Good morning fellow fasters, well the plan to be fairly healthy this weekend went out the window at about lunchtime on Saturday, still lost weight though and its the best first week I’ve ever had despite the weekend binge.

Goal: Loose 14lb by Christmas
28/09/14: 223lbs
05/10/14: 216lbs (-7lb)

Hi Everyone, Fast day for me also. I live in Cape Town and it is school holiday time. My day was very busy so I actually found the fast easy today. I will weigh and measure myself on Wednesday morning. It is early days yet but I am really trying to get a shift in my mindset. Not denying myself anything but instead asking myself if I am truly hungry. And having any treats in moderation. Fingers crossed my weigh in will be successful.

Hello to everybody engaging on your yuletide goals!

Sorry to crash your party late, I hope you don’t mind another newbie. This is my very first post after loitering in the wings for some time, so please, go easy on me! 😉

I too would like to strip some weight off before Christmas, and this seems the perfect place for me to be responsible and accountable for that. I’m a 32 year old Aussie girl living in London and am loving this 5:2 way of life.

My goal: get to 81kg (healthy weight range for 5’11” frame). This requires another 5.2kg in 11 weeks, definitely achievable.

My ultimate goal: to look hot at my wedding in July next year. And then after to be happy and healthy for the rest of my days!

Look forward to following you all in your downward trends.
Em X

P.S newme@50 excuse my ignorance, but what’s a smore?

Hi everyone. I havent been on in a while as I was having bad results. (my own fault, not controlling at all on non fast days) So I spoke to myself very sternly and I am now doing three days at below tdee, two days fast and two do what I like days. I am also walking, cycling, taichiing on Weds and trying to get 30 day shred in here and there. I have also decided not to weigh myself more than once a month. I will weigh in on 23 October. I am much happier and feeling lighter!!! Good luck to everyone and it is nice to be back.

PS I started this at 72 kilos and I wanted to be 65 kilos by Christmas.

Congratulations on your results Emstar!!

Hi everyone, phine, nothing wrong with eggs and soup, its usually what we have on fast days 🙂 My hubby is doing this too, and it does make it easier doing it together.

I’m still losing about 1 – 1.5kg a week so cant complain. Emstar I am getting married next year too, we are eloping in New Zealand in March. Hope you all have a good week and newme I hope your back is better soon.

Kvetina and Phine21 I am jealous that you have your hubbys doing this with you and helping you, I have to sit next to my partner of an evening and watch him whilst he scoffs his face with whole packets of biscuits and icecream and chocolate, and yet hes still slim thanks to his active job, so he feels like he can eat like that and get away with it. I have told him it will all catch up to him when he’s older, both his dad and his granddad suffer from obesity and high blood pressure amongst other health problems.

It has been a rather good fast day for me so far, I attempted one on Monday and did really well until the night time and ended up having more like 900cals than 500 so I wrote that day off and am counting this as my first fast day of the week and going to do another one on Friday. I’ve done some walking and also done half hour on the wii fit. That’s the good thing about this woe though, I would have beaten myself up before for ruining the whole week because I had let myself go on one night but now have simply added another fast day. Happy fasting everyone 🙂 It definetly is getting a lot easier, I am definetly an emotional eater though and I didn’t really think I was x

Blue Ivy

Happily will I join you. I too have just discovered this site and 5.2
I too am, shock horror 12 stone aiming for 10.
I don’t like to say I’ll pledge to reach 10 stone. I’ve already fallen flat on my face once but I shall persevere. “We shall overcome” 😆
Where we live, 1st floor flat, there are plenty of stairs for me to run up and down as many times as I want!
Hope you have a wonderful time at Christmas. 🙂

Ps. Emstar…. I too am an Aussie in London …. Here’s to that! X

Hi everyone,

A good week this week, 2 pounds lost (total of 16 in 9 weeks – yay!) so well on track to meet the Christmas (2014, not 2015 – he he) pledge.

For me, eating 2-300 calories lower than TDEE of 1500 approx is clearly helping. I know in my heart and soul I couldn’t consume 1500 on regular days and lose weight.

I think we all know that planning meals for fast days is key and being disciplined (mantra: I can have it tomorrow) to stick to the calorie count will ensure our success. I’ve just discovered almonds (from another thread) and find a few to work if I just want a snack to nibble on, much better than a choc biscuit or three! If I really want something sweet a few raisins or sultanas does the trick.

