Hi fastingbelle.
Welcome to the forum.
I haven’t had any problem with the sleeping side of fasting although some mornings after fast day I wake up with a headache but I think that’s not having drunk enough water on those days. I have an iPod with audiobooks on it and I find that quite relaxing I set the timer for 30 minutes and most nights I’m asleep before the iPod turns itself off. So perhaps something like that might help. The same thing with an iPad with music/ audiobooks anything really that you like.
I agree there’s nothing worse than not being able to sleep. Although some nights I’m up a few times to go to the toilet after so much water during the day but usually I go straight back to sleep. I find if I go to bed around 10-10.30 pm I can go through till about 4.30 am without waking up. What time do you go to bed?
They reckon that as you get older you don’t need as much sleep!!! Don’t know if that’s true or not.
I’m 63 and my husband is 67 but he’s in bed long before me. He can sleep really well . ( I’m jealous really)

Anyway good luck and hope you get some ZZZZZZs soon.

Hi fastingbelle

Meant to say I use sleep aid tablets (herbal) from Asda and they do the trick but I only use now
and again. Hope this will help
X

Hi everyone,

Well, the first fast day is over for me. My stomach was rumbling a bit by the end of the day and I came close to licking my 10 month old Granddaughter’s dinner bowl out after she had finished eating her evening meal but other than that, it wasn’t too bad. I survived the day!

I had to move one of the two fast days from a Thursday to a Friday to accommodate my wife’s weekly brunch club at work. I was happy do it because I don’t think I could do the fasting without her also being on the diet. In any event, she wouldn’t be able to cope with my drooling while she ate a proper meal on my fast days. I think that swung it for me.

Deerhunter: I had problems with my digital scales giving inaccurate readings. They had lost one of the rubber feet so a bit of cardboard did the trick to level them up. Mind you, if yours are brand new and you can’t calibrate them, I would get them replaced.

Fastingbelle: I don’t think there is anything worse than not being able to get a good night’s sleep. Yes, It wears you down after a while. It may be that your body just needs a bit of time to adjust to the diet. Stick at it and see how it goes. I did read somewhere that a warm bath about an hour before you go to bed sometimes helps. Apparently, the body cooling after a warm bath mimics the slight drop in temperature that the body goes through as you nod off to sleep. I haven’t tried it myself but it may be worth a go.

Good luck everyone.

Peter

Pat,
Thanks for the tip. I may well try it. I’m using the recipes that are in the ‘Fast Diet’ book and I’ve noticed that the total daily calories in the menus are a bit less than recommended so it gives me a bit of leeway.

Good luck tomorrow,

Peter

Hi Gilgil
Glad you has a good weekend. Spa was great had the facial felt quite relax, after also a
glass of champagne( did not drink it all just a couple of sips), a fresh fruit kebab and
homemade chocolates so glad it wasn’t a fast day. Sorry to hear hubby has opted out
but didn’t he do well. Gilgil carry on the good work you still have all of us and we all
need your encouragement your our mentor. You will soon be wearing those clothes
Of yours.

Good luck on the treadmill when it arrives, my excercise is taking Tilly the schnauzer for
A 40mins/ 1 hr walk in the woods everyday I am not a gym person have tried but find
it so boring.

My third fast day tomorrow can you believe it I am looking forward to it lost 2 lbs first week.
I also cooked the curried carrot soup really very nice.

Have a good night Patx

Hi all
Peter: You-sound like you are doing well and you might be right about the scales.Keep up the good work.The rumbling tum is a bit disconcerting in the beginning but, you get used to it and the benefits are worth the ‘ noise’. I feel really good the next day especially knowing that you’re not totally restricted. Good luck.

