Hi all, back in the saddle again. Nothing like buying a new computer for sending the old ones into a hissy fit!!! So many good posts to read, I’m sure to miss mention of some events but am confident we are a forgiving lot. Doggie, Up and Milena so brave soldiering on despite illness. Yours sounds particularly nasty Milena, good well soon. GG how is your Mum coping? Bit worn out I expect. {{ }} xx
CG you sound better but as if you are pushing the envelope a little. Sit out in the almost spring sunshine more. The house can wait while the warmth seeps in.
Fit glad you are back posting so cheerily. You did well to only gain 2k’s. I get fed up sometimes counting too.
SJ I’m thinking about those lovely warm days and bathers too. Sunny but cold wind here today and a few clouds rolling in. Hope you enjoy the chicken n almond dinner.
Gyps! Good to see you up to your old doggerel tricks. Great.
Well, on the computer so I don’t have to witness OH downing a chicken and salad sarnie but telling myself the promise of La Zuppa shortly will fix the ache in my middle. Don’t know if anyone else experiences this but I’ve been so hungry lately that if it stood still, I ate it! Even breakfast!! Particularly after a fast day. Didn’t used to do breakfast but after months of this WOL now wake up hungry for it. Anyone else?
Guess for the majority on this board your day is a couple of hours later so thoughts turning to dinner.
Lotus miss being able to read your posts around my lunchtime 🙁 sad your work computer isn’t playing ball.
YY xx

Thanks CG, I hear you. Quite a novelty though actually wanting Brekky. Sure too that the colder weather is partly to blame for some of the hunger. Have reached the stage too where the ‘full’ feeling kicks in, just need to listen and get over having to finish what’s on the plate 🙂
My OH actually got the new computer, retirement reward and I swear my not so newish laptop threw a hissy fit. Even the battery in my mouse packed it in in sympathy. Had the same battery for years
You’ve got me thinking about egg and bacon now too 🙂 Think about the 400gr loss last week instead!
YY xx

Hi All!
Great to see so many posts here today. Almost gave up on my FD today but then felt I couldn’t face fessin’ up to you all so I have stuck to my guns so far!!! Long way to go til bedtime but the mindset is right now so I think I’ll be able to persevere….thanks guys! 🙂
Gypsy – loved your poem, you must have one about every possible topic under the sun….dare I ask have you one about the Irish?!!!! 😉 Can’t remember if you were the one who asked me about the weather…there have been a few nice, mild, dry and sunny days here over the last week but it gets cooler quickly and you can certainly notice that the days are getting shorter. I’m not looking forward to winter at all, especially if it lasts as long as last year 🙁
SJ – sounds like you had an idyllic day out and well done on healthy choices.
YY – great that you have new computer so you can keep in touch; forget about egg and bacon, you have much better things to do like posting here!! Your 400g loss is certainly better to focus on, well done!
GG – sounds like you are right back on track straight away….I’m in awe!
Have a fab week everyone 🙂

Morning all survived your FD OK? Onto another normal day now – whatever that is for you, whether it’s counting calories, using MFP, watching portions, or just eating healthy foods. Enjoy your day & the great benefit of 5:2 that you have a day or 2 in between the strictness to have a social life or enjoy a special day.
Lovely blue skies here again today so maybe another walk or some work in the garden. I am absolutely determined this week for the first time to do a 4:3 Mon/Wed/Fri. I’m not as close as I’d like to be to the 60’s and I’ve been knocking on the door for a while but never making it. So have to gather up all my aussie determination as I’ve said I would do this a few times…..but always chickened out or felt too daunted to even try. But this week is it. Let you know how I went tomorrow!!
Have a great day all and enjoy whatever your day holds. Make it special in some way whether it’s enjoying the sunshine or snuggling up after work with a good book & a coffee or a hot choc – whatever rocks your boat. suejen XXXX

Started the fast day thinking maybe not due to cold but then as I previously mentioned, the family was keen so thought I should.

Took my dog to the vet and had a hay fever attack. Always happens but as I already had a cold, I turned into a disgusting, drippy mess!
Decided not to fast and indeed to go to the persian cake shop near the vets and treat myself. Turns out the shop owner had gone somewhere so it was shut. Right, I thought, I am going to try out the new gluten free patisserie I drove past the other day. Turns out the signs were up but they haven’t opened yet.

