Good Morning,
Enjoying reading your posts. Giving the 5/2 another go. Seems that it really works.
This topic contains 28,293 replies, has 835 voices, and was last updated by Neilithicman 1 minute ago.
Hi all!
That was a fascinating article Violet, there’s so much to lern about the mind/ body connection and how one affects the other. Medical science still doesn’t have all the definitive answers yet, but I like to think that I’m doing my own small scale experiment, right here, right now….by following my 5:2 way of life, and happily experiencing wonderful results!
What has happened so far after nearly 15 months of 5:2 –
~ no more snoring
~ lower blood pressure
~ lower cholesterol
~ lower blood glucose
~ 18 kilos lighter, reached first goal weight of 70 kg, with another 5 to go!
~ feel and look younger
~ move much more easily
~ have tons of energy! and no longer get tired in the middle of the day
~ easily wear size12 clothes now, rather than squeezing into sze 16
~ happy to appear in photos now! and looking forward to getting my new hairdo today. Let’s hope it goes well, and there will be smiles rather than tears at my new look!
If you’re fastng today like me, have a great one! Cheers my dears!
Morning all,
Fast day today. I wonder whether they’ll put this WOL on the next census???
😉 Here we all are.
IHAW, I love your summary and am happy to notice how similar my list would be. This is great news, well done.
The article over on RN is very interesting – thanks for that little resource Violet May. I occasionally podcast All in the Mind but missed this, and it rings true for me.
To the newer folk, I want to add a welcome. I can only reiterate that this works for me too, and is pretty easy to manage. I think it’s important not to expect ‘fast’ results. Leave the meaning of the word to having fast (low food value) days and be patient with letting your body do it’s own work in it’s own time. As long as you stick to your end of the bargain, it will work. I have taken a year to shed the weight and this time, I’m quite happy to give away the big clothes because I think it really is a way of life. I don’t need the ‘big clothes back-up’. That feels very good indeed.
Cheers,
Ros.
Good morning all Eastern Fast Friends, old and new.
While I can’t say I LOVE Monday fasts, they are certainly good if the weekend was a bit OTT.
Yesterday took a family trip on a restored steam train Mt Barker to Victor Harbor (SA). Weather was fine all day – not bad considering middle of winter.
Didn’t attempt to count calories but tried to be moderate. Fitbit reported 12,300 steps for the day so hope any naughtiness partly counteracted and also by very low-cal veg soup for dinner.
Brilliant results IHAW.
Does anyone else read the Weekend Australian? In the magazine section columnist Nikki Gemmell bemoaned becoming a Lady of a Certain Age and the consequent waistline thickening. I didn’t email her straight away in case other 5:2ers did, but I think someone needs to put her in touch with this WOL.
Welcome new friends Gezza, Imarni and Tarkeeth. Ros – I totally concur. This journey is a marathon not a sprint, health improvements are significant and weight loss is a bonus extra.
You will find plenty of support here.
Happy Monday fast day all.
Hi everyone,
I am still going. Lost 600g in the first week, and am down another 600g from Friday to today, after a fast day yesterday. I am finding I am going a little off track on non fast days so am going to weigh myself each day to keep track and monitor any patterns!
Fast days are a little bit of a struggle, but I find them easier to do on weekends than week days. I work fulltime and find that if I fast on a weekday, when I get home from work I want to eat every single thing in sight.
I have done 4 fast days now and they are definitely getting easier though, and I am finding that I am slowly building my self control, and making conscious decisions.
Welcome to the newbies, I am only new at this too but am finding the feeling within myself and in my clothes is amazing, I am noticing huge differences in both areas. 🙂
Today marks my first month of 5:2.
I don’t have a lot of weight to lose (just fat), but already I am down 1.5kg, which is slow, but pleasing. The reason it’s slow is because I don’t count calories on the 5 days. I know pretty much what I should be eating (after 40 years!!) and so far, it seems to be okay. I will only ‘count’ as a last resort.
Somehow I always face a fast day with dread. I still have that fear of starvation – I don’t know why, maybe buried deep in childhood.
I do however, always find the day itself is never as bad as I expect. In fact it is quite easy and by the end of the day – and my delicious meal – I feel quite ready to do another fast day.
The funny thing is that having a meal in the middle of the day interrupts what I am doing, so not eating means I get so much more done.
However, I really need these posts on fast days, so thank you everyone.
Hi
I am on my second fast day today. I started last Wednesday with my first one and was going to do Mondays and Wednesday I now think I will do Monday Thursday.
I would really love some ideas of what to eat on fast days.
What is the book that lots of people are talking about. I am doing this purely on info I have read on the internet. I would love to have a book to read about it.
