Good morning Fast Club! Best of luck to you today Fizzy and whoever else is fasting. May you have strength and many distractions from eating 🙂

No FD for me today, but I’m trying some variation of the 18:6 that others do. I’m not sure it’s the best way for me, but we all know what happens when I start eating. I really noticed yesterday the hunger disappearing if I just went and did something else. It’s amazing how much more time you have when there is no meal to plan or eat. It helped immensely that I have been distracted lately by a case of poison ivy…. Well, whatever works!

Michel, pulling the car up “not quite parallel” is a genius move – haha! We should make a list of how we all engineer the perfect binge. And then take steps to sabotage the binge so that we don’t sabotage ourselves. Hey, it’s the anti-sabotage sabotage!

And with that, it’s off to work with me. Happy Friday and hugs to all you wonderful people. xx

Jade, sorry about the poison ivy! That stuff is terrible.

I can’t even laugh about the not-quite-parallel car comment… it’s too close to home. I guess I should take comfort in knowing I’m not the only one… but that’s not much of a comfort. I hate that we all even have these experiences.

Yesterday was a success for me. I managed to keep myself on track and just have a small portion for dinner. I definitely went to bed hungry but had an OK sleep and am certainly looking forward to breakfast this morning. Anyway, I know I was over 500, but probably somewhere under 700? At least I hope.

Today I go in for my annual check-up with my doctor. I’m pretty sure I weighed more this time last year than I weigh today so I’m hoping for a gold star or a lollipop or something!

Thanks for all the “thank you’s.” I feel like it was both a lifetime ago and possibly a whole ‘nother life.

Good luck to everyone today, fasting or not!

Morning All!

Well, I had hoped breakfast would be my biggest challenge of the day. Wrong! There is half a cake sitting in the kitchen, cookies sitting out on a file cabinet and leftover breakfast burritos. This makes 4 out of 5 days w/ food in the office. I don’t know how I’m supposed to focus on work when I can smell the sugar in the air. I hate this constant struggle.

Oh Kitty, so sorry to hear you’re ailing. Sending you big hugs and hope for better health as you await surgery. Even if you can’t join us in fasting, do keep us posted and stick with us as we all attempt to (a) eat mindfully, (b) pull up right damn side to side with the next car at a stoplight, and (c) alert the family, media, and possibly just random passersby whenever we grab a snack! If you’ve been in hospital you’re no doubt sick of eating that food, whether in private or not.

I don’t mean to make light of what you’re facing, just trying to cheer you up 🙂 Prayers and good thoughts are flowing from all of us!!

Good grief, Michel, your workplace is like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. We have food where I work but usually it is some leftover from a reception or something else, and often not too appetizing. Not even worth eating if I can even believe I’m saying such a thing.

Penguin, hope the doc visit made you happy! I am with you on the 500/700 — either requires control and I really do not like tallying calories. I know I said I would do that but screw it, I hate toting things up on my fitness pal, it reminds me of doing my taxes. Talk about a binge trigger…..

I didn’t make it past 12:30 today on my 18:6 experiment. But resisting breakfast was a good idea. Too bad I love breakfast foods! But like dairy products, they do not love me back.

But I love my fast club – whether we are fasting or not. 🙂 xx jade

Morning Healthy Eaters!

Jade: I love breakfast foods too. Maybe you can have them for lunch or dinner. I often have an egg for a fd dinner.

Yesterday was a mixed day for me. Way more cake than I should have eaten (I ate what was left 🙁 ) and pizza for dinner.
But on the success side; I was able to stop, think about it, and then pull back out of the parking lot of the ice cream place. I had my $ out & everything. I’ve never done that before so I think this is working.

On eating in the car– I saw a lady eating corn on the cob in her car yesterday. I could not believe it. It was a big ear of corn, the kind that takes 2 hands to eat. She was really going after it. It really made me stop & think.

So, today I will strive to eat mindful and not alone. I’m really bad at both of these on the weekend.

