I’m rapt, CM, never thought I would lose those few kilos that I have carried around forever. Few? Well, it was 10% of body weight – and 25% of body fat, according to my scales!! 🙂

It’s not the waking up that is such a bother, it’s not being able to go back to sleep again. I have watched whole series of TV programmes at 3am, and the problem has seemed to have moved to Friday and Saturday nights, which is weird. That’s why I am trying this treat-restricted week, before resorting to hypnosis.

What else!!

Hmmm, not something I had considered. Thanks, CM. One item of stress to deal with in the home/business life, then it will be more practical to deal with this issue.

And I prefer an Aussie shiraz!

Barata, I have been having acupuncture for depression and a few Chinese herbal remedies, I would recommend you at least try it. The practioner will ask you all sorts of questions and can treat you for more than one issue.

Coming to the end of my FD, those soups sound very inviting. I struggle late afternoon but have a cup of green tea and that seems to help. I must have a good look next time I am in Coles for those noodles and the Alpine bread. Maybe they call it Mountain bread here in NSW.

There is an article in the Good Health magazine about the 14:10 fasting. Fast for 14 hours at night and eat 3 meals over the next 10. I think I will stick to the 5:2.

That sounds like one easy FD meal CM, did you try it tonight? (I’m talking about the Tom Yum not the double sauv blanc). Aren’t you good, having another go at a FD after blowing it yesterday! You are very determined my friend.

Thin – Not tonight. Will try tomorrow….stay tuned. Had a yummy canellini, kale & vege soup (thick) tonight with a chicken drumstick hidden underneath. Perfect for this wet & windy night here in Perth….& no Thin, I didn’t have a SSB!! Proud of me??
MAM – Hi & welcome. Glad you dropped by. Yes, I think its common to feel much better on 5:2 – I certainly do. I’m now 2 months in. I normally stick to the same bfst everyday (fruit, yog, toast) & eat more interesting evening meals on Non-FDs. But I still strictly adhere (most of the time) to being well below my TDEE. I think that once you’ve got a handle on the number of calories that different things contain, its pretty easy. Bfst for me is fuel only & don’t care much for lunch. More interested in dinner!! What do you eat now??
Intesha – take a look at the Alpine Breads website they have a list of stockist in NSW. Might help. I found the Slendier noodles in the Health Food aisle of Woolies. They’re in a box with an angled top, with a big circle saying “ONLY 8 CALORIES”. Again take a look at their website so you know what packaging you’re looking for. Both Coles & Woolies have them available for online shopping, so you should find them in both stores.
Barata – We have the same taste! I love Aussie Shiraz too….we’ll have to crack a bottle one day!!!
Have a great evening everyone!
CM xx

Welcome MAM! This forum is a great place to get advice and support, I hope you stick around. Barata, how frustrating for you. I hope you find what it is thats causing your sleep problems. Thanks Thin for the advice, I will have a look through some forums and see what others say about these headaches. 11am and so far so good today! I hope I can avoid a headache today and get through this fast day a little better than I did on Monday!

Let us know how your soup goes CM! I’ve got my 5:2 pumpkin soup today, trying to hold out until 1:30pm before I eat anything. Lots of peppermint tea for me!

MK88 xx

Hi Everyone…Chief Guinea Pig checking in. Eureka!! I’m extremely happy to report that the Tom Yum soup is absolutely delicious. I’ve had it “au natural” for lunch and without adding other stuff I’m impressed – not easy to do I might add. It was more of a concentrate than a paste, so it comes out of the foil packaging easily – although I did rinse out the pouch just in case there was anything tasty lurking at the bottom! It makes a pretty large mug too, with onions and other diced veg included. As mentioned, if we tweak it with slendier noodles & some protein, it will absolutely be a great & very-lo-cal FD dinner. As it is, it’s a yummy & very easy (& transportable) 28 cal lunch. Think I’ll be kicking the tinned tuna to curb for winter! From their website – “all natural,99% fat-free, low-cal made with very best, freshest ingredients. Gluten & Dairy free too. Other flavours – Chicken, Vegetable & Rice; Lentil; South American Style Chicken & Corn; Vegetable & Bean”. Hope you enjoy it. Bon Appetit 5:2ers!! CM xx

Hello everyone!

I’m new to this forum, the diet and all things fasting. I’ve brought the book, soon to be delivered. I thought I would try my first fast day today and so far so good. 1 boiled egg for breakfast and some chicken breast for lunch and a Isagenix shake for dinner. This brings me to 511 calories is this ok? do is it strict that you must be under 500? any advice would be super helpful!! I’m 30yrs old with about 15kgs to lose I am an avid exersiser with a a terrible diet and no WILL POWER!! I’m trying to fall pregnant as I really think my weight is holding me back. Anyway just wanted to see if you had any tips for me, for fasting days and do you guys fast 2 days in a row or 2 separate days?

