Hi Luvtocook

Fantastic recipes and wonderful shopping for clothes. Well done and weigh to go! 🙂

I did mean to say that even though the scales show a kg increase this morning, my measured dimensions have not changed. Go figure!

The painted areas in the family room look good in the morning sunshine, always the critical test. 🙂 B

Well done, Purple

Fantastic results. 🙂 No wonder you have bought two sets of clothes over the last 12 months. Keep OW and DW if you want to. Or just have fun maintaining. 🙂 wow! 19 cm off waist in six months and huge amounts off your hips. Weeehoooo!!

We went orienteering this morning and then had fish n chips for lunch. What an indulgent three days I’ve had. Enjoyed every minute of them.

I think the LOACA recipe thread has officially made it. I just consulted the thread to choose which two meals I will prepare for the days when the tiles are so new, we cannot walk on the kitchen floor. B 🙂

Thanks B.
Yes the recipe thread is great. I plan to cook some this week after I finish the huge veg soup I made on Friday.
My OH has been GF for many years. There are so many alternatives around these days, it IS easy to avoid wheat, but I love the nuttiness of wheat so I use both (twice as much work).
Sun is just sinking and so is the temp, after a beautiful sunny, top down on the car, day 😉 P

Hi again,
Purple, your story gives me hope, as do all. The scales have definitely stuck on 9lbs but my shape is returning. First the feet, arms and wrist, and now I”m actually seeing my waist shape again – and only a 2inch recordable loss, but it looks more. I’m definitely going on looks, waist measurements and weight as a combined package.
Hearing your stories gives me hope that I will reach my first goal in the not too distant future. I’ve decided to make small goals rather than large ones. First goal – loose a stone.
Luv hearing your feeds.

Gee thanks. George Clooney! Pretty universal fantasy! ! 😉

Keep it up Jackie
Set achievable goals. Celebrate them and move on to another.
All the best. Purple 🙂

Bonjour all LOACA wherever you are – I’m back from a lovely week at Lake Como. My daughter was attending a friend’s wedding and I was helping in my role of ‘supergran’ with her girls. We stayed in a villa up in the hills and had a stunning view of the lake; there was a beautiful garden full of roses, almonds, kiwi fruit, plums and grapes. We were, however, surrounded by a number of churches which rang their bells throughout the day and night – each morning we were woken at 7.30 to the ringing of one particular bell 50 times! Surrounded by mountainous scenery the lake’s weather was very changeable – one minute glorious sunshine and the next tremendous thunderstorms. We weren’t too bothered as where we live in Burgundy we have lots of sunshine so the stormy weather was a welcome change.
On the Sunday evening there was a get-together for everyone on the eve of the wedding and Lea (who is only 3 months) decided she wanted gran’s full attention, so we took off for a walk along the lakeside. I was dressed in a raspberry-coloured simple shift dress and fitflops, I’d run a brush through my hair and a dash of pink lipgloss, and sunglasses. The dress I bought in 1999 and I still love wearing it. As I walked along I enjoyed the glances of people walking by admiring Lea – I imagined they thought I lived by the lake – and was a lucky grandmother. I also began to notice admiring glances directed at me (something which had not happened for a long time) which was wonderful – I realise (having previously worked in Italy) that Italian men are known for their admiration of women of all ages, but it gave me such a boost. My weight loss over 4 weeks has only been 7 lbs, but obviously more than weight-loss had happened; I was getting my confidence back.
Anto58 – I read that you have been to Ballagio – we were staying opposite at Tremezzo. We took a boat trip across the lake passing George Clooney’s italian mansion – so stylish and glamorous just like the man.
I spent the week enjoying the pasta, pizzas, ice creams and prosecco – hardly gave a thought to the FD!
That all changed on our way back yesterday morning – we stopped the french side of Mont Blanc for a comfort stop, and I caught a glimpse of myself – oh dear – what a sight. I shall definitely be fasting tomorrow. When I arrived home I weighed myself and to my surprise/shock I had ‘only’ gained 4 lbs – after a week away the gain is usually nearer 7 lbs. But, needless to say, I am definitely back on the wagon. I am invited to my son’s mother-in-law’s surprise 60th birthday party at a swish country club in the UK in early November – a great incentive!
I have noted the discussion on what women-of-a-certain-age should/should not wear. I have never been a ‘dedicated follower of fashion’ (that dates me), but kept my own style – often buying from charity shops and making items my own.
Cheeseplease: you asked about french women – in the cities, i.e. Paris, Lyon, etc. the women are stylish; but here in the heart of Burgundy they are definitely not! Women of our age seem old before their time – they always have their hair cut short, and some dye it a horrible ‘deep red’, they dress in dowdy blouses and long skirts – never a high heel in sight. Before the FD I began to feel that I was slipping down that route. I always had my hair cut every six weeks in Skipton – here it’s got to nearly every 3 months! Finding the FD has definitely made me see the light and hopefully I will regain the woman I always was.
Tangatawiwi: lovely news about the baby, and to be in Rome as well. I note you normally live in France and say that the women here don’t talk about their diet. Here I have found their main concern is their health, and diets are never mentioned. That’s what so good about LOACA.
AliH61: I read yours, and others, comment about grey hair. For some reason, no idea what, the only colour I have ever had is a few highlights in my 20’s. I’ve always had a dark blonde colour, which lightens naturally in the sun, and over the years I have never had the desire to go down the colouring route (root!) At 62 I am still happy with my colour, along with the gathering grey/white; it is still thick and glossy. I have friends who have been fed up with the six-weekly root growback, and decided to go ‘au naturel’; this has always been a disaster as the grey is such a shock for them and everyone else – they soon go back to having it coloured.
Before I sign off I’d like to congratulate PreciousBooBoo on the year’s anniversary and look forward to the 2nd year!

