Yeah! Know the feeling! Lost 3 stones and been doing really pretty well for over 5 years but in the last six months have put on 6lbs. So unhappy about it! So I will have to get my brain into the right place, stop whining and start doing!
More exercise, while not necessarily helping the weight loss, should help get the brain into gear.
So many events during this week, so no point in doing more than avoiding obvious sugar. So….roll on 2016!

Morning Everyone,

Stay away from the scales for a few days to let the body recover from the excesses.

My goals have become less about an ‘ideal weight’ and rather more about a waist that is less than half my height-the ideal apparently. I have another 3 inches to go if that is the case, BUT I have lost 4 inches so far.

No one is to feel depressed or disgusted. Treat yourself how you would another person, with kindness and compassion and encouragement. Being negative is no help to you or anyone else.

Pick small goals and have several on the go. Think of treats that are not food as an incentive.

I don’t think that it is about will power at all. What is the very best thing that you can do for yourself? What will help you to achieve that goal? Are you important?

I simply want to be a healthy weight for my height, but at almost 55 I have no desire to be skinny and to lose the curves. I think that I am close to being the size that I want to be no matter what number the scales say.

Hi Mrs Pepperpot and everyone,

I’m also 5 foot 2 and was 72 kilos (nearly 11.5 stone) at the start of October. I’m in my early fifties and that’s the heaviest I’ve ever been. I have been worried about getting heart disease and diabetes so that has inspired me to try to lose weight.

So I started the fast diet in early October. I have found Mrs P that trying to lose 2 pounds a week when we haven’t got a hue amount to lose is a bit ambitious and I have steadily been losing one pound a week and am now 65 kilos (10.2 stone. That’s 16 pounds in 14 weeks.

What I am trying to say is that if you aim to lose 20 pounds in 10 weeks you may be disappointed but if you aim to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks you may be more able to reach that target and maybe a bit more – so you will feel better about yourself than trying to lose 20 and failing. Does that make sense?

I thought that losing 7 kilos wasn’t that much but have realized that it’s 10% of my previous body weight! Also just before Christmas I was carrying a bag of veg that was 7 kilos and it was very heavy and made me realise how much I had lost! That was a great feeling.

I think my goals are pretty similar to yours Mrs P – I still have 3 kilos to go to get back into the healthy BMI range so that’s my next target. Then I aim to be back to 8.5 stone by next July – this was my weight for many years and is in the middle of the healthy BMI range. But what I am trying to say is don’t be hard on yourself – you are being very honest but maybe going slow and steady may be better than goals that may be achievable by say a 6 foot man with much more weight to lose but as a percentage of body weight my be too quick a weight loss for those of us smaller in height and weight to start with.

Good luck, I hope we can support each other on this thread.

Count me in! My weight has been steadily going up. I started today and Monday will be my first fast day (Yikes!). I agree with Reddog about not having overly ambitious goals as that is where I struggle when the weight just doesn’t “melt off”. I’m excited about the 5:2. Saw the program on PBS a while ago but only recently discovered the book and this website. To a lighter 2016!

Good Evening Everyone:)

I would like to join in on this challenge. I’m going to start off with 4:3 until the end of January and then transition to 5:2. My current weight is 144.4. I’m 5’7 and would like to get down to 135. I don’t have any particular timeframe that I wish to achieve this. My main goal is to stick to this way of life and become a healthier me. I look forward to getting to know everyone. I’m in the US in the state of Michigan.

Hi lia and welcome:

Here are most of the tips you will need: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

Hi everyone – this thread has really cheered me up today, so thank you and I’m in on the 10 week challenge! I’m so down on myself (but Annette52, your lovely advice has helped) as I feel I have let myself down. In April last year (2014) I was 64 kilos, aged 49 and 5’2″ and was advised I was pre-diabetic. I got really scared, got on the 5:2, stuck to it religiously, the weight started to fall off and I trained also for a half marathon. I lost 7 kilos, felt fantastic, everyone said how great I looked and a whole lot of symptoms like my hay fever and peri menopause just disappeared. It was like a miracle. I was re-diagnosed as being in the normal range and no longer pre diabetic. Over Christmas etc last year I fell off the wagon a bit but mostly stuck to things and maintained my weight but you could see me starting to slide by around April/May when a whole lot of stressors hit my life. then in June I fell down a staircase and broke my arm. With that, everything got so stressful on top of everything else. My parents were in and out of hospital, my husband’s business partner collapsed from a brain tumour, my cat nearly died and then I had to do two work trips to the Northern Hemisphere (I live in NZ). Amongst it all it was my 50th birthday and we went away, but if course it was all about food and drink. In between I kept trying to restart 5:2 but it was like the more life pushed me here there and everywhere, the more I caved and it all seemed too hard and I couldn’t even seem to have a minute to think and focus. Fast forward to last night when I looked at Christmas Day photos of myself and I was shocked, I got on the scales and nearly wept – I was 63.1 kilos. I let everyone else’s needs and demands this year totally derail me and now I am back at square 1. I feel mad!