My first fast day wasn’t to bad I was very hungry by 8pm and went to bed at about 9pm. I woke up fine and didn’t feel hungry at all.
I am also going to get a fitbit and start walking each day. I have 14kg to lose and would like to do this by Christmas.
Hi Emmyh
I’m standing in a food court to answer you and haven’t eaten all day. Ah the things you can do as an experienced fast dieter!
Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer have The Fast Diet book (tells you why you should do it) and The Fast Recipe book (beautiful illustrations, recipes with calorie count).
I also bought Kate Harrison’s 5 : 2 diet books (with recipes, hints and list of common foods with calorie counts.
I use them all to revisit frequently…..and I’ve been doing this since April 2013. Gone down many dress sizes and back to my weight as a young woman (I’m in my 60s)
I bought the books from Booktopia in Australia. Also available for Kindle via Amazon
All the best PVE
Bayleafoz,thanks for the suggestions, defiantly don’t want to over eat following a fast day.
Just wondered if this was” normal” or only when you start on the diet.
Get through the fast day no problems but then seem to want to blow it
next day with tons of fruit
Interestingly my standard LoCarbo breakfast of a few years just happened
to weigh in at 275 Cals, so no adjustment was was needed for that meal.
Cheers,
Tim.
Thanks all for welcome 🙂 I am first day and my book just arrived in the mail from UK, cannot wait to sour it, had a peak at the recipes – YUM! I started with a cup of watermelon for breckie – swam 60 laps at pool and had 1.2 cup of fresh Pineapple for lunch – we are having stir fry for dinner I will have a small 1/2 portion of the Basmatti rice and then 1 cup of chicken stir fry. I’m hanging out for dinner. I’m not finding it too hard, although I did massage a client and my tummy was grumbling – awkward! I have a Yoga class to get through yet so hoping that works ok, but I think I will do fine. Bring on tomorrow! Next fast day be Thursday for me.
I think Michael Mosely found that he ate about 110% of his TDEE the day after a fast. I’ve been doing 5:2 for 8 months and after some fast days I feel very hungry and definitely eat more than usual. I wouldn’t worry too much about it – eat a bit more but try to choose protein type foods, not junk.
ihaveawaist, I enjoyed your list of life improvements on the 5:2. I have a couple of unusual ones too eg. two years ago I badly sprained my foot with some broken bones and up until the end of last year I still had residual swelling of the ankle and couldn’t get my foot back into all my shoes. Now, after losing weight on the 5:2, I can wear all my shoes, which is very nice! I still have visible swelling though, it’s just that the whole foot has gone down.
I do yoga and while I’m no perfect yogi, since losing weight I’ve been able to do a lot more poses more easily. It’s not that I’m fitter, I’m just lighter and lither so my body can twist around itself more easily. That’s a nice side effect.
Re the headaches, I got one for the first few fasts but never get one these days – my body has just adjusted itself. Just make sure to keep drinking water and herbal teas.
Just made my favouite winter fast day lunch.
Stuffed Mushroom less than 130 cal (about 80 without cheese or ham)
1 large mushroom. Cut out the stalk and chop it finely and put it aside in a bowl.
Heat up a griller and place the mushroom face down on a piece of foil. Lightly spray with oil.
Grill on 150deg c for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop one cherry tomato, one small thin piece of ham, some shallot, parsley. Add to bowl of chopped stalk. Add 1/2 tbs of lite sour cream, pepper. Mix.
Take the mushroom from the griller. Turn it over and fill with the stuffing. Can sprinkle a little Parmesan on top.
Return to griller for a further 5 minutes.
Enjoy sitting in the wintersun! 🙂
PVE
@theorangeone – I don’t find concentrating too hard on fast days, I think I actually feel a little more alert and focussed. I think my subconscious must block the hunger pains!
Although, if I don’t have much to do, I find my mind wandering to food, recipes, planning meals…
@scout I’m not sure why today is so hard but I’m already counting down the hours to dinner. Thankfully I have some appointments this afternoon that should hold my attention. Perhaps the desk work just isn’t quite enough to keep me distracted.
@theorangeone – I count the hours to dinner every fast day! 🙂 Hopefully it gets better for you!
Tarkeeth, my cravings for sweet foods (and much unhealthier junk food than fruit) certainly diminished the longer I’ve been on 5:2. I’m always hungrier on the 2nd day after a fast, rather then the day immediately after, but that might be just me. See how you go. There’s nothing wrong with having some fruit! – Maybe not tons though 😉 If you are worried about blowing it – count the calories to make sure you’re really not overdoing it. You might also find that you are satisfied with a much smaller sweet fix than you think. After one piece of fresh fruit you might not want the whole fruit bowl.
