Welcome Clare, Clara, Lovelifedance and any others I’ve missed
You are in the right place! Read the books, follow the recipes and STICK TO IT. The rewards are unbelievable.
I’ve just returned from the tailor (again) and, being an Italian, he raved on and on about how “beautiful” I’m looking. Now you don’t get that every day at 62!!! The rewards are not only the health benefits, there is so much to be said for the improved self esteem as you flaunt your new, slimmer body.
Go for it! We will support you.
Cheers PVE

Good morning PVE!
Thanks for the great welcome,, I sometimes feel like my weight loss battle ( and it does feel like a fight is going on, usually all in my head!) is never going to end which is pretty depressing. At least I now really know I am not going through it on my own. 😀
I am clareshard59 on mfp if anybody wants to add me ( open diaries only).
My first proper fast day is Monday but I am planning my menus today.
I am going on holiday in 3 months and have got at least a stone to lose ( it’s taken me 6 months to lose the first stone I wanted to lose) so I feel under a lot of pressure to get my head in the right place and I hope instead of constantly having low calorie days, I can enjoy some days at my maintainence level.

It’s scary and exciting!

Hi Smiffy, thanks for your kind words.

Even though I am in maintenance mode, I am sticking with 5:2 for life. It keeps me from becoming complacent. Having reached my desired weight does make it easier to be flexible with my fast days. My practice is to always have a fast day after an indulgent day, nipping in the bud any tendency for my body to regard indulgence as the norm. 🙂

It is harder to fast on cold days and on days when sitting around. Generally, I try to be active and out of the house, and away from temptation. Also, I now mostly only have foods in the house that are low (or no) sugar and no wheat. Food in the house is only processed, if I have cooked it.

That doesn’t stop us having a lovely occasional meal in a restaurant that doesn’t drench food in lots of fatty sauces. We now mostly choose Asian food to dine out. Japanese, Thai, Burmese, Indian. And we have a beer or a glass of red wine.

Hope that helps to see that the 5:2 habit is for life. I eat about half the amount of food that I did prior to 5:2. The paradox is that I enjoy each mouthful more. Mostly, lean protein and vegetables, with the occasional treat. We have smoked salmon with low cal noodles and greens, for example. Through the day I space out my meals, and tell myself that grazing is not permitted. Very hard when it’s cold and grey. And I try to remember to drink my 8 glasses of water each day.

I am very grateful to have found this WOL before some ill health caught up with me. I wish you all the best with IF.

Hi bayleafoz,, I read your post, what a lot of useful info there was, thanks!
I am new to the site and have realised I have responded to a couple of people on the main thread, not to their actual post to me, doh!
Your comment about nipping an indulgent day in the bud really resonated with me, in the past indulgent days have become indulgent weeks ( or months, eek!)
I am really hoping this eating plan is what I have been searching for, something that suits my metabolism and stops me having to keep to eating low cals every single day as it does get monotonous then I end up having a blow out!
I was pleasantly surprised to see that my TDee cals were much higher than I have been trying to aim for ( and not sticking to!) so hopefully when I have got to maintainence weight ( I want to lose around 21 lbs) I can enjoy the off blow out but keep right back on track.
I have lost and gained for, well forever it feels like but hopefully this is way of eating will get my portion control and snacking under control.
It’s the feeling of being out of control around food that is really distressing for me.
I know it’s got to be a plan for life, it might take a while to get it right tho!
Would you mind sharing with me what a typical fasting day is like for you? Do you drink lots of hot drinks to keep warm? I have hypothyroidism ( under active thyroid) so it’s got to be 80+ outside for me to feel hot!
Thanks so my for taking the time to respond to my post! 🙂 Clare

Hi LLD, hope it’s ok to shorten your name. Am happy to post typical fast day later. Going next door for dinner soon. You may have been trying to lower your calories too much on too many days. 🙂

LLD,
Have you read Michael’s books? It is important to understand the health implications of this WOL. It is not just for losing weight (that just happens). Your whole body gets a chance to heal itself. Therefore, it is quite different having fast days to eating less calories all the time. Even if the total deficit of calories are the same. This WOE is trying to replicate what humans evolved to do…cope with famine and feast. As we all eat too much all the time now, these fast days give our bodies the down time to repair. We are built to do it. It becomes second nature and, amazingly, hunger is just a transient feeling.
Read the books, get the ideas on what to eat and go for it.
PVE 🙂

Good morning to everybody,, I have been overwhelmed by the wonderful support that is on this site! Duty calls ( I am having mummy time with my daughter, she’s 26 but hates her job and life at the moment. 🙁 so I need to go and cheer her up if I can) will respond to my posts later today but I wanted to say how grateful I am and appreciative of the time people have taken to respond to me. Have a good day folks! Xx

piper – that is amazing news. Well done! Even more impressive considering the health problems you’ve had to confront. You are very nearly slim and your target weight must now be in sight. Give yourself a big reward

I confess, if and when I get to 134.4 lbs i.e 9 1/2 stone, I shall consider the job done. I know, I know, that would still leave me a tad overweight (BMR 25.5) but I’m not bovvered. I would even be happy with 140 lbs as I know I look good at that weight.

