Hi All.

Hi Hemmy

I’m so sorry that you seem to put on, remember scales go up and down on a regular basis. So you may be up a lb today and don tomorrow. My weight has fluctuated by 4lb this week. This is what will happen if you use the scales on a regular basis. I do use them often when I have not lost the week before but when I am losing I don’t. I think that when you first start and it is now 7 months for me this is what you want to do. I found that on starting I felt pleased and annoyed with myself at these ups and downs. Then I realised after a few weeks that I needed to set one day a week that I recorded my weight and although I cut it down from daily to two or three times a week I was happier with this.

There are any number of reasons that our weight goes up and down. Water retention, food in transit or just being women. So don’t despair. It will soon cone down if you are sticking to the rules. So log your weight on the same day every week and as long as you are on that downwards trend that is fine. I use my fitness pal app to log my weight and also Weight diary. The second one gives me my BMI as well as logging my weight.

Yes I’m really pleased that the sausages were good. I shall get them on a regular basis.

I have stayed the same this week. I am hoping it is because the hot weather has returned, but who knows why. It seems at the moment that I have slowed don a little. So I shall put all of my efforts into next week again.

I had a good week food wise and even did a little more exercise, but I think ankles are a little swollen a sure sign of water retention for me.

I am weighing myself a little more often now as this encourages me to be strict when I am not losing anything. If I am losing it goes back to once a week as I like the surprise……now it keeps me on track!!

Hi Karen

I am so pleased to see you have had a loss in size and weight, that is always encouraging. I normally measure myself every 6/8 weeks. Although it has been quite a while this time, maybe I am due to measure myself.

Yes I started with target weight and I was told to always underestimate the amount of exercise I do. Not hard in my case!! I did work it all out on my fitness pal app, it adjusts the weight loss to your calorie intake. I find that this is a realistic amount of calories to eat for me. Where are TDEE is total daily energy expendidyure and if you want to lose weight slowly fine but most people want to lose it at 1/2lbs a week and this sometimes doesn’t happen.

I have been more active this week though.

Have a good weekend All, the sun is shining here!! 🙂

Ginette

Well done Annette….
Slow and steady is the way to go to give your skin a chance to catch up.
Have a great week.
Fast day for me tomorrow….lynda

Thank You!
I started this way of life as a round(11 st 11 lb) short 52 year old in January 2013.I followed the FD religiously and struggled with the concept of ‘eating normally’ for the other 5. I clearly had no idea what ‘normal’ might be and was hiding food. Over the months I gradually shrank and became more aware of eating just for the sake of it and beyond being full. The weight has shot up over Christmas(put on 10 lb each time) and then spent the next year trying to shift that again. I lose a bit, put it back and have been doing this for months now. Clearly I was consuming too many calories. So I wrote down what I was eating for a couple of weeks but I realized that I had no idea of how much different food ‘costs’ in calorie terms. There is nothing magic to losing weight, it is just maths, so although I have always balked at calorie counting, there was no choice if I wanted to lose more weight and keep it off.
I used this site to work out what my TDEE was for the weight that gives me a BMI of 26.1(9st 12 lb). The difference between my then weight(10st 7lb) was only 65 calories as a moderate exerciser. On the basis that this would be a weight that I haven’t seen for 20+ years I thought that it might be a good idea to learn what those 1800 calories looked like.Last week was week 1 of the experiment which seems to confirm what I had long suspected, it doesn’t matter much in calorie terms what exercise I might do, it all rests on what I put in my mouth!My plan is to continue to write it all down with a calorie running total for the rest of the month and see what happens to the body beautiful. I don’t hide food anymore and do eat a more healthy diet with smaller portions,but there is some way to go yet with portion control. Very much a work in progress.

Hi Annette

It seems if you have a good plan. I found that exercise stops me eating so much of certain foods. I don’t crave the sweet treats so much. If you do Hiit though it really does help lose it and if you build more muscle that is good to burn more calories as well. So it is worth doing some.

Hi Hemmy

Ah you have found out about the calories now have you. Many foots are surprising and until you check them out you won’t know. I have just eaten 6 plums from the garden, I know they are high calories I shall find out how high in a minute!! They looked so nice once I had picked them that I had to indulge. It is a non fast day and a day when I relax, so that was ok really.

