I’m glad you are on the pc rather than just spring cleaning Piper!
Yes! And we’d all be chuffed for you too!

Yes, I’m going to wait. In every appointment they say I am a higher risk than an average person because of my high BMI but a few weeks isn’t going to change that.

There are so many possibilities with technology it’s a bit confusing. My new television (get me!) isn’t a smart one, well a little bit, you can plug your phone in I think but not fully smart. I think if I could internet on it I’d never move from the sofa! 🙂

As a Trekkie I’m going to have to revamp the Volcan greeting ‘Eat less and Prosper’ xx

Hi Gigi I did the same thing I lost 3 lb in 4 days to start but I have kept it off and I only wanted to lose 8 lb so keep up the good work. Drink lots of water by the pint if you can do it, you will be surprised how you can put a pint of water away and I also drink it boiling and because I would be able to drink luke warm I drink it like I would drink my tea. Happy fasting JIP

Hi PBB, thanks for the star. The whey I mentioned was on offer in a shop called Home Bargains. not sure how far their shops go in the UK, I heard about this on these boards. It is protein only, the one I bought was Chocolate flavour they also had Strawberry. Zone sport make it, it was on offer at 1/2 price £15 for 908g and is made into a drink with water 30g or you could add skim milk to make it more filling, I drink it cold with ice cubs to make a 150ml drink. Not sure if it works yet only had 3 drinks I am using it on fast days so far, it’s got 69 calories when made with water. I will keep you informed LOACA. I will give some thought to the award name and get back to you. Good night all, happy fasting, I am doing my 2nd B2B day tomorrow. JIP

Way to go, Hermaj!

Now everyone understand, if I ever get to 8, you’re damn right I want that prize!

Hello Precious Boo Boo and all

Sorry have hit a real busy . . . between family visiting, clients, some writing, and trying to keep up with all the seedlings I have been propagating in my new propagator. I am an escapee from London and therefore a newish country girl of 4 years and continuing to learn to do all sorts of things country 😉

Re the books on thyroid I laid it all out in the earlier post . . . and as it is such an individual thing with us LOACA’s I imagined if it resonated at all with any of you . . . then you would do your own research to see if your own particular symptoms would suit. Always best 🙂

I understand your reasoning PBB, I myself have gone the rounds of very expensive thyroid tests only to be told my levels were fine. Then the Mark Starr book pointed up what he calls Hypothyroidism 2 . . . that is those of us whose levels are fine, yet our bodies are not utilising the hormones in the proper manner therefore bringing about imbalance to the body. Thing is I was certain that the inability to keep weight off was my thyroid, [I energy test and knew that was it] . . . what the book showed up were all the other things that were happening to my physical and mental body that I was experiencing, yet putting it all down to my age . . . 65 this year! Even down to the swollen ankle this christmas and previous to this noticeably more prevalent veins on my legs.

Now again as I mentioned I was set to go for the desiccated thyroid stuff if I needed to do that to address the imbalance. However again with my energy testing, I was led to begin with the lugols iodine first . . . I started with a drop working up to where I am now and taking the tablet form x 2.

My weight has stabilised . . . some slight brain fog on awakening has gone . . . my back is noticeably better and my chiro confirms this . . . I do not wake with achy joints anymore . . . and I play a lot of club tennis . . . that is my main exercise . . . that and rebounding especially now in the sunshine. I bounce in the garden in the sun for my 10 minutes and appreciate the the garden in the sun under my sometimes quite inept newbie ministrations!

So I will stick with the iodine whilst all else is healing with the iodine doing its thing at all levels. Mind you the fat ankle was just getting back to normal when I tread on a tennis ball in a game and put my ankle and entire centre out . . . so this week will be my 3rd week of chiro to fix this.

BUT I might add I see my excellent chiro who is also a healer once a month. The spinal cord is the biocomputer of the body they say and if out can cause all sorts of issues. Even my grand-baby is being helped hugely for not sleeping at night and constipation at nearly 9 months – her baby chiro sessions are working like a charm . . . after 2 sessions – better nights and daytime naps and constipation. We were caught out with the constipation as both her mama’s diet and hers is first class . . . no grains till a year old, and plenty of organic home made meals. So to see the constipation easing as work on her sacrum is done is amazing. An interesting one both my chiro and her chiro do is put their thumbs and press on different parts of the upper mouth. I will say that this is new chiro work . . . I was put off chiros for life with the old-fashioned cracking bones ones . . . .

