Oh dear it’s been an EFS day (I hope I got those initials right)….basically I’ve eaten my “home-coming meal” twice! I start with the egg mayonnaise and salad sandwiches, move onto the lemon cake, then the nuts, then the Yeo yogurt, then the Marzipan Ritter bar and finish off with the cheese and the Haagen dazs chocolate ice cream!….so….twice.
@songbirdme: Oh to be doing like you….

Work was too easy today, as they accidentally left 108 parcels, meant for our office, at Bristol (or somewhere)…so we’ll get them tomorrow on top of our usual heavy Wednesday, AND, rain is forecast….just to pile on the misery. Say we get 10 extra parcels each…that could easily add an hour to our deliveries tomorrow. Sigh!

Day 14 – Melbourne Aus – FD

Quick check in as things have been crazy busy. Very behind in posts but still hanging in there. Nice nutritious sugar free NFD yesterday making good choices.

HIIT class this monring and now pretty hungry just before 8am, so may make todays aim 600cal.

Try and catch up on posts later

Day 14 country west Australia FD
Been away and out of range for communication for 2 weeks.
Managing to hold the line with no real progress weight loss wise but feeling generally better in myself.
Will catch up with posts later.
A quick glance over some of the posts is intriguing!
Glad to see you back@Dykask.

Day 14: Gloucestershire, UK, NFD:

Raining…..nevertheless I hope to do better today. The scales are still kind after yesterday’s binge. So that helps my motivation.
@dykask: My daughter is a research scientist, currently working in Australia. If your son works hard, he should do well, scientists are always in demand.
Good luck today everyone out there….see you later.

Day 14 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Making today an impromptu FD as my DH is not working tomorrow so it will be nice to gave a dinner together ☺️

I got MyFitnessPal to log my calories. So yesterday, I was under TDEE, today I have already logged my FD meal and I have a few calories to spare. Thanks @funshipfreddie fir the tip, I think physically counting the cashews to have at bedtime (as opposed to lorrying handfuls into my go ) might restrain that nut calorie overload.

And wow, I am amazed at the power of cashews for my sleep. I slept through last night and was woken by DH shaking me as my alarm was buzzing. I am 99% of the time awake before my alarm and normally turn it off before it starts!! Not a great sleeper since getting to a certain age but this is a revelation 👍

@flourbaby, I have tried magnesium oil at night (due to your recommendation) but cashews beat MO for me in the sleep department!!

So I am going to have to work them into my WOL and see how we go. Love walnuts too 😁

@ktcaroline….inspiration ?? Well, this is going to sound bad and it’s definitely reverse inspiration….but my very good friend who is 13 years older than me (so 65 now)….I see her struggling with weight, and walking, and creaking about, and various health issues, and tired….I love her dearly, she is great fun and full of life, but I don’t want to be creaking about like that when I get to her age. I know, I am awful for saying that (and I would never say it to her) but that’s what keeps me focused into the future.

Pocket list Day 14
@gretta
@lilymartin
@daffodil2010

Day 14, UK, FD800

Hi all. I’ve been under the weather the past couple of days – bad head, dizziness, a bit faint etc. So Monday’s FD ended up being very much a NFD and yesterday also, with lots of sugar consumed. Not good. I felt so sluggish yesterday evening, but I managed to get myself out for a little walk with a podcast for 45 mins or so. It definitely helped blow the cobwebs away. So I’m back in the land of the living today, feeling much more back to myself and going to have a FD800…. lentil salad for lunch and the Lamb Saag with cauliflower rice recipe from the FD800 recipe book.

@flourbaby – I’m pummelling that reset button this end too!! Good luck with the dragons, I’ll be slaying a bunch too

Day 14 Melb Aust NFD

Not a very successful August so far on the FD front, with the scales showing about 1.5 kg gain. Not surprising, considering some of the “food” I’ve been eating. Tiredness/ Not enough sleep have been the main problem, closely followed by my study supervisor putting a deadline on me to get some particular work finished (i.e., stress). It’s not difficult to do, but just the thought of having a deadline has thrown me into a spin. Sigh!

Interested in the cashews at bedtime conversation. I try to be really careful with nuts (I love macadamia nuts), not only because of their high calorie count, but also because of the high (healthy) fat – having had my gall bladder removed many years ago, I can’t eat too much fatty food in one sitting or I start to develop stomach pains.

Conference for the next 3 days, so I’m hoping for a reset as I’ll be out of the house away from food.

@ktcaroline, no-one as an inspiration, though I echo @daffodil2010 where a friend, in my case 13 years younger than me, is overweight and not very healthy. I get very concerned about her. She did go so far as to buy the Fast 800 book, but like many other things she looks at, it hasn’t been translated into action.

@ciren2, hope the parcels today weren’t too onerous to transport!

