Hi, I lost a lot of weight a few year’s ago – sadly, it has been slowly creeping back on, which is why I’ve joined this website. Your post caught my eye as you mentioned feeling cold on fast days. I am cold every day! People say it’s because I lost the weight too fast, but I was only losing an average of 2 lbs a week, so did not consider it to be a problem. I am so fed up with wearing four layers of long-sleeved clothes – and that’s indoors – yet still feel cold. I never used to have this problem and I am hoping my body eventually settles back down and I don’t feel as though I should be flying to a “hot country” over the winter months.

Hi ply, I do hope you are right, as I don’t like the thought of always being cold – although I definitely feel so much better in myself no what I’ve lost some excessive weight. My husband doesn’t have the same problem. In fact, he was brought up in the north of England and very used to “Jack Frost”. So we generally spend our days with him opening the windows, and me closing them, lol. I spent my younger years in Africa where the word “coat” never made entry to our dictionary, but after moving back to the UK after I married, I never really had any problems with the cold weather. But that’s all changed since I lost the weight. I have tried everything to get warm – going to the gym and then using the steamer afterwards always helps.

Hello Piper, thanks for your feedback. I went on a diet (suggested by my doctor) in early 2012 and lost a stone and a half. I do not recall being cold in the winter 2012/2013 however. And it was much colder that winter. I live in the UK and we had a lot of snow then. This last winter I don’t think the temperature dropped below zero centigrade (32 F) yet I just couldn’t get warm. Actually, I would have welcomed having hot flushes, lol, but I’m passed that now. It is some time since I had my thyroid checked – can this cause you to feel the cold more? I absolutely loved it when we were in Spain for three weeks last year – the temperatures were hitting 32/34 centigrade and I lapped it up, while everybody around me were flaking out, lol. It even reached 40 degrees on one day, yet I was able to keep riding up them hills.

Hello fabulous ladies. When I turned 60 last autumn, my doctor directed me to lose 30 pounds. I wasn’t quick to get this accomplished through our chilly winter season. I also didn’t want to spend money on expensive, commercial plans. Exercising four times a week and going strong for a month, but I’m not weighing for another month. The exercise could be a false read since I’m gaining muscle. I don’t need to discourage myself. Hopefully, this is a life plan for me. Best to all – have a beautiful day. Jean

Hi PreciousBooBoo,
I appreciate your communication and responses on this thread. I myself was attacked personally but decided to ignore it as a misunderstanding of a comment I made which was wrongly interpreted. With this type of communication and the fact that we are strangers, this can lead to problems. Some of us are givers whilst others just take. We are here to support each other. I am here for you just as many others are. Don’t be upset, turn the other cheek, it’s more positive. I do not know what your original misunderstanding was about, nor do I want to, there is nothing to be gained from going over old disputes. We are here to discuss the diet and give each other tips. You have helped many newby’s and we thank you. Chin up, thinking of you. Glad you had a lovely weekend and congrats on your anniversary.

As a newbie (I registered yesterday), I do not know what has been said before. And I am sorry that whatever you said, PreciousBooBoo, has been taken so hard by Applecrisp. Misunderstandings are inevitable on a site where we are not facing each other – it’s a bit like getting an email from someone which sounds like criticism but is simply a well-meaning bit of advice. It happens all the time. Perhaps, once she has thought about it, and realized that it wasn’t such a big deal, she will venture to rejoin the site.

Congratulations on your anniversary. It’s a big milestone and I know what you mean when you say it’s a marvel you haven’t strangled each other yet! Trust me, it gets easier. I find my husband of nearly 50 years has turned into a very nice person – hmm, wonder if that’s anything to do with me working on him over the years, lol. I hope the next 30 years for your both is full of fun, laughs and loads of loving.

