Hello again everyone! I am tidying up my house in increments. Currently I am in the space between them!

GL502, so great to see your post! So glad the rain didn’t drown your garden again! Great advice, and good luck with the yardwork!

Elsa, so nice to be getting into the mindset! It is great that you can just keep adjusting how you do your fast days until you get the balance that is sustainable in your life. Nice to start with a rigorous week or two and then you can settle down to 5:2 if 4:3 is getting a bit unsustainable.

Happy new year Pintinlin. So nice to look forward to 2017 with 5:2. I hope your son might join in too! We’ll see!

Welcome Lily! Always nice to have another Southern Hemispherite here!

Cheers Merry. Isn’t it nice to ave the silly season done and dusted, and a fresh new year ahead!

Off to do the next increment! 😉

Hi every one Happy New Year Thank you for all the inspirational posts and information looking forward to a good year of 5.2.

Ha, ha, didn’t see that one….not a single potion, but very much enjoyed the hot version of butterbeer, and the sip or 2 of OH’s slushy butterbeer! Way too sweet, of course, but how often do you get to have a fictitious drink, and have it in the fictitious inn! Oh, and the ride in Hogwarts castle was pretty spectacular too! Lot’s of fun, and something I wouldn’t have been able to do at my pre 5:2 weight. The energy I used carrying around that extra 21kgs would have meant I didn’t have enough energy to walk through Hogwarts and cope with the excitement of the visual, noisy 3D awesomeness of that ride! Hooray for 5:2!!!

Never thought of the post midnight thing, probably just a sip of champagne, but I’ll probably have lovely brunch after my weigh in.

When the going gets tough the tough get going Thin! You too!
Cheers,
Merry

Good to hear from you Lael and that your fast went so well. Merry, did you realise that your last post was the 10,000th to this thread? See you on the other side!

I’m enjoying celebrating New Year’s Eve with my 5:2 fasting friends by reading everyone’s posts! Happy New Year Merry, Cinque, Thin, Intesha, Joffy, Fishing Gran and all the other regulars I may have overlooked! I feel in good company with all of you as I fast my way into 2017!

Good morning to all you party people i hope you had a good night. I decided i need a FD today so up bright and early and had a lovely walk on the beach.Hi Cinque it’s good to be able to share this journey with like minded people helps to keep us on the right track.

Welcome to a new year and a clean slate.

Cinque I’m with you. Have spent the last few days going from room to room. Cleaning, throwing and sorting.

Reflecting on last year and I probably should have lost more weight but I am still 5kg lighter and maintaining FDs after a few hiccups.

FD today as an extra, 67.9 this morning. I would like to get back to 65 which I saw very fleetingly at the beginning of December. I have not made any resolutions or set any goals but will continue this WOL and see where it takes me.

Have a few things happening this month. A high tea (yes another one), going to Canberra to visit friends for a few days and then my cousin is coming for a visit, so a little bit social but we all know how forgiving this WOL can be.

Tomorrow will be my 100th week on 5:2 what a journey and what a wonderful supportive group you have all been. Thank you all.

Note to Thin: I didn’t realise that you don’t know (at least I now assume you don’t), but I’m in WA, too.
Cheers
Chat

Oh dear

I went so well until I came back from visiting my daughter and suddenly things went wrong. First (after all my pride that I was ready for my fast day) I forgot to take my piece of chicken out of the freezer this morning. Then, when I was buying milk, they had some nearly expired milk 50c for 2 litres. So I bought it to make paneer. But it was Physical and it didn’t work and I had to throw it all out and then clean a big yucky saucepan. And I was tired.
And I thought I would just have a bite while my chicken thawed, and then thought I would have something else instead of my miso soup, and then all of a sudden I realised that what I had eaten made for quite a big meal.

I don’t think I have ever sabotaged a fast day before! Not like this anyway.

Tomorrow the chicken will be thawed, and I want my miso soup! I’ve got my salad in a jar to have for a light lunch, so I will have light eating day.
A young friend is coming to stay from Wednesday to Friday (I used to look after him when he was quite a troubled child, and he has turned into such an impressive teenager! He is fourteen now. We will do all our old favourite things, which include meals I used to make for him, and playing Diablo computer game!). So tomorrow is my chance to have a nearly Fast day.

But I don’t like this feeling, I am still a bit off kilter I think! So much for my lovely start to the year. Oh well, hooray for a new day tomorrow!

@cinque – That sounds like a bit of unneeded drama for new years day, I’m sure you’ll be fine, these things help give us more resolve (at least it would for me I think, still a bit new to this 5:2 thing)… you can always skip breakfast the next day if you’re just worried about the extra calories. Oh, and I’m sure I’ll probably play a bit of Diablo today with my 13yo son too 😉

@joffy – those lifeguards get a sleep in where you are? 9am, day is half over by then 😉

…anyway – pleased with my weigh-in this morning 118.0kg, 5 weeks ago I was 121.2, and this time last week (after a Christmas week binge split over multiple days with both sides of the family, I bounced back up to 119.4, from 118.2 the week before, so good to see that has settled back down!)

