Day 11 Wales NFD
Day 10 FD

Thank you all for your kind words and support. Have managed to get out for my walks Tues and Weds, so that’s a start.
Back in work tonight for 3 x 12hr nights, nights always make me feel low, so won’t help with this funk and the situation there makes me feel like walking away, but keeping going one step at a time.
My walking buddy, woofit is worrying me, he had surgery to remove mast cell tumours last year, more came within weeks of this and so they put him on doggy chemo. He had been doing really well and the tumours had almost disappeared, then this week one has just grown and grown, so back to the vet Monday, not looking good but he is ok in himself.
I seem to be lurching from one problem to another at the moment, hope you are all doing well x

Day 11 UK NFD

@ciren2 I developed adult onset asthma about 7 years ago which was a shock and no matter how I tried just couldn’t get the technique with the inhaler I use Budesonide and so far so good so fingers crossed for you x

Day 11- Midwest USA – NFD

Weigh-in day today was a shock: -3lbs That is too much at this stage, and I assume there was a fluid shift and I need to rehydrate. I’m also really focusing in on getting proper amounts of protein and calcium due to the risk of bone and muscle loss at my age. I’m not interested in the scale moving at any cost. Dehydration, bone loss and muscle loss are other causes of weight loss – those are things I don’t want! Since the eating window during the week is smaller I’m finding that I’m needing to continually be more intentional about my nutrition.

Successful 500 FD yesterday, was in the Zone and enjoying the simplicity. Working on getting more protein and more high-intensity excercise, based on the feedback from my Lifesum App. I totaled my calories for the last week and it was 8,621 between my 3 fast days and 4 feasting days. Averaging 1200 cals/day is right where I want to be, so it was a successful week

@alisa The birding class sounds fun. I would love to be a bird or some day. Being out in a seeing the sights and listening to the sounds is my happy place.
@bluesqueak, @snowflake56, Betsylee, @jaifaim, @ciren2 Thanks for your feedback – that makes sense. I’m going to keep doing my fasting on non-consecutive days because it is working for me and I like to keep my body guessing! I am finding this protocol to be the easiest plan I have ever used to lose weight, and I don’t want to overcomplicate it. If it’s so simple for me I wonder if I must be doing something wrong! 😋

@aglowworm What foods in your kitchen are derailing your success at night? Would you consider tossing out the toxic to make space for success? Today is a new day – nothing to feel bad about. Sometimes when I reflect on unplanned binges and I think about what I was feeling at the time and I realize that I’m pushing down negative emotions by eating “comfort” foods. You don’t have to answer but as you reflect back, what were you feeling that evening?

Wishing everyone a successful day!

Happy Day 11, Canton OH FD
@excelsior12309 your question put a smile on my face. My answer would be that the 6 oz bagel is very social – did not want to party alone and brought 10 oz worth of water along for company.
@michelinme yay for no carbtastic bloats!! And I also understand the feeling of saying goodbye to beloved old clothes
@shelliz the last place I lost fat was on my belly and it’s usually the first place I notice weight gain. Some of us are more likely to be apple shaped than others, but don’t worry fat cannot hide for long – sooner or later it will give up the ghost
@biddiev I agree, before I started this WOL I used to eat when I was bored, upset, happy, sad, angry or simply because it was there. Now that I restrict my eating to a specific window, I find that I get hungry maybe once a day – if even. IF definitely helps you develop a different relationship with food.
@daffodil2010 I personally will be shocked if you do not get that job, and I mean it seriously
@snowflake56 your observations are spot on
I personally liked the B2B fasts because you get in a rhythm; first day is usually the most difficult. By the end of the second day – you feel like you could go on for ages…

Adding myself to the pocket list!

@michelinme
@shelliz
@gretta
@stephsie
@betsylee
@flourbaby
@snowflake56
@aglowworm
@ccco
@basyjames

USA Day 11 FD
Second Post

MiracleLou, I saw that you are going on a wellness trip soon. I envy you. We have some wellness spas in this country but i have never been, just trolled their websites. It would be nice but it means I would have to go alone, an idea I am not fond of! When you go, have fun! 🙂

2nd post

My dinner had 515 cals, totally forgot it has cheese on it. Next time we’ll share one potion, we both thought it was too large but of course ate it anyway. I think you whisk or beat eggs, not whip them.

