Kitty, so sorry to read about your diagnosis, and I hope healthier days are ahead. Do stick with us, it’s a lovely, caring group — not to mention really good for a few belly laughs, sometimes the best medicine around. Sounds as though you are doing great FDs with your giant pot of lentil soup!

It’s Mon but I can’t do a FD today, having returned only yesterday from travels — sleep eluded me. The Ghrelin Monster is too strong to engage today. My easiest FD routine is coffee, skip food until dinner, then 500 cal lean protein and veg in the evening. I have found that if I just resist, the hunger pangs subside. It still seems awfully hard in the moment, but I am beginning to get it, that the hunger does go away if i fight it. That said, conditions have to be right for a FD in my life. Lack of sleep, feeling unwell, or personal problems….I just have to wait those out.

Got on the scales for the first time in a month…very pleased to have only gained a POUND! I will take that. I was basically two people on the trip, skipped lots of “day” meals and walked tons, but ate big at night. I honestly had to think about food way too much. As in, can I eat that now? What will I be eating later? Because honest to god, if a big dinner was on the horizon, I was diving in no matter WHAT had been eaten earlier in the day! it would be fun not to think like that. But at least I know how to deal with my brain the way it is.

Someone asked if the cravings ever go away, and for me it is a big fat NO. I will never be that person who blissfully forgoes sweets. Not that I don’t have many days happily eating like a sane person. But then along comes some craziness that lands me in the caramel tin, and I love being there in the moment just as much as ever. So this needs to be a forever thing for me, I’m pretty sure.

Thanks for sharing all your stories here. They give me a lot of hope and warm fuzzies that I am a normal person. Good luck to all those fasting today!

Thanks Jade, you are all wonderfully kind people on this forum, I will definitely stick around for the duration! Well done on only gaining a pound! All that walking and not eating during the day cancelled out any naughtiness. I’m similar in that I need to plan my meals to avoid any “what the hell I’ll just eat a loaf”. It would be so nice to just eat like a normal person, without constantly thinking about what to have later and the consequences if you eat something now. Saying that, I’ve been practically saint like since my diagnosis, although I don’t recommend it as a motivational tool for everyone lol!
Well done Michel! What marvellous willpower! I haven’t been in a situation where I’ve been faced with such yummy treats (I’m pretty much housebound), but I’m sure that I wouldn’t have been able to moderate as well as you did. Your strength is an inspiration. I hope you’re doing well on FD. I never had the egg, my husband very kindly prepared me a lovely lobster salad. I’ll do it on my next FD though, maybe Wednesday.

Not amused at weigh in this week – neither up nor down. Quite annoyed because I’ve been so good….ah well no point whinging! Hubby and I are going to Mexico in September and I’m aiming to lose another 21lbs by then. I may get harpooned on the beach otherwise!

Anyway, best wishes to everyone, I hope you are all making the choices best for you.

Hello evryone. I hope you’re all well. I don’t post often because I’m not often on the computer, but I’m here in spirit!
My son is doing a course in a boulangerie/patisserie here in Brittany. I’m so pleased for him as he’s loving it and getting on well there. However…. guess who has to take him in at 3am ?! I’m so pooped with the broken nights. Then (bless him) he brings all sorts of goodies home, which I have to eat infront of him (he want’s an opinion). Struggling on the diet at the moment! Only three more weeks to go 😉
Have a wonderful day!
Chrissie

Hello to all and an especially BIG hello to so many new people and I’ve really enjoyed reading all your stories and hearing how everyone is doing 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear of the diagnosis Kitty and lets hope it is something modifiable with diet.
I’m just over a week into my trip and have some half decent WiFi again (is ‘free airport WiFi’ the most over-hyped product on the planet??!) and thankfully the over-catered working week of the trip is over and I’m back to finding my own food again. Of course I could have refused two of the courses in the daily three-course lunch AND dinner but then I wouldn’t be on this forum if I could do that now, would I??!! I don’t fast when I travel but I’ve had the odd forced fast day recently due to a reluctance to spend good money on airport food which is invariably disappointing as well as over-priced.
In answer to the question about no longer craving (sorry, forgot who asked) my experience is also no but with a caveat; I’m finding it much, much, much easier to become aware early that I’m craving and I’m much better at telling myself that food is not going to satisfy that craving so I’d better find something else that will. So, in a sense and at least on a day-to-day basis it is far more manageable but I do believe I’ll always crave “something” and food will probably always be my first go-to source of relief. I’d like to think it might be ‘no’ one day. I think people who don’t use food in this way are using something else – instead of binge eating they are making a phone call or going for a run or a walk in the woods or having sex or getting an early night or taking a bubble bath or writing in a journal. I think it’s human to crave but for me food was a very accessible and successful way to manage difficult emotions in my early life. I’ll get off my soap box now and go to bed – all the best for anyone fasting tomorrow 🙂

Way to go fizzy!!! That’s fantastic. Happy for you!!!
And congrats to all for their successes lately, whether fending off the Cookie Monster (or pastry chef) or just sticking with this through a plateau. Lol I GAINED a half a pound after a FD so I am getting my jollies vicariously through my buddies here. It is OK, I am just happy to have clothes fitting.