Fast day today, and I still have some mulching to spread in the garden… got a bit left to do before some rain comes tonight and makes it wet and even heavier to move for tomorrow, lol.

Happy NY to all

For myself, I found December very trying and didn’t fast from 15 Dec. It was too difficult with the various functions/catch ups so I decided to begin again 1 Jan. Weighed myself today and am 1.5 kgs up on my previous weigh-in (15 Dec). Not too discouraged as I intend to fast Tues & Thurs as normal this week which would make 3 FDs for the week and I believe I can quickly regain lost ground. Another lesson learned on this journey which I began in October and have lost around 7 kgs – no other diet/WOL has done this for me.

My goals for 2017 are pretty simple – continue this WOL, continue with aqua fitness, walk the dogs, watch my food intake on NFDs – all aimed at a better, healthier me

Merry, I would be in for a Melb reunion sometime during the year and it would be very special to put faces to names.

Happy fasting everyone

Hi Ladyfish

I began 5:2 three years ago, and my fast day breakfasts were nearly always an egg with wilted spinach. For variety I would have some smoked salmon or tuna with the spinach. I don’t eat cereals any more. I trained myself off latte and on to black coffee. I have found that a little protein makes fast days easier.

My food is all whole food, no low fat products ever. And no artificial sweeteners. I try to minimise intake of sweet foods, and eat what is in season. Good luck! Only eat what your grandma would recognise as real food.

Cheers, Bay 🌺🌺🍓🍓🌸🌸

Good morning everyone,

Today is going very well (so far 😉 ) I’ve even cleaned out the kitchen drawers. You know, the ones where you put all the odds and ends! I’ve been here 12 years so there were a few deteriorating rubber bands and other things to chuck out, and a lot to give a nice fresh wash as well.

Ha Vaderz, failed paneer is about as much drama as I can stand!
Nice weigh in! And glad someone else knows Diablo 🙂

Best wishes for your fast day today.
And yours Fishing Gran. Hope you get a bit of satisfying cleaning done!

Joffy, so good to get your post in the middle of your wonderful internet free holiday. Full of good news and achievements!

Wwall, welcome back to the 5:2 groove after the silly season chaos! What lovely 2017 goals!

I’d love a Melbourne get together, and if it manages to be in Perth instead, I’ll skype!

Hi Ladyfish,
I started by having porridge on a fast day morning (with a bit of milk but no sugar) but then decided just to ride out the day with cuppas and have a big bowl of soup in the evening. Soup on a fast day evening has been my thing right from the start and it has been 18 months and I haven’t got sick of it!

There are some good recipes here that might inspire you!: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/southern-hemispherites-fd-recipes/

Got it Joffy! Thanks

Hi Readytolose, I too was on steroids for 3 years and weaned off in April 2016. I’ve been practicing 5:2 since late June 2016 and am continuing it as a WOL. It has been fabulous!

I have to chuckle! A customer came into the health food shop where I work and we got talking. I explained I was doing 5:2. He’d seen the SBS series and knew of Dr. M. He asked me how long I would be continuing with it. When I said, ‘The rest of my life.’ His eyes got wide, he looked incredulous and I thought he was going to fall over before he finally said, ‘Really!?!? When I saw the series I didn’t think anyone would be going and doing that at all, let alone for the rest of your life!?!?’

Hi all! So good to read that so many have kept this WOE up over the Christmas/New Year period. Having only started beginning Dec, I was getting into the groove quite quickly, but had last week off 5:2 (but kept exercising). Back on track this week, with next FD tomorrow.

I also got a new FitBit on Saturday, so this is adding extra incentive to get moving. I log my food etc in the app, and it also monitors your sleep.

Awesome that there are so many ‘newbies’ asking all the questions I want answers to as well – thank you to all the more experienced 5:2’ers for sharing your experiences so that we may be more successful.

As I know most of you are Aussies (I’m in NZ) – my husband and I took our boys (10 and 11) to see ‘Red Dog -True Blue’ today. It’s a beautiful story, quite funny in places – but I highly recommend it.

Hi Cinque,
I was losing about a kg a week, got to a loss of 4.5kg, fingers crossed it drops off easily now that Chrudynas is over.

Good luck

Marinermum, I was wondering whether to see, ‘Red Dog True Blue’ as often the sequels leave you wishing you’d just left it at one. I can also heartily recommend, ‘Allied’ which we saw yesterday. Do not watch the trailer as I feel it’s a spoiler alert however, if you’ve already seen the trailer, this movie has so many twists, you still won’t figure it out until the last minute. Also, having been to Botswana this year and learned a bit of their history, I am keen to see, ‘A United Kingdom’. These stinking hot days make it perfect for movie going.