Hi jojo,

Whatever you are doing seems to be working a treat. Your loss of weight and width is impressive. Congratulations! Your ceramic frying pan sounds interesting and will be something I’ll consider when my relatively new and still non-stick pan eventually gets demoted. What would really interest me would be a ceramic pan that is also ovenproof. I recently prepared a bhaji frittata – 5:2-friendly and highly recommended BTW, see link http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bhaji-frittata. The only suitable pan I had was an ancient Le Creuset non-stick, ovenproof frying pan which has seen better days – it’s 30+ years old – so the frittata stuck somewhat.

It always saddens me to see spats breaking out between posters out on forums such as this, and I agree with the wise words of all you recent contributors. These misundertandings are inevitable when people communicate in cyberspace and can’t see each other’s facial expressions or hear their tone of voice. As a result we can so easily interpret remarks as aggressive when they were in fact kindly meant. I’m sure this is the case here.

Back in the days of the Woman’s Hour Message Board, which the 5:2 forum reminds me of, largely due to the very similar levels of support, wisdom, humour and fun, I found myself on the receiving end of what were unambiguously spiteful attacks during one debate when I expressed my pro-choice views and wrote of my decision to remain childfree, because I thought I would be a rubbish mother – I still believe that, but I’m a terrific aunt and great-aunt (so I’m told!).

Some said I was to be pitied, others called me evil, sad, or in need of help. One particularly unpleasant male poster described me as “a disgrace to womanhood”. What touched me, though, was the way so many fellow posters stuck up for me.

Hi Piper, THanks,
My small op to get rid of the kidney stone is Good Friday. I had the pre-op today with the anaesthetist staff. It was a low point. My MBI is about 50 and they said that is quite unusual here. They suspected I’d also have other usual problems. Oddly my bp was behaving itself Ok even though I was very stressed – the though of the anaesthetic really really scares me. Also sugar though a bit high is not too bad, They wanted to me to have an ecg expecting there might be problems there, I could have itstraight away – but happily it was OK so apart from being very large they think it should be alright. I’m not sure if that reassures me or not! But nothing for it the stone must come out. The staff were lovely though through my tears, fears and trepidation.

I was intrigued to read you were studying archetypes. I did a ‘free your voice’ course a while ago and we discussed a very similar sounding book. There was a meditation / singing hoiday that was going to use this book – but I didn’t go on it. I bet it was the same one. It sounds like it. How did you get on with it? Studying Goddesses I mean!

Alawys feel a bit guilty on here as I only ever seem to reply and never instigate – though I do read and try to keep up a little. I’m an admin on another site and that takes all my time it seems so I relax just reading on here.

Precious BooBoo you have only ever showed me the kindest encouragement and support.

Best wishes all LOACA – (or Goddesses possibly!!!)

Hello PBooBoo — Congrats on your long relationship and the fact that you both made it a celebration. My best guess is you know how this relationship thing works and the best years are ahead of you now. Blessings for amazing years ahead. I’m new here — but chin up and stay encouraged. We cannot please everyone and as long as your intentions are honorable — keep smiling. I gave up family/friend/work/neighborhood/church drama years ago. So much more freedom and happiness! The trick is not to get sucked back into it. I’m not throwing darts at anyone — just wanted to tell you to keep smiling. Have a beautiful day.

jojo,

I’ve only just spotted your post from yesterday in which you write about having given up alcohol. I did the same some 12 years back. Having finally succeeded in giving up smoking I found that wine tasted like vomit, G&T like something you would use to clean the loo, and I’d never liked beer anyway. I also realised if I couldn’t have a ciggy I didn’t want a drink. And of course, as you say, it was wasted calories.

What I wanted to ask is, how have others reacted? I still have occasionally to put up with being called a killjoy and a party-pooper for not drinking. No one ever forces cigarettes onto a non-smoker so why do they try to force booze onto the non-drinker? I tend to answer if they want me to be loud and obnoxious and puke on their carpet, then bring it on.

Elderflower presse is lovely, as is elderflower cordial. Belvoir who make the elderflower also do a lovely ginger cordial, which you might like to try although you might need to take a note of the calorie count – not ginormous but to be borne in mind when you are following a fairly strict regime.

