Thank you all for your kind words. Now the funeral is over I’m feeling more sociable.

Sorry to hear about BP problems. I take BP medication for high BP, but it is all under control and I have had no changes (or health scares) since starting 5:2. In fact I have been feeling better than ever. And my GP approves of this WOL too.

I finally worked out my TDEE and decided to drop the number of calories I eat on fast days to 400 as a result. After 4 weeks I am feeling very comfortable with the program now – this is why I thought I would fine tune what I was doing rather than just go with 500 calories. At first I just wanted to get the 500 calories right, but now I’m brave enough to make the program suit my body better.

I am a bit confused about Leanismygoal’s comment. From what I remember reading in Dr Mosely’s book, the 5:2 diet is supposed to burn fat, not muscle. Have I remembered this correctly?

I know I am burning fat because my scales tell me I am – but my fluid content has not changed over the 4 weeks. Also, I have lost nearly 6 cms from my fat waist even though I have only lost 3.2ks. I am very happy with this and feel quite okay with just continuing life eating like this forever.

Welcome back Transcend. Glad you’re feeling better. It’s great to have the GP endorsement of the WOL, isn’t it? Good job working out the TDEE, it’s a bit confronting at first but we must face it as we shed the weight so that we can estimate the FD calories required. I usually still plan my fast days with 500 cals and I try and eat less but exercise the option to have them all if needed.

My understanding of all this is that if you lose the weight slowly, you are more likely to be burning fat. People losing dramatic amounts of weights too quickly risk losing lean muscle. I think we all lose weight faster when we start anything new – this is likely to be fluid. I ignored the links posted above as I had a suspicion they were commercially driven but you can read scientific studies on weight loss done by reputable entities such as Mayo Clinic – or as you mention, Michael Mosley’s book. Which, after all, is why we’re all here…..

Great that you’ve lost 6cms from your waist – I’ve only lost 8cms from mine in all this time. Ho hum.

MK88 – well done! 66.9 is still the sixties! For the hunger, try low GI foods like oats and high protein foods like chicken, egg or salmon. It’s amazing how little we need to feel full. Also, as I am one that can’t deal with black coffee, I re-use a herbal teabag all day on fast days (20 cals), I buy different ones to try all the time. And drink loads of water. Go as long as you possibly can before having the first food of the day. Keep busy and around 4ish, you can start thinking about what you’ll be able to have tomorrow! You can do it!

Good luck on getting that magical 76 Transcend! I think your approach to this WOL is spot on and I’m sure you’ll see results slowly but surely with such a great attitude. I was always slim and athletic too so it’s a harsh reality when that’s no longer you. I feel ya!

Thin, thank you so much for the fantastic advice. I will work that into my fast day tomorrow. I have found myself getting through the AM pretty easily but the PM is harder so your idea of saving my meals for later is a good one. I love my eggs so I’ll load up on them (within reason!) Is herbal tea really 20 cal?? I thought it was lower than that? God, getting a hang of these calorie counts may take me a wee while! Appreciate all your help 🙂

MK88

Hi one and all, it’s been ages since I posted, but just couldn’t help myself when I just saw my name inspiring thin! I had to smile about that, as I can’t say I’m such an inspiration usually…

It’s a week since I’ve gotten back from Hawaii, and although I loved it and had a ball, I found some relief coming home to more simpler, less sweet and unprocessed food. On the up side, I managed not to put on any weight, whilst indulging in some of those things I never eat at home, like coconut deep fried shrimp, chocolate coconut cream pie, poke, mahi-mahi and early evening maitais! I thoroughly recommend Kauai and Maui for anyone interested in travelling to this part of the world, so scenic and friendly.

It’s so great everyone is still going strong here on this thread, and being supportive as usual.

I’ve been reading the recent posts and might have some info to add to the discussion.

From what I’ve read, most average dieters will lose both fat and muscle, and often gain back fat when they stop their diets.

But with this WOE, I’ve noticed over 23 months, that I’ve lost fat and gained muscle, ( fat from 39% to 30%). After looking up what it means by the water percentage component of the measurements on the digital scales….I’ve discovered that the water percentage will increase with your increased muscle mass. If you look at it as muscle needing to be moist and tender, not dry and stringy (sorry about the red meat analogy)…then it definitely makes sense as being the opposite of fat, which in itself has very little water.

This WOE tends to be slow, steady and much more effective at gaining a healthy weight and healthy outcomes, than normal diets. It’s great to be here once again and this group keeps me focused and interested. I’m keen the see what the doc says next week, as it’s been a year since I saw her last, can’t wait to see what the blood tests reveal!

