CG,

So so happy for you, YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT!!!!
True inspiration you are!!!
GG1, Bali, GG and all others reporting a loss, congratulations.
Andrew, you are in right frame of mind. If your clothes are loser and fitness is getting better, concentrating on positives rather than deceptive scales is a very good move.
Fast day for me today, then off to Great Ocean Road tomorrow.

Went up 200gr which is better than I thought it would be given the blowout so SW 61.6 CW 60.6. Have always found it tough to break into the 50’s but am hopeful this is the one that will do it.
CG such good news for you, no looking back now!

Good morning all! First of all well done everyone on your results this week!

Bali….lighter than you have been in 10 years! That is an awesome achievement….and loving your exercise is only going to make you feel better too!

Ruxton….1.5 is a great loss, it might just be fluid, but don’t you just love that less bloated feeling? The week may even out, but keep going as next weigh in will have you feeling even better.

GG….8.7 gone for good….and our other GG1…..6.4 gone for good as well, you both gotta be happy with that!

Judy, not to worry, I have been in same boat for 6 weeks now….you will get back into don’t you worry….I’m still stuck on 74….down 100grams…so am attempting a back to back today to try and shift it!

GG and lindanaf….yes poor hubby, he didn’t sleep that well either….but good news is he’s saying he wants to continue and this morning he was 1.6 lighter than yesterday! Ha ha FB…..he had a big salad last night and said it was WAY TOO MUCH SALAD…..am going to try him with a stir fry next fast day…

Catherine hope your husband has a great birthday. Enjoy it with him 🙂

And last but not least…..Countrygal…..you Awesomegal! Can’t tell you how pleased I am that you have broken the 80 barrier….and WOWIE….20 kg lost since you started to count cals and 5:2…keep smiling all day my friend 😀 😀
xxx Kezza

Hi Linda you mentioned mushroom goulash, sounds good. Would you point me in the right direction or tell me ingredients. Thanks YY

Morning all. This week I’ve tried alternate Fast days. ie. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s going well,and although not much movement on the scales my measurements are down – albeit slightly. I live in a very small beachside town in Tasmania and have discovered my neighbour is also doing the 5:2 diet. We met while out having our early morning walk.
During my first week I was hungry, especially after the evening meal but it’s not been so bad this week. It is very encouraging to read everyone’s issues and progress. I think the psychology of this WOL is very good as we can keep telling ourselves that tomorrow we can eat normally. My husband and I eat a healthy diet but do pig out on the odd packet of chips ect. I’ve made sure not to buy any of that junk. He’s as skinny as a greyhound! I’m shorter and smaller framed and think in the past I’ve dished up th same size helpings to both of us. Not all that smart but learning!

Hi everyone. Have been off line for a couple of days so not up with events. Did see that you cracked the magic 7’S CG. Well done!

my weigh in today is 87.7 so not moving down, but just happy to not go up! Clothes are definitely hanging better. And it is a good result for having to cut the exercise down this week (got a bit cocky and pulled a hamstring which in turn flared the back up – bugga!) so no bike for a bit.

Thanks Linda, I’ll try the mushroom goulash. CG, Smaller plate is a good strategy. I still seem to pack it up ,tho (on non fast days). and I don’t really feel like eating the extra once I get to it. So have started saving half a plate full and just devouring it for the next meal. Nuts! no doubt I’ll refine it, but meanwhile, it is less planning and economic labour-wise. and it puts a spoke in my bad habit wagon! (of being too greedy when dishing up!). There’s always more than one way to skin a cat. Whatever works!

Dogsabie, I head for Tassie 10th feb for 2 weeks. It’s so hot here in QLD, can’t get my head around packing warn clothes! Will I need then you reckon? going to Hobart, but touring all over. Appreciate an opinion. your temperatures still look to be so low (on google)! (compared to 36 to 40 degrees we’re getting here. Thanks for the many tips and good vibes all. have a good Friday! Gypsy

Thanks guys you are so encouraging. Its 3pm here and I haven’t eaten any food so Im just going to have some zucchini soup. Later a peach and then a small piece of steak with steamed veggies and some coleslaw. Back on track!

Good afternoon all.

CG big congrats, you did it!! You can be on cloud 9 drifting all afternoon with a grin on your face.

Well done Ruxton, Bali, GG, Uptight, Yum Yum, Lindanaf, Andrew, Foxy, Judy, 19Aly, FB, Dogsabie, Gypsybell and all. Those of you who lost weight have the numbers on the scales; the rest have the numbers on the tape measure, the better fitness and even the satisfaction of knowing you’ve changed to a new WOL and the number of small wins during the week which all contribute – you didn’t have those chips … you exercised where you never used to … you had only 1 biscuit. Remember all of these small changes will lead to a new you. It’s inevitable. We ALL had a win. AUSSIE DETERMINATION will get us there.

and GG1 – wonderful post! yes, every change counts…

CG. Well Done your an inspiration to us all.

