Hello again 🙂 I caught lots of fish thin, even out fishing the OH this time LOL

Good luck with your first FD Nancy 🙂

Thanks Paula for your advice about the referral to an endocrinologist. I hope she will get one

Hi PVE, so nice to meet you and thank you so much for coming in and giving me some more information. It is amazing that something so simple has worked to reverse the diabetes. My friend has told me that she needs to eat carbs with every meal (as advised by her doctor). Having researched the effect of carbs on our blood sugar, I struggle to understand why she has been told this. I will be trying to talk to her again and hopefully I manage to get through this time.

Thank you to everyone for your support. You really are an awesome group :):)

Good morning SHs,

Early start today as I was woken at 7am by the construction crew working next door. Trying to get one more hour in bed seemed pointless with all the banging.

Nancy, hope four first fast day goes well.

Paula, When I started 5:2 I found myself eating things because I knew I wouldn’t be able to tomorrow when fasting. It doesn’t take much to eat enough extras to cancel out the 2 FDs. I started reminding myself that it was just one day, and I would have food choices again the day after. It took me a while to get out of diet thinking – a binge of all the things I won’t be able to have before starting a new diet is an old pattern of mine. It took a little time to change my thinking for 5:2 where normal food is never more than a day away.
I would also recommend taking some body measurement – they can show your progress when the scales aren’t.

I’m just starting my third NFD in a row. I really felt like I should be fasting this morning, but swapping isn’t an option as I have my abatacept infusion on Thursday so I need to fast tomorrow to minimise the side effects.

Have a good day all.

Paula, I think it helps if you embrace the FDs as something really healthy happening for your body rather than a day of ‘starving’ yourself. Don’t worry, it all comes naturally with more practice. Those last minute snacks the night before a FD will soon be a thing of the past and you’ll probably find you won’t eat anything after dinner. After a while, I came to enjoy the discipline required for fasting and often feel quite smug being able to forego food regardless of what life is throwing at me or what others around me are eating. For me, a fast day is a fast day is a fast day. I just love this way of life.

All the best today Nancy.

Fishing sounds a productive past-time, Quacka. I hope your friend gets the right advice.

What’s rain Cinque?

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been absent for so many days. I got home from the 5 day business trip late last night and think I caught some sort of bug or at least a bad cold. I hope it passes quickly. It’s good to be home and to be back here.

I’ve been reading all the posts but just getting the time now to reply. Welcome to the thread, Paula! And good to see you back Quaka. Paula, as time goes on, FD will seem like a very normal thing to you and the urge to eat a lot the day prior will disappear. After all, this isn’t really a diet, it’s just 1 day of fasting and not even a real fast since you’re still eating 500 calories. I hardly even think about it anymore except to make sure I have my usual FD foods available. I have a few things that I like to eat on FDs that are fairly filling and that I like. I usually eat those same foods or similar because for me, they work. You’ll likely find a few FD favorites too, as time goes on. Good luck to you.

LJoyce, it sounds like you’re close to the end of your reno tasks. What a big relief for you it will be when everything is finished! Happy to hear it is all going so well.

Thin, I hope the situation next door is finally really resolved. It will be interesting to see what they do with the house. Maybe they’ll sell it.

I’m going to go and lie down again. Hope you are all having a good day.

Good to see you back CalifD. Hope you feel better soon. What are some of your fave FD foods? I tend to eat the same few things every FD too – laziness more than anything in my case. But you’re right, when you find what works, you stick with it. I will have a seasonal change when winter arrives. Right now it’s 36C so no thoughts of that. My FDs are very different from when I started. Back then, the focus was still very much on food with several little ‘meals’ planned all day. Nowadays, it’s more about not eating but very much just a normal day.

It’s been blissful since the last lot of short-stay guests evacuated last Monday, thanks for asking. I’ve been aware of people next door but the owners themselves are quiet people. They’ve been selling the furniture all week according to other neighbours. This gives us a lot of hope that it will be rented long-term. The local council has just revealed that the owners withdrew their application for change of use within 24 hours of receiving our petition and the various objections. So I feel it was well worth the effort.

