Day 8 – USA/GA – NFD

I still seem to be improving day by day; the congestion just doesn’t want to go away, although the Mucinex and Zinc supplements are greatly helping. Felt kind of bad last night, then realized I was thirsty (oops!); after a drink of water, was a lot better and could sleep. It’s trying hard to get into my chest, but thankfully not gaining much ground except knocking at the door. The Dept of Health wrote my work and said I could return to work tomorrow if I’m symptom free, but because of the lingering congestion, I plan to just keep working at home this week and put down Monday as a possible return date.

The weigh-in this morning was rocking back and forth, but because of my overnight water drinking, I went for the lighter weight. Let’s say it’s a new low of 230 lbs, and even better, a waistline under 50 inches (49.75). One of my spreadsheet trackers has a trend calculator, and it still predicts 227 lbs by the end of the month. We shall see!

@stitchincarol Yes, that’s right! On my birthday this year, I fasted (and got the flu shot)! People thought I was crazy, but the truth is, like your family, we had celebrated my birthday on a weekend, so the actual weekday wasn’t anything special. It worked out well!

@Emma_Taylor Oh, I would love to go to the Canary Islands. Thanks for the type about Fuertaventura!

***

As we drive down the winding road headed towards Triplicity, Lola looks on her phone to find a good Italian restaurant. “Well, they all seem to be mediocre,” she says, “but I’ll see if we can find a decent one.” “I’d settle for just a decent pizza place at this point,” Wesley comments from the backseat. I had imagined us spending a little longer at the park, but I am going with the flow. It is a beautiful day and although it’s a little annoying to travel back and forth, I’d rather keep everyone satisfied on this trip. The traffic is still not too bad, heading down the mountain, but is starting to pick up some. I figure everyone is going to have the idea to break for lunch, soon. “There’s a place called, Felix’s that seems to have the best brick-oven baked pizzas. And before you ask, no, it doesn’t seem to be a bad price at all. They even have lunch specials that include a side dish and beverage.” “I’m fine with that,” I say. “Let’s give it a try,” Wesley suggests. “OK, getting directions now.” Lola punches something into her phone. “Whoops, lost signal. Let’s wait until we’re on the other side of this clump of trees. Oh, here it is. Looks like it’s just a few blocks from the hotel we stayed in last night.” We continue driving in the line of cars headed down the hill towards Triplicity.

***

Good luck to everyone on the pocket lists today!

Day 8 second post.
Apologies @daffodil2010 I actually have read your posts here! I think there was a @daffodil123 or something similar ?
I think Cinque; Neilithicman; Purple Veggie Eater and a few others are on the Southern Hemispherites site.
Others that I can recall ( after re-reading old posts )
norrieb;
okeydokey; orpheusx; onahealthyhigh;
pamelav; pamie; pashaw; pissupoosa ( love that handle!) ; Pamela; prina39; paulmarsh; puzzlelover;
quebecoise ; queenbee20280;
Richard67; Reid; Rocy65; rainbowsmile; rainbowbrite30; rara0292; raderz; rafiki44; rabette; redrockgirl302;
southcroydenkate; saffy420; Sanj; strawberriesandcream; stevetoontaxidriver; simcoeluv; snowflake56;
shiny thing; symba 7; sirisan; sherbet; simmogirl; stardust dream; skinnyminny57; sparkly shoes; schatziii;
therealwil78; treasure quilt; Trephena; taraga; tsubaki;
Wendy3; Why; Well rounded; winsomewaif;
yoyofletch.
Whew! That’s quite a round up and not everyone I have met on the journey but a good many of my fellow journeyers.
Today’s CD may have morphed into a NFD under a glass of wine or two….🍷🍸
Still, tomorrow is another day.😁
xrox;

Day 8 Canada FD

@songbirdme I am so glad to hear from @coda and have been wondering if her path through family law courts has gone. It is always such a long and heartbreaking process.

My Christmas tree is up and it is huge, I don’t know why we went for such a large one. A sign of the times I guess. We had our public health orders updated yesterday and they have been extended so that there can be celebrations or gatherings outside of your household until well into the new year. Going to spend today letting that reality settle in and accept it.

