@iwfama, I have tried this diet 2 times before. 1st because I saw it on an online news source I actually went by what a lot of the commenters had to say and I did a fast of 24 hours without food. Did not work. 2nd time I finally bought the book. It was aruond the holidays- not a good time to start a diet. I am on the third time and it does get easier. Precios Boo Boo, Sylvestra and many others have stated that it does get better and easier and it does.

I am an emomotional eater and a bored eater and a lazy eater (when I eat whatever is fastest.) Hang in there the next day can be a fast day.

Good evening LLOACAs

Oh well back to the grindstone tomorrow and the first fast day of the week as well. I’ve been battling with a head cold all weekend but think I’m over the worst now.

Let’s hope we all have a successful and not too stressful week.

Linda 🙂

Hi:

Great persistence! Maybe some of this info might help: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/tdee-for-the-curious-or-why-dont-i-lose-weight-faster/

Good Luck!

Congrats BooBoo and Arla! This is a very, very successful thread AND a lot of fun, to boot!

Hi:

I guess as an ‘outlier’ you would be interested in this: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-are-thin-people-not-fat/

In case there are any new LLOACAs who might be interested….this is our facebook page …come and join the chat. All LLOACAs welcome

xx

Wow, so many posts on here and I haven’t been notified about any of them! Apparently, if you don’t post for a while, WordPress stops emailing. Thanks @sylvestra for your kind birthday wishes earlier. Being an Aussie, I have to convert all of those stones, pounds and ounces to kilograms, so I see you have lost 22 kg in total (a huge achievement) and that you only have 8.6 kg to go. I have often heard that the last 5-10 kg is the hardest to lose because you are getting so close to your goal weight, so don’t get discouraged about it. I have started my 59th year weighing 83.9 kg (nearly 185 lbs), after a loss on Saturday of 0.8 kg (1.8 lbs). I have 23.9 kg (53 lbs) at least left to go. I may not be able to achieve three weight losses in a row at next Saturday’s weigh-in, after the combined birthday celebrations last night (for mine on Saturday and my daughter-in-law’s today). My husband and I are also going away for a beach break for 4 days after next weekend, so there are more indulgent days ahead. At least there will be lots of beach walking and cliff-climbing involved, so I hope that extra activity will be conducive to a small weight loss. I am going to try a 16:8 fast on Sunday and Friday that week, to fit in with the 4 “feast” days away.

Hi all,

I am 52 years old and this is now week 6 of doing 5:2 for me. So far I have lost 9lbs, so quite happy.
I know this is probably purely co-incidence (bearing in mind my age and the ‘symptoms’ us ladies can get around this time)but since I have been leading this WOL I have been experiencing extremely itchy skin – worst affected are arms, legs, neck, ears(!?). I have read online that this can be a menopausal symptom, but the itch just seems to have been getting worse and worse the longer I have been on this diet. As I say, I am sure it is probably just co-incidence, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I have made an appointment to see the GP but just wanted to ask the question prior to going. Thanks

I agree with Lindyw – I think people like Michel Moseley, Mimi Spencer and all the others who have published Fast Diet and 5:2 books and recipe books will be making a fair amount of money!

I have to say they haven’t made a single penny out of me as I haven’t bought any books or recipe books. I found more than enough information online and from that have found a way that works for me. So it has cost me nothing at all.

Since I started this particular weight loss journey – my most successful ever! I have probably saved quite a lot of money in terms of the amount of food I have bought (or nought bought) doing, at first, calorie restriction and now the 5:2 woe.

It’s an awakening to think how much I have probably spent on ‘slimming foods’ over the years when I didn’t need to. All I had to do was eat less and eat healthy!! I suppose I knew that all the time but was, like so many others, looking for that ‘miracle cure’. Now I’ve found it and it’s so simple.

