Hi all

Gosh, you take your eye off for a few hours and you miss so much on this forum.

Soooo hungry today. Liquid only and ravenous. Sometimes it is so easy and others not. Plus home early and too early to start counting the hours til bedtime. Yes I know…rock and roll it aint.

On the plus side feel so motivated by November and love the way you have summarised It for us Kay. Stay firm at the pub fasting buddy.

Very well done Louise and Graham on great losses. Louise hope happy remains in control of pukey and any ‘other’ outputs of whatever bug you’ve picked up. Healing thoughts coming your way.

Jean, a good friend of mine had a knee replacement almost 6 months ago and still not really recovered (he is not a baby or anything) his surgeon told him it was the most painful of all the replacement ops and difficult also to be the one looking after him. I can see why it was easy to put back on under those circumstances.

Vi, your resolve in the face of your pain is awesome.

Hope you enjoyed your lunch Audrey. Good luck tomorrow.

Sorry not to mention everyone by name. I do read all of your comments. Come on fasters we are mostly through the day. We can do this. Non fasters loins girded for NiN!

Back to the boillion….oh well….TDEE tomorrow!

Sarah…

It will be a trying day…I saw her Sunday she talked about herself for a full hour an half, Steve fell asleep three times I don’t think she even noticed..lol..lol

I have just text and told her all food is in hand don’t bring anything! Big breadcakes, chocolate, cakes, all arrive I hope she was listening!!

It will be a light day she should of come Friday….

X

That’s me finished come in at 493 calories…

Jean x

Nearly at the end of the FD – skipper/chorizo soup has done it’s job and filled me up, but left enough cals for me to have a little stewed fruit and custard. Off out with the boy in a little while to see if anyone else wants to give him sweets, and leaving my OH to handle the bowl of sweets at home. We’ll see how easy it is to resist a werewolf on your doorstep…he’s pretty fierce!

Hope everyone manages to give their sweets away…
Mx

Hi all

I have had a lovely day… if I feel well tomorrow I am going to try for a fast day….

Night all well done to all the Monday fasters

Audrey

So it is officially the first day of NiN.

I completed successfully yesterday but I found it really so difficult. Not sure if that was because it was a Monday. I usually do a Tuesday but today I have to go out for tea at posh hotel. (Yes tough job etc LOL) It is a work commitment with an external person I don’t find easy. They are taking me and there are just two of us so while I will be able to avoid the whole cream affair they offer, I will have to have a small something.

Anyway I was in bed by 9 last night. Husband had cooked sausages and mash for his supper and there were two cooked sausages left. I love a cold sausage and it was torture. I did seriously consider eating them as I would still have been under 500. I need to think carefully about whether doing liquid only is making me feel more deprived and so eating more on NFDs. Now I think about it, i have lost less since I began doing liquid only but I had put that down to other reasons. I will continue as I am for a while but try to focus on NFDs.

The other thing I have given myself a good talking to about is alcohol. It is clear that during October (3lb total that month loss only compared with 7 in September) I just had far too much and even normally I routinely drink half a bottle on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am going to find it difficult to stop that (embarrassingly!), but it is clear to me this needs to be significantly reduced.

Well done to yesterday’s fasters and good luck to those fasting today. Special thoughts to those who have stalled a bit. Hopefully NIN will be a renewed start. I can do this and so can you! Xx

Morning All,

A dark morning today, a change in the weather TV says….

A strawberry and blueberry breakfast for me….sister will be arriving shortly, so will be missing a bit today.

Carol..
Great news on the 3 lbs off, you must be so pleased. You have your ups and downs…so a good one 😀

Sarah..
Hope the hotel thing goes ok, it’s hard if you are with people you don’t really want to be with. Try your best around the food thing, I am sure it will be better than you think.

Re the alcohol, we are about 18 days now only having one drink with our friends on our lunch out. We seem to be sleeping much better and we are getting not really bothered to have one. I am out on friday with a girls lunch, I am thinking I will have a tonic and coffee…un heard of for me…lol

Audrey..
Hope the blood tests went well and you are fasting today…

Ginette..
Are coming to join us, we are missing you.

