Morning/evening all.

Jade. Re the 3 day fast week ..each one of us is different. You might find it OK. GG did one this week and she is OK with them. Maybe it is just me that finds them too much. I have been struggling with extra weight since I had my children. It is in my genes..my Aunties on both sides all struggle with weight problems. Most of you lovely ladies are aiming at the low 70’s or even 60’s. I will be absolutely stoked if I get to the mid 80,s which will be a loss of over 20 Kgs.with 5.2 and I had lost 10 Kgs with weight watchers before I started. I put on 5 stone with each pregnancy due to hormone imbalance. Did not eat much as was sick in the tummy most of the nine months. Managed to get it off between each child. I used to play a lot of sport , basketball, tennis, golf, when I was at home with the children and that kept me OK ⛹🏽⛹🏽🏌🏌🎾🎾but when I went back to work in an office after the youngest started school I started putting on weight and have had problems ever since. So because I have been dieting almost constantly for over 30 years…never want to feel that way again. Which is why 3 FD,s is not for me. That is the best thing about 5.2..not feeling deprived. I have been down to 90kgs a number of times and always put it back in when I went off the restrictive diets that were unsustainable. This one I can do for life with the help of all of you lovely people. 👍😘😍. Sorry to be so long winded and of on a tangent but what I am trying to say is that a three day Fast week is OK for some..just not me as I am absolutely loving the fact that I can have my treats and a scotch or two and still lose weight with the help of all the days in the pool I do. 🍾🍫🍨🍹

Ran out of time to answer posts due to my rave..have a great Sunday all..back later💖💖💖

Hi team. GG it’s good to see you back. I’m so sorry that your mum had a fall. I do hope she gets over it soon. A fiend of mine was trying to get rid of a Huntsman spider that was lurking near the spar bath In her bathroom. Sh slipped and hit her head on the side of the bath. Luckily there is no skull fracture or the need for sutures but she looks as though she’s done ten rounds in the boxing ring.
Well the temporary peace has gone pear shaped here again and my blood pressure is way up. Last night I had to resort to shouting at Lewis to get him to go to bed. This after five or six requests from OH & I. Then he got upset and “demanded” to phone home. This morning has not been much better. I’m thinking our planned treat for fish and chips takeaway might not be happening if things don’t improve. Hallelujah he goes home tomorrow.
Jade, here is a mind trick someone taught me once. When you go to bed, think about your lost earring. It’s possible that your subconscious might remind you where it is while you sleep. It’s worth a try anyhow.
FD again tomorrow. No big deal at this stage. I’m hoping to shed a few more grams. No not hoping, I will shed some grams.
XX Doggy

CG thanks for your support and suggestion of a few wines instead of a fast. I feel as though I really do deserve it. He leaves after lunch tomorrow. 26 hours from now! OH is spending the night with friends in Launceston so it’s be just Gilbert Golly ( Pepper ) and I. I think that the arvo and evening lounging in front of the TV may well be on. I’ve decided that the Melvourne Stars are the team I’m barracking for in the BBL. I’m quite enjoying watching it.
SJ it is difficult to scroll on an older model smartphone. The new ones are bigger but I’m happy with my iPhone 4. Pity about the wedding at your planned eating spot.

Back again. Thanks CG for your words of wisdom once again. 💕 And Doggy you have certainly had your work cut out for you. Well done for getting through it and staying sane..I!m with CG. Time for a well deserved wine and some relaxation 🍾🍸🍸..you and OH deserve a great big pat on the back for doing the best you possible could. 👏👏👏
GG guess it’s nice to be back home. Lovely you could spend more time with your mum after her fall. Hopefully no permanent damage done.

Jade. Maybe it is time you just stopped looking ..the earring will turn up one day when you least expect it. That’s what I find sometimes anyway..I have lost a set of car keys..they have been missing for months and still expecting them to turn up somewhere. Hope you are having a nice weekend..