I so agree about hot savoury food like bacon rolls (or sarnies) or Cornish pasties. Have you tried the London trick of sprinkling the bacon with malt vinegar? A disgusting but delicious habit picked up in childhood from my East London dad.

Hi Precious Boo Boo & piper,

I didn’t realise you were two more old hippies. Is it really surprising that those of us who grew up, or at least matured, with sex’n’drugs’rock’n roll, aren’t going to morph into sweet little old ladies? A period remembered with great affection. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. In those days, having the munchies was not the result of food deprivation. Hash cookies, anyone?

I’ve only told you half the story, jojo. The second half is somewhat happier.

I went to uni as a mature student and came out with a modern languages degree. The only way to really use the degree was to teach so I did the PGCE. Both my teaching practices were at a local girls’ comprehensive with a good academic record and I enjoyed my time there.

Sadly there were no vacancies so I found myself doing my probationary year at a mixed comprehensive equidistant between Spurs and Arsenal where I attempted to teach French and Spanish to off-duty football hooligans. This situation was made worse by the head’s attitude. I was 40 and he was probably expecting someone staid and respectable – he got me, poor bloke. I’m not sure why he had it in for me. My head of department was very supportive – I always used to joke that he only hired me because we both smoked Silk Cut and had been to the same uni – and did his best to defend me, also making it clear that it was the head who was the problem rather than me. One of my former female colleagues there remains among my closest friends. To be fair some of the kids were great, many were naughty but nice, but there were a small handful of real psychopaths that no one but a 6-foot male could handle. As soon as I could I made my escape.

A friend from uni who had been teaching at a very prestigious girls’ private sector school while waiting to get funding for her PhD managed to persuade the head there to let me have her job when she left to begin her research. She’s now a full professor, bless her.

I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. There I was able to teach and enjoy it and not spend all my time being a policeman. The head was a delightful, highly civilised woman, typified by her belief that parents who took the trouble to turn up at parents’ evenings should be offered wine and nibbles before they went home. She and I got along really well, as I did with all the other teachers I came into contact with.

I seriously considered staying and making a real career of it, but by this time I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a freelance translator and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 24 years. I translate from Spanish, French and German and occasionally Portuguese into English, specialising in Arts and Media, which means about 90% of my work is for publication or broadcast. There’s no other job that would suit me so well and given good health I shall continue for years to come. I was always competent but I really hit my stride at 60, since when I’ve had some wonderful assignments and a lot of appreciation from clients and colleagues alike. I’m also in the final stages of an MA in History of Art. Teaching experience has come in useful when making the presentations that are part of the course. So you see, it wasn’t such a sad story after all.

Enjoy the book PreciousBooBoo!
I was going to make tomorrow the 2nd FD of my 2nd week, but I talked myself out of it. lol It meant I would have had to do my fitness class on an empty stomach, and I am too chicken.
So I will be fasting along with you jojo58 on Friday sans the paint fumes.

Good morning everyone, it seems that you are good friends on here so I wonder if you could give me some advice please, I only started this fasting last Friday and did 2nd day on Sunday going great. I still go to Weight Watchers and got to goal in 2011 losing 56 lb but I cannot keep the last 7 or 8 lb off so I turned to
5-2 and I lost 3 lb in 4 days in weigh on Tuesday morning so going well. Problem is should I come clean and tell the leader that I am doing WW plan 5 days a week and should I own up about 5-2 bit of the week. I know it does not matter how we get this blinking weight off but I feel guilty. I love the WW class and it’s like a coffee morning with a lovely lot of like minded ladies. Thanks in advance. JIP

hermajtomomi:
Loved your story.

Precious Boo Boo:
Congratulations. And yes we will please some of the people sometimes, and at some other times not at all. We don’t know the inner workings of exactly what is a bothering issue when someone reads and reacts strongly to something. It feels quite keen to them however, so we need to approach with compassion also . . . especially when there was never ever any intent in the first place in any upset that may have occurred.