Purple, a huge round of appluase for your transformation. That is quite an achievement and in a relatively short time.

As Precious has asked before….does it really take fasting 2 days a week just to maintain? That is a bit discouraging, but I guess once you get your mind around it and it has become such an ingrained habit, it probably is not so bad. Was hoping that 6:1 would do it once you get to your goal.

In my earlier years I raged against the unfairness of it all. Could not understand why I could not return to something in the neighborhood as “normal” per what others were able to eat. Now I have come to the point where I can accept “it is what it is” and feel I will simply have to do what must be done to lose and later maintain the loss. I have never been able to maintain. But, unlike you, I eased up on my guidelines thinking I “should” be able to maintain on some compromised middle ground. From your experience, it looks like you must resign yourself to 5:2 as a permenant way of life. I think JIP has found the same. She also had a fabulous weight loss and readily admits maintenance has been hard (she also notes this on her PROFILE. Will second BooBoo’s request that ladies please post a tiny bit about themselves on your profile. Fun to see where everbody if from and a bit of their background).

Anyway, thanks to Purple and JIP for serving as inspiration to the rest of us. It helps to know that it can be done but that it takes time and persistance.

Yes, Purple, I own the DVD and the CD of the soundtrack. About time I watched it again.

Hi Smiffy, Ali, Purple and everyone! I’ve just had a chance to catch up with all the posts…….took a while!!!!
I went shopping the other day to buy a new dress for our Wedding Anniversary party next weekend and was really thrilled to find my usual size 16s hung off me…amazingly a size smaller fits fine. I just need a hand to take up the hem. My OH bought a shirt a size smaller too! He’s lost just under a stone but I’ve stuck at 9lbs.
I can sympathize with the insect bite problem as I, too, have been nursing a very itchy and painful ankle. Not infected yet but the urge to scratch is overwhelming. I never used to be this bad but my hay fever has got worse too. Must be the age I am!
Femme Anglais, I was on Lake Como the year before last and we saw some amazing electrical storms moving up the lake. They lasted for several hours too.Love it so much we returned last year and stayed at a hotel overlooking the harbour in Bellagio….wonderful!
On the hair colouring issue I’ve been doing mine since the 60’s, used to be Henna then various shades of red or brown. Now I have a dark blonde base with highlights and I’m always changing the style!! Went really short last year which is SO easy. But no doubt I will grow it again soon!

