“December has the clarity, the simplicity, and the silence you need for the best FRESH START of your life.” (Vivian Swift, When Wanderers Cease to Roam)
Welcome to the December 2018 Monthly Challenge! I’m delighted to be hosting this month’s challenge – at what’s probably the most challenging time of the year! Surrounded by food & drink, it’s easy to lose track of our bigger goals for a healthy and sustainable way of life. But here’s a helping hand and a friendly space to share support and encouragement on the journey.
The first monthly challenge was started by @coda in May 2016, since when so many of us have enjoyed the amazing support to start or continue our 5:2 journey. Here’s a note about how it works:
1. Brief introduction – will help us to get to know each other, esp newbies! Please use your very first post of the month to introduce yourself – perhaps say something about your beginning, your journey so far, what you’re aiming for or how you are benefiting from this Way of Life (WOL). You might like to include your starting weight, any other measurements (waist, hip, bust etc) you’ll be tracking this month, and your goal(s) for December.
2. Spreadsheet – Thank you @shinything for setting up this month’s spreadsheet, which is in alphabetical order by username. Here you can record & track your progress – add your monthly targets, mark your chosen fast days (FD) and keep track on how others are doing too. It can help with perspective or accountability, or to plan ahead. Any problems with the spreadsheet please ask – there’s always someone happy to help out.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KBmMuGEr6UXSBhHRodGDruAUnUtkysrRqd5fz8SaQr4/edit#gid=0
3. Format – Start each day’s post with the date where you are, where you’re from, and if you’re on a fast day (FD), non-fast day (NFD) or controlled day (CD). Members live all over the world and in different time zones; it’s helpful to know which day we’re talking about, who else is fasting etc. Eg I’m in the UK and don’t fast on Saturdays, so on Saturday 1 December I’ll begin my post Day 1 UK NFD
4. Frequency – Some people post daily and briefly, some check in every few days, and others come every day and share experiences and ideas. There can be maybe 80 people around the world taking part in a monthly challenge so we’ll mostly post once a day. If you ‘re posting for a second time in a day, please head your post accordingly eg Day 1 second post.
5. Content – Post your comments or questions, complaints or causes for celebration – anything you’d like to share with the forum. Recipes, tips, tricks ideas welcome too. Remember – we all have good days and bad days, days we fall off the wagon or days when we are hanging on by our fingernails. Whatever it is, you are not alone!
6. Community – This is a worldwide forum is there’s almost always someone online. We all do our best to offer advice, support or solidarity.
7. Pocket lists – Over the course of these monthly challenges, small groups have added their own mini-challenges. A ‘pocket list’ is a group who’ve set themeselves a target and are supporting each other through it, mostly by knowing we’re not alone. Anyone can join one a pocket list or start a pocket list for a FD– it’s entirely optional and flexible.
8. 5:2 basics – answers to many FAQs plus top tips:
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/ 🙂
As host of the December 2018 Challenge I’ll be trying to read the posts & respond each day. Please forgive me if I miss something. Here’s to a helpful and hopeful month together…
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
5:47 pm
27 Nov 18