Day 20 Chicago Illinois USA – FD
This topic contains 3,249 replies, has 179 voices, and was last updated by therealwil78 8 years, 1 month ago.
@onahealthyhigh the way I read the article is you do 800 calories a day. No days are nfds when we would normally eat to our tdee. This would be for 8 weeks as in blood sugar diet. Then onto normal 5:2 with fast days and nfds.
So was going for 800 calories – 3 cups of coffee 45, lentil and bacon soup 174, homemade chilli 122, 60g Brown basmati 99, 20g cheese 83 total 523 lower than I tbought but felt satisfied and not tempted when OH opened a bag of scratchings!
Second post – I’m back on the wagon, thank goodness! Albeit a 650 cals wagon.
Have been on eating through the fridge mode with the family so that has led to some interesting food combos today. One thing I do that may be useful to others is I prep brown rice in frozen individual servings in parchment paper that I can defrost in microwave (they steam in paper for 2 mins on high).
Given Mosley’s warnings about rice & pollution I soak my brown Californian basmati for several hours then cook it up with some homemade chicken stock and a crushed garlic clove. This makes flavourful rice. I make 2-3 cups dry up at a time then freeze finished rice in half cup single serve portions. Yesterday I did 3.5 cups dry and yielded 16 servings! Then when I prep the rest of the family pasta or potatoes I can choose brown rice with no fuss for prep.
@coda Thanks.
Day 20, NFD, Massachusetts, USA
Reading everyone’s posts and picturing you all over the world is awesome. Yes, for all of you writers out there, this would make one fabulous piece. I mean we’ve got global support here, bonded by common behaviors, fears and dreams. I think when we post something personal, a part of us not only opens up, but holds their hand out to someone else to take.. and the cycle continues. And it makes us feel less alone. Like we’re not the only one who on anxious moments finds comfort in eating chips, salsa and guac.
FD tomorrow — I’m shooting for every-other-day FD until the remainder of this challenge. Have much more control now well into this month. Wish the belly would start trimming down — seems weight is coming off everywhere else, but there where i need it most!
Day 21 – Tokyo, Japan – NFD 78.6kg
>>>> Cheers for those still in the pocket fast!!!! <<<<
Now I have three NFDs and then my plan is FD, NFD, FD, FD, FD, NFD, NFD, FD … back to normal. That is probably two aggressive and I probably won’t succeed but I’m working on taking myself into it. I would like to set a new low with my weight and my current low is 77.4kg. However 7 FDs in two weeks is aggressive for me.
This isn’t to get down on anyone, we are all at different places. Lots of bad things happened to pretty much all of us. I’ve had my share of bad things happen to me too. Yet, about five years ago I FINALLY started making progress with my weight and the single more important step for me was taking responsibility for the condition of my body. Once I really did that things started changing. I did a lot of things wrong and I didn’t make progress every week or even for months sometimes but at least over a year I made progress in some fashion. It was only because I put myself in control of my body. I made myself fat and I’m the one that is going to burn off my fat.
I don’t know if that will work for everyone, but it sure made the difference for me. Maybe I’m the one that is actually slow with this concept, but it was really difficult for me to admit to myself that I was obese and even harder for me to take responsibility for being obese and start making the changes I needed to make to fix my problem. I would look at myself in the mirror and not really see myself. I could hardly recognize myself in pictures and when I did I was horrified and would promptly put it out of my mind. I was my biggest problem.
While I have somewhat turned things around, I probably could do a lot better as I don’t push nearly as hard as I could. For example I could fast and limit myself to say 2400 calories or less on NFDs. There is always ways I can improve. However I’m at the point that if I start going backwards I will make a change. 5:2 is a great tool and I generally really like it, but if I have to make more changes I will at some point. I won’t give up because it is my responsibility to take care of my body.
I’m sorry if I have offended anyone. I know first hand how hard it is too put the past in the past and just take control and focus forward. However I think everyone here is doing that in some fashion and most people are probably more honest with themselves than I was.