Good luck and eat healthy fast clubbers!
Keep us posted.

Michel – seriously? Corn on the cob? That makes me laugh AND cringe. What an awful thing to eat in your car. I suppose if I saw that, I might really consider how I look when people do catch me eating. How awkward.

Thanks, Jade. The doc visit went OK, and I’m pretty sure I weighed less than last year but I didn’t ask. I didn’t get a gold star for my efforts either, just a “surprise” PAP. Sorry, that’s probably TMI, but I figure we’re all ladies here so you can imagine my panic at not having shaved my legs, polished my toes, or having performed any other form of personal grooming.

Kitty – thanks for the reminder – ‘Twas I that suggested the 2-FD challenge, which I had already forgotten about. Not about the fast days themselves, but that there were other people lemming along after me. I’ve got one down, and plan for another tomorrow before the week officially ends. How’s it going for everyone else?

2nd fast day today! And I’m taking my brother wine tasting… I’m going to have to keep myself honest and only have one glass. Food portions will likewise have to be small. I’m like you, Jade, in that if I come in somewhere between 500-700 calories, I’m not going to beat myself up about it.

Good luck to everyone today – you’re better than the food and you can have it tomorrow if you really want it!

XOXO, P

Happy Monday you beautiful fast clubbers! Penguin, how did your Sunday go? I hope you smashed it. I’m going to try for a FD today, even though there’s a family bd to celebrate. I may not clock in at 500, but if I can exercise control, I’ll be happy.

I’m also pretty happy to see a 1.5 lb LOSS on the scale today. 🙂 I’ve really felt the mindful eating kick in this week.

My new secret weapon is what I’d call a “flexible” 18:6. I’ve limited myself just to coffee until at least noon, later if possible — until hunger truly kicks in. Then I eat what I like for the rest of the day, with the idea of mindful eating (no cut off time, either — I had a bedtime snack last night of several cookies). Something about ignoring hunger at the beginning of EACH DAY is really working. The morning hunger goes away, and I feel the same kind of “reset” we get during a FD. And no need to calorie count, thank heavens.

I’d love it if others would try this and see if it works for you. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting to feel such control this past week, so it was weird at first. Like I’d been invaded by zombies or something. Maybe the poison ivy migrated to my brain!! Ha, I guess it’s just been a long time since I felt in control, not dominated by my food thoughts…sure hope it lasts.

Good luck to all today with mindful eating — fasting or not. We can do it!
xx jade

Haha penguin — smashing, cracking, mildly irritating…all good:) And just boiled eggs for supper? You’re strong — and still in the 80s, so yay. Holding the line, wherever it may be, is a victory. And it’s effing hard some days, so yay for all. Michel, you have more control than before, right? I think this “mindful” business is a work in progress. Progress being the key word.

I have to admit, eating alone is the single worst habit for me. I desperately wanted some alone time with those cookies last night. I marched each one right past my husband. HE even started to look at me funny – he is one of those “we had dinner, who could be hungry?” people.

Oh, the evil sweet/salty snack mix. I had one of those at a meeting this past week. I almost had to slap my hand to keep from tipping the entire container into my face. “Betcha can’t eat just one” is a dare they invented with me in mind. “Betcha I can eat none” is my defense. Not that I win every time, but at least it’s a fairer fight now.

Oh these Monday FDs do drag on, don’t they? Glad I have you all to share with. xx j
ps: So in case it wasn’t clear, I’m still doing 5:2, just skipping breakfast every day.