Day 8 UK NFD

Ah great to see all those names from challenges past, quite impressed how many of us are still around (lurking or not ) not really got my mojo together , not doing terribly but not great either Just plodding , it’s times like this I’m tempted to have a break but I know that could be disastrous so I’ll hang on in and hopefully that elusive mojo will find its way back

Day 9 country west Australia FD
It is so good to be back in the groove.
Results are VERY slow and steady but daily posting and reading others’ posts does help to keep me so much more mindful. It does make me think before stuffing my face with food.
I seem to have a voice on each shoulder. The naughty voice , who I have listened to far too often, assures me that an extra bite, another sandwich/donut/sweet etc won’t hurt and won’t do too much damage. ☹️
Then the good voice tries desperately to tell me to think about my food choices. Do I really need it?🤔 Will I regret making this choice? 😥Will I really do the 200 mile walk necessary to cancel out the 2000 calorie snack I have just eaten ????😳😳😲
On this forum, the pocket lists do help me to think about what I am doing.
Knowing others are also fasting is a help and can get me over the line on difficult days.
I also need to get my ” won’t power” back into gear. As in ‘ I WON’T eat that today!!’
@northgeorgia, hope you continue to improve and can get back to work next Monday. This virus does seem to take it’s toll on the body.
@at, I always like your positive sayings to keep us motivated
@brightonbelle , hope your mojo is soon found! I lost mine a few years ago with disastrous results which I am currently still trying to rectify!!
@missybear, maybe I need to start bargaining with my inner child as well as fighting those voices I hear!

Day 9, NFD, Aus

My FD yesterday was also an F Day and the ‘F’ did not stand for fast!

Oh well.

I’m also curious re the OMAD approach some of you are following. @EmmaTaylor – was it you who mentioned you eat in a 5 hour window? Does that mean you only eat once during the same 5 hour window each day, or that you eat as much as you want whenever you want for the full 5 hour period?

Day 9 Melb Aust NFD

Just posting for accountability. A break up for the year (and first in-person meeting for the year) for our prayer group, plus one member’s 40th birthday, tonight, so no way am I fasting today. However, it will be a NFD, not an EFS over-indulgence (I hope)!

There are all too many celebrations at this time of the year, so control is needed.

Stay safe, stay well and eat sensibly, everyone.

D9 CD UK Lake District

Good fast day yesterday and managed 12460 steps.

Looking forward to CD today.Meals already planned.

ZBC
@kazoo

Exercise
@kazoo 30 mins spin

Day 9 – USA/GA – FD

I hate it when your body decides to put on 3 lbs in one day, but that was the result of a single NFD yesterday. Oh well, looking forward to today’s FD. Warm low calorie soups on the menu again. Congestion still with me, but seems to be worse in the mornings. Yesterday afternoon, I felt pretty clear and fine over all.

***

When we discover Felix’s we found it to be a charming old Victorian home that overlooks a river, surely fed by the same creeks that tumbled and churned its way out of the park. The parking lot was already half-full, no doubt full of lunch-crowd diners. I park the car into a vacant space and we head inside the restaurant.

We are greeted by a cheery hostess who asks, “How many, three?” We nod as she gathers up some menus and looks around. “Would you prefer inside or out on the deck?” “The deck, if there is any space out there,” Wesley says. The hostess nods and says, “wait here for a moment and I’ll look. I know it’s getting full out there.” I look down at my shoes. Wow, they are really dusty. I should have at least wiped them off a bit before… “Follow me,” the hostess says. As we walk through the corridor, we pass the carry-out counter and catch the smell of Parmesan, garlic, and tomatoes. We reach a door and the sound of rustling leaves and flowing water mingles with the clinking of cutlery on plates and various conversations. “How’s this?” the hostess says, seating us at a small table with a great view of the river. “Perfect!” Lola responds as we take our seats. “Here are the menus, and Jack will be over soon to take your order.”

“Oh, let’s do get an appetizer! Cheese sticks? Cup of soup? Calamari?” Lola asks. “I am NOT eating squid,” Wesley responds. I look puzzled, “Why not?” “Just the thought of those tentacles all sliced up and having to chew, chew, chew on those things makes me feel ill.” A diner at the next table suddenly looks disgusted, puts down her fork and walks inside, presumably to the restroom, but not before giving Wesley a hard glare. “Guess she was having the calamari,” Lola says. “The river is obviously not loud enough to drown out conversations,” I say, laughing.