So here is the iodine group that I joined for more info.
iodine@yahoogroups.com
The owner and moderators know their stuff as have been successfully working with their own individual symptoms. And there is the gamut there . . . hashimoto’s, graves, those who have had their thyroids taken out etc etc. I am eternally thankful that my own situation has responded to the iodine in the first instance. However I am now informed and will be keeping a keen eye on my well-being from here on in in this respect.

The book points out that it can be like a domino effect . . . one thing goes off due to the imbalance, and then that one sends another one off and another and another. Again, I thought my change in eyesight was age . . . and even in that regard I have seen some change . . . so much that I am holding off on eye testing so as not to get eyeglasses that need changing in 4 weeks!! My hands and nail beds are now pink! My basal temperature is almost normal now.

So I suggested a few books, but the one I got first and really hit me between the eyes was the Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic by Mark Starr MD. Now I hear you PBBl, but to be honest I am the kind of person who will continue to look for the link/key that fits. I gladly handed over plenty money for very expensive tests from the best labs in the UK and got nowhere . . . and now I know why due to a little book or a few books . . . so in my estimation the cost of a couple of books was weight their worth in pure gold.

Also for those with more complicated thyroid issues and already on thyroid meds the books spell it all out . . . and here is the iodine group where you can read and ask questions . . . the owner is a naturaopath herself and very knowledgable on thyroid as again she is one who have had to find her own path through the maze of misinformation re thyroid issues.

I will check in too see how everyone is along the way . . . so I am not gone just a bit headless in some other areas.

Much love and encouragement to all of you . . .

Hi-I’m 57 and menopausal. Because of a few really rough years and an injury, my weight had crept up to the highest ever: 228!I started the 5:2 diet sort of haphazardly about a year ago and couldn’t stick with it. Six weeks ago, I decided to get serious about it. I walk about 2 miles a day and walk a fair amount in my job as a librarian. I wear a FitBit and generally log about 9,000 steps a day. But I don’t do any other kinds of exercise except light gardening in the summer.

I have found that what works for me is one meal at about 7pm. I never want breakfast and if I eat something at lunch time, I will want to continue. So it’s easier for me to eat nothing all day. I drink one cup of coffee in the morning with a little low fat milk, water all day, green tea in the afternoon. I am also thinking I might add a small can of V8. Once in a while, I have a can of Diet Coke in late afternoon if I’m really feeling draggy of if my stomach hurts. My fast day meals are not exactly what’s recommended. I need carbs too much. I usually eat some combination of rice and beans for my meal. I have been doing this very successfully for 6 weeks and have consistently lost a solid pound per week except for last week when there were 2 parties on my eating days and I ate way more than I normally do. However, I didn’t gain. So 6 weeks and a solid loss of 5 pounds.

I do one other thing that I believe has helped me a lot physically and mentally: I take high quality fish oil even on fast days (but with my one meal). If you would like to know a good brand, I take OmegaVia. This had made a huge difference in my joints and skin and hopefully in my heart health.

I have had two main side effects: leg cramps and extremely frequent urination on the nights following my fast days. I mean I think I get up to pee about 10 times. And that’s when I notice that my calves are cramping. Other than this, I am very happy with this lifestyle and feel like I can do it forever.

It definitely gets easier as it goes along!