Decided to to take all this as a sign and go home where I did have some corn thins and cheese rather than a boiled egg. Took myself to bed and drugged myself. Woke up to cook the fast day dinner I’d planned. So overall, I did pretty close to a fast after all!

Feeling much better today. Was invited out to lunch but figured I should stay home. Another day of 28 here and plenty of jobs to do.

I was in the supermarket this morning with my blocked nose when I smelt a peach behind me! I knew it couldn’t be local so wouldn’t normally consider buying it but it was too tempting so I abandoned all my principles and bought an imported peach. It was yummy!

UP, I agree with you, it’s not so easy to fast when you get out of the groove or out of sorts. So easy to say “I’ll do it tomorrow”, But as Fit says, It’s not so easy to do that when we stay accountable to the mob. And daily doses of CG therapy! It feels good to have GG back and the core team hanging in with our ups and downs. Hope you feel better soon. I have a regime for medicating colds, worked on boarding schoolers down in the dorms by the dozens. 2 panadol and a Sudafed (antihistamine)in the morning gets you through the active part of the day. Can repeat panadol 4th hrly, 6 to 8 hrly for Sudafed, but for night settling best to combine panadol and Phenergan (for more sedative effect) 10 mgs (for kids) 25mgs (adult). Lots of fluids. Feel better. xx

Hi all

thanks for the good wishes, following your advice Gyp, knew I could depend on you for good sense.

You will all think me weird but I saw lots of angels in the hospital, and when I came home a stray cat came to visit for a couple of days. Did a lot of ringing around, found the owner who is about 10 miles away, she has been round and collected her an hour ago, been missing a month. All good for me, took my mind off my pain all day, there are angels on our shoulders.

Hi all have a nice day. am off to the big smoke for the leprchauns check ups. might be MIA for a while.

Milena, glad you’re improving. did you know that to be kind to a cat has mystical connotations? On the good side. It came to comfort you. and yes there are ‘angels’, but I prefer to think of them as extensions of our spiritual life force. cheers! Gyps

HI everyone a little quieter mid-week. Yes CG I’m doing a FD today & a 4:3 this week. Determined to see 70. something again tomorrow & then hopefully a 69 something by Saturday. That’s the plan anyway. Let’s see if the 4:3 was worth it. HB eggs done & mushroom stroganoff for dinner plus a few drinks in between. Had planned to do another long walk today but the promised sunshine has turned into cloud though it is going to be fine at least. We shall see a bit later.
UP hope your back settles soon for you…sounds like you have a good plan for it. Thank goodness your cold is at last improving though. {{{ }}}
Gyps all the best for the Leprechaun’s tests. XXXX
CG my body definitely reacts better when I eat up to my TDEE or close – not that that’s a problem for me though LOL! Sticking under is more of a problem for me.
Well got plenty of housework to do to keep me busy today so that’s good. Somehow I seem to be in the right mindset to tackle an extra FD today so that’s good. Might just be my aussie determination to get down to my best number or below it. suejen XXX

PS Read an interesting article yesterday on Cameron Diaz (at the beautician) talking about food & figure. She says people have it all wrong, they are either eating everything or they are eating almost nothing. No in-between. Said that “you can eat whatever you want just not *#$@loads of it”. What a true statement & what 5:2 is all about really. So for those who are not fasting have something you want….but just have a little of it. Eat in moderation, watch your portions & stop before you go overboard.

Hi all. I’ve just had a quick squizz at your posts. I’m still far from well so won’t bore you with the details. Gyps thanks for the 2 weeks / 14 day reminder. You are quite right. I’m actually quite fed up with well meaning hubby and others telling me I need to go to the doctor and get an antibiotic. I don’t think they hear when I tell them that antibiotics can’t cure a virus.
I’ll get back to you when I’m not sure a pain in the a—-se.
.

