This thread is such an inspiration to a jaded old ex-piggy (well, I’m still a piggy, but I’m hoping to be an ex- by this time next year)! Hello all you France-based Fasters. I am one of your number, contending not only with menopause, a life time of weight problems, but French bureaucracy too!

I had a few false starts with intermittent fasting but finally accepted the fact that unless I make this a way of life, my weight is headed in only one direction – up! While I’m a veteran fatty from birth (I think I was ‘thin’ for about 3 days after a starvation diet when I was a teenager), I have put on 18kg (that’s nearly 3 stone in old money) over the past 14 years.

I’m into my third week of IF, and have plateau’d already but at this stage I’m not losing heart because I know that I only have two choices – IF or end up as one of those people who have to be craned out of my house because I no longer fit through the door!

2.5kg down and 20 to go!

Hi Ex Piggy

You sound like great fun!

As you will have read then, I have an up and down experience on ADF but have lost an average of a pound a week. I’m not as good as Wiwi I’m afraid and am still struggling with sugar cravings on non-fast days and I unfailingly give in to them! My permanent mantra is ‘to be better tomorrow’, and I do try.

I’m off on Monday (from France) to Belgium, then to the UK for Christmas and then to Sri Lanka (to do some volunteer work) in January for three months. So I’ll be back in France at the end of April.

Good luck and stick with it – as I’ve said before, it’s bound to work eventually!

Happy Christmas and a slimmer New Year for all of us! (If I don’t manage to get on here again before then).

Best wishes
Slimmersylv

Good morning! I am not from France, but definitely of a “certain age” at 64! I just ran across your thread and am enjoying it! I started 5:2 on December 8. I weighed in this morning and am down 3 pounds! Sorry… I am from the U.S. and still think in terms of “pounds”! I never thought I could fast! I tried several years ago and failed. After watching “Eat Fast and Live Longer” I became excited about, not just weight loss, but ALL the benefits of this way of life! I read Michael & Mimi’s book and jumped right in! Last week I fasted on Mon. and Wed. This week, I decided to “jump start” my weight loss and fasted both Sun. and Mon. I feel so proud of myself for having the control to succeed! I don’t have much weight to lose. I have already lost about 20 pounds on Weight Watchers, but have been stalled for several months. I would like to lose another 8 pounds. More important are the other health benefits! I have been lucky enough to be healthy all my life and other than being on meds for slightly high cholesterol and an underactive thyroid, I am in pretty good shape! I want to maximize my health so I will be around for a long time to enjoy my life and my grandkids! Enough about me! I will definitely take your survey! Have an amazing day!!

Hi Brenda. You’re brave and strong willed to do two days back to back! I tell myself I’m going to give it a try, but as we all know the spirit is willing…etc. etc.!

Thank you to those who have completed the little survey so far, including our American partners.

I’m surprised by some of the results; inspired by some of them; and comforted to know that I have so many fellow warriors, each doing solo battle with the menopausal bulge. Any more want to do the survey, here it is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PXQHB2L

In the meantime, have a lovely Christmas break, ladies – or happy holidays, if you prefer. Hope you’re all with family and have a great time.

Hope you have a lovely time Femme! I’m in the uk now too.

I’ll be with you in 2015 – just GOTTA lose 30 pounds for my daughter’s wedding in August!

Happy Christmas all!

love, Slimmersylv
XxX

Hello fellow fasters
Did my first fast yesterday. It was ok had 3 coffees with sugar, 1 main meal low calorie, and a couple of dry biscuits. Found myself looking at the clock a lot. Started to feel quite hungry about 4 pm. I kept myself occupied and actually got more accomplished on my day off than usual. It’s interesting how my day is oriented around food and much of my pleasure is derived from eating. Even though I kept myself busy the day dragged and I was very time oriented.
Physically today however I felt rather good I didn’t have any indigestion or bloating. I think my body thanked me for fasting. I will do it again on Thursday

I feel if I get any bigger I will get diabetes. I dont want that to happen

I,m a new member of the ‘ladies of a certain age’ club and plan to start my 1st fast tomorrow. I,ve also struggled with hormones, menlpause symtoms and weight gain in the last 2 years. Although i,m not too overweight i feel terrible and hardly eat much and stay the same weight. So frustrating my body does not feel the same. I,m impressed how all the ladies have managed to lose weight. I was fit as fiddle , no high blood pressure or too over weight and 2 years ago i had a stroke for no apparent reason. So my motivation is too now be the fittest i can be and new year new start!! Fingers crossed and give it a go. I,m excited to start and really hope it helps. Here goes….