Hi ALL

Thanks for your well wishes :)))

Had Dinner which was soooooo yummy. Hanging in there. I have noticed that I get a headache, had the same when I was doing 8pm – 12midday fast. Weird. Anyone have any thoughts on this.

Cheers
nancy

Hi Nancy, my thought went to dehydration too, but also just checking in case it is caffeine withdrawal, if you are not having your usual coffee or tea. (It could also be sugar withdrawal I guess, if you usually have a lot of sugar, but I think you said you don’t).

So glad to see your post (posts) Cali, but sorry you have a virus. Hope it isn’t the Aussie flu.

LJoyce your morning post came through when I posted mine. Hope you have had a good NFD after a loud start to the day.

Oh Thin, it is hot over there, I do hope the rain comes soon…. you will know it when you see it 😉
But hooray for the quiet next door and the end of that venture. Yes, it was worth your effort!

All the best.

Ha ha LJ, you had me really laughing about the bell for CalifD’s OH to appear with cups of tea. I’ve been trying hard to imagine that scenario in our household. Good, you’ll be fasting with me tomorrow. I’ve forgotten why fasting makes your treatment go better on the following day but there’s another feather in the fasting cap. Careful with that freezer build-up!

Nancy, I’ve never experienced headaches from fasting but, from reading others’ posts, I was also going to suggest more water and a little salt. Cinque, I have experienced headache when going without coffee so I agree that it could also be caffeine withdrawal.

Thin, I can imagine that after a couple of uses there might be bit of an accident – “oh dear, I think I’ve just trodden on your bell”
I don’t know why the fasting reduces my post-treatment side effects, just that it does. I got the idea from some research done on chemo patients who “fasted” (reduced cals not water only) for 2 or 3 days immediately prior to chemo. Many had reduced side effects. As far as I’m aware there’s been both UK and US research into this. As my treatment also suppresses my immune system and usually causes similar side effects to chemo, I thought the principle may work for me too. After experimenting I found that I just needed one FD not 2 or 3 to get a great result. Instead of battling nausea, vomiting and headaches I now usually feel almost normal after treatment – just a bit more fatigued and sometimes a mild headache. It’s a really impressive improvement, especially as I fast twice a week anyway so I’m not adding more fast days, I just need to make sure I get the scheduling right.

I felt like dessert tonight but was limited to the few food items I had stashed in the laundry. (The pantry cupboard is plastic wrapped in preparation for floor sanding.) I had 3 small dried peaches and a handful of raw almonds. The combination of one almond and a small bite of dried peach as a mouthful was stunning. Next time I concoct a muesli I think I need to base it around those flavours, perhaps with some shaved coconut and oats.

Hi LJ:

Your ‘fasting reducing RA side effects’ is Dr. Longo’s research discovery. The Longevity Diet book explains how and why it works.

As we have mentioned, research is showing it not only reduces chemo side effects in cancer patients (and leads to significantly higher cure rates), but looks like it may reverse and even cure RA and other autoimmune diseases like MS. While research is going forward in both the U.S. and Europe using the FMD because people refuse to water fast, water fasting produces the same results for free. Dr. Longo runs labs in both Los Angeles at USC and in Milan at the Molecular Oncology FIRC Institute. As a result, his ‘contacts’ run throughout the U.S. and Europe and his clinical trials are taking place throughout the two areas.

Good morning everyone,

Nancy I hope you have woken up feeling triumphant this morning. I LOVE the morning after a fast day.
And I have NO IDEA what that permalink does. I always just hit reply.

Thin, I hope you survived that unseasonably hot day. I saw it in my news feed this morning.

I’m having another Wednesday Fast Day. I wonder if I am changing permanently. I ate too big a meal last night and, now I have considered my fridge and my planner, I have decided today is perfect for a fast. I even went and bought some more yuba yesterday for my miso soup. It’s meant!