Good luck to all fasting today!

Hi kitty I don’t mind saying how much I weighed when I started it was 221lbs on 15th april – I agree that putting an item of clothing you would like to try and get into somewhere where you can see it is a useful tool but I wouldn’t dispense with scales – I did this and was in a state of shock when I weighed myself and had put on 28lbs!!I guess I just bought bigger clothes and pretended I wasn’t gaining weight this had been on going for years steadily putting weight and then not losing weight gained during pregnancy – my youngest is now 11 so have no excuse. Although I don’t like scales am finding they keep me on track when I waiver as they don’t lie about how quickly weight goes back on. Keep going everyone we are all fabulous whatever we weigh!

Morning gang!

Kitty: Great news! How wonderful that you have already made progress. Michael Mosley’s research has confirmed how good fasting is for your body. You can turn this around with this wol. Have you ever tried green smoothies. I don’t know if you have any diet limitations, but they may be a good way to get extra nutrients in your diet. I researched them years ago and have been drinking them ever since. Some people say they have really improved their health. On the topic of having a small pair of jeans to help motivate: I already have a closet full of clothes I can’t fit into. Not very motivating.

Hi again everyone. You all are each an inspiration to me. I lurk around in the shadows over here and read all the posts as they come through my phone. Usually, when they show up, I’m sucking down a glass of wine or inhaling a cookie on what was supposed to be my fast day. I can’t say that I’ve totally fallen off the wagon, but I’m clinging on to one of the axles.

I’m leaving tomorrow for a seven-day, six-night backpacking trip through the California Sierras with my best friend from way back in the day. I won’t be fasting, obviously, but I hope that I’ll shed a few pounds from the exertion and the lack of booze and that I’ll be ready to get the fast days going again when I get back.

I truly admire all of you and I love the camaraderie here. Good luck to all on their fast day; wonderful news Kitty! Fizzy, congrats on making it to “one-derland!” I’ll see you all in a little while, provided I’m not on the menu for some bear’s non-fast day!

Morning fellow fasters!
Miss hearing from y’all; starting to feel like I’m alone the forum.

I could not resist stepping on the scale this morning. My dip in the binge pool yesterday resulted in a 1.5 lb gain. I know part of that is the salt in the pizza and the rest is all the calories from brownie after brownie followed by a pint of ice cream on the way home. As many on this site have said: why? why? why?

Today is a fd, hopefully I can make up some ground.

Here’s wishing everyone control over food!

I’m here, just SKULKING and HIDING. Still reading & enjoying everyones posts however still haven’t weighed in (it’s been 2 weeks) because I am too scared that the scales will just shout at me YOU ARE A GREEDY FAT PERSON.

Going to brave it tomorrow morning. Have to face the music sometime. I read today that people who keep weight off are those who weigh daily.

Good luck mcaa! I’ve never had success avoiding the scale, so I typically jump on every day. Thankful mine does not talk, because I would have to muzzle it. My scale is especially sneaky, because it will sometimes seem to let me get away with a midnight sugar party – only to show the damage the second morning after.

Your words are wise, Michel. Easier said than done for all here, to be kinder to ourselves, but because of the mutual support I do think it is happening more often than it did before 5:2, when I was kind to myself only when I was at my goal weight or actively dieting. I also feel better just knowing a lapse in control is truly temporary. And of course I feel better laughing at all the escapades with food shared here. A godsend.

At the moment though, this FD is drilling a hole through me. Did I say I was feeling strong!? When did days start lasting 84 hours? xx stay strong

YAY YAY YAY! By some miracle I am down 2 lbs, and back to the lightest I have been since starting fasting (I’m 8 months in). Thanks for your support guys! It’s really helpful to check in here, and hear everyone else’s tips. Michell you are right – I need to be more positive in how I talk to myself. And very interesting on the weigh daily/weekly thing. That makes sense! Jade thanks for the heads up on the midnight sugar parties sneaking up on me – good to know this can happen a day late!!