The only reason I think not to weigh daily if you want to is if your emotions are effected so much that you feel like throwing in the towel. At the moment I am weighing about three times a week as I don’t want a surprise on the day I record my weight. I know I will fluctuate even more over the summer.
I can remember I had gone a couple of weeks a few years ago before 5:2 with very little loss, then suddenly one week I lost 7lbs crazy!!

Eggs are fine from a cholesterol point of view now and I eat them a lot as well. They go well with so many things.

It is really finding what works for you and I also know someone who has brunch and dinner and this suits her. We are all individuals, I really don’t enjoy breakfast and so that is easy to miss, no longer will anybody convince me it is the most important meal of the day. For me I would rather eat lunch about 2.30 – 3.30 and dinner about 7.30 – 9pm. Of I eat breakfast it triggers hunger and then I am always looking for the next meal.

Karen how did your weekend of fasting go?

Fasting tomorrow still on three days a week it helps me stay in control, too many nice foods out there now and such lovely fruit.

Anyone else fasting tomorrow?

Ginette

Ginette

Hi all

Well done Annette and Hemmy on your losses this week.

Ginette….noooo! I didn’t fast over the weekend…that would be too difficult! FD for me today then another on Thurs. This pattern really suits my lifestyle. I am weighing on a Sat am, which is what I’ve done for ages so happy to stick with that. Think I’m going to follow your lead, Ginette and measure less often. Then (hopefully) it will be a good number!

Hope the day is going well for fasters and for those for whom it is a NFD..enjoy!!

Karen
Xx

Hi Hemmy

I had that one week and the weight loss was counted the week after, you feel as if you are already on the way like that. Well done on your loss.

Hi Karen

Well I must have got that really mixed up. I did think that I could never do that either.

Hi Annette

Yes until you are really sure of calories this is the best way forward. I still always weigh certain foods like meat as that changes and one chicken breast can be very different to another.

I had my lovely Heck sausages and have got a few left for later in the week. I must get some more!!

I hope you all had nice fast days if you were fasting today.

Ginette

Good morning all. x

Today is a FD for me… anyone else.

Have determination this morning to do this. Failed Monday but today is a new day.

No breakfast 7 glasses of water and I think my trusted eggs in some shape or form. Omelette is usually a good one.

Have a great day whatever you are doing my friends. x

Afternoon one and all!
Lost a 1.5 pound this week well pleased with that it goes to show,I had 2 nights out on the vodka over the weekend but got straight back on 5:2 Monday and have managed to lose.
Fast day tomorrow
Lynda

Happy Friday all!

Well done Lynda! My 2 x FD are completed for this week. It’s amazing how mindful you become in a short space of time about what you put in your mouth and learn to use precious calories wisely. Also good to concentrate the mind on not eating until you are really hungry.

Keep going to all those on a FD today x

All enjoy your day despite terrible summer weather!

Karen
Xx

Good morning all 🙂

Yay! 0.8 kg loss this week. Really pleased. I’m a third of the way to my target so that feels great and so do my clothes!

Good thoughts with all doing FDs over the weekend x

Onwards and downwards indeed!

Karen
Xx

Hi All

I haven’t tried this yes but it is worth trying according to comments.

Chicken and mango salad 108 calories from Aldi

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1606592752939209&set=pcb.827239900725747&type=1&relevant_count=2

Ginette

Hi All,
Last week 5 NFD up to my TDEE with x2 500 cal FD= lost 2 lb. This week I have eaten more than my TDEE and despite 2 FD= weight stayed the same only because I ran x3 times and clocked up some miles. Losing weight is just maths. Lesson learned. Back to the groove next week……

Hi Lynda

I always weigh on a Saturday before I relax for the weekend. I could never weigh on a Monday, it would show all my sins!!

Hi Annette

It seems you are putting on the work and then undoing it, try what I do and that it strict in the week but relax at weekends. It works a treat for me. Of course I don’t go too mad at the weekends just a little. I have learnt when to stop now. Also I have a week to repair the damage and show a loss. 🙂

I am only in competition with myself. So far in 7 months I have got away with not putting any weight on so I am really pleased at that. It has been a close call some weeks though!!