Gilgil: Yes the bruises are coming out nicely thank you. I look like I’ve been in the wars. Good news about your soon to be best friend ‘the treadmill’. Just take it slow and easy don’t go crazy the first few weeks. If I’ve had a long break from the ‘tready’ it takes me about a week to get back into it. MM has started back on the treadmill after a long break and he’s slowly getting his speed up. This is a fella that really didn’t like doing any exercise at all. Now he’s seeing the benefits it’s given him more encouragement to keep going.
Did you feel guilty eating the fish and chips? I did for about 2 seconds!!!
Let us know how you how you go with the ‘new friend’.
Good luck

Fastingbelle:
It must be great to be near your goal. I don’t think I’ll get to that weight but, wouldn’t mind getting to under 70 kgs.
Time will tell, meanwhile other benefits are kicking in so that’s got to be good for the soul. Enjoy your wine when you do open that bottle!!!! I quite like a little wine myself and my wine free days are the fast days so that works well for me.
Anyway happy fasting.

Fillygirl :
Those chocolates sounded good . They are my little weakness at times but, I’m really good on fast days.
Have a good week.

Hi, Gonecath

Welcome. Good luck with your goals. It’s good to hear from people living in different parts of the world. I’m from the UK.

Day one after the fast day found me eating just over 100 calories more than my recommended daily intake. Like the book mentions, I found that I didn’t want to gorge myself with food and wasn’t looking for snacks throughout the day. I was a bit surprised at this as I had also done a workout session at the gym. I must admit that when I do something I tend to throw myself wholeheartedly into it and as the book provides the calorie count for all sorts of foodstuffs I thought, why not use it.

I only have one concern and that is regarding a blood donation interval research programme I volunteered for in here the UK (there is some concern about possible future blood stocks as the proportion of people in the community gets older). I’ve been randomly allocated an eight week blood donation cycle (normally it’s twelve weeks for men in the UK). I’ll be interested to discover whether or not my body can replace the lost iron whilst on this diet within the eight weeks. Mind you, I suppose this in itself will all help towards the research.

I’ve got no facts and figures about how I’m doing at the moment, my next weigh in is next Sunday.

Have a good day, everyone.

Peter

Me again fillygirl

Can any tell why my posts look like they do using ipad?

Hi Filly girl
I think it’s just the way iPad formats things. I use an iPad and love it. Don’t know how I survived without it. Have you been using the iPad long?

Hi Deerhunter

Have an iPad mini which Brian bought me for my birthday 2 years ago, I wouldn’t be without
It. Love shopping on it and have now got hooked on Candy Crush I am just like a kid.

Over here we have a shop call Next and love to shop there for tops jeans etc and on occasions
Do my weekly grocery shop and delivered to the door how lazy is that!

Today weather here in Cheshire is foul raining quite hard where’s our summer is it ever going to
arrive, really envious when you said weather down under was 24c Brian and I have been
to Australia twice and absolutely loved it I preferred OZ to NZ. As I said before fast day today
So far so good what are you up to day

How great is to get more 5.2 ‘s on the website the more the merrier I say

Have a good day fillygirl ( Pat or Tricia ) x

Hi Deerhunter

Originally from London, then Somerset with Brian’s work then came to Cheshire when Brian was made a Director and moved yet again to the North 18 years ago. Our plans were to moved to Hampshire
but when the girls finished University one went to Liverpool and the other Leeds they decided to
stay up North so we stayed to. As you say funny how life works out..

I do count cals because it keeps me in check as I said fast day today it’s lunchtime here and so
I didn’t have breakfast but have just had half a cup of the curried carrot soup that was recommended
on site lovely.

Have a look at the web site skinnytaste.com. Some really good low cal recipes have just made
Lighter Aubergine (Eggplant) Parmesan but without the ricotta ( don’t like. It) cals 265 with ricotta.
Did not make my own tomato sauce used passsata from supermarket still low cal. I am
Looking forward to supper now.

Good luck tomorrow wish I could shop with you love shopping

Filly girl x

Hi Gilgil
Sorry to hear about ‘your best friend’ can you send it back for a refund?????
Things like that make you a bit stressy but don’t despair you’ll come good again I sure.
Lucky you being able to pop over to France like that. Next time I’m in the UK I think I’ll do that on the train although I’m not real kreen on that Chunnel .
Don’t spend too much or eat too much of that French cuisine !!!!!
Have a good day and . As the Gone with the wind famous line says ‘Tomorrow is another day’
Cheers
Have a good day.