Better get on with tonight’s meal, fast day tomorrow. WN.

Happy Now: thank you so much for taking the time to write the note on maintenance. It is so helpful to hear the experiences of a broader group because you are right….some things may work for some that do not work for others. It sounds like you have found you own solution to cut back a little that allows you to maintain you loss. So I am happy for you that you are truly happy now. Congratulations to you. And again, thanks so much.

Hi all
So much chatter to wake up to!
My son set up a monitor for my sleep on my phone (Sleep like an Android or something). I have lent the Fitbit to OH. So, I slept like the Princess and the Pea with the B*****y thing under my pillow 🙁 It is also supposed to ask me “simple maths questions” to verify I’m awake. I’m up before it!! I’ll delete it!!!!
Interestingly, I have learnt that my hubby, who I thought was always a terrible sleeper, sleeps incredibly well. So it’s me that must have always woken him.

Wow femme anglaise. Your Lake Como adventure sounded wonderful. Good on you for not worrying about weight. That’s how 5:2 works.

As to maintenance. Happy and I discuss this often. Vive la difference. Mind you, she is just a babe in arms 🙂

My husband knows that, to maintain his success with diabetes, he will have to fast twice a week for life. Therefore, it is easier for me to do it too. Also, as mentioned, I find the habit good to keep. It allows us to eat normally on the other days and gives us “wriggle room” (Auriga’s term) if we don’t manage one of the fasts. The times I have only done one fast, I found myself starting to slip mentally. The Monday Thursday reminders are good resets for me.

To lose all the weight we did, we were very strict every day. (Well I was, I dragged him along 😉 ) It was only once we had reached a healthy weight that we started letting off on non fast days. We only eat dinner on a fast day and less than 400 cals. While getting to healthy weight, we ate no potato, bread, cheese, rice, pasta, refined sugars or juices any day. We ate only 3 times a day maximum every day. We never ate above our TDEE.

Now we really think about “do I really need this?” any time we eat. But we certainly choose the foods we love. We don’t eat much processed food as I love to cook with fresh ingredients. We drink good Aussie wine 5 nights a week and with lunch in the weekend. We have done this through the whole weight loss period.

I prefer to keep to 5:2 (in fact I’m fasting now) and relax on other days. We have gained too much to slip back now.

We weigh ourselves every morning and evening just out of interest. If I go up more than a kilo, I eat more veg and less carbs. I now eat bread on non fast days, even had rice with a veg curry last night. I even have the occasional Portuguese custard tart with a latte. But never on a fast day. I find I tend towards vegetarian foods up until dinner and then add some meat. Just my way. The most staggering change for me is that I hardly ever crave cheese now. And I thought I was addicted to it. My hubby, the sweet tooth, rarely craves sugar hits. He makes do with the occasional GF biscuit with a cuppa or some home stewed fruit.

I hope all this rubbish helps answer some questions. I believe, because we had success despite being SO totally different, most people should be able to achieve greater health, like we have, if they are really strict, initially, on fast and non fast days. Get yourself into healthy range, then fiddle around with different ways of doing this. Be disciplined, less than 1/4 of your realistic TDEE, not a general average, and don’t overeat on other days. If you are not losing weight, lower your TDEE. My hubby survives on 350 cals on most fast days and he is 5’10”.

The rewards are immense, unlike the body 😉 Cheers P

Purple, it is so useful to hear other people’s success stories and their journey. Thank you for taking the time to explain your winning formula, very interesting reading – and it’s not rubbish!

