This topic contains 28,297 replies, has 835 voices, and was last updated by Cinque 33 minutes ago.
Hi all,
I’m from Brisbane.
This is my third week of 5:2. I’m not finding the fasting hard, but the lack of results are not doing much for my motivation. So I’m here to read other peoples stories about waves of weight loss, or lack there of – to keep me going. I want this to be a permanent lifestyle/eating change….but I also want to lose weight someday soon!
Erica
Hi Erica and welcome
Check your TDEE (homepage ). You might be eating too much on non fast days. To lose weight you might consider changing what you eat, eg too many carbs , as well.
Have you read The Fast Diet book? Read as much as possible to get your head around different approaches.
All the best PVE
Hi everyone I live in Margaret River and run a guest house. I first heard about the 5 2 diet via TV many years ago, but a friend recently had great results following the diet, so I thought why not give it a try.
First day today planning to fast Thursday and Monday so will see how it goes. Love reading all the posts.
Not going to be easy as food is a central part of my business life, in which I live 24/7 but am determined.
Hi SH fellow 5:2ers!
Welcome to all new fasters – glad you were inspired, as we all were, by Dr M’s programme.
VM and Purple: re yesterday’s waist measurement discussion, I measured the waist band on yesterday’s trousers when I changed into warm trackies after work, done up of course – must be honest 🙂 Wouldn’t you know it? VM was right, lots of ease in them, in fact 9cm! Plus side is that measurement technique is reliable and net loss since January is 8cm so no complaining. Just not as good as had hoped.
Take heart Thursday fasters! The day is nearly over.
Yes Nicky….well done Alimax, wherever you are! You got the ball rolling!
Welcome Mrgh….my husband and I keep your local community afloat with all our wine purchases! Nothing like a good MR verdello.
Seriously though, plan your fast days really well. I’d advise skipping breakfast as you are really busy at that time. You will get quite used to preparing and serving people food without eating it. The trick is to not eat any or it is hard to stop. I think if you should have a leafy salad with a hard boiled egg all ready, packed so you don’t have to think about it and eat it for lunch when you can’t go any longer. Choose salad and lean fish or meat for dinner. No alcohol. You can do it. Lots of young mums fast while still preparing and feeding children.
Remember, it is only one day and you are doing your body a massive favour.
Measure your body now, record it on the tracker on this site, read the Fast Diet books and off you go. All the best, PVE
Thank you purple veggie eater for your encouragement. I don’t find breakfast a challenge as I don’t eat then, and while I bake cakes and slices everyday after 7 years these aren’t a temptation either, our local drop also isn’t an issue as I can tell you all about them but I don’t drink.. Lol can’t say the same for hubby. My temptation is at night once I stop, I think boredom sends me looking for food.
So you are a human being then Mrgh? 😉 We all eat through boredom or the clock tells us too. Pretty sad really.
I used to make cakes professionally and never taste tested, so I know where you are coming from.
As I said, plan ahead to have low cal foods ready for when you weaken Hint: pasta, flour, bread, potatoes, rice, sugar, fats and alcohol …(not your problem)….are all too high for fast days. Stick to leafy greens, lean protein, blueberries, strawberries. Homemade (or guesthouse made) vege soup is a great standby. PVE
Hi all! I’m on my second fast day, played tennis this morning and still going good. This is easier than dieting by far! I normally get lots of tummy upsets and this week I’m feeling better. Just for that I would keep this regime going, if I loose weight in the process that would be a bonus.
I can’t wait to get my books! Has anybody read the “fast excercise” by MM?
HI tennissus,
I have read Fast Exercise. I did enjoy it. It reinforces the documentary, but I don’t think it had much extra info. I like to have the books on hand anyway so can refer to them. i am glad the book was released this year. I saw the exercise doco ages ago, before I’d heard of 5:2, and thought it resonated with me. (even though I have not yet made HIIT a habit). I have the kindle versions of both books. It’s great that they’re cheaper than the print version, but I miss flicking through the pages to find that little snippet of info I can’t quite recall….
