Please take good care of yourself dear Cinque. Of course your family are aware of your limitations but I know from friends with grandies that it’s easy to allow yourself to be taken advantage of at times. It’s marvellous that you’re close enough to help out but your health is so important. And besides, we need you here too!

So Intesha, how many Chinese custard tarts and veggie spring rolls did you really have on the train ride home? Te he! Just kidding, it’s great that you’ve broken through the barrier. Funny that you mentioned the word ‘sabotage’ because that’s exactly what I was thinking when I read Lael’s post before going to bed last night. Not because Lael sabotaged her new low, but that’s what I would tend to do. I dropped from 61kg yesterday to 60kg this morning. Today I have to remind myself that that’s the weight I want to be so it’s not a ticket to stuff my face. It’s incredible that just two weeks of 5:2 has put me right back where I need to be.

Lael, it sounds like you had a wonderful Sunday. It’s great to feel the freedom to indulge a little when we’ve achieved a new PB. Enjoy your FD today. I like the plates. They remind me of the plates that children make in kindy and maybe that’s what we should be teaching them to paint on theirs.

Merry, are you home now? Have a wonderful fast day all the Monday people. I’m off to enjoy my second frothy coffee with freshly ground beans.

That’s really good Judy! You were 64.4 just a little while ago! The 20:4 is really working well!

Cinque, I hope you are able to rest. I always find without exception that I’m so much hungrier when I haven’t had the best sleep. I think I read it is because leptin and grehlin go out of balance if we don’t get quality sleep.

Intesha, great that you’ve moved through the plateau! I too find plateau weeks the hardest, so good for keeping with it.

We might all know people like this… I have a friend who gave up 5:2 because she said ‘it didn’t work’, she only lost a bit of weight in beginning and then none at all for 3 weeks (plateaued) so concluded ‘it doesn’t work’. She even went so far as to say that she had the wool pulled over her eyes because it doesn’t really put the body in a state of ketosis after all. I explained that it wasn’t ketosis that we’re necessarily looking for, but a calorie deficit. At that point she didn’t want to hear any more about it and acted as if she’d been tricked!

Yesterday’s snackathon… I actually loved my little sojourn into protein bars from the health food shop yesterday! I had two! They are sweetened with sucralose so I consider them junk (but they sure taste good). The other indulgence was indulging in these BFree gluten free sweet potato wraps my partner and I found in the bread aisle at Woolies last week! I was in two minds about buying them since I’m better off with no bread of any kind gluten free or not (if I haven’t eaten any in a month, my craving for it evaporates). However as I stood there eyeing them. I noticed the soft texture, truly worthy of making burritos! Also wafts of the sweet potato content came through the wrapper and I just couldn’t resist! Last night I opened them to make burritos (something I haven’t had in about 7 years since going gluten free). Oh wow, were they good! My indulgence is that I couldn’t stop at eating one! I had to go back and make myself a second burrito! Did I feel full after that! Thankfully, it’s now 3 pm on my fasting day and all I’ve had so far is a teaspoon of L-Carnitine which completely wiped away a gnawing hunger I felt this morning! Also, I couldn’t help myself after all and ended up stepping on the scales and was happy that I’m still in the 57 kg range at 57.7 kg. I’ve set 57.5 kg as my upper limit trigger weight for the time being so hoping today FD will take me back down under!

Ha ha, Intesha & Lael, I’ll see your spring rolls and raise you a homemade brownie at my neighbour’s the other day. Scoffed it before I’d even thought about it, just like in the old days.

Body image is a complicated thing, isn’t it? My GP believes that no-one has a truly accurate body image. Since reaching maintenance weight, I have occasionally seen someone coming towards me in a store window or reflection at an airport that I just did not recognise. We truly are slim people now and we must learn to accept it. Please get rid of the size 16 clothes Intesha. It’s symbolic and so satisfying. You’ll still have the 12s and 14s to fall back on, not that you’ll ever need them but from a psychological standpoint until you’re ready.