@ciren2 I’m having pronounciation problems and my left hand (I’m left-handed) can’t hold on to things very long, everything falls down when I don’t concentrate enough. Holding a pencil and writing also causes difficulties. I started playing the piano today, haven’t done it for a while, it’s a good exercise for the hand.
@aglowworm don’t apologize! I think it’s often easier to “talk” here than talking to family or friends, it just makes them worrying about you.
@russetfox I’m so sorry to hear about your dog, they are such good companions. I hope the vet can offer some kind of relief.
@excelsior12309 to make you feel more guilty perhaps.
@fiftyandfabulous just weigh again tomorrow.
@ccco that is horrible! You’re happy to be pregnant but know you’ll lose your job after the baby is born. I hope your daughter will find another job soon. Can she apply for it already or does she have to wait until the baby is born?
@basyjames I agree the second day is easier. I don’t have a solution yet but plan to do another FD tomorrow. I’m having a party weekend ahead of me.
@miraclelou I think we all understand, just do what is best for you.

Bye for now!

Day 11 Belfast NFD
Should have faster today, but forgot it was Thursday! 😗
I shifted 3/4 tonne soil myself yesterday afternoon, then OH and I tackled the next batch today. Half a tonne left, and now the beds are filled and a few others topped up, we’ve too much. I’ll have to find a place, because it’s stuck on my lawn and the grass will go yellow if I do t get it shifted!
@aglowworm – just a bog standard hoop from Argos. It’s not weighted, but I feel it’s heavy enough!
@ciren2 – 😂 I was a sporty child but never could hula. I have a bad back and have found it good for loosening the stiffness.
@michelinme – can you take your shift in? It seems a shame abandon it.
@russetfox – sorry to hear about your furry friend. Hope his problem can be sorted. Xo
@shelliz – I have had the same experience as @basyjames. Although in maintenance I am mostly quite thin, except for the spare tyre. That gives me a dilemma because I don’t want to lose any more weight but I DO, want to reduce that fat middle! Even cutting all those sugary things hasn’t made much difference really. Perhaps ditching carbs is the answer?
@ccco – I’m shocked at the predicament your daughter finds herself in. I was made redundant 32 years ago when I was nine month’s pregnant ( I have to say I never looked back) but I thought all these years later times would have moved on for everyone.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT LOSING THE WEIGHT; IT’S ABOUT LOSING THE LIFESTYLE AND MINDSET THAT GOT YOU THERE” Steve Maraboli

Day 11 UK FD

On the bright side, I’ve not eaten a single thing today. Tho not drunk enough water either.. I had a wonderful clear out of my main food cupboard this morning. Shelves all look tidy & makes sense, it’s well-stocked and definitely encourages me to want to cook from scratch and eat a wonderfully wide range of gf vegan food.

Also did some (mostly sale) shopping in Uniqlo for random selection of non-sale black leggings & skinny green stretchy trousers (M), sale – 2x t-shirts in pink and mustard (men’s XS) and a gilet in beautiful metallic teal (woment’s L, roomy for layering). And – for once – Everything Fits!!! Came home and had a quick sort throught the wardrobe, passed on some large black long-sleeve t-shirts and tops.

On the not so bright side, I had an awful experience with my largest local brance of a well-known UK supermarket. Staff members accused me of having not paid for some shopping back in January and insisting that I hadn’t shopped in any of their branches since. (I did a big shop in another branch last Thursday.)

I remember exactly what happnened bc January was the last time i was in that particular branch. We had self-scanned the shopping, we’d “randomly” been picked out for checking and had to put everything through again on a cashier-operated till. Twice the work and an extra 30 mins with queues and packing/repacking.

Today there was no hint of an apology, no acknowledgment at all that their systems might be at fault. I was repeatedly disbelieved, asked for immediate proof of payment – unstated but repeated implication that I had stolen from the shop. And the colleague at customer service simply stared at the shared computer screen, tight-lipped and didn’t say anything.

Had I not been in shock I would have simply left. As it was, I couldn’t think straight, needed food and my friend who was helping me/had driven was on v tight timescale. We whizzed round with the self-scan machine spending as little as possible. But when we got to the end the machine wouldn’t let me check out and instead summoned an assistant – the same one. She had set up the system so that I had to have everything double-checked by going through a till Which meant queuing up, unpacking, putting everything through the check out assistant, thenrepacking everything before i could pay. Which took another 20 mins and left us running late. And publicly shamed.

