Hello lovely ones!
Beth, don’t go away. Often we quieten down quickly and are so keen to have people to chat with! And we are getting to know you and are keen to hear how things are going.

Merelly! Welcome! Your post crossed my last one! It takes a few minutes before the posts can be seen (that is the window where you have time to edit) so yours hadn’t appeared. Let us know how your Day 1 went!

Hi Arawajo too! My tip would be to remember that the first few fast days tend to be fact finding tours! You find out if fasting is easy or hard, whether or not you get narky, when are the hardest hours, if you are likely to blow your fast, how people around you react, whether fasting on a work day is a good thing or a bad thing, what foods suit you best, what eating times suit you best, whether you get cold, or a headache, or surprising amounts of energy! etc etc! So do them, and learn!

Woot congratulations you weight losers! Lovely!

I am just being quick as I have had such a busy day I need to go and blob out!
Bye all!

Hi Everyone, welcome to the Newbies!

I’m going to make this very simple and say straight up that I can’t keep up with replying to everyone’s personal happenings and answer all the questions, BUT, I read all the posts, and think of you individually as I go through. I have some memory damage, am not very techie, and so please know that if I don’t respond to everything that it doesn’t mean I’m just interested in my own thing and nobody else’s.

So………. welcome to all the newbies again. I’d suggest you do these things:

1. get and read The Fast Diet by Dr Michael Mosely and Mimi Spencer,

2. forum member ‘simcoeluv’ has written an excellent introduction for new people. You’ll find it under “Info for Newbies” or someone more able will write the link to it for you. Read the opening post. You don’t need to read all the other posts.

3. Keep a record; weigh yourself first thing in the morning after waking, naked after going to the loo. measure your body

4. there are no set foods. You can eat what you like. look at what you eat and pick out the things that are on the lower calorie end and look at how you can use these on a fast DAY.

5. stay on the forum

6. Know that this is do-able, normalisation of your weight and size is achieveable, improvement in your health is achievable,

Onwards and downwards,
Merry

Hi everyone! Looks like it has been a busy day here on the forum. So many people going through this together, that’s awesome.
Froggy35: I was under 500 cal yestersay until ~10pm where I opened a kids’ rice craker snack pack 🙁 I guess we need to learn not only how to deal with our stomac but also how to deal with our brain, there is a reason why we’re here I guess!!

My first day after FD didn’t go too well. I’m still low on total calories, but I’ve had sweets all.day.long with tons of morning teas etc going on at work. Grr me. At least I packed my lunch yesterday so had the cauliflower soup **thanks for sending the link to yummy and super easy receipes!** planning food ahead of time is clearly a great idea…
I’m already thinking about tomorrow’s lunch box.

Good evening/night everyone!

‘eloelo, I’m so stoked that you like the cauliflower soup! It’s my FD staple. Freezes well. Welcome Froggy! Welcome home Merry, good tips from you and Cinque for our newbies.

Hi Merrelly and welcome:

Here is the link: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

Hi All, Hope you are all doing very well & feeling happy within yourselves.
Hope you newbies are feeling good.

I had my FD yesterday. Thought I did really well as I was hardly hungry because I was so busy at work but got on the scales this morning & there is no change unfortunately. So I will be eating lightly today just to make myself feel a bit better.

Cheers,
Michaela

Welcome back Merry. You took the words right out of my mouth as they say. As I mentioned in a previous post I feel overwhelmed at times with the amount of posts and guilty that I don’t feel able to reply to them individually.

When I was working in my high powered job of running the life of a multi-millionaire, which seems like 100 years ago. I was always on top of my game but since my life crisis I have lost my self-confidence and feel like I have nothing to contribute to life.

Being on this forum has given me a purpose and accountability. The fact that people are returning means that somewhere along the way this WOL has also triggered something in them. It’s like trying to give up smoking, some can do it on the first go but others need multiple attempts. No matter the whys, how’s etc to be brave enough to keep going and admit the struggle is a huge achievement in itself.

Even though we are surrounded by people day in and day out, If our struggles can connect with just one person and help them get through whatever struggles they are facing hooray for this forum. Whether we choose to post daily, weekly or whatever, I think the key is to just stay plugged in and read other people’s challenges and know that you are not alone.

