Day 14 USA (Illinois) NFD

Coldest Valentine’s Day on record they are saying, but NOT quite as cold as @northerndawn. Pretty close, though. Grabbing some Kentucky Fried Chicken for supper since we splurged on DH’s birthday the other day. But he doesn’t want me to cook. 🧡

@stitchincarol – your Nebraska Huskers came far too close to defeating my Fighting ILLINI the other night! Interesting to hear about how hypnosis really works. Hope if does for you.

Onward and downward.

Day 15 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Morning all. Fir the first time since 2015 I am working from home today. Still have my Dad here, decided it would be more relaxing of a weekend for him not to be rushing him home after the Ireland v France game.

Oh such great rugby this weekend, but we are disappointed of course. Well done to all the teams. Wales still on for Triple Crown and who knows about the championship….England and Scotland was a cracking game.

So I did not weigh this morning as the scales is in the main bathroom and that’s Dads bathroom while he is here, but definitely plan an FD today. Dropping Dad home around lunchtime so maybe I can avoid lunch myself and go for an OMAD.

Have a great Monday all.

Day 15 UK FD

I know, missing in action again but have been following the plan just not posting. ! Two weeks left to reach target for February so have to buckle down!

Good luck to all fasters today!

Day 13 – Ireland – NFD
Day 14 – EFS
Day 15 – FD

Hi all I hope you are all well.
I’ve been on the dry this year but had some Guinness this weekend as just fancied them after a very challenging work day on Friday🍻. I’ll keep a tally for myself of days I have booze – just for my own interest. Alcohol and sugar still mess me up a little so best to stay away from them…but life is also too short 👍

Well done @basyjames on your whoosh! To date I’ve only ever experienced one whoosh and tbh I’m not 100% sure it was a whoosh so hopefully will see one again sometime soon 🤞.

@songbirdme we don’t get much snow at all so it’s very exciting when we do…think we’ve had all we’ll get this year though… it’s warm here now.

@daffodil2010 I’m so very glad you had your special weekend with your dad. 💕

I’m a bit behind reading posts but will relax and read later today..

Back to work now… good luck for a good week all..

Oh I looked back to when I started logging my weight in MFP in 2017 and I’m down 15 lbs so hanging on to that good news story to push me forward…

Going for a good FD today after a day spent eating all I could find yesterday… no regrets… ♥️😍👍

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day 15 – USA/GA – FD

A discouraging 231 lbs this morning. Since Jan. 15, a new plateau vacillating between 231 and 228 (once at 227). Waistline measurements also the same since then.

If I look at my calculated TDEE for maintaining 230 lbs, it means I am averaging nearly 2,300 calories a day. But I’m not, because of my FDs. I like to say I’m staying under 500, but to be safe, I’ll assume I’m eating closer to 600. With two FDs a week, that is 1,200 calories to subtract from the weekly TDEE of 16,100 calories. That gives me 14,900 calories to divide over the remaining five NFDs. In the end, it means I’m averaging 3,000 calories a day on NFDs. Yikes! Let me think about this. If I ignore weekends, and can cut an additional 300 calories a day on three weekdays, that would be an cut to an average 2,800 calories per NFD. OK, multiply the 5 NFDs by that number, add the 1,200 FD calories in, and divide by 7. Just under 2,200 calories TDEE, which is the TDEE for 218 lbs.

So that means three days a NFD weekday, I should eliminate 300 calories. That would be two soft drinks, or maybe a small bag of snack crackers/chips and a soft drink. Three snack size candy bars. OK, my plan is forming in my head haha!

230s Monster has to be busted. Good luck everyone!

Pocket list day 15
@litprof
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@suki2 FD800
@jaifaim
@dvm
@northgeorgia

Day 15 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD500

Felt bummed I didn’t manage to post yesterday. There was lots of family chatter going on, and I wanted to “be in the moment” so made the choice…but was still bummed. 🥰 The Guinness Pie on Saturday was fabulous and will be repeated this coming Sunday for the boys; the Valentine’s Day dinner last night was a huge hit, with the lemon posset the clear star of the show. And today I fast to compensate for all that we ate yesterday, LOL!

Report on hypnosis: Saturday’s session was not to go under hypnosis, but was to carefully phrase all the things the hypnotherapist would say. Did not realize that, and she sure works differently than the first person I went to several years ago. Tomorrow evening will be the first session (finally, LOL!) so I’ll report in on Wednesday morning about the impact I’m feeling right away.

@northerndawn I loved your chatter, and had to grin that you sent DH to get groceries! Wise man, that he didn’t buy you chocolates. Mine, to my pure astonishment, brought home two pieces of cheesecake and half a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries. He must have been hungry, LOL, because he’s normally far more aware of my preference for non-caloric gifts!