OrangeOne – I hope the day has gotten better for you. I live on tea for fast days till dinner time, but somedays I do split my calories and have an afternoon pick-me-up if my brain’s not working.
PVE – I was in a food court today – took the kids to the movies – it’s great that I have learned that I can go to these places, surrounded with sights and aromas, and triggers and not partake. The movie was great too.
Well done everyone else – so many happy fasters logging on today! 🙂
@melbournemum you deserve a medal, I could not trust myself near a food court on a fast day! Nice work
Hi gang I find I am rarely hungry the next day. I was when I only ate dinner. I find it much more manageable (for me) to eat several smaller meals. Lots of veg, to make me feel full works for me.
when we srarted, last year, we both ate 3 tiny “meals” ..400 cal total. Eg an apple for brekkie, hard boiled egg lettuce and 2 tiny toms for lunch and 50gms fish with steamed onion, ginger, garlic, chilli, celery and bok choy for dinner. It took us many months to get off 3 meals, but we lost 1kg per week from the beginning and found we ate much more sensibly on the other 5 (no snacks, didn’t need them, but we still have wine 5 nights a week.) He’s lost 31 kg. I’ve lost 26. Must be doing something right.
I agree with the positives the others listed, as well as my hubby getting off insulin and me being able to run anywhere!
PVE
Hi all!
Thanks so much for setting up this post, it’s very inspiring and educational too. I’ve been reading it for a little while and finally feel like I want to share. Today has been fast day and it hasn’t been a struggle (I even went to gym today). No headaches, no major cravings just good light food with a total of 498 calories. Happy dance!
Brunch was miso with veggies, mid afternoon snack of a banana and dinner was scrambled eggs with steamed broccoli and cauliflower mash (that stuff is so yummy and low in calories too).
Question for all the inspiring long term members who’ve lost weight – on your non-fasting days do you still watch what you eat and eat clean? Do you calorie count?
Purple Veggie Eater – I love reading your story, it’s so inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous Bec
As I said earlier, we took up eating no snacks on normal days. I actually cleaned the house out of any potentially unhealthy or fattening foods. We ate 3 meals without counting cals, but being very conscious of food choices and portion sizes. I bought no potatoes or rice or pasta for months. As my husband does blood sugar tests every day ( and then about 3 times a day) we got very quick feedback on what was unsuitable. This WOE relies on steady blood sugars, cutting out sugar spikes especially on fast days.
So, no, we didn’t count calories but we simply changed what and how much we ate. We took up seafood and salads in a big way!
Hope this helps. PVE 🙂
Hi everyone, it’s the end of my 3rd Fast Day and I powered through it. I was a bit peckish after dinner so had a little square of chocolate (at 28 calories!) and a couple of plain Doritos – I couldn’t decide if I wanted sweet or savoury! But still came in at 498.
I found it interesting that I had lost 1.1kg when I weighed in Friday, but on Saturday when I weighed myself again (making sure I didn’t imagine it!) I had lost another 0.5kg. I only have about 6 kg to lose so I’m happy with this start. I’m trying to be disciplined on non-fast days to retrain myself but won’t deprive myself – except for yesterday when I tested my willpower and did not buy popcorn at the movies
Morning everybody,
Things here up on the far NSW Coast are all great with whales and dolphins showing off, giving all of us land locked humans a lovely taste of ocean life, lucky things!
So I’m now 69.7 kg, as well as sporting a lot of shorter curly locks. Amazing 12 inches of hair off, with lots of layering , makes me look and feel 15 years younger. Probably a lot of weight lost with all of that heavy hair finally gone, and only happy about the result too, not a single tear shed!
Had no hunger at all yesterday, and the miso kept me warm when it chilled off in the evening.
On non fast days I eat what I want, and enjoy it, but I can’t eat the quantities and portions that I used to. I only watch calories on fast days, as I’m too lazy to do it full-time.
It was amazing how dynamic and sharing this forum is, we are real chatter boxes, and I absolutely love it!
Cheers dears!
How fabulous ihaw!
You must feel so proud of your new younger look.
Now, what about the wardrobe? Is it up to date? Give the daggy big stuff away and buy some new straight leg pants. They emphasize your legs giving you a much slimmer look. I love showing off in mine! No more hiding behind loose fitting “old lady” clothes 😉
Go for it. And say hi to the whales. I’m back at home among the gum trees, without my ocean view.
Have fun choosing a wardrobe, clever girl. PVE
IHAW, I do the same. I hate calories (a lifetime of them has put me off) so I eat not so much what I want, but what my body wants – on non-fast days.