Hi, I’ve just started IF today. After having gained 7 kilos in the past year, I thought it was time to do something about it, otherwise I’m going to end up HUGE (and probably diabetic). It’s 4pm now in Sydney, Australia and so far so good. Did have some hunger late morning, but all okay now. Not sure how I’ll feel at bedtime! This isn’t too much of a problem while I’m on holidays from work, but not sure how I’ll go when I’m back at the office. Hopefully I’ll be used to it by then and things will be fine. I’m 51 and peri/menopausal and I’m sure this is the reason for the weight gain. It’s nice to know this is a common problem!
Lizziemarg

Hi Fatstar, by the end of the day I will have eaten food equivalent to 500 calories. Didn’t eat breakfast, just had a coffee at morning tea. 1 egg for lunch with some cheese and tomato and same for dinner with some salad. Drank lots of water and peppermint tea! I’m feeling really good at the moment. I’ll have some blueberries with a couple of spoonfuls of yoghurt later on tonight. It will be interesting to see if anything happens with my weight this week. I’ll do a fast day again on Monday. Hopefully you will see the scales moving down soon! Did you get hungry on your fast days?

Bonjour from Burgundy – I’m back on the FD, which I have neglected for some time; lots of valid excuses but now is the time to launch back in.

My first FD was on Jan 1 (conveniently a Thursday) and I managed it well. I weighed myself yesterday and was delighted to see I had dropped 3 lbs – I realise that having gained some weight recently this was to be expected, but nevertheless it was a boost.

It’s amazing how a simple comment or quip (this time from my son) can cut to the ‘quick’, especially if it rings true. We were enjoying our traditional Christmas lunch and generally chatting when he came out with the comment that ‘I look more like Gran Green than ever these days’ (Gran Green being my late mum). I just laughed the comment off secretly agreeing with him. What with the weight gain (around 3 stones since moving to France), and I have to say not taking as much care with my appearance since living in the heart of the countryside, he is right. When I got back I found a photograph of mum at my age and apart from her permed hair (so fashionable at one time for ladies of a certain age) yes that could be me! I had already vowed to get back onto the 5:2 but his comment certainly spurred me on.

I have a busy week ahead looking after my ‘grandgirls’ but will try and catch up with all the posts and get back into the swing of regularly posting.

All the best to all LOACA and let’s do it together.

A bientot
Femme

Dear Ex-Piggy,
As I am a classic apple shape I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have always envied your pears for looking so slim from the waist up. My once fabulously skinny legs are deteriorating however! So lets hope the 5:2 and a bit more exercise can whip them into shape again! None of us are perfect so we must emphasise our best bits. Well done and keep up the good work!

Hello, selfhealth (and regulars) – wow a midwife…such a worthy way to earn a living! Moi? I’m a veteran (electronic) paper shuffler.

Somebody once said to me: If you were told that for every 5lbs you gained, you would have one finger cut off, I can guarantee you, you wouldn’t lose a single finger. The moral of the story is finding the right incentive or motivation (and I guess the threat of having a finger amputated every time one gains weight is quite an incentive!) is the key to any successful venture. On a less drastic level, if that incentive is the well-meaning albeit hurtful remarks of a loved one, which drives one to achieving a healthy weight, so be it!

On a slightly different tack, I’d be curious to hear from fellow fasters on the subject of insulin resistance. Over the past couple of years, since peri and menopause, I’ve had a nasty sense that I had become increasingly insulin resistant. My weight was headed one way (up) despite the fact that I was averaging a quite respectable 1400 – 1600 cals a day, and I found maintaining any loss profoundly difficult.