Day 20 – Perth AUS – FD
Day 21 – Perth AUS – NFD
@sarah57 my restless legs whilst on a liquid fast I think was due to a lack of minerals, and @art2wist suggested magnesium, which I once took back when it was bad in my younger days.
When I first started properly fasting, I was waking up through the night and running in my sleep. I started supplements, but thought it’d be better if I found a magnesium rich food I could eat (so other nutrients/benefits not just a capsule/tablet) and found spinach was a good option. Googled recipes and found palak paneer, which happens to be one of my favourite meals! Fast day dinner solved, and RLS solved too! I do still have a supplement now and then, depends how much magnesium I’ve consumed through my regular diet.
Day 20, Oceanside CA, FD
Welcomed first day of spring with a brisk 3 mile walk after coffee and before breakfast. My morning walks are 2 minutes faster per mile than in the afternoon. Maybe our metabolisms are burning the fat earlier in the day too, starting with the overnight rest.
Enjoyed 18 holes of golf with DH and had a dinner salad. FD’s about 700 calories. Usually a little tummy rumble at bedtime.
I like the rhythm of the Monday and Thursday fasts. Hoping for another pound this week. Patience important for Fast 5:2 WOL.
Day 21 – Perth, W.Aust – FD
Busy day getting organised for day one of my new job tomorrow. Kind of good it’s a FD, as feeling a bit overwhelmed and excited with everything right now. I think if it was a NFD I would probably be eating all the wrong things just to keep up with the roller coaster of emotions, but being a FD it’s keeping me centred and focussed.
Be strong, be kind, be fabulous.
@arvandee best wishes on your starting your new job!
Day 21 UK FD 🌈
Third FD in a row, woke up hungryish! But meal will be at 12 so having a coffee to stop those hunger pangs. Warm water and lemon all day till lunchtime, then will have my only meal. Finish one work then straight on to another so no time to eat. Then bath then bed.
@jojo58 – Snacks, if hungry I saute some button mushrooms in a little butter.
@snowflake56 – 4th day for u! X , giving myself a get out but you never know I may do that tomorrow.
Someone else asked about Mr Mosley and eating to TDEE on NFDs. In his original programme he didn’t state this, very simply he said count calories on the FDs 500 for women 600 for men 2 days a week, and then eat normally without counting calories the rest of the time, the study found you don’t over eat by much the next day to compensate.
However if you are not losing weight then it might be you need to look at your NFDS. It stands to reason that if you cut calories one day and don’t overeat the next day you will lose weight. Some people need guidelines as to how many calories you need in a day that’s where the TDEE come in.
This plan can be as simple as that. However in this group we have people who have experimented with days/calories/extended fasts etc. and written their results as to what they have found and what suits them, it’s what make sure this exceptional group very interesting indeed.
Have a good day all good 😊
2nd post 🌈
@erikaa67 good luck on your AFDs for the rest of the month.
@dykask loved your post and totally, we are in charge of your bodies and what we put in them, always good to plan also, when the end of the month is in sight I always like to plan the rest of my days, like that final push. (Sometimes things may come up to make me change it, but at least I have a plan that I can adapt if needed).
Xx 😘
Day 21, Switzerland, NFD
@dykask have you tried taking magnesium? I sometimes also have trouble falling asleep and have found magnesium helps. It helps me through my PMT 😨😨, too! I liked your last post and what you say rings true. Good luck with your 3 in a row FDs ☘☘☘ … and good luck to everyone out there 🌈🌈🌈
@lynzm – Thanks for your comments
@luna09 – I will look into which foods have more magnesium. I rarely have issues with falling asleep, my issues are with waking up during the night. While fasting, like the second night I just seem to require less sleep but it does make the night long because I don’t have a living agreement where I could work without disrupting others. Hmmm …
One thing I don’t understand is I’ve often read that the best way to do a water only fast is total rest. I find that as I’m fasting I naturally get more active. However my longest is fast is only 66 hours so far, so not that long. However my energy just seems to climb as I fast. I can see it in my active calories too from my activity tracker. It could be I’m just doing it and it is all in my head, but I notice that I also don’t sleep as much.
