Hi again,

Welcome, Ryan. Hope you’ll stay for a while!

kygirl: no worries. I had a terrible week and am struggling to get back on track. I gained 6 pounds in four days, so you can imagine what that did my confidence. But I can empathize with your stress levels, though, honestly, I can’t imagine having my mother live with me. I’d either voluntarily take on a starvation diet until I died, or eat myself to death. Either way, death would have to be the answer. I’m kidding (sort of). I love my mother, just so long as she lives a good ways from me. And I’m sure she feels the same way about me.

Anyway, good luck to everyone with the impending weekend! Don’t forget to get out of the house, if you can!

Welcome ryanvinedale, that’s a great loss for you, certainly motivation to keep going. I also do my FD’s M/W/F and find it pretty easy if I’m prepared. It’s the exercise that I need to push myself into.

kygirl44, our oldest child is trying to go into the military and was told to gain weight as she is too skinny, I wish I could give her a little of mine. Hope your Mom gets the answers she needs with the tests and you get back to your zen so you can restart your FD again.

Today is a non fast day for me and of course there is nothing in the house to eat, I guess that’s a good thing. Monday and Wednesday went great and tomorrow I’m fasting again to finish off my week. I’ll weight myself Saturday morning to see where I’m at.

Yay MPW and FastTimes!!! Congrats on your losses – they are losses no matter how small they are! You’re going in the right direction!

I had my second fast day yesterday and it went fine – even though my husband felt like he needed to snack on kettle chips and drink a beer that he assured me, repeatedly, I would have really loved… 😐

Today was my weigh day and I only weighed and didn’t measure because I can’t find the measuring tape I just got. But, it was still great because I’m down to 195!! So that’s a total of 11 lbs! I was so happy – and it was 195 on the button – so VERY close to going down to the 194 range. 🙂 🙂

I think this goes to show that even when you are doing well, your weight will still yo-yo (hence the 199 last week). I will try to keep that in mind in the future when things aren’t looking so rosy. But for now – VERY happy about the scale this morning.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Congrats to everyone on your big losses!!! LacerX: your loss is an encouragement to me – I’m hoping it just goes to show that even when the scales go up, they will eventually come back down. I’m almost anxious for my weigh-in Monday; I hope it’s good!

Nice job sanguinepenguin! More than a pound a week is above average so nothing to scoff at for sure!

I don’t think I would try fasting through a party – I know myself too well for that! I love party food and don’t go to those type of things often so would want to dig in to whatever they were offering. 🙂 In fact, one of the things I like so much about this way of eating is that I can mold it around my week to make my chance of succeeding as good as possible. That’s important to me.

Also, I’m trying not to let my weight affect my feelings too much. I figure, if my weight is higher than I was expecting, I’m going to fast my two days that week. If my weight is lower than I was expecting, I’m going to fast my two days that week. As long as the overall trend is down, then it’s working for me because it’s a part of my lifestyle which will always include natural ups and downs. I just want to live without always thinking of my weight and I feel like I’m really succeeding with this.

Congrats Janey! Sounds like you’re going to meet that goal no problem!

Fast day for me today too – usually Mondays are easier for me since I’m re-setting for the week so not too much of a problem so far, but come Thursday for my second fast day I’m in the arm eating boat for sure. 🙂

Big salad with Tuna on the menu for tonight – looking forward to it very much!!

Congrats MassPoodle!!! That’s awesome! I’m happy to hear everyone is doing so well. 🙂 Good job on us all!

Hello USA’ers, chiming in from Hawaii. Coming back to IF after a few years (why, oh why did I stray???). We generally eat low carb as our lifestyle. Beginning of the year I acknowledged that I had gained back the 20 pounds I’d lost the previous year again (and again and again). Went on Low Carb-High Fat (love all the new data showing fat is not hurting us, it’s actually sugar). Lost about 7 pounds and then stalled out for over a month-damn metabolism (I’m in my mid 50’s). So I’m back here where I belong. I’m lucky, my DH also does his own version of IF and so it is not difficult in that regard.
First FD yesterday, easy-peasy (I know it won’t always be). Had 18 hour fast broken at 2pm and then dinner at 6:30pm (early for us but we’ve agreed we’ll do that on FD). Total of 511 calories. BTW, I read earlier in the thread about drinking coffee black. I gave up sugar but can’t handle it black. So I have a splash of cream or almond milk in tea/coffee. I understand as long as you are keeping the calories less than 50, it doesn’t really break the fast. So if your’re like me and can’t take black coffee, I wouldn’t sweat it (but I do count the calories).
On non-FD, even though I know we can eat as desired, I plan to count calories, stick to low carb, high fat and aim for 1500. Once I get the weight off, I may try just eating as desired on non-FD and see what happens.
Current plan is Mon and Thursday with some Saturdays thrown in when schedule is conducive (ie no social events). Although this week it will be Monday and Wednesday for that reason. Here’s to success everyone!

Hi all!

Last night went swimmingly. Here’s the deal, though. It’s not something I try with family or close friends. The people I had dinner with are co-workers that I’m friendly with, but we don’t hang out. It was simple to abstain from alcohol because they know I had an hour drive home. It was easy to abstain from the brisket because they know I don’t eat meat (usually) and it was easy to eat very small portions of veggies because we served ourselves and I actually did want to leave plenty for the people behind me. So dinner was no problem. The problem came later when, on my drive home, my friend texted me and said she was going to have a beer at our local pub for St. Patty’s day. I had expected our work dinner to run late and so I could skip the pub, but no such luck. However, I met my friend and my husband there, had a beer, and went home. It wasn’t comfortable, but I am proud of myself nontheless. I’m pretty sure I came in under the 500 calories, or maybe just over.