@wibblywobbly (you’ll have to change that name soon!!!) I’ve never heard of the itching problem. Do let us know what your GP says about it.

xx

@applecrisp I’m sorry if I said something that made you feel like that. I was just responding to the ‘how can people make money from this’ idea.

I admire Michael Mosley and am very grateful to him for making his findings available for all of us. Good luck to him, he was the original 5:2er and if anyone should profit from it then it should be him.

I still stand by my comment that he – and more so those who have ‘jumped on the bandwagon’ and published books/recipe books on the subject are making money from it ….why publish otherwise?

And as I said – no-one has made anything from me – but that’s my choice. I was comparing what I have spent on weight loss in the past with what 5:2 costs me.

xx

Hello everyone! 🙂

It has been ages since I last posted on this forum, but I have enjoyed reading through all the posts that have happened since. I greatly admire everyone’s determination, especially those with medical and other challenges. And so much good advice from everyone too.

Re exercise, we are lucky in Australia that there aren’t many days when we can’t exercise outside. 🙂 I walk the dogs almost every morning first thing, 45min walk up hills and down dales – sometimes done more vigorously than others! I have just started the MM HIT regime using an exercise bike 3 times a week, plus the 8min daily Joanna Soh strength training, to help me with maintenance and to tone the thinner but bit saggy body!!

The forums have been a wonderful source of info about this WOL – especially in reading about the wide variation in experiences, as well as lots of ideas, tips and support. And I will add my thanks and congratulations to PreciousBooBoo for starting this thread. 😀

Very best wishes to you all as you continue this journey.
Sassy 🙂

Hi @karenlandy and welcome to these forums.

I know what you mean about being tired and lacking energy but, as you say, being overweight does have something to do with it.

From my own experience and I am 67 years old – a year ago I was more than 4 stones overweight, perpetually tired, hated what I saw in the mirror and really did not like myself very much. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, impaired glucose tolerance and painful osteoarthritis in my hips and spine.

I decided the only person who could do something about was me. I started off on a low calorie eating plan and began by going to the gym and using the ‘power plate’ for 30 mins twice a week. In three months I had lost 1 stone and my osteoarthritis had improved immensely so I started to use the treadmill for 15 mins at a time. At the 6 month mark I had lost 2 stones, was using the treadmill for 30 mins and walking 3 miles a day outdoors. I also had a medical and my blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose tolerance were all normal and I had stopped taking my painkillers.

I then reached a plateau and stuck for a couple of months – that’s when I found 5:2! I wish I had found it at the beginning! Now 1 year on and 4 months into 5:2, I have lost 3.5 stones (still a ways to go) but I can walk painlessly for miles and have even started a ‘Couch to 5k’ running plan. I am fitter and healthier than I have been for many years. And I LIKE myself!! I like what I see in the mirror. I like wearing smaller clothes.

I only tell you this just to show that it really doesn’t matter what age you are..it’s never too late to make changes. And also to show that this way of eating WORKS!

I’m sure you will have great results here too.

Have you calculated your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) – you can find information on that and on BMR (Basal metabolic Rate) and a calculator in the ‘how?’ link at the top of this page. As you lose weight you recalculate these figures.

The idea is to eat up to 500 calories on your fast days and ABOVE your BMR and UP TO your TDEE on the other days.

There are also some notes, which you might find helpful, here
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/some-notes-on-the-fast-diet-for-newbies/

You’ll get loads of help and support on the forums and especially on this thread. we are all in this together.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress

xx

I agree with @roba, @sylvestra, you are awesome! Michael Mosley should make you the pin-up girl for the 5:2 way of eating. You have achieved amazing results in the last year with your weight loss, health and fitness – even running and walking for miles at the age of 67. Thank you for your many inspirational and encouraging comments on the forums and the Facebook page.