Penguin – I know you are off line at the moment but I’m back to your question about falling off the wagon and getting back on again. I’ve been doing this for 8 months and have had many times where I just haven’t done it for 2 or even 3 weeks at a time. But I do keep coming back to the plan, and it is working for me better than anything else in my life ever has (and believe me, I have done every diet out there) and I have stuck with it for longer. I do also think it has had an effect on my binge eating. I still do it, but I think it is less often now, and less food when I do. Don’t get me wrong, on a non-fast day I am still way more likely to really overeat than not (to the point where my stomach hurts), but it is less than before. My weight loss is super slow (I’ve been playing with the same 2 lbs for 2 months now), but given that my weight has basically crept up and up over 20 years, I imagine the healthy way for it to go down and down is slowly.

Will I ever be normal with food? I doubt it. Will I always obsess about food, whether fasting or not fasting? Probably. But with this plan, I have been able to stop punishing and hurting myself by overeating every single day, and that has to be a good thing.

Morning!
Hope you’re all well.
Where are you in Europe Comespring?
Mcca… My mirror sniggers at me ‘you are a greedy, fat person’. Great that you lost two pounds. That’s brilliant!

Dearest son brought home almond filled croissants yesterday. One was gone almost before I realised what was happening!
I was good in the evening though. Half a large sweet potato with cinnamon and a large salad, plus some puny but tasty strawberries from the garden. Went for a long walk with my friend and my dog, and then went to bed. Getting up at two thirty to take son to the boulangerie was hard but at least I was able to get back to sleep quickly. Thank crunchie it’s Friday and I get a whole night’s sleep tonight!
Have a good day everyone!
Chrissie.

Happy Fri Fasters!

Successful fd yesterday. Managed to lose 1 of the lbs I gained on Wed. If I can make it till dinner w/ no snacks, today will be a good non-fd. Breakfast burritos for the office today & I managed to only have 1 and then a left over piece of pizza for lunch. Not the healthiest choices but at least I was able too walk away. (This time)

mcca: Great job on losing 2lbs and getting back to your lightest weight. Must feel really good.

Comspring: “Pastries on every corner” is my idea of “died & gone to heaven”. Great for the taste buds, not so much for the waistline. I like your outlook. Enjoy in moderation.

Chrissie: An almond filled croissant, salad & sweet potato sounds like a good eating day to me.

Have a great day and remember to
ENJOY IN MODERATION!

Congrats on going down, Michel and mcca! Good lord Michel they sure eat a lot where you work. Kudos on all the willpower you exercise. There is often food where I work but it’s easy to avoid in my large building. And mcca you nailed what I appreciate most here. Even if I am never “normal” around food, I’ve found a way to feel normal more days than not. And hopeful as well. It’s sure better than I felt before!

Oh Chrissie, almond croissants are my absolute fave! And if my child made them, I would love them even more. I’m impressed that you were able to restrain yourself afterwards with what sounds like a lovely light dinner. Congrats to you!

Kitty, hope you are over the bug. And doing a FD too? You’re ambitious! I confess I had to say f*** it the other day when I wasn’t feeling tip top. And Fight Club, lol I wouldn’t make it very far. I agree, if anyone discovers the psychology behind binging, please do share with the Fight Club before you go off an make your millions. I did some light research in Ghrelin and leptin and all I got was confused. Probably just like the leptin in my body, it’s very confused. STEP IT UP LEPTIN, WOULD YOU PLEASE??

Spring and Penguin, enjoy your travels and indulge yourselves in moderation if you can! Lots of walking will be involved so I’ll bet it will all balance out.

So…gold stars to everyone! Well, except me, I wasn’t too well behaved today, thanks to a tin of — of all things — PEANUTS, but I did successfully complete a FD yesterday so I’m holding my own and happy for that. Baby steps, I tell myself….peanut binges are slightly better than doughnut binges, right? When I start having lettuce binges, I’ll let you know (lol HELEN!! Where are you girl?).

Have a great weekend all! xx jade

Fizzy, you mentioned that above, the bit about going a bit less off the rails than before 5:2. Me, too! Only I just realized it when I reread your post. I may be a slow learner, but this is an epiphany for me!

After my peanut binge yesterday (and seriously I ate like a goat, many handfuls of nuts down the hatch), I went out for dinner with friends and had only one slice of pizza and one beer. I could have eaten more, it was delicious, but I wasn’t all that hungry. And I nursed the living hell out of that beer, but it lasted just fine and I drank water along with it. So I ate like a normal person, in other words. Before 5:2, I’m pretty sure I’d have tossed all care to the wind, because the day was lost as a “diet” day anyway. But there was no reason to sabotage anything, because yesterday I was not on a diet.