Judy, I think our bodies can absorb the occasional excesses from holiday exploits and blowout dinners. I’m sure within a few weeks, you’ll be back to where you left off. Intesha always manages to get straight back into it after a holiday. You’re motivated, OH is with you and we’re all here cheering you on.

Decided to put my Mon FD off till tomorrow because of public holiday today. Little miss 5 knocked at the bedroom door this morning with paper and pencil in hand taking orders for her breakfast restaurant. How could I resist that. I ordered a boiled egg and weak black Earl Grey tea. Would you like a pancake too? No thank you, just the egg. She helped make the pancake batter and set the table, served the breakfast and was very cute. But did relent later and have 1 pancake. The rest of the day went in a similar way, and I’m really looking forward to my FD reset tomorrow.

Re the 57kgs and going lower – that entirely depends on height and body type. 57 would be my absolute limit but I’m 5’6″ and a medium bone structure.

Re those bits of belly and wider waists left over after getting to normal/goal weight. I discussed this with my exercise physiologist re those of us females now entering or in our senior yrs with this challenge. He says that this is the last place weight comes off, and what is needed is not necessarily more weight loss but exercises to strengthen and tighten the muscles around that area. It’s no wonder really, after the rigorous challenges this area of our anatomy has gone through having babies.

We talked about body image earlier in the year. I’m finding that now I’m starting to not be surprised when I catch sight of myself in shop windows etc.

Why do we eat on blowout days? I think that it’s simply that we love food! It’s yummy. The phenomena of ‘hoover’ days though which is a different thing. I get about 3-4 a year where I want to Hoover up everything in sight. I believe this 1 has a physiological basis, but I haven’t worked it out yet. For me, I try to steer myself to foods I don’t react badly too, give myself permission and just go with it. Then the next day hit it fast and hard with a FD, and an extra careful week and the 2 FDs seems to reset things. I believe if we get a blowout and hit it hard straight after it comes off as quickly as it goes on. That’s not to give myself permission to do it frequently though. I don’t think the fast off bit would work if blowouts were frequent.

Hope everyone had a good day and Cinque, that you’re getting more rest. Such an exciting lovely time, but tiring. Take care X

Onwards and downwards,
Merry

Intestate, I’d encourage you to send the size 16 to some one who needs it, or sell it to someone who needs it, unless it is a very special piece of clothing, hideously expensive with fabulous fabric. Then I’d probably make something out of some of the fabric as a memento.

Bloody intuitive text!! Interstate to you thin but Intesha is about 40mins away from me!
Night night all xx

Hi All,

Well i absolutely failed at my FD yesterday. I did fantastic at work then I got home & went to my Auntie’s & instead of just eating the salad she had made me I indulged in the lasagna, I am absolutely guttered & so angry with myself. So have done a reset & fasting again today.

Weighed in this morning & I am another 2.5kgs down.

Hope you all have a lovely day!

Cheers,
Michaela

Hi All,

Yes, I’m happy at remaining in the 57 kg range though still not happy about the size 12 Rodney Clark slacks still fitting too snuggly. I’ve started the inulin to help reduce my extra pad of visceral fat and am happy that the inulin actually tastes good! I even added some to yesterday’s fasting protein shake. I’m starting by taking only a teaspoon and working up slowly as recommended by Dr. Mercola.

I had some ideas why I actually don’t look at all skinny at 57 kg. For one, my bone structure is quite fine. My wrist is only 4.5 cm. circumference which is considered extra small! Then there’s the matter of my top half! Before those 100% stretch knit ‘Ahh Bra’ styles came along, I wasn’t even able to fit into one because I was never able to find a cup size small enough! So last night after reading the posts questioning fasting while in the 57 kg range, I reflected on the uneven distribution of my own weight (so small on top and still quite a bit bigger on the lower half). I realized that were my weight more evenly distributed and I better endowed, I would have been more than happy at a higher weight! In light of this, I decided to find out exactly how much a breast actually weighs and found out that the average woman carries a kilogram and half to two or more than I do!