@songbirdme Didn’t know about how close Nebraska came to beating your ILLINI; good on Nebraska, and glad for you that you still got to celebrate. 😁😍😏 And, by the way, I emailed you but never heard back….

@daffodil2010 It makes me smile to hear of your lovely time with your dad visiting. I lost my mom in 2015–at age 96–so I only get the vicarious pleasure of a parent around when others chatter about it, so thank you for that bit of joy added to my day.

@northgeorgia I carefully went through that listing of calorie numbers right with you. Somehow in there, I missed where you’re cutting out enough calories each week to lose a pound, but only carefully maintaining your weight. Did you just not go into that much detail, or did you also miss that? I can’t believe you would…But I love the math of all this, so I perk up at its mention, LOL!

@nellen So bummed for you that you’ve not had a pleasant week; hoping right along with you that this week is far lovelier!

The low last night was a negative 18, but now it’s warmed up to -15F/-26C. “Nail-bitingly cold,” as you put it, @basyjames, is a great description! Walking home from church yesterday–it’s only a block–was so miserable I had to put my mittened-hand up to my forehead to protect it from the cold and wind because it hurt so much. Tonight’s low is supposed to be -24F. Oh my gosh!! Everyone keeps talking about how exciting it will be when it warms up to 30 this Saturday, LOL!

Okay, off to walk with Leslie and get some things accomplished. Have a great day, everyone!

Pocket list day 15
@litprof
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@suki2 FD800
@jaifaim
@dvm
@northgeorgia
@stitchincarol

Day 15 USA (Illinois) OMAD

Did a little Silver Sneakers this morning, but knee is a little sore, so took it easy.

We’re used to cold winters, but DD in Austin, TX (way down south) texted this morning that they have 8″ of new snow and no power. She, having grown up here and being a skier, has on her ski outfits just to keep warm in the house. Due to get down to 10′ F (-12′ C) there tonight. Crazy winter all over!

@michelinme – more power to you being able to eat air-popped corn… I need all the oil and butter I can get on my popcorn. Or caramel is great too. Or cheese. 🙂

@stitchincarol – wonder if your email went to my spam. I’ll go look!

Onward and downward.

Day 16 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – CD

So WFH yesterday for the first time since another job and 6 years ago, was so stressful to start off. Due to lack of proper equipment (how used we get to double monitors) and not being aware of the hacks to make laptop screen zoom in and out…..well, put it this way, it took 4 hours to do a task that normally takes 2.5.

I could feel my stress going through the roof and felt very edgy. So I popped my Dad in front of Netflix were he binge watched 4 episodes of Peaky Blinders, while I found my way. I am afraid a chocolate biscuit was consumed while I stress sorted myself out.

It was all ok in the end. Weather turned out sunny and balmy 14.5C, brought Dad home looking and feeling rested, and while he was at mine for the weekend my brother rearranged his room to make it much more accessible for him. So good times overall.

Though it ended up not being a fast, I did not put on weight, so consider that a bonus.

You guys in the US are certainly having some extreme winter. Our snow event was nothing really and now there is a definite Spring smell in the air. Plus now my cat wants to go out during the day. She wanted to be indoors for the past few weeks, so that’s the sign that Spring is here ☺️

Have a lovely day everyone.

Day 16 – Lake District UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Another cracking day yesterday, our longer walks have got back to 5 miles a day for the last couple of days! Mrs I-H-L is back to it and has recovered from the surgery 6 weeks ago, going really well.

Easy FD for me yesterday, but Mrs I-H-L has noticed she’s started snacking a bit between meals and has decided to cut them out completely. That was one of my big downfalls, snacking! Must admit they’ve actually been the easiest thing to control, don’t buy ‘snack items’ with me it was habitual snacking/grazing. It’s easy to overlook (or ignore) the calories going in which can add up significantly.

Fine and dry here at the moment, time for a walk!

Take care all

Day 16 – USA/GA – NFD

Today’s weigh-in: 228 lbs. Work delayed until 10 a.m. today, due to black ice on the roadways, but I have a telemeeting at 10 a.m., so planning to stay at home to do the meeting, have lunch afterwards, then drive in to work for a few hours. Because of this, I’m going to make it a ZBC day!