So now I see that I’m learning how to succeed and also realizing how often I am succeeding — whether it’s with the scale or my head. I want to control my eating, but even more, I want to lose the guilt. I’m beginning to do both and it feels terrific. I’m sure that sharing stories here has a LOT to do with that, so thank you. The scale was up today (well, compared to after a FD, no shock there), but I am not discouraged by that, because I feel so darn normal. Oh dear I’m getting all sappy, but it’s a good feeling and I wanted to share it. xx jade

Hi fellow FC
I too have had somewhat of a revelation since reading fizzy’s post about not binging to the extent of before 5:2……It really hit home last night when my husband decided to sit beside me with a tub of Ben&Jerrys Karamel Sutra, my all time favourite ice cream. I mean, I would have crawled over burning broken glass to get me some of that and would have eaten at least half (all of!) the tub. Last night, I had three (big) teaspoonfuls and quit, feeling satisfied. This is huge! Hubby was stunned, he had been fully prepared for me to seize the tub and vanish into the night, but he said he has really noticed a change in how I eat as well as what I eat. Amazing. And I never felt guilty either, I’m slowly getting out of the mindset of being “allowed” things. I can eat whatever I like, it’s only food. As long as I just have a little bit, then quit, happy instead of guilty. Maybe we are starting to get in touch with our inner “off switch” where we identify, and stop at, the point of satisfaction – rather than plunging on regardless into binge/sick/guiltguiltguilt territory.
Of course maybe this is an isolated incident and I’m over analysing it, and maybe it’s because I’m ill, but I’m definitely less inclined to binge to gluttonous extents now.
I totally agree with Jade, I think a lot of it has to do with us openly discussing our experiences and having people who identify exactly with what we are going through. A success for one is a success for all, it galvanises our resolve and gives us strength. Good god I sound like a TV movie, excuse me I’m still ill!
Long may good and positive things continue for all of us!
Thinking of you all, enjoy your weekends x

I’m waiting at the eye Dr, rereading the posts and realized how therapeutic this forum has been for me. I’ve mentioned before that I spent some time in counseling. It was mostly me talking and comments by the counselor; interspersed with aha moments. This is much the same. The aha moments are were we make our progress, but the input from each of you helps me.

Kitty: Good for you! Only 3 spoons full. I’m impressed.

Hi all, just signed up after reading all your posts. I have been on and off with my weight for last 15years and only really managed to be happy with my weight when traning for half-marathon and running 35miles a week. Now with two kids and two jobs and shiftwork that is not sustainable and so really need to address my food. I seem to have an issue with food, either extremly healthy positive day or complete ‘pig out’ with huge amount of calories, followed by lot of exercise and healthy food to off balance the damage. I am very settled in other aspects of my life so cant really put my finger on my struggles with food. I am almost 14st and should be max 12st so 2st off would be a dream. Hope ok to join in on your posts as you seem to be all very supportive to each other.

I found it very reassuring to hear how you are all battling on and off and not giving up and that perhaps we will always be bingers but I can finally relate to so many off you and not feel like ‘a weirdo’ that is keeping her food issues secret. I appreciate your real posts so so much.

Welcome moturam! Looking forward to seeing how you get on. I am a jogger as well, I would say a runner but I’m slower than a tortoise. Though, given the ge, I can go a long way! Anyway, when I don’t have time, it can be a struggle to get my appetite on board with reality.

I am settling for mental progress this weekend, but for me that is a big step. Tomorrow is a FD and I am looking forward to what I know I will get from it – a renewed sense of control, a turnabout in the weekend’s gains (and I’m sure there are some but I decided not to jump on this morning – way too much uninhibited, i.e., cocktail-infused, noshing last night). I’m glad to lose the guilt but do need that weekly dose of self-control!

Congrats, Kitty, on your victory over the chocolate bar!! I can so envision the scene….you, alone with it….contemplating…..free to scarf it up in one fell swoop! How wonderful that the resistance is getting a little easier.

Buckle up for tomorrow, all fasters – see you at the water fountain. xx

Moturam – welcome to Fast Club! We are a happy little gang and everyone is oh so supportive. Well done on the running by the way, I couldn’t run the length of myself!
Haha Jade, you and I could have a slow race!

