Heya everyone

So today i started my 1st fast. No breakfast (not a great brekkie eater so no problem there). Lunch was about 275 calories and i will have a very light supper. Drinks so far are water and 1 cup of coffee, semi-skimmed milk and 3/4 teaspoon of sugar (reduced from 1, just can’t drink it without!). Tonight am of to the local pool for a session of aquafit and a lovely long sauna. I find i don’t get hungry in a sauna, wonder if i can stay there 24/7….

I am currently 209lbs and am 55 so am in need of shedding that weight, especially as i am apple shaped and so at high risk from all the nasties.

3 years ago when i was ill and had to reduce my weight and increase fitness before treatment i managed to lose 35lbs but that all went back on as soon as i was better! I managed the weight loss by cutting carbs and increasing my exercise, i was doing 6 classes a week at 1 point! These were pilates, aquafit, body balance and yoga. This time i plan on 3 aquafit classes. This should leave me with some social time!

I am looking forward to seeing the weight drop and stay off. I like the idea of it being a lifestyle change as opposed to a diet. There’s plenty of wriggle room to allow for high days and holidays and i like the idea of a 1 day fast to maintain my weight when i reach my target. That’s easily achievable.

My fast days are going to be Mondays and Wednesdays, the rest of the time i will just try and stay mindful of what i am eating and reduce my carb intake by cutting them out of all but 1 meal a day, usually evening time as i have a light snack, my main meal is lunch times. Sometimes i eat breakfast but i can easily go till 12.30 and just have lunch.

My pitfalls are my weekends away (every other w/e), i know i eat and drink far more than i need to but it has become habit and that is going to be hard to change.

Looking forward to getting to know you all and to sharing the high and lows of my 5:2 experience.

Thanks for reading

NeaZ

Heya Tramcaur,

I was going to do Monday and Thursdays but then remembered that on Thursdays i am likely to be eating at a cafe (a not very good one either) so calorie counting and portion control just wont happen so as Friday to Sunday are high temptation days i went for Wednesday instead.

I am not to bothered if i eat less when resuming my normal diet, my understanding from reading the book is that it is a welcome side effect from the fast days. Will have to wait and see what happens next week. If i find it hard to do the second fast after only a day reprieve i will have to rethink but i suspect its the fear of being hungry that is more of an issue than actually doing it. Today has gone well, just had my supper, was a ham sandwich but i carefully weighed the bread (i sliced it really thinly so in effect it was just 1 thick slice) the merest smear of mayo (i weighed the bread after i had spread it on both slices and it weighed 5g) and 2 small slices of brunswick ham with fat removed. I calculate i have enough calories left to indulge in a satsuma if i am hungry later. I will also see if i can do with a late breakfast or even go without tomorrow.

Now off to aqua and sauna, hopefully the sauna will suppress my hunger, must help with all the water i drink will in it!

It will be interesting to see how well we do. I like the forums, some good support going on and it helps to read how others have dealt with issues and temptations. I will also be watching you to see how you are doing. Hopefully in a few months we will see that reflection in a window and think *wow, they look good* only to realise it is ourself!

Shaziiii, from what i have read your fast still counts, you went over but hey, the diet police aint going to be gunning for you! You can always hit 500 the next time. If you are anything like me its still less than a quarter of a normal days calories. I think the main thing is to do your best and not to beat yourself up if you don’t manage it each time.

Thanks JulieGZ, i will have a look for the soup.

So quick round up of today. Back to normal diet but as i said earlier i noticed a marked decrease in appetite. Had a sauna, did my aqua class and had another sauna. Pushed myself in class and came out buzzing, much more than usual. Found myself bouncing and deep breathing when walking to the car. Had to laugh at myself cos i felt so good and must have looked a right idiot! Love it.

So its Monday morning and its fasting time. Am looking forward to it. Feeling positive about it. Yesterday was my *treat* day but i did go without breakfast (in fact was a mini fast to start the day as i had no food from 8pm Saturday till 1pm Sunday and i managed 30 lengths of the pool (only a 25m pool, but still good for me) as well as the saunas. Got a quiet day, only 1 client to see (am a caregiver) and that’s first thing. So i think today will be a breeze.