Cheeseplease, and any other non-meat-eaters who still enjoy fish, some very useful, fast day recipes from Beeb Good Food. The third one is totally veggie:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1973653/smoked-haddock-with-lemon-and-dill-lentils

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2383/mediterranean-fish-parcels

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bhaji-frittata

All tried and tested chez hermaj and all of them delicious as well as virtuous.

Hermaj
Thanks for sending these links – they all sound yummy. I like recipes that I can bulk up for my husband but which are low cal for me – great! And I agree with you, it’s how we feel in our skin that matters.

CP

Hi Clare,

A typical fast day for me is as follows. Everyone is different. Some people have no food all day and eat all 500 calories for dinner. I do not count calories on non fast days. Some people have to. I prefer to eat sensibly, maybe 1800 calories. No sweet food, no processed food. No cereals.

8pm evening before. No eating from now on until 7.30 am on the day after fast day. It is really a 36 hour fast, twice a week. Mondays and Thursdays suit me.

Fast Day
7.30 am. Breakfast. Egg, poached or boiled w pepper n salt. Greens, such as rocket, lettuce, or spinach. Water. Coffee (splash milk)

Water. Make sure you have a measuring device; you need 2 litres a day, 8 glasses.
Ginger tea or green tea or peppermint are good substitutes, or any black tea.
Drink water whenever your stomach rumbles. Walk whenever and wherever you can. Keep moving all day. Go out, rather than sit and look at the fridge or pantry.

6 pm (or 7 pm if I can last till then) the longer the better.
Dinner. Lean protein, eg, small portion of salmon, chicken, or beef. Much smaller than I used to eat before 5:2. Green vegetables or salads w homemade dressing of lemon, pepper, herbs, small amount of olive oil. I eat lots of broccoli, green beans, capsicum, zucchini (courgette). Can also dress greens w pepper, olive oil, lemon, herbs, chili flakes. Lots of flavour and variation.

Warm drink of ginger tea or something you like with no calories in it. Go to bed and sleep well. I am tired and usually sleep very well after my fast day.

If your stomach keeps you awake, I would have a warm water.

7.30 am Breakfast of egg or half an avocado or lean protein w Gluten Free toast, no butter. Greens as above. Fresh cherry tomatoes. Shaving of Parmesan cheese.

An alternative fast day:
Breakfast: egg, greens, coffee.
Water all day.
Dinner: Vegetable soup with shavings of Parmesan cheese.

Vegetable soup consists of diced carrots, celery, parsley, Spring onions or shallots, capsicum, water and one spoon of GF stock powder, chili, fresh ginger, herbs. Cook 20 minutes or until the texture you like.

I make soup and have it ready for my fast day. Either cook first thing in morning or, if no time in the morning, then prepare the night before. If you get too hungry in middle of day, you can always have a small bowl of soup. No cheese. I dice or julienne the vegetables to retain the crunch, as I need texture to feel satisfied.

I hope this helps. We are all different and you will find what suits you. You can see that my fast day is very simple. I may not even get to 500 calories on a soup day. I think the 36 hour restriction is what jolts my body into taking notice.

Then I relax and eat sensibly the next day. The point of 5:2 is in the book, that daily calorie restriction isn’t sustainable for most people. So just follow the book for your first 3 months, and then slowly work out what suits you for the long haul.

Best endeavours. 🙂 we will all support you. Sorry for the long post.

Hi lovelifedance (love your name!) – I’ve only been on the FD a short while and have done 3 fast days – my 4th will be on Monday. After my first two fasts I lost 4 lbs, but I guess most of that could be water!
I’ve found the FDs quite difficult, but knowing that the next day I can eat up to my TDEE is a real incentive to hang on in there.
I moved to France to be near my daughter, her french husband (a chef) and my grandchildren in 2011 and have since put on 2 stones – partly due to the patisseries and baguettes, but also my GP diagnosed hypothyroidism a year ago. I am taking tablets for this and am just about at the right level now, so now I’ve no excuse!
I look forward to hearing how you go on the FD, and good luck

