Welcome to the Decidedly Dangerous December monthly challenge!
So what’s with the name? I don’t think it matters which side of the globe you are on, December always seems to be a good month to party, whether it’s on the beach or around the roaring log fire but somehow we manage to consume loads of calories in both solid and liquid form (not always alcoholic!) so it is definitely, in my opinion at least, a Dangerous month for those of us on this Way of Life. Of course, not everyone will be partying or, indeed have family with whom to share the festivities, but the temptation to over-indulge may well be there so let’s all embrace the season and plan ahead to side-step the obvious dangers and still enjoy ourselves. Our Challenge? To successfully navigate the Christmas period and, for those who have set a New Year Target, to be working steadily towards it.
I’m your host for this month; which simply means I get the party rolling & then you all chip in to keep the Challenge going. You can post as much or as little as you wish; but many of us agree that posting regularly really helps with our RESOLVE. The only “rule” in this forum is not to use the F-word (and in this case, the F-word is “fail” – never to be repeated!)
The monthly challenges were started by @coda in May 2016 and have been growing strong ever since. Here’s how it works:
1. In your first post, introduce yourself to the group – helps us to get to know each other, especially helpful for newbies. Perhaps say something about where you started, journey so far, what you’re aiming for or how you are benefiting from fasting. You might like to include your starting weight or your goals for the month. But you don’t have to – share what you are comfortable sharing.
2. Spreadsheet – @at is going to post this month’s spreadsheet below. It’s in alphabetical order by username. If you find it helpful, you can use it to record and track your progress as well as keeping track of how others are doing. It can help with perspective, accountability or planning. And if you need help just ask – there’s always someone happy to help. But you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to.
3. Posting – Start each post with the day of the month, where you are, and if you’re on a fast day (FD), non-fast day (NFD) or controlled day (CD). We’re all over the world and in different time zones so it helps us keep track of which day we’re talking about, who else is fasting etc. For example, I’ll start (on 1st November) with Day 1 – South Africa – NFD.
4. Frequency – Some people post daily, others check in every few days. Some are brief, others are long and chatty. If you‘re posting for a second time in the same day please head your post e.g. Day 1 second post.
5. Content of your post– Comments or questions, complaints or celebration – anything you’d like to share with the forum. Recipes, tips, tricks and bright ideas are always welcome. Remember: we all have good days and bad days, days we fall off the wagon or have days when we are hanging on by our fingernails, days when our mojo deserts us and days where we feel completely in control. So DON’T GIVE UP – whatever it is, you are not alone!
6. Community – This is a worldwide forum so there’s usually someone online. We all do our best to offer advice, support and solidarity.
7. Pocket lists –A ‘pocket list’ is a list of the names of people who are sharing the same goal on a particular day. It’s great psychological support in mentally keeping that list in our back pocket, knowing we’re not alone. Anyone can join a pocket list or start a pocket list. Typical pocket lists are for a FD but in the past they’ve been used for people doing daily exercise or planks, or DTF.
8. 5:2 basics – answers to many FAQs plus top tips:
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/
9. For new people joining our friendly international community – please read # 8 again
As this month’s host, I will read every post and will try to make appropriate comments to encourage everyone. I am on Greenwich Mean Time which simply means those of you to the East (ie Australia) will be up and about long before me whilst those of you to the West (USA mainly) will be snoring gently as I post each day.
And by way of translation, we use a lot of abbreviations. Here’s a guide to some of the more frequently used ones:
16:8 – 16 hours fast – 8 hours non fast
5:2 – 5 days NFD – 2 days FD
IF – Intermittent Fasting
ADF – Alternate Day Fasting (FD – NFD – FD – etc. etc. etc.…….)
AF – Alcohol-free
B2B – Back to Back (consecutive FDs)
BMR – Basal metabolic Rate
CFD – Controlled Fast Day (a FD below your goal weight TDEE, whatever that is!!!)
DH, DD, DS – Darling Husband Daughter, Son
DTF – Dry ’til Fri
EE – Emotional Eating (reflex grazing out of a need for instant comfort instead of satisfying hunger)
EFS – Epic Face Stuffing (we’ve all had one of those days. Definitely due to a faulty OFF button!)
FD – Fast Day (500 cals)
Hunger Dragon – that dreadful psychological beast that sometimes cannot be satisfied. Some people even name theirs (e.g. @i-hate-lettuce has an inner warthog!)
IF – Intermittent Fasting
Keto – way of eating that generates Ketones
K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid!!!………………or Sexy!!!
LC – Low Carb way of eating
LCHF – Low Carb High Fat way of eating
LFD – Liquid Fast Day (incl. tea, coffee, miso, bone broth & water)
LOL – Laughing Out Loud
M/WOAM – Man/Woman on a Mission (courtesy of @i-hate-lettuce)
MFD – Modified Fast Day (800 cals) on the new Fast800, it’s a FD
MyFitnessPal – a smartphone app & website that tracks diet & exercise.
NFD – Non Fast Day
OH – Other Half (e.g. spouse/partner)
OMAD – One Meal A Day
PFDS – Post FD Smugness (courtesy of @penz)
Pocket List – Names to “keep in your pocket” for a common goal for the day
TDEE – Total Daily Energy Expenditure (see the ‘how it works’ link on the home page to work out yours)
TRE – Time Restricted Eating
WFD – Water Fast Day (Water only)
WFH – Working From Home
WOL – Way of Life
WOCA – Women Of a Certain Age
ZBC – Zero Breakfast Club
See you on Day 1!!
8:28 am
29 Nov 22