@stitchincarol Yeah, I’m not sure if this will work either. Conventional wisdom says a deficit of 500-1,000 calories a day is needed. However, if I look at TDEE alone and just assume a long-term plateau is the same as “maintenance” (at least for the metabolism monster), then I should be on the edge of weight loss. According to my calculations, a further 25 lb weight loss requires a committed reduction of around 950 calories a week. If true, then if I could cut out around 300 or so calories on three or four NFDs, I should see some movement downward start back up. I’m afraid drastic cuts might throw off the metabolism, based partly on this 2014 study by Trexler, Smith-Ryan, and Norton (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943438/ has the full article and citation):
“To accomplish these [weight loss] goals, it is recommended to approach weight loss in a stepwise, incremental fashion, utilizing small energy deficits to ensure a slow rate of weight loss. Participation in a structured resistance training program and adequate protein intake are also imperative. More research is needed to verify the efficacy of periodic refeeding and reverse dieting in supporting prolonged weight reduction and attenuating post-diet fat accretion.”

Which is basically what 5:2 is, but a few extra calories cut to match the new metabolic rate has to be injected from time to time. What I’m really missing is the nice walks and exercise. I’m not so motivated in the bitter cold winds! I’ll give it a try with an extra ZBC here and there, and cutting out some soft drinks and junk food that I don’t need anyway. I may be wrong! LOL

Day 16 ZBC
@northgeorgia

Day 16 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

Today is Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, and I have all sorts of plans for the day, and my scheduled hypnosis session tonight…and I got sick during the day yesterday and feel worse today. I imagine it’s nothing more than a winter cold, but in an abundance of caution, I’m not going to the grocery store after all. sigh… It’s a bummer when your plans get messed up, but I feel bad enough that I almost don’t even care, LOL!

Yesterday’s FD went fine; it was probably over because we had leftover Guinness Pie, but there wasn’t much left, and it needed eating, so I shrugged and did it. At the moment, I feel entirely indifferent to food, so perhaps today will also be on the very, very low end of calories.

@michelinme I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Cyber hugs to you, dear woman.

Oh, @daffodil2010, I envy you your spring! I am so very ready for warmer temperatures! it was -26F/-32C when I got up this morning, LOL! Brrr!!! Are you going to continue to WFH, or was it a one-time thing?

@northgeorgia Yeah, the slower metabolism monster is a serious problem for all of us. Have you ever tried the walking with Leslie during your awful weather? There are some videos that are less than 15 minutes, so it doesn’t have to be a huge commitment, and every little bit adds up. Whatever you do, just know that we’re all cheering you on!!

Have a grand day, everyone!

Day 16 Minnesota, US CD of 1200 or less
Day 15 FD 800 ( Came in over at 860 Cals)

@stitchincarol Very interesting about the initial meeting, and it sounds right. I knew an anesthesiologist who did hypnosis, he was very good, and always said the words and phrases used should be ones that are comfortable and personal for the client/patient, that resound with the individual, in order to be most effective. Very much in the same way that some quotes or mantras are more personally motivating for one person than for another. Is that what she was doing? It sounds conscientious.

@songbirdme I hope your daughter and everyone down south of us can soon get heat back on. 10 degrees is too cold to be without power! There was some talk of MN and 13 other states north of them (we are all on the same electric grid) doing rolling black outs to help them out with high demand; I don’t know how that’s really possible up here with our temps. Currently it’s -10 F (-23.3 C) as I type at 0900. But I do feel terrible for all of them. They just aren’t prepared for such weather, at all. I hope the water pipes make it through the next couple of days. What a mess they might end up with! Prayers!

@nellen Sending positive vibes for a good week ahead.

@northgeorgia I do have a question…..have you read the Dr. Michael Mosely books, Dr Jason Fung, or Krista Varady? or Dr. Valter Longo? Just wondering. They discuss some different views on weight loss and what happens to metabolism than the article you linked to. I haven’t read it in entirety yet, but I will. There are so many studies out there, aren’t there?

When I was most successful 5 years ago now, and got to my goal weight within 6 months, I also kept all kinds of records of calories, exercise, deficits, and all, for daily, weekly, monthly intake and expenditure, and recorded weight.

It came down to this : If I was going to use the TDEE for my goal weight, not current weight, of 1500 calories a day (10,500 a week), I had to remember 2 things in particular (for my lifestyle):

3500-3700 calories = 1 pound
25-27 miles walking = 1 pound loss

Every week that I decreased my calories by 3700 and stuck to 6800/week, I lost weight. Doing 2 FDs of 500 only gave me a deficit of 2000 calories a week, not enough to lose a pound but enough to lose 1/2 a pound. So, I either had to do another FD500 (1000 more down for a total of 3000 down) and walk at least 10-12 miles a day, or add another FD 500, or walk more or some combination to hit a deficit of 3700 calories a week. It showed on my charts that is what worked. That includes sticking to 1500 cals on my NFDs strictly!!! Or less!