Morning everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that I that I’ve lost 19.8 kilos!!!! YAY! It’s been 16 months on the 5:2 and I’m feeling more confident than ever. So this morning I’m going to be dancing not just on the outside, but also on the inside too!
Wish me luck, I’m going back home to visit the folks and see my son get his PhD, so I’ll be proud as punch, but also waiting for my folks to start with the comments and commentary about my life…..always a trying time, and in the past being with them (my parents) was rather bruising and fraught with angst. Hopefully this time will be different, I’m determined to let their comments flow off me and not cause lasting harm; especially around comfort eating to numb myself from their verbal barbs. I need to remind myself that I am a strong, independent woman who IS in control, and doesn’t need to buy into their dramas and expectations.
Sorry for the rave, I’m always nervous about having anything to do with my parents, even though I’m in my 50’s and should know better by now.
I love this site, and I feel closer to you lot than my own folks, how sad is that?
Cheers darlings! Hope the wonderful results keep rolling in for each and every one of you!
19.5 kg. Fantastic ihaw!!!!!
I’m doing a quick foxtrot!
You must look stunning and feel very proud of what YOU have done. Your parents have to be impressed 🙂
Funny how they can still get under our skin, no matter how old we are?
Wear something tight and clap and whoop when your son gets his PhD. I did with mine. Didn’t care what people thought. Enjoy the moment. P x
Dear IHAW its because of people like you that one is inspired on our list. Its a great mob.
What a nice way to start the day by reading your wonderful post. Very very well done.
As for parents my down to earth shrink told me that they were A– H—s and help me get rid of loads of mental garbage .
Hugs,
Tim.
On another note, I got my husband to watch the doco on SBS on demand so he could understand what I’m doing and why. He’s determined to pick holes in it…… very frustrating. Yes, be a skeptic, yes, look further, but it is generally accepted in the health professions around the world that high cholesterol, high blood sugar, being overweight, having extra visceral fat and other “indicators” are significant risk factors in the diseases of aging. So he mentally switched off in the opening scenes, when MM was getting baseline tests, so when it showed that these “numbers” went down after fasting, he still says “so what”. AAArrrrrgh!
IHAW – fantastic weight loss and how proud you must be of your son’s achievements. You can rightly share the ‘glory’ because YOU provided the ideal environment for him to reach his potential thus far.
Try to use the warm glow of pride and achievement as a shield against any negativity from other family members’ insensitive comments. Unfortunately they can have a lasting effect, as Tim said.
My parents were both born before WW1 in UK and didn’t have any educational opportunities and didn’t understand why anything more than finishing secondary school was needed/wanted and I received comments like ‘what makes you think you could do that?’ and others even more (unintentionally I hope) hurtful. It destroyed my self-confidence for years and still occasionally tries to get out of the mental box I stored it in.
What you have achieved is spectacular and due entirely to your own efforts and also probably in spite of others’ efforts.
Nicky xxx
MM: tough luck about your OH.
Just keep on keeping on, as long as he doesn’t try to sabotage your efforts you can ignore the cheap shots.
I assume it’s not so much about what you are doing but about what he could be doing? If so, then although hard when we see how much the ones we love could benefit, we just have to step back because we can’t control other adults, as much as we would like.
They have to arrive at the time and place at their own speed.
Thanks Nicky,
Yes. He’s not interfering with my choices. But I thought after seeing me lose 10kg in 5 months he might want to think about it. He’s the heaviest he’s ever been at the moment, and he likes science, so I thought the background to 5:2 would be interesting for him…… I just need to butt out. I put him in touch with a men’s weight loss trial at our local teaching hospital a few months ago, which he hasn’t followed through on. I know he’s frantically busy with other things (work related) but I am getting a bit frustrated that he’s not looking after himself. As you say it’s time to step back again. He’ll get there eventually and do it the way he chooses, I just hope it happens before his overall health deteriorates.
Hello, i’ve just joined the forum and starting to look around. I’m an Aussie too. I must say you are all very chirpy on this thread which i’ve only read the first and last page of.