Aloha and cheers!

IHAW: Aloha and thanks for the info; I’m going to pay more attention to those extra readings on my scales tomorrow. Here’s hoping for an increase in the water % over time then. I’m impressed that you didn’t gain weight in Hawaii – did you manage to fast while you were there? I remember doing some stunning hikes in Kauai – on the Na Pali Coast I think it was called. 30 years ago now.

Welcome back CM, you are too kind! I bet Charlie was happy to see you. Congrats on only gaining 0.4kgs last week. That’ll be gone in no time. Let’s get together soon for another walk and coffee. If there are any other Perth-Fremantle 5:2ers who’d like to join us, don’t be shy. What do you have to lose? (We’d love to know!).

Hi CM

I bought Salter digital scales not long after I began 5:2 and have enjoyed watching my percent of fat and water change places. Salter include an info sheet on what is desirable. BDuring last year I achieved my desirable height to waist ratio, and my recommended water to fat percentages.

Am feeling fantastic this morning after yesterday’s fast, I am under the magic 60 kg. not seen since pre Christmas sugar and carbs festive season. 😉

Welcome back IHAW.
Cheers, Bay 🙂

That’s a great holiday tip IHAW, enjoy the different food offerings but choose wisely.

Good job Bay. I’d love to see 60kgs on my scales.

MK88: Peppermint tea is the one I like best – sorry, my mistake, I re-read the box with my glasses on this time and it’s 20Kj not Kcals. So less than 5 cals. That’s even better. I’m also fasting today and will brew up one of these when I get back from my walk.

Thanks for the warm welcome back everyone.
Bay – thanks for the info – will take a look at them. Below 60kg…..now I’m really jealous! Well done.
MK88 – I’ve found peppermint tea really curbs the munchies too, more than other teas. I think an accurate set of scales are essential & they don’t have to cost a fortune.
Kudjerie – I felt the same in Brisbane with hunger on non-FD, so upped the fluids & it seemed to help. San Fran = sourdough….don’t get me started! Have a wonderful trip and keep us updated.
Thin – He jumped into my arms & I was smothered in wet licks at the airport! Missed him so much…& OH as well, of course! Yes, I’d love to meet for a coffee & walk soon. I’m sure there are some people in Perth/Freo “lurking” out there – you really are welcome to join us. It’s great to meet up and we won’t bite…promise.
CM x

Hi fellow fasters,
Sorry that I haven’t posted for a while but things are pretty crazy here on the farm with the cows calving at present. Fasted today as we are selling last years calves tomorrow and OH is taking me out for lunch.
Weighted in yesterday and I have now lost almost 8kgs since the start of the year, and that is on the back of 20kg last year, happy with that but still a long way to go.

Thanks for the greeting, thin.
I’ve been wondering whether I should forget about weighing myself and just enjoy the health benefits of 5:2 (I feel them) and appreciate the weight when it does come off. Maybe weigh myself once a month so that the fluctuations don’t drive me mad.
Then I think I should do alternate day fasting if I really want to loose weight and 5:2 isn’t enough for me.
As I said, I’m still on the road for another month or two and I’ve only been on the program a month, so I think I’ll just keep reinforcing this new good habit for now, not worry too much about the scales.
I have a travel day on Friday (NY to Chicago) so will try that as FD.
I’d like to get to losing my first 5-6kg — impressed to see how far you’ve come.
–kudjerie

You’ve cheered me up no end you two, thanks so much! I really appreciate your comments.

Hi Aussiechick – Thanks for the info, will take a look at those scales. Regarding brothers (& I have 3!) they really have no idea..no matter what age they are! I would love to see his face when he see’s his new Sis! CM x

Hi all Fasters
Aussiechick, hope your brother had something nice to say about your weight loss. I recently caught up with an old school friend I hadn’t seen since I started this WOL.
He was amazed at how good I look and couldn’t believe how much more I want to loose.
Thin, it’s amazing how our tastes are changing, lunch was a bit of a letdown. I thought I would enjoy a meat pie something I haven’t had in years, but eating it all I could do was think about the processed carbs, and I didn’t enjoy it at all, oh well fasting on Friday to compensate.
Have a great weekend everyone. Cheers, Charlie.