Good luck to the fasters today….make it a good one.

Back late afternoon.

Jean x

Morning Everyone,

I feel better, thank god 😊. Thanx for your lovely thoughts made me smile 😊😊.

Well, yesterday (31 oct ) didn’t really go according to plan 😕. 36 hour fast (not planned) but I think the stomach is a lot better for it 😊. 157 calories eaten (smoked salmon). 2.8 litres of water and no exercise…the mind would of liked to but the body was very unwilling lol 😂.

So, today I’m gonna av an easy day 😊. Not eating much so might struggle with 800 calories, def on the 3 litres of water n if mind and bod are willing Zumba tonight 😊.

Carol, fab news on the 3lb loss that’s fab 😊😊.

Sarah, good luck with lunch today, be strong with all that lovely food 😊😊.

Hi Jean, brekkie sounds nice. I hope you have a nice day with yr sister 😊.

Hi Audrey hope the fasting blood tests went well. Can I ask are they for diabetes or something completely different?

Good luck to everyone fasting today and also those who aren’t. Come on November lol 😂

Louise 😊😊💗💗

Morning all, and well done Carol.

Sarah – skippers soup…I’m doing this from memory, and I always make at least a double portion because it fits the tins I have better, and I often have two portions, one at the end of the afternoon and one when the rest of the family eat…
50g chorizo, chopped, and get it in the pan on a low heat to start releasing its own oils
1 decent size onion, chopped, and into the chorizo’s oils
1 can, drained of any type of bean (400g), haricot, butterbean, kidney bean – whatever you have in the cupboard (if I’m making a whole load for the freezer, I mix in all types of beans)
1 stock cube (of any kind…this is a really forgiving recipe!), made up with 300ml of hot water…PLUS another 300ml of water, or more depending on the thickness you like
You can add seasoning, but I don’t think it particularly needs it, and just add a shake of smoked paprika

I let mine bubble away for 10mins last night because I was in a rush, whiz it up with the breville thingy that turns everything to baby food (what’s it called?) and enjoy!

If you keep it nice and thick, it’s also good as a ‘sauce’ for meatballs.

Oh, and crucially, half a pot of the above quantities is about 150cals.

Mx

Carol

I too am going to try the soup…well done on your weight loss. .

Once the Turkey is cooked I will be making my cure all Turkey soup…

Aud

Hey Guys

So yesterday I had my soup just as planned an it was tomato just as planned, but, not as planned, my dad put a ridiculous amount of pasta in it. I don’t think he gets the concept of a FD. Why would he? He did this diet years ago, and thought he could have 800 cals on a FD. So now I have tons of soup in my freezer, which I don’t think I can use on FD’s. What do you guys think?

I will have a noodle-salad tonight. Tomorrow is my last FD.

Hey Carol,
Yay on your loss, so happy that November started on a good note for you

Hey Louise,
Hope you’re doing better, that pukey feeling can be a real bitch

Hey Audrey,
Bronchitis! Ouch. Hope you feel better soon. Take it easy on the fasting and yourself

Hey Jean,
I hope you have fun with your sister despite everything. I can tell you that the other way around, your family constantly telling you “should you eat this and this” is no fun either

Hey Sarah,
Giving something up that you’ve grown used to is never easy. I never liked alchohol. In fact I still have the palet of an 8-year-old, but I’m with you on the first point.

We have a new girl working here, as Thijs is going on paternity leave, and she looks like Miley Cyrus. She’s 5 years younger than me, and talks in this infuratingly didactic way. It will take some getting used to

My best friend just had a baby. I”m trying to be happy for her and I really am, but this is the point where our lives divide forever. She is a mother, I am not and I will never be. It’s just something we’ll never get to share. That makes me sad. I’m still living in the same kind of room I did when I was 12. My circumstances will never really improve. Sometimes that just gets to me.