Day 21 UK ??
I weighed this morning as I first got a battery for the scales on the 21st of Jan (230lbs) and reached my lowest previous weight on 21st of Feb (209lbs). Yes note the word previous:) Weight now 206.4lbs 🙂 Downwards again for the first time this month:) I so needed that! I went with 800 calories split into two small meals yesterday as my resolve had weakened so much from weeks of no progress. I am in two minds about what to do from here. If the scales had been static I was intending to try the BSD. I still think it might be a good idea. I might see how today pans out. It seems eating up to TDEE is not necessary and I would find that difficult anyway – my TDEE is 2200 as I am tall, I have clearly been worrying unnecessarily about metabolism shifts. Maybe 800 is all it takes to prevent that?? At least when nutrient levels are sustained?? I wish MM would address that specifically. What I do know is that it is easier to stick with when it works quickly. This month of no results has been so mentally difficult. So he has a valid point there too. I think I will join the others giving it a trial.
I felt bad about moaning about mum on a public forum at first but reading everyone’s comments was a really good experience. Thankyou. Having an outside perspective is quite eye opening. She is lucky. Just because she can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t true. I don’t blame her for my weight, obviously I put the food in my mouth, she did however lay the groundwork that meant I could see no reason not to be fat. Even when I got well away from her – I didn’t speak to her for years after one of her more extreme outbursts of recrimination (she decided it was somehow appropriate to tell me my child was disabled because I had sinned) I was so miserable that to me eating was a form of slow suicide that I was able to do because it felt as if my children wouldn’t be as damaged by it as they would obviously be by the full version, not least because they might have been stuck with her. How I ended up living in her house again is baffling to me when I look back. But I was such a mess for a while, I ran out of choices. I think I can lose weight now because I no longer want to die. I want to be able to move and stay active. It is no longer about how I look. That was never enough motivation as attention from men has never been pleasant. My marriage was a disaster, even at my lowest weight he was critical and rude. My age and lack of social skills ought to suffice as a shield now. Back to rabbits tomorrow I promise!
Day 20 – NZ – NFD
Day 21 – NZ – NFD
Today was supposed to be a fasting day but woke with a headache which would budge. Decided to eat lunch or I think it might have got worse. As was only just made it to the end of work without having to leave early. Tried a Zumba class on Monday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Classes are only $3 and are on 4 nights of the week so am excited about a new exercise class.
Attempt fast day again tomorrow
Day 21/Kent/UK NFD/4 lb goal this month
Perfect FAST DAY yesterday, so busy I didn’t have time much time to eat. I didn’t manage enough fluids though, forgot my trusty water bottle so had to have sips from gym fountain water, not as nice. Plenty of tea in the evening even past 8 pm as I was playing cards. Large plate of chocolate biscuits on the table which I resisted. My friends know I have given up sugar and don’t push it. I noticed that they only ate one each so I am a good influence. They don’t get biscuits at my house, just chopped up veg and hummous. Never any left on the plate though. GOOD HABITS can replace bad ones.
It’s a sunny day and the garden is calling, lots of Spring preparations to get done, I love to be surrounded by colour, happy days. I think it is really important to recognise three things that make you feel happy and do at least one of them daily. Mine are:-
Walking the dogs
Playing bowls or cards
Gardening
When I worked (teacher before retirement) I used to swim early morning and walk the dogs after work. This made my day long but it made me a better person, far less stressed, calm and patient, which is rare in my profession. Staff rooms are full of junk food, all comfort eaters.
I also love dancing and yoga so basically I love to keep moving either slowly or fast. I think movement is key to well being. If you are happy it is easier to make beneficial changes to your way of eating. Of course I love eating best of all but now it has to be healthy or nothing. Find your healthy treats resist sugary food.
