Hi All!
Welcome Cate – you have joined the right bunch here; lovely, wise, kind, supportive and fun! If you notice the timing of my posts seem a bit odd, that’s because I live in Ireland!! I’ve been done the honour of being declared an honorary Aussie due to having lots of family living in Oz. You have made a terrific start, well done and keep up the good work.
Milena – I think you’re right to take a break from 5:2 until you’re feeling better. Take care and get well soon.
CG – I’m sure your granddaughter will be thrilled with her new room. I made a start on my decorating today but have to wait for multifuel stove to be fitted before I can do too much more. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and can’t wait to see my younger daughter’s reaction when she comes home and sees the transformation.
YY – had a super day with my sisters and a right laugh while trying on outfits. My sister got a really beautiful dress and coat for the wedding and a lovely dress for the next day as well. I managed to stick to my fast too…so I’m very proud and pleased with myself!! I hope making your shopping list wasn’t too arduous!! 😉
SJ – you are powering through the FDs and losses, woohoo for you!! I put back on the kilo I lost earlier in the week so have to be more disciplined….send me some aussie determination, please!!
GG – great minds think alike – the main colour for the room I’m decorating is grey! My daughter and I went to Ikea on Tuesday and bought a coffee table, lamp, curtains and poles and a rug for the room we’re doing up. You just can’t beat it for choice and value. Your lamp shades sound fab – you must be good with your hands.
Dawg – really hope your silver lining of illness cloud will be a kg or two loss but the main thing is to get well soon xx
Happy Friday all! 🙂

Hi All,

Did one FD this week to see how I reacted and all was just fine so reckon the reaction I had couple of weeks ago must have been a virus. Had a couple of slip ups with almond fingers from Aldi…….have to stay outta that shop! Watched what I was putting in my mouth most other days and making sure I am having enough protein seemed to pay off ’cause I lost .600gm. Over the moon as I have now lost 5kg since starting on July 10th. 87 kg down to 82kg. Happy dancing.

Challenge coming up next weekend as I am going on a weekend away with the girls. Food & wine tasting……help……don’t want to undo the good work…….will try not to overindulge………

To all who are feeling under the weather, get well soon and many thanks again for the support of this Aussie Determination forum. It so helps. Cheers all.

Morning all. Well my plans for 4:3 went out the door this morning when I woke up with a nasty headache so decided not to fast. Since then I alternate between headache & feeling sick. Nothing major but certainly not fasting territory. Hopefully it will pass & not develop into anything much.
So I’ll record 70.9 as my weigh-in from yesterday (after my 2nd fast). So into the 70’s but not the 69’s yet. Lowest weight was 69.7 on July 10 but haven’t seen 69 again! Been wandering around the 70’s and 71’s ever since then. Never mind we have to deal with whatever the day/week/month/year brings you don’t we! Hope your bellyache has passed CG & that you had a good weigh-in.
Have a good day all. We have sunshine & then showers today so a real mix – sounds a bit like how I feel! Talk later suejen XXXX

Hi everyone. Had my 2nd fast day yesterday & regained the kilo I lost on Monday! eek! Hopefully, it will be gone again soon. I must admit it was disheartening. It may be because my soup was too fiery & I retained fluid, but I will certainly persevere. I’m playing golf tomorrow & hope to burn some fat. This feels like a really good community to be a part of. Cheers, Cate

Hi, just a quick post to answer CG.

My TDEE is 1685. I just had to recalculate it because I am afraid that I have always completely ignored it. That is just more bother than I want to go to. I think that some days I eat less and some days I go over. I have no idea but maybe I will do a snapshot of my food for a week or so and work out what I do actually do, out of interest.
I guess that whatever I am doing is working so I haven’t worried.

I will not start today, however, as my daughter and I are going to a macaron cooking class this morning! Just a tad worried about how many we will eat/ bring home!
We tried making them ages ago and they tasted fabulous. They just looked a little “rustic” 😉

I will let you know about my TDEE after I have tracked it for a while. I eat really well as a rule but I don’t measure my wine. That will be an eye opener because a standard glass is way smaller than what I pour!

Have a good weekend all.

Hi Up

I have the same problem, never could work out how to get more than three glasses of wine out of a bottle. Though must confess that now I fill the glass with ice, and I get 6 or 8 glasses – either way thought I find it too easy to finish the bottle! Only solution I have is to go dry for a month or six weeks at a time? (would put a sad face here if I knew how to do it!!!)