Like I said. Most of the time I’m an optimist, but sometimes…

How is THIS for being wordy :p
x

Just consumed my tub of salad – a thing unheard of a year ago. But I’ve discovered Caesar salad dressing, and I’ve never looked back! Now I have this purpose built tub designed to keep the dressing separate until lunchtime, and with wee spaces for the chees and the bacon bits…Fabulous!

Vi – I get you with the lives that divide…but I also challenge you a bit if you feel like it, to find a way to stick close to your friend. I’m a late mother, so I was young, free and single when most of my family and friends married and had kids…and I lived with the divide, shrugged my shoulders and let the friendship thing drift. We’re still friends, but I let them get immersed in the changes happening to them and stayed out of it a bit. I have one friend – who I didn’t know well at the time – also single, childless, who became a great friend over the years, but who I noticed also worked REALLY hard at her own group of friends…the married with kids ones. She took an interest, coped with sudden changes in plans, never forgot a birthday or a passion for dragons/dinosaurs/space… And as those kids grew up, she made a big thing of birthdays, of achievements, and she is absolutely included in every thing as the boys have graduated, changed their minds about careers, girlfriends etc. They take her for movies now. She did what I should have done. I am a distant auntie to most of my own nephews and nieces, and un-known to many other young people I could have loved and been loved by.

By contrast, my pal has genuine friends of all generations, and she has been practicing the same thing with my boy since he appeared 7 years ago. Through some rather convoluted circumstances, I now have two new nieces and a nephew that don’t live too far away, and I’m trying to learn from my pal, and be an extra/spare adult in their lives as they grow up.

I know I can bore on about the boy…but then, I can bore on about my dogs, about cars – it’s my occupation, I can bore on about most things. I’m just glad I have a friend who can cope with all of that, all the things that we don’t have in common, and even come to love the really important ones (not the dogs, she’ll never really love the dogs!)

So – wordy back at you, Vi! (and smiley faces, I just still don’t know how to do emoticons!)

Mx

Perfectly acceptable NiN commitment, Graham!

If you look back over the thread, you’ll find we all at times are really glad for a FD to give our bodies a break and re-set the system…it’s nice to be reminded of that on those other days when a FD seems like hard work. Now I just need to decide which day I want that ‘break’ to be…tomorrow or Thursday?

Hi all

So the turkey gate saga is done. .. I asked ian to get something out of the freezer yesterday and he left my turkey breast out overnight. .. luckily I found it this morning as it is in the freezer which is situated in the box room…

So my Christmas turkey is cooked. .. we have had roast turkey with vegetables and one stuffing ball and big drum roll please. …
I AM UNDER 500 KCALS… yes it’s a fast day ….😆😆😆.. just not sure what we are going to eat at Christmas now. ..

Have a good evening all

Audrey

Hi all, so far have managed amazingly well on my liquid fast, but night time is here and that’s when I struggle just away to have an oxo cube. Audrey hope you feel better soon, I used to get bronchitis a lot when I used to smoke and it’s horrible, wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Sarah57 I am with you on the alcohol, I enjoy a vodka at the weekend and to be honest, it’s one of the only luxuries I have these days, so I am just going to work it into my tdee.
Hope everyone else is fine.

Don’t temp me Audrey!!!!, unfortunately having an early night, just never happens with me, I enjoy a bit of time at night to catch up with programmes, when I have gotten my daughter and Hubby to bed. This is when I usually stuff my face, but I will resist (hopefully).

PS Casp, you WILL resist x

Hi guys I wonder if anyone could help me please, I am new and I am wanting to try this diet, I am reading through what to do but I am still unsure, on the days you are ‘normal eating’ I take it that’s healthy eating (do we have a calories range to stick to) then on the 2 days fasting is it 500 calories for a woman please?
Also how you know what calories is in what food, how easy is this to follow please, I am wanting to have another baby and I have quite a bit of weight to lose and was hoping this would help. I would be really grateful for any help please, or some to email me, if that’s allowed? Sorry for all the questions I am just confused by it x

Hi Lynx

At the top of the page there is the resources section. In there you can calculate your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) to see how many calories you should be having. Then on your fast days have 1/4 of that. You can choose ant two days, its up to you. Whatever suits you best. On the other days you eat up to but not more than your TDEE. Do not treat these days as a free for all. Either read the label on the food packaging or just google “calories in a banana” “calories in chicken” etc. Its not that hard. No foods are banned as such, but not all foods are good for you. 2000 calories of vegetables is healthy, 2000 calories of cake and biscuits is not healthy for you. There is no magic involved.

