Day 19, Virginia USA, CD

My post disappeared so I hope this isn’t a double post. Good morning! Thank you for the good wishes! A 2.5 pound whoosh this morning on the scale after much 1 lb. up and downs. Yay! Yesterday was a water fast day, but I was unusually hungry so I allowed myself some heavy cream in my coffee, and a small handful of pork rinds in the afternoon. A full day spent gardening really helped and the sunshine was wonderful.

Yet another reason I love this WOE…our food bills must be significantly lower. Before I started, I’d be at the grocery pretty much every day, plus stops at the neighborhood mart for candy bars and soda. Sugar had me completely in its clutches. The most remarkable thing about this WOE is that it is the first thing that has ever worked for me, and it is apparently effective for more and more people. One can understand the pushback on 5:2/ADF type eating. I wonder how it would effect the economy if everyone stopped buying and eating so much junk and stopped needing to take so many medications.

@EmmaTaylor, a very thoughtful post, thank you for sharing that. 🙂
@missybear, Good luck! You have this! 🙂
@flourbaby, Congratulations on getting past that plateau! 🙂

Have a great day everyone!

2nd post

@emmataylor – I often wonder how I’m going to feel when my mum passes away, there is a bit of me that thinks it will be a relief, but guilt stops me exploring that thought. It is very sad and sad for her as often I think she thinks the world is very confusing and against her. Today she would most likely be assessed as being on the autistic spectrum.

@stoic – yes thanks, very pleased, had a successful FD yesterday and going for another today, need to get back in the groove!
Oatcakes – I’m with your friend but also been there!

Day 4 of water ( and one cup of black coffee) fast

I am still waiting on that burst of energy because so far I have not seen it yet! The cold weather is not helping either grrr. However, to be honest, I am not hungry just slower than usual. I went to the gym this morning and had to take it slow, I was able to complete a 25 minute cardio session on the stationary bike but could not push myself like I usually do, and I was only able to handle 4 sets @ 10 reps of free weights. Even that felt too much, I felt the bile rise up a couple times. I felt much better after hydrating.

Now the numbers: So far 5 pounds lost, and down to 28.1% body fat.
I was reading a Jeff Probst (survivor host)interview and he said he works out and eats the way he does every day, even when he’s on location because it’s easier to maintain his current physique than to start over. I so agree with him!!!

I realize I am using this forum as a diary, hope that is ok. It helps me stay focused and feel like I am part of a bigger group not just doing this by myself.

Day 19, Gozo, Malta, nfd

Thanks merryapple.

Keeping to sensible eating even though I just had three small squares of chocolate.

Have a great Thursday everyone. Onwards and downwards, stay strong.

Day 19 UK NFD

Today has been a complete blow out. The baby has had me up since 12am & I have pretty much eaten everything I can get my hands on. Feeling tired, miserable & bloated. At least it’s a fast day tomorrow. Hopefully I haven’t done too much damage after being so good all week. 🤞

Day 19, Virginia USA, CD

Good morning! My post disappeared so I’ll try it again. My fast day kicked me past the pound up/down thing, and I’m down 2.5 pounds this morning. Congratulations to everyone for sticking with this WOE. Not every day has to show a loss and we don’t have to demand perfection of ourselves. We’re trying things, we win a few, we lose a few, but we keep moving toward our dreams. That’s the important thing. 🙂

@basyjames, your post reminded me of an interview with Jamie Foxx many years ago in Men’s Health so I went to look up the quote. He said, “Whether it has to do with career, relationships, fitness, or any other area of your life, every gain you make must be assimilated and no longer thought of as a gain, but as part of your larger life. That way you won’t regress and have to retrace your steps to return to your current level.”

“I’m very disciplined,” says Foxx. “I don’t ever want to have to take 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years to get back to where I should be in the first place. So get to where you need to be, and then maintain. After that, here’s the key: get used to it. Make it a part of you. Make it so you’re not aware you’re being disciplined, you’re just living.”