I find using a TDEE two stone under my current weight works, at TDEE 1383 its pitiful – and I’m such a masochist I use sedentary – but I do lose weight when I stick to it rigorously – and a quarter of it on fast days. Hard part I find is sticking to such a low calorie rate, but if I ever get to 10 stone that is maintenance TDEE, so I might as well get used to it, hopefully before going under that weight. I am destined to eat only a little for the rest of my life (sad face again) if I REALLY want to look the way I want to look!

But I am destined to go from size 20 to size 10 or 12 jeans, have a flat stomach, wear a leather pencil skirt (for me THE Aussion Determination badge of success!)and live a long and healthy life. Just with less wine and chocolate!

Morning Team….. We are all being busy it seems ….golf , tiding the linen press and making macaroons.
FIT – do you think we have been inspired by “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” LOL… your decor sounds great!
MILENA- love the idea that the “pencil leather skirt ” is our “badge of success” I have to admit it does look sooooo good!
Wishing speedy recovery for those that are not well… rest and snuggle up if you can…. Hugs to all.
If you cannot find enough wine in one bottle open another! Hardy’s have litre bottles of the sav blanc.LOL
Have a fabulous day……….GO GALXXXXXXXX

I’m approaching 5:2 with the feeling, but not necessarily any real knowledge or experience, after only week, that it’s the contrast in the intake of calories that does the trick. I may be WAY off, but I have tried calorie restriction & it has not worked for me. For months I have kept below 1400 cals per day, without any loss of weight.
Had a great day at golf & felt so much better for being 2kg lighter than I was 2 weeks ago. I have arthritis, I’m 62 & have only been playing 3 years, but I love it, & yes, I was well & truly rugged up- thermals etc. If you live in Tas You dress accordingly.
Feeling really good! Love this community already xoC

Hi. Thought I would hop on here and give you my thoughts about 5/2 and me although you have probably all heard them before!

But first…I’m afraid I wasn’t making those coconut type macaroons CG! These were definitely not low cal! They were the french macaron colourful creations filled with either chocolate ganaches or butter cream! I was going to upload a pic but can’t remember the name of the app I used before. CG, you told me about it. I don’t think it was Tumblr but something similar.

Anyway, back to 5/2 and how I think it has worked for me.

I think the bottom line is that it causes total calories over the week to be reduced. Not so much a magic spell as boring old eating less. However, there is more to it than that. With me, the fasting days did seem to reduce my appetite early on so that I am eating smaller portions every day. And the big kicker, I can stick to it precisely because it is only twice a week and not the big killjoy that being “on a diet” is.

So, I plodded along losing half a kilo virtually every week that wasn’t Xmas, Easter, or a beach holiday. Then I went overseas to live in the U.S. for a few months, as you all know, and things became a little more complicated. That was when I decided to up the ante on NF days by reducing carbs and limiting alcohol to social occasions while continuing 5/2. This allowed me to eat relatively sensibly but socialise and try new things, eat at restaurants etc and continue to lose weight.

Now I am back, within a few kilos of my goal weight and hovering around the same weight pretty much. The thing is, with me, I think know why. I have continued to be low carb generally, but not as vigilantly. I have socialised a lot! My husband is tired and under pressure so he wants a wine when he gets home and I seem to have had the strength of willpower of a glass of water and have been enjoying my evening wines with him. My daughter constantly leads us astray! She went down the street for a coffee and came back the other day with sour dough and bacon. Another day it will be yummy cheeses. We have had a few birthdays etc. Then there is the excuse of illness etc and persian bakeries and now macarons.

I have become a bit complacent basically because I look pretty good! I am completely committed to this way of life and I will gradually continue to lose doing what I am doing, but, it will take a lot longer at this rate unless I can get my “normal eating ” to be actually normal. It is fine to have the occasional dessert, the occasional biscuit or slice of cake and the occasional drinks.

I know everybody’s upbringing was different but way back when I was young, normal eating was pretty much meat and 3 veg in my house, with a sandwich for lunch and something on toast for breakfast. Morning tea was fruit. We had biscuits if we had visitors. Ice creams and flavoured milk were a treat. We got lemonade only if we were ill and vomiting!
We didn’t have access to gourmet cheeses and it was unheard of for people to drink daily unless they were alcoholics. We can afford so much more these days. We eat out, we can acceptably drink whenever we want and every second day at our workplaces seems to be a morning tea for somebody! Even our coffees are now loaded up.

So for me, my problem is being more vigilant about my normal eating. I certainly still eat smaller portions and healthy food. It is the extras that are slowing me down. Having said that, it will still work if I want to be patient. I am hoping, like all of us, that summer will reduce the appetite and the kinds of foods I want to eat. I need a bit more of that Aussie determination!!!