I look forward to seeing you back to your normal self next week.

Hi Hemmy

Yes it is the ONLY diet I have ever stuck to. I even hesitate to call it a diet as it is really just a way of life now.

I have had the work on my car done and now just need to book it back in for an MOT next week. The garage would have charged more for the work I had done so I shall be pleased if it passes now.

So sorry to hear that you have lost your partner. It must be hard to adapt to life on your own.

I hope 5:2 has made you feel more positive. It has me. I lost someone in tragic circumstances last September and it is hard to come to terms with. He always wanted me to lose weight, the shock of it stopped me eating and then I decicided I had to have control somewhere and so started 5:2. It really has helped focus my mind on something else.

Enjoy your Sunday all, I hope you are all losers next week, in the nicest possible way of course! 🙂

Ginette

Hi Annette

Yes counting calories really does focus the mind. I know how much of an eye opener it can be. Remember though that once in a while if you eat out to relax. As long as you are in control you won’t go too mad. Of course you have to get in control soon, I’m hoping that will happen sooner than you think. I know it is length and boring but I have always counted and weighed on fast days. Now I still do it on the odd week or two just to remind myself. For most people who eat without doing this once the have started and start losing weight it becomes second nature. For those who don’t do this and don’t lose weight…….sadly they often leave thinking that this way of life is the problem.

I would suggest trying my fitness pal. This will help you set your goal and you can choose to lose a certain amount a week. I chose 1lb as this of course does not take into account the fast days. I have found this to be a more realistic calorie goal. Remember TDEE stands for total daily energy expenditure so you should eat below that, I think many people don’t realise that. My TDEE is over 2000 calories but on my fitness pal it is about 1550. That to me is more realistic and it works. I am strict in the week but I relax at weekends. I now never eat breakfast as this starts me looking for food. I eat a late lunch and then dinner with maybe a snack at tea time such as fruit and yogurt or sugar free jelly and youghurt.

I hope this helps.

Ginette

Good morning Fast Friends x

Yay Yay Lol I am so thrilled to say I lost 1lb this week. 6lbs .. in 3 weeks. I could not have been happier with a lottery win this morning. Lol

After my bad start on Monday .. had a brilliant Wed and Sun. Both days went really well and exact food recorded for another F day.
I do feel soo much better already … 3- 2lbs bags of suger Yippeee I imagine them all from my waistline.lol
This weeks 2 days will be Wed and Fri.

Hope everyone is doing well …I agree Ginette and Annette its best to weigh stuff out on F day. Still am amazed about the size of an oz of chedder cheese. Would just pop that in my mouth while cooking a meal.

My daughter has also cutback on food. I have noticed a big difference in the fridge of the amount of cheese butter and milk we are using in a week. Eating lots more fruit .. veg ,,, salad which is so cheap at Aldi at the moment. Yay

Annette you did well to keep stable this week ..doing the extra exercise paid off. x

I wish had started this last year .. it is really helping me to come back to life after 3 sad years. Even dressing up more now … wearing all my clothes daily as they will be too big… I tell my self. lol Not spending the day in dog walking jeans.

Thank you friends for helping along the way. A good week for all. x

hemmy
Thanks, but it took 15 miles running during the week just to keep stable.
Enjoy the clothes as your shape changes all over, they soon become redundant.

Hi Annette

You will get there. It is down to planning. The trouble is when there is a range of food on offer this can be difficult to make the right choices.

Hi Hemmy

Well done on another 1lb loss, that is really starting to move. How old is your daughter? As you shop in Aldi have you tried the chicken and mango salad? I keep for getting it. I think the mango is in a sauce pot so I may choose not to use this. I think it is about 108 calories. I am never sure about fruit and salad (apart from tomatoes of course).

Yes 1oz of cheese seems minute. I have just bout some cheese and bacon smash as I have seen a recipe for smash pizza. I have to see if I can find some low fat mozzarella. This should be intriguing!!