I also live in Perth and Shop at coles!

Ciao for now 🙂

Thin – Cauliflower soup sounds great – I haven’t made that in ages & used to be my fav.
MK88 – Glad that headache hasn’t surfaced today. Have you done anything differently? mmmm….Pumpkin & Sweet Potato & that “mysterious” Alpine Bread! Think you’re going to send Intesha crazy! Now, normally I’d be getting hungry, but that Tom Yum soup has really filled me up!
Barata – Anytime….& I’m sure Thin will join us too!!

Hohapata – Hi & welcome to 5:2 and this amazing way of life/eating (WOL/WOE). You’ve made the right move, joining the forums. They offer lots of insight from experienced fasters, and advice from some of us newbies as we go through the initial phases. Lots & lots of weight lost here too! If you haven’t already, measure yourself today. Also go to “How It Works” (top of page) & enter your “vital stats” to get your TDEE (which is the maximum calories you should eat on your NFD (non fast days). You may find (like lots of us) that we don’t feel that hungry after our FD and getting to your TDEE will seem impossible – unless you’re eating Easter bunnies! I think there is also a thread for newbies – someone else will probably fill you in on that. The first weeks are the hardest for some – but stick with it – it gets easier the further in you go. If you’re not working on Friday (& live near enough) come & join Thinatlast and myself for a coffee at Deep Water Point – see Thin’s earlier post. You’d be very welcome and we can fill you in on any questions you might have. Congrats on making a start towards your new WOL.
CM xx

Hoha – Sorry forgot…it’s normally too hard to fast on consecutive days. Monday is a favorite and then Wed or Thu. If one of us has a big weekend coming up we do Mon, Wed & throw another FD in on Friday if we feel like it. It’s really that easy & you can switch your FDs around if you have a social commitment.
Expat – Hi. Congratulations on 4kg!! Sounds like you’re going great guns!! You’ve hit that spot like me, where we feel great. Very interesting about the Kava. Where do we find it? Is it the same stuff they drink in Fiji??
CM xx

Hohapata – A few of us find that peppermint tea helps curb the munchies. You’re going great. Exercise is fine on FDs. But blimey, you’re keen doing 2 classes a day! Best advice is just listen to your body, particularly in the beginning. It will tell you what you need to know. Will keep you posted on our Coffee Meetups.
Expat – Checked the health food store regarding Kava. State government won’t allow it to be sold here in WA, even for medicinal purposes. Will check online for mail order sources from the eastern states. Stay tuned…there’s more than one way to skin a cat! (metaphorically speaking of course!)
Barata – you should be able to get it in NZ though.
Thin – How did your FD go today??
CM xx

Barata – Oh, that’s why. OK thanks. On the magnesium front, I use Schuessler Tissue Salts “MAG PHOS – Muscle Relaxant”. I get the “heeby-geeby’s” (aka restless legs) at night, a side effect from a pill I take. These do the trick & coincidentally also seem to put me to sleep. I just chew 2 tabs. They’re also pretty cheap. I get them online for around $15 for 250 tabs, but also available over the counter at most pharmacies & health food joints. CM xx

I’m so far behind on posts again, I was only gone a few hours. FD was OK thanks for asking CM, it’s 6.30pm and I’ve only had 355 cals so have some up my sleeve for rest of the evening. I’ve felt hungry all day, maybe it’s because I walked 10 kms yesterday. Went out with neighbours for an unplanned coffee so mine had to be black. Can’t say I enjoyed that too much. As it turns out, I probably could have had a flat white but who knows how many cals are in any given cafe’s FW? Your soup sounds great, I’ll have to scroll back to get the name of it.

Hohapata, welcome, too bad you can’t join us this time – what’s your postcode, we’ll try and make it convenient for you. Try and keep rigidly to 500 cals or less but don’t beat yourself up about the 11 cals, you’ve made a great start. Believe me, a lot us are impressed that you’re attempting back to back FDs. I’m in awe. All I can think about at this time of day is how much I’ll enjoy my coffee tomorrow morning. Don’t think I could contemplate B2B FDs. Thanks for completing the profile – my poor old brain has trouble keeping everyone straight!

Expat and MK88, great results, well done.

CM, looking at Friday’s forecast, I think there will be more coffee drinking than walking going on. Fine by me!