FD today, weight this morning 67.5.

Best wishes to all. I don’t post regularly but lurk and gain sustenance from reading and knowing that lots of others are on the same 5:2 way of life.

With 5:2 I lost 17 kgs two years ago and now maintain in a 4 kg range. This range is too big, and I am still working on reducing my maintenance range to 1-2 kg. I am happy that I stay a size 12 and am Fasting for my health. I still fast 5:2 and will always need to for both health and weight control.

I am fasting today, and it does wonders for the house cleaning. 😬😬

I admire those of you who support all the newbies on this thread. It takes a lot of personal time to write to each person individually. Really, we all do the best we can do at any time. And this thread is so supportive and happy to cheer each other on.

Thank you to the regular posters, you know who you are. 😉😉🌺🌺

Cheers, Bay

Good morning all, long termers, been here a whiles, readers, lurkers, and newbies of course,
Thanks Turn!

Check in 1st: 65.2kgs up 0.7 from when I left 3 weeks ago. My goal, as always when away, is to come home the same as when I left, so given the Missing FD when nit well Thursday, and a bit over on FAd yesterday that’s pretty much what I expected. In fact it’s a bit better than I expected. I’m really looking forward to getting back to my own food. I had a good time away despite looking after sick children and catching the virus from them. So lovely to see the littlies and spend time with my daughter. I now have about 5 weeks to go till we go away again, this time also to Hawaii and California as well, getting back in time for the Christmas rush.

Thinking aloud: I’ve never set dates for my goals. I want this weight loss, weight normalisation, to be sustainable. For me that means doing it while living a normal life and dealing with Capital L life happenings and normal celebrations along the way. So…. This next 5weeks is all I have to reach my next mini goals and my final goal weight of 62kgs. My mini- goals are simply 64.5, where I left off, then 64, 63, 62kgs, so -3.2kgs in all. That’s an average of 640gms a week. Hmmm…. That’s faster than my usual long term loss which is 400gms per week, which is close to the average stats for females long term on 5:2 which is 1lb or 450gms. Then again, I’m doing this sedentary, so 400 is pretty good when I can’t exercise to ramp up metabolism.

My TDEE for 65kgs is 1470cals and 1/4 of that is 368cals.
My goal weight is 62kgs, with TDEE of 1440 and 1/4 of that is 360cals, so setting my FD calories at that – 360cals.
I know that doing 4:3 doesn’t add a big amount of weight loss for the extra day – the stats say 100gms, so not doing that, and I don’t think I could do it anyway, and total 0 cal fasts is a step too far for me too, so……….final conclusion of this ruminating is:

1. 5 weeks doing FDs on Mon and Thursdays, with all 360cals in 1 meal at 6pm
2. Doing my usual 16:8 days on nonFDs., not eating till at 12noon, then eating in an 8hr window
3. Don’t get too tired. Walk away from the kitchen and go downstairs by 9.30pm.
4. Be organised, so I don’t get stressed about lack of time to do things.
5. Take 1 day at a time.
6. Pre-emptive resting so I don’t go out of my energy envelope (ME/CFS strategy)
7. Drink plenty of fluid especially water.
8. Keep things in perspective. Be content with where I am at the end of the 5weeks. 62kgs/final goal would be good but if it’s not, it’s not the end of the world.

Enough from me – lot’s of things to pace myself through today.

Onwards and downwards,
Merry

Merry you are always such an inspiration. I look forward to catching up with you and getting rid of these last few pesky kgs.

My goal when I started was to lose 10kg, now 20kg later can’t believe I’m setting lower goals. It’s always a work in progress.

Thanks for popping in bay.

Hi Jenmac, I’m thinking of you with love. My brother suffered from severe depression. Look after yourself and then you will be able to look after him.
Lovely day here today a change from the incessant rain of late. Even managed to get a bit of gardening done and a lovely walk around the wetlands with our wee foxy.
Work for the next 3 day, Early morning starts which is always hard(4.30)think I’ll fast again tomorrow. Fasted Monday, 800 cals approx today so am well pleased.