I am pushing to be double figures in the next while oh cannot wait.

Everyone have a wonderful night will check in.

Thanks Countrygal. I did eat toast this morning, and also had small portion of thai chicken curry for lunch (couple of bites and then had to leave it), Thanks for suggestion though, will try fruit at night.
I am sure I will back to ravenous self tomrorow 🙂

Hi fellow Aussie fasters,
My name is Emma, I have been lurking here for approx 2 months and have decided to throw my hat into the ring. You are all so nice to each other!

So, 2 months into fasting..
SW 103kg
Todays wt 96kg

I do boxing classes a couple of times a week (longstanding) and walk the dog daily. Have started to use the treadmill here and there. Am tracking most days via a fitbit. I only weigh once a week- at wk.

Anyway- I feel better, clothes are more comfy instead of biting, and I wore a top that I had not been able to wear for 2 years yesterday.

My issue is: I can feel my mind set slipping… chocolates and carbs are creeping back, my fasts are creeping over 500Calories. I so want to keep on and not give up!

Nice to meet everyone!

Lots of posts greeted me this afternoon when I logged on…what have I missed!

I can see that there are many that are doing really well.Hang in there newbies it does get better! Some of us have been plateauing? is that a word??…and I am one of them.

Your “Living in the seventies” now CG.( a new mantra to sing on the bike)….WELL DONE!! I am so happy for you!Plus so many health benefits…thanks for the encouragement!

Late weigh in today…Just when I started not caring if the scales went down….THEY WENT DOWN…I have lost 1kg (off the plat ohhhh)

This week I thought I would rejig the way I do things on 5:2…..which is what is great about this WOL…its flexible.I changed the time that I ate to 1 meal on fast day at 6pm. .It has helped that I haven’t felt hungry. I also cut out FAST DAY (extra) Saturday(4:3)

My food shopping has definitely changed and the only thing that I am interested in buying is fruit and veg.Lucky I have chickens so that takes care of the egg supply. I have noticed an increase in eating eggs ( oh so yummy and lasts so long) and a decline in cheese/quorn/soya product eating on 5:2!

Before 5:2 I was a one very unhealthy vegetarian!

Lotus congratulations!We both seem to feel not hungry at the moment.Which definitely helps!70s…fantastic!

Great TEAM here! Love reading all the post…short…Long or in between keep them coming! Have a great AUSSIE WEEKEND…you know you deserve it!VM

WELCOME EMMA….. glad that you have joined us and stopped being an AUSSIE DETERMINATION STALKER! well down to you thus far. Hope you enjoy our team of DETERMINATORS…. We are all doing so well as you have read in previous posts. If you need an answer to something that you are unsure of, just post and many of us will be there to advise and guide you. All the best in the journey to better health and the bonus of weight loss…..GO GAL xxx

Vegie and Lotus! Well done on breaking through you plateau….oh I so hope this will be me tomorrow too! My B2B fast is going amazingly well….last time I tried it was awful 🙁 ….today all I have had is a home made boost juice worth about 60cals….I’m saving up for bruschetta tonight…..yum yum

Ruxton….don’t be too hard on yourself….non-fast days are for enjoying your food and not feeling deprived, or guilty if you have something high in calories….I’m not going to call it bad because all food is allowed on 5:2 in moderation….pav is my sons fav desert and when he was here, I made one and had a big slice….today will take care of itself and next fast day you will be back into it and all will be well 🙂

Welcome Emma…..7 kgs in two months is wonderful, so glad you have joined us 🙂

Hi Emmasdillema, It takes a while to find a rhythm with 5-2 and you can’t go too far wrong. It’s OK to have yummy high-cal foods occasionally. You might find after a while that you don’t feel like eating as much even on non-fast days. But whatever you do, be kind to yourself. You’re doing a great thing by choosing to change your way of life.

knitomat, CG and others thanks for the encouraging sentiments. I really am fine with the slow weight loss. This week included only a single fd on Monday so Thursday staying about the same weight was a fair result. The week has also included over 20 km walked at around 6 km/h which is a fair pace.

I guess I came into this very much along the same reasons as Michael Mosley himself. A family history of diabetes, heart disease and cancer (the trio of Western lifestyle diseases). My Dad died in his forties – 5 foot 2 weighing close to 20 stone, obese, diabetic, hypertensive, coronary artery disease. Like Michael, I saw myself gradually drifting towards my father’s fate. Anyway, Michael’s documentary opened a window in my mind that it doesn’t have to end that way. Before that, a couple of years ago, I weighed around 120 kg. When I started the 5:2 I was 94 kg so I had burned a fair bit off “under my own steam” and I’m quietly proud of that 🙂

Michael’s 5:2 research gives me additional tools for building on the bloody hard work I have done over the past two years. For me it is about blood sugar, visceral fat, insulin sensitivity, bowel health and keeping my brain ticking over for as long as possible.