Purple – welcome back. We were getting worried about you!
CharlieG – you’re doing so well. Don’t you just love it when people notice!
Thin – Yes, did the same thing last night. Lovely dinner of crispy skin salmon with a gorgeous salad & I ended up giving OH three quarters of my salmon. Realised I just didn’t feel like it…so this time I didn’t eat it!!! In the good (bad) old days I would have scoffed the lot regardless. Something is changing & I LIKE IT. Although tonight I wasn’t hungry at all until I started eating dinner & then I was ravenous!! Go figure??!! Nite all. CM x

Yes Thin.. I too am having finding it a grueling task loosing the last 6 kilos… I kept telling myself how well I’ve done loosing 14 kg already .. I’ve also starting running again so have always put ON weight when this happens .. My clothes are not any tighter so that counts! I started running on non-fast days but find I over eat so have just started to run on my Wolley days (that’s what I call my fast or WOL, way of life days!) I think this may work better.. I also think mentally I’ve taken my foot off the brake a little so to speak so need to stay focused.. I guess the loss will be slower now.. You are not alone! Was it Aussiechick who went to see Dirty Dancing? How was it? I went to a vegan eatery in the Emporium in Melbourne last week called ‘Supercharger’ really great healthy and fresh food, very reasonably priced and ok to eat on a fast day if you check the portions (no, I don’t work there!) good to keep in mind if you’re looking for a quick food pre-show

Hi Hoot and Thin

I must put in a good word for brothers. Mine have been incredibly supportive. One of them is trying 5:2 after seeing how well I did.

I agree with not taking the foot off this WOL until goal is reached.

BTW. This WOL applies to all days. 😉

Cheers, Bay

Mmmm. Sounds delicious Bay 🙂

From Wikipedia :
Common names used in Australia for Ibacus peronii include Balmain bug, Eastern Balmain bug, butterfly lobster, flapjack, Péron’s Ibacus crab, sand crayfish, sand lobster, southern shovel-nosed lobster, prawn killer andsquagga, although the last two are not in current use.
Hope that helps. P 🙂

Morning everyone. WOOHOO!!! I’ve broken through 67 and this morning I’m 66.7. So, at the end of week five, I’ve lost 4.1kg. I kept waking up during the night excited just thinking about getting on the scales (oh boy, it’s a sad life, I know..). Almost got up and 5am to check! My clothes are loose & I feel absolutely amazing. I just can’t believe it & also how easy it has become with all of the support you guys give. So thank you one and all, & I really mean that.

Purple – I well & truly awakened “the hunger giant” last night…but had some almonds & then he was happy again. Thanks for the tips.
Bay – Bugs…my favourite… mouth watering right now!
Thin – OH doing well on his “you will eat what I eat” plan. He’s lost 3.6kg and is also “pants falling down” happy and talking about going shopping for clothes! He hasn’t done the FD with me, but is benefiting from the healthier eating & the reduction in carbs, nuts, cheese, biscuits, chips, chocolate & ice-cream. Wonder why he loosing weight, huh??
House guests arrive tomorrow for 9 days! Have a great weekend everyone. CM x

hi everybody
today I register in this site and I wanna start my diet.
now I am 72.5 kg and I want lose my weight about 15 kg.
I have a question. Do I should receive 2000 cal for nonfast days till I lose 17.5 kg or I should decrease this cal after some days?
please help me
thank you so much guys and best wishes for you 🙂

Happy Friday everyone 🙂
Charlie’s Mum & Hootinannie – Thanks for understanding what brothers are like. I have only 1 brother and 1 sister. My brother is 12 years older than me and has always been a bit flippant and cheeky but never hurtful. I travelled back to UK to see his son get married last year (hadn’t seen him in 5 years and didn’t realise how bad his alcoholism was and I had never been as heavy as I was then). He said to me at the evening buffet meal ‘get stuck in you fat b*st**d’ in front of an old family friend which made me feel humiliated and the tears came straight away. He is now 8 months sober and he emailed me straight back to say ‘excellent!’ and that I looked ‘elegant’. Well done CM on that fantastic result on the scales!
Charlie G – How lovely to hear from an old school friend with such great compliments – well done – you must feel wonderful!
Thin At Last & Hootinannie – Dirty Dancing was very good but not ‘fantastic’ as an acquaintance referred to it last week on Facebook! Perhaps I’m too much in love with the film and Patrick Swayze so no-one could compete!! Dinner was difficult – my friend was gutted that I wasn’t going to have wine – so I gave in and we shared a bottle. I was going to have a small entre but relented and opted for the ‘special’ – eye fillet steak and broccolini with goats cheese’. So I wasn’t very good! Really bad hangover this morning but the scales were kind and showed a 0.5 kg loss (the most for a few weeks now). I’m aiming to tread carefully this weekend so it doesn’t catch up with me!!
Hootinannie – Thanks for the tip about ‘Supercharger’ – sounds great. I’ll definitely bear that in mind for next time. We went to Punch Lane in Little Bourke Street it was very decadent! I’m sorry to hear your brother said such a hurtful comment to you – but you’ll show him!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone 🙂

