Hello! I'm new!

This topic contains 25 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by Steve2412 9 years, 9 months ago.

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Mrsb2389

10:19 am
6 Feb 15
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Hello my name is Amy I’m 25 a stay at home mum of two! I live in the UK. I’ve struggled with weight all of my life but did have a few bliss years of being a size 10 in my late teens/early 20s. I put all of the 4 stone I lost back on when I was pregnant with my first child and I have struggled to loose ever since. My youngest is now one and I decided I really want to loose weight for me so I’m going to give this diet a go! I’ve got about two stone to lose until I will be happy with myself. So I know that’s not a hug amount and I’m feeling positive. My weigh in day is usually a Friday, but I did my first fast day yesterday, and weigh in this morning am already down 3lb. I know that it’s got something to do with water/fluctuations etc but feeling really positive about this. I love exercise, I often do the Hiit workout and also like to do a. It of jogging. It would be great to meet a few people on here so we can help each other through the good and bad days! X

Jude63

6:59 pm
12 Feb 15
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Hi Amy, I’ve just joined the forum today but have been fasting since early January. Its lovely to have found this site to get everyone’s tips etc.
I have about 2 stone to loose as well, I’m down about 6 pounds so far. Like you said, a lot came off quickly but by the 2nd and 3rd week it had stalled so don’t give up. Also, don’t weight yourself too much, I’m terrible for this and get really fed up when it doesn’t move! Good luck!

Mrsb2389

7:18 pm
12 Feb 15
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Hi Jude, thank you for reply! 6lbs is fantastic so far! I’ve just had my 3rd FD today and weigh in is tomorrow, so I’m hoping for a good loss! I feel like I’ve done well and have exercised lots. I just need to be more strict on the days I’m not fasting I think. Thanks for the tip about not weighing, I will really try and limit myself to once a week I think! Good luck with your weight loss! X

absteroo

7:26 pm
12 Feb 15
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Hello!
I’ve just joined this forum too!:)
I’m 27 and am a full time student so lots of sitting around in lectures at the moment and going straight home and eating badly!
I first startes fasting in Aug 2012 when the Horizon programme was first shown. i lost 9lb in the first two weeks and was estastic at finally finding a diet that seemed to work. Anyway I’ve somehow managed to find myself starting and then falling off the wagon repeatedly since then.
I hit my goal weight in the summer but since starting Uni i have pilled it all back on again 🙁 i have tried to fast again up here but end up bailing and coming home and eating everything in sight. needless to say I’m putting more and more weight on!

I know I have the will power to do this way of eating as I have had success before, I guess having some support with other newbies will help alot!

I plan to fast 3 days to start with, am starting at 164lb and my target is 140!

Will be lovely to hear everyone elses stories! 🙂 x

Mrsb2389

3:29 pm
13 Feb 15
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Hi absteroo, we have about the same amount of weight to loose! Please keep me updated of how you are getting on! It was weigh in today, and I only lost a quarter of a pound! Which I’m disappointed about but it’s also fine as I had a 3lb loss last week. I have lost a total of 10lb since the start of jan, which is a mixture of running/slimming world/ 5:2, and I really regret not taking measurements of myself as I do look very different, and some clothes are getting very loose! I’m not in a huge rush to loose as I’m thinking this is a lifetime plan. I would ideally like to be in the 11 stones for my birthday in 5 weeks as my hubby is taking me away for the weekend. That’s another 9lb, so not sure if I will make it, but going to really try!

absteroo

6:00 pm
13 Feb 15
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Hiya Amy!
Yeah i definitely will, keep me posted on your progress too! 🙂
Wow 10lbs thats amazing, well done! I epically failed at a fast day yesterday, but tried again today and I’m finding it much easier especially after reading everyones stories. I’ve resorted to doing up my skinny jeans with a hairband

absteroo

6:02 pm
13 Feb 15
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oops press send by accident!!
yeah so the hairband skinny jeans moment was when i realised enough was enough haha. I see you are a keen runner?! Very jealous! Ive signed up for a 5k at the end of next month so ive started the couch25k app! X