I came home and dug out bank statements to evidence that I’d paid in January – and have shopped in their stores 8 times over the past 3 months! 5 hours later I’m still far too angry and upset to write a complaint yet, and will never set foot in that shop again.

I’m so fed up with living in such a horrible hostile environment. Whether it’s DWP or Home Office, local authority or companies – all these assumptions that people are lying, fraudulent, cheating, stealing. It makes me so angry, sad and miserable:(

But on the bright side, at least I haven’t eaten my feelings 🙂

@ciren2 Thank you; I had a wonderful day and actually produced a hare that I’m pretty proud of

@betsylee… binning the sweet treats on the way home sounds like a good idea, and much kinder than roundly refusing as I’ve been doing up to now! You’re a nicer person than me 🙂 I’ll give it a go next time.
@aglowworm I really hope your fast day went well and you feel more in control. It’s so easy to fall out of the ways you know you should be eating isn’t it? Being stressed and tired just makes everything else a millions times harder, and it’s even worse if you’re an emotional eater (which I suspect many of us are… I certainly am!).

@russetfox I am so so sorry to hear the possible bad news about your walking companion. As the possession of two canines myself, I know exactly the hold they have on your heart. We have our fingers and paws crossed for Woofit.

@excelsior12309 if you eat more carbs than usual then your body will retain more water, which obviously makes you heavier. This is just one of the MANY things that makes you retain water… stress, TOM, not drinking enough water, having more salt than usual etc etc etc. Bodybuilders say to weigh every day and then divide the figure by seven to get a true reflection of your weight because we can all fluctuate so much during a week.

@michelinme oh what a dreadful experience! I’m so sorry you had to go through that! When you’ve got over the shock you should complain if you can be bothered… it’s outrageous and their staff need some urgent training to say the least!
Well done for not eating the hurt and anger away x

Day 11, UK, FD

Successful FD today, and I exercised, so I’m happy with my day 🙂

@daffodil2010 my bird feeder is doing really well, lots of birds and they are all regulars 😀 . But I spotted a sparrowhawk on the tree in the garden next door one day, amazing bird, but sent all other birds making a dash for cover, obviously. Its worrying as well being a breeding season, they will all have little ones soon.
I am following a live cam of an eagle nest in USA, and at the moment they have 2 little eaglets ❤ , if anyone is interested let me know and I’ll post a link.

@michelinme I am absolutely horrified to hear your story about that store! And so angry! That is an outrageous behaviour, and totally unacceptable. Complaint is not enough, you need to demand an apology and for the staff who behaved so unprofessionally to be disciplined. Go on Twitter and shame them 😡 😡 . Sending you hugs 🤗 xx

Have a good evening everyone 🌼

Day 9 & 10 – Japan – NFD
Day 11 – Japan – WFD

Working on water fast #28 in 2019

Day 12, Japan, FD B2B2B

Yesterday’s FD went OK, but I have to say that B2B2B is probably not for me… Usually after FD I wake up feeling good, hungry but not uncomfortable. But today I woke up feeling unpleasant even after some hot tea. Almost bought unnecessary junky snacks (but persuaded myself successfully to only buy the salad I needed) Haven’t been craving junky food or sugars ever since adapting this WOL so yeah, I guess 4:3 probably works better for me. But you’ll never know without trying! Still nice attempt I’ll say to myself.

Tomorrow is DH’s birthday and he requests chocolate cakes! Try my best to have a small portion…

Finally got some time to sit down and write some replies!

@biddiev I totally understand 1500 cal feels like a lot more. This WOL really changes our body, and mind!

@gretta Haha that dream of almond lattes sound so real. Don’t know if I can resist the second cup if that happens in real life.

@stephsie I had exactly the same experience, feeling starving by the end of B2B. I think there are ppl good at it and ppl not so…

@ciren2 Sounds like perfect weather over there! Enjoy the sunshine.

@daffodil2010 Good luck on your 2nd interview! And I started making kefir seeing your post here(in March). It tastes wonderful!

@flourbaby Can’t believe it’s 1/3 – or almost 1/2 – of this month! How time flies. And by the end of this month it will be 1/3 of this year!! (gasp)

@betsylee Really respect someone who can do 4 FDs straight! Good luck!

@snowflake56 Sounds like a feast! Hope you are feeling better about BP etc. Yes I think I just need to be patient about my body shape. What will go goes.