Hi ladies. I’m on my first fast day in week 3. I lost 4 lbs. the first week and 2 lbs. the second week. I hope to keep losing 1-2 lbs. a week and need to lose 87 lbs. altogether. 6 down, 81 to go! Lori

Welcome Melomsw, you have come to right place if you do not get inspired from these boards you cannot get it anywhere. LOL. make this your LAST TIME getting that weight off. I!m sure everyone else is fed up of reading my bit of history but here go’s just for you .
I got to goal July 2011,lost 42 lbs in 6 months,10 months to lose the last 10 lbs. (17 months in all) size 12’s is wonderful. 3 pts of water a day and walked my little feet off. stayed to goal third anniversary on 5th July 2014 at goal. I hope I have cracked this yo yo dieting. I would like to lose another 7 lb so not always be thinking about 5lb limit. Holidays keep getting in the way of WW. I am now doing 5 days WW and 2 days on the 5-2 started 4/4/14 doing well. I am lost more weight in my life than I weigh now by taking it off and putting it back on but I feel sure this is my last time for me and I will be on these boards for ever and going to WW on a Zimmer. So come join us. JIP

Welcome Lori, that’s the way onwards and downwards. Happy fasting . JIP

Hi guys thanks for all of your encouraging and interesting posts. I note that many of you gradually find your own way of fighting this weight battle.

I did do the 5-2 in 2012 and it worked but starting late in that year was bad timing because Christmas came along and things came to a standstill.

Since then I haven’t been able to make it work for me and my weight has crept up from 10 st to 101/2. Doesn’t sound too much but I knew it was likely to keep creeping up.

I’ve found that I’m comfortable fasting each day until my evening meal which will be the equivallent of 1,000 calories. I drink coffee with added milk plus black tea and plenty of boiled water.
After doing this for a whole week I weighed myself and have lost 5lbs. I realise much of this will be fluid but I feel very happy with this result.
I also find that my need to snack after dinner has completely gone.
I realise that once I reach a good weight for my 5’4″ height I will need to make some changes but it’s a great feeling to be in control.

Poor Speedy.:( That’s what is known in this part of the world as “a bit of a bummer”.

Never mind 🙂 There’s always the radio, or maybe CDs. Perhaps find somewhere sunny and curl up with a book. Or even say “**** it” and take to your bed. Which I would cheerfully do if I hadn’t got a shedload of work to do. I’m not complaining. It’s fun, but there’s a hell of a lot of it.
xx

PBB and PVE, Well I just lost my nice post after writing a nice bit, do think this was telling me to cut it short. LOL. Well here go’s again shortened. I lost 1.1/2 lbs this morning in WW after doing a B2B Sunday and Monday. Only one pound to get back to WW goal. I will try the restless legs exercise next time. I cannot remember the rest of my message so you got away with it lightly. LOL.until next time. Heheheh JIP

Well do ne Gemma, that’s the way back on track good on you. JIP

Hermaj, Feeling pleased with myself. Didn’t go to bed but to the gym.
Only for 50 mins but still 🙂 It’s amazing how the imminence of an operation can concentrate the mind!

THen the hospital rang and my next operation is next week, on Wednesday! They had a free slot and offered it to me. Either that or wait till June 3rd. Trying to stay chilled 🙂

What is your disseration on? If you feel like saying of course 🙂

Don’t forget to drink lots of water!
xx

Speedy,

Are you going to go for the early date or hang on in there until 3 June? Whatever you choose, I hope it all goes briliantly for you.

The working title of my dissertation is “Working-Class Heroes and Angry Young Men”. It’s all about French cinema in the 30s and a movement known as poetic realism, and the British New Wave of the late 50s and early 60s, stuff like Room at the Top, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, A Taste of Honey, etc – are there any connections between them? I don’t have to deliver until 29 September but the day after tomorrow, I do have to give a work-in-progress presentation to a bunch of fellow sufferers. Hence the slight panic, especially as I have a big transation job getting close to deadline.

There are times when I consider that the kind of life that Precious Boo Boo describes above might be preferable. After 10 seconds max, I am 150% sure it never would.

Thanks for the encouraging words ladies.
I should explain I haven’t really had a big weight problem. I’ve averaged around 8 1/2 stones to 9 stones most of my adult life. I happily kept at 1000 cals after having my second child in 73 and maintained a healthy weight for years.
I developed arthritis in my early thirties so exercise other than some walking was out.
I’m now 67 so quite sedentry but not quite a couch potato. The arthritis has burned itself out but left me with some deformities.
Honeybooboo I understand your point about the chance of putting the weight back on when I change my new eating pattern.
I’ll see how it goes after a week of eating a small portion of porridge for breakfast then at 6.00 have my evening meal.
I haven’t eaten lunch for years anyway so I’ll probably stay with this eating regime.
I am aware of the importance of which foods to eat for a healthy balanced diet.
As it’s working for now I’ll stick with it.
I haven’t read the book I’m embarrassed to say but I’ll never say never.