On the subject of movie going though, I find it rather objectionable to have to stand in a sticky sea of people’s spilled super-sized drinks while purchasing a ticket. I know they’re selling tickets at the concession stand to make you buy junk but it’s just filthy. And then you walk through a sea of crushed, spilled popcorn to your allotted theatre because people couldn’t actually carry the absurd oversized buckets they’ve purchased as far as their seat. And while you’re watching a very loud ad telling you that you could win $10,000 just by purchasing one of these sticky drinks, the guy next to you, who’s taking up more than his fair share of the theatre, is unwrapping his chocolate bar and proceeds to chew and slurp loudly with his mouth open throughout the movie. Yuk.

Isn’t it great to be a self-righteous 5:2er?

Hi Lael

Yes, my friends think it’s odd that I’m still fasting one or two days a week. They seem to think that once you’ve lost weight, why would you continue? When I mention the health benefits, their eyes glaze over.

Cheers, Bay 🌺🌺💐💐

I have found that i am starting to look forward to FD’s it seems to give my body a rest, sometimes people do seem to look at you sideways if you mention 5.2 my family just go with the flow even the grand kids ask if i am eating before offering food. my Christmas present is a fitness watch it keeps beeping at me to move after 14,000 steps i think i have done enough today.

Hi all – FD today, after having last week off. Having only started first week Dec, I pretty much put on everything I lost over Christmas. That’s ok – was really looking forward to today, and am surprised at how well it is going. A couple of black coffees and a One Square Meal bite, and water. Now 1730, will have an omelette and salad for dinner, and that will be me. Actually, tummy just grumbled, but I’ve grown to like that feeling. Also walked for an hour with a girlfriend this morning; have 11,693 steps to my name today. Not quite as much as you, Fishing Gran!

I’ve joined the Jan Challenge thread too, start today. Hope you’re all having a great day. It’s hot and humid here in Auckland, but we have fans going.

Hey Thin, did you get a chance to see ‘United Kingdom’? We watched it when in Melbourne and loved it! I too wondered about the ‘Red Dog’ sequel, so it’s been great reading everyone’s reviews! I chuckled at your cinema descriptions! I’m often annoyed by the sound of candy wrappers being opened in my ear behind me and sometimes people carry on conversations with each other as if they are watching the film in their living room!

Bay, thank you for the acknowledgement about those of us with health issues that do add another factor into the equation. I feel a heap of gratitude to Merry and Cinque for allowing me to see that it actually is possible to practice this WOL with energy health issues. Had I not found the ‘Chronic Fatigue’ thread I may have gone on listening to all the so called experts out there advising me not to fast with my particular health problem and concluded that this couldn’t work for me. I admit I feel a bit chuffed that I’ve proven them wrong! …I guess that’s my rebellious side accomplishing something positive!

Fishing Gran, go girl with all those steps! The Fitbit sounds great, motivating you to move! I’ve been hearing on the ABC radio and such how bad it is to sit for prolonged periods and even simply standing up after 15 minutes is helpful. I’ve thought of getting one of those monitors since they also track quality of sleep and I’d like to see how I’m doing on that front from an objective standpoint!

wwal, the aqua fitness especially sounds like great exercise on these hot days we’ve had! I also love dog walking! Though we can’t have dogs where we live, I’m going to walk a friend’s dog today! It’s a cute little Maltese x Shih Tzu.

A mini-conference or Skype convention sounds like fun!

Great post Lael, thanks for sharing. This is exactly how I approach 5:2. There are lots of variations shared on these pages which reflect its flexibility but for me, I practice it exactly as originally presented and it’s all worked so well. Mimi’s dinner party is a bit like a class I attend at the learning centre where 8 of the 16 of us now practice 5:2 and we usually discuss progress during morning tea!

It’s spreading as more and more people enjoy the benefits and the WOL is being viewed as long-term, not a passing fad. I was pleased to read this article in our community paper this week. I thought it was well-presented in a gently persuasive way.
http://epaper.communitynews.com.au/epaper/viewer.aspx# You have to type in the search box, ‘sugar is sin when it comes to slim’.

Hi thinatlast – it was awesome, thank you. Yesterday was a NFD, and today is another FD. I know the weight is coming off, and my resting heart rate is lowering too. Hopefully my BP is going down as well! 41 degrees is pretty warm eh? Doesn’t get quite that hot here, but we have humidity, which makes it pretty sticky sometimes.

I’ve been to the beach with the dog this morning, then to the park. Husband and I have rearranged the outdoor furniture on the deck, and this afternoon I’m taking my sons to a Nerf gun battle with some of their friends, and then they’re going swimming.

I’m loving being on holiday – back to work on Monday, which means a weekly commute for me this year. Mon-Thu in Wellington, most Fridays back home in Auckland. The only good thing about commuting – fasting is easier away from my family.

Thin, that’s a great article that your community newspaper wrote and so good to help prompt more of the community to consider 5:2! I did have to giggle a bit reading that the WHO approves the consumption of 12 teaspoons of sugar a day! I guess they are meaning to include was in naturally in foods, but just that vision of the 12 teaspoons of sugar lined up in a row seems like a lot! I’m hoping I consume much less!

This was also a good reminder: ‘The 5:2 fasting diet was back in the news after early human trials showed fasting had helped cancer patients avoid the side effects of chemotherapy and boosted their immune system to fight off cancer cells.’