Thanks Cheesy
I was worried I was being a little ‘heavy’ (a bit hard when you weigh 58kg) but I keep hearing people saying it is not working, not necessarily on this thread, and then they talk about TDEEs of 2000 and more for a woman!! I worked mine out as 1400 to start (and I weighed nearly 85kg) so never ate more. We now both eat about 1300 on normal days, quite naturally, without really thinking about it.

And JIP, I have miraculously learnt how to say no to the extra food. I used to pig out on anything going. I now take one of the best on offer, then walk away or put the rest away. I think it’s Happy that calls it, Mr Will Power. He is a great faster’s friend. 😉

And thanks everyone on this site. The encouragement of all of you lovely people keeps me on the straight and narrow. P

Hi there

I also have to keep on 5:2 to maintain my weight loss. I think somehow that the little jolt to my system twice a week ensures that my body understands that I want it to remain this weight and shape.

As we all lose weight, we have to reduce our TDEE on any day of the week, just to remain the same weight. I accept that if I indulge in any form of bread, cake, pastry, I immediately put on weight. I usually try to fast the next day, or else reduce my intake.

So as a maintainer, I stick with 5:2 to give me a little wriggle room to enjoy the occasional pizza or pudding. I also don’t have any alcohol for two days a week, even if we are on holidays and not fasting. I am delighted with my new figure and want to maintain it. 🙂 Happy fasting to all of us today! B

Yes. I do think that those of us who enjoy physical activity have an extra dimension that helps us maintain our weight loss. I wonder even if non exercisers need to go for the lower end of their TDEE.

We did 75 minutes of hard walking in the rough bush yesterday (no tracks) and nine holes of golf on Saturday. I can see how JIP keeps her weight under control with all that activity. And IHAW with her dancing! Weigh to go! B

Thanks LTC
We ARE all different. That is the beauty of this, isn’t it?
No real rules other than fast for 36 hours twice week with as lobg as possible between “meals”. Experiment. See what works for you and run with it.

We had no history of dieting. Therefore we didn’t approach this thinking we could fail. But we did the maths. Recorded everything initially. Hubby’s almost instant success with diabetes was a huge motivator and a way of monitoring what works. One or two glasses of quality wine on normal nights does not raise his blood sugar the next morning. So we have documented evidence that it is ok. Not so if we share a whole bottle:( P

Hi All iam 58 and is it normal the two days iam on the diet i go home from work tired fine rest of time,but i feel iam loosing weight from funny places like ankles and legs look different shape (and boy they need to look a different shape) then the first thing that goes on me is my waist which makes my bottom look even bigger,,great hahah but i do two fasting days straight on trot to kinda get it out of the way,,my problem is getting motivated to exercise,,so hearing all you exercisers out there will try and do a little may speed it up This is far better to write on here to other people who are going through it too,,,,

Hi LOACAs all!

Precious, many hugs for your 1 year-old baby. So glad you liked the Southern Cross Star award – usually only reserved for us ‘downunders’ 😉

We got home last night from our east coast sojourn, lots of fun in the snow and I was happy to discover I hadn’t completely forgotten x-country skiing moves and my metal knees worked a treat. Then a quick detour to Albury for a family celebration before the home trip. Didn’t fast but didn’t go overboard either.

So many posts to read! Not too long before we’re celebrating 3000 of the blighters!

Welcome to our new fellow travellers. The other girls have already made you welcome. There is a vast wealth of knowledge and experience here and do keep sharing your journey stages.