Hello lovelies
You all continue to inspire me with your stories of willpower and strength, well done guys.
Michel – that’s an excellent idea, and I absolutely will commit to two healthy days a week. Very impressed at you still being so encouraging even tho I’ve been a big huge fail recently. Thanks so much. You have so much strength, you are doing brilliantly!
Jade – your 18:6 plan is exactly what I was doing, but more because of my sleeping pattern than intentionally. I don’t really sleep during the night much so sleep all morning, which means I don’t eat til afternoon. It was working very well until I fell off and got run over by the wagon!! I love reading your posts, you bring so much cheer to the group, thank you!
Penguin – you’re doing so well, and three boiled eggs sounds absolutely fine to me! Keep up your commitment and keep inspiring us.
You guys just continue to kick ass, ill keep checking in when fatigue allows, but know that I’m rooting for every one of you and sending positive thoughts from chilly Scotland. Now how about some of that heat over here please? Xx

Hello there fellow fast-clubbers 🙂 I wrote a lovely long post last week when I returned home but it was eaten by cyber-termites and I was so very pi*%d off I swore off the computer altogether. Then life got busy again so here I am to say ‘Hello’ and take some time to read up on all your posts and goings-on. Only gained 1.1kg while away :-0 and had one FD last week which went well but I’m away from home again this week so no FD’s. I surely need to get into it again though as my jeans are getting way too tight – sending out super-sized-strength-vibes for the fasters.

Hey welcome back Spring, and well done on the small gain — sounds as though you acted like a totally normal person! Congrats! Hope your travels continue to be fun. 5:2 will be waiting when life settles down again.

Boy, as Michel and Kitty pointed out, sometimes we’re on the wagon, sometimes the wagon runs us down. A la poor Penguin, blueberry pie for breakfast…I would jump under that wagon head first. And Michel, boxes of doughnuts waiting in the break room, hello Wagon from Hell.

Kitty, it’s great to hear from you as always. Thank you for the kind words. What a fine suggestion to commit some days simply to healthful eating. Any step toward better health is good! Wish I could send you some heat in the meantime.

Michel, similar experience last night eating out. All was fine until my light-ish meal came with enormous slices of warm garlic bread, which was actually better than my main course. I gave new meaning to “mindful eating” 🙂 — every crumb quite mindfully consumed. But at least no cookies later. And haha yes I did “own” those cookies the other night. Thanks for my new motto! So I hope you owned that doughnut like a BOSS. The great thing about 5:2 is being able to move the 2 around.

And yay it’s Tuesday! I love Tuesdays. Hope everyone is having a good one! xx jade

Happy Wed Fasters!

My “wagon from He!!” turned out to be a wagon train. I went down and was run over by wagon after wagon. This morning I was very tempted to say: to heck w/ all this “trying to be healthy” and just go back to eating whatever I want. Then I thought of all you wonderful fasters and decided to make today a fd. I know I can do this, I just have to keep trying to find the motivation to stay the course.

Idt: Welcome back! Hope you had a wonderful time in Devon. Only one scone? A big win! And way to get back on it, fasting Mon & Tue. Very impressive.

Today is #1 of 2 fast days this week……….I’m in control and will succeed!

Hi all… scones, cookies, donuts, oh my! I’ll add bread pudding to the list. I’m exhausted this morning after going to bed late (we spent almost an hour wrangling wayward chickens last night at midnight and were short 5 by the time we gave up – they were thankfully all accounted for this morning!) and I’m not committing to making any sense today but I am committing to a fast day. I’m already miserable, so I thought I should just pile it on and get it over with.

Michel – you overcame the hardest part of this. Re-committing is really tough. That’s an accomplishment in itself.

Jade – I’m right there with you. The whole reason this WOE/WOL works for me is that I get to be my normal self, even if my normal isn’t normal. I’d never be able to give up the occasional mindless cookie-fest. But I am, overall, more mindful, and I think that’s helped.

Welcome home ltd, spring!

All I can say is: I am REALLY looking forward to eating some real food tomorrow. I’ve eaten raw cherries, blackberries, roasted vegetables, and two eggs today. I need a cookie!

Hey all seekers of health & happiness

Dropping in to say so-far-so good for fd #2.
No extra food around the office to “bump” into. Feeling strong, should be able to make it to dinner.

Has anyone else gotten in 2 this week?

Feel the force and stay mindful!