I didn’t take his advice back then, but it did make an impression. I know I’ll never be perfect, and my body will take its sweet time with this, but I’m really tired of back-sliding and disappointing myself. It’s too early to tell, but I think maybe I’m through. Been there, done that, moving on. 🙂

He also said in the interview, “Consistent success doesn’t happen in a straight upward trajectory, and realizing this will teach you patience to endure the times when nothing seems to be happening. It will also teach you to make better choices in the first place. It’s all waves, it’ll be good for a while, then things will mellow out. Then we’ll catch another wave.” He wasn’t talking specifically about dieting, but it does seem to apply.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Day 19 A very NFD, Northamptonshire

Sitting basking in a 28 degree suntrap with a side of chocolate cake. Sunshine is so good for our wellbeing. Last night we went to a street food restaurant then went to see Bill Bailey, which was fantastic. Lots of laughs, which are good for the soul. Monday will be a reset day.

Welcome back @lindasue and congratulations on your continued maintenance. Great post and I totally concur with your body shape/weight comments. I am 5’6”, 149 lbs, BMI of 24 and if it wasn’t for my waist size I’d be in maintenance too. Numbers don’t matter at all really.
@cornish-jane it’s hard to unset all those bad habits of a lifetime. That’s why I’m happy being a tortoise. Slow and steady gets there.
@delayedgratification since starting this WOL I have cut breakfast altogether. I eat brunch at around 12 and then my evening meal. It works for me!
@dingping – maintaining a healthy relationship with our mothers can be a rocky road. Now my mother is no longer with us, I look back with sadness and realise how much her negativity clouded her ability to see all those around her who worked hard for her well being. All the more reason to make sure that I don’t end up down the same road. Part of me does miss her a bit though.
@diana123 what a day you’ll have!
@onlyhermes – what a great quote. Thank you!

Feeling nostalgic at the moment. It’s funny, despite having lived outside England for 40 odd years, when I’m here I still feel homesick for that ‘Englishness’ that is missing in my daily routine. The feeling goes away when I return home. I guess our roots are always with us.

Have a good day everyone

ccco USA Day 19 FD

On a water fast! Won’t be eating until breakfast on Saturday. Hope I get a whoosh because after two B2B water fast days, I lost nothing. I was disappointed but at least I didn’t gain anything either! Hope everyone is doing well! 🙂

Day 19, LFD, full-on day in the garden – counts as exercise!
Day 18, NFD, limited exercise
Day 17, NFD, Fast Fitness and Fast Strength day session in the gym

First time trying a proper liquids-only fast day today, apart from an orange I ate at teatime. I felt the need to up the ante, as the bouncy scales showed me back in 12 stone (168lb) territory again this morning. I thought I’d broken the 12 stone barrier last week but….aaarrrrggghhhh!! Rescue me from plateau-land please!

A good solid day’s work in the garden has lifted my spirits, anyway, in more ways than one. It’s good to enjoy a feeling of accomplishment. It’s doubly good to enjoy the warm sunshine on my skin and the buzzing bees and scent of spring.

Enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts, everyone!

@dingping thanks for your encouragement. FD today. A bit harder to stay on track. Hubby still in hospital. Sitting with him made time go slow. Got home and ate some almonds. Thought that would be better then potato chips. 🤪. Going have dinner then go back to hospital. Looks like I only went over by 68 caories on my 500 FD today. So,I don’t feel to bad.

Day 20…NSW Australia…NFD

Hi everyone.
Just checking in.

Thank you @stoic for your encouragement – much appreciated.

Not sure if I’ll have mobile coverage for next 10 days, so may be unable to post! Catch up when able.

Hope each of you enjoy whatever you are getting up to and bye for now!

Day 19
@kaywestern well done for being so focussed during your hospital visits and getting through your FD. Hope your hubby is home soon.
I on the other hand sabotaged mine two hours ago on oat and yoghurt bread (knew I shouldn’t have made it). How does it go… one slice led to…
Now lying in bed feeling bloated and nasty, must remember this feeling, trouble is it takes my brain half an hour to catch up with my stomach and by then I’m stuffed. Must attempt conscious eating tomorrow and I think it’s back to cauliflower soup, if I’m going to binge at least I can’t do too much harm with that!
Goodnight all x

Day 20 – UK (In Australia for this whole challenge) – NFD
Day 14 – 19 – NFD
Day 13 – FD (800cals)
Day 12 – Feast Day!!
Day 11 – NFD

Been away travelling around Australia since I last briefly posted on Day 10 – 3 days in Echuca (near NSW/Vic border) visiting a friend from my nurse training days in Melbourne – so lovely to catch up with her and her family ❤️. Then flew to the Gold Coast for 4 days visiting a friend from my 5th form school days!!! First visit to that area and such a warm welcome by my old friend ❤️and her OH. Brilliant weather, lots of walking and visiting the main sites, now back in Melbourne with my sister for a couple of days!