I watched Dr MM on the Insight ‘Gut’ special. It was a repeat but it was good to listen to it again.
Meanwhile I had taped my twins in “The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed” on the ABC so I watched half of it before I went to bed, and it started with babies and the indigestible sugars breast milk contains which go straight to feed protective bugs in the babies gut. So cool!

Best wishes to everyone for a good day.

Yes I’m with you. Looking forward to fasting today having survived chocolate mud cake and an Indian restaurant meal this week. Minor damage though as I only had a teeny portion of rice, no appetisers or dessert and no alcohol. OFMs are now well-trained as it was one of them who suggested freezing half the birthday cake. Hurray!

LJ, I’m familiar with that Canadian research concerning reducing or eliminating the side effects of chemo in cancer patients through fasting. I came across it six years ago when my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and it’s how I ultimately arrived here at 5:2. I wondered if that’s why you were doing it prior to your treatments. Great that it works so well for you.

Still trying to get through the Longevity Diet book. Longo’s FMD comprises at least 50% complex carbohydrates yet his disciples seem to constantly demonise carbs.

Cinque, I watched a bit of both. The undigestible breast milk component was fascinating. I’d seen the Insight gut one before. I’m happy that you might be returning regularly to Wednesday fasting.

Hi thin:

It is not Canadian, it is Dr. Longo. He explains it in the Longevity Diet.

As for carbs, the Longevity Diet prohibits sugar (and most other processed carbs). He does allow for occasional small amounts of pasta (after all, he is Italian!) and dark breads, made with whole grain flour. The diet breakdown is 60% carb (mostly complex), 30% fat (olive oil, oil from nuts and in special circumstances coconut oil – no animal fats or ‘vegetable’ oils), and 10% protein, all from vegetables, fish and seafood.

Hi Quacka:

I am not aware of any human studies that address Type 1. Dr. Longo has conducted experiments on mice with the Longevity Diet where the mouse equivalent of Type 1 was reversed. Way too soon to draw any conclusions, but Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, and fasting is known to reverse many autoimmune diseases. If your friend is willing to do some water fasting, under the supervision of his/her doctor, it might be worth a try. Especially when there are no known serious side effects when not eating for a few days.

But I wouldn’t expect the doctor to do anything but laugh, and probably prohibit any fasting. Fasting does not conform to the ‘standard of care’.

simcoe, Longo isn’t the only scientist working on the links between diet and disease – and he only entered that phase of his research in the latter half of his career. The first I personally heard of fasting was six years ago with respect to a Canadian doctor’s research on the effects of long-term fasting on his breast cancer patients. Most of it was anecdotal but he theorised that cancer cells had only ever been fed or medicated, never starved. The cells didn’t know how to behave and they essentially committed suicide. Unlike Longo, whose findings are sensationalised, this doctor was cautioning against cancer sufferers ‘trying it at home’. However, Canadian women got wind of the study and, with nothing to lose and nothing to pay, began fasting with anecdotally excellent results. I was as excited as the next person to read about this as my best friend had breast cancer.

As for Longo’s diet, as I wrote, I was referring to the FMD not the ongoing LD. Not only does it comprise 50% complex carbs, recommendations for the recovery day specifically comprise “a diet based on complex carbs including cereals, pasta, rice, bread, fruit, etc”. And then, as you say, the LD itself does include pasta several days in a two week period. I wondered therefore why every time someone here mentions eating carbs, a lurker out there pounces on them to criticise. Some poor newbie mentioned eating a banana the day after fasting and was instantly chastised because a banana contains carbs. You can’t find a more complete, wholesome, nutritional food than a banana surely!

I’m sure you’re a greater authority on this than I. But I do have the book and I can read quite well. All science must stand up to scrutiny. It’s only so until another study proves otherwise. The findings are exciting and I love the idea of regenerating cells to prevent or cure disease. But I don’t understand why any questioning of this Longevity Diet is instantly shut down. One nagging issue with it for me (that no-one ever seems to want to address) is that over population is the single greatest issue facing our planet. What are we going to do with all these centenarians?

