Hi Charlie

Am watching Martin Guptill of NZ play a marvellous innings in the cricket World Cup. The Ferrymans restaurant at Lakes Entrance was great, totally recommend it for you and OH. Still same weight judging by waist floating inside trousers. Home on Monday.

Sugar free Lent is working in that I don’t seem to put on weight even though only fasting once a week.

Cheers, Bay 🙂

Well done, Merryme. Another goal reached. 🙂

Great game of cricket, Bay. No doubt you were cheering for the Kiwis! Who knows, maybe an Aust/NZ final in Sydney? Beautiful day in Wellington for it yesterday, now a lovely gentle rain today, to continue watering the pastures and gardens after the long dry spell. Summer is over.

Lowest weight in probably fifty years after Thursday’s fast. Up a few grams this morning. I have decided that my lowest weight should be 56 kg (this would be a BMI of 20, so not essential to reach this, and I know BMI should only be used for population studies).

Hi Snippy and welcome to this way of life.
When I started 5:2 in November 2013 I was 139.5 kg, and my plan is to get to 77 or less. After last week I am 115, and loving the increased energy that this WOE gives you.
Please measure yourself everywhere. I have lost more than 20cm off my waist.
Keep up the good work, cheers, Charlie 🙂

I love coming back after the weekend and reading all the posts 🙂 This is the loveliest community to be apart of! Welcome to our two newbies, you’ll find this forum a fantastic support system. Good luck and well done so far!

Aussiechick: Thank you for the link to the scales, I was a bit mind boggled with how many showed up in my google search so I’ll grab those ones!
Thin: You have done so well so far, don’t let the struggle to kick those last 5kgs get you down. It will happen!
PVE: I can so relate to ‘Waking the hunger giant’, the day after a FD i wake up and scoff breakfast and then don’t feel hungry at all… so unlike me! But then I get home and start cooking dinner and the smell has me going from 0 to 100 on the hunger scale within minutes!
CharliesMum: congrats on hitting 66.7!!! You must be so happy!! Hoping to see that number this week myself 😀
Turnabout: Thanks for the recommendation on red seal tea, I’m going to grab some before my FD tomorrow.
Transcend: I hope your grandson is healing up nicely? Your kids are so fortunate to have you nearby. I wonder how I’ll go with starting a family away from our parents…

OH and I are mixing it up this week and changing our FD’s to work around his hockey training schedule (it’s always changing) so this week I am fasting tuesday and thursday which I may find a little tricky as Tuesday is my pilates day and i usually work up an appetite! I have just bought today ‘Alpine bread’ in Sourdough and it’s only 173/2 slices!! I was wrapt with that as I have neem having lean cuisine spghetti bolognaise for dinner on my FD’s and it’a only 298 calories so tomorrow the plan is to hold out as long as I can, have 2 pieces of alpine toast with marmite (spot the kiwi!!) and then my lean cuisine for dinner… hoping I’ll be busy at work and therefore distracted! I am a frequent eater so eating twice tomorrow may be a challenge.

Hope everyone has had a happy Monday!

MK88 xx

Hi. I’ve just had my 70th birthday and have had lost some weight while looking after my husband who is recovering from major back surgery. He is slowly recovering and as I’d like to keep losing I have read Dr Moseley’s book and am ready to start tomorrow. Have sorted 2 fasting day meals, breakfast and dinner, and thought I’d try Tuesday and Thursday and see how I go. I’d like to hear from some women that are around my age, how they are getting on and if they have any side issues with the diet, such as dizzyness/light headed, do they walk at all on fast days, and if they feel too hungry for their liking. Also did they ask their doctors if it was a good idea at their age? I walk at least 1km a day and am doing things that my husband would normally do so am more active than usual.
Ardar

Woohoo!!! Made it to my first goal of 75kgs!! Yay, feels so good. Along with 26cms, and that feels even better, thank you all for your continued comments and stories, they are all so inspiring and helpful 🙂 It really is so good to have this forum where you can read what is going on and feel able to be uplifted even if you don’t post yourself so thank you all, there are some real encouraging people out there!