Good to hear from you Trancaur, hows it going so far? Just starting to feel hungry but i have worked out my lunch, spinach dhall (ok so i cheated and its shop bought). Will have half for lunch with rivita and the rest for supper with more rivita. My treat for the day is some chilled San Pellegrino, as its water i can have as much as i want… So i should easily be under my 500 for the day.

A good dog walk will certainly blow the cobwebs away today, its windy here as well but as i am in the east the worst of the weather will miss me. As usual its grey with a hint of rain.

Ouch bad weather will certainly be hitting you! Never mind, just think of the calorie burn as you try to shut the front door and catch the dog as it becomes airborne……

I remember you saying about sipping the pepsi max, not one for me, hate the taste of sweeteners so i do without. So far today i am caffeine free! I honestly can’t remember the last time i did a day without, used to have bad addiction, got withdrawals if i didn’t have a cup every 3-5 hours apart from when i was sleeping, i would be grey and shaking with a migraine. I wouldn’t have gone without but as last fast i only had 1 and a half cups and no ill effects thought i would give it a miss and use the calories for food. I have to have some sugar in coffee, milk as well if it isn’t a fresh brew. So far its been fine, thought i might feel sleepy but i seem to be as alert as usual (not very!).

2nd fast of the week commencing… Am feeling positive about it although this maybe a tough one as i fasted Monday so there has only been a days grace. This is hopefully going to be my routine form now on. Feeling hungry so will reach for the water. Lunch will be half another indian side dish from waitrose plus 2 rivita and supper will be the same. This seems to be working for me.

Coffee is out again today, just hope i dont get as tired as i did Monday, don’t want to fall asleep during aquafit….. Feeling peckish atm so will fill up on some water and think about something else. Got 2 clients to visit am so that will take me to lunch time. Unfortunately i have to do breakfast for them both.. That will be my challenge of the day, to cook and not to eat as well…..

I know i have lost a pound or 2 and with the exercising i am doing my body feels a lot leaner. I made a load of whipped sugar scrub yesterday, used some in the shower after aqua and sauna so today my skin feels wonderful and silky. Thought i would have a bit of a pamper session as a reward. Funny how sugar applied to the outside of the body is good for it!

Oh i am doing 5:2 Tramcaur, not 4:3, It’s work that stops me doing Monday/Thursday. So have no choice but to do Monday/Wednesday as I know Fri/Sat/Sun are useless to me as fast days, far to much temptation!

I thought i would feel hungrier than i do with only the 1 day of normal eating between the 2 but if anything the reverse is true. Its now approaching lunch time and while i am hungry it isn’t excessive. In fact i felt surprisingly satiated with just water for about 4hrs after waking.

Tramcaur, one day at a time is a good way of looking at life. We spend to much time planning months even years of our life ahead of time.

QuietOne, so it would be a poe instead of a diet….. 🙂

I am so getting this poe, am thinking of all sorts of things i can eat on a fast day that i consider treats, just have to keep them in the 500 range. I do look my fizzy water with a squeeze of lemon/lime and have found it surprisingly easy to have caffeine free days, something i would have thought impossible a few years ago.

JulieGZ, Good luck with the frock, sounds like you are well on the way. 2.7kg down. I am no where near as organised as you. My meal planning consists of deciding when i am shopping what i might want, afraid to say its not usually home made but i do read the ingredients to make sure its all natural but its balanced by my non fast days when i only eat home cooked food. I am fortunate to live with my french 83 y/o mother who likes to cook every day, from scratch. Spoiled or what eh!

Do you intend to carry on after the wedding? I feel i have made a positive change for life and intend to switch to 6:1 to keep myself at a healthy weight when i have hit my goal.

Funny thing is i am sitting in bed writing this on a non fast day with the first hungry tummy rumbles i have had. I came in from my aquafit class, had a tangerine instead of the 4 squares of dark chocolate with hazelnuts that mum had left out. Could easily go down stairs to get something else but am going to slug back some water and go to sleep instead…..

Sweet dreams all.