Simcoeluv, I’m not finding the studies that show that FMD or fasting almost doubles the survival rate of those undergoing chemo. Could you post a link?

Thin, I don’t think there will be a problem with an influx of long lived centurions since very few people would even consider a long water fast and most can’t afford or aren’t willing to pay for a $299 boxed meal on a regular basis.

LJ, I lost all my excess weight on a high carb 5:2 diet. But the Keto or low carb diets seem to be popular these days. Interesting that when I’m in a group of people praising the virtues of low carb, I’m the only one who’s thin. 😊

Morning guys

Sorry for the lack of replies, or even a hello from me. My laptop decided to go the rainbow bridge yesterday, taking with it everything I had tagged, bookmarked, kept safe etc. Today is a new day and a new laptop (thanks hubby). So I did really well on my fast day on Monday. I didn’t feel anywhere near as hungry or as anxious about not having enough to eat. My daughter made us an amazing vegeterian chinese chowmein for 170 cals each serve. Wonderfully filling and tasty as.

LJ got myself a punnet of strawberries, awesome idea thanks.

Thin, Quacka et al thanks for the support and encouraging words and wisdom. I really do appreciate it especially as being new to this 5:2 program. All the help I can get (other than people in white coats) is greatly appreciated.

Enough already, have a fantastic day everyone. Take care.

Paula, for some reason, I hadn’t considered the idea that you and your daughter (who’s embarking on 5:2 with you) live together. Even better. So you can follow her lead. Great that Monday’s fast was anxiety-free. The more fasts you complete, the more routine they will become. Post when you like, no obligation but we’d love to hear how you’re progressing. By the way, we do have a recipe page if you’re interested in FD meal ideas: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/southern-hemispherites-fd-recipes/

CalifD, lovely, putting your money where your mouth is – being thin! 😆 Are you feeling better?

LJ, as with your UK study, I also can’t find the original info on the Canadian one which is annoying. It was a pod cast with a transcript because I recall forwarding it to my friend, who happens also to be Canadian. You and I are perfect examples of how fasting works so well but in quite different ways. We do lots of things differently yet we have both maintained our losses and managed to change a lot of our food behaviours. We can only help newbies by stating what’s worked or otherwise for us. They then have to glean what fits for them. It’s all so new in relative terms and we’re the pioneers; none of us knows whether we’ll be able to sustain fasting into dotage. I hope so.

Well done Nancy – “hold fast”! I wondered where you were as you mentioned having dinner the other day when it was still very early here in Perth. Where in NZ?

Quacka, hope your FD is going well. Just having my 2pm cauliflower soup. Tofu curd soaking, Cinque.

It is evening meal time here. I have my Fast Day miso soup (cauliflower, peas, shiitake and yuba) just about ready to slurp.

Oh yes, ‘reply’ is facebook! I just go to the bottom of the page here and write in the space.

Paula, what a nice hubby. So glad you are connected again. And what a nice daughter 🙂 Every fast day under your belt sets it a bit more neatly into your life.

Quakka, hope you are having a good fast day! Cheers to your friend with Type 1 diabetes, what responsibility it is to look after yourself with it. It would be so wonderful to be able to cure it!

Nancy, so impressed you did your gym before eating. I bet your food tasted wonderful when you finally got it!
You will be working out all the tricky spots that pop up through your Fast Days and hopefully figure out the strategies to deal with them, or avoid them.
I meant to say, one of my sisters has had a couple of bad bouts of diverticulitis. There may be no way to really know, but if you feel 5:2 is helping, or see any info about it, she would be interested.

LJoyce, I had real trouble with the ‘carbs are evil’ mantra since I was a vegetarian when it came in (Atkins diet), and wholegrains and legumes were central to my diet. And then some proponents of low carbs would say “Don’t eat carbs, eat wholegrains and legumes’. I rolled my eyes!
(Cali, I’d love to be with you at those conversations) 😉

Cali, so glad you are starting to feel better. Look after that poor cough.