I must say that I have been back doing the occasional day at work at my old school and the feedback has been great! When people say you look amazing, it certainly makes you feel good. I am so grateful to 5/2 and this forum. It made it all so doable and I have probably added years to my life. And they will be fun ones!
xxx

Hi All!
Great discussion going on here about the stalling many of us are experiencing in this wol. I agree that drinking plenty fluids is a key factor and complacency does play its part too. I certainly have been less vigilant about calorie content and going over TDEE or the 500 on FDs. It’s very easy to say ‘Oh, it’s only over by 50 or 100′ but all those small amounts probably add up and prevent 5:2 from working as efficiently as it should. I also feel that there is a weight that suits our bodies and age and is the one we find we maintain without much effort – we zig zag around it but never stray too far. So it then becomes more of a chore or effort to go below this. I think we are all looking and feeling much better, our shapes have changed, our appetites are less, our clothes feel much more comfortable and we can enjoy treats without going mad! All in all; we are rockin’ this wol 🙂
Cate – so glad you enjoyed your golf; it’s a great way to keep active and away from food!
GG – don’t know about 50 shades……but hoping the pain of decorating doesn’t outweigh the pleasure of finishing 😉 !! I have been painting the ceiling and I ache all over today 🙁 Still, the upside is I was away from the kitchen and temptation for hours!
SJ and Milena – I think we should all get a leather pencil skirt for the grand reunion…wouldn’t that be fun if we all showed up wearing one!
Up – I know the macarons you are talking about, the French are mad about them. I find them very sweet and sugary so don’t usually but them. I’m afraid my downfall is always chocolate! I agree with you about the way we ate as children…we certainly did very little snacking between meals. Sweets were rare treats and never fizzy drinks except on Christmas day.
CG – you are such a positive influence on this thread and it’s a privilege to be sharing this journey with you xxx

Hi team. I didn’t get round to posting yesterday. Not busy just lethargic. Unfortunately I’m still crook. I’ve been giving some though to how to try and prevent colds and flu in the future. The main culprits I come up with are ATMs and ETPOS machines. I am fastidious about hygiene and hand washing etc. but when one is drawing cash or paying for groceries etc we all have to touch the B screen. So I’ve decided to carry hand sanitiser in my handbag or pocket and use it immediately after using one of those screens.
Some interesting discussions re adjusting our TDEE. I too seem to be doing the zig zag. I’ve fluctuated between 76.5 & 77 kilos for many months. Once I’m over this bug I’ll get stuck into the 5:2 again.
As a matter of interest I don’t think fasting makes us more prone to picking up viruses etc. I, going to continue with our WOE for the foreseeable future. I’m still hoping to get new bathers for the summer and have a swim in the sea that I live so close to.
XX Doggy

Hi CD- a fast day for me consists of coffee (absolute must! 1st thing in the morning)fluids such as water, jarra hot chocolate, throughout the day I have black tea/coffee / green tea, hard boiled egg with rocket salad, miso soup up until dinner which is then oven baked salmon, lamb chop (2) with the fat removed Try to have some protein as this will keep you fuller for longer. As you become more aware of your food choices you will find there are fast days when you will have fluids only. All this will come in time , as many of us have been experimenting with options that suit us individually.
You will find great recipes in THE AUSSIE DTERMINATION RECIPE THREAD.
You may have read in my earlier post above that I have never followed my TEDEE . in my begining of 5:2 I did, however, found that it was like a diet, NOT a WOL or WOE that I wanted.
I found it easy to lose weight during the summer months, as most of the team will agree, too many winter warming comforts during this season.
Hope you continue to enjoy this wonderful WOL and the benefits of better health.
The team is always there to support and encourage you in your journey.WELCOME!!…GO GAL