@aglowworm You can get it covered by today’s FD. We can do it! And that’s why I’m using an app to keep track of everything I eat. We all know NFD can be really tricky…

@russetfox Praying for your lovely walking buddy. Hope he will get better soon.

You guys have been ACTIVE! Which is good!
I’ll have to make a 2nd post.

Day 11 Ohio, US — NFD(70 bites)
Day 10 — NFD(73 bites)

Yesterday was a marathon day. It started at 8:30 am and the classes and meetings didn’t stop until 9 pm. I was exhausted, and worse, the suddenly warm weather has brought the grasses out so that my allergies started acting up again. Late at night I needed to take some pain meds and also took some crackers to help with their processing, whence the 3 extra bites. Today was back to the normal (at least for right now) intake.

More extra meetings today, so I didn’t get my usual work done by day’s end. With any luck, I’ll be able to get caught up between classes in the morning.

@shelliz Yes, how we distribute the FD’s is a very personal thing. For most of February I tried doing one FD/one NFD and wound up getting sick at the beginning of March. Since then I’ve been doing one FD/two NFD and that seems to work for me and establishes a nice rhythm. It turns out that the weeks alternate between 5:2 (like this week) and 4:3 (like last week). The most important thing, imho, is for each person to find their own sustainable routine.

Have a great end of the work week everyone!

Day 11 California. NFD

Today I reached my ultimate goal weight which was pretty surprising but I will not consider myself in maintenance unless I stay this weight until the end of the month.

Day 12, Emden Germany, 2nd of B2B

FD went well yesterday but I was so cold last night, needed an extra blanket and socks. I haven’t had that for a long time. Today I plan to eat carrot/apple salad with mandarin juice and asparagus with butter and a boiled egg on top.

@rabbette thanks for the link, there are other interesting articles as well.
@debster251 that was a good exercise, I hope your muscles aren’t sore.
@michelinme what a horrible experience, it seems they didn’t want to give you a chance to proove they were wrong. You have to complain about their behaviour.
@shinything could you post the link please, would love to take a look at the upbringing.
@songbirdme I’m sure the children enjoyed it, most of them like museums where they can do things instead of just looking at things without touching them.
@annemarilyn thanks! Sometimes when I write something I know something is wrong but I don’t know why.
@shelliz it’s good to try out new things, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. If you don’t feel well today, just stop and make it a CD. Let’s both enjoy our party weekend, mine is at a friends house, we stay there overnight.
@stephsie 40 pounds, you must look totally different, great achievement! Enjoy you day out with your father, they are precious.
@rafiki44 congratulations on reaching your goal! You can highlight your handle on the spreadsheet (or I can do it for you), you deserve to be “green” now.
@gretta I hope your hip improves soon.

Day 12 Pocket List
@shelliz
@snowflake56

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 12 Belfast NFD

I fell well and truly off the wagon yesterday. I tutor a little girl and her mum gave me some jelly babies from a well known store for Easter, which didn’t make it home. That’s the first time in a long while I’ve actually binged. ☹️ ah well, at lease they’ve gone! That sugar dragon is always lurking 🐉

@michelinme – what a horrible experience you had to endure. My heart goes out to you. Shopping is a hostile enough experience without additional hassle. I hate those self scan checkouts. I hope you get some redress when you send the proof and a big apology.
@annemarilyn I think it might it a bit costly to ship it lol😂
@stephsie – congratulations on losing those 40lbs. No mean feat. I love the phrase ‘working on my weight’. So understated and it certainly doesn’t reflect the hard work, dedication and self control that’s been going on!
@rafiki44 many congratulations on reaching that momentous goal.
No, @snowflake no sore muscles. I took it slowly and didn’t lift too much at one time in the wheelbarrow. Job nearly done, thank goodness.

Onwards and downwards

Day 12 – UK – NFD
Away for the weekend so no work today and out in the sun for a cycle.
Hope you all have a good Friday fasting or otherwise 👍
@aglowworm today is a new day … you’ll get there and we all have days like that… I was doing really well yesterday until my man simply “suggested” a magnum ice cream…. that was it… the seed was planted 🙄

We rise by lifting others 💕
Onward and downward ⬇️

Day 12 UK NFD

Day 12 UK CD

Thank you so much for your very kind messages @ccco @stephsie @shelliz @shinything @annemarilyn @songbirdme @snowflake56 @daffodil2010 @debster251 This group is wonderful group and I’m hugely grateful. Today I’ve lost the anger, still have hurt & sadness. Surprised how traumatised I have been. But i’ll keep my notes & bank statements & wait until after the weekend then write to the head office. A “more in sorrow than in anger” approach fits better for me.