Good morning everyone,
I’m sorry to read about ‘side effects’ some are suffering as a result of the diet but I think Deerhunter is right about making some personal adjustments. The main thing is to keep everything under control. You can do it.

I’m a great believer in exercise as a therapeutic tool and indeed if I am unable to exercise through illness or injury, I am like a caged animal in a zoo; pacing around wanting to get out. I do get ‘high’ after exercise and my GP informs me that this is caused by the effects of the endorphins my body produces during exercise. I guess I’m a fitness junkie. In any event,I get a nice feeling of well-being. For me a good diet AND exercise are inextricably linked. I’m hoping that the ‘highs’ I get from exercise will counterbalance the ‘lows’ of fast days.

Swimming is a great form of exercise with no pressure on your joints. There is a programme called Swimfit run by the British Swimming Association in association with British Gas. It is quite motivational in that you get provided with different types of fitness programmes depending on what type of challenge you fancy doing. If you haven’t exercised for a while though, It’s best to get checked out by the Doc. before starting. The link to swimfit is here: http://bit.ly/1mtH4mB

I am calorie counting and found that yesterday, I only ate 71% of my recommended daily calorie intake on a non fast day. Strangely, I didn’t feel hungry but it is something I need to keep an eye on. I don’t know why it is but since my first fast day, I don’t feel the need to snack at night. I could quite easily eat almost a whole packet of digestive biscuits throughout the evening (or alternatively 3 chunky Kit Kats) but all this week, since fasting on Monday, no cravings at all. I think that the amount of exercise I do possibly prevented me from getting seriously overweight.

My main reason for doing this diet is to get rid of body fat. I’m happy with my weight so the balance I’m trying to get right is lose some body fat and add muscle. I don’t want to be a body builder, I’m too old anyway, just enough to burn more calories. That’s my goal.

Peter

Dear Gilgil,

You are very generous with your responses and give some wise advice. I was introduced to exercise late in life and I hope I can persuade others to have a dabble.

My inspiration is the guy in a wheelchair at my local gym who regularly works out there. Just the effort he puts in to get onto each piece of equipment is truly remarkable. I think the London Paralympics opened everyone’s eyes to what we can be done. Compared with these people, I’m a lightweight, but thanks anyway.

Peter

Hi Peter
I agree with you that exercise on a regular bases makes you feel good. I’m not a gym person but, I do have a treadmill at home and both my husband and I give it a good work out. He goes a lot faster than I do but, I’m quite happy to do my little bit. I try and do some every day but, if not at least 5 times a week. I used to exercise at various times of the day but, I’ve now found that doing it before breakfast is better for me. It gives you a boost for the day.

You’re lucky that you don’t have a weight problem but I’m sure you’ll get other benefits. I haven’t lost a lot of weight but my shape is changing and clothes fit better so I’m happy with that.
The downside to not losing enough weight is that your BMI doesn’t change much and according to the experts I’ll still be overweight or obese!!!!!

Never mind keep on keeping on.
Bye for now

Hello all – this group sounds really brilliant so I would like to give it a go.
Thanks for the tip – Peter I think – that the ebook by Michael Moseley and Mimi Spencer has been discounted. I have already downloaded it and am now plucking up the courage to start- I might go out and buy some Oxo first!
My aim is to lose about ten kilos. I don’t have a treadmill, but already have a Wii so bought the Wii Fit and find it really good, especially for aerobic and balance exercises. It keeps track of your progress and has a body test too, that assesses your balance and gives you your weight. It also comes up with comments and questions that I find really annoying, but you can easily get used to ignoring them!
I have a friend who uses meal replacements to lose weight – has anyone tried them on fast days? Or is that a really bad idea – what do you think?