Echoing @funshipfreddie, Happy Hump day everyone!

Day 14 USA (Illinois) NFD

Yesterday turned into a good FD – not exactly planned to be one, but needed. Hope to get to read posts later on and keep up with everyone.

Onward and downward.

Day 15 – Japan – NFD

@ciren2 – Good for your daughter! I am fearful of what is happening in technology related to many current jobs. I believe many types of jobs will be disappearing for good during our children’s careers. Things like scientists, medical doctors, etc won’t likely go away. I think the children focusing on higher levels of skills will greatly benefit. The likely social changes are scary to think about.

second post
@dykask, so sorry to read about your mother and sincere condolences. Dementia is a terrible disease – I work in Aged Care and just off to work but took time to start reading posts from July 1st as want to keep up to speed with what is happening with people and for accountability.
Not sure where I got the notion your son was coming to Australia?? That’s what happens when one tries to scan rather than read properly.
I am only up to page 3 in July but was curious about the following people :
Gfussy
Losingitslowly
Donkeyshorn
hedwig6
Starfish89
WACM
Johnny
Nicholas5172
And….exhale
Jisika
MinBen
RedRockGIrl302
bigMarie
abogage
BasyJames
These are names I noticed in July but haven’t seen here in August.
Just wondering if they were like me – on and off the site like a cat on a hot tin roof -, on maintenance or just reading and not posting.
Simply curious that’s all as some of the names I know from ages ago but many are new to me.
🙃

Day 15 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

I just got myfitnesspal yesterday. I’m still trying to navigate it, but wow? It really is a game-changer for tracking food?! Everything is pretty much in there already.

@ktcaroline – I don’t think my favourite food has changed. I think I just generally enjoy everything more because I’m eating less than I used to. I’m also more aware of what’s healthy and what isn’t.

We’re at the August halfway mark. We can do this! 🍏

Pocket List – Day 15
@funshipfreddie

Day 15, London, UK, FD,

Ok FD yesterday and an OMAD too, so I’m getting settled on the wagon again, hopefully …………………. It’s so easy to pitch myself off with one false move!!! Cheese snack & soup planned for today, fingers crossed!!

I managed to have 10 cashew nuts too!! @at I’m not sure I have the patience to toast 10, it would be ½ a bag then the smell, no doubt, would cause the willpower to jump ship!!!

@lilymartin, lovely to see you’re hanging onto the wagon!! I always like seeing your handle pop up as it calls to mind your drunken ‘grapefruit’ episode, which never fails to make me chuckle (I promise not to mention it again)…………………………. It’s the small things in life that keep me going!!!! ……………. My ‘best’ friend would say something about tiny things amusing tiny minds ……………… I care NOT!!!

@ciren2, glad to see you didn’t get washed away! I tend to save the days’ posts for ‘that’ time when the dragon wakes up, it’s usually when I’m tired, the collective struggle spurs me on to stick to the plan ……………………….. no reading & eating at the same time allowed!!!

@ktcaroline, I don’t think my favourite food has changed much, there’s NO hope of amending this handle!!! I still think I could commit murder for a loaf of fresh bread straight from the oven!!! The favourites remain, but I just don’t have them very often, when I do, I fall in love all over again, then have to suffer though the break-up, it’s a vicious cycle, but becoming less frequent. I would say plain Greek yoghurt has become a new favourite, but it doesn’t replace the bread, cake, wine, biscuits, rice, mashed potatoes etc. that are on my list ……………………… the list just gets longer!!!!

Onward & downwards folks!!

‘Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory’ Dr Seuss

Day 15 – UK – CD?

9am Aerobic class made a good start to the day then with some of the group went for coffee and a blueberry scone with no butter/jam/cream as still warm from the oven… lovely catchup!

A lovely sunny but cooler day here so much nicer than yesterday but apparently tomorrow is another very wet one for us…..I’ll be on a train heading down south so that won’t bother me.

Going out tonight with friends from down south who are visiting for a Thai Meal – did I say I LOVE Thai food…….so planning on no more eating today until dinner tonight which should keep me on a controlled day……

Tomorrow I’m heading down south for a long weekend to Suffolk to visit my poorly friend – travelling by train – amazingly expensive so certainly does not encourage anyone to travel by train!!!!

@lilymartin – just lovely to see you back – sometimes we all need time out and staying away from the internet every now and then is no bad thing!!!! Yes we are missing quiet a few regulars and some who started in July with us did not stay long….shame but hopefully they are finding something that is working for their health
@flourbaby – I weigh my 30gms and dry toast them in a frying pan and then as they are hot I eat them slowly and enjoy every mouthful – makes me really appreciate them……😇

I’m hoping to have another CD tomorrow as travelling and will have OMAD with the friend I’m staying with as the rest of the weekend may certainly lead to some overindulgence – will plan on a FD on Monday when travelling back home.