Around 3 weeks into fasting, I had the distinct sense that my insulin sensitivity was improving. I don’t have the empirical stats to prove it but there seems to be a definite shift in the way my metabolism is working. I’ve lost 6kgs (13lbs) (with about 15kg [34lbs] more to go); I don’t stint on non-fast days but I seem to be able to maintain my weight loss without any trouble (very unusual phenomenon compared to the last 3 years). Did you more experienced menop IF’ers experience this? I presume one can expect it to become harder as one gets closer to goal?

H all
I am a newbie and started the 5:2 yesterday.Have had a couple of false starts before but as I am a “lady of a certain age” it was time. Have the common age issue of High BP and being overweight its not helping. So losing weight is something that I can change .
These posts are a great “read” I was wondering how the diet goes for those over 50.
I am a 52 year old Aussie.I am combining the fast diet with HIIT (really trying to did first session today) and work mates doing the 10000 step challenge. So really no reason not to get moving .
Just one question in the fast exercise book there is a section on Glucose tolerance test . Did mine yesterday and not sure that the results are OK can anyone give me some indication good or bad or wait and see. Not asking for a diagnosis as I know that cant be given but any information or possibly advise would be great. Not overly concerned just curious.

Hope someone can help

Base line 5.2 mmol/L
1 hour 5.1 mmol/L
2 hours 4.3 mmol/L
carbohydrate came from 240 gms of potato.

Hi Kindle, Rancidveg (oooo! Were you having an offday when you named yourself?) and Broomstick,

Kindle, you’re a gem – just the kind of success story to keep an old ex-piggy like me on track.

Rancidveg: On a completely different track…remember when we sent our sun down your way in June? It’s cold up here in the northern hemisphere…so time to send it back our way. Hope you took care of it while it was in your half of the world! Maybe a medical person (Selfhealth?) can confirm, but over the years of editing med papers, I believe the normal range is 4 – 8, with readings at either end meaning you have to start paying attention, so you’re doing fine.

Broomstick, I’m 57 this year. My periods stopped two years ago and I can’t be sure whether I had hot flushes or not, i.e. if I did, they were so mild I couldn’t be sure whether I was having them or not. I guess everybody is different. Oh…and by the way, that sun you’ve been keeping for us…see my appeal to Rancidveg.

Have a lovely day, ladies. Finished a fast yesterday, so today is PIGGY day (oh rapture! When it’s cold, fasting can be a trial!)

Morning all,
On the subject of hot flushes and other delights around menopause, I would be interested to hear if anybody else experienced what I did. I didn’t have hot flushes (I think), but I would take them any day, over what I DID experience.

I developed what I can only call nocturnal hives. The doctor said it was an allergy, but I know for sure it wasn’t. The itches would begin at night – in my armpits and around my groin. The palms of my hands and soles of my feet burned as if they were on fire (they weren’t red or rashed, but the pain was harsh). Eventually, the problem worsened into the hives rash on my legs. In the morning, all the symptoms would disappear as if they had never been (except the palm/sole pain), only to start up again in the evening.

Eventually, after many months of being so distressed I was contemplating something ‘tragic’, I discovered Ceterizine anti-histamines and managed to control the symptoms just enough to get a good night’s sleep by taking one every evening. I still occasionally get the beginnings of the itches at night, but this is now under control with 1 – 2 ceterizines per week. I just dread the return of the palm and sole burn but I’m hoping that in my post-menop state, it won’t.

Anybody else with unusual things happening during the peri and menop?

Oh I so know what you’re talking about. It’s so hard for us because the fat is so much more difficult to move and it’s so disheartening, this will be my 2nd attempt at this diet, last time I just gave up after only losing 2lbs in 8 weeks, I still don’t know what went wrong but I’m going to try again, we can do this!

Hi Fatstar, I am exactly the same as you in every way, 50, menopausal, achy joints, odd periods etc. Started fasting this week, lost couple of pounds so far so feeling good. Tomorrow next fast day. Let me know how you get on?