AussieChick – The steak, broc & goats cheese sounds delicious. The beauty of this WOL is that you know you can have it and then get back to normal the next day. Throw in another FD and all the naughtiness goes away & we don’t have to miss out. I seem to get bad hangovers now too….probably cos I’ve cut down a bit. When I indulge, it gets even with me the next morning…and I just can’t mix my drinks any more…oh, well.
CharlieG – Awww, twins – just too cute. We’re there any (food) benefits from the chook yard murder?? I don’t know what roosters or drakes taste like!

Thanks Charlies Mum – it was certainly delicious – and I suppose I was good in that I didn’t order a plate of chips with it. I think the wine was probably the worst thing to have – so many calories. But like you say, the beauty of this is, you just get on and fit in another FD somewhere else in the week. It really works this WOL – wouldn’t ever stop!! My sister is 8 years older than me and warned me that the older we get the worse the hangovers are – so I think I need to be cutting down when going on nights out from now on – especially on a ‘school night’ – work was difficult today with such a blinding headache!! What I love about this WOE (other than the weight loss) is I never feel or look bloated in the stomach any more. It’s as if my digestion is so relieved to have a bit of respite and is working much more efficiently 🙂

Hi everyone, I have really enjoyed reading your posts they have kept me motivated to continue this journey. I started on the 1st February 2015 after twelve traumatic months of sick elderly parents. I was feeling frumpy and invisible. I go to Curves ladies gym and they have monthly weigh and measures. After 4 weeks on this IF I had lost 2kg, 8cm off my stomach, 4cm from waist and cms from other places. Even the trainer couldn’t believe it. I am feeling optimistic and my clothes are feeling looser. I am due to have another weigh and measure this week and although I don’t expect to have lost as much I’m still looking forward to the results. The best is to see the body fat go down. I started this journey at 87kg, I am 5′ 6″. 10kg is my goal but on this I think I can go further but am not confident enough to think about that at the moment.

Aussiechick I think it was talking about the drinking. I went out last weekend and had a few drinks then on Sunday morning was so sick and dizzy a combination of getting older and the body rejecting it.

I am so glad to have found this group as we all need encouragement on what can be very lonely hazardous journey. Look forward to more posts.

Aussiechick, never mind, you enjoyed yourself and, as you say, the WOE is flexible. I’ve switched my FD from Sunday (breakfast out with friends tomorrow) to today so just having my peppermint tea and catching up on posts. I might even do an extra FD day this week to see if I can get things kickstarted again. Doing one FD over the weekend has prevented me from over-indulging all w/e long. I like the sound of your teas Turnabout.

As mentioned the other day, I bagged up the size 16 & 18 clothes and soon hope to be doing the same with the size 14s. I managed to zip up all my size 12s last night but they’re a bit tight for wearing in public just yet! Most of the size 12s are barely worn as I lost 16 kgs 14 years ago and then promptly stacked it all back on so they didn’t see the light of day for very long. Old but new if you see what I mean. Funny how most seem to be Corfu Jeans, just different colours (and sizes)!

That’s great Hootin. Huge loss and a new goal. Welcome & well done Intesha, smaller goals are easier to achieve and can be re-set.

There is so much good news around on this thread. Everyone is doing well and being supportive – it’s really wonderful.

I’ve had a few days off my computer again – a grandson managed to fracture a small part of his knee at soccer training. His dad was in a meeting, so the school rang us. By the time we drove to the school, picked him up, got to the GP, Xrays, then Westmead Children’s Hospital for specialist treatment, an entire day was gone. But we love our kids and grandkids dearly and would never leave them in the lurch. Once a parent, always a parent! Lucky we are retired and can lend as many hands as are needed.

The above discussion about muscle, water, fat etc is very interesting. It has given me confidence because my fat is defintely going down as shown by the scales and my loss of inches from my ample gut! Now I’m going to watch to see if the water content goes up as I exercise more.

And – drum roll – I did manage to see a 6 as a second digit at my weigh-in. I’m happy to be 76.7ks and well on my way to my second mini goal of 75ks. My first mini goal was to get out of the 80s. I’m being a tortoise, not a hare, but I’m loving the continual slow downward trend.