Several weeks now I have stopped jumping on the scales daily (although sorely tempted at times). I have no doubt that monthly weighing will be a new lifelong habit, I simply don’t need to do it, it was a bad habit and it didn’t help me with weight control. If down I had a treat if up I consoled myself. I am an emotional eater as many of us are, no weighing leads to NO KNEEJERK REACTION and basically adopting a more ‘normal’ relationship with weighing scales. Just TRY IT FOR ONE MONTH!
Next month my challenge is No TV, what will I do with the time? Suggestions?
Be kind to yourself, don’t ask too much of yourself, one pound per week is a sensible goal.
Day 21, Newcastle UK, FD
Thanks @coda, @redrockgirl302 and possibly @fatrabbit for providing company on my 5 days @ 800 calories experiment. Whilst I managed to stick to 800 cals yesterday, I’ve already learnt that trying to split that into two meals is not going to work for me. By the time I’d used my milk allowance in tea and coffee, then had a small lunch, there wasn’t enough left for a decent evening meal. So back to all day fasting with plenty of liquids then one meal. If I don’t actually get to 800 calories then fine, but knowing I have the option is comforting over this 5 day stretch.
@lynzm – very clearly explained thank you 🙂
@Electron – thanks for your explanation re magnesium – having had only 2 hours sleep last night, I need to find a solution. Lying awake between midnight and 6am with my mind going ten to the dozen was exhausting.
@monkeydo – do take care and hope you feel more rested in the coming days/weeks.
@dykask – I think one of the reasons our forum is so successful is because of the honesty and personal stories shared. Certainly no offence taken by me.
@skinnylove – well done with your progress.
@fatrabbit – if you ask me it sounds like any man would be most fortunate to have such a caring person as you in his life. It’s good to hear of your positive results today.
Onwards and downwards – together we are stronger!
Day 21 – Switzerland – NFD
Still feeling bleurgh, so taking it easy – can’t face AquaGym feeling this rotten so have given myself the day off. Have decided that 4:3 is working for me at the moment, so will hold off on new 800kcal BSD adventure. Will try to incorporate more of the Mediterranean diet into my general eating, also try to work towards 16:8 (if it worked for Hugh Jackman, who am I to criticise?). Good luck to everyone trying it out this week, please keep us posted on results!
On fourth cup of coffee since 6am, can’t get started at all. May just go back to bed…
Day 21, NFD, Exeter
Hi everyone! This is my first time posting – I’ve been following the forums for a while but finally decided to set up my own profile and join in.
I’m taking part in the 31 Day challenge sort of by accident, as I’m doing this for Lent, the first day of which just happened to fall on the 1st of March. I’m also not strictly doing 5:2 but alternate day fasting! Sounds scary, I know, but it’s not so bad – I eat normally one day, then drink water/tea/coffee until dinner the next day where I have my 500 calories all in one go. And repeat!
I’m a student in my final year at uni and I am a huge foodie! I’ve tried all the regular calorie counting before, but being in a calorie deficit every single day is exhausting! I also didn’t like how you start ‘ruling out’ or ‘demonising’ certain foods. That’s why I love this plan, as it means I can still take pleasure in my food and cooking. Plus it means I can still fit in nights out, which, as we all know, are very important.
I’m also 2kg down in my three weeks too. Hoping for another 2kg by Easter!
x
Greetings from London after a long pause!
Hello AT, Coda and everyone. Thought I’ll just check in to say hi, I’m still here etc etc etc. 🙂
Exam revision ongoing – it’ll soon be over (I keep chanting to my self, lol).
Sugar-free February was a success, though much harder than I thought.
It’s hard to find the motivation to fast while I’m revising. I only manage 1 day/week now. I can feel my weight creeping up – hovering around 65kg these days. I crave food and portion sizes gone a bit crazy 🙁
Really need to buck up and get a couple of 36h-fasts in before the exam. I’m determined not to undo all the good work I’ve done in the last 8-9 months.