Its pleasant to see that there are people here who have been successfully doing this diet for quite a long time. I’ve just started. Today is the second day of my second two-day fast. Its pretty easy given the food. I did a water only fast at the beginning of the year when i started my diet. Boy that was tough and i conked out at midnight. I was about to start another one day water fast when a forum friend told me she was doing 5:2 and i decided to watch the program (which had just shown on tv but missed it) on you tube. So my one day no food fast turned into a two low food fast and i haven’t looked back since. That was just over a week ago.
It’s funny how sometimes things don’t sound that good in theory but when you try them, it clicks. My gp mentioned this diet to me quite a while ago when i told her i had started a diet. I knew about it then but it didn’t appeal. I guess because i was already on my own bandwagon.
But i must say on the whole my dieting year has been all around fun and I enjoy my food much more – because its much better – than when i’m not dieting. Weird, right?
Anyway i’ve still got questions and that’s why i’ve come here.
I’ve suppose i’ve just written what i should have written in my intro thread post. 😛
Hi everyone, have been nosing around the web looking for Evidence based studies on our 5:2
diet and came across this UK NHS page on Intermittent fasting which asks a lot of questions and has quite a few answers.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/Pages/Does-the-5-2-intermittent-fasting-diet-work.aspx.
This is the first time I’ve been able to latch onto an ” outside ” opinion of our diet and it made
interesting reading.
Hi Pattience good to have you with us. I am sure the fems that post here will give you all the guidance and support. Do get the book and read the FAQ linked at the top of this page and don’t hold back on asking questions this is what this forum is all about. The natives are very friendly.
As its Fri I can now go and pull a cork on a bottle of Sav Blank! but only allowed 2 glasses. Rats.
Have a good weekend all, we have the Bellingen Jazz Festival which is always lots of fun.
Cheers,
Tim.
Evening folks,
Just home from work so I can post my congratulations to IHAW, on the magnificent weight loss and son’s upcoming PhD ceremony – enjoy the glow of reflected (and barbproof) glory. I remember the thrill of seeing our daughter received her PhD in physics – her parents both very average “could do better” students.
Now I have to eat all the items in the crisper that my husband wont eat while I’m away, so just about everything. I worked out I have lost 5kg in the 14 weeks since I started 5:2 but it turns out it is actually 6kg ….. those teacher were spot on!
I start my journey to the big smoke tomorrow to fly out on Sunday.
Cheers, VM
Hi from Hobart my dear fast(ing) friends,
Each and every one of you are worth your weight in gold, thanks so so much for your wonderful words of support and kindness. I can’t even tell you just how much your words mean to me.
After not seeing my folks for a couple of years, they didn’t even notice my changed appearance, or remember what they had said…..they were much more excited to see my daughter. The interesting thing for me, is that I didn’t flinch when I calmly reminded them of the size and weight I once was and how devastated their throw-away comments were to me back then.
They were slightly taken aback at my newly found calm assertiveness, and then proceeded to tell my daughter that she’s too thin…..she of course doesn’t listen to a thing they say and is great at re-engaging them in other more interesting topics….she’s a healthy weight and looking very fit and confident, and doesn’t take any shit, even from her nan!
So I’m really looking to spending time with my son today, he’s staying at our cosy B & B, then on to the ceremony where he wears his funny PhD hat and gown. I even got my very own copy of his research which I’m going to get signed for posterity. And planning to film his presentation with my iPad mini….haha! (I might even shake my tush and cheer loudly too) a totally embarrassing-mother moment…..HA!
Yes I’ll be basking in the reflected glory of my very own boy genius! Sometimes I shake my head at how I managed to give birth to such a great couple of kids!
Have a wonderful weekend sweeties, your blood’s worth bottling! Cheers!
Hi PVE. I’m not stalking you, honest! But I saw your comments re: your son being a doctor.
I am also a doctor (of science). My uncle (a ‘doctor’ of medicine) tells me that actually I am the only true doctor in the family. Medical doctors are doctors by convention, whereas I (and your son) are doctors by degree.
So yes, trust him! He is a doctor!
Hi IHAW
Well done to both you and your son, hope you have had a wonderful day and that you are enjoying your time with your son. Seems one cannot ignore this site for a day or two, too much happens.
