This is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing your story.

Mine is a similar story. I share your euphoric feeling, really motivational. I have full medical booked in Sept to get full stats and can’t wait. I should easily hit targets. Have been on since Jan and so far lost 35 lbs. it don’t seem a lot but it is the long term outlook that feels good. As you say you are in full control. I treat every fast day as a special day and use recipes from Mimi’s books, Fat Hairy Bikers – their second book is much better than the first, and some from Anthony Worrall Thompsons GI/GL books. Try and have two meals within say five to six hours on a fast day and try 200/400 or 300/300 calorie split. Spice it up, taste it, enjoy the experience. Buy special ingredients, cook special food, and feel special. I use HIIT on Mon/Thursday fast days, and I walk a lot more. Had to move one day in last six months and that was because had two teeth pulled out! Thought it was a good day to fast and recovery really quick. No infection and no painkillers after! Previous diets my infection resistance has been low, catch everything going around. Haven’t had cold or anything esp when all around had a good dose! Wife also lost 21 lbs and she ecstatic. Holidays easy as for one meal had Vietnamese rolls from supermarket that are like sushi but wrapped in mouli slithers not rice. Steak and salad no dressing for dinner type meals. Only on holiday. If can’t prepare food night before for work, then get tinned soup with big chewy bits but watch calories are low – good emergency food. Also find good idea to ensure you chew lots at meals, like rawish vegetables etc. FHB recipes are dynamite, if only they marketed a 5:2 diet book based on other recipes! Don’t lose heart, if not losing weight one week don’t despair. After all you are removing 4000 calories from your diet every week!!! What you consume in calories minus what you expend equals weight gain/loss in long term. Simple equation that all diets overlook. 4000 calories is one pound, so you will lose that every week over the long term. Put that firmly in your mind whenever you have doubts – don’t forget it! Another fact that the diet industry conveniently forgets to understand and why so many diets fail in long term, and no-one can tell me more about yo-yo dieting, to follow a diet day in and day out over the long term, sorry but you need to be OCD!! This diet is so different. It’s concept is two days a week, watch your intake for a few weeks to start until you know what to eat on non fast days, and treat fast days as special. They are! Other couple of useful tips, I used to drink instant coffee with stacks of milk and three sugars! I now enjoy black coffee and black tea and try and cut out sugar all together. You can over time and you will. Add that to the mix and you will find it easier. If you like coffee, try espresso, get the taste without the guilt, and virtually no calories. Sorry I didn’t mean to steal your show, so 1001 congratulations to you and thank-you for inspiring me to comment on a forum, something I have never done, but your story motivated me. Thank-you so much.