Thanks, CG. Fortunately, as I am basically retired, I can take it easy. I feel for you with your long term problems. You really take your health for granted until it goes wrong, don’t you? Well, most of us anyway. But you are right! I think it is muscular, the masseuse found it straight away and it has helped but time is the thing, I think.

The massage place is right near the vets which is near the persian cake shop. It was open today! Only the second time I have ever bought anything there in maybe 2 years, so I don’t fel so bad!

Well today’s planned housework went out the window. OH decided it was another good day for a walk once the sun came out a bit. So we tackled a new section of our Cape to Cape track (pretty famous for hiking here). You can walk the whole track in a week or so & camp overnight but we just walk sections of it. But today I came home just exhausted. It was a FD but usually that doesn’t bother me – maybe the doing a 4:3 might tire you a bit more, or give you less food for energy?? I sat in my chair with a book & promptly fell asleep when we got back. I ended up buying a Lean Cuisine for dinner so I didn’t have to cook. But I HAVE stuck to my FD despite being ravenous tonight. I’m tackling that with some sweet teas starting with cinnamon orange. UT so glad your masseuse found the spot straight away, now take it easy. Doggie hang in there & please keep posting even if it’s just so we know how you are. We will be cheering for you once we hear you’re on the mend.
Hopefully the extra exercise will help my cause but we’ll see. I certainly still don’t like the concept of only one day between fasts – bit of a wimp aren’t I! I so look forward to those 2 or 3 days in between. But I’ve completed the 2nd fast and should manage the 3rd on Friday, then weigh-in on Saturday.
Hope you’re all ready to tackle another FD tomorrow with persistence & aussie grit. Gyps thinking of you & OH in the bis smoke for tests. Hope all is going well for you.
suejen XXXX Off to veg in front of the telly for tonight – all I’m capable of!

Ah got someone to keep me company….and keep me honest eh CG? Tell you what…I soo just made it this evening without eating anything!! Ended up having a licorice tea which gave a bit of a sweet hit and now to bed. Hope you’re sleeping better these days CG. Talk again tomorrow. Suejen xxx despite my sleep I’m so ready for bed again.

Hi All!
Nothing but rain here today…varying from light dizzle to complete cloudbursts! So went shopping for paint, brushes and wall paper and of course, went for coffee and cake along the way! Oops! Have to try and dance it off tonight when I resume ballroom dance classes.
Milena – good to hear from you and hope you don’t just lurk…check in every now and then too. How lucky for that cat that it arrived on your doorstep….not just chance, I think!
Gyps – wishing you and OH all the best with check-ups. Xx
Up – so sorry to hear about your back. What a bummer! Take it easy and look after yourself.
SJ – well done on persevering through with 4:3 – no way are you a wimp!; no wonder you’re exhausted but I’m sure you will reap the benefits. Your determination is shining through strongly and you will kick those extra kg to the kerb in no time!!
Dawg – you are definitely not a pain in the a***! We all have a good moan every now and then, so it’s your turn now! Offload here, and we’ll do out best to take your mind off your troubles.
YY – how exotic it sounds to me to have your own lemon tree, but I don’t envy you the thieving critters, whatever they were!
Was planning to do FD tomorrow, but have to go shopping with my sister for her ‘mother of the groom’ outfit; so I’m not holding out much hope!! 😉

Well, Yum Yum, I probably shouldn’t be mentioning it on a fast day but I went for Baklava. There are some more unusual things there but it hit the spot! I used to do battle like that when I had a mango tree! Between possums, bats and parrots, it was a challenge! Just last week a possum ate some seedlings…

You are right, CG, Ok to have a treat. How is your pain today?

Fit, sounds like you are busy and active. It makes life interesting and healthy.

SJ, that sounds like fun. We talk about hiking but rarely actually do it! I am impressed that you are doing 4/3. Don’t think I could do that right now. I think you have to be in the mental zone. Go you!

Happy fast day all. It will be difficult for me to keep busy today due to my (improved) back but I get 3 whole days of normal eating after that so I should remember that! Pork fillet and salad for dinner.

Hope the rains eases off CG, and good luck with the B2B, true grit I see.

I’m still up working, Doctor said I could go back to work after two or three weeks, when I said I was self employed, he remarked that the self employed always seem to heal more quickly than anyone else! Driven by the desire to eat and pay the mortgage, I suppose!