Avoid anything with sugar!! This is not part of 5:2 diet but if you want to eat healthier then I would avoid, sugar, any grain based food like bread, pasta, pizza biscuits cakes etc. Avoid potatoes, rice. Avoid fruit juice, if you want fruit have a whole piece of fruit. Fizzy drinks, sports drinks.
Limit alcohol intake. Avoid anything that says low fat like the plague, it will have huge levels of sugar. Just eat like your mother used to drum into you as a child. Lots of veggies, some fruit, some meat, some dairy. No snacking in between meals.

Hi lovelies,

And welcome Lynxy, I am new here to and there is a lovely group of peeps here who have a vast wealth of knowledge and support for you if you need it 😊😊.

Wow, I have read all your blogs and you do make me smile and laugh and think with the fab lives you lead 😊😊.

Glad everyone is ok.

I’m feeling a lot better this evening. So the 1st November looks like this. No gym (Couldnt face it this morning), 668 calories eaten (still not up to full strength), 3 litres of water and 12,000 steps walked. Oh and a Zumba exercise class.

Stay strong everyone feel like I’ve done a whole month already lol.

Happy fasting tomorrow.

Louise 💗😊😊💗

I just typed a post but accidently came out of the page and lost it!!! Aghhh

I need to sleep so here is the shortened version!

Well done everyone who has posted and had a good day!

I did my fluid only day today and Im with Jean and Steve and doing 800 cals tomorrow into a FD on Thursday.

Keep those goals in mind everyone, its day 2 tomorrow.

Kay

Lynx,

Im a male 55 yo. Youre allowed anything you like on this 5:2 diet. Is every food as healthy as every other food? Absolutely NOT!! Use the resources button at the top of the page to find out your TDEE amount. 2000 cal is a generalisation. Depending on your age weight fitness you will need a different amount of calories. Use it as a guide rather than an absolute value. I tend to fall into what most people consider a strict food eater. I don’t think Im strict, I find it easy to eat healthy so its not a chore for me. I didn’t know what healthy food was so after doing some research it became obvious. I made the switch and I really find it easy to eat healthy. I went from 202 lbs to 156 lbs (46 pound loss) in one year.

If you want to do slimming world that’s up to you. Ask yourself this. Is it working for you? If it is great, if its not why pay money for something that isn’t working? 5:2 is free and it saves you money. Up to you though.

OK so what do I consider to be healthy? I say “I” because not all people agree with my version of what are healthy foods. Sugar and added sugar is not good. Try and get this as low as possible. I think most on this forum would agree on that point. The rest of what Im about to say, there will be people that agree and those that do not. Take on board what you want. Processed grains are bad for you. Examples of processed grains are: bread, pasta, pizza, cakes, biscuits, anything with flour in it basically. The flour is broken down into glucose VERY quickly which causes a huge insulin spike. Insulin is the hormone that directs excess glucose to be stored as fat. Fruit juice is bad for you!! All the fibre has been removed and you are just getting a glucose (sugar) hit. Breakfast cereals and muesli bars are pure junk. Nothing but a sugar hit. Plain oats are marginal (I personally don’t have them). If you buy a lot of processed foods in packets or cans read the labels. If it has more than about 5-7% sugar content put it back on the shelf. Its NOT good for you. Smoothies are not good for you. Smoothies kill your sense of portion control. Would you be able to eat 2 bananas, a cup of berries and 3 peaches and a pint of milk in one sitting? No! Blend it into a smoothie and its not a problem to drink it though. I don’t like smoothies. Protein shakes? Not a big fan of those. They are typically based on whey protein which is not that good a protein and will spike your insulin response. You want to keep insulin levels as low as possible if your goal is to lose weight.