femmeanglaise

Hello ladies, I am back from my day out with big Sis. ( only in age now) LOL
Smiffy I drink my water by the pint and first thing in the morning I drink it as hot as I can, in the day when it’s hot I have it with ice, but still the pint. You will be surprised how easy it is.
Hermajtomomi hope you are keeping well, what is this MFP? I am always afraid I am missing out on something. LOL
Wilbersnanna I went one better out with my sister today, called back in Costa cafe waiting for the bus home we had two skinny cappuccino’s and one piece of carrot cake I asked for 2 plates and two spoons. well the cake had our name on it. LOL
Still better than a piece each. After buying two pairs of shoes I had to cut a few corners. Hehehe.
Hi new ladies, reading back through the threads will keep you from thinking of food and also it’s great you have done a profile for us. There so many on here now I am forgetting who’s who and where we are all from.
Or is it me being nosey again? All joking aside it is great to meet you all, this is the in place to be. I know that with your help I will not be putting on any of my 58 lb lose.
I still go to WW every Tuesday morning and on Tuesday I will have been within my 5 lb of goal for 3 years. It means they give me another gold (plated) star for my key ring I intend to be going to collect them on a Zimmer LOL Hubby has the footy on so I don’t think he missed me or even noticed I am back. Only that he has been fed and watered now by me of course. LOL
OW’s and DW’s JIP joint Deputy Captain ( I think is my title?)

Hi BooBoo, JIPWPG and everyone,
I decided I had to turn my email notifications off for a while so have been away for a while. I just couldnrt keep up with both – I’m an admin on a large (6000 member) dog fb group that takes up several hours every day and was sitting here at the PC most of the day rather than living and moving – and had started overeating again. But had a dream about LOACA and thought I’d just pop in to see you all!
BooBoo, I hope you are feeling better and congrats on your richly deserved award. 🙂
Yes, my coffee machine drama was solved – by my extravagantly treating myself first to a simple stove top moka pot that makes delish coffee and then (I’m not sure why!) to an espresso machine + milk steamer. It’s a simple thing but makes good coffee. 🙂 But one thing’s for sure, I have adequate coffee making facilities now!

I desperately need to get back onto the 5:2 bandwagon. My reason / excuse is that I’m afraid of setting off my newly discovered gall stones by fasting. (Didn’t even know I had them till I had a CT scan – talk about mind over matter! Demonstrates how placebos work though – but in reverse!)
I know I just have to close my eyes and lose weight. The weight is making me feel ill again. Have put back on 12 of the 18 kilos I lost last year. 🙁
Loneliness is a invasive thing. It gets everywhere. I probably told you about how, when I was in hospital, amid the strong fear I felt, there was this amazing warm coating of being cared for and kindness. Nurses and doctors doing their job I suppose you could say – but just being asked if you want a cup of tea. It was an amazing feeling I’ve missed so much. I have friends enough, I get out enough but that’s not what loneliness is really.

I hear Glastonbury calling on the nice tv. How spoilt am I lately all this new stuff!
A year old thread is amazing. And you keep up fabulously Boo Boo.

Best wishes everyone and keep drinking the water JIPWPG! 2 litres a day plus tea and coffee etc. extra!
Speedy 🙂

Big apology to piper. I mistook you for someone else, which was why I mentioned health problems. The congratulations on reaching your best weight in a decade still hold good, though.

Hi PVE I have got Michael’s book and I have just started to read it. I am determined to do it this time and I know it have to understand the theory to get it right. Thanks for the advice!

Hi daisy flowers. Read and follow the book. It’s where we all began. Most of us don’t count calories on five days. However, we also don’t gorge on processed and sweet foods on the five days. Go for it! It’s only scary for the first few fasts. 🙂

Daisy flowers, I do count cals every day ( when I am being good) but my ultimate aim is to learn how to portion control by sight and if this eating plan suits me ( I haven’t started yet , Monday is my first day) then I would love to get to a place where I fast and portion control the other days without having to log my cals every day, which I find really tedious and time consuming. My weight problems at the mo are all linked to losing the plot and over indulging on rubbish so cal counting keeps me on the right track for
now.
Good luck if you decide to give it a go,, 🙂

Hermij,,,, Thank you for the recipes,,, I like the look of the spicy frittata, will definitely give that a whirl!

Hi the ever growing (in number but shrinking is size) LOACA gang.
It’s been a miserable cold damp day here, the maximum temp just over 10 degrees. I went for a 6km walk with my friend this morning (7 degrees but with wind chill it was 4), it was nice to get home but I’m glad I made the effort and only got a bit wet. I now have the FitBit app on my tablet which also logs water intake – great, I really need that to prod me to drink more water. I’m fine in summer, drink it by the litre but in the cold of winter or frigid air conditioned office I just forget. Can I count my coffees and teas in my water intake? It starts off as mostly water. I’ve been doing 5:2 for nearly eight weeks now, lost about 3kg and will have a weigh in before the start of the 9th week on Thursday. I’ll be working full time all week, a nasty shock to the system as one and a half days is my usual working “week”.
Hi Daisy Flowers – I’m another non counter of calories. I do check on the calories in various items and use the fast day recipes in The Book. I started a spreadsheet to log calories of my often eaten foods but ran out of puff.