Good luck everyone, onwards and downwards!
Ellie

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my journey so far. I’ve completed two weeks of my fast diet. (1st week was 5:2 and the second was 4:3). I did the 4:3 to see how I felt and will keep going until I need a change on 5:2. So I have officially lost 2kg and feel very happy about it. I did yo-yo during the 2 weeks but it was a steady downward trend. I like to weight myself everyday because I want to understand what my body does. So for anyone who feels a little disappointed with their progress, hang in there. It is more or less 4 steps forward and three steps back. I can see my weight zig-zagging up and down quite a bit so it does look like nothing is happening, but it is. . I think it’s going to get a little harder as the weeks go but I’m up for it! I tried on a pair of size 14 pants and remember that I was a few inches from being able to actually do the button fly. Now they fit! Today is my fast day and I’ve had an egg white omelette with some corn (from the cob) and two coffees. For dinner I’ll have noodles (2 minute no broth and 1/2 a cake) with lots of vegetables and continue to drink water. I boil my water, as for me, it’s more palatable then bottled water. Hope everyone has a great day!

Goal: Loose 14lb by Christmas
28/09/14: 223lbs
05/10/14: 216lbs (-7lb)
12/10/14: 214lbs (-2lb)

Total Loss: 9lb (5lb to go)

Lost 2lbs this week, though the weigh in was from Monday instead of sunday as forgot on sunday, could have done a lot better this week, having got down to 212lb on Saturday but had another bad weekend where I ate quite a lot of junk. I must do better next weekend, I need abit of self control. Will be fasting on Wednesday and Friday this week, hope everyone is well x

Hey everyone,
haven’t been on for a while, have been a bit disappointed. Am now on week 4, and every time I weigh in, nothing is happening.

I admit to paying no heed to calories on my 5 non-diet days but I had figured that if I carry on as normal, and then fast for 2 days AND spin for 4 days per week – which I started at the same time as the 5:2, then SOMETHING should happen. IT HAD TO WORK!!!

Clearly not. So will have to take it up a level

On the upside, feel great – but think that’s the spinning. And the legs are def stronger and feel slimmer – although again, strangely, it hasn’t made any of my clothes any looser.

Mustn’t give up though.

Hello everyone.
Well done mandl for finding your way back and deciding to stick to it! I hope you see some change soon to keep you going. I’m also wondering about the 30 day shred? What is it?

Lucy – great going on the weight loss! That is fab.

I’ve lost and put on over the last week so no overall change but tomorrow is another fast day with Body Combat built in so I’m hoping that will get the scales moving.
I’ve moved in a notch on my belt though and feel a bit trimmer around the waist.

Good luck everyone and keep going!
Lotta x

30 day shred is an exercise programme taught by Jillian Michaels. You can find session one on you tube. It is the only one I use and last year I did it for about 8 weeks with fab results, lovely muscles in my legs and arms. It is only 25 minutes but I have pains in my back, legs and feet so I am finding it hard to get motivated.

However, I have managed to walk an hour Mon and Tues and today I walk to my 2 hr tai chi class so that’s at least 3 days’ exercise this week. I am nervous about weighing next week.

I have decided to fast today as I am busy with my tai chi and then I take my eldest to orchestra and have a half hr cycle whilst he is playing.

I did a fast on Mon and had 2000 cals yesterday. I should have had 1500. So I am going to take a 100 cals off today tomorrow and Friday. That way I can have a nice weekend off.

Good luck to everyone for rest of week.

Hello everyone! I was just reading everyones comments and re-read mine and laughed. When I said 1/2 cake I meant 1/2 of the noodle cake.. NOT and actual cake! I’m on my 3rd week of the fast diet and on the second week of 4:3. I decided to try the 4:3 not necessarily to see if I’d lose more weight but to fast track my blood results into the healthy range. I’m going to get my blood tested again in around three weeks and will share my results. Hope everyone has a great Thursday 🙂

P.s. must look up 30 day shred
Thanks mandl

good luck!!!!! lucy

Morning All!!
Yay,yay and yay again!
Have lost what I wanted and am now under 10st. Just under but still…
Thats a full 14lbs gone.
Its worth having cold feet twice a week!
Good luck to all fasters today
Love
Lucy xx

Yay, everyone’s doing so well!

I too have lost some more poundage during the last 3 weeks, 3.5kg to be exact. I would like to lose another 4.5kg, or 10lb, before Christmas. I’m very happily on 4:3 at the moment. I LOVE fast days. I guess because they make me love the non-fast days even more.

10lb in 10 weeks. Doable? You betcha!!

Keep up the good work everybody!
Em x

Well done to all the ‘losers’ out there. Hope everyone who is fasting today finds it easy!

Lucy – that is brilliant weight loss. Must be so nice to hit that goal!
Mandl – that 30 day shred thing looks excellent.

I’ve had a very foodie weekend because of my sons birthday party so I’m back to where I was last Monday. By last Wednesday I had reached 66.5kg which is the lowest I’ve been (yay!) but now back on 67.5kg (boo).
I seem to be yo-yo ing again and I know it’s beacause I eat too much on non-fast days. I have done much better with the exercise though and am off to Zumba today.