Nicky, know what you mean about parents destroying your self esteem. Have a mother that did that to me. She cannot understand my choice to continue to study even when I am in my fifties.
MM sometimes we just have to let go, I feel for you as my OH is very supportive in all my endeavours, proud of my 20 kg weight loss since November 2013, and proud that I am studying my second degree.
Violet, I too was told that I “could do better” and so as a mature age student I have. Tracking for a distinction in my current subject. 🙂
Have a great Sunday everyone, I am looking forward to seeing 160 girls in the milking shed in the afternoon. 🙂
Charlie
Hi darlings one and all!
Your wonderful comments are a real boost to me and yes things have gone well with the ceremony, he looked smashing in the fancy outfit too. So many interesting PhD research topics, especially relating to Antarctica and the marine environment, my son’s was in pure maths, so even though it sounded great, I had absolutely no idea what on earth it was about….I cheered and whooped like a fan girl at a concert anyway!
The folks have been subdued and I think got the shock of their lives when I gently but assertively rebutted their comments….could have heard a pin drop for a moment……they now think I I was always this current weight, and I look just the same as always….weird, but you can’t win arguments with the deaf, blind and forgetful. All in all Hobart seems to be more trendy and hip than our last visit, lots of cool eateries, galleries and new street art. My favourite two restaurants are still running, and I had a memorable meal at le Provençal in South Hobart, canard a la l’orange (duck l’orange) totally and completely divine. The same lady still runs it and the decor hasn’t changed either.
So thank you, thank you my fasting friends, you kind words mean so very much to me. I know I’m not alone in this slow and steady healthy journey.
Cheers for now, returning home to the far north coast of NSW today.
Hi all fasting SH friends.
The ‘trust me I’m a doctor’ line made me laugh.
A former colleague (much younger than me) who did his PhD at the same time as me came from a family of the medical variety. He caused an uproar at dinner once when he pointed out that he was the only ‘real’ doctor in the family.
Welcome Pattience. As others have said, we’re a friendly and supportive mob here.
Woke up with sore throat this morning. Planning to still fast tomorrow and Tuesday but prepared to bail if symptoms get worse. Have a six-monthly apt with GP on Friday to review BP meds so looking for good result as I’m 9kg lighter than when I saw him last.
Safe trip home IHAW.
Happy Sunday all!
Good morning from sunny South Perth,
It’s my very first fasting day and I’m really enthusiastic especially with so many forum participants for support. Although we may well be alone in choosing Sunday and Wednesday as our fasting days. Armed with a month’s worth of ‘fasting day meals’ (our teen think that’s hilarious in itself) all planned out, and with my skinny husband having agreed to do this with me for at least the first month, I feel I’m ready for anything….
My first port of call when I wake up is usually the cappuccino maker so I am already over the first hurdle, writing this while drinking black tea (it’s not nearly as palatable but, hey, there’s a greater cause here). If I’m honest, I did measure out 30mls of milk after taking the first sip, but it seemed a bit premature to give in so I poured it back into the milk jug.
Almost looking forward to our 30g of oats with water……we can do it. Can’t believe we’re having the Hairy Biker’s Healthy Cottage Pie (240 cals) for our ‘fasting’ dinner. Sounds like a feast but I suspect the portion size will be the challenge as it is meant to serve 8.
With the science backing this up and so many people participating, it’s all very exciting! Off to walk the dog.
Hi again all and welcome thinatlast (great handle!). I’ve no creative imagination except in my profession, hence my totally unimaginitve login.
It looks like you and your OH are off to a great start with your meal planning. What a team you’ll make. Failing to plan is planning to fail as they say in the training courses.
I’m a great believer in planning in everything. I have been accused of being too regimented, but I think that’s just another irregular verb (I was a great fan of ‘Yes Minister). 🙂
I’m fasting tomorrow with Veggie Balti from the LOACA recipes thread planned for dinner.
Have a good week to you all.
Hi again. I don’t really know how to get a hook into this thread. I feel an outsider still. Not sure what to do.