Hi Eleri39
Welcome to the group Gilgil is the founder and what a brillent job she has done.
Seems to be new 5.2s everyday which is great we are all aiming for the same
end.
I am not to sure about meal replacement meals but if you get the Fast Diet Recipe
Book there a some really good easy meals. Good luck on the excercises on
the Wii
Let me know how you get on and there is plenty of support here

Filly girl

Gilgil
‘Ello Ello’

Glad you had a good trip and didn’t eat too much of that French food. What I remember of Calais is that it was very ordinary and not much to look at. I can understand your Grandaughters views . Still it was nice to have a break from routine for a few hours. Hope your Mr. Grumpy is feeling better. I’ve got one of those sometimes ( they’re not related are they??) Only joking.
Good luck with the baking. I’m about to go and make some Anzac biscuits which are a very traditional fare. Not sure how many calories there would be in each but it’s for the weekend and MM does like a little homemade treat now and again. Soothe the savaged beast and all that!!
Our fast day (#2 for the week)was yesterday. Went quite well, only had 1 oxo drink in the arvo (sometimes I have 2 depending on the calories for the day). Got on the new digital scales this morning and they said 80.1 kgs. So I just might break that 80kg barrier yet!!!!!

Eleri 39
I think you’ll find the 5.2 easier than your 9 day fast. Especially when you can eat normally on the other 5 days. The thing to remember is not to overcompensate on the non- fast days , which is what some of us tend to do in the beginning. I never I thought I’d actually look forward to the fast days. I know crazy isn’t it but, I do . I tell myself it’s a little bit of detoxing that my body obviously needed. Cos I sure do feel better for it.
Anyway good luck to everyone and hope you all have a good week-end.

Hi folks – sorry to have been absent, but work called. My word, you all have been busy. It’s my second fast day of the week today so am trying to fill it up with my “to do” list. Errands to be done and the last of the courgettes to be planted (before the slugs get them!).

Deerhunter, I am sure that barrier breaking is just round the corner: won’t be long now. Me, I am happy as long as I don’t go upwards by more than a pound.

Hats of to you, Eleri39 – goodness me, 9 days without solids – very brave.

Peter, I am with you there as far as exercise goes. I “took up” exercise at the grand age of 58 (I was 98 kilos – or 15 and half stone in those days) and go to the gym twice a week now for hard work with weights under the supervision of an expert. Best thing I ever did. Since then I have cycled (for charity) across Rajastan in India and from Panama to Nicaragua!! Although my bike has remained stubbornly in the kitchen since last year. Fair weather cycling only these days.

Doing 5:2 is the best thing I have ever done – it really suits me. I am now within normal range of BMI and very happy not to get too skinny. As I said before the only side effect I have is occasional sleeplessness – fingers crossed, I may have conquered that – I drank a lot of camomile tea and that did seem to help. Thanks so much for all your suggestions – I will work this one out. I need to keep it up for my daughter’s wedding in September.

Thanks so much for setting up this group, Gilgil – it feels very comfortable!

I’m not that brave, Peter. Both were organised rides! But thank you for the kind words.

Hello everyone,

Gilgil, Good to hear that the treadmill is up and running. Remember that rest days (from the treadmill) are just as important as using the treadmill in order to avoid any niggling injuries. It may not seem like it at the moment but you will get stronger.

I hope all goes well with the series of treatments for ‘himself.’

Like Deerhunter, I too had a ‘treat’ this weekend. My wife made an aptly named Eve’s pudding. It is made with apples and like Adam, I too was tempted, twice. My wife was a bit worried that the cooking apples may be a bit sour tasting because the recipe she used didn’t call for sugar to be sprinkled over the apples. As it happens, the pudding tasted great, both times.

Friday was my last fast day. The evening meal was a from a recipe in the Fast Diet book. The marinated 90g sirloin steak tasted great but looked pretty damned lonely on the plate with salad. The weighed, unsalted peanuts in the salad produced an odd number of peanuts to share between my wife and I. Things got pretty tense between us. An extra peanut maintained marital bliss.

Keep smiling.

Peter.