Jack quickly appears to take our drink orders and we are actually given a free appetizer of garlic bread sticks and homemade marinara sauce. Thankfully, the calamari crisis was over.

***

I’m joining the pocket list today!

Pocket list – Day 9
@northgeorgia

ZBC
@kazoo
@northgeorgia

Exercise
@kazoo 30 mins spin

Day 9 MN, USA MFD (800)
Day 8 CD

Quick check in. Struggling a bit these days, but just hanging in there with trying to stay under BMR for sure, and hopefully under 1000 every day this week. Today 800, and tomorrow a proper FD of 500. After two to three weeks of eating too much due to Thanksgiving, Birthdays, etc, and the increased carb cravings that come after such events, I am up 3 1/2 lbs from beginning of November. I need to take myself in hand until Christmas and New Years Eve, before I gain more and “Lose the Plot” entirely this month.

@northgeorgia I’m glad you are sensible and realize you shouldn’t go back to work until next week. Some employers here are pressuring their Covid positive employees to return early to help with inventory (in a major grocery store). I hope you can continue to improve without any setbacks.

@stitchincarol Happy Birthday tomorrow! I hope to be back on to tell you again, but just in case not……I didn’t want to miss sending you warm wishes.

Errands and chores call out to me, but hoping for some time to comment on posts later today.

Be strong, be determined, do your best for today and the success will follow.

Day 9- CAN-NFD
Hello there,
Just a quick check in again. I can fresh snow outside my bedroom window and my kid is super excited to play outside. Guess we will be doing just that, but first yummy breakfast and cup of coffee.
Feeling much better today and yes, @stitchincarol is probably right, I need to drink more water for sure.
In our city restrictions continue and they imposed ever tougher ones yesterday. No more gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor. Which also means, Xmas should be celebrated only with your household members. Makes it tough for a single mom and one kid. I am very saddened by that. On the other hand, vaccinations are happening in U.K.
Best of luck and have a wonderful day!

Day 9 North Canton OH WFD

I am posting for accountability today. I went for a run this morning and it just wiped me out.

@stitchincarol I also cringe when I watch old movies and see a packed crowd. I wonder if that will change as things normalize or if we will forever stay mindful of keeping our distance (and germs)from others

Absolutely, please drown your fasts and hunger dragons with water

I have been weighing in daily just to stay on top of my trends, and while I have lost inches, the scale is pretty stable. I know enough by now to celebrate my inches lost and I am 😁 so far December is being good to me: one day at a time

Have a great day everyone

Watching “Great British Baking Show” with the “Derry Girls.” They are delightful amateur bakers – bet their sitcom is very funny. Any of you UK or Irish know that show?

Day 10 FD country west Australia
Well yesterday’s FD wasn’t….. Seriously not helped by friends dropping by with Chilli and salt dark chocolate and other ‘ little’ Christmas treats.Nor by having to shop on an empty stomach ( at that stage!) and succumbing to a packet of Vegemite flavoured peanuts.
Yes they really are a thing!!! 🤔And yes the entire 65gm pack ( 2.5 serves!!!!😲) was delicious.
Will stick to the usual Thursday FD. I have a busy day Thursdays and work 9-6pm without stopping which I find easier for fasting as no time to think about food.
BUT I do need to drink a lot on FDs especially.
@i-hate-lettuce, along with others hope you are going OK?
@penz, congratulations on the old-is-new-again dress. What a good feeling.😇
@bellyblast I have one of Ottolenghi’s books ( yellow cover) and the food is fab.👌
@basyjames, so true – one day at a time. My scales are superglued stuck at a very high number but I am posting and I am eating less and I am being much more mindful with all you in mind so winning all around.
@maya1980, I feel for you and others having to curtail your Christmas celebrations. For me ( one of 6 children), Christmas has always been about lots of people and children and noise. Like so many other things in this crazy year I guess we will all have a different new ‘ normal’ this year.
We will only be 7 this year. Usually we have a bigger group but we are all just staying with our own immediate families this year.
Plus my 90+ yo FiL is in Aged Care and due to restrictions there is no family Christmas lunch as usual for the residents in the home so they too will have a very quiet day.
2020 has been an auspicious year, just not in the way most of us thought.
Have a good day all. Off to water the garden before the 32C heat.
My DH was up early this morning to go and help fight a crop fire on a neighbour’s property. He was there all yesterday afternoon and back again today to ‘ mop up’.