It has been a long, hard road to try to discover what exactly my body wants, as opposed to my mouth and brain, and I still sometimes slip up, but I have devised a yogurt, cereal, fruit breakfast; salad or soup, plus bread plus protein lunch; and protein and vegetables dinner.
I have the occasional glass of wine or piece of dark chocolate, but no desserts or biscuits/cakes at all.
I know my body doesn’t like them. It feels full and heavy and bloated, so I have to stop and think and breathe deeply and have a glass of water when faced with temptation.
Sometimes I give in, but so far I have been able to balance my weight on non-fast days, and lose it on fast days. Slow, but steady.
And do try straight-leg pants – I’ve now reached size 12, and like showing them off. They ‘feel’ thinner than bootlegs.
Good morning everyone old & new,
Sorry I’ve been gone for so long. But IM BACK!!! I’m ready and it’s time! I’ve got my life off the precipice & things have settled down after illness and upheaval.
I’m so cranky with myself, 5 kg have snuck back on so my weight loss is now only 16kg 🙁
So, it’s time. But I think I’ll need a few pointers & any hints anyone can spare that you have found, if you wouldn’t mind. Just to get me moving again.
I’m very keen & looking forward to the final 15kg to melt off with this fantastic WOL.
And thank you for having me.
Ella xxx
Hi Scout
No such thing as “normal” for me. I love food and am forever seeking new recipes.
I usually don’t eat breakfast until late (I’m retired). Say 30 gm of real rolled oats cooked in water and topped with blueberries or strawberries. No milk or sugar. Very satisfying.
I usually go vegetarian at lunch time. Home made veg soup or veg patties. Rarely have bread (I think it is problematic). Salad..lots of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, capsicum, olives maybe some fetta or hummus.
No snacks. Dinner or whatever meat veg we feel like and a glass of wine. We also usually have a few berries with a bit of plain yoghurt and some almond flakes and cinnamon (served in a tiny ramekin so it looks a lot) with black coffee.
We ate no potatoes, rice or pasta even on normal days for nearly a year. Now we eat miniscule amounts as we don’t feel like them any more.
I also eat an apple if I’m desperate or if I’m out and about to stop me buying naughty food.
Hope this helps. You really do rethink all your choices and discover new exciting dishes.
Good luck PVE
You’re welcome.
Also, no matter what day, I always eat or have a drink before I go near shops. I carry water everywhere to top up (and know where all the loos are) and I walk whenever possible. ..up stairs, park a couple of blocks away, use public transport. My new feet (less weight to carry) can walk forever. 🙂
I’m so glad you love your new haircut IHAW! It’s so liberating, isn’t it? About a year ago I went for a pixie cut after 10 years of long hair. It was like an instant facelift – everyone said I looked 10 years younger. As for jeans, I recently bought 2 new pairs. The “curvy” style I thought would be my favourites aren’t quite right any more. The slim straight leg “tummy trimmers” are the ones which look great on me now. I never thought I’d ever buy “slim” leg jeans. They are certainly better for my proportions than bootleg styles.
Hi Did a weighin this morning after Mon fast and was surprised
to find my weight was 91.8 kgs. I have been this weight for a week now.
Am happy with that as I am coming down slowly.
What really pinned my ears back was I hit the scales before breakfast
and before my daily 40 min Exbike.
According to the readout I travelled 15 Ks and burnt 752 Kj.
I then reweighed myself and found much to my disappointment I was exactly the
same weight. Neverbefore have I weighed before and after. Only normally weigh weekly.
My question is, is this normal ? Foundout my Medium Intensity earned me 3 slices
of bread or 3 pieces of fruit,etc.
2nd question whats the burn rate of Kjs per 1/2 or 1 hour Medium intensity
Googled and found this: http://www.mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/exercise-to-burn-fat
Cheers
Tim.
Hi Tim,
One thing I learned from the FastExercise book is that when you calculate how much energy you burn doing this or that exercise at such and such an intensity, you also need to take into account the energy your body would burn sitting on the couch watching TV. It’s the difference between those values that is your extra food, or extra weight loss.
It’s hard to resist more frequent weigh-ins, particularly when you’re trying to work this new lifestyle out – after all, we’re all conducting our own 5:2 experiments – but you’ll be much happier if you stick to a weekly weigh-in, and take body measurements too, as they might change even if your weight is steady.
MM again thanks for your advice. Will have to get copy of the FastExercise.
Do you know who the author is? Going into Coffs tomorrow to get the
5/2 recipe book and Kate Harrisons also and will ask re the Fastexercise.
Realising it is really a new lifestyle, a bit late though as 80 next year!!!!
Cheers,
Tim.
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