Good luck everyone and if you are in London, enjoy the lovely autumn sunshine.
Lotta x

So today is my ‘get back on track’ day! I’ve been successfully 5:2ing since July this year and have managed to reach my original goal but since then I’ve fallen off the wagon a bit. I don’t eat as much as I used to and have a healthy exercise routine that I love so I haven’t gained anything in the passed 3 weeks but I also haven’t lost anything.
Today is my first whole hearted fast in 3 weeks. I’ve done attempts – don’t eat all day then have 500 kcal dinner, head isn’t strong enough and before I know it I’ve polished off a piece of toast or chocolate.
So today I’ve decided no more stuffing around! I’ll have some homemade chicken and veg soup at about 4pm which should get me through aerobics and insanity tonight, followed by more soup and some wholemeal toast. Bring on bed time!!

Hello everyone,

I’m a newbie, but I’d love to join the Christmas pledge! I’ve had a few failed attempts at fasting and I’d love some support to try to make this one become my new lifestyle. I would love to lose 5 to 8 pounds by Christmas. I’m planning to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, does that work for most of you? Also, how “careful” are you on non fast days?

Mandl – I have the Ripped in 30 DVD (similar to Shred). I really like it, but I’ve never completed the full month. I love to eat healthy and exercise, but have troubles being consistent with anything. Lately, my snacking has been out of control, so I’m hoping fasting will help… I’ll plan on checking in tonight (I’m in the U.S.).

I did eat a quest protein bar around noon (180 calories) and plan on a frozen meal with fresh added spinach for dinner with the family. I may also have water with an electrolyte tab (around 8 calories) if I get desperate before dinner.

Good luck to everyone!
Emmy

Hi Emmy,
Well done for giving 5:2 another shot! I tried and failed so many times last year that I just decided it mustn’t be for me. That was until I saw my older sister drop all her baby weight in about 3 months doing nothing other than a few (half hearted in my option) fasts each week. I’ve always been a big gym bunny so I found fasting got in the way of my routine and if I stuffed up I’d be worse off than if I’d just eaten what I usually would and stuck with my workouts.
Anyway, after seeing my sister’s results I decided I’d give it another go. She assured me it wasn’t the end of the world if I went over by 1-200 kcal so I started by planning my meals to reach 500kcal but didn’t count the odd coffee or few almonds if I felt I needed them. I didn’t lose much when doing it this way but it eased me in well and after a few weeks I dropped the snacks or swapped the skinny cafe latte for late morning breakfast, 2 almonds after work, gym workout then a 400kcal dinner. This is what I generally stick to now but sometimes I find it easier to go with nothing all day and have all 500kcal at dinner. I’m still not that strict though and figure if I burn a few 100kcal every day in the gym then going over by 50 or so won’t make much difference. Overall I’ve dropped around 10kg in 4 month, which may not be the fastest results you’ll read about on here, but I can tell you it has certainly been the easiest. I, like you, am terrible with consistency which is why this is perfect! I tend to do Mondays and either Wednesday or Thursday depending on which work day is likely to be the busiest. The busier I am the better. And if I’m not, I book an appointment for nails, hair, wax or massage. Whatever it takes to occupy me through 4-6pm before I go to the gym. They’re the really tough hours!
Anyway, I hope that helps you get into it. As soon as you start seeing the scales move you’ll be addicted! Oh- and take measurements! I was so disheartened in my first months when I only seemed to have lost a few kgs. Then I measured my belly and I’d dropped 10 whole cms without even realising!!
Good luck!!

Emmy, you should try using an app like ‘my fitness pal’ on non fast days so you can try to keep below your TDEE. I don’t find it necessary to log every day but if I do Monday-Friday including exercise it gives me a good indication of how naughty I can be on the weekend. Mainly for alcohol consumption and I still tend to eat what I like but just in smaller potions.
Regarding exercise on fast days, yes, it just takes time to get to the point when you have enough energy. Sometimes I still don’t but I’d rather do the workout than not so I’ll have a few cheat almonds. That seems to do the trick. I think the key is having as much protein in your 500kcal as possible. My latest discovery is homemade Indian cutlets. My best friend taught me how to make them on the weekend and if you use very lean mince and only a little oil you can make them around 100kcal per cutlet. One of those with some salad or veg makes a very filling, high protein, high fibre lunch or dinner!
Have you read the thread on here about ‘exercise being dangerous to 5:2 dieters’? It’s basically saying, when you exercise your muscles retain water so yours scales may not shift. The ‘danger’ is that you will give up on the diet thinking it’s not working. Apparently if you stick with it though, you are more likely to see no change for first few weeks/ month, then quite consistent weight loss. This seems to be exactly what happened to me! I’m so glad I didn’t chuck it in again!
Remember those last 5-8 pounds are always the hardest so stick with it! I think I’ve still got at least double that 🙁