During this month’s challenge I have been doing 16:8 days and have only managed 2 FDs but I have done several controlled days with a couple of Feast days too……….
Day 2 – FD around 400cals
Day 13 – FD around 800cals
Weight this morning = 54kg still below my acceptable top weight of 55kg! happy with that in view of minimal fasting this month……..

Sorry I have not had time to contribute but will definitely keep you all in mind as Together We Are Stronger!

Day 20 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Successful LFD yesterday and a whoosh of 2lbs. This now brings me through the 130lb barrier and into (just) the 120’s!!!!! Yay 💃
I am 4.5lbs away from ultimate goal of 8 stone land. I have not been there since the late 1990’s, so it’s going to be a buzz when I go back to the future 😆

What a glorious sunny day it was yesterday, and this
morning is also a cracker. It was 33c on my glass covered patio (even with the roof sun blind down) when I got home last evening so doors had to be whooshed open. This meant all the bumble bees came into buzz about and visit my indoor plants. Lovely.

But I was so tired. On Wenesday I had felt a bit of irritating fuzz in my head and reckoned it was from the huge pollen count in the Glasshouse. Lazy year I took an antihistamine every day during the summer to help. So I took a non-drowsy antihistamine yesterday, and within a couple of hours I was SO TIRED. I could have lain down on a heap of compost and gone to sleep. So struggled through work in the heat, but at least it meant my LFD was no issue.

In bed, asleep, by 8.30pm. I won’t take manufactured antihistamines again. I read that a little salt on the tip of the tongue is a natural antihistamine so will try that. I can’t be like a zombie for the summer. Maybe it’s because my regime is so much cleaner now, with fasting and organic foods and anti-inflammatory foods…..my body did not like that tablet.

Ouch, it’s late and I wanted to comment on so many. Maybe later.
Have a good Friday 🤗

Day 20, Cornwall UK, NFD

After a two-week illness blip I am now back on track.

Weekly weigh-in today and 1kg down, which is great but followed a 0.5kg gain last week. 1cm off my bum too but no movement on the muffin top waist. OH making nice complements, which is very kind of him as he stalled this week. But I think he is so close to his goal now that staying stable is a good thing. As he drinks beer, eats vegan cake, and loves peanut butter. Just shows these naughty-but-sort-of-healthy things can be eaten a bit without weight gain.

I’ve hit my big target for April now – as I am under 80kg at 79.8kg! Not been there for 20 years. Just got to keep going, as I have 9kgs to get to healthy weight and 15-17 kgs to get to ideal weight. It feels achievable now. It seemed like Mount Kilimanjaro when I started in July last year. Time is your friend in this game.

Onward and downward all you lovely people out there. @daffodil2010 I imagine you in your hot greenhouse grazing on microgreens! Hope you find a natural cure for hayfever – mine is much improved the last couple of years having reduced dairy and living on a hill with a sea breeze!

@fatrabbit – your rabbits must be frolicking in the grass now spring has arrived?

Day 20 UK FD

Well yesterday’s blow out day was salvaged by a very successful 5k run & I’m feeling very proud of myself.😁

I slept really well last night and I am radiating positive vibes today. What a difference a day makes!

Planning on getting out for a big walk with the baby this morning then spend the rest of the day playing in the garden. I even purchased a skipping rope & hula hoop so I can play too… erm, I mean exercise in the sun 😉

I am sharing the positive vibes and spreading the love. Have an awesome day everyone.

Day 20 – UK -Reading – CD

Even though I feel like I’ve been good this week, I’ve actually put on 1lb, so I’m obviously fooling myself somewhere. A CD today as I know I can’t do a FD on a Friday. And yes, isn’t the sun glorious? I may be fat, but at least it’s sunny. Have a lovely day everyone.

Day 20 – Iceland – FD (2nd of B2B2B)

Had a good FD yesterday at 295 cals and first time this month the scales show a number lower than April 1st. Same time last month I had only had 6 FDs (compared to 8 this month) but had already lost 2kg (compared to 0.5kg this month). I cannot find any explanation for this as I have been exercising a lot more and had fewer EFS than last month… weight loss truly moves in mysterious ways… Just hope I am off that plateau!
At the moment I am not likely to reach my goal for this month, but I will do my best to have at least a brilliant final spurt!