Hi All!
Welcome, CD and congrats on choosing this way of life (wol). Some people prefer to eat two or three times a day and some prefer just once…..as long as it’s 500 cals or less, then you’re ok. If you are unsure about calorie counting, apps like My Fitness Pal can be a great way to keep track until you get the hang of it. I used to like to have porridge in the morning, lots of fluids all day e.g. black coffe (one), green teas and plain water. Then in the evening I would have a stir fry, or fish/chicken with lots and lots of veg but no potato. Lately, I have tried just having one meal in the middle of the day and that is working well too. It’s good to change things up a bit and stop yourself from getting bored. I think we have all found that reducing carbs is a good idea too as they are full of calories but don’t keep you full for long. Protein is important for doing that. The Hairy Bikers have some great low calorie dishes especially if you’re feeding a family and don’t want to be cooking different dishes for everyone…I love their spanish chicken bake.
CG – so glad that all is well in your world and hope you get the linen closet sorted, there is great satisfaction in a job well done!
Dawg – so sorry to hear you are still not well. I think that is a feature of recent bugs, they seem to hang on longer and are difficult to shift. Please mind yourself and eat lots of colourful fruit and veg to keep you strong and healthy.
GG – hope your home improvements are going well. I have finished the painting of the ceiling and begun on the walls. My new stove will be fitted tomorrow…so it’s all taking shape and keeping my mind off eating, which is an added bonus.
SJ – I’m with you on needing to count or keep track from time to time, it’s very easy to go over without realizing; often it’s the small innocent things that mount up e.g. an apple, a few nuts, a yoghurt etc….all healthy but still need to be added to the calculations for the day. I think you look wonderful and I hope you soon feel happy in your own skin, because you have come a long way and deserve to celebrate that success. As we all say, this is a wol and we are in it for the long haul.
Hi to Gypsy, Milena, UP, Lotus and all the gang xxxxx
Have a great week everyone and happy 5:2ing!! 🙂

Morning Team where ARE you all? Maybe like me it’s headed back to winter where you live & you’re not so chirpy! My job am and pm looking after kids on/off school buses isn’t so much fun in this weather. We have no bus shelter so we use big umbrellas on days like today & I have a BIG fluoro coat. But looking after kids with umbrellas, holding a clipboard to tick them on/off, and a walkie talkie is not easy I tell you!! Now I’ve come home & put all the umbrellas up to dry in our porch, spread out my coat & the sheets that got all wet. Aaand…I’m warming up with my cup of coffee. Sure need it. I’ve asked & asked the boss for a bus shelter – he’s a lovely guy but he’s a country cowboy really, it’s all just too hard for him. But I shall persist!!!

Well been thinking about what I need to do to get the weight loss moving again. So I’ll start with these things: record everything I eat on MFP for this week (without exception); leave a cup of water on the bench to remind me to up my water intake (not a water bottle girl!); for the 2 fasts this week I’ll miss lunch & go as long as I can till I have my 2nd HB egg which will extend my fasting time (or miss it altogether if I can); ensure I do exercise every day – and today that will be inside with a DVD. That’s it folks….as you can see I’m determined to get back to my losing days.
Have a planned prepared persistent fast day all – and someone remind me what’s the 4th P?? And yes CG I WILL go to bed happy & proud of myself. OOH I know……..I’m also going to throw out the pack of licorice logs that I bought on Saturday. Sat was OK had just one, but yesterday I had 2 so that’s the end of them – I can’t have them in the house. Some things just aren’t worth challenging yourself with! suejen XXXX
Fit you’re so right…….Bring it on!!

Welcome Cinque good for you. and now I remember the 4th P (no not porridge!) it’s Persevere. So Plan, prepare, persist and persevere (when things aren’t going your way!). Hope you have a great fast day. suejen XX

Whoops apologies GG changed your last P to persevere! Well much the same I guess. Yes so so cold here today too GG and miserably wet. Lots of herbal teas coming on. But we’re going to make it….I KNOW we are!!! XXXX

Hi All!
Welcome, Cinque…do you have a french connection? Best of luck with this way of life (wol). I, too, am a great lover of porridge, especially when the weather is cold. It fills you up and lasts for ages so you don’t feel hungry for hours. I’m sure your clothes will feel better by summer; don’t forget to use a tape measure to check your losses, as the changes often show up there when the scales aren’t moving.
SJ – you are doing brilliantly with your plan of action…..keep up the good work and you will see results in no time. Not such a bad day here but I’m sticking indoors to my DIY; I have the second coat of paint done on the walls, so all I have to do now is the radiator and door frame…yippee. The stove will be fitted today and the new curtain rails will go up; so it’s full steam ahead 🙂
CG – hope the pool walking helped with your aches and pains. You have FD down to a fine art! I’ve just had a coffee and lots of water so far today and it’s 1pm now. I will have small fillet steak with lots of veg later on about 6 or 7pm and plenty fluids including green tea to keep me hydrated.
GG – those 4 p’s are definitely a recipe for success in all walks of life….must try to remember them for other situation too. Hope you managed to get warm; I sure know what that feels like and I’m not looking forward to another long winter like last year 🙁
Have a great week everyone! We can do this! Our new mantra is…..BRING IT ON!! 😆