredo pasta, and buttered corn for the kids and didn’t touch a BIT of it. You don’t really realize all the little nibbles and bites that you do until you are watching every bite on a fast day, do ya?

@songbirdme, thanks for the greeting! And congrats on your Cubbies winning this year! Die-hard Packers fan here (hence the name).

I feel so happy that I did well on this first day … I feel light, and accomplished, ,and healthy. I’ll need to remember this feeling when I have a day where I’m crabby and hormonal and want to eat everything in sight.

Yay for everyone that had a great day today!

Oh, and on the weighing thing. For myself, I weigh twice a week (Monday and Thursday mornings) and measure once a week (Mondays). I can’t do it daily or I’d get discouraged. I measure every week because even if the scale goes up, but measurements stay the same or go down, you know it’s just your body retaining or whatever. Feels better if the scale says you gained 3 pounds but you still lost another half inch in your hips. 🙂

Day 14 – Perth, W.Aust – FD

Looking forward to this reset day, feeling a bit out of sorts with my body. A combination of eating differently and not moving as usual due to hurting my back. Had a physio session yesterday afternoon and the back is feeling much better, but I think it will be a few days before I can get back to my normal exercise patterns.

Be strong, be kind, be fabulous.

Day 14 NFD NZ

I’m still reading the 800cal book and prepping mentally for the potential challenge.
I have decided that I will implement the Mediterranean diet component regardless which fits with the slower version of the blood sugar diet anyway while I’m leading up to it.

There will be some challenge to it as I’m lacto ova vegetarian so all the fish and chicken parts are not an option and he’s quite clear that protein is important to mitigate potential real starvation/wasting effects of continuous VLCD which means really careful planning to meet my macros.

Someone mentioned the long term VLCD and ‘starvation mode’ but it is well covered in the research that most of the concerns there are based on poorly done and flawed studies. The important part seems to be the duration of the restriction.

Day 14 – USA, PA – FD
Hey All,
I love our group! Keeps me motivated, I have some weight to lose before June. So far I have a good start with fasting days, so here I go again!

Pocketeers ✨Fasting on day 14.

@chumi
@triplet
@missj2002
@sirisan
@jojo58
@ciren2
@annemarilyn
@at
@snowflake56
@bert1802
@debster251 b2b hopefully
@goldensun (b2b – Day 13&14)
@coda (b2b Monday & Tuesday)
@happymargo
@august2024
@dykask
@brightonbelle
@jarbia
@anna Sophia
@fayefaye
@okeydokey b2b 14,15, and 16 hopefully

“Today is the chance to change myself (yourself) for the better!” ✨✨✨Do it today! ✨✨We can do it together!✨✨😊

3rd post Day 14 – USA, PA -FD

@gopackgo. ✨✨✨Welcome! Congratulations great FD. It’s the hardest for me when hubby and I are cooking dinner for the kids. I ordered some nose plugs. Smelling food can make me hungry 😋 on a FD.🤣
I drink warm lemon water with stevia before I go to bed. I wouldn’t mind mixing it up some nights. Do you mind sharing the name of the drink you have before bed that helps you sleep?

Also it looks like we’re supposed to get a snowstorm 19″ here on the east coast by tomorrow! Fun in the snow❄️😊

DAY 14 – GERMANY – FD

Day 14 Glasgow FD

Day 14 UK FD 🌈

2nd day FD, doing two together suits me. Especially today as I always do a double shift so I’m busy and only have time for one meal @ lunch.

Best be good at the start of the month as I seem to have 3 dinners and an afternoon tea at the end of the month. Eeek!

@johnnyr would really like to know how you get on, have myself considered doing more Fasts in the week, not sure I could do 5 midweek Fasts. Tend to do Mon and Tue then try to add a further one later in the week. Would like to shift the weight quicker for a bit, until I reach nearer my goal.

Thanks @at doing a fabulous job x

Day 14, Switzerland, FD

Day 14 – Italy-NFD
Didn’t make my FD yesterday, I shall try again tomorrow. I’m really struggling to get back into the swing of things

Day 14, Germany, NFD

@at thanks for ur heartwarming reply. I keep on to see what happens.I trust my effort.

DAY 14 – UK – NFD

No b2b for me as I have decided it doesn’t suit – ADF is better for me – and if I miss a day I’m still fasting at least two if not 3 days a week.

Headachey again after my fast (hence no b2b) and looking forward to eating 1300 cals to-day. (It always seems like a feast after a fast day.) Lost 10 0z. yesterday so v. please am now under 10stone barrier…long may it last.

Have to agree the new MM guidance is confusing. However, it might stop headaches and sleeplessness and encourage more peeps to give fasting a go and keep it up. I have decided experiment is the key, what suits one doesn’t suit another – I notice several people here do liquid fasts, which I could never do, but suits them well. Whatever rocks your boat improves your health and loses some weight is all that matters. 800
or 1/4 tdee or zero cals…..it doesn’t matter as long as you can sustain it and keep it as your WOL. Fit and healthy is the aim.