Lol! If anyone wants to read that informative article I found on breast weight, here’s the link! It even explains instructions on to weigh your own!

http://blog.shescience.com.au/how-much-does-a-breast-weigh/

Just read that article on how to weigh your own breasts, Lael. Laughing so hard.

A reasonable FD yesterday. Although the scales are playing silly buggers – they tell me I’m a kilo heavier – I know I know I said I would stay off them-ARGH!!!!!
I’m staying away till my usual weigh day of Saturday-!!!
Having a light eating day today and another FD tomorrow. Should be okay as I’m at work the next two days!!

I’m not giving up- just going to persevere!!
Oh yes and I have done measurements and they’ve changed so am happy with that!!

Happy fasting everyone!!

Hi Everyone,

I’m down under in NZ and first fast day is tomorrow. I’ve been doing reading for a couple of weeks now and am feeling pretty prepared. Am worried how to cope with the pantry raid when I get home from work and the grazing I do while cooking dinner??? I have a little person that needs feeding so I cant really avoid the kitchen.

Everything crossed for a successful first day!

Hi NewBethin.

What part of NZ are you? I’m in Dunedin.

Good luck with the FD! Try a large salad for dinner – it is really surprising how much it fills you & you can graze on it while preparing the others meals as you won’t feel guilty.
I was really happy with mine. Only had 370 calories for the whole day it felt great & down 2.5kgs on the scales.
FD again tomorrow for me.

Keep in touch.

Cheers,
Michaela

Hiya Newbethin, I have been doing the 5:2 on & off for over a year now – coming up 2 years.

Spell check. aaaaarrrggghhhh! Sorry Stephy who became Stephen.
Merry

Hi Everyone!
I am Soooooooooooooooo tired, I think I am about 50 IQ points down, so sorry if I don’t make much sense. But good meetings! The Health Dept guy is so cool and really supports us (he will even give us a food thermometer!). My neighbour wants to paint the signs, we look like we have a coffee machine at a good price, someone has donated a freezer (although I am not sure we need it yet), and the donated food display case is a GORGEOUS cold storage display (we’ll have all our yoghurt cups and salads in jars looking gorgeous there!). I had been told it was for hot storage, and we didn’t need one for hot things.
Can’t stop clapping my hands with glee!
Hopefully I will have a good sleep and manage to get all the planning down tomorrow.

Although I just ate too much for dinner (yep, too tired) I am feeling fairly ‘right weight’ at the moment so I might not fast tomorrow. I will decide in the morning. Definitely fasting on Sunday though!

So sorry not to respond to your posts. I read them all and can’t remember then! No doubt i will write a big email tomorrow when I should be doing planning!

Best wishes to you all in the meantime!

Hello everyone, trying to keep up with reading posts! Too late in the day to respond meaningfully, so just popped in to say hi.

Good FD Monday after weekend on the road where I succumbed to OH buying ice cream, chips (crisps) and chocolate for good measure. Today FD – blew it after lunch 🙁 Another one on Friday.

10 days till we go away so am pretty sure I won’t get to my holiday goal of 75kg but still pleased with the 4+ kg so far in 5+ weeks.

Well done to everyone having successful FD’s this week and welcome newbies!

I’m off to sleep now zzzzzzzzzz

Thanks for all the positive comments! Well its 1pm and I’m still feeling good 🙂 long may it last. I’ve decided to do my weight and measurements on Tuesdays and record them in my black book. My main reason for doing 5:2 is the health benefits with a bonus of helping me kick a few stubborn kilos since the birth of my daughter.

Is there anyone who has reached their desired weight and then continued?

Hi newbethin,

Lots of people have reached their goal and continued fasting. Lots of posters in the maintenance section. I reached my goal weight back in March and switched to 6:1 water fasts. I no longer need to lose weight but continue doing it for all the other health reasons. My blood results have never been better.