FD today and its been tough ! No finished yet . Cooked a lasagna for my family but it smells so good i will need to distract myself tonight.
I hope i have enough willpower to make it through the day.
Ive lost 1.8 kg so far . Looking forward to a NFD tomorrow

D10 FD800 UK Lake District

Well I have just sat and read all the posts typed up my post in a word document, copied and pasted and lost the lot.

Have run out of time now as I have an exercise class so will just join the pocket lists and sort it all out later

@stitchincarol Happy Birthday

D10 pocket list
@kazoo

Exercise
@kazoo

ZBC
@kazoo

Have a good day everyone

Day 10 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 FD

@stitchincarol. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🥳💐

@i-hate-lettuce good to hear from you 🤗

Motivation for my December FDs is the saving of calories for festive treats…….hoping that will help me not to have gained too many pounds by January 🤞

D10 pocket list
@kazoo
@missybear

Exercise
@kazoo

ZBC
@kazoo

Keep on keeping on everyone 🙂

Day 10 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD

I pulled off an almost-true FD yesterday, my first this week! It wasn’t quite true, because I had one piece of Hershey’s chocolate left over from Halloween and I had a couple spoons of Brandied Dried Fruit (have I mentioned how amazingly yummy that stuff is???), but my guess is that I was still around 700 for the day. Today, I’ve decided on scallops for dinner with a packaged salad, which should be around 400, and this morning, DH and I are driving to town to get a latte for each of us. That’s clearly not in the 5-hour window I usually stick to, but <<insert shoulder shrug here>>, oh well. 😜

And, with a clean house, including two rooms in the basement (two still to go) and yesterday’s monumental to-do list accomplished, that stress I mentioned yesterday is nearly gone. I still have lots to do, but it’s not feeling so overwhelming, and I’ll be far more diligent about keeping the house tidy since that has such an influence on keeping me calm and cheerful. Ironic, isn’t it, that I’m so bad at keeping things put away and tidy, but I care so much that it BE tidy?? 😂

@tassiedeveil I know that you’re already far past the time of trying to find will-power in the face of your family’s lasagna, but a phrase that’s helped me many times is the title of a book: “Delay, Don’t Deny.” Hope your will-power was stronger than your longings!

@i-hate-lettuce I was afraid your extended silence indicated a rough week. I pray the improvement is steady and observable and you can move from liquids to solids soon–and certainly soon enough to enjoy that Tropical Christmas Cake, your Christmas Pudding (did you actually make one?), and your Christmas Brew! Nice job on finding some bimbling time yesterday; I’ll bet you felt lovely after that time outside in your garden doing “normal” stuff–even though you yourself are not “normal.” 🤣😜😂😁 Hugs to you and Mrs IHL as you continue to travel this post-treatment road!

Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone. 😍 I’m off to walk with Leslie and then it’s off to get my latte…yummmmmm! Have a grand day being stronger than your temptations!

Day 10 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in 231 lbs. Yeah, as I figured, sort of a plateau week. Hopefully, some more movement downward next week. I am continuing to feel better. Other than the migrating congestion, I think I am symptom free.

@stitchincarol Hope you have a fantastic birthday!