Unfortunately last night I lost my resolve not to derail my FD …cracked open my jar of Festa Della Mamma dark chocolate truffles. On the bright side I only ate 5 or 6 rather than all 35 🙂 But awful stomach and gut pain afterwards – guessing that’s at least partly my 5 weeks of veganism and the shock to the system.

Weekly weigh day – still back at 65kg, my plateau for the last 9 months. But my waist & hips have gone down 0.5″ since last measured, which feels like great progress. Thanks @songbirdme for the heads up about pattern of fat loss… i think i’m following along nicely.

I’ve changed my mind about today’s plans and going to be v gentle with myself. After a slow morning I’m going to do yoga & meditation, pick up urgent emails & update my action list for next week. Then read, perhaps tidy the front pots area, early supper, shower & hairwash and very early night. Two early mornings ahead and some full days; I want to feel more healed and ready to face the world & its demands.

@shinything great to hear about your sparrows – not so much the hawk. I feel v protective of my resident flock – and once rescued a baby sparrow who was trapped inside the pigeon-proof bird feeder while the sparrowhawk gripped him from outside. Very dramatic – felt as tho I’d faced a dragon 😀
@rafiki44 CONGRATULATIONS on reaching your goal weight!! 🙂
@gretta great news about your hip recovery – and continued progress!
@snowflake56 good luck with your second day of B2B. Hope you continue to feel better under your DH’s tender care x
@daffodil2010 good luck with sorting out your dear Dad’s house tomorrow. Hope you have a wonderful day making his house back into a welcoming home:)
@debster251 ah yes, jelly babies 🙂 I was fine until the truffles called my name – lid now firmly back on until Easter Day!

Whatever your day brings, here’s to gentler minds and wiser choices x

Day 12 USA (Illinois) NFD

Good CD yesterday. Happy for that. After continuing to fight with my scale so that it would register my weight (it’s really old… probably 20 years) I ordered a new one from Amazon. Sure enough, when I am able to use both old and new, the new one is 1.5 pounds heavier than the old! Oh well … still considering myself at maintenance. Ha ha!

@shinything – your webcam link goes to Decorah, Iowa, which is several hours north of me! Youngest DD did a summer camp there – a lovely Luther College town. That webcam was all the rage when people first discovered it a few years ago – still a fascinating thing to watch. I loved your list of birds, too! I have many of those around my feeders as well, but DO have lots of sparrows.

Today is Silver Sneakers then off to be my “SongBird” self and judge high school choirs this afternoon and then again tomorrow. I love being a judge for singers be they solos, ensembles, or choirs. The pay isn’t bad either. I add it to my “new clothes” fund. With my weight loss, I have nearly cleaned out closets of all old clothes.

Onward and downward.

USA Day 12 WFD

Adding myself to the pocket list.

@shelliz
@snowflake56
@rabbette
@russetfox
@ccco

Congratulations to everyone who has already made their month’s goal; also to anyone who has lost up to 40 pounds or more (looking at you, stepwise-well done!). It is so wonderful to this these achievements, since I seem to be always struggling. Despite two B2Bs this week (currently in one), I have put on 2 lbs. according to this morning’s weigh in. Unbelievable! But I will persevere! I am so proud of all of you. This is quite a journey!

@ccco Wow, that is SO frustrating!! It’s just a fluid shift; weight fluctuates because of hormones and a bunch of other factors. Try not to read too much into it. Here are my thoughts for your consideration: Just carry on with the 5:2 plan. It sounds like you have fasted a lot this month. Why not make a move in the opposite direction? How are you nourishing and cherishing your body? What is your body saying to you? Food is a gift to be received, not something to be withheld as punishment when the scale does not move. Can you consider incorporating some higher calorie days (1400-1600) 4-5 days per week to replenish vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein? All of the cellular machines in your cells need proper fuel to go about their purposes. What about focusing on behavioral goals instead of the scale? Those are within your control everyday. Your weight will normalize, just give it time. Let back on the reins a little and be gentle or the horse will fight its bit.

Hope everyone is having a good day!