Hi, I started this diet a year ago. I’m in my early 40,s and only 5″1. I was stuck for years between 10 -10.5 stone. I had been doing a well known slimming club for along time, and my weight was stuck. Starting and finishing the 5:2, has changed my life. I’m currently 8.10 lbs and no longer obsessed with food.
To be honest, the first few weeks of fasting are hard, it takes along time to stop the grazing we have been told was good for us ie eating little and often.
What worked for me was being very strict. 500 on the nose. Black tea coffee, herbal teas, diet drinks etc. I tend to eat about 11am and then again at 6pm. I also found low carb worked faster and I wasn’t as hungry. Breakfast is usually 50g smoked salmon – 95kl with an egg (80-100) . Dinner was fish or chicken with veg. It’s surprising how delicious cauliflower mash tastes! Celeriac also makes great mash.
10 cal jelly is a life saver! Very filling and hits the sweet craving. If a sandwich is more your thing, Danish bread 55k per slice with a whole packet of ham 100k makes a great lunch. Low cal cheese triangles at 25 each are great for stuffing in a chicken breast and covering with ham. The trick is to get as much bang for your buck! Good luck! I now 5:2 other areas of my life too!

@applecrisp – sorry, this thread moves so fast I missed your post. I agree about all the diet books. I have a fair few of those too.

I have a confession!! I noticed that Amazon were selling the Kindle version of Michael Mosley’s book for £2.80! So there it is – I have now spent the princely sum of £2.80 on this way of eating 😀

Hope all is well with you.

xx

No Precious Boo Boo – I would like to put you right.

There was, on this thread, a suggestion that LOACAs would like a Facebook page – as the South Hemisphere has – I have not elected to do anything – It is not MY page, I was simply a facilitator for a request.

I am very well aware that THIS is not a Facebook page but no-one is forced to to ‘join’ any Facebook page or anything they don’t want to. IT IS THEIR CHOICE!!

You say people have to be given ‘permission’ by me.

Facebook pages have categories – they are ‘open’ which means anyone at all who comes upon the page can just join whether or not they are doing 5:2 or just want to cause trouble, or they are ‘closed’ which means people ask to join or can be joined by an existing member.

The group was set to ‘closed’ so that ONLY those from these forums would be able to join it. This is to ‘protect’ – for want of a better word – from spammers and the like. The only other option is ‘secret’ and there is no need for that.

People come to these forums because they are doing Fast Diet/5:2 , or have searched the net for it. Anyone and everyone can use Facebook so it made sense to use the ‘closed’ category for the group. It is not my wish that the category requires a request to join. As I said anyone who has already joined the page can add other members, not just me.

If some people wish to have a Facebook page then that is surely their choice.

Is there a reason why they should not have both these forums and a page?

I really don’t understand why you have a problem with this. Perhaps you could explain.

To be quite honest I find the tone of your post out of order and upsetting. I am really very surprised to find this attitude here.
I wasn’t aware that by doing something that others were keen on and which simply adds another dimension would be ‘stepping on your toes’.

Everyone here has a choice – if they use Facebook and want to have a page there, then they are free to do that.

I love this thread and the Facebook page.There is plenty room for both.

Onward & Downward LLOACAs

Linda 😀

Dearest Precious Boo Boo and Sylvestra

Please don’t fall out over this, remember we are all passionate about the same thing here, and the 2 of you are too valuable to lose!

Like sharATL I was very worried about the facebook page, I am also “facebook resistant” and won’t join it, and I thought this thread would wither and die when a page was set up. But it hasn’t, and seems to e going as well as ever.

Please everyone, keep it up, even if you also follow the facebook page.

Vicki

I agree with L1nda- plenty of room for everyone! I find both thread and FB helpful.
And supportive! (But nobody ‘owns the rights ‘
over either of them! That ‘s as it should be!)
Andifinn- great advice thanks ! I’ve been finding that something along those lines seems to work for me also.

Oh no!! This cannot be happening! This is the best forum ever and both Sylvestra and PreciousBooBoo are integral to its success. We need a council of village elders to sit them down together and facilitate a reconciliation. How do we manage that when we’re thousands of miles apart?