So there is only one thing to do and that’s to refocus and remind myself – This is about MY health and it HAS to come first! It’s so important that I return to 5:2. And to get back on that wagon and carry on again. I need to look at it as a lesson – and to remember that it’s very simple – just keep to 5:2 and prioritise the running and walking that I love and before I know it I will have dropped the weight again and will be feeling so much better. If I have done it once I can do it again. And I need to be more vigilant this time about thinking “it’s ok to skip a fast day” – it’s really not because for me it’s a slippery slope! As soon as the curveballs start hitting me in life I have to be determined to stay focused – this is for me. Yesterday my husband said “we can’t do a fast day this week; we’re on holiday” – this morning I said “actually there is always an excuse and I am going to start this week, because otherwise it’s after NY, after this, after that, after my next work trip and there is never a normal week and before I know it, it’s March and I’ve made no progress.”

So yesterday we went for a 12 km walk and today a 14km bike ride (i.e. I am moving again) and my challenge to myself is to start fasting tomorrow again. I know that even when the first 2 kilos drop off I will feel good again, so I will set myself little micro goals along the path and share my successes as I go.

Thanks for listening to this ramble.

Hi Everyone

I too am in the US, I just recently gained about 10 pounds over the the holidays. I am starting the 4:3 diet tomorrow. I am 5’6, 140 lbs and want to lose the 10 lbs I’ve gained. I’m 54 years old. I know several people that are on this diet and have been for over a year. They’ve lost lots of weight and improved their health dramatically and are much older then I. I just want to say, don’t loose hope, we can all do this just like they did!!

Isn’t it just so comforting to not feel isolated? Thank you all for your honest and comforting comments. We can do this together.

I’m in🙂 5′ 3″ 12st 10lb. Lost husband last Easter and lost masses of weight over three months but then……comfort eating/drinking when on my own. He and I did well on fast diet when it first appeared. Also had SLE all my life, masses of drugs to stay normal including steroids, can never come off them. Feel gross been on my own over Christmas and just ate. So…I am starting on Monday 4th January as lots of lunch invites with friends before then which is kind. Giving up the old Merlot will make a huge difference for a start.

I’m happy to be on board. Good luck everyone.

Aw thanks Jan. Yes I shall do the same. I shall also blow the dust off the lateral thigh trainer (not as Scarey as it sounds)! and the hula hoop. My insentive is to lose the lbs by the first anniversary in first week of April.

Hi all! Checking in from NZ where it’s 11.30am and I am almost at the second milestone of my fast day (In my mind I am ticking boxes when I reach 9am, midday, 3pm and 6pm when we will have a light dinner – I work well with mental milestones!!!). It’s the first fast day where I have tried not eating at all until dinner time. And went for a 6km walk/run (mix of both – a year ago I was running a half marathon and now I’m struggling to do 6km but hey!) this morning. I am feeling good and determined – thanks all for being there. Jellybeanz am sorry you have suffered such a sad loss in the last year and had such a rough time – Christmas/NY must be so tough – if you can do the fasting then I certainly can.

RedDog, I stuck to my mini milestones!! I ate nothing until this evening when we had a couple of slices of ham off the bone (Christmas ham in fridge) and some salad vegetables. I can’t believe I got back on the tracks and did my first (restart) fast day and it honestly was not that hard! I thought it would be horrific after a month of basically just eating festive food, but it was really bearable! And that includes the run in the morning and also spending the afternoon helping my parents in their garden. Feel just a wee bit headachey that’s all – am having some more water now and heading to bed early. I feel really proud of myself and excited to hear how you all go this week. I won’t bore you with daily updates but will check in on my next fast day. I’m liking this new idea of having only one meal at night – I actually think it’s made it easier for me than starting with the usual poached egg for breakfast (which just reminds me what eating feels like in an unsatisfactory way!!)