Michel – glad to hear your eyeballs aren’t falling out or anything like that!! And well done on taking the steps toward exercise by ordering the book. Great job x2!

I am fasting tomorrow too…and weighing in…fingers crossed.
Lots of strength and positive vibes to everyone fasting tomorrow! You can do it!

Hi FC …so far my third coffee on my first fast and plenty of water. Getting slightly wobbly but feeling strong.

Jade .. Can’t call myself runner anymore but any little jog I manage feels like great achievement…..in my slow elephant motion. Not fun carrying extra 40lb around since I was a runner. Still hoping that one day….

Michael u are making me hungry with your spaghetti. And I am sure any extra movement will help to offset the binge monsters.

Kitty hope Fast is going well.

Planning to make a curry pot tonight (no cream) and have some without carbs for dinner.

Ah Queen, it is good to hear from you, and as your fellow struggler I have lots of sympathy. Not much you can do about work schedules that probably leave you tired. That is so hard! I have the same battle with cereal, must avoid in the mornings. But get a load of this, last week I poured rice krispies into a bowl and added marshmallow fluff and ate it in clumps with a spoon. I must have looked like a caveman gnawing on a bison leg.

Sometimes all I can do is remember that this 5:2 thing is actually a thing, a way out of my dilemma after a loss of control. For the last week, I’ve had to define “success” as just giving in temporarily, and not giving up for good. I see the other threads with people who are fasting twice a week and TDEE’ing the rest of the time. After 4 months of trying (often failing) with this 5:2 thing, I don’t think I’ve had any of those weeks. But I still think I’m better than I was, even if just mentally. I’m hopeful that more things will fall into place, and dear lord it is slow going most of the time. However, I guess I have nothing but time and no one else to be but myself, and so I’m sticking with you here. Go fast club go.

And as you said, there are those good moments! When I’ve succeeded with a FD and wake up feeling grand. When I’m truly hungry and the taste of real, nutritious food is a joy. Those are elusive memories in the throes of a binge or a monster craving for chocolate, but they’re in my head now, I can at least reason with myself that there is a fix. Those ideas weren’t there before.

OK off the soapbox, confessional, whatever I’m on. Because it’s a FD and (haha) I must conserve my mental energy!!! xxx jade

Hi all, so good reading all your posts. I’m really struggling at the moment. On non fast days do you guys eat three meals a day or little and often. Which one if any helps prevent bingeing?
I’ve had success with eating every three hours in the past but i’m so mucked up in my head I don’t know which is the best to do anymore.
The weight is going up and up (I’ve put on 3 and a half stone since Xmas).
Apologies I know this isn’t strictly 5:2 business but you are all so supportive and I’ve no one else to talk to.

Hey Wendy, good to see you again!
Like Michel, my successful non-FDs involve some measure of control. Breakfast doesn’t usually interest me, except as dinner lol (an easy FD dinner too, and my unsuspecting hubs loves it). So I try to wait as long as possible, usually make it until around 11 or so, and then still keep things light until dinner. I’ve mentioned this before, but I love a big dinner. And if I have a big lunch, I STILL love a big dinner. Thus the weight gain – I just can’t eat 3 meals a day and my TDEE confirms that, So it doesn’t work for me to have more than some fruit, cheese, or a salad for lunch. I know that sounds like a diet, but I get my reward at night and it works for me. Well, it would work if I did it every time!

I enjoy eating when I’m hungry. It’s why South Beach didn’t last for me. I ate every 3 hours, the cheese sticks etc., but poo who wants a damn cheese stick. And I wasn’t hungry, so that glycemic index business was valid, but I missed being hungry! It was weird. For someone who loves food, ugh, it was like the Stepford Wives’ diet. Give me Fizzy’s minefield of crisps, nuts, and vino any day over monotony.

Sorry about your foot, Fizzy! I do like some of the running apps, but usually I just listen to Beethoven on the earbuds. He was so brilliant. I have used “Running for Weight Loss: Interval Training” which seems to incorporate the HIIT idea that is recommended here. It’s a little hard core for me. I’ve heard that couch to 5k is popular so it must be pretty good. But I’ll just stick with my guy Ludwig. He gets me 🙂

Thank heavens this day is almost over. I ate leaves and chicken for dinner, and the Father’s Day goody leftovers are singing to me. My husband has no sweet tooth, darn his hide. If he would just eat them, they’d be gone. I guess if I would just not make them, they’d be gone, too. But then what fun would Father’s Day be for me, right? I mean, those kids didn’t raise themselves without my help. All right, I’m getting punchy, time to go.

Stay strong, fast clubbers. xx