The reason I used the higher number, 3700 instead of 3500, is that I knew (know) myself, and no matter how hard I try to be accurate, I tend to underestimate my caloric intake. I also don’t think there is any way possible that food companies can or want to put the accurate calories on the labels. So, I err on the side of their under-estimation.
If you are fine with a loss of 1/2 pound a week, then you can work out your own calculations. But it’s well accepted that a pound == 3500-3700 calories.

Good luck everyone!

Third post

LOL!! I just reread my first post…..it should say I had to :

Every week that I decreased my calories by 3700 and stuck to 6800/week, I lost weight. Doing 2 FDs of 500 only gave me a deficit of 2000 calories a week, not enough to lose a pound but enough to lose 1/2 a pound. So, I either had to do another FD500 (1000 more down for a total of 3000 down) and

*walk at least 10-12 miles “A WEEK” (not a day)*

or add another FD 500, or walk more or some combination to hit a deficit of 3700 calories a week. It showed on my charts that is what worked. That includes sticking to 1500 cals on my NFDs strictly!!! Or less!

Sorry about that!

Day 16 USA (illinois) NFD

Doing pretty well.

@northerndawn – thank you for the kind remarks for DD. In some ways she and her hubs are kind of enjoying being part of this history.

@stitchincarol – it’s NO fun being sick! Get well soon. God bless.

Onward and downward

Day 16 – UK – FD500

Busy day – no time to read or post so just a quick log in to post for accountability – good news in that I have an appointment for my first dose of the vaccine on Friday 😌

Hope everyone is doing OK – time to get organised for bed 😴

Day 17 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Yesterday was Pancake Tuesday and although we have rarely indulged in that tradition, I came home to DH making pancakes for dinner!!!!!!

So full afterwards, but, unbelievable, this morning down a pound without trying.

@stitchincarol and @basyjames, the WFH was just a once off as I had Dad staying. I much prefer to go to the office although we are all socially distanced and masked. It’s only a 10 minute drive away, and when I leave the office that’s it for the day. I noticed on Monday that I Logged in earlier and stayed on later because I was at home.

Oh and @stitchincarol, wishing you a swift recovery

@at, wow, so great to hear of your vaccine appointment. You guys in the US and the U.K. are way ahead……it’s so slow here in Ireland. They are only starting on the over 85’s this week, so as my Dad is 84 he has to wait for another 3 weeks at least!

Wonderful Spring weather. It’s also starting to get bright at 630 am- from being dark for so long, the light here in Ireland is ramping up quickly, yay.

Have a great hump day 🐪

Day 17 Melb Aust NFD

Persevering, enjoying watching the Australian Open tennis. We had a snap 5-day lockdown here from last Friday till tonight, so no spectators then, but otherwise (including from tomorrow) 50% seating allowed. It’s good to see people cheering on the players.

@i hate lettuce, I was interested in your comment re February “flu”, end of winter, etc. Over here in Melbourne they’re saying that now kids are returning to school, lots are getting sick, with all the viruses they avoided last year while schools were running online. There was also much less influenza around last year, too.

Hang in there everyone. Together we are stronger!

Day 17 UK CD

Checking in for accountability. Lent course starts this evening on zoom so a later evening ‘on’ than usual.

I cooked a double batch of supper yesterday evening so have just had it again as my main meal late lunch – baked sweet potato, vegan mince with tomatoes, peas and a little vegan mozeralla. I’m eeling absolutely stuffed – i almost never have my main meal this early. Hopefully this will roll me through to early evening soup & set me up for a good FD tomorrow.

Whatever the day brings, go gently x

Day 17 USA/DC NFD
hello to all. I apologize for being pretty absent lately. Just too much going on at this end. But I am happy to report that I am staying pretty constant at 132, give or take a pound or less. Just really need to stay away or limit crackers! Ah crackers, I LOVE crackers. so maybe I need to decide which I want more – crackers or staying at 132! hmmmm, that seems to be the question.
Am still not consuming any alcohol – since Jan 1st. Now considering staying on this path through lent. I don’t miss it anymore and I sleep better, by a long shot, so who knows. Maybe only when I am out at dinner – but that may be a long time coming given covid.
It’s pretty cold here – so a bit of an impairment to long walks. I am grateful for my peloton and my yoga zoom classes – they have kept me at some semblance of sane.
Stay strong everyone, life certainly knows how to throw hardballs, I think we, or at least I, need to learn how to deal with them as opposed to avoid them or get angry about them.
:))))

Day 17 Minnesota, US NFD

Yesterday I held intake to 1100 cals, so a good CD. Planning on a FD tomorrow. Staying ZBC, DTF (until Sunday, actually) and “trying” to get in 30 minutes of uninterrupted exercise. Hitting my step goals so far this week.