You all seem to be doing well – I am pumped up to start on 4th when meal invites are all done with. Thank you all for your kind comments. This year has chewed me up and spat me out BUT I will land on my feet in 2016. New year, new me and my late hubby would be proud!

I am on so many drugs morning and evening that I need to do two meals a day but will prepare properly. Happy New Year everyone – keep calm and fast! 😊

Hey Everybody-I did kind of a dry run to see how I would do…being completely new to this before Sunday…lol. I did pretty good during the day, but not so much at night. I can see why holding off until night would be good…so that you can have all your calories then and not go to bed hungry.

Does anybody have any advice on the stomach growling? It was giving me what for in the afternoon…terribly annoying. Would drinking some type of liquid help?

Oh Jinty, that’s tough! Yes, I know what you mean – it’s like we’re now a mini community! Re starting before NY Day – I have to say, having started yesterday I feel like I somehow have a head start on myself – another of the mind tricks I have to use on my super weak mind! I am very excited because I couldn’t resist getting on the scales this morning (I’m just desperate to see some indicator things are improving!) and I am down .5 (1/2) kilo from yesterday. Yes, I know I shouldn’t get on the scales so quickly but that has really boosted me up!

Hello RedDig and Mrs Pepperpot, I joined this forum because of your posts. I am 5’4 with I suppose about 1.5 stone to lose. I started 5:2 at the end of November and have kept to it since then, even over Christmas. Stupidly because I was so self conscious of my weightgain I couldn’t face weighing myself until 2 weeks ago. So I don’t know how heavy I was at the outset. I’ve noticed my clothes get looser and looser which is great. And I can see my waist slowly returning like a long lost friend. I suspect I’m losing a pound or two a week. At the start I found the fast day harder but now I actually look forward to it. I will post my progress here. Very encouraged by your posts….

Hi All – I am in the US also….California. I am still struggling with the fasting. Had my first fast day on Monday and felt “sick” by afternoon….had to eat something. I am wondering if I need to “ease” into it….thoughts? Any strategies? I drank lots of hot tea (cold water increases my hunger). I went to the gym at 4pm thinking it would help but I felt worse….acid stomach I think from all the tea repeating on me. Anyway, all suggestions appreciated. I am going to try again.

Knitwit 54 perhaps you would feel better having your 500 calories throughout the day rather than all at once.

My plan is to have an egg in the morning, some salad at lunchtime and some protein at night. In between loads of black tea and coffee and sparkling water. That sort of plan might allow you not to feel so unwell.

I too am fed up with food but that’s a good way to start this. I have roped somebody else in for the ten week challeng and also to give up Booz completely for the ten weeks which I think will help enormously. I also have three hens but they are off lay for the winter. Yes, hens are great people!

Good luck everyone and a very Happy and Healthy 2016. X

Well it’s very early in the morning on 2nd January here in a rather cold Scotland. Saw husband off to Tanzania yesterday and much though I will miss him, I am quite looking forward to not having to cook three meals a day. He is slim and hasn’t put on weight for over 40 years! Grrrr! So, used yesterday as a day of cutting out the nonsense. Today is my first proper fast day and so I weighed myself with substantial trepidation. 2 lbs less than last week!! Just proves that eating less and more sensibly really does help. That small loss has been even more encouragement, so looking forward to my first proper fast day. The plan is to have nothing till later this morning/ lunchtime. Then spending time with a friend who is also trying to lose weight so……no excuses…..no rubbish……lots of encouragement.

I’m in as well. Had some success last year with fasting 2 days a week and my goal was to be skinny by my 45th birthday but had a rough year of several deaths in the family so that didn’t work out. Recommitting myself to being skinny, or at least healthier (which really is far more important given the past year’s events), by April before I turn 46 so a 10 week (hopefully 20 lb) challenge is great!

Gained 5 lbs on holiday in beginning of Dec and then another 2 over Christmas. Actually started de-carbing and eating calorie restricted high fat diet on Dec 28 and down 6 lbs (happy to get rid of most of the 7 lb weight gain before it found a permanent home) but ready to get back to some fasting.

Good luck to us all and I look forward to seeing everyone’s results!