Several have commented previously that their appetite had declined over time. I hadn’t noticed that but I suspect I have been gradually adjusting my portion sizes down without noticing it because we went to an Italian bistro in Bendigo on Sunday evening when I had an entrée size serve of agnolotti with mushroom sauce and I struggled to finish it, having only had a chicken sandwich at lunchtime. OH wolfed his veal parmesan down and followed it with cassata which I adore. Managed to squeeze in a spoonful, just in the spirit of enquiry you understand! 🙂

All the talk of hair colouring or not reminded me of when my daughter and I had our ‘colours’ done years ago – all the rage then. I was mildly offended at the time that the person doing the analysis said that women with my hair colour (mouse brown was my description) are the last group to have to resort to dying to hide grey. More than 20years later I have found it’s true. There’s grey there but the overall effect is approaching silvery, but fortunately no wiry bits. There were some positives in having been ‘blessed’ with fine straight mouse-brown hair, just took a while to discover them. Apart from anything else I am too thrifty/mean to spend so much on hair colouring.

The best thing is that we are all free to do what suits us so if colouring our hair floats our collective boats then go for it!

Fasting Thursday and Friday this week while at work so no weigh-in till Saturday.

Well done with everyone’s progress.

Hermaj, have you completed your MA yet or still waiting on examiners &c.?

Ow & Dw or Sw everyone!

Hello everyone. I’ve enjoyed lots of posts since joining and find some of your experiences very helpful. Just started 3rd week and so far so good! Fast 5 completed yesterday (helped along by a visit to the dentist). I am learning as I go of course and a lesson yesterday was – don’t use up remaining calories on a sweet treat. I tend to have 200 cal light lunch and 300cal in the evening but yesterday I had 120 cal left! Delighted with this I enjoyed a Tunnocks teacake (made famous in the opening ceremony of the commonwealth games) and a cup of tea – big mistake . My 106 cal treat obviously gave me a sugar high which left me hungrier than I’ve been since starting this eating plan.
I love that I’m so much more aware of my hunger or lack of hunger. This is a true revelation to me, I have struggled with my weight due to grazing – I could literally eat all day-never large portions though. I ate a mixture of healthy and non healthy things but as I’m now realising they ALL added calories- lots of them.
Next weigh in on Thursday after my 2nd fast of the week on Wednesday. Feeling hopeful 

Purple Vegie Eater – I always love reading your posts as they are full of great encouragement and advice.
In one of your recent posts you say “No real rules other than fast for 36 hours twice a week with as long as possible between “meals””.
36 hours sounds such a long time – can I check with you that you that I am doing it right – my Monday fast begins around 7.30 p.m. on Sunday evening, I eat 500 calories on the Monday (split between two meals) and then eat a breakfast at around 7.30 a.m. (usually later) on the Tuesday – making the 36 hours.
In some ways I don’t think of the ‘fast’ day as being a true fast – many years ago I went through a phase of ‘fasting’ which entailed eating nothing for several days, and only drinking water!
The FD is definitely a much healthier way of ‘fasting’, and it’s amazing what you can come up with for the meals on the fasting days – yesterday I had 50g of mackerel, 10g almonds and 1 small slice of french bread – it was delicious and only 230 calories, and full of protein which keeps us from feeling hungry much longer.
Again many thanks for your continuing support

I love reading the posts on this thread and learning something new as well as being motivated by other’s successes. From now on, I’m going to fast for the 36hours….today is my fast day so I ate at 10pm last night and today, will have my 600cals but will continue the fast until around 10am tomorrow morning. I am doing ok but need to do better….started at 18st 1 at the end of June and now 17st 10. I’m finding it hard going this week…..have teenage kids who are constantly munching. My BMI is very high at 37 so I need to take care of myself first and foremost. I lost my husband to cancer 12 years ago but I enjoy good health. I was 22st at my heaviest…..started to lose weight 4 years ago but reached a plateau where I’ve been since. I joined a gym around this time, followed a strict programme of rowing, interval training and free weights so my fitness improved but I didn’t lose anymore weight. I have had bloods and complete check up in May and my GP just told me to lose the weight…..he didn’t care how but I am to do it. The bloods were normal but I’d love to be lighter for my next visit to him in November.
At this stage, I need something simpler, effective and easier to manage so I bought the book, recipe books
and fast exercise book and am on the road! My parents, sisters and brothers are all tall and slim as are my
kids. I am tall and hope to be slim again by next summer. I put on weight from having 3 caesarian sections
in 3 years and becoming a serious emotional eater as well as not sleeping properly for years.
I am going to go back to the gym but I’ll be following the fast exercise programme……and I’m going to keep
posting on here. It’s a beautiful day and I have a lot of weeding to do in my garden……and windows to clean!