SJ. Yes very lucky to have found 5.2. First time in my life I have ever felt confident that this will be forever…love the feeling. 💜💜💜💜 . The olive grove picnic sounds nice..there’s always another time.
Sounds like there are lots of lovely places to eat where you are.
Bye for now. Off to bake some spinach and Philly cheese triangles in mountain bread wraps for lunch..yum.

PH I’ve just been reading your post more carefully and seeing how you have struggled with a weight problem for many years. I only started to gain weight about 12 years ago. I’ve been on the Atkins diet a few times. I managed to lose weight quite rapidly BUT IT IS A DIET and just not sustainable. I always succumbed after a few months and then rapidly put the weight back on plus a few extra kilos just for spite! I’m convinced that is why this way of eating is so successful. We don’t think of it as a diet so don’t feel deprived and get resentful. To be honest, I seldom check my TDEE. I’m not advising others to do the same, it just suits me. I’ve still manged to lose 10 kilos in about eight months. I’ve put a few on again but that was because I stopped fasting for sometime due to the flu, Xmas etc. so stick with us pal and you will continue to lose weight and feel so damn good about it too. I also find that my mind is sharper and I just have a general sense of wellbeing.
XX Doggy

Sounds great thanks PH xxx. BTW I am like you, been dieting forever and the only thing that really worked was Jenny Craig. That, I am assuming was basically like this one, keeping count of calories except this time I am learning to make my own meals 😁😁

HI Ladies just had lunch & I’ll post the recipe onto our thread. Carrot cumin & fetta fritters with coriander yoghurt – sooo yummy & 275 cals so MFP says. Mine was a bit more cos I do like to use a bit of oil for browning but would use the spray on a FD. Could use use red fat fetta to make it even lower but I generally don’t buy LF stuff any more. I’m convinced it’s part of the reason why we have an obesity epidemic. Take all the goodness out of food & the taste and THEN add back in all these artificial ingredients including nasties to make it taste good again! I do still keep some LF dairy stuff just for making particular recipes so I can resort to it if I need to – but prefer not to.
I’m still loving my HUGE glass of sparkling mineral water with lime & ice. I have it in my biggest wine glass & I have it FULL! I so feel like I’m spoiling myself by doing so as you could never do it with wine & I’m not missing it (well I for one would be tipsy by then!). Did have a glass yesterday as I mentioned cos we went out. I reckon now all I need to buy is one of those little taggy things that identifies your glass to make it even more special! Am I going overboard now????! Ha!
Yep with you PH with this WOL for the rest of my life. And although I do get impatient when I’m not losing in reality I don’t care how long it takes me to get the rest off…..it still won’t change my mind in the slightest. And I guess like me you’ve had that ghastly sinking feeling when you realise that you’ve put back on all the weight that you worked so hard to lose. And I don’t wish to be there again…ever! PH would love that recipe too.
Barb yes…you have to make your own meals eventually just to take back the control that you need over your food. It also teaches you lots of stuff about food while you’re doing it…plus it’s fun – but that’s my opinion!
Well time to snuggle up with my book…well it’s not that cold about 19 I think but it feels kinda more snuggly than usual. Wish I COULD still curl up with a book – not that flexible any more…well could probably do it for a minute or so, then I’d regret it!!
Oh my back did not like the swimming yesterday. May have gone too hard at it plus have a bit of nerve pain from my hip (I think) down my leg. I’ve managed to get into the osteopath on 1st Feb so will see what he thinks about it all. Might leave it for now or just paddle around a bit. Have my osteoporosis scan coming up end of this month so will be interesting to see if I’ve gone down again as we had to stop my meds 12 months ago.
Hope you’re having a sparkly lovely day. suejen XXXX

SJ & Barb and everyone. Recipe on thread of my fav lunch when I want something special. SJ your recipe sounds great too..can’t wait to try them. I too don’t buy the low fat, lite things anymore and do use the original Philly in mine and allow for the extra cals. Like you am not keen to be putting artificial things is this old body any more. Have you tried a hot pack on your pain SJ . I find that usually gives me some relief.
And of course do as you are doing and rest up for a bit. Enjoy that book. 💜💜👏