@northgeorgia Everyone has to find what works for them as individuals in this WOL, and it sounds like you are finding your way. We’re all cheering for you!

@stitchincarol So glad you are feeling better already. I hope that continues. Very thoughtful of you to take precautions to protect others, just in case it’s Covid! You really never know, as some people are barely sick with it. It’s just such a strange viral illness that way. I also think that a bit of non stressful exercise seems to help me recover from illness more quickly. Maybe it does increase circulation and boost the immune response a bit. I haven’t actually researched that…it’s just something I’ve noticed for myself, as long as it’s not a tiring work out or a big push. It sounds like the hypnotist you’re working with knows what she’s doing. Will she record the sessions and then you can listen at home going forward? That seems to be the best way to keep the positive results going. Then, can always go back for a refresher if you find it’s losing effectiveness or if you’re wanting some other focus.

@i-hate-lettuce I’m glad to hear Mrs. IHL is looking after your presentation, lol! Men generally need that little extra push to replace their old clothes. Sounds wonderful to me, to replace the old baggy stuff with the new svelte pieces! I’m looking forward to doing that for myself! I’m kind of chuckling at the visual that I get when you say the Mrs. IHL thinks your pants over your bum are so baggy that she insists you cover that area with a coat! That must be something of a vagabond look! Or an American Rapper? 😉🤣

Good luck to all fasters and mindful eaters!

Day 18 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Good day yesterday,then slept so well in the one position, full of energy today. It’s as though a tide has turned or something. Yay.

As I type birds are tweeting, the sun has risen, Spring is springing.
Oh how I laughed @i-hate-lettuce at your story of trousers with baling twine 😆 An image flashed into my head….Selwyn Frogget…remember that old TV programme? 😄

@stitchincarol….good thoughts for your Covid test.

@northgeorgia, I believe that you have paraphrased @at‘s mantra above when you said you have come too far now to give up. Best wishes…we are all in different stages, my plateau is looking very familiar now, but no way will I give up.

@flourbaby, haven’t heard from you in a while, hope all ok and the egg craving hasn’t turned you away from us 😀
Happy Thursday all.

Day 18 – USA/GA – NFD

@i-hate-lettuce That is sound advice. I plan to stick to 5:2, get rid of most of the snacking, and ease into control of my meals/calories on weekdays. In fact, I just repacked my lunch for today. I have a sandwich and some grapes and a little bit of Baby Bel cheese. Out went the Pringles, Rice Crispy Treat, and snack sized Kit-Kat. In went some Cheez-It Snap Thins, a banana, and a hard-boiled egg. The calories are about the same, BUT I bet it will be so much more satisfying that I will either not eat it all or it will at least stop me from snacking on higher calorie chips and candies later in the day (my real goal to try and reduce additional calories over the long-term). I also am finding that a larger but satisfying lunch helps me avoid snacking (as long as the TV isn’t around)!

OK, my deepest morning confessional is over. Today, the scales rocked a bit, so obviously I opted for the new low of 226 lbs! I’m going for another ZBC today!!

Pocket list Thursday day 18
@litprof
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce

ZBC
@northgeorgia

Day 18 – UK – FD500

Busy last couple of days but all good – apologies for not posting yesterday but staying on track so far this month! Tomorrow is weigh day 🤞

Pancake Tuesday was marked by some lemon and sugar pancakes – OH had four and I had one making sure it was part of my FD500 – I could easily have eaten more…………

7am Broga class followed by 9am Aerobic class this morning then lunchtime volunteering at the Parish Centre – 40 meals packed and delivered today!!

Back home enjoying a cup of tea whilst I catch up on here – expecting a couple of deliveries this afternoon. OH is out getting his vaccine!

Pocket List for Thursday Day 18
@litprof FD800
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@at FD500

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@stitchincarol
@ccco
@at – (Dry Feb except for 14th and 26th!)

ZBC 🚫
@northgeorgia
@at – every day!

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@at (today 45min Broga and 50 mins aerobics)

This month I am reminding myself that “If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now”

2nd post

@basyjames and @stitchincarol – 🤣🤣🤣 I could only stop at one knowing that I could have more the next day and so for my late brunch the next morning I had 3!!!!! and really enjoyed them 😋

@stitchincarol – 🤞your positive Covid-19 test leads to no symptoms or only mild ones and nothing more – positive healthy vibes coming your way x