Hi All,

jenmac, thank you for sharing your experience with 5:2! I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a child who is self harming. I don’t have any kids, though I do have a friend whose arms are fully covered in cut scars multiple times over in each spot all up, down and all around arms. I’ve met this young woman fairly recently and learned she was able to get help and find her way through. What is heartening for me is that she a lovely, sensitive, intelligent young lady who I very much respect. I too honor the difficulties that young people face which feels monumental compared to those when I was growing up.

Merry, I so love your post about your plans. What you wrote is such a good reminder for me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I read point #8 as I sit here I’ve been on my own case for my weight gyrating up and down so much since reaching ‘goal’. I have to remember that the real goal for me is to simply continue 5:2 and be happy that I’m doing that! …And Merry, good on you for also incorporating 16:8!!

I’ve read everyone’s posts, though won’t comment on all since the group is larger. Know that I love reading all the posts and I too miss your posts Beth! I hope you are reading this!

FD for me tomorrow. I need it! This week will be another 5:2 week, so will be choosing a second day, yet to be decided! …That’s how I am! I chop and change my FDs each week! Oh well!

Hello to all. It is fabulous to read about everyone at the end of the day. So sorry to hear from all those sharing the live of suffering loved ones. Daughter, son, close friends: mental health issues are so hard both on depressed people and on on families!
My heart goes out to you and I hope it goes better and they find peace.

I also understand the struggle of falling off the tracks and going back to old habits. I am very hopeful that reading everyone messages daily will keep me around, motivated and accountable. Today was a bit of a disaster, I started really well and clocked only 200-300 calories until I came back home and glutton-ed. Oops. I am still under 1200 which is my daily allowance, but I don’t think I’m supposed to eat 900 cal in 3hrs.

So tomorrow will be my second FD, week 1. I can’t do 1/4 of my daily calory as it’s too little for me, but I’ll try and stay under 500 calories. Good luck to everyone, and especially those on a FD tomorrow! Xx

I know what you mean about those blasted scales Stephy, I had a FD on Mon and light day yesterday and they are back up in the 74’s which I thought I’d missed out on!! Sure after another good FD tomorrow and mindful eating the next few, I’ll be back on track by next Mon! Hope so, I really need to do this and this forum keeps me so motivated.

Out for a walk now, just hope the rains stays off, they have a heap of snow in Queenstown/Arrowtown today!!!!! Spring weather eh!!

Have a happy day everyone, fasters especially. Turn

Intesha – I’m glad to hear someone else’s weight is going up and down. Mines doing similiar to yours!!!

and I agree with mindful eating – listening to your body definitely helps!!

Stephanie

Today is my second FD and it’s more difficult at work than it was at home on Sunday.
I guess I munch in front of my computer usually? Hello reality check and unconscient stress eating?

Anyway, I’m focusing on the goal and reading the latest posts for support, as a reminder of shared struggle s and success, to keep me motivated.
Travel scales seem like a good investment, I don’t have one anymore but I’ll check the link you posted Thin. When I was pregnant with my first child, my ob-gyn told me to never go anywhere more than 1 night without a scale. It was in France, where they shame to death pregnant women if you gain weight 🙁
Great piece of advice though!!

Do you all have a scale that counts the fat? Was it expensive, and are you happy you bought one?
In the book it is often mentioned how much fat you can loose but I haven’t decided to buy anything special for this diet apart from the book… Let me know what you think!

Oh Jenmac, I would definitely eat a bowl of soup right now.
I am going to make myself a cup of tea and wait for the feeling to go away… Knowing that you’re watching that space, I’ll try to behave 🙂
This afternoon I have to mark students’ posters so hopefully that will keep my mind busy and distracted. I even brought my gym bag to hopefully use the gym this afternoon! I have a free membership at my Uni, so really I’m not sure what my excuse is for not using it!

Good morning, hello from Perth. I have started the 5:2 on Monday, after reading a success story on a blog and doing a heap of research on the net, as well as watching Dr Mosely’s doco.
I am 49 years old and wish to lose about 10kgs, which has crept on over the last 10 years. My biggest vice is wine! I love it but it has to go (at least during the week). I did my first fast on Monday and have been trying to keep the kj’s over last couple of days by tracking on myfitnesspal.com. I am trying to keep to 1500 calories on the alternative days.
I am hoping this will fit in with my family, I have a husband and 12 year old daughter. I plan to cut out on the carbs on the fast day so I can still eat the main meal with them, with salad or veges instead of the more kilojoule dense foods. I don’t want to give my daughter bad messages about food and have explained that I just want to get healthier and fitter so I can do lots of active stuff with her in the future. My husband is supportive and happy to cut down on the kilojoules a bit as well, in the hope he may lose a few kilos.
Anyway, it is nice to find this community, hope to talk soon and have some positive results.