You say you don’t like fruit? Is this all fruits or just particular ones? I personally tend to go for the berry type fruits like strawberries, blueberries. I also like apples and kiwi fruit. Don’t be scared of fats, they keep you satiated for longer. Examples of good fats are: full fat low sugar plain greek yogurt. Nuts like almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts. Avocadoes are fantastic.

Go for your cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, brussel sprouts etc. Zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers are good. Sweeter veggies like peppers and carrots are OK but do contain more sugar. Avoid potatoes at all costs. Not good for you.

This is what a typical day for me. Breakfast, 2 table spoons of full fat yogurt with a handful of nuts and berries. Lunch: 100g can of tuna with a salad. Some nuts or roasted beans for a snack. Dinner: a big bowl of raw veggies made into a salad with some tofu or chicken or tuna. Sometimes I’ll have a veggie curry, no rice. Sometimes a piece of chicken with salad. Sometimes a bean or chick pea curry. Desert, some raw almonds or other nuts. No cashews (sugar content is too high).

Hope that helps. Ask questions. Read the book.

Hey guys,

First of all, thanks for all your kind words yesterday. Though I might have given the wrong impression. The girl I mentioned is not my best friend so much as my oldest friend. We aren’t close, we hardly even speak. With all my relationships, it’s like if I don’t put the effort in nobody will even talk to me. I used to think this was because I was not likable, but I realised it’s because my life is a lot more “uninvolved”, shall we say, than most people’s.

Anyway, today is a FD. I can already tell it’s going to be a long one. A hard one. Oh well, at least it’s the last one

Hey Kay, Minols
I’m glad you each found a way of coping with the different path your lives have taken. Minols, your pal sounds really cool. I would make that sort of effort too, but kids tend to be very freaked out by me. Even my nieces, and they really should know better 😛 It’s always hard when you feel closed off from the people who were closest to you. Even say, when you’re not skinny and they all are. It’can make you feel isolated. I’m sure we’;ve all felt that to one degree or another. I’m just very thankful to have you all.

Hey Audrey
I’m late in mentioning this I’m sure but those Christmas cakes ( which I had had to look up the recipe t0 ) look really lovely. Don’t even want to think how many calories there are in one of those bad boys 😛 Good job on that FD

Hey Sarah,
We share a similar outlook on life, as well as a love for vanilla and pizza. I still think you’re a boss, for doing all those LF’s

Hey Graham,
You sound like a really fun uncle. I hope you’re settling in well to the diet

Hey Louise
You’re a champ too, managing those steps and Zumba! while your still under the weather

Hey Lynxy
This is one of the most adaptable diets that you’ll ever see, it’s very easy to fit it into any lifestyle. All of the advice people gave you is really good and I can only add one thing: don’t be too strict, and be kind to yourself. You’ve already taken the first step. That’s a good thing!

Hey Jean
Glad your day with your sister was nice. Enjoy the peace and quiet

Hey Carol,
You seem like a lovely grandma, good job on getting back into the swing of things

Hey Caspdexy
Nice job on your FD!

Sorry if I missed anybody
Have a good day!
x

Morning all

Successful fast day for me yesterday hurrah. …

I have now got 6 portions of turkey stuffing balls and sausages in the freezer plus 7 portions of turkey soup… the jury is now out on what we will have at Christmas but as I am at mums leading up to it can decide later, perhaps just gammon…

Thanks bigbooty for the in depth explanation for lynx I knew someone else could do it better than me…

We are on spaghetti bolognese tonight, then may go for a 2nd fast tomorrow perhaps turkey soup? HeheHe lol

Have a good day all, together we are stronger

Audrey

Morning all – just checking in. Going to try and keep it low today and ease myself in to tomorrow’s FD. Salad planned for lunch, and meatballs in…skipper soup tonight! Can’t get enough of the stuff, eh? But at least it means it will be ready made for tomorrow.

Have a good one, everybody.

Mx