***

As we sip our beverages on the terrace, Lola speaks up. “I have to tell you about this nightmare I had last night.” “Oh,” Wesley says. “What happened?” Lola continues, “There was this deadly virus that was unleashed upon the planet. You could get it just through breathing the air where someone else had coughed or sneezed, sort of like the cold or flu.” “Lola, that’s horrible,” I said. “You said deadly. Did people die from it?” “Oh yes, but the bad thing is that you wouldn’t ever know how the virus would affect you until you contracted it. Some people died, some people recovered but had lifelong medical issues from it, others it affected lightly, and still others had no symptoms and would have no idea at all if they had the virus.” “Can you imagine,” asked Wesley. “So the entire planet went on lock-down. Theaters, restaurants, schools, businesses — all shuttered,” Lola said. “So, was it like an apocalyptic ending?” Wesley asked. “No, not at all,” said Lola. “From time to time, the world would reopen carefully. People had to stay about a person’s length apart from each other, wear masks on their faces and constantly wash or disinfect their hands.” “Was there a food and medicine shortage,” I asked. “Not really. But they did run out of toilet paper.” Wesley and I laughed. “Can you imagine? A toilet paper shortage is the worst daily setback of the apocalypse?” Lola smiled, “good thing it was just a dream.” “But what happened in the end?” Wesley asked. Lola shrugs, “I don’t know. The alarm clock went off and I woke up. It’s weird what we dream sometimes, huh? It seemed so real…” I interrupt, “You know, sometimes it’s like there’s an alternative universe or reality out there. I wonder if we are the imaginary world and some other universe is the real one.” “Here’s to hoping that we’re in the real world,” Wesley says. “A toast, to friends and good times!” “Cheers,” Lola and I say. We clink our glasses together and listen to the water rushing over rocks in the river below.

***

Good luck to our pocketlisters today!

Day 10- Canada-NFD
Here we go again! Day 10 and I guess things are going well.
Although, I can’t stop making cookies and shoving them onto other people to eat. They are not complaining, lol. Let THEM eat cookies, I say!
Today is my routine blood donation day. Great place to be, very humbling experience for sure.
Enjoy your day everyone!

Day 11, NFD, Aus

Vegemite flavoured peanuts?? I have to get me some, @lilymartin, they sound delish!

My weight is not shifting but my body shape is. The ‘jodphur’ look of my upper thighs is slimming which I’m very pleased about.

I head off on Christmas leave this afternoon and will be officially suspending 5:2 until the new year. If I do manage to sneak in any FDs, it will be a bonus, but I am not going to plan for it. I feel that giving myself “permission” to do this will take some of the pressure off, and I will be ready to join in the next challenge in mid-January with gusto.

Ah @songbirdme – sleeping on freshly laundered sun-dried sheets always gives me the best sleep!

If I don’t get back on line soon – wishing everyone a very festive, restful, safe and healthy Christmas time (or how/whatever you celebrate) and I look forward to seeing you in 2021.

Day 10 (8:30 pm) Minnesota, US MDF

Sorry for the late evening check in but that is what works best for me this month. I wasn’t able to achieve a 500 FD but I believe I stayed around 800. That’s good enough, is my attitude this month. Like others, I feel that just not gaining any more than I have, and maintaining until I can get through to January will be an achievement.

@stitchincarol I hope you’ve had a lovely Birthday.
@i-hate-lettuce It is really good to hear from you…..very sorry to hear about the rough week, and I hope somehow it helped to know that all of us, your forum friends, have been thinking about you and sending you warm wishes and virtual hugs.
@northgeorgia I hope you can finally get rid of all the congestion by the end of this week.
@bellyblast and @maya1980 I didn’t realize you had such restrictions up North of me…….I always though Canada was doing so much better than the US with Covid cases. It will just be my DH and I this Christmas as well. I’m sure the weather will be too cold for patio time with DD and family outside, but maybe with all the fires going and snowsuits on, a few hours and gift exchanges would be possible. I’m crossing my fingers.
@ccco I’m lucky not to have had anyone close to me get the virus, or to succumb to it. We do have friends and their family members in other states who have gotten very ill. Surprisingy, it is often the wife, not the husband, who becomes most ill. I count my blessings to have avoided it so far. I’m sorry you’ve had family that have been ill, and sorry for anyone else who has gone through that. Such worry and stress!
@toady I always take some salt when I get a headache during or after a fast, and it always seems to help.
@daffodil2010 A weekend with friends at a Lighthouse sounds absolutely wonderful! Enjoy!
@penz Enjoy your 5:2 vacation….try to be mindful and still enjoy yourself!
@lilymartin In some care homes here they are putting on an “Adopt a Resident” with pictures of each and a little info of each, on social media……they hold up white boards of the little things they need or want, like cards or chocolate chip cookies, or Christmas decorations for their rooms, or even some clothing…..I think its a lovely idea, because they have been so isolated, and some have no family in the area. I plan to take several items for a few individuals as well as some things they can share.