Hi everyone, good to see some new fasters here.
As far as headaches go, you could try having something a little salty such as a miso soup (28 cals) or some of ther low cal packet soup.
Sometimes it’s not the caffeine withdrawal, but our sodium levels dropping, as we increase our water consumption. Although we definitely do need plenty of water too.
Word of warning….Don’t go overboard on the salty things though, as they may also contribute to fluid retention and cause you to add on heaps of extra weight. (like I did a while ago, good thing fluid is way easier to lose than fat!)
So all things in moderation…water, salt and caffeine, (if that’s your thing).
And remember that there’s always tomorrow, this is a slow way to change the habits of a lifetime, but surely the most effective way to find good health again, at your own pace!
As for me, today I’m going to go without food until dinner time, as my plateau has been slowly reversing, YIKES! and I need to have a big kick up the kyber for sneaking those chocolates stored in the fridge!
Cheers dears!

Great to hear from you both IHAW and PVE. Thanks for the tips! Good luck today IHAW, it’s great that we now know what to do if the weight starts creeping back for any reason.

I wonder if we’ll see restaurants starting to offer 5:2 options on their menus one day? I’m enjoying a new low weight this morning and initially thought of celebrating with a restaurant meal tonight – but I can’t think of a single place to go where I wouldn’t be regretting it tomorrow.

See you tomorrow CM – and any Perth lurkers are very welcome to join us. Look for the hairy dog.

Lovely idea! Can I borrow your husband?

Fair enough, it’s just that mine doesn’t do romance or sharing!

Well done both of you PVE, it’s an incredible journey that you’ve been on together and the fact that you’ve maintained that goal weight for so long is an inspiration to all of us. I hope you keep posting.

CM, just got back from a soggy walk at the river – stopped in and bought the LaZuppa tom yum and my walking buddy (who’s yet to start this WOL) bought a packet too. All these commercially prepared soups seem to have such a high sodium content (apart from anything else, I don’t like salt) but everything else about it seems great esp. the cal count.

Another fast day today. Getting ready for the weekend…have a fair bit planned.

My husband got his blood results back and the doctor was delighted…he said “these results are excellent” Unheard of as poor husband usually gets read the riot act over his results. He has lost 12 kilos.

I bought the Kava tablets in a shop in Brisbane. Stuff is great but I only use it as needed and not consistently….usual story….everything in moderation. The passionflower tincture also works. In fact, Dr Oz recommends it for getting rid of belly fat. Live and learn.

Well done everyone…so pleased to be sharing this journey with you all.

Thin – Didn’t look at the salt count…whoops! But I think if we add some extras it will be a little more acceptable. I know what you mean about soggy, its horrible outside and I have to venture out soon. Charlie won’t even go outside…. he takes one look at weather, comes back in & curls up in his bed. As you’ve been out today, what do you think about tomorrow?
Expat – What great news for OH and his bloods and fabulous weight loss too. When are you guys coming home to Oz? You said it wouldn’t be too long.
MK88 – Feijoas!!! Man you are easily pleased. I’ve never tried one and I don’t think I can pronounce it either! Yes, lots of horrible news around today. Very sad.

Well, I’ve been zigzagging all week. Non-FD yesterday, but when OH went to bed early, I got the munchies. I won’t go in the gory details, but I felt totally horrified when I stopped. Why can we look at something and KNOW we shouldn’t eat it, but our hand just won’t obey our brain signals. Oh well, another FD for me today and I haven’t eaten yet. If I’m quiet for weigh-in tomorrow, you’ll all know why! Have a good one…CM xx

Hi Turnabout – Centimetres gone is just as good in my opinion….but I know we do hang out for those numbers on the scales to confirm things. How are you finding AF? (& I’m assuming “alternate-fast” not “alcohol-free”). I’ve begun doing more M, W, F fasts as it gives a bit of structure to my week, with one on/one off. Maybe it’s because I can’t trust myself on non-FDs recently.
Still haven’t eaten today, although I did have a coffee earlier. First time I’ve tried this, but have heard others talk about it – so its a bit of an experiment. I’m not hungry either which is a bit bizarre. A nice chunky-veg soup is ready for me tonight at 100 cals. So I might just have to have 2 bowls. CM xx

Perth Meetup – Venue & Time Change – Hi Everyone – For those considering venturing out into our wet weather for our coffee morning (no walk, no hairy dog) tomorrow. Please be advised our venue/time has changed due to the rain. It’s now at 10.30am in South Perth at Gusto Cafe in Angelo Street. Please let us know if you plan to come along & we will look out for you. Thinatlast & CharliesMum x

Hi Everyone
Just wanted to post in celebration. Today’s weight in shows I’ve lost 20 kg in just under 7 months. Yeah me! I didn’t honestly think I could do this although I did at least hope it was possible when I started. I still have lots more to go as I have had a lifelong love affair with all sorts of food but I’m getting there.

ibardell, congratulations what a fantastic effort. I was just sitting here thinking that a 15-20kg loss for me was not something I could visualise and then along comes your post. I have only been on this WOL for ten weeks and have lost 5kg. It can be done with determination and support, thank you for posting.