Hi All!
Still very chilly here but not quite freezing. Have put another throw on the bed and have taken to wearing pj’s for the first time in years!!
GG – so good to hear from you again and you have lost even more….well done you! So sorry to hear your mum had a fall but at least she didn’t break any bones which is a big risk at her age. Hope she wasn’t too shaken up and that she is better soon xx
Jade – will keep annoying St. Anthony and maybe he’ll give in just to get me off his back!! You are very strong and determined with this wol and you will succeed!
Dawg – I hope the time flies for you until Lewis leaves….it has been so hard for you and your OH. Every teenager would be a handful at times and we just don’t have the energy for constant battles at this stage of life. I agree that a treat or two is more the order of the day than fasting once he has left; there will be time enough to fast later in the week. Hope the remainder of time is more peaceful. Take care of yourself, dear friend xx
PH – you are an amazing example the way you have persevered in your battle against weight for so long. It is so lovely to read how have embraced this wol and how it has changed your feelings and made you so positive and determined. I love the cheerfulness of your posts and your absolute belief that you will do this and remain on this path for life. 🙂 🙂
SJ – sorry to hear that the lovely cafe was closed; bummer 🙁 You have managed so many substitutes for treats and they are working really well for you – brilliant! Then, when you have a treat – it is even more appreciated! I agree with you and others that portion control is the way forward to making this a sustainable wol. It is the one thing that will make a significant difference on non FDs and keep us from undoing all the good we have done on FDs. I know for me it is the big lesson I am still trying to learn – that I can have all the things I like to eat but in smaller amounts. There is no need to be greedy – there comes a point when you’re not even tasting or enjoying what you eat when you just stuff it in. So now, I’m trying to remember to savour a small treat and be glad that I can have it without going over my TDEE and still be on track with 5:2. I hope your back and nerve pain settles down soon; have a good rest xx
UP – it’s good to hear from you. Being busy with family is a good way to be. Barb – yes, indeed you are rocking this wol! I have cut back on carbs on non FDs and it is making a difference. I used to eat about four or five potatoes with my dinner, now I have one small one or maybe just a half and I’m happy with that. I can’t imagine going back now.
CG – I agree that this wol is slowly but surely changing our habits and attitudes and the longer we keep at it, the better choices we make and the more we are in tune with the correct portions for our size, shape, age etc. That is another reason for us to stay on this path – we are doing ourselves and our longterm health a huge favour by eating in this way. I have started making myself a proper lunch on non FDs instead of grazing all day between breakfast and evening dinner and I think it is keeping me on an even keel. My weight seems to be staying the same and I am more satisfied. I’ll see at the end of the coming week if this is working. I’m sure you will notice a difference not drinking coffee at night and I hope your sleep improves soon. I hope the weather is not too uncomfortable and that you are safe from fire risk. Look after yourself and all your furry friends. Lexie must be very big by now – I hope she has respect for her mama!!
Best of luck to everyone for the week ahead. Remember the five P’s and to check in here. We need each other’s support whether we’re doing well or stumbling. Every post is another boost, another light along the way, another link in this chain, another hand holding ours, another reason to keep going. We are AUSSIE DETERMINATION AND WE CAN DO THIS; BRING IT ON!!