Having registered on here has really helped my will power and I’m very happy to read all of your interesting posts on how you’re all coping with this overweight issue.

Hi PreciousBooBoo.
Yes, I read the book and watched the video. Tomorrow is my 2nd fast day for the week (Week #3). Friday is my weigh-day. So far, so good. By the way…no “Bank Holiday” in the US. What is it exactly?
Lori

Hi PreciousBooBoo
You say 30 pounds in five months is good going. Thanks. I needed that. I guess being quite heavy to start with sees the weight come off more easily. I was power walking 40 minutes a day about four or more times a week but have had to take a break from this because of a temporary medical issue.

That’s probably why I’ve reached a plataeu now. I’m certainly not at all good on my five non-fasting days.

Lately too I’ve been really craving the chocolate and I’m ashamed to say I give in more often than I resist. Always behave on fasting days so I have to hold onto that bit of willpower, I guess.

Hi Precious Boo Boo,

I thought as much. I won’t bore you now, but a few months back I started what turned out to be an interesting topic headed “Patronisation of older people”, no doubt because some git had patronised me once too often and I was hopping mad. The thread goes into the subject in considerable detail.

One of my problems is how the over-50s are depicted in the media. Ludicrous when many 50-somethings could pass for late 30-somethings and so it continues up the age range. Here’s a recent example:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26654759

I had a gentle disagreement with a younger friend (49 next birthday and absolutely gorgeous), who claimed that in fact I was in the minority and most female retirees looked like this bunch. To be fair, she grew up in mediuum-sized town in Scotland, as against me, a lifelong Londoner, and was basing her remarks on personal experience. It might have been true when she was a teenager in the late 70s, but not any more. I can’t believe many, many Scottish LOACAs don’t still look stylish – including her own very attractive mum.

It’s a pity the media don’t follow some advertisers who have finally cottoned on to what a 60-ish man or woman looks and feels like. A current SpecSavers add features a cool-looking older couple. Sure she has white hair but the cut is terrific and the specs look great – no blue rinse or pensioner perms for her.

Hello Her Maj, I’ve also thought this for years. When you see older people in homes etc singing from their youth, the are often singing George Formby etc but many of them will probably be much more Elvis Presley and that sort of era.

Whereabouts in Scotland are you, Boo Boo?

It’s a beautiful country and I have a lot of time for the Scots, of whom there are quite a few among out 5:2 friends.

Last year I spent several weeks in Scotland, in Glasgow to be precise, with a couple of side-trips to Edinburgh and then a week in Perth. I was working on a research project for my Art History MA and was utterly overwhelmed by the amount of help I received from everyone I dealt with. Most of them were working for or had connections with the National Trust for Scotland, and all but one – a fellow Londoner – were Scottish. As a result, I had enormous fun, the project was a success, so much so that my supervisor is encouraging me to rework it as a book.

By contrast, the few contacts I attempted to make with NT in England couldn’t be bothered to reply and one I did manage to speak to was simply rude. When I asked her a perfectly reasonable and relevant question her reply was “you should have done your research”. What the expletive deleted did the silly woman think I was doing?

Boo — Kudos to you for being so attentive to posters. You do a good job making others feel special. I work part-time at a college and we have our ebb and flow times. When we’re busy, we attend to our tasks. Otherwise, there isn’t a problem looking at reputable sites on the Internet. I do like to log into this site about the time I check out of work, so I will often stay on my own time and read posts.

Checking out for sure now. Battling sinus infection and taking meds. I will feel peachy by February. Cannot exercise until then; doctor’s orders. Haven’t had much of an appetite and trying to drink a lot of water.

Kind regards to all. Much progress and keep moving!