Good luck all fasters – especially those b2b’ers. xx

Day 14 UK NFD

I managed to finish the fast day yesterday so I am feeling a bit better about my ability to continue to stick to this. I really think I should stay away from the scales though. I didn’t have any for the first two months and there was so much less angst. My clothes showed me it was working quite clearly enough.

Day 14 Kent UK NFD -4lb goal this month.

I went out for dinner last night to an Italian, didn’t fancy salad so just had a large starter of Calamari with dip and a latte. Then we went to see ‘Hidden Figures’ which is an incredible film and very inspiring for black women. These strong women remind me how capable we are, against massive odds they succeeded in achieving their career goals in a white, male dominated world in a segregated state in America. They beat the odds stacked against them and changed history. We need to do the same, fight the sugar culture that will cause the same health problems for the next generation.

I try to live in the moment, I try to avoid looking back at weightloss journey or forward to long term goal. This reduces the need to measure failure and success against your own achievements. Just plan for today with a one pound per week goal. Realistically this means cutting 3,500 calories from you weekly intake. It’s enough for me to consider as I have been fasting years now. I don’t put any pressure on myself, doing the doable is the way to go. The easier the plan the more likely you are to succeed. It’s just a routine, like breathing and sleeping, stress free.

Be kind to yourself!

As it’s a non fast day I will have a home made bowl of curried cauliflower soup and salmon salad for dinner. I will enjoy a glass of milk Kefir this morning and this evening before bed. I often have a glass of water Kefir after dinner. My immune system is a priority because it was weakened by long term use of antibiotics. It helps me feel great and lead a very energetic full life.

Day14 Hampshire. FD

Day 14 Tas Australia NFD

Have been away for the long weekend here. I put a post up before I left, but looks like it didn’t go through.

Days 10, 11, 12 and 13 were all nfd’s.
Was planning for a fd today but didn’t feel like it was the best choice for today as really tired and stressed and super busy. Not sure about tomorrow either but wanted to get back on here as it really helps me.

Day 14 – Switzerland – NFD

Yuck, I hate ‘well-woman’ check-ups. I know they are for our general wellbeing, but I dislike them almost as much as mammograms (men on here, count yourselves lucky!). Anyway, had a good chat with Gynae about all things hormonal. Her advice was to see how it goes.

On a positive note, my scales have taken off most of the 2kg gain I was whinging about yesterday. Looking back over the last two weeks, I’m about 1,000 kcals over my aim to eat to my goal TDEE on NFDs, but mostly sticking to it. I’m quite happy at 500 kcals for a FD so I’m not going to follow Dr M’s new advice unless it gets difficult for me.

Must remember to keep my liquids up on NFDs so off to make a cup of tea. Have a lovely day, y’all!

Should have added that this would be for 4 days.

Day 14, Gozo, Malta,nfd

Day 14 a gloriously sunny Belfast FD
I had a little indulgence this morning. My OH got up for work and I lay in bed to finish my book. Thank you whoever it was (from last month’s post) for recommending ‘A man called Ove’. Really enjoyed it.
Successful FD yesterday and a vigorous swim, although I still seem to be stuck on this weight plateau. I have a touring caravan, and it’s our first outing this weekend. That, coupled with a trip to NYC next week with my girlfriends, will put a serious strain on my willpower!

I’ve just got an invitation to a friend’s for lunch. She’s going to cook, so it would be rude not to enjoy her efforts. (She’s a great cook!) So I will eat nothing this morning and will have a light supper

I am seriously behind with the posts. Now the book is finished, I shall settle down and catch up.
Thank you again @at for your masterpiece and your supportive comments.
Stay strong everyone!

Day 14 Oxfordshire NFD

Going out for lunch today with a girlfriend but we only ever share something light and have one glass of wine.

@sarah57 I don’t know if this is of interest to you but I prepare my food in advance for NFDs (except when lunching out). On a Sunday I make about a litre of good gravy from scratch, I steam a couple of sweetheart cabbages with caraway seeds, and I cook a couple of swedes which I then mash. I put all this in the fridge and then on NFDs I usually cook about three meatballs in the gravy, heat up what I want from the veg and put it all together to make a meal. This way I don’t have to think about when or what I am going to eat and I can also have another meal if I want to as the calories are small. It takes the hassle out of it for me. My husband eats differently from me.

The other thing I make and keep in the fridge is a sugar free jelly with either a can of raspberries or mandarins put in, a finely sliced raw eating apple added and a few walnuts on top. I eat this with some kefir on top. It satisfies a desire for something sweet or fruity or crunchy and again is in the fridge and is THERE.

@and….exhale
I was a bit disappointed to read that MM is changing the goalposts. I thought the whole point of fasting was to go without food for a period of time and therefore avoid constantly stoking the insulin hormone. It’s the eating three times a day that bothers me.