Congratulations @onlyhermes @diana123 @arelkade @flourbaby @basyjames @daffodil2010 @metatauta @cornish-jane on your whoosh/hitting target/overall great success! You all are a great inspiration!
Also congratulations to all who are maintaining, which I believe is no easier task.
@dykask – I am a chickpea fan too, especially like a good chana masala, it’s filling and flavourful, perfect FD food!

Have a great day everyone and stay strong!

Day 20 London ?day

Before I start my long post which are just my ramblings so please feel free to skip I just wanted to say…

To all that have mentioned their difficult and sad relationships with their mum’s – thank you. I feel very guilty for having such thoughts and sharing them with others, who often don’t understand, can amplify this guilt even more, but knowing you are not the only one and not being judged is very comforting. Thank you again.

Reading so many amazing stories right now from this monthly challenge of those that have achieved or who are getting close to target or seeing new lows that it brings a glow of pride and joy. To you all well done, congratulations, superb!

@onlyhermes – how timely your quote was from Jamie Foxx sadly I didn’t absorb it enough yesterday but reflecting strongly on it today, maybe it should be pinned up on all my walls until this WOL is assimilated!

Have a good day everyone
Ta x

So to my ramblings …

I have to question am I serious about this way of life? I want change, I want a healthy body but do I actually want to make the effort? Why do I sabotage my efforts?

These thoughts come on the back of a successful FD until 9.30pm when I …

Why did I do it? I get the bodies reaction to sugar and carbohydrates which means it is hard to stop once you start but why did I even toy with the idea that making some oat and yoghurt bread (yes @stoic you heard right) was a good idea anyway when I know I have no self control?

Thought processes prior to going off the rails were:

Fish finger sandwiches bad, especially on FD days, but they were a lovely treat and have got me through before.
How could I make them healthier?
Someone mentioned oat and yoghurt bread, sounded intriguing and not as bad as regular bread, so I thought I’d give this a go.
Made said bread mid evening last night, once cooked made an improved fish finger sandwich with fresh cod fillet, salad leaves and yes (sorry) mayonnaise and tomato ketchup as the moist moorish element.
Ate sandwich and enjoyed, can strongly recommend oat and yoghurt bread is lovely!
Then I thought I’d like some more bread…

I now realise my brain hadn’t caught up with my stomach at this point and the smell of delicious bread cooking in my oven had made me feel very very hungry prior to eating, so more wasn’t such an irrational choice, except this was an FD so brain wasn’t saying ‘what are you doing?’ only kicked in after a second helping and then it said ‘what the hell’!!!

Went to bed feeling bloated, feeling sick and worse ashamed, stupid, and disappointed in myself.

This morning I am still feeling disappointed and guilty. Why put temptation in the way when the past tells you you have no self control? I’m guessing I feel like any addict must when they go off the rails, except this is food, hard to avoid!

In principal nothing wrong in wanting to make a fish finger sandwich healthier but combined with my carb addiction, cooking mid evening on an FD, cooking something which turned out to be very delicious, cooking and eating when tired was a very stupid idea. My decision making last night was very poor, I made a bad decision!

One good decision today, I have destroyed the remains of the bread, even I couldn’t eat a whole loaf!

I know low carb is the way to go and I have done this successfully to a degree before but never enough to make it a way of life. Now I’m trying to go veggie (I know, why was I even eating a fish finger sandwich?!) and dread the thought of a low carb diet made up of mostly cheese and eggs. Should I go back to being a meat eater for the duration of weight loss? I don’t feel I have the daily energy to be so organised to explore low carb veggie options for every meal right now. Then there is the avoiding whole food groups again. I just don’t know?

What drew me to the 5:2 was that there was no restrictions on what you ate just how you ate it and in what proportions, plus the additional health benefits fasting can bring. I did so well for the first month then went off the rails mid March and just haven’t got back into it in a meaningful way. All I’m doing is losing and gaining the same kilo over the month and feeling bad about it!

I’m hearing Jamie Foxx in my ear…

Should I get right back on it today with another FD, which at the moment in my negative mood I feel will be a punishment or should I try a CD, can I control it? or a NFD, will I go bonkers and feel even worse?