Hoping I don’t get the munchies whilst watching the cricket, so tense, got my jug of tea on the go!! Go the Black Caps!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone. We have house-guests from New York at the moment and have just managed time for a for a quick read on what you’ve all been up to.
Hi to our newbies – Intesha, Snippy & Ardar – Your on the right track with 5:2. It is amazing and it will change your life if you stick with it. It’s easy once you get used to fasting and you can make it part of your day-to-day lifestyle. You will feel GREAT and not deprived.
Congrats, you are all doing so well – Barata & Hoot great work.
Transcend – Glad your grandson is OK. It gives you a scare when they do things like that……and another “number” bites the dust. Doesn’t it feel great…yay for you!!
CharlieG – Congrats on such a great loss. Self sufficiency was something OH and I used to dream about…it all sounds so lovely.
AussieChick – I wasn’t as strong as you and had the CHIPS with my fish last night! Moved my FD from yesterday to today. Feeling no guilt (ok, just a little!), cos I know 5:2 works.
Merry – So glad to hear you’re feeling better. I’m sure this WOL will help your BP.
MK88 – Going great too. Hope you see a 66 this week! Its great being there after sooo long.
Turnabout – Keep going – doesn’t it feel terrific wearing loose clothes. Your iced tea sounds nice – will try and find it here in OZ.
Thin – Where are you?? Hope the weekend celebrations went well with your OH.

So, with house-guests here I’m trying to be good. After too much wine & food (incl fish & chips) over the last few days, amazingly, I’ve stayed the same weight. FD today to compensate as I still want to keep the downward trend going. Had to punch another 2 holes in my belt yesterday. Oh, what a feeling! Think I might have converted our NY friend to 5:2 as well…I have a captive audience at dinner to tell her how wonderful it is. So, now back to work and entertaining. Hope you all have a wonderful week. Will check-in again when I can.
CM x

Hi MK88, so sorry you can’t get the teas in Oz, the rhubarb one is really good!!! I do seem to feel the cold on FD’s but it helps me to keep busy and moving, it’s when I stop I seem to be cold! Got the fire alight today, sitting down and not feeling warm!! Just about to open the tuna for dinner tonight, got some beaut cherry toms and managed to get some purple kale today so might have a yummy smoothie before bed!!

Lets hope this rain doesn’t hang around too long in Auckland, need to see the BC’s win!!!!

Congratulations Turnabout. I hope I won’t be far behind you in getting there – 75ks is my second mini goal.

Charliesmum – I am proud and happy too.

Ardar – OH and myself are in your age group and we have had no problems at all. Keep up the fluids – stops both dizziness and constipation I’ve found. Also, our GP fully supports what we are doing – she is a great fan of Michael Mosley. We had the blood tests that Dr Mosley had and we will repeat them after three months like he did as he explains in his book. Just go for it – we can do anything!!!!

Melbourne Kiwi – marmite is not just for Kiwis. My English husband grew up on it and hates vegemite. I don’t know that there’s that much difference.

Happy Tuesday everyone.

PS. grandson is very proficient with his crutches now – I think he actually likes being allowed to use the lift at school instead of the stairs. And they let him leave each class a few minutes before the bell so he does not have to deal with crowded corridors during lesson and room changes. I picked him up from school today because his dad couldn’t leave work early to get there in time (it was raining and he couldn’t walk home), and here he is with a friend carrying his bag for him – and friend got out of school early too because he was the helper. Got to laugh!

Hi Intesha. Good idea…so, how about it Turnabout? Tea-Exporter has a nice ring to it. FYI, my doctor (female) says the best time to exercise is first thing in the morn. Get out of bed, have a huge glass of water and then out the door, with 2 or 4-legged companion or on your own. She says this kick-starts your metabolism for the entire day. Until recently I didn’t know that she also has lots of patients on 5:2 & recommends it daily. On my fast days I have my normal daily breakfast of lemon juice & hot water after my walk, then fresh fruit with plain full-fat yoghurt, a half slice of w/grain toast & vegemite (sorry you NZ marmite eaters!). I ALWAYS have my full-fat flat white around 11am. I try to go thru to dinner then, but if the “hunger-giant” awakens, I have about 1/2 tin of tuna in o/oil and another big drink of water. Seems to work. As everyone has said, keeping your fluids up is the most important thing on a FD. You might have guessed that I’m a “full-fat” kinda girl. Yes, I don’t buy anything that “THEY” have mucked about with. As natural as possible…is my motto. I make my own yoghurt, butter + olive oil spread, bread, muesli & kefir. Luckily I enjoy cooking! OH & I (just for 2 of us), have found that our shopping bill has dropped by $100-150 per month, cos we’re just not eating as much. So, thinner, cheaper & better looking & its FREE….what else do you need to know to be converted to 5:2. Go the Black Caps – for today’s game anyways….CM x

Thanks Transcend. Have just had dinner and I think I’ve eaten too much after fluids all day! Had steamed veges – carrots, parsnip, broccoli, onion, celery (forgot the garlic) and about 100gr of steamed chicken, 60gr potato. Think I might have to cut down! I agree with the exercise before breakfast, I have a cup of black tea first and take the dog for about half an hour and another for 20 min’s before dinner. Will watch the cricket now. 12yr old grandson seriously told his Dad off for saying that Guptil might get a low score.
I think I’m going to manage this fasting quite well.