I still run on Saturdays and fit in a yoga class in the week to keep my fitness ticking over.
Anyone planning a pocket fast this week? Could I please tag on despite not being on the group??? THANK YOU!
Day 21, London, UK, FD.
To all those suffering RLS or disturbed sleep patterns I can highly recommend magnesium oil, it’s so easily made and rather than a supplement with fillers and bulking agents, you simply spritz it on and allow it to dry. I’ve also heard great things about its use in treading ADHD too. Good luck, if you try it.
Aiming for an ‘easy’ FD today as I’ll be busy at work, then off to a yoga class, home, then bed!
Keep the faith everyone and good luck!!
Day 21, Germany, NFD
Hi everybody
Firstly thanks @at for making this group. It’s very helpful to keep in track. Second, I am feeling the positive effects of my fasting. On my fast days my mind is very clear, I am sharper and I can decide and analyze things much better. This clear mind helps me in my daily life and future plan, and especially my master thesis. It’s a great proper tool for me in this stage of life as I will graduate soon. I really want to continue fasting without taking care much about the numbers of my weight and waist. Surely doing things will get to results. I don’t want to be obsessed with numbers any more. Now I am enjoying its positive effect on my mind and memory and for now it’s enough.
P.S: Strangely, usually on my fast days I can exercise even better.
Day 21 Melbourne NFD
@dykask – enjoyed reading your post. I think it is very hard to see ourselves as others see us.
@pissapoosa it’s good to hear from you again and very best wishes for your exams.
@fatrabbit – ((hug))
Surrey, UK Day 21 FD
Its taken me a while but I’ve realised that the best pattern for me to keep on losing what I need to is FDs Mon, Tues and Friday. Normal eating rest of the week. Once I have lost my final 7lbs I will revert to FD once a week to maintain. Wouldn’t have got this far without you all – so thanks.
@blueninjamum – I love the rice tips – thanks
@endellion – welcome. Good to have you on board.
Day 1 for me !
Day 21. ….West Midlands, UK, FD
Hi to everyone. I’ve only just come back to 5:2 after a couple of years absence.
I’ve already lost 2st but need to lose another 20lbs really. I was doing really well before Christmas but since then I’ve put on 5lbs !! I’m still the lightest I’ve been for many years but need to lose this last stone or so.
I’m 63 but I’m convinced that should say 36 ! Me and my husband retired 10 years ago to live aboard our Narrowboat and travel the canals. Unfortunately, 3yrs ago he had colon cancer which was treated very successfully but they also found he had aortic stenosis . At the same time he was undergoing tests for dementia and was diagnosed with mixed dementia….Alzeihmer and Vascular.
So the daily stress of coping with him doesn’t help my food intake ! I’m fortunate that he could be a lot worse than he is but he eats sweets, cakes and biscuits all the time. He also likes to share them with you so I’m constantly being tempted with all the things I’m trying to avoid. 😆😆
This week I’m attempting 4:3 just to try to boost my weight loss. So I shall see how it goes.
I need support to keep me focussed as I seem to have lost the motivation at the moment. 🙂🙂
Day 21 UK NFD
Yesterday’s fast was tough, unusually so for a Monday, which I usually find easy after the weekend. I put the difficulty down to succumbing to sugar and carbs on Sunday, which incidentally made me feel rubbish, not emotionally, although that too, but the physical impact was horrid! I did get through the day though becauseI just couldn’t bear the idea of not and then having to do another FD.
Today weighed at 175 lbs, exactly the same as Friday, so basically yesterday’s fast reset the weekend. I need to be very mindful over the next two day and then hopefully Thursday’s fast will enable me to record a loss on Friday morning and mean I am allow myself Friday as NFD rather than FD.
Very interesting posts from Dykask and Jojo58.