Mrsb2389

4:10 pm
16 Feb 15
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Hiya, hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was awful food wise, as went out to eat twice and had a wedding so lots of food, wine and gin were consumed! I did do a 5k run on Saturday morning, but really don’t feel like it will touch the sides! I’m on my first FD of the week and have only eaten a pear so far. I’m having a piece of cod for tea with some steamed courgette and carrot. Just made my family a lovely fish pie so will be very jealous at tea time! I went out on a 10k run also today, my app that I use tell me that’s 800 cals burned. It’s the first time I’ve done 10k, and I did it in 1hr 10 and the route is very hilly, so feeling really positive about that, and hope I can improve!
Absteroo – well done on signing up, that is sometimes the hardest part. Hope you grow to like running like I have, which is an absolute miracle! Every Saturday morning we do the parkrun which is 5k round our local park. Do you live in the UK? If so you might have one near you and they are great to get into. X

absteroo

4:58 pm
16 Feb 15
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How long have you been running? I’m awful at the moment. I even struggle with the first part of couch25k of running for 1 min and walking for 2! I dont think im massively unfit, just find running difficult. Please tell me it gets easier?!! As i am desperate to get better at it!
Ps thanks for the tip, ive just signed up for our local park run 🙂

Mrsb2389

7:41 pm
16 Feb 15
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I used to run before I had kids, and have just gone back to it in the last month or so. It does get easier, just keep at it! I also sometimes do the 7 minute workout and that’s really good for core fitness, a month ago I couldn’t even do a sit up, so feel like it’s changed a lot. How was your weekend food wise? How often do you weigh yourself? X

absteroo

7:34 am
17 Feb 15
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My weekend food wise was pretty bad! Massive curry, homemade caramel shortbread and mountains of chocolate. Polished off a whole bag of those daim mini eggs in about 10 minutes! How was yours? How was the wedding?
I am really bad for weighing myself too often, I’m thibking now once a week or every fortnight. Couldnt resist having a quick look this morning though and seem to have lost 4lbs 🙂 🙂 but i will wait to see what it says on saturday which i had planned for my proper weigh in!
breaking my fast now with nutella pancakes!

Mrsb2389

3:47 pm
23 Feb 15
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Hello! I’ve been rubbish at posting on here, but that because i haven’t been doing too well… my fast days are great and i can easily get by with 500 kcals. I’m also running loads, even did a 10k run last week and 4 x 5k runs, so was really hoping for a good loss… I stayed the same so really disappointing. I don’t know where i’m going wrong and everyone keeps telling me i’ve shrunk and got more muscle so that is a good thing i suppose. Just wish i could see some results on the scales! I suppose i could be better on my non fasting days but i really don’t feel like i’m eating too much! I hope i get some good results this week. I’m on a FD today and it’s going well so far. I did a 5k run at lunchtime instead of eating! And i’ve signed up to do a 10k run in May, and i would ideally want to do that in around an hour. Fingers crossed. I’m going to try for 3 FD this week and see if that makes a difference!

But enough about me… Abstero… did you get that 4lb loss?! How amazing if so! How is your week going and did you have a good weekend? Have you done a park run yet?! xxx

Mogs

4:55 pm
23 Feb 15
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Hi all,

Just wanted to chime in with some support for all new starters like myself.

Been trying very hard to not take account of what the scales say. We *know* our weight fluctuates all the time from all manner of other influences and we *know* muscle weighs more than fat, but still we take this number on the scales as the be-all-and-end-all, and it can ruin your day or your week! I refuse to be a scales slave any more!

FREEDOM! RAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!

I am woman. Hear me roar.

From this diet onwards, it’s body fat percentage, the measuring tape and the fit of my clothes that I shall pay attention to. BEGONE, SCALE DEMONS!

Mrsb2389

5:57 pm
23 Feb 15
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Hi Mogs!