It took me so long to finish that last post that Transcend re-appeared along with two other new posts. I’ll have to type faster! Love those food tips CM; you’ll be publishing your own 5:2 book soon.

STUBBORN SCALES! Weighed 66.3 before going to bed so was hopeful about reaching that 65.something this morning. It was not to be, woke to 66.3. Went for a walk hoping to sweat it off, even if only temporarily. Nope, still 66.3. Kicked the scales. It’s an FD for us today, 11am and nil by mouth so far. Trying to hold out until lunch time which isn’t easy with OH pestering to know ‘what’s on the menu’ today. I’m optimistic about reaching 65.something tomorrow CM. If not, I guess I’ll just be happy that the scales are no longer saying “one at a time please”.

Thanks PVE, where you bin?

Thin – Threaten those scales!!! Tell them they’re going in the bin if they don’t co-operate with you! Then pass a small tin of tuna to OH & tell him that’s his lunch (& dinner too if he doesn’t stop asking!)…… Good luck, resist & just imagine how wonderful you’ll feel when you hit 65….! CM x

Hi Purple! Great to hear from you.

Hi DT and welcome. You’ve made the right choice with 5:2. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot recently. As you’ve been lurking for a month or so, you already know a lot about us. Where are you in WA? Thinatlast & I live in Perth and get together occasionally & you’re very welcome to join us if you’re in Perth – along with any other “Perth Lurkers” out there! Celia Brooks is a great cook with lovely recipes & I didn’t know she had a 5:2 book. I’m not vego but enjoy meat-less meals regularly.
So, 4 weeks, 4kg & 8cm. You’ve GOT to be happy with that. It’s great that your OH is joining you on this journey too. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t. But I think initially it will be great to have that support at home. You’ll get lots of it here.
My OH is not doing it, although he is very supportive. He eats the same as me, just more of it and doesn’t fast. I don’t think I could manage him hassling me about being hungry, when I’m trying to NOT think about food. Anyway, good luck, we’re here for you. Don’t hesitate to post regularly – these guys are such an amazing support and I don’t know if I would be here without them. This WOL/WOE is life changing, so stick with it.
You will feel terrific on the way to becoming the NEW YOU. Good luck!
CM x

Intesha, you’ve done really well! Although some people report dramatic weight losses, it’s really healthier IMO to have a slow and steady decrease. I think you should be proud of that result after your fast day – plus you have another one coming up before your official weigh-in. You’re going through a tough time with your parents so any loss you enjoy is a real credit to you.

Agree CM, you definitely need the support of your family. I would never have started this if my OH hadn’t agreed to do it with me initially. In fact I knew about it a whole year before we started so was very grateful when he said he’d ‘give it a month’. He’s since gone to 6:1 and I can say that the days I fast alone are much easier, requiring far less planning and fanfare. He sees the benefits it’s delivered to me but, as a very slim person, the health benefits are harder to quantify for him. For couples sharing the same weight loss goals and objectives, it would be great to be able to support each other. For the rest of us, there’s this forum! Thanks everyone, you’re all fantastic.

HOW BOUT THOSE BLACK CAPS!!!! What a win 🙂 Conversations here could get interesting if we end up playing off against the Aussies…!!

Welcome DT and well done on such fantastic results in your first month! It’s great to have the support from your OH, whether they are also undertaking this fantastic WOL or not. My hubby is doing this with me too and it’s working well for us to be doing it together and sharing FD’s 🙂

CM I am so impressed you make all that yourself, I feel the same way and try to buy as close to nature as possible but that’s not always easy. I’ve read the same about exercising on an empty tummy. I walked 3km to work today and rewarded myself with an instant coffee with almond milk (FD for me) I feel too lethargic at the end of my FD to get any exercise in anyway.

Thin, did you get your 65 this morning??

MK88

Yaaay that’s fantastic! Well below your last weigh in! What is your goal weight?

I’ve been buying So Good’s almond and coconut milk. It’s way lower in everything really! fat, sugar, calories, etc… I didn’t particularly like the flavour of plain almond milk so I went for the hybrid and it’s super yummy in smoothies but does take a little getting used to in tea/coffee. It doesn’t taste bad, it’s just different to dairy.