I ain’t ever going to be a swim suit model. But I am now determined to keep this body of mine in as good nick as I can. After all, it has been loaned to me for this journey so I should look after it 🙂

XXXX

Theres a video on you tube for mushroom strog.. With kate cant remember her last name
Down 1kg this week, not bad for one solo fast day
Congrats to you all,esp those who have achieved goals, well done 🙂

Thanks, CG, GG, I get the motivation to keep on track from you gals (and guys). You keep me accountable for my choices (especially on non-FDs). I do eat carbs every day. Just try to think of them as little extra fill-me-ups, not as the main part of my meal. So I’ll have sandwiches for lunch, I’ll have 1 slice dark bread, but make sure I put on lots of protein (like smoked salmon) and eat fruit and veg with it. I don’t think I could ever cut bread from my diet, us Belgians live on it. It’s such a staple for us. I just combine it with enough veg and protein so I feel happy and full.

Romeo Santos is a bachata singer/songwriter. I’ve been a fan since he had a big hit with his band Aventura here in Belgium in 2004. Wikipedia tells me they never released any music in Australia. He sings in Spanish anyway so maybe not everyone’s cup of tea. His new video with Marc Anthony (Jennifer Lopez’ ex) is going to be released today so I’m excited.

TBH, Andrew, you are probably ahead of a lot of people. The fact that you can find the internal motivation to keep going and do it for your health (without seeing many exterior signs) is a very tough thing to do and I applaud you for doing it. When I hit my target weight (or the body that I want), I’ll have to keep going to maintain, without seeing the physical benefit of losing inches/pounds. I’ll have to learn to do it for internal reasons without the thrill of the loss. You are already doing that. And the weight will budge eventually, I truly believe you are putting on more muscle weight than losing fat weight.

vegiemumma, well done on getting back on track! Those thyroids are real bastards sometimes (pardon my French). My mum has a thyroid illness as well (I don’t know what it’s called in English but she’s been on Elthyrone for the past 20 years and she managed to drop over 10kg on 5:2 and she’s been on maintenance for over 6 months now. Although she was thin as a rake when she was diagnosed and only started putting on weight when she was 40.

Ruxton, don’t ever beat yourself up about treats. What’s great about 5:2 is that there are no bad foods. Don’t ever feel guilty about them. It happened, you enjoyed it, now move on. I think traditional diets teach us you can’t have this, you can’t have that. I think that sets people up to fail and feel guilty and then feel bad about themselves, which makes them overeat… It’s a vicious circle. It’s okay to indulge. In the beginning of fasting, it’s often harder to find a balance you are happy with, but take it one step at a time. I think what’s important is learning that the foods we eat don’t define us as humans. You are not a worse person for having eaten that pavlova. It’s okay. Next time, you’ll remember this and pick a smaller piece. After that, you skip it once or twice. Until you find the balance in being happy with yourself and your control over your food intake and still getting to have a treat every once in a while. The worse you make yourself feel about it, the more you are likely to do it again. I struggled with this too (trust me) and I have made so many mistakes with overeating the first year of my FD journey. But guess what, I’ve lost almost 24kg and whatever I did wrong in the beginning doesn’t matter anymore. I managed to little by little adjust my relationship with food and find the balance between feeling healthy and making the right dietary choices so I can enjoy my treats completely guilt-free. It takes a while to get there but I rarely eat things I regret later on anymore. And when I do, I forgive my self and move on. Finally. Sorry for the novella, but I feel so strongly about not feeling like failure based on a food choice. Because it’s not productive and it’s so hard to do. But learning how to forgive yourself when you indulge will help you so much to actually take control of your eating habits. Otherwise you end up on the other side of the spectrum, and that’s not healthy either. Feeling as if foods are actually morally bad is the beginning of a whole new problem. You didn’t fail, you just had dessert. Next FD will make up for it. We should all learn to be more like Elsa in Frozen and Let It Go 🙂

Lindanaf, I’m totally going to check out that mushroom stroganoff, it sounds yummy.

Yes, Sparkle, that is the best thing you can do! Nothing productive comes from making yourself feel like crap when there is no need to. I know I struggled trying to sort out my relationship with food and it’s an on-going process but I’m so much more confident about my choices and understanding what my body is telling me. But that only really started to happen when I stopped beating myself up for ‘slipping up’. 5:2 is a forgiving WOL.

Welcome, btw, I hope you find all the advice and support you’re looking for here. We’re a happy, supportive bunch here, so you should feel right at home. How is it going so far?