Will probably not be checking in until Monday night so will use this opportunity to wish everyone a good weekend no matter what the weather is doing in your neck of the woods.

“Permanent results only come from permanent changes in diet and lifestyle” Dr Joel Fuhrman

Day 15 UK NFD

Oh dear making my way up north my dads in a bad way – in ICU I’ll be back on board asap x

Day 15 USA (Illinois) NFD

Dinner and a show tonight at our local equity theater in the woods, so saving calories for a nice dinner. “Man of La Mancha” is supposed to have a terrific player in Don Quixote. I love how MFP does my calories for me. Over the years I have learned pretty much what I can and cannot eat.

@metatauta – thanks so much for the props. It’s this board and everyone here who have helped sustain me through maintenance.

@funshipfreddie – measuring nuts … whew. That’s a hard one for me with my mixed nuts (no peanuts in this mix) that I love.
@betsylee – more conversation on nuts. We love them, don’t we?
@babs_b – hope you are feeling ever so much better
@ciren2 – keep on keeping on – yeah for sunshine!

Talk of favorite foods was most interesting. Mine seem to be anything with fats (I can pass up chocolate but seldom cream cheese or frosting made with it). I’m like @flourbaby when it comes to bread with cream cheese frosting.

Onward and downward.

Day 16 – Japan – WFD #60 in 2019

Hanging in there … I’m seriously starting to consider going to 6:1 vs 5:2. Not sure it would make much difference at this point. However I’m going to try to fast today.

Day 16 country West Australia CD
Thank goodness for digital scales ( I record weekly on Saturday morning but weigh dally and for the past year have watched the scales go slowly and not so slowly up up up. A bit like watching a climber scaling Everest! Now I’m watching the tedious descent but hey, I digress).
Anyway, they are showing a 900g loss for the past 5 days with a solid FD and 4 SENSIBLE NFDs.
As many have mentioned, I too dislike calorie counting and didn’t ever do it before starting 5:2 but MFP is so good to help one know what one could eat and the portion size.
Initially I found I was WAY over in underestimating what I was actually eating. So back to crunch crunch crunching the numbers until I reach the stage I know what will keep me at TDEE.
It’s funny how one can become blind to certain things if one choses to be blind enough.
Having spent the past 12 months more or less in denial or more accurately ‘ if I put the weight on I can take it off again as I have before.’ …with clothes so tight that I inhale in the morning to put on my work pants and exhale at night when I take them off, you would have thought I might have been a bit more aware of my body.
I was quite aware of the dual tractor tyre the fat fairy had so considerately re-installed around my waist, but not so worried about my boobs. Just thought my bras had shrunk….
But the other day a female friend whom I haven’t seen for ages was talking with me and you know when someone isn’t quite looking you in the eye but their eyes are just slightly focussed lower?
Well I was wearing a tight sweater which didn’t use to be but is now VERY figure fitting.
I hadn’t paid much attention but after our chat I went and looked at myself sidewards in the mirror. And Dolly Parton eat your heart out!!
After a lifetime of not being ‘well endowed’ ( is one even allowed to say that in these PC days? Anyway I’m saying it about myself so…) suddenly I have boobs!!!
And it occurred to me that she probably thinks I’ve had a boob job!!!! – tractor tyres notwithstanding .
So as I lose weight – and since breasts are made up of a lot of fat, that can be where the fat comes off first- if I see her again after I have lost the 20 kgs I’m aiming for over the year, will she think I’ve then had a reduction done!!!
Anyway, I’m channelling my inner Dolly while it lasts.
What does one call a group of dragons?
I note many people are struggling with a dragon, singular but every dragon of every type has been unleashed in my food desire centre and I’m busy trying to slay them left right and centre with a little more success than a while ago but they do still want to go on the rampage at the slightest opportunity.
I’m building quite spectacular muscles ( of the neurological type) trying to keep them in check .
The carb dragons are the worst. Anything with the whiff of a carb in, my brain thinks yes yes YES!!
Someone mentioned fresh bread ….. when one has a terrific baker in town it is so difficult to pass it by without buying at least something….
Well you can see that I obviously have time on my hands – reading and posting trying to stave off some of said dragons this early in the morning.
Hope everyone is going well fasting or not.
Might post later in the day when I have read more posts.
Keep slaying those dragons…🏹🗡🔪🐉🐉🐉

Day 16 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – CD

It’s early days, but I’m finally convinced I can stick with this WOL indefinitely. I thought maintenance was going to be a huge hassle, but halfway through the month the scales aren’t budging!

@lilymartin – a group of dragons is called a flight or weyr. Well, you did ask 🤪

Have a great day everyone

Day 16 – Stratford Upon Avon, UK – FD

Phew! Made through another week! Friday FD for me today, usually unheard of for me, so let’s just hope I can stay strong and not fall (or jump!) off the wagon by the end of the day.