I love your post and definitely need to take your approach! I have changed shape and gone down a clothes size so don’t know why I’m so obsessed with what the scales say! I think it’s because a few years ago I lost lots of weight with weight watchers and they obsess with what the scales say! I need to snap out of it!

You say you are new? How long have you been doing it and have you had any success? X

simcoeluv

6:07 pm
23 Feb 15
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Hi Mrs and welcome:

There are all sorts of comments on scales on this site, but your belief that exercise will help your weight loss is probably elevating your weight loss expectations a bit more than warranted.

Exercise does not help weight loss much, and can even slow it down. Research has shown that a majority of people do not get close to the benefit from exercise that the ‘numbers’ would suggest. If your exercise device or calorie usage table says that by running 5K you use X number of calories, the odds are that your actual calorie burn from that exercise is .5X, or maybe even less. Very few people get anywhere close to the full X benefit.

Exercise for better health, but stick with the diet for weight loss. And please don’t quit the diet if after all of your hard exercise, you are not losing weight fast enough. If you stick with the diet, you will lose eventually. See number 5 in this post for more information: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

Mogs

10:38 am
24 Feb 15
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I’m on week 6 of the 5:2 – just following the classic model as laid out in the Micahel Mosely book. Weighed myself after 4 weeks, just to check that things were going in the right direction, but I’m going to measure myself every 4 weeks on alternate fortnights (i.e. two weeks then measure, two weeks then weigh, two weeks then measure) and so on.

Couldn’t find the tape measure when I started, so this weekend will be my first comparative measuring. We shall see if anything is happening.

Best thing so far is an unexpected bonus: it’s stopped me obsessing about food and weight all the time. ON the 5 days, I don’t have to think about food because it’s not restricted, and on the 2 days I don’t have to think about food because there isn’t any to be had! I think WW and SW and those other clubs have their place for some people, but I don’t like the constant vigilance, the obsession with weighing (portions AND yourself), and all the talk from grown men and women about “Being good” or “Being naughty” around food.

Mogs

10:42 am
24 Feb 15
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Oh, Amen simcoeluv – exercise is great for your mood, your heart, your social life (depending on what you do), your skin and your bones. What it’s not great for is weight control.

People often wildly overestimate the amount of exercise they do – for example, some people log 60 minutes of aerobics after doing a class, in which they stood around for 10 minutes, chatted for 2 minutes, stopped for a drink a couple of times, did some stretching for 10 minutes and cooled down for 5 minutes.

Exercise has its place, but it’s not the magic weight-loss bullet some people (with a vested interest … personal trainers?) would have you believe.

Mrsb2389

2:58 pm
24 Feb 15
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Oh thanks simcoeluv, it makes interesting reading. A little disappointing in reality as you feel like you should loose weight by doing exercise! I’m not going to give the running up for the sake of loosing more weight as I’m really enjoying it, I will just have to be more patient. I’m on a non fast day today and I’m really surprised I’m not more hungry. Skipped breakfast and been out for lunch and had a sensible sandwich with salad and shared a cake with a friend and my daughter so only a couple of bites each. So feeling pleased with myself. On another FD tomorrow and planning either a 5k or 10k run. But obviously after all this reading not expecting a loss!!

absteroo

5:15 pm
24 Feb 15
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Hi MrsB! 🙂 Hope your well!
I had a 5lb loss last week so happy with that! I’ve got a feeling it will slow down now though, I’m struggling to stick with an acceptable level on non fast days though haha. ive been eating out a bit lately! I’m so impressed with your running! 5k in your lunch break?! Thats so good!! My running is coming on slowly. Havent been able to do the parkrun yet as I’ve been working every Saturday, hoping to do it soon though! How many fasts are you doing this week xx