Penguin: I feel sorry for you. Nobody wants to cook & clean, especially on an empty stomach.
But, way to stop, think & make 5:2 work for you. Why not make today your fd and have oatmeal for dinner. Then you can enjoy your company. You got this! Make it happen!

Jade: Not trying to do B2B but, when Mon & Tue are blown and can’t do the weekend w/ OH at home; that leaves Thur & Fri. I figure if something comes up today I still have Fri. And I am determined to to get in 2.

Nice to know we are all in the same fast boat today.

Good luck and stay song in the face of food.

Jade, hardest one for me, for sure! I was so obsessed with food today – it was awful! I definitely went over, but I’m not sure by how much. I had two servings of veggies throughout the day to help me not just give in and devour all the groceries I bought today. Dinner was oatmeal, but a lot of it (leftovers) and it had been sweetened with maple syrup. Not too sweet, though, so I consoled myself in knowing that.

And jeeze, my husband just pulled three loaves of fresh bread out the oven. WHO does that??

There’s always tomorrow – I’ll be there soon enough. You’ve got this, Michel. If I can do it, you sure as heck can!

Night ya’ll!

Our posts crossed sanguine – GO YOU!! Smashing out another fast day is very, very impressive 🙂

Happy Friday everyone!
I’m back from a long slump. My niece came over from Ireland on May 28th and stayed until June 11th. We had a lovely time with the family, etc. I was too new into FD to comfortably stick with it so I put it on the back burner. The problem with doing that is that it sat on the back burner for 6 or 7 weeks. Not good!
So, this weekend I am re-reading the Fast Diet book, and spending a lot of time reading the backlog of your wonderful posts. Is there anything in the world better than knowing that you’re not alone with this food issue? My best friend is like a clone of me, but even still, these posts are just amazingly inspirational. Even reading about binges is inspirational because we can all identify, and we all just want to help one another.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will start back on Mon/Wed FD’s next week.
🙂

Hey peanuts — welcome back onto the wagon, and glad you had fun with your family. It sounds like a special time. Back burner for FD is a good way to look at it. Ready when you are, right? Reading the book is helpful and this forum has been a lifesaver for me.

Wow, Spring, have you turned into a normal person!? To drop weight on a vaca….that’s just amazing. Tell us more about how you did that! How did you feel? Was food not on your mind? Could you please send a vial of your tiger blood around so that we can infuse ourselves with it? I want to be this type of person!

Michel, your yesterday sounds like my Mon, which I guess wasn’t a very proper FD with the garlic bread. But it was a longish fast followed by controlled eating. There is no reason not to lovingly accept a treat with family. Heavens, you ignore them all week long where you work. I’m impressed with your control!! And topped off by a win at the scale — nice. I didn’t gain or lose but to maintain last week’s 2# makes me happy.

Penguin, you crack me up. I do the same thing when the scales deliver a gold star (congrats on that by the way) I just say holy $*** I weigh how much?! I must be starving! And then Katie bar the door, I’m on a tear. Hey, if you let loose one day, no biggie. It doesn’t even sound that bad, just a lot of variety :). If you have to recover next week, you are still doing great. I am still amazed that you cooked and cleaned on a FD.

You all are amazing. Today was a regular day for me, so far pretty controlled but I just got done opening up some chocolate nut thing in the car, oh DARN I wasn’t going to DO THAT. No more eating in the car!!! I will now attempt to eat a controlled dinner. Happy weekend to all xxxx

Hello lovelies, me again. It’s been a bit slow here, sorry to keep droning on BUT I had another epiphany. Of sorts.

I decided to fast today, luckily was busy away from home so didn’t miss food all day. Dinner was homemade veg soup — had a generous cup, and it was very good so I thought about having another cup because I was ~200 cals into my FD allotment. (I mean, right?!) I was full, though. Satisfied, anyway.