Big question: What do you think the January 2021 Challenge should be named> I’ve been thinking of “Rejuvenating January” or something along the lines of a renewal, a rebirth for us all. And a firm wave goodbye and good riddance to the dismal year of 2020.
I’m not tied to that title….so I would love anyone with creative juices flowing to come up with something inspiring! Thanks!

Day 11, London, UK, FD

Wow, I had to pause before typing FD!!!! I haven’t set that in stone for such a long time!!!!

Well, consider me back on the wagon!! I haven’t been ‘properly’ fasting for a long, long time, but I’m finally settled into the new place, I finally have internet access and I’ve finally moved the last of my possessions from my flat and handed the keys over to the builders, the roof is fixed, now for complete redecoration!!

Multi-tasking is soooo not my thing, so now it’s time to focus on ME ……………………. & that starts with ditching the vino & fasting, fasting, fasting. I’m looking forward to getting through 3L of ‘Dragon drowning’ water & ending the day with a tuna salad …………………………… then locking & bolting the kitchen door!!!!

I’ve managed to skim through this months’ posts and although not commenting individually, I saw shout outs from @at, @bellyblast, @brightonbelle & my fellow peanut butter nutter @penz thanks guys💕, I’m glad to be back & determined to be present & correct daily!! Thank you @at for hosting this, the most difficult of months, I’m planning to be mindful and not throw caution to the wind over Xmas, like I usually do. January will NOT be a reset month, just a halo polishing😇 continuation of Decembers’ success💪, there, I said it!!!

Keep the faith people!!!!

“It’s going to be hard, but hard is not impossible.” Chuck Palahniuk

Day 11 North Canton CD

I met my goal for the week. 1 pound down, 11 to go. My non scale victories are even more satisfying- I have lost a lot of inches everywhere and I am very pleased. Steady does it!

@flourbaby it’s good to see you back! And back on the wagon too. I bet you are glad to fast again and get back in control

@toady embrace the much-needed break, and I hope you have a lot of fun with your mom. Like @northerndawn I also take salt on FD especially if I get lightheaded or a headache

@northern dawn the thought of 2021 brings a smile to my face. I certainly hope that it is much improved from 2020. We will see, I just remember the sense of hope and optimism that we had going into 2020 and then it all seemed to fall apart. But I also like to reflect on the things we gained this year, we learned how to be together without being physically together, embraced working from home on a larger scale than ever before, learned to value what is really important, and scale back on what isn’t.

@lilymartin please be careful with the gardening and watch out for those snakes! I hate snakes passionately and these are poisonous?!!! 😲😲

Happy belated birthday @stitchincarol and thanks for the reminder of the Delay Don’t Deny mantra. That was very empowering for me when I first encountered this WOL. I can have a little bit of everything that I crave, if I am willing to wait for my feeding window

So glad you are feeling better @northgeorgia

and take it easy @i hate lettuce

Be safe and well everyone, just a few more weeks until the end of the year

Day 11 — USA — NFD

Hi all,

So great to see everyones updates!

@stitchincarol wish you a belated happy birthday — hope you had a great day!

@northgeorgia I am glad you are through COVID at this time!

@i-hate-lettuce and other gardeners do keep your eyes peeled!!

My family is on the recovering end of COVID too, seems like it will be over by next week. Hush.

My eating habits this week were too irratic. Like I have been mentioning, I re-started exercise this month and planned to continue my controlled diet with some fast days to try to get out of my weight plateau of 56 kgs and try to drop to 54 by end of month. Last week, I worked out 5 days with 30-45 mins of cardio that did my heart racing, brought my weight down to 55.7. Unfortunately, Tuesday and Thursday this week, I was EXTREMELY hungry all day — had my first 3 meal day in the past 6 months, and ate larger portions than ever. I put it down to the exercise needing more calories, but as you can imagine, I have put on weight — 56.8kg. This is saddening. It took me 6 months to learn to control my diet and eating habits. To see it go back to my regular habits in a day is heart breaking.

While I understand the workout might be leading to me needing more calories, this current method seems counterproductive. Does anybody have any tips/comments/thoughts/experience with what I am going through? This is the first time I am trying fasting and continuous exercise so learning on the fly. I hope to correct any mistakes before it is too late and get back on the weight loss path.

Hope you all are having a good Friday — wish you a good weekend!