Mrsb2389

8:07 pm
24 Feb 15
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I’m good thank you Absteroo!
A 5lb loss is phenomenal I bet you are over the moon! My first loss of the year was 5lb and I was ecstatic! Do you feel good? I’m the same on non fast days, especially on the weekends if we’ve got plans. We have a few weekends in a row with nothing special on so hopefully I’ll be able to reign the eating in a little!
Yes the run takes my mind of the hunger to be honest and it usually puts me off food for the next few hours bizarrely! I’m only able to do it when my husband pops home during his lunch breaks to keep an eye on the kids, and he can only do that a couple of times a week so not able to go whenever I want. I’m planning to tomorrow, so fingers crossed! You will get there with your running, it does take a bit of time! I know you said you were a student… Are you at uni? Do you live in halls? X

jonno79

9:54 pm
24 Feb 15
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Hi all – I have been on this diet now for 7 weeks and lost 12lbs. I actually tried out the diet for a few days the preceding week and lost 4lbs also so really I’m sat at 16lbs over 7 and 1/2 weeks. The system works and the thing I am noticing more than anything is that it is easy…. all other diets you have all mentioned (WW, SL) as well as others such as Atkins seem destined to failure – great to lose weight but hard to make into a way of life… you always feel you are denying yourself… with this diet I feel that even when denying yourself on a fast day you know within yourself you can have what you desire tomorrow… though often you don’t have it the next day!!!

I really wanted to post after reading your discussions on running. In 2007 I lost a lot of weight with “another diet” and tons of exercise (cycling, swimming and walking daily). After shedding almost 5 stone I started running. Now, I was cycling 20 miles every morning, swimming a mile (all front crawl) each afternoon, and walking for two hours in the evening… all with no major issues (I had a lot of time off work). Even though I was fit enough to do all the above, I could barely run a mile. It requires such a different type of fitness.. it is just you and your body weight, no bike to hold you up or water to remain buoyant in…. However I persevered and each day I went out and was determined to make it “one lamppost further” than the previous run… with this philosophy my running got better and better culminating in the London marathon in April 2008…. It is hard but possible to achieve your dreams.

The weight has gone back on since then so now here and personally love exercise classes such as Insanity and Body Combat. My body shape too is changing and the positive comments received push me on.

Good luck and keep going.

Mrsb2389

9:36 am
25 Feb 15
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Hi Jonno, it’s great to hear you are having success with 5:2! Thank you for sharing your experiences about exercise! I don’t have much time to exercise as I look after my children all day every day so can only go on weekends and the occasions when hubby is home from work early or at lunch. Hence why I chose running as it doesn’t take a huge amount of time! I’m looking forward to it being lighter in the evenings, then I will be able to go out later on, at the moment I can’t as I run around the local country lanes, where there’s hardly any houses let alone any street lamps! I hope you continue to have lots of luck and get back into the running?! X

Mrsb2389

8:07 am
27 Feb 15
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Well Friday is my weigh in day, and although I’ve promised myself not to get so caught up with what the scales say, I’m please that I’m 2lbs down this week! I’ve done 3 fasting days, Weds and thuds back to back so I was very pleased to have my porridge this morning! No major plans this weekend, so fingers crossed I won’t do too much damage!

absteroo

9:19 am
1 Mar 15
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Hi MrsB! Congrats on the 2lbs this week! 🙂 yep i am a student, but i live with 3 friends as i am far too old to be in halls (im 27 haha!) i am most happiest with a cuppa and in my pjs these days!! 🙂
Hows everything going? I see you did a back-to-back fast? What and when did you eat during that? I did one as well this week and found it not bad at all! X

Mogs

9:40 am
2 Mar 15
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After wittering on about just going by what the measuring tape says and how my clothes fit, I’ve just had a very disappointing weekend wherein I discovered that I’ve not lost an inch in weeks!

Well, I’ve lost half an inch off thighs, but nothing anywhere else.

Oh well. Maybe all this IFing has made my pancreas more beautiful and is giving me sexy insulin resistance figures?

Steve2412

10:36 am
2 Mar 15
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Hi Amy, I have been on the 5:2 for 7 weeks now and have lost 1 stone and 3 lbs. It works really well and the size difference is very noticable. Keep it up and you will loose weight, You go girl.