Bert just saw your post, so I’m editing mine to say…good grief! Proud to know you for your actions with that man. What a hateful thing to say, and to a total stranger – one can imagine what else is in that mind. The customer is not always right and you must be true to your ideals when it comes to things like this. Pretty sure that’s how this whole crowd rolls. X
Barb, congrats on such healthy choices. Have you found your no-white-carbs sustainable? I switched to wholegrain bread but can still overdo. Not sure whether that’s just me or the wheat. It is actually fun to finally figure out specific effects of certain foods.
Noots good for you on the Fitbit – I use the free MFP but am inspired by all the talk of 10,000 steps, so yesterday the pups and I walked all over town and I did get past 10k. I needed a good dose of endorphins and sunshine.
CG, it’s so true, whatever our choices, they must be sustainable in the long run. Continued good thoughts your way re the family health issues. Like you, your girls will no doubt work their way to the best health possible – a nice gift you have passed down the bloodline to them.
GG so sorry to hear about your mom’s fall – very scary with someone frail. Hope the bumps and bruises heal fast, at least nothing broken. Congrats also on the scale results – yay! You are something plowing through a 4:3.
PH I appreciate the clarification on your own 4:3 – I felt restricted even w/o actually succeeding last week. I have dieted my way through life, too, so 5:2 is a blessing compared to 7:0, oh never again in this life please.
Doggy, so glad to hear peace will be restored soon to you and OH. You deserve a big rest and a magnum of champagne after your valiant efforts with Lew – may your return to everyday life feel like a blissful dream. It’s funny how wonderful normal life can seem after a challenge like that.
SJ yes I love the mute pedal on my keyboard too, though I never play for an audience anyway. Love that you can share your music with your church. Congrats too on subbing the mineral water for wine – I often mix wine w/ sparkling water, tastes the same to me and no earrings are usually lost  I do hope you can figure out the back pain soon – gosh this getting older thing is a minefield.
Fit you are in fine form again, with your lovely long post. Thanks for the reminder about P for Portion Control (or PC lol). Must get back to that. Thanks also for pleading my case with St. Anthony. PH may be right again, time to trust it’s out of my hands (literally and figuratively lol). I just hate thinking it’s on the floor and will be sucked into the vac eventually. I did try the mind trick, Doggy, but my subconscious hasn’t rewarded me yet. Ah well, if I’m meant to see it again, it will happen. I do still have the other one at least.
Yes CG there is just something about Saturday, so full of promises and projects. We have a national holiday tomorrow, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so today is like a second Saturday. And it’s sunny so perhaps another long walk with the dogs after some chores. Cheers to all you wonderful ladies – jade xxxx

Hi losers! Despite all my talk, the reality is that I won’t be fasting for a few weeks now. So much for getting back on the horse!

Thanks for asking CG, my daughter only moved to Sydney yesterday and would be on her way to her first day as I write!

This week I have my NY son still here and another 6’6″ son here for dinner every night this week. There will be filling food and alcohol and I am not going to try and kid myself about fasting. On Saturday, I leave for 2 weeks holiday at the beach with other family. We all know what that means when it comes to calories.

So, while this is a way of life for me and there is no way that I will stop ever in the long term, in the short term I am taking a break. The thing is, I actually want to fast but also don’t want to make it a chore (which it usually isn’t) so won’t be back to “normal” until mid February.

Having lost 12 kilos which is now probably only 11 or less after the festive season, I figure I have got this under control and WILL lose that further 5 this year, just not yet!

Won’t be writing on here everyday for a while but will read all and comment if I have any useful support for others over the next few weeks.

Cheers all.

PS Bert, that is brilliant! I have just been discussing this topic with friends. It is easy to be smug and think I am not racist or whatever so I’m not the problem. To stand up and be counted and do something about it is a completely different thing. Good on you!

Great point, Up – it’s much harder to actually confront someone like that hateful man. And a shame Bert that you got such a knee-jerk reaction from the owner, who sounds like a pretty small-minded person himself. It’s too bad that people often show their worst sides when money is at stake.

Up, I hope you enjoy your family time and upcoming beach holiday! No reason to wedge FDs into times they don’t fit. I’m recalling one of Shakespeare’s lines, “that way madness lies” – can’t have that now, can we.

Doggy congrats on getting through the days with Lewis, I hope it is a gentle departure – relaxing will feel great I’m sure.
I need to get more steps in today so off with me to the treadmill – at a paltry 3000 so far and no excuse for it. xxxx

The extreme weather is back again. The 20 degree drop just made me feel exhausted. The highest for the month the nesxt day the lowest. The garden is battling on with just the plants around the house being watered. It is just taking time to get them established.

