Hi JJane. Congrats on your success so far. I find following your journey helpful and inspiring. I am on FD6 and was trying to stick w one meal as I do think that’s the way to go but had a serving of roasted peanuts as I was so hungry. Still leaves me 300 cal for dinner. We had a company annual party last night and I had one more wine than I normally would so not feeling 100% today. Just drinking lots of water to rehydrate and stay the course on today’s FD.

One thing I find I may need to adjust is not weighing every day. Today I am up 3 lbs and tomorrow I’ll probably be down 4 or more (hoping). Feels like a bit of a roller coaster ride.

Anyway, I have such fears it won’t work for me. Your success helps me to put that fear to rest. I am sure the mantra is: it works, if you work it!

Hi Jjane! Thank you for the Happy Scale app suggestion. I will check it out. This week I am doing 16:8 as my entire family is here celebrating my mom’s 90th birthday!! The goal is to maintain while having a great time. I’ll be back to the 5:2 WOL next week. Talk to you then. Keep up the good work. 🙂

legalamanda….how did your first FD go?
I hope that you find success with this plan. 🙂

beachgurl…I used to weigh myself everyday, and I found the same thing …up and down. After watching the pattern in conjunction with my fasting days…I finally decided on Fridays as my true weight days…hopefully you will find your groove. I hope that you are still having successful FDs. 🙂

Jane…now you know where the limit is…wishing you good luck with a controlled eating and drinking this weekend. 🙂

This week was a little weird for me…I was home for a couple days, and I find it difficult to fast when I am at home….so I did not get my regular FDs this week. I did do a 42 hr water fast…my weight is holding steady.

I am going to try to eat decent over the weekend…but it already seems difficult…we are going off to a festival, and concert this evening, and hubby is already talking about stopping for pizza and then getting some yummy fair-food. I’m going to try to be good. Have a great weekend everyone.

Omg that’s amazing! So so happy for you! I have been a little discouraged as I have not lost as much as I hoped. So I am glad to see your progress. I started at 218 and got down to 215 and then today I’m 217 🙁 It has only been a week but I guess I was just hoping I would do better than that.

Well done Jane, you are getting there. Do you stick to 500 cals every fast day? I’m in my first one and im going to go over (haven’t stocked the cupboard with suitable foods yet). I think I chose wrong as I feel really hungry and my stomach is really rumbling. What kind of things do you eat on fast days to stave off the hunger?

I’m away for the weekend. Had sticky toffee pudding last night so I’ve put on a bit this morning, but I’ll do another fast day as soon as I get home.

Can you look at what you’re eating on your non fast days? Cut down on treats like cake or booze?

I’m thinking if I do well for five weeks and get to my goal I can loosen of a bit and go to 6:1.

Well it’s probably good to shake things up! I’ve never heard of that one. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Oh well done then 🙂 it sounds like a chore! Why would it work better than the 5:2?

I’m at the end of my third fast day. Feel okay other than massively craving a biscuit. I got one of the packet before I changed my mind!

Really hoping I can go to 6:1 when I get to my target weight!

Well whatever works for you 🙂

I’m finding I sometimes eat less on the normal days and I don’t seem to get hungry as often. So far I’ve dropped from 9st 9.8 to 9st 4. It seems to be working! Fingers crossed it continues for me. My aim is 8st 7 (as I’m only short!)

You are so close to your goal 🙂 how much have you lost overall?

Wow, well done 🙂 I knew you’d get there!
I lost another lb, but I’ve put it on again. Still I have a raging cold and can’t taste anything…coffee tastes like bitter got water…yuck. Anyway I figure I’m not gong to fast specifically while I’m ill. I’ll wait until I’m on top form again to resume! What are you going to do now? Keep with the 5:2 for the foreseeable future?

Ahh I see, well hang in there 🙂

Merryme – I’m new here today, but just read this post of yours, from 18 Jan 18 at 1:05pm

How fantastic ! What a great collection of helpful ideas !
Just wanted to say that – maybe I’ll just copy your list here, for others to enjoy !

Best!
Ah-tee

——–

1. Still do your 2 FDs preferably on the same days ie Mon/Thurs. you’re starting to have an idea now of what a FD consists of for you, so try to do the same or very similar while away. Something strong tasting gives the mouth a sensation of having eaten more eg chili, curry,

2. Alternate drinks – if you are used to lots of wine/beer, alternate with sparkling water, So start with a sparkling water with lime or lemon slice, the wine, then sp water, then wine etc. the bubbles in the sp water give the psychological illusion of being festive, and the alternating cuts the calories for the event, but you won’t feel deprived.

On nonFDs skip breakfast. This is a meal where people say “but it comes with the accomodation, and I have to get my money’s worth/not waste it”. Holiday breakfasts or buffets ate often a larger meal than you would normally have. My answer is, it’s even more wasted if you’re just eating it to get your money’s worth. It’s wasted sitting on your hips, bum, stomach, or a double chin etc.

3. Stay away from the dining room at breakfast. Go for a walk instead, or have a well deserved extra half hour or hours sleep.

4. If you’re trying something that’s a specialty of the region. Get 1 between 2 and share. What puts on weight is getting 1 each, and doing it again each day.

5. If it’s a delicacy that comes in various sizes then get the small one.

6. Icecream – ask for a childrens’ serve.

7. Combine desert and coffee – an affogato. This is a small espresso coffee which comes with a small ball of vanilla icecream in a separate glass. Pour the hot espresso over the icecream, and there is dessert (a small one) and coffee in 1. Sometimes this is served with a liquer as well, which is also poured over the coffee and icecream. I ask for it to be served without the liqeur. Less calories.

8. Meals – cut back on starches in meals eg. A salad instead of a sandwich. If something’s usually served with rice have it without rice. If you like pasta have 1 between the 2 of you instead of 1 each. Share a salad as well. Hamburger – have a naked hamburger ie eat the filling and leave the bun, or leave half the bun,

9. Don’t have the bun or bread that comes with an evening meal. If a dish comes with chips ask them to hold the chips. If you can’t do this just yet then hold the chips on 1 of plate and share the chips on the other.

10. Instead of 3 courses have 2. Have entree and main meal. Or share an entree and have a main each. Or have an entree (starter)each and share a main. Or have a main each and share dessert. Or share a large main and share dessert. Checkout how big the dishes are that other people are being served.

11. If there’s soup, have a clear soup – consomme – rather than a thick or creme soup.

12. Pasta – have this with a tomato sauce instead of a cream sauce.

13. Salads – ask for the dressing to be served on the side, so you can put on a smaller amount yourself.

14. If the vegies come with a sauce you can ask them to hold the sauce and serve with a lemon wedge. Squeeze the lemon juice over the hot vegies. Hold the gravy or ask for it to be served on the side.

15