Feeling a bit blah – scales just not budging despite mammoth effort. Oh well, onwards and hopefully downwards :-/

Will check in again on Monday so have a good weekend folks.

Happy FD Fasters!

Pocket List – Day 16
@yo-yo

Day 16, USA, VA, CD
Day 15 FD
Day 14 FD
Day 13 FD

Had 3 really good FDs in a row this week yay! So much that I was only hungry for my beet salad (which was just shredded raw beets with a squeeze of fresh OJ on them) and wow did Mr. Particular (my scale) like that. I reached a new ATL. Which was great, but then also meant that the new utility belts I ordered are now too big! What!!!!

I have a 3 week cross country road trip taking place next week and weekends I’m a slacker at posting, soooooo you guys may not hear much from me for almost a month. However you should know you are always in my POCKET! Which BTW one of these fancy utility belts has 13 pockets! I’m in Pocket Heaven! I’ll need to take it in so that (fingers crossed) if I head a couple more lbs while I’m away it still fits!) I’ve never had this issue before in my whole entire life, it feels weird.

@ktcaroline – I like your questions so here we go…
Inspiration? Mmmmm that one is tough, I’d say I’m a bit like @daffodil2010, where I saw my mom with struggling health and hers was due to Kidney failure so its not like she had energy to put toward exercise but I do feel we could have made better choices for eating. So I want to keep making better eating choices so that I will FEEL lighter and more inspired to MOVE and keep going ever upward.

Favorite food change… I have new foods I do love like my Arugula and Fresh Carrots! However I have to say, If my sweetheart makes the homemade Mac and cheese – – – I will still WANT it! Now I have noticed I don’t want as much (so Yay!) there is that… Also I do still want Drunken noodles from Thai restaurants (but again I have noticed that If I am NOT impressed with the noodle, I will skip eating the noodle and just eat all the veggies) I think I have realized that I would rather have a REALLLY GOOD decadent dish and eat a little of it – than have a large serving of something that is mediocre.

Cheers to you guys and know that I’m here I just might not be able to post that much for the next 3 weeks! I’ll still do my FDs tho.

★·.·´¯·.·★ Hugs ★·.·´¯·.·★ *•.¸♡ Hugs ♡¸.•*

Day 16, London, UK, NFD

Wine and an Indian meal planned for tonight, August is proving very, very tricky!!
@lilymartin, it’s the worst thing about weightloss …………………… losing the girls!!! Enjoy your ‘Dolly’ time while you can!!!!

@funshipfreddie, you’ve shared your experiences, advice & camels!!! But NOBODY, Nobody, nobody needed to know that a group of dragons was called a weyr!!! However ………………… I am currently battling an enormous roaring WEYR!!! ………. LOL!!!

You will break through that plateau @daffodil2010, keep the faith and do the only thing you can do, as you said …………… Keep on keeping on!!! That dream trip sounds like the BEST incentive to stick to this WOL, you’ll need to be fit, healthy & strong to get the best out of a beautiful continent!!! There’s got to be room for 3 in the camper, surely????

@rabbette, you’ve nailed the mind-set I’m aiming for!!!…………………….” I would rather have a REALLLY GOOD decadent dish and eat a little of it – than have a large serving of something that is mediocre”

@ciren2, don’t you know???……………. we women are taking over the world!!! Mmwahahahaha!!!!…………..despite the common toilet situation!!!!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis

I really must join in a monthly challenge!

I’ve only just started 5:2 and been very happy with my start, week 1 = 5lbs week 2 = 3lb week 3 = 2lb found it pretty easygoing so far, the odd glass or two of wine at the bbq (both of which are my weaknesses) but the rest of the week being sensible and 2 days fasting!

Holiday at the end of the month so will try and be good, then back to 5:2 and monthly challenge in October I think! Will no doubt help motivation.

Day 16 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

@ktcaroline wishing you a speedy recovery, take care xx

Despite going to bed hungry at the end of yesterday’s FD I slept well and woke feeling good and didn’t feel the need to eat until midday when I had a brunch of 2 soft boiled eggs served on a sliced avocado, yum 😋. Dinner will be baked chicken with a huge serving of veg followed by strawberries and kiwi with Greek yogurt……and yes, as its Friday there will be a glass or three of red wine. I can already hear a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon calling my name!

Good news from the scales this morning, 3 pounds below goal weight so maintenance going well and some wriggle room for celebratory treats next weekend.

Keep on keeping on, persistence is the route to success. Have a great weekend everyone 🤗

@ktcaroline I just saw your post and wish you a speedy recovery 💕please mind yourself and don’t worry about posting/hosting we can all pitch in 👍👍