@dykask, I can really relate to what you are saying about control and accountability. I had not weighed myself for about a decade though I had weighed regularly previously to that. Not weighing allowed me to nurture a false perception about my weight, which had become just into obese with a bmi of 30.6, based on the mirror. When I was weighed once at the doctors before an op I avoided looking at the scale. Like you I was horrified by photos and actually by my reflection in shop windows which for some reason looked much worse than the mirror. I went on for years with this illusion that I just had a few pounds to loose. When I started 5/2 and bought scales I realised that I had underestimated my weight by about 20 lbs. i was deluded. When I started 5/2 back in September I weighed weekly only. I am only now at a point (bmi25.8) where I can bear to weigh a couple of times a week and only just beginning to assess the impact or eating on my body, so far as the scale can tell you that. There is no danger of me becoming obssessed with weighing. The reverse has been the danger for me. I guess it goes to show that one size doesn’t fit all and we have to work with our own psychology to try to overcome barriers to a healthier life.
@elektron, thanks for the info.
@blueninjamum, great tip re brown rice. I will be giving that a go
Have a good strong day all.
Day 21, USA, Missouri Ozarks, FD
Today’s weight 141.6, below goal weight of 145.
Doing great, sounds like it is going to rain today. My husband and his best friend (our preacher) are headed out to buy a new ATV – with $10,000 burning a hole in his pocket. That and lunch at the Rib Crib, they should have a fun day !
Hope a fun day for all……
Day 21 – NL – NFD
@biddiev – thank you so much! We had a blast. A 3-day bike ride with great company, good food, deep conversations and fabulous hotels in Belguim, Luxemburg and Germany.
I know your thoughts were with your mother too. X
@at – thank you too! It’s amazing how easy it is to fast while on the road. More than enough distractions. In my last post I said day 21 FD but that was a mistake: it’s a NFD today. Sorry about that!
Day. 21 – Chester UK – FD
Yesterday was a NFD, after the weekend’s excess I decided to cut back but not all the way to a FD, ended up on just under 1000 cals. I was feeling a bit deflated yesterday so taking advice from this group I tried on a pair of trousers that my OH bought me for Christmas that I couldn’t even button never mind zip up. Well not only did they button but the zip went up in one. Talk about a mood lifter I danced around the house! I was so happy I booked myself a clubbercise exercise class for this morning! My sister in law swears by it. Well I’ve been this morning and all I can say is I didn’t pass out, despite looking like a boiled lobster after 5 minutes. I’m just too unco-ordinated for this type of exercise, plus I still haven’t mastered left from right. I can’t go next week as on holiday but will give it another go in a couple of weeks, part of it is done in the dark so at least no-one could see my mistakes.
Day 21 – London – FD
4 hours sleep – not good and my own fault. My night out last night got messy although I didn’t drink very much and managed to limit myself to 4 small slices of pizza. I made the mistake of ordering an espresso martini, my favourite drink – though I didn’t finish the whole thing but I’m sure it contributed to me staying out too late and also waking up at 6am. It was a fun night though, we played crazy golf, in the middle of London! I feel (sort of) OK now, but I know I’ll be feeling rough later on… Fast Day when tired is so hard… I am hallucinating about macaroni cheese and baguettes!
@fatrabbit, well done on your loss so far, for turning that corner and taking steps to change your life for the better. Sending virtual hugs your way!
Day 21 – USA – FD
Good wishes for FD’ers and NFD’ers today!✨
I only got to read 1 post this morning. I will definitely read them this afternoon.
Wow, @fatrabbit you’ve been through a lot😓and clearly you are a survivor. You can feel good about yourself. You have lived and learned and you are a survivor. 🎉Congratulations 🎉on your weight loss; from 230 lbs. to 206 lbs since January! 😊🌈✨. It seems you are making smart decisions about your weight plan! And you are doing it!👏👏
🤗Hugs to you! 🤗Feel good about yourself! And your progress!🤗
✨✨Keep on! Keepin’ on!🤞👍
✨✨Together we are Stronger ✨✨👍
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10:01 pm
20 Mar 17