Hi rancidveg,
So funny I have had all my hair cut off and stopped colour but it has only been 1 week and haven’t been working or seeing many people as its too hot to do a thing. So can’t really tell you how I am going to cope but am sick of colouring it – Im on an eat day as have a friends coming for lunch but will be fasting tomorrow – I fast till 5pm now – never thought I could do that but I do then have a coffee and fruit about 7.30pm and its working for me well has done for the last 3 fasts. Keep busy and don’t think about the fast and drink plenty of water – I probably drink about 31/2 litres on my fast days good luck

Hi rancidveg,
oh my only advice for fasting days is stick to small amount of protein and lots of vegetables. I don’t eat breakfast as I look for food all day then and I am trying to drop my fruit on fast days. I walk about 90 minutes active walking each day too which I think is a key element as well. I am fasting today all I have had this morning is water and a black coffee – I drink latte normally but on fast days I drink it black – better black than none thats for sure. Hope your fast day went ok

Hi rancidveg, Katser12 and May1st and everyone else,
Was wondering how your fast days went ? I did mine yesterday and did really well. I had 2 black coffee in the morning and went to the movies at lunchtime and had a diet coke – then ate my meal at 6.30pm and had a latte full fat milk. Haven’t walked this morning as very hungry and its raining so had a coffee and then will walk which is a shame not to have exercised in the fasting state but you can’t win them all. I am finding I think because of Christmas that I am picking on my non fast days and I have been very strict with myself to only eat 3 times a day so going to try today and not pick in-between meals as I think its a killer for weight. Anyway good luck to you all – let me know how your days have gone

Hi all
The fast day was hard ….got to 900 cal instead of the 500 which I find a ghard grind .The following day isnt too bad i feel lesss hungry so not getting too upset

Hi all, I am 52 yr old newbie. I have just started, (last Monday) and to kick off have turned it around so am ‘fasting’ (sticking to approx 500 cals) for 4 weekdays mon-thurs and eating normally at the weekend. Yes I feel hungry during the week, but I eat a lot of fruit and that keeps the grumbling tummy quiet.

I have been really strict with myself, and have been surprised how easy it has been so far. I haven’t really been craving all the naughtiest that had become habits, (wine, cheese, chocolate…) but so far no weight loss at all – very disappointing. I’ve been a bit encouraged by some of the comments in this thread saying how for some of us it has taken longer for the weight loss to kick in, so will definitely persevere. I don’t do much exercise except for walking my dog, which I do twice a day, so I guess that will have to come next.

Good luck all, please wish me luck!

Thanks broom stick! I wonder if I’m not doing it right, because it doesn’t really feel like fasting. I haven’t got the book so am only going by the general principles I see on here. On ‘hungry’ days I have coffee and a small bowl of branflakes with skimmed milk for breakfast, an apple chopped up with a low fat yoghurt for lunch, and either same again or salad, soup etc for tea. I drink a lot of (fizzy) water, and that’s about it, other than fruit like a banana, some grapes, another apple for snacks. On the weekend I stuck to the same during the day but had a proper tea (pasta) and some lovely red wine!

Frustrating that still no weight loss despite this strictness. Am I doing anything wrong? Be very grateful for advice from you more experienced fasters!
CC x

My only advice would be to read the book as I find it very useful and I don’t feel I can give advice. I am doing 5:2 and have lost weight around my middle and has given me a much better shape. I do do Paleo type diet on the other days and fast days. I only eat once a day on the fast day and I find that works for me. I do exercise as I think that is also a key t it all

Morning everyone
Started my fast day in a rush thanks to my husband turing off the alarm …GRRRR
Still managed to do an egg white omlete and a Beetroot,strawberry,cinamon,apple and almond milk smoothie. Both were YUM and I hope they sustain me until tonight.
Chubby Chops all the best with the 4 day fast …I dont think I would have the will power to do it! Youll have to let us know how you get on.
Going to have a re read of the boook today just to keep on track
Have a wonderful day everyone