I had a non-fasting day this week like the very hungry caterpillar and am almost back to square one after 6 weeks on 5:2. Thie posts I read here are so important in maintaining motivation, so won’t you please come back. We need you both.

Well said Colleen.
That is a problem with ‘saying’ anything online as the reader cannot hear the intonations in a statement that is written, and sometimes the message comes over wrongly.
We can cope with both this thread – for non facebookers – and the fb page.
This is the most active thread on the forum for a reason – we all love the gentle advise, others experiences and friendship.
We don’t want conflict…….and certainly dont want to chose between two sites!

On the happy news front–today was weighing day and I have achieved my goal (7kgs gone forever!!!) Started in Aug so feel it has been slow but steady and not ‘easy go easy comeback’.
It has been this thread that has really given me the support, esp through the weeks of plateau. This thread is so spot on–no good for us lovelies to compare ourselves to the ease of youth at losing weight. It may be slower for us but we can do it.
Quite a few people have said to me I look different–Well I have sassy new glasses and a sassy haircut so i guess the whole image had changed along with my energy levels and confidence. Part of that confidence comes from not being afraid of social occasions anymore when I would overeat and then feel like rubbish-last night could only drink half a glass of champagne–now THAT is a worry!!
so i lift my half glass of champers to all you lovely ladies

Hello, All–so lovely to hear such supportive things from so many. Anto58, I really laughed at your reference to a non-fast day where you ate like ‘the very hungry caterpillar;’ what a great comparison–I know just how you feel some days! Some of this, a bite of that, three of those…aaargh! Trust me–those weird days of eating get fewer and farther between the longer you’re on the 5:2. It just seems that being so focused a couple of times a week eventually makes your body so much more aware of what it wants/needs that those odd, compulsive binge-y urges truly recede a great deal. And as discouraging as it might feel to be nearly back to square one, just resume your new normal and you’ll be back to where you were–and even lower–sooner than you might guess.

Our loss on this plan tends to be so slow that it takes awhile to mount up to a sizable number, but if you just hang in there, it does finally begin to add up. It took me from September till January to lose 17 lbs., and I was initially so disheartened to pop back up 4 LBS. (!!!) this month after one weekend of Hungry Caterpillar eating & some serious PMS sypmtoms on the peri-menopausal roller coaster; it seemed crazy to lose so much ground so quickly. And it has taken me several weeks of bouncing around in the 141-143 range (after hitting my low of 139) to feel like I am back on track. I realized when I was back at 142 that I was still 14 lbs. lighter than I was when I began this WOL last fall and that is a real and significant loss for me. But yes–if I had lost only 4 lbs. and then put them all back on, it would’ve been very discouraging. In fact, that’s what I have been doing for the last 8 years, come to think of it! Which is why I never get to my long-term goal. But this time is different. I am just going to see it through this stage and continue on. We’ve all been there–or will be, most likely–but the long-term results for those of you who have been doing this for some time are so encouraging and inspiring that I wouldn’t think of giving up now.

So, my goal is to get back to 140 by the time I leave for a much-awaited vacation this Wednesday. I am hoping not to gain more than 2 lbs. by the time I return the following Monday (zero lbs. would be even better, needless to say, but I also want to be realistic, and enjoy some lovely food and oceanside cocktails). I will keep up my daily exercise simply because I love a good workout, and hopefully that will help. When I return, I have a quick trip to Toronto to visit my son, and then back to a normal schedule by March 1st, at which point I am going to renew my 5:2 efforts with more focus and energy. At that point, I know it will take real commitment on my part to make my way onward and downward from 140 over the next few months.

So, dear LOACAs, have a healthy and happy weekend. Think of what wonderful progress we will have to share with each other in a few more months’ time! I figure that those months will come and go no matter what; I may as well see them through on the 5:2 WOE and show up in May down another few pounds, right? It all adds up!