Another newbie

This topic contains 3 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by Tabbycat 10 years, 7 months ago.

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Tabbycat

8:43 pm
6 Mar 14
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Hello all.

I started 5:2 three weeks ago, without any planning, completely on a whim, because I had read something suggesting it might help arthritis. I am a 47-year old woman who, as of last summer, realised I had inherited the family curse of arthritis, particularly in my wrists.

Three weeks on, I find I can do extraordinary feats of gardening involving full wheelbarrows without as much as a twinge. Amazing!

Also, although I didn’t go into this to lose weight – I have no idea what I weigh and I personally don’t much care! – I now find I can fit into jeans that I haven’t worn for a decade, which is quite a thrill. I also feel more limber and fit generally.

I have been fasting on Mondays and Thursdays (dinner 6 pm the night before, less than 500 calories during the day, then breakfast c 9 am the next day). It is getting much easier as I go along, and I have learned some very interesting things about why I eat the way I do.

Having never had any interest in a diet before, I can easily see carrying on like this for years to come, as I am really feeling the benefits. Hurrah for 5:2!

Tobias Karlsson

1:31 pm
12 Mar 14
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Hi Tabbycat,

this is a very nice story – congratulations; I am glad for you! It seems that you follow the general advice to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. I do not remember why they said that 🙂 but that is what I have heard, so probably you got it all right :). I think many of us who started this diet sensed that the attractive thing about it is the simplicity – you live normally and then just stay away from eating twice per week. The next day you can eat normally again – hurrah indeed!

Good luck and thanks for sharing an inspiring story!

PS. I guess it is important that you do plan your fasting, the components of your meals etc. as this is meant to be something long-term, so you get what your body needs. I was just thinking about the first sentence you wrote.

Angie090465

2:08 pm
12 Mar 14
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hi Tabbycat and well done on your fab progress so far!!

great stuff, inspiring too, keep going 🙂

Tabbycat

12:51 pm
28 Apr 14
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Tobias, Angie, thanks for your kind replies – I’ve been away from my computer for a while but it was a real boost to find your posts 🙂

I’m still finding 5:2 very rewarding. My arthritis is much less bad than it used to be. (It takes more to set it going these days, and I recover much more quickly.) I’m also in much better shape generally – I had to run for a bus the other day and I wasn’t even out of breath! I think that is because I am carrying quite a bit less weight.

There are moments when 5:2 isn’t easy, mostly because I’ve always been quite an ’emotional eater’ who responds to bad news with chocolate or pasta. But on the other hand, it’s been really interesting to observe my own impulses at moments like that with a bit more detachment, and to learn to find other ways in which to handle the stress. And also, as my family see the benefits of 5:2, they are becoming increasingly understanding and supportive.

As for planning, my whole approach to this eating plan is continuing to evolve. For the first few weeks, fast days were all about feeling very conscious that I was fasting. Now, though, I really have to remind myself to have a mini-meal (300 calories or so) at some point during the day. (The rest of the calories go to ensure that I don’t have to worry too much about milk in my coffee and tea – there are limits to what I can give up!) And for that, I make sure to stock up on something small and tasty, with plenty of protein. But it needs to be easy, too, as I don’t like to spend too much time hanging around in the kitchen on fast days either.

Anyway, thanks again for your replies. I hope you are both getting on well with 5:2 and achieving your goals 🙂