Are any of you foodies? Or into cooking? Or your fruit and vegies? or are you all bored with food talk by now? My latest experiment has been to start cooking sugar (and honey and artificial sweetener) free desserts. I’ve been dieting all year and feel its safe to go this route now. As i haven’t got much more to go. I”m forging my life long skinny way of eating mode.
My other current interests are: well nearly everything except kids since i don’t have any and hardly know any. And cars – since i’m not into blokey things that much. I don’t have a hubby either so can’t even whinge about mine.
Hi Pattience.
Sorry that you feel an outsider as I like Purple just jump in and have my say. Not always about as I run a farm amongst other things. As far as being a foodie, I would be a member of the slow food society if there was one about, but alas no, so I just cook for Hubby and me, along with taking plates of supper to meetings, like I am doing on Tuesday night.
As for preparing deserts without sweeteners, I am not there yet, tend to eat a lot of fresh fruit, for Hubby I tend to poach fruit in water, or microwave just the fruit. You will get a flow of juice from doing that. Once I have the fruit cooked I make crumble toppings without sugar, relying on the sweetness of the fruit.
Crumble together whole meal flour, coconut, rolled oats, and just enough butter to make it come together, sprinkle over your cooked fruit and bake until golden brown. Serve warm or cold, with or without anything else. Enjoy.
Cheers for now
Charlie
Welcome aitchbee and patience
I wish you well on your 5:2 adventure.
A couple of hints:
Get the books and devour them. Reread them often to reaffirm why you are doing this.
Measure your whole body to watch the changes. Some people find the scales change, but many see the results in body measurements or clothes size. Others, like my OH, see the results through blood sugar levels.
Plan fast days so that you are not tempted to eat high cal accidentally.
Remember, we are living organisms, not machines. Weight changes occur all the time, up and down, and should.
Look carefully at what you eat on other days too. Calculate your TDEE (on the homepage) and use the sedentary level to maximise results. And then go lower if you are trying to lose weight.
Make sure you get plenty of liquid on fast days. Hydration is important.
Exercise is more effective on an empty stomach. Sleep can be harder to achieve with an empty stomach (humans evolved to be able to think to find food when they were hungry). Save most calories for night.
Lean protein, veg and berries are a faster’s friend. You CAN eat anything up to your calorie count, but choosing bulky low cal is much more sustainable.
Experiment with when you eat. Many of us find once we eat we stimulate our hunger. Go as long as you can (drink, distract, get active) before you eat.
Try to have long gaps between eating to allow your body to heal without processing food. (blood sugar spikes)
Remember, this is a way of life (WOL) and is a long term health process, not just a weight loss diet.
All the best, PVE
Hi Charlie
Fresh or freshly stewed fruits are wonderful desserts, aren’t they? I think our mothers and grandmothers were on the right track with this. I have rediscovered poached pears this winter…yum!
We often have blueberries and strawberries chopped up into a small ramekin (to keep the serving size down) with a dob of Greek yoghurt, a sprinkle of almond flakes and dusted with cinnamon. Easy, quick, good for you and the mix of textures are very satisfying.
We have both found our need and taste for sugar has totally changed in the year and a half we have done 5:2. It’s fabulous as we can walk straight past cake shops without a sideways look! 🙂 P
Welcome newbies. 🙂 enjoy the friendly banter on this thread. You will soon find you’re a happy part of the MC Mob as Purple has christened us.
Great to see you on board the Maintenance Chatbox thread. We have lots of fun working our weigh through food and diet strategies, etc. 🙂
For instance, I still do 5:2 to maintain my glorious weight loss, so that I can treat myself once a week to a GF sweet treat. GF = Gluten Free. If I look at normal cakes or pastries or anything made of wheat and sugar, I blow up in size and put on weight. We all have to find our own particular trigger foods.
Hey, Purple
Just recently I found myself without swordfish etc and made your chili fish dish with fresh salmon. Yummy! Even a confirmed non seafood eating relative loved it. 🙂
Hi Auriga, Love to hear about the new abode when you’re ready. 🙂
Cheers, all. Bay 🙂
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