I have managed to lose all the Christmas excesses. My main concern now is to get my waist under 50% but has stayed steady for months. I then decided to go back futher on my stats and found a big drop since beginning 68%. First place on last place off.

I have started to go through the wardrobe again and got rid of another bag full of clothes. The only large clothes I will be keeping with be the dresses I wore to my daughters weddings. It is good the fit into clothes that I grew out of in the 80’s. The sizing is different to todays sizes.

Bert – ‘all it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing’; so I take my hat off to to you for standing up for what you believe in and for your non-tolerance of racism in any form. Your boss should be down on his knees licking your boots!! Don’t be hard on yourself about fasting or anything else at the moment – what you have done is far harder and greater. Take strength from your courageous stand and try to use that in other parts of your life. I’m proud to know you xx
Jade – after reading Bert’s post, how appropriate that tomorrow is Martin Luther King day. I just watched the film ‘Selma’ today and it’s still so powerful and moving to see. The world has changed so much but still not enough. Well done you on your 10,000 steps….fantastic!
UP – no harm in taking a break from 5:2 as long as you don’t take a break from us!! You will have a wonderful time with your sons and hope your holiday is great too. Best of luck to your daughter in the new job 🙂
Dawg – put your feet up once Lewis has left and enjoy a well-earned rest. No need to rush back into fasting; maybe one day this week will do as you’ve had a very tough time of it lately.
Barb – when OH and I went to Oz in 2006 to visit his nephew who is married to an Aussie; they lived in Penrith and my OH got a Panthers jersey! We stayed in a holiday park near to a river or lake but I can’t remember the name of it. What a small world! Sorry to hear about the funeral; hope you’re ok.
GL – well done on losing the holiday weight and clearing out the wardrobe; it’s very therapeutic!
CG – not you too; losing a post…it’s such a bummer!! Hope you had a great time at the pool and that the exercise pays off. I hope the dancing and getting in some long walks will help me too – it sure can’t do any harm!
I’m just back from a Placido Domingo concert in Dublin and I’m floating on air! He had three amazing sopranos with him as well; it was fantastic. We had terrific seats, just 8 rows from the front and we could see and hear every note perfectly. Bliss!! 🙂 🙂
Have a wonderful week everyone; we are living the 5:2 dream – healthy, in control and changing our lives for the better. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Good on ya, UP……and I’m still up!! Ha, ha!

I’m very touched by your words, Jade. We all need to learn from each other’s history in order for there to be some hope of building a better and more inclusive world. Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech is on our primary school curriculum. How proud you must be of your OH! I remember when I was a young teenager, I asked my father what would he think if I wanted to marry a black man (I hope that is not an insulting way to say it) and his reply was that he wouldn’t care as long as he loved me. I thought that was a pretty cool answer from someone of his background and generation (he was born in 1915).

SJ – Dublin is only about 45 minutes away and my very kind BIL dropped us at the venue and picked us up again after; so it was all very easy. Loving your upbeat, positive post! Hope your back is better soon and next time you go swimming, take it a bit easier! Xxxx

Not sure about the rain total CG we’ve had 9mm so far and now only light drizzle but it may change. Well I’m up to my eyeballs with tomatoes reducing on the stove. It’s a pity I reckon…I do all that work cutting up the tomatoes, putting them through an italian sieve/mouli thing, get heaps out of it…………and then you go and reduce it by about a third!!! Wha??? where did all my tomatoes go – but yumm to the flavour of course!
Enjoy your visitor CG and some lovely groomed dogs to cuddle. XXX

Evening all. Boy what a busy day I’ve had.. Fast went well and now lying in bed so should have time for a decent post. Pool this morning at 8am then did some washing when I got home. Had a quick rest and daughters friend and her husband came for a visit with their little 7 month old..so cute I could play with her forever. Anyway the friend is an artist and she has offered to do a couple of drawings/paintings for my living room wall. She does absolutely beautiful work.😍😍 She overheard me saying to someone when they were here for the BBQ that I would was going to get something memorable for that Wall someday and so came up with this plan, and brought some samples of her work for me to pick what type of thing I would like and what colourings. So special, they are a great couple I’m going to miss them when they go back to WA. 💖💖 Anyway by the time they had left it was time to go to the Arthritis Clinic to see my specialist. No time to worry about food so fast went very well. Hope everyone else who was fasting had a successful day.