Sadly the car has failed again, this time it was the handbrake. I am waiting for my son to find out from the mechanic what needs doing now. I really would like my car back by this weekend as I can’t even go shopping. 🙁

I suppose the good news is that I am rooting around in the freezer to see what I can have and so I will have a much emptier freezer. My neighbour might take me shopping as we sometimes do a late night trip.

Fast day today, I am heading towards my half way mark. So today is one of three this week.

Have a good fast day for all of you fasting.

Ginette

Evening all

Well done Ginette and Hemmy on your losses this week 🙂 !

FD for me today and it’s gone fine. I find mid to late aft the worst time so try to keep busy then once I’m thru that it’s not so bad!

Think my tastes have changed since starting this regime: love cheese but haven’t had any. Not much chocolate either. If I feel the need I have one square of 85% and I haven’t had that every day.

Hope today has gone well for all on a FD 🙂

All stay focused!

Karen
Xx

Hi, this is my first post as I have only just started with 5:2. This is now my second week and I have definitely lost volume, my clothes tell me so. I did not weigh myself in the beginning, simply because I could not face the scales. I shall measure myself in due course and contribute to the tracker.

I never tried this approach before, and find the science and evidence/comments here absolutely fascinating.

I definitely feel better, clearer-minded, more energetic.

My fascination with chocolate/sweet foods has disappeared. I never thought I would write that sentence. I still like them, but can stop or have only little.

If this is the first week, I wonder where this journey will take me.

Judging by my progress so far, this is indeed the answer I have been looking for.

Hi Ginette, hi everyone.

I live in London,and work as a Deputy Manager, very long hours. I was worried fasting would affect my ability to concentrate and perform, but found the opposite to be true.

Thank you for the link to the 10-week thread.

I am 1,77m and about 90kg, that is my guess, not yet dared to step on the scales, I would like to lose 10kg for now, and then see how I feel and what naturally happens.

Looking back, I know that I am at my most comfortable at about 70kg.

Shall keep you updated, and read a little more to find out about people’s journeys.

🙂

Hi All

Isabel, I am sure you will be surprised at how quickly you can lose it especially at first. Always set small targets so that you will reach them fairly quickly. This is motivating and easily achievable. I set myself half a stone at a time. Maybe if you think in Kg you need to set 3kg a time which is nearly the same.

Hemmy, poor you having wine at hand what a temptation this can be. Maybe you need to both have a pact and only drink at weekends. This will at least limit it. At least she likes healthy food.

Car is in another garage and will have an MOT Thursday. So I need to wait and find out what work needs doing.

I hope everyone is having a good week, fast day for me tomorrow.

Ginette

Thank you tech

Very quick removal. It is annoying when this happens.

Ginette

Hi F Friends x

Hope everyone fasting today is doing okay. 2.30pm now… had a busy morning walking and giving the upstairs a really good clean. Just sat down to my lunch.

Today decided to shake it up a bit and just go for carbs instead of my normal protein day.

Just had 2 slices of toast with a scraping of marmite on one and marmalade on the other and a peach .. cup of tea. Feeling really full now.

Will repeat this at 7pm. Drinking 7 glasses of water with a dash of lemon.

I do love carbs although I know they say protein is longer filling. Think I just want to enjoy this. All trial and error along the way I guess. We just have to find the right way for us. lol

Ginette I am sending healing vibes to your car. x

How’s everyone else’s day going. Happy day .x

Hi all

Welcome to the forum Isabel and welcome back to 5:2 Jammy. Hope all goes well for you: the forum is great.So supportive and encouraging. Also really informative about any topic you’re unsure of.

Good going Hemmy!!Good idea to keep busy and take your mind off things..and get a sparkly house for all your efforts. Got to be win win!!

Ginette..I wouldn’t say I find it ‘easy’ as expect to hit a plateau at some stage. But I do think it takes a few weeks to get the routine and rules sorted in your head. Feel I’ve cracked the theory so need to keep making sure the practice lives up to it!

Keep focused to all who have a FD today x

Karen
Xx

Ginette

Your weight loss is absolutely amazing! You must be so pleased with your journey so far.

Those numbers are incredible!

You are an inspiration to all!

Enjoy those treats tomorrow 🙂

Karen

Xx