I should walk home… I’ll see how I go! I usually have the car but hubby had a second round job interview this morning so I figured he could take it 😉 It’s so col here in Melbourne!

You’re very good getting 5k in before breakfast every day… no wonder your weight has dropped steadily. instant coffee has hardly any calories in it, I sweeten mine with stevia and have it with my so good milk and it comes to around 6 calories total I think.

Intrigued as to how many cals you have left for dinner on a FD CM!!

MK88

18kgs! That’s amazing! That’s roughly 500g a week since you started! I can’t keep track of whos lost how much on this forum- everyones stories are so impressive. They really spurr us newbies on. I started this WOL at 69kg and decided to do something before I saw 70kg on the scales. I weighed 59kg when I got married in 2013 and would love to get back to that or even lower as I still had a doughy stomach then.

Try a few different milk varieties, they’re surprisingly easy to make too if you’re that way inclined. Coconut oil is such a tasty oil and so food for you. My stepfather is Rarotongan and swears it just makes you fat but if used properly (i.e. not used to deep fry spam like his family do!) it has fantastic health benefits.

Thank you for the encouragement, I think I will walk home!! I’m feeling hungry this afternoon and I find moving fixes that. Thanks for your support 🙂

Hi everyone. Such good news on our thread today.

Thin – Yahoo!! I knew you could do it & I’m sooo happy for you. You stuck with it even though it was tough going & when the results weren’t coming for you. Some say that the cm are going down when the scales don’t move?! Maybe threatening those scales with the bin worked!!! Those morning walks have done the trick too …your perseverance worked!!
MK88 – Walking to work….very impressive. Yes I’ve heard coconut oil is very good for you (now), as are eggs, butter, etc. wish they’d make up their mind about these things. Well done to the Black Caps too…….until we meet in the final, then all bets are off!
FD today, drinks with family this aftn & V/worried about weigh-in tomorrow…..!!!
Will post info with a sample FD menu separately.
CM x

Well done Thin. I knew you’d do it. Perseverance and watching that end goal is the trick 😉
I occasionally look at “fat photos” of us and wish we’d never gained the weight in the first place. Thank goodness for Dr M! Ran into a tradie who hasn’t seen me for 18 months. He hardly recognised me! Such a good feeling!
My WA mob are coming over for a few weeks so I will have to just lurk for a while.
Keep up the good work gang
Purple 🙂

Transcend, I think that’s a very good result. And when you consider that this is a way of life now, it doesn’t really matter how long it takes does it? (OK, I was singing a different song earlier in the week, I know!). A downward trend is what we want. The scary bit for me will really come when I switch to maintenance 6:1; I’m sure there will be many hiccups before I get it right.

MK88, deep fried spam! Eeew. That’s a funny image to conjure up on this thread, isn’t it? Good for you for reversing your weight before it got out of hand. I’d love to know how many kilos have been collectively shed, too, all thanks to Dr M.

CM, yes I encourage all newbies to measure absolutely everything because often people report losing cms when the scales are being annoying. This is advice I didn’t heed myself and really wish I had. I only measured my fat waist which is still huge but down 9cm. Thanks for your support, you’ve been great. You’ll be OK tomorrow. One drink, three glasses of water…..

Intesha, thank you. You too can do this. Your daughter will walk right past you at the airport.

P.S. Thank you PVE, have fun with the sandgropers!

And thanks for the meal plans CM, I’ve copied your post to a word document for proper examination later.

Thin – Glad you like it. It works cos I’ve been losing weight on it. The salad component is so cheap on calories. I do like to eeek it out as much as possible & I do enjoy the option of something alcoholic (naughty, I know) if I really feel like it at night. Most FDs I don’t and then that’s just a bonus negative value which I then don’t eat. Its kinda like an alcoholic version of your “bedtime boiled egg” – just earlier! And I DID think you had an egg tucked away in the fridge ready to take to bed….yummmmm! Actually, even on my non-FD I have the same bfst, coffee & optional lunch. I can just have something with my coffee or a little more/something different for dinner. Makes it easy for me only having to mentally calculate dinner values. Its not boring, because I change the fruit around for bfst – or maybe I add an egg to the toast. Lunch has never been a biggie for me – so i really don’t miss it. Maybe that’s why this WOL has been so easy for me.
Still nervous about weigh-in tomorrow, though. Can’t wait to join you in Club 65! CM xx

Warning: Sourdough talk 🙂
I made a walnut and date sourdough and it rose phenomenally due to the sugars in the dates, so, yesterday I added 3/4 tsp sugar to the dough. It made a lighter loaf as the yeasts had more food. Worth considering my baking pals. Cheers Purple