CG. Well done you. Getting up to a jog!!🏃🏃🏃🏃 And getting your foot up to your bum.WOW!! I know exactly what you mean. No wonder you were proud of yourself. You have came such a long way and put so much effort into it that you deserve to crow a little. Can just imagine you pumping air I would be shouting it from the rooftops…if I could get up on one that is..👏👏👏👏👏. About going back to eating normally I think that is a good idea. I have been thinking that myself although I have not eaten bread for a few years but thinking on including some laksa meals and rice a bit more often to get up to the calories I am supposed to be eating. I really enjoy OH’s seafood laksa. And curry with rice for a change from salads and vegies.

Bert. I agree with everything everyone else has said.. Well done you! Good advice from CG though about throwing it away and not dwelling on it. Don’t let it consume you. Time to think of you and what you want to achieve. Good luck with your mext Fast Day and 5.2 👍👍

UP..way to go girl..enjoy every moment you spend with your sons..to special to be worried about anything else than just being happy, every single moment is special so eat, drink and be merry..🍤🍲🍝🍨🍧🍺🍻🍷🍸🍹🍾🎉🎉🎉 you will find that you can’t eat as much as you used to anyway so should not do too much damage. ENJOY,!!! 💜💜

Jade. Hope you have had a great long weekend walking the puppies and generally enjoying yourself. Sounds like you and OH have a wonderful sense of fairness and commitment to trying to make the world a better place. I remember the 60’s they were a turning point in your part of the world, and I’m sure there is still a long way to go. ours came a little later with regards to our aboriginal rights. I lived in a small town where there was a mission as it was called just on the outskirts of town where all the aboriginal people used to live. They went to school with us, played in the same sporting teams but were not allowed into the pool, picture theatre or pub. So unfair. Thank goodness that has now changed but still a long way to go over here as well.

Doggy. . Hope you and OH are treating yourself to some serious relaxation. 🍻🍹🏏⛱⛱

GL. Well done losing the Christmas excess..and fancy still having clothes you wore in the 80’s. And fitting back into them again..👚👕👖👖👗👙👙👙?? Great stuff!!!

Fit. How exciting. What a concert that must have been. 🎤🎼🎧 Have you finished floating on air? I’ll bet you and your sister were singing all the way home from Dublin. 😄😄😉😘 and what a wonderful answer you got from your father, especially as you say from that generation, it must have made you very proud..💗💗💗

SJ. I just love homemade relish etc. but hate cooking so hats off to you for all the hard work..I’m sure they taste amazing. Be kind to your back for a bit longer and make sure is is happy once again before overdoing it again. Hope you had a good FD. 💜💜💜

Barb. Wow your grandson must be excited and you. Ist be so proud. 🏈🏈🏈 Seems to me that we get to attend too many funerals these days. Hope you are OK . My dear old mum used to say when I asked her how she was each day..”well I’m still on the right side of the grass so must be doing OK”. ..
Amen to that and on that not it is time for me to go to the land of Nod. Sleep well all you Aussies and to our international friends..hope you have a great day.. PH 💤💤💤

Hi PH – missed your post because I was taking so long to write mine! That sounds like a wonderful idea for your wall; you will get a unique art work, personally created just for you and by someone whose work you already know and admire…..do take a photo when it’s done and let us see how it has worked out. What are you thinking of? Abstract or not? What kinds of colours? It’s very exciting! Hope all went well at the clinic for you. Sleep well zzzzz!

What a wonderful tribute to your OH’s uncle, Barb….sounds alot like an Irish wake!! It would have been disrespectful not to partake of the refreshments offered! Best of luck to your grandson and every success with his new team 🙂