So, anyway, I wouldn’t probably do that again anytime soon, but it’s possible to do!

Hang in there Janey! That’s how I felt all day yesterday – just keep drinking tea!

Sanguinpenguin – nice job! WOW. That is some very impressive will-power! You must have been feeling very proud of yourself afterwards 🙂 I know I would have been!

MassPoodle – congrats! That’s awesome! I can’t wait to fall into my next decade! Nice work.

Again, so happy that you all are doing so well, it really helps keep me inspired 🙂 Today is a fast day for me, so I will just keep thinking about everyone’s weight loss (including my own) to keep myself motivated.

I’m actually doing something that I’ve never done before tonight – my husband got me a birthday present last year of a 90 minute session in a float tank. It’s like, this salt water tank that you just hang out in and meditate I guess – it’s supposed to be really relaxing. The guy who made my appointment recommended not eating an hour and a half beforehand so that you’re not locked in there with the “sounds of digestion” as he put it. The thing is that I usually wait until dinner to eat all of my calories so would not be eating at all beforehand. HOWEVER, I am worried that all I’ll be able to “mediate” on is how hungry I am – the float starts at 3 and that’s usually when I feel a strong bit of hunger. I brought a 120 cal soup with me to work in case I change my mind.

Aloha all, positive thoughts going out to Thursday fasters. I fasted yesterday instead of today so I can enjoy a social event tonight. Nice that this WOE can be flexible like that! 450 cals yesterday after 2:30pm break-fast.

Hello fellow Fasters – sounds like you are all doing well! I was meant to try a 3rd FD today but its not happening – will stick to 5:2 for me and watch the cals on the 5 days more closely! One thing I noticed last night was I had 2 glasses of wine and felt the effect much more than usual – also had a bad headache this morning – clearly turning into a light weight! Have avoided eating everything in site today which is progress for me!!

Have a great weekend all, hoping that 1 pound is off on weigh in on Monday so I reach my mini goal

Janey

Hi All!

It’s realy helpful to read all of your posts especially when its been more difficult lately. Not necisarily the fast days but the exercising/eating clean/fasting/cooking at home… everything is difficult! I’m trying so hard to lose weight and create a new lifestyle and it’s hard to keep it up! I have eaten out on the weekends and not been crazy about calories then so I am enjoying myself sometimes… but it’s just hard!

For the last week or so I had a cold then a sinus infection but I still have been doing everything… fast day, exercise, etc. That was the most difficult week so far. But at the end I lost another 3.5lbs and am down 22 since Feb 3rd! Super excited to be in my old clothes that are fitting lose and anticipating getting into my thinner clothes that I havent been in for years.

Anyway, gotta keep up the good fight and press on. After all, I have a FD tomorrow! 🙂

Janey, that’s awesome. Good job on meeting your mini-goal. I sure wish I could get somewhere like that.

So, what’s everyone’s opinions on stalling/plateauing? I’m up .6lbs this morning and really, really, really feeling frustrated. I went for a great hike yesterday, had a good fast day yesterday, have been drinking lots and lots of water, and yet I can’t seem to get out of the 190’s. I know that having my husband home, being off of school for spring break, and having lots of social events has thrown my schedule off, but I just haven’t felt so terribly out of control that I wouldn’t even see a 1 pound loss.

I’m really bummed about this.

Congrats ryanvinedale, nice progress! And you too Janey.
SanguineP-chin up! Stalls are better than gaining a lot but I know how frustrating it can be (just dropped my first pound in 6 weeks!). You probably know what you need to do–try to get back on whatever schedule was working for you before.
Doing 3 fast days this week again since that seems to have busted my 6 week stall; today, either Wed or Thursday depending on a couple of things that are hanging in the air right now, and Saturday.
Have a good one everyone!

HI Morgan – I am also in Boston and waiting for Spring to actually arrive – great group on here for support whenever needed!

Sanguinepenguin – have you tried 4:3 to try and shake things up a bit, I wouldn’t worry too much, its not a gain – just a temporary blip!!

I am still here and it’s been awhile since I posted as work has been crazy busy. That being said, I didn’t fast at all last week because I was just to stressed. I am back to fasting today and need to get back on the scale.

Sorry you are stressed mom2. How did your fast go today?

LacerX, awesome work! You should be proud to shed those 11 lbs.!

I’m going to make it through my fast day :). I think I may have been closer to 600 calories, but it works to get me back in the groove.

Emily,
I’m doing M, W, and Sat this week. Completed today 480 calories. As far as travel, DH and I travel most of the summer each year; heading out early this year, in less than 2 weeks. I always gain–this year hope to keep that in check with the intermittent fasting.

Emily-will do! Golfing today so I’m sure we’ll all go out for drinks after. I take mild walks on my fasting days so far but feel like I could do more. Worry about “bonking” but intend to up the intensity gradually.

I’m back from the ledge. Nothing like a banana and a look through the Talbots catalog to set a girl straight. I may live on a farm and I may have chased some cows down the road this morning, but I’m nothing if not a prep at heart.

Sanguinepenguin, sorry yesterday was touch. Had a chuckle about the catelog…good time killer and gets your mind off things doesn’t it. Same for me with cooking magazines.
Emily, I’m with you today on the fasting, so lets hang in there. Have to say I really wanted some breakfast this morning but am doing fine sipping on my coffee with cinnamon and almond milk.

How did you do Emily? I ended up doing fine-just over 500 cals in, took 2 nice walks and unpacked a bunch of stuff that has been just hanging out in boxes in my home office. Feeling accomplished!!!