Hope you’re all doing well

Good on you Jenny
You’ve been through a lot, but it sounds as though you are ready to take control of your life. This is what 5:2 does. We choose what to eat. We choose when to eat and we learn self control.

As I briefly answered Femme Anglaise before (sorry FA, I couldn’t concentrate on both), you eat a normal meal on, say, Sunday night and go to bed. All day Monday you consume 1/4 of your TDEE (somewhere between 300-500 calories – aim low if possible). Then go to bed and wake up to a normal breakfast on Tuesday. When you eat your lower calories on your fast days, don’t snack, try for longer breaks between food. Start with 3 small feeds, then try reducing to breakfast and dinner only. Many of us, after a long time on this, find it easier to only eat dinner, getting all our fast day calories in one hit. It is harder to do when you first start, but, strangely, you will probably find, once you eat you feel hungry. Many women, particularly, find it easier to not eat breakfast, but to wait as long as possible for a brunch, then dinner. Do two fast days a week, preferably not together. eg Monday and Thursday to allow you to have some fun food in between.

Don’t snack at all when fasting. If you feel hungry, distract yourself, have a calorie free water or black tea/coffee and see how long you can go. Challenge yourself, it IS fun. And count absolutely everything you consume (milk in coffee or tea does count as calories!)Drink lots of water and measure your whole body now before you start.

Check out the LOACA Recipes thread on this site for some more ideas.
All the best PVE

Me? A Boticelli angel? I’d never thought of that, Cheeseplease. You’ve made my day!

I only caught a bit of WH this morning, the piece about young Muslim women boxers. If on the programme they were expressing shock and awe at 40-somethings competing in athletics, they must have overlooked the tens of thousands, probably many, many more, amateur 10K, half-marathon and marathon runners who continue well into so-called ‘old’ age. I don’t know if he’s still around but there was until very recently a turbanned Sikh gentleman in his 90s still regularly competing in the London Marathon. Plus, there are many who don’t even start running until they hit 60 or so. Sadly, these wonderful people don’t include me, although I can still sprint for a bus if need be. However, I think an MA could qualify as a marathon – or at least a half-marathon of the mind.

We have a runner in our family, mid-40s, looks at least 10 years younger, who works very hard at her sport, juggling a high-powered job, kids, a whole bunch of siblings and a highly temperamental man. She recently scored a personal best for a half-marathon, along with the distinction of being the first ‘Female Veteran Over 35’ past the post.

Purple, it’s a fast day (so far only a bit of very lean chicken and some lettuce and 3 cups of tea) and I’m going to give your chili swordfish a go this evening, as well as venturing for the first time into the world of zero noodles. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Hello hermaj and all LOACA

Not fasting today but still going carefully. I’m so much more mindful of what I’m eating since I started the FBD. I still fancy ‘naughty’ things but can’t actually carry it through to eating them! It’s amazing!!!

Jumping into the ‘how older women are perceived in the media’ (badly!) thread, I’m a LOACA and practise shotokan karate. I didn’t take it up till I was 44, been training 18 years and am black belt 3rd dan about to take my 4th dan grading in October. I’m never going to set the martial arts world on fire but I love karate. Like hermaj, I try never to reveal my age to fellow karate students. I suspect I’d quickly be relegated to the ‘Little old lady still plugging away! Aw!’ pigeon hole and everyone would go carefully around me and keep asking me if I’m OK. It’s people’s ingrained perceptions that are definitely fed by representations of older women in the media.