And yes . . . I only replied due to a direct question from a member re what I do as a job. I have been self-treating for years with thankfully much success 🙂 . . . and as I said I hope to be the oldest member of my tennis club, even beating the amazing Marjorie who is still going at 82!

Also have not been at my weight so naturally for many many years now since adding the iodine . . . feeling both quite excited and balanced . . . but keeping a lid on it . . . and hoping this is it now. Enjoying my fast days even where I just eat my home made broths either beef or chicken with some meat and lots of veggies.

Keep on keeping on all . . .

Thank you for giving me your view. I will keep it up it’s working for me, first fast day of the week today and I intend to do Saturday for my 2nd day. I am having brother-law and his wife around on Friday evening for a meal and that usually undo’s all my good work. I feel this week it will not give me an increase in my weight which it always done in the past. Thanks again.

Precious BooBoo, I’m sorry I really can’t remember you mentioning that – but I forget a lot lately 🙂 Often my s-i-l (who is also ALOACA0 and I, have a conversation then next day we can only vaguely remember it!
But I do know them – in fact I have some Bachs Rescue Remedy for my dog – so I’m going to start to take it. Thanks for the tip.
I do meditate or maybe I think I do. I’m never sure at what point sitting becomes meditating. I’ll search the term. I have a mindfulness book by Mark Williams just arrived from Amazon but not opened it yet 🙁
Thanks. xx

Hello Lovely Ladies of a Certain Age,
I am a complete newbie to this plan, just having finished my first fast day today. I’m rather proud of myself for doing it since it really wasn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined it to be. My only real complaint is a headache in mid afternoon, but I drank more water and took a couple of tablets and it went away.

What concerns me was Precious BooBoo’s very first post. I am 67 years old and have been struggling with weight issues since I quit smoking at 40. I’ve done all the diets, lost and gained back, lost and gained back and as the years have crept up, I find it harder and harder to lose any weight. I read about the 5:2 and what really appeals to me is that this is a relatively easy lifestyle change. But I want not just to be healthier, I want to shed pounds. So my question here is, are any of you losing and sustaining the weight loss? I’d love to hear just some quick numbers from you ladies about your weight loss.

To be fair, Precious, I read the first few posts, then skipped to the end where really you all seem to have become friends and no one is really talking about weight loss anymore. I love the camaraderie, but I also want to know about the success of this plan. Answers, please?

Goodness – I go away for a week and come back to find a furore!

Well, my family tend to be the sort who are first in the bar to raise a chair above their heads and yell FIGHT! (that’s the Irish in us) but I’m made of more peaceable stuff. I think PBB does a splendid job, and is part of the glue that binds us. If people get cranky and go off the thread for a while, or for ever, that’s a shame, but better ignored than reacted to. I’m so impressed with how kindly all the contributors have been over this.

Now for the REALLY serious news – I’ve gained two pounds this week. I could blame another business trip but I’m so cross with myself for letting go when I was doing so well. I thought I’d got out of the habit of mindless eating of airline peanuts… Grrr.

Oh well, it’s the Easter hols soon (I’m in UK where we get the Friday and Monday off) and I’ve got a week off next week, so I hope walking and gardening will start shifting the pounds again.

MerryMary – despite my grouches, this is a good way of eating, and it has made me feel lighter and healthier. I lost eight pounds since Christmas – it was ten but I just put two back on which is why I’m moaning. You’ll read a lot about plateaus, but stick with it and it will make a slow difference. Good luck and do keep posting.

Hi ladies of a certain age
I am in Australia and have just found this thread. I am 67 and have been on 5;2 WOE since 25 January this year. I knew it would suit me as I cannot stand permanent calorie restriction. I lost 7 kg ( 15 lb) in 8 weeks and then plateaued for a few weeks. The best part was losing 10 cm (4 inches) from my waist.
I definitely recommend reading Michaels books as it explains the medical science.
Good luck to all.