Newbethin – you give perfect reasons for practicing 5:2. Weight loss is just the icing on the cake. Oh dear, poor analogy. I’ve been maintaining between 59-61kgs for 14 months after shedding 24 kgs. Just about everything I know, I learned on this thread. But if you haven’t already done so, I recommend you read Dr M.’s book before doing anything. It’s the best $11 I ever spent. I also received a lot of support and encouragement here and that’s one reason I stick around to help others. The other is that, like Lael, I’m a work in progress and continue to learn and gain support here. I have decades of bad habits to undo and 5:2 has helped me gain control over food rather than food controlling me. Stick around, this is a light-hearted, fun group of like-minded people all at various stages. Ask us anything!

Beth, good for you for dropping 4kgs. What we can do to help you get through a FD? What’s happening there? Are you fasting at work or at home?

P.S. I actually found another of the same and this one is even better because it includes metric numbers and it includes very helpful photos which instructs one on exactly where to take these measurements! Good news is that the result pretty much matches what my body fat measurement scales reported to me on my most recent visit there!

Here’s the link: http://www.free-online-calculator-use.com/military-body-fat-calculator.html

Hey 🙂 im Queensland bundaberg 🙂 and starting my first fasting day tomoro 🙂 cannot wait to see results . Chat to you all soon
Cheers
De

Welcome newbies!

Hi Thin, some FD’s at work, some at home. I’m not sure what is is. I’m having no problem doing 16:8 most days but the FD’s, some days it just feels like I just have more willpower or resolve, or do hormones play a part? This week and next trying ADF. Also have trouble keeping low carb on nfd’s. just treat every failure as a learning experience.
Onwards & :downwards as Merry would say !

Happy Friday everyone. Another FD done and dusted. 67.6 this morning, last week was 68.3.

It is slow going now but yesterday I tried on some of my size 12 dresses and the one size 10 and put them all on without undoing the zippers. I did the first two without realising they had zippers so was quite surprised when I found them.

Stephy/Beth and any other newbies that are struggling just keep plugged in and listen to our stories. Thin/Cinque and Merry who post regularly and a few others intermittently know the struggles and pain you are going through. It’s all about belief, which I sadly lack at times, but even though what is being said can be like a kick up the …… Is all well meaning and said by someone who has walked the walk. As they say no gain without pain and for us that is mental pain.

Tomorrow I am going to a lecture by Dr Zahi Hawass the famed Egyptologist, one of my most loved countries. He has just been to Perth Thin and I believe there is an exhibition on until early next year. His subject is Tutankhamen, Cleopatra and new discoveries. I have been in Tuts tomb and the whole thing just fascinates me. But what I was getting at is that I will be meeting a friend and there will be wine and eating involved so life goes on around 5:2. I will probably do an FD on Sunday to compensate if nothing else crops up.

Every day is a new beginning.

Hi all
Cinque, sounds like your cafe is going well. I like the sound of your food! How good is it to drop those ‘too big’ clothes off at the op shop!
Beth62, wow 4kg in 5 weeks is excellent!
Welcome braia, you’ll find this group very helpful and supportive!
Enjoy your catchup with the girls StephMorry.
Yay, for getting dresses on without doing the zipper, Intesha- it’s a lovely feeling when you have those little surprises.
I haven’t been to well the last couple of days and have been ‘fasting’ without really intending to. I’m feeling better today so not doing my usual fast. My OH has been doing really well too and making big effort to prepare snacks and meals 🙂
Have a great day everyone xx

Thanks for the advice Intesha. The stories of all who’ve gone before are very helpful – thank you all xx

Good morning and wow day after FD and new PB 67kg. Now 100g under my 20kg loss. Take heart for those who are struggling. Just keep taking one day at a time. I am still finding it hard to believe but the proof is before my eyes.

Shame I am going out today, it’s funny but I actually feel guilty but life is for living and I’m not going to deny myself little pleasures. Tomorrow I will start again.

Merry you have done so well to maintain while living with other people as its hard when you have to consider others.

Beth we have all been there done that and continue to, so don’t give up you’ll find your rhythm soon.