Not an arduous job, just listing on ebay, had a fleeting moment when I thought I would do a cross stitch I bought three years ago – but OH is even more stressed about bills than usual.

Not fasting this week though, think I’ll restart on the 1st, then its just 16 weeks to Christmas.

Making Chicken and split pea soup tomorrow (well,, later today), food for the soul!

Hope everyone ends the month well!

Hi everyone. Just started 5:2 this week & today is my 2nd fasting day. Made a 207 cal soup to see me through lunch & dinner & will have celery, carrot & strawberries & an egg some time). Lost 1 kilo after Mon’s fast & will weigh every Friday, as I think that’s what most in here do. Look forward to being part of your community. It sounds very welcoming & active. I didn’t have any trouble getting through my 1st fast but my stomach sure is making a racket right now. I have someone coming to interview us this morning so will have some yoghurt to quieten it down. Cheers, with black coffee, Cate. (I’m in Tas, btw)

Morning. Everybody sounds so industrious. My big effort so far today is a shopping list 🙂
Fit you will have a lot of fun shopping for ‘mother of the groom’ outfits. Always good to have a giggle at a sister’s expense. Then you still have the decorating to look forward to. Must say I know which one I would enjoy most (and it aint the decorating!).
Gyps if you are lurking, thinking of you and your OH. xx
CG, poor little Timmy, remember when we had a pet lamb for awhile and the farmer came to do the same to him. Sobbed and sobbed 🙁 Necessary though.
Up where is your sense of adventure? Baklava? Love it but the Persian bakery sounds just so exotic. You will definitely have to sample some more so that we can too, vicariously. At lease we wont put on weight vicariously!
Welcome Cate. You sound as if you have FD’s sorted. Look forward to getting to know you. Other Tassie’s on here too.
Lotus we miss you! GG xx. Doggie get well soon, almost spring.
Why did I think it a good idea to have FDs on Thursdays – shopping day? Mad.
Have a happy day everyone. TTxx

Afternoon team! how is your fast day going today for those that are doinit? Hope all of you that are not feeling well have improved.
I have spent the morning recovering our bed side lamp shades. After visiting the IKEA store in Sydney last week I came back with literally arm fulls of new bed linen etc.Our house is painted white inside so I have a great canvas to use. I chose varying contrasts of grey.The lamp shades were easy ……yards of 36mm satin ribbon. They came up well.I decided to do this as I felt OH had been subjected to my fem ways for too long.BIG ? if he will delight in all the cushions on the bed!!!!
Just sat down to write the post and dig into a diced pork salad for lunch.Its overcast and chilly today here on the coast.
Hope the rest of your day goes well…….GAL xxxx

Hello team. Welcome Cate. Yes I’m also from Tassie. NE coast. You’ll find us an encouraging and supportive mob here. We discuss all sorts of topics, not all 5:2 diet related.
Well I’m still on the sick list. The only positive thing about the flu is that one loses ones appetite. I’ve just Googled the reason and I see that the brain chemistry changes and we get an increase in the chemical Cytokines. Pity we can’t manufacture it. Mind you it would quickly become part of the crazy million dollar weight loss / fad diet industry. I’ve not counted any calories and hardly had any wine which is unusual for me! CG about the only thing I’m enjoying at the moment is hot Jarrah choc. It seem to hit the mark. I’ve not weighed myself. It would be a B travesty if I haven’t shed the odd kilo.
Cheers all and keep on keeping on.
XX Doggy

Wow! What a warm welcome. Thank you Countrygal, Yum yum, Suejen & fellow Taswegian Dogsabie.(I’m also from the Nth, but more NW’ish & love wine.)I am surviving FD2 reasonably well, but maybe overdid the wood carting, just a tad. I think I’ll stick with skipping breakfast on FD’s as it makes it much easier. I still have some soup left & have weighed out some fruit & a dollop of yoghurt. I feel sharper mentally. I will make sure I check here every day & will read more pages & hopefully get to know everyone better.
Thank you once again for the great welcome! Cheers, Cate.(with yet another herbal tea)