Decisions? I guess tomorrow will tell its own story…

It’s beautiful out there again and luckily I have time today to go and sit in the park and read a book, so I will and see how I feel…

Day 20, Virginia USA, FD

Good morning lovely friends. I am only up a half pound after my eat day yesterday, which means I’m continuing to trend lower. So that’s good news. More importantly, I realized last night that I still have eating disordered thinking that requires caution. DH and I split a mediterranean salad and a thin crust cheese and mushroom pizza and I had one small slice of herb bread dipped in olive oil–a perfectly reasonable (and reasonably healthy) dinner for an eat day. But as we were finishing, I could feel the old way of thinking begin, “Oh no, I’ve eaten too much..then…well, you’ve eaten this much, you might as well have ice cream…go ahead and eat whatever, you can start again tomorrow…” That familiar self-talk and the almost frantic feeling that comes before a binge.

Except this time, I didn’t do it. We went to the grocery store on the way home and I didn’t buy cookies or ice cream or candy. I went home and had two squares of Ghirardelli 72% chocolate and a cup of tea. Done. Yay! This is a major breakthrough. I am finally staying the course and not derailing myself.

Thank you @dykask for the chickpea suggestion. I’ve never liked the texture of them, but clearly I need to give them another try because I keep hearing how healthy they are. @kaywesterman, many blessings and good wishes to you and hoping that your DH feels better soon.

Hugs to everyone today! Have a great weekend! 🙂

Day 20 Stevensville Maryland USA CNFD

Today is the start of my 3 in a row NFD’s. @flourbaby I too am going out to an Italian dinner and wine. Planning on being mindful all weekend.

Thanks for all the support everyone. Have a great weekend everyone.

The best preparation you can do for tomorrow is to be the best you today.

Day 20 CD North Canton OH

My liquid fast ends today. As of this morning, I am 7 pounds down. Body fat is still 28%. I believe I will work on that with some HIIT. in my early 30s I was at 23% a decade later that may be too lean; so my goal is to drop to 25% body fat and take it from there.

@annemarilyn thanks for the tip, I had some chicken broth and it definitely helped; I had a little more energy yesterday evening.

I have seen others on this forum try the back to back liquid fasts and I never thought I could do it. It’s empowering to realize that yes, it can be done if you take it one day and one challenge at a time. I chewed a lot of gum though 🙂

I really feel as though this has put me in better state of preparedness to continue on my journey.

I would like to join in congratulating @onlyhermes @diana123 @arelkade @flourbaby @daffodil2010 @metatauta @cornish-jane for your successes.

I would also like to congratulate all the maintainers, as well as those who are sticking with this WOL despite setbacks, plateaus, discouragements. Having tried many, many different diets; I can say that this WOL works especially as the years begin to pile on. We are worth the effort and we are definitely stronger together.

My best to you all, have a great weekend

Day 20 – USA – FD

Wow, a lot going on in our friendly forum today! @daffodil2010, woo hoo on being in the 120s! I haven’t seen that in 30 years and at this stage of the game, I’d look like a sack of wrinkles, lol! @cornish-jane, glad you are feeling better and congrats for reaching a goal unreachable for 20 years! @Strawberriesandcream, way to go on reaching your goal and isn’t it wonderful to clean out in more ways than one? @ktcaroline, no doubt your 1 lb. gain is water, not fat. Hang in there, you may have a whoosh any moment! @Sarabob, your attitude is contagious today! Have fun with the little ones in the park! @fatfingers, your good news far outweighs (no pun intended) your bad! @borealis, I am not an expert on exercise, but I heard that building muscle while on 5:2 can add lbs. to the scale. Worth researching MM on this. @anna6, you have been so stable and steady; you will get back to where you want to be in no time! @dingping, I hope I did not inadvertently make you feel worse with my comment re: your mom. Have you considered making a low-carb bread with seeds? It’s delicious, dense and very filling. There are quite a few low-carb versions on various YouTube channels; let me know if you want the links. @Stevetoon, a great idea to ditch the job for even a half-day in the garden; totally worth it! Have fun! @Michelineme, great job! You are 2.5 less than me at the moment and I will follow on your coattails with your mindset! @onlyhermes, congrats on staying the course! What inspiration! @basyjames, what a great loss – 7 lbs! I admire your grit!

Day 20, Cornwall UK, NFD

Second post

@onlyhermes – Congratulations on swerving that binge! It sounds like you have made a breakthrough in your thinking. Its like me and crisps/potato chips – one bag is never enough and it starts an avalanche, so I am now trying to avoid them completely.