And then it hit me. Every recent binge began when I ignored the point of being satisfied. As soon as I go beyond that point, even if it’s just to get my 500 in, it’s as though I’m desperate to recapture that wonderful feeling of satisfaction. And it can’t be recaptured then because I’m no longer hungry! So then, something goes haywire in my brain and I lose control searching for that elusive satisfaction. Or who knows what I’m looking for, but I never find it.

Maybe? I don’t know, but tonight my inner voice said “hey, maybe quit eating? or you will unleash the kraken!” And oh man, I hate fighting krakens! Probably because I pick fights with them all the time and usually lose 🙂 I mean, yeah I can sometimes muster the strength to fight the urge to overeat, but it’s a lot easier to avoid it altogether.

Maybe I’m preaching to the choir, but it was a new idea to me. Always searching for answers, this one. Hope you’re all out there and ready for a brand new day! xx

The Kraken – now we’re talking!!!, No ordinary dragons/demons/monsters for us, no ma’am, only the most fearful monster from the deep can come close to describing the terror of the Kraken-sized urge to “EAT” and the horror of a failed FD.
Well done Sanguine on reaching 185 (probably even less by now!) and I also battle with the desire to eat as some kind of bizarre reward for… not eating and losing weight. No, it doesn’t make any sense but a very strong urge nonetheless and I thought of it as I watched the UK Horizon TV program “What’s the right diet for you?’ (or something similar) and they showed how it also relates to exercise. Basically they monitored a group’s normal activity for a week then made them exercise hard 3 times the following week and monitored them again the following week, turns out they did a third less activity than they had in the ‘normal’ week before the exercise intervention. The rationale was that by reducing their activity in week 3 they were compensating for the extra activity of week 2 (the 3 sessions) and yet all of them felt they had been MORE active the week after the exercise… Shows how our brain can deceive us for sure.
Welcome back peanuts to this family of reforming binge eaters and we’re all expert in the “5:2 on the back burner” strategy and it is always still there 🙂
Jade – keep the epiphanies coming as I loved your idea that maybe continuing to eat is an attempt to re-capture the feeling of fullness/satisfaction. Definitely food for thought there (sorry, no pun intended, honestly) and I’m always on the look out for something/anything that makes me pause and consider before eating more than my body needs/wants.
Meanwhile, despite your rather grand suggestion that I was becoming a ‘normal’ person (haha – whatever that is 😉 ) today I have to confess to an epic fail of a FD yesterday. I’ve only had one other epic fail FD in the last 12 months (it’s almost 12 months since I started this diet) and yesterday was due to an unexpected lunch at work for a colleagues birthday. It was also a ‘go out to eat’ lunch which was extra hard as I’ve managed to fake my way through at-work buffets before but ordering in the restaurant defeated me. Next thing I knew I had demolished a salt and pepper squid salad and of course I told myself that would be my only meal of the day but no, I clearly didn’t listen because at 6:30pm I demolished a bowl of cereal, 2 pieces of thick-cut fruit bread with lashings of butter, 6 grain crackers with cheese and pickle, a bowl of ice-cream with chocolate sauce and 4 oatmeal cookies I’d baked yesterday. Probably a few other bits and pieces have conveniently slipped my mind right now but EPIC fail it most certainly was. So Jade, no, definitely not a normal person but today has been better and I’ve eaten sensibly and also swam 30 lengths of the pool (1.5km) as punishment (no, actually I love to swim!).
So to all my dear normal-in-an-abnormal-kind-of-way friends don’t despair just keep pausing and thinking/considering and together we’ll all get there xx

Happy Tue Fasters!

Feeling much more in control today. And, as luck would have it, no free lunch today. So I’m going for a fd today. Yesterday’s was not a great success. Made it till I got home then went a little crazy. That gave me a 21 hr fasting window, but way more than 500 cal.

Spring: Way to jump back on the wagon. One of the great things about 5:2, tomorrow is always another opportunity to fast. And 30 laps in the pool! Way to go!

We are in control and will make healthy choices!