Hi JIP, you ask me ‘what is this MFP?’ I haven’t a clue but it looks suspiciously like a hermaj typo, of which there are embarassingly many. Before the days of word processors and spell checkers I must have been one of Tippex’s best customers. If you tell me where you found this latest bit of weirdery I might be able to explain.

On the subject of things Welsh, one of the best things ever to come out of Wales must be Under Milk Wood. ‘Too begin at the beginning…’, especially the Richard Burton version sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to my eyes every time. However, my favorite quote is: ‘No Good Boyo gave me three pennies yesterday, but I wouldn’t.’

Dylan Thomas also helped me out four years ago when my ex-sister-in-law with great generosity of spirit asked me to say a few words at my ex’s funeral. I declined to say a few words but I did read ‘And Death Shall Have No Dominion'(my ex was half-Welsh). I gather that this poem along with ‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’ are very popular choices for funerals.

Hi daisy flowers and all the other new LOACAs out there, welcome. I think you will find that we are all doing variations on a theme so to speak with our 5 and 2’s. The fast days are a scary thought initially, but quickly become part of life. For myself, I don’t count calories on non fast days, but I do try and limit my carb intake. Also, drink water whenever you feel hungry on a fast day, it really works. – at least temporarily. And the fast is only one day. This is a new way of eating and way of life – enjoy it!

Clare and femme anglaise, your conversation about Northern Soul more than confirms that LOACAs, including those like me – of a VERY mature age – are not the poor old things that are so often depicted in the media – the Beeb being among the worst offenders with images like this:

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

Is this what we and our lives are like at 55,60,70 and upwards? They forget that most of us grew up with sex’n’drug’n’rock’n’roll, or Northern Soul etc., and aren’t suddenly going to morph into sweet little old men and women.

If I – like a lot of other more mature people who have a life and a few brain cells left – really believed I looked and behaved like this bunch I would go away somewhere quiet and slit my wrists!

Rant over! Shoot me down in flames if you think I’m wrong.

Hi Jan

I haven’t been to the Dordogne but it’s certainly an area of France I know to be very beautiful. Do you speak French? my attempts are pretty dismal but I am good at gestures and mime as I am British Sign Language Interpreter so have rely on a mixture of bad French and gestures to make myself understood.

You are the same age as my husband ( I am 55). He didn’t go to the Wheel as his mum wouldn’t let him ( lol!) but he did go to a club in Stoke known as the Torch. I started to go to Soul clubs in 1976 ( Wigan, Casino Club) and I have been going ever since ( with a brief break when I was building up my career, having young children etc).
I met my husband in a Soul club and it’s still a huge part of our lives, I hope to be out dancing for many years to come ( until my knees finally give up!) I have hurt my left knee dancing in my living room to one of my favourite soul records ( I had over indulged on the gin and was showing off) but this was only 3 years after I had torn my right calf muscle dancing to the same soul record dancing in my kitchen ( yes, gin was involved again!) I must learn not to dance in the house! .We are going to Spain with friends in September to a four day Soul event ( called the Hitsville weekender in honour of Tamla Motown)

Thanks for the advice re the fasting days, my TDee indicates that I should have 420 on a fasting day as that is 25% of my total number but I am going to aim for 500 initially as the thought of 420 cals is really scary!
I have bought a few books and I really like one that is just recipes for one as hubby isn’t joining me ( can’t think why!)

Good luck for tomorrow too!

I am just about to go and make a lemon meringue pie, I will have a sliver today but hubby will,have demolished it by Tuesday!

Hermajtomomi and Wilbersnanna peeking at your profile s you are incredible versatile in your activities and range of knowledge,, life is for living in the here and now and I think we are proof of that!

I do blame some of my weight problems on loving life too much at times, who can resist a beautiful day, a glass of wine and some yummy snacks? I just wish I could get my head around sticking to being occasionally indulgent rather than being regularly over indulgent!

MFP is an app and website called My Fitness Pal and is a calorie counting programme where you can log your food, weight loss and join an online community. It’s useful as your foods are stored so you just click on regular foods. I log in every day ( when I am being good) and it does help a lot to keep me on track as it has 1000’s of foods that are calorie counted in its data base so if I am not sure of the calorie content of a food I look it up and that helps me decide if I am going to eat it or not.

This is by far the best weight management site I have seen!

I mean that THIS site is the best one around, not the MFP site!