I have been having my soup while writing. Not the best mindful eating, but ofcourse I have enjoyed every mouthful. It has been a good fast day.

Evening all.

No idea what you mean Cinque! Permalink? I went to the recipe and clicked Permalink and nothing happened. What top bar? Your computer’s search bar? Glad you know what’s going on at least.

Great to be fasting with so many others today. Mine’s complete. Miso soup with enoki mushrooms, tofu skin & Chinese cabbage. Just realised that I forgot the red chilli.

Evening lovely people. To clear a couple of things up. Our daughter lives with us as she is disabled with Fibromyalgia (since she was 14), Chronic Fatigue, Self Harming, Anxiety, Depression and was Anorexic (but has maintained a healthy weight for more than 4 years now). However, her healthy weight is now overweight, hence, us doing this journey together. My husband also eats what we eat except when he is at work – he takes a lot of fruit with him and he doesn’t have what we do for breakfast as he is up at 4:40am and leaves by 5am for work.

Made some potato and leek soup yesterday for dinner tonight – worked it out so that it is low cal, low fat. With the heat here today (humidity was high), soup was pretty much the last thing any of us wanted, but after heating it up it was well received anyway.

Thanks for the link to the recipes for the FD. Much appreciated. I have found, to my surprise, that I look forward to all the information that you guys give out freely. Whether it is information for me, or words of encouragement or taking an interest in other’s lives, you all care and for that I thank you. PS My daughter’s name is Courtney.

Hope you all have a great evening and day tomorrow. Courtney and I are off the city tomorrow for some retail therapy. 🙂

Hi Paula. I have worked in IT but “the rainbow bridge” is a new one to me! Sounds a lot better than some of the things I have heard, and said, when the computer dies.This site extends my northern hemisphere vocabulary pretty much every other day.

Cali – Twenty minutes for a shower, shave, coffee, the news headlines and out of the door is a bloke thing. My OH doesn’t get either, which was why a 3.30am departure has us up and about at 2.45am.

Cinque, you are a perfect communicator – I was lamenting my challenged brain when it comes to new things on the computer. Back in 1990, we were the only people we knew to have email and, by 1993, I had written by own web site from scratch using html coding which was capable of accepting international memberships and payments for my then business. It was some years after that before big business started having an online presence. I don’t know what happened after that – I stopped being interested in acquiring new PC skills and am particularly resistant to social media. Still living in the 90s I guess! My DD often has a laugh at the apparently simple tasks that I can’t fathom.

I was just thinking yesterday about your big ordeal last year and about to ask whether you feel fully recovered. So I was interested that you are having a f/u scan today. Good luck! Has that been 6 months already? All the best for your Rx too LJ.

Paula, thanks for sharing the information. Courtney has been through a lot it seems which probably means her parents have too. One of my DD’s friends was diagnosed with anorexia in high school. Luckily her mum’s a nurse because she said the mental health resources were thin on the ground for people over 16 in Perth. She used her knowledge and connections to push for the appropriate help and the girl worked hard to re-gain control over her life. My friend says it’ll always be with her in some form – she remains quite anxious. I agree with Cinque about the clothes. I ended up with far too many barely worn size 14s, so excited was I to get back to that size. Yes, it was humid yesterday despite the lower temperature.

My potato and leek soup was what won my OH’s heart on a camping trip a hundred years ago. He’s loved it ever since but I don’t dare eat it these days. CalifD, have you ever visited the Anza Borrego desert? It was one of our favourite places.

My coffee machine part arrived yesterday and OH put it all back together. Perfect timing for my lovely frothy Thursday.

Local jazz night tonight. Looking forward to that. Have a great day everyone.

Just had a call from the nurse. She is unwell so we’ve rescheduled to next Tuesday. Now I need to replan my day and also make sure I’m fasting next Monday.

Morning all. Haven’t posted for a while because we are moving around, but I have been reading all your news when I can.
So, this post is really just to wish you all the best with your scan this morning Cinque, and that you get the all-clear.
best wishes all.