Hi Paramau,

Don’t be scared of fats. They have been demonised unfairly. However be scared of processed carbs. But I suspect you already know that having watched Dr MM youtube clips. So try and limit all processed grain based carbs such as bread, pasta, pizza, rice and starchy veggies like potatoes.

OK so your vice is wine. Lets put this into perspective. Alcohol has 7 cal per gram. How many glasses of wine do you have? I’ll guess 2 per day and the glass is 200mL. I’ll assume the alcohol content is 15% So 200ml x 15% = 30ml, so that’s 24 grams of alcohol. 24 x 2 x 7 days = 336grams of alcohol per week. So that’s a total of 2352 calories for the week just from wine drinking. You burn about 1 calorie a minute just sitting down. So if you sit down and NOT eat anything for the next 39 hours you will have burned off all those calories from those glasses of wine. Do you still want that glass of wine??

Yes please I still want that glass of wine.

This is not a diet, we have 5 days that we can have what we want without feeling guilty. Yes, along the way we probably will make better choices but, this is supposed to be a programme that we can live with. If too many restrictions are placed on us then we will become bored, complacent, feel like we are missing out, and then we will become another statistic, one of failure again. As MM says have your two days alcohol free, and your fast days are great for that, to compensate for other days when you feel like alcohol why not try the intermittent training three times a week.

Opps, I guess you can tell I am from Australia – Darwin to be exact and it’s bloody hot here and a well chilled glass of wine is something to look forward too after work. And yes I am new to this too, I don’t always drink (maybe three times a week give or take a day, depending on life) but I don’t want to be made guilty when I do want one. Cheers, and have a great day everyone.

Hi Merri, I’m new too, I thought your post was very relevant to my comment! It gets damn hot here in Perth too and a glass of SSB with some ice is almost as close to heaven as it gets. I’m going to try mixing with soda water (an old trick) as well. Clever hey?

Hi Paramau,

just trying to put it into perspective. By all means drink if you want. everyone has a vice. If you do though then one of your two fast days will just compensate for your drinking. Its the second fast day that you would then actually start to lose weight. As long as your not after a rapid loss then all is well and good.

Good luck with it.

Hello Paramau and a big welcome to you as, at last, I have someone else on this side of the continent to keep me company! Are you NOR or SOR? I still meet for coffee with a couple of the past Perth posters and you’d be welcome to join us if you’re interested.

Welcome everyone else. Our thread is exploding with good intentions!

‘eloelo & jenmac, nice to see you keeping each other going today – have you tried the decadent Madame Flavour teas? Available in the main supermarkets. It makes you feel as if you’re having something a little naughty. I’ve only tried the orange/choc variety but Lael suggested a nice-sounding one whose name I can’t remember. I re-use the same bag three times and it’s 5cals I believe.

‘eloelo, you have the book – I think you also deserve a decent set of bathroom scales, kitchen scales and travel scales.

Merri, I think what you say in your profile is right that we don’t necessarily recognise what we see in the mirror. There are a few of us of your vintage on this thread.

Bigbooty, I’m with you on alcohol. Whilst it’s true that 5:2 allows for ‘anything we want’ on NFDs, this is also (if not primarily) about improving our long-term health. Quite apart from anything else, alcohol is associated with various cancers. Still, it can be quite a leap adjusting to FDs and I believe it’s important to get that right before tweaking what we do on NFDs. The appeal of 5:2 lies in its flexibility. But, whether your poison is chocolate gateaux or a big glass of wine (or both), don’t forget about your insulin sensitivity!

Oh, and it works without stuffing up your metabolism, and actually makes you healthier!

Hi All,

I am off for awhile. Been pretty down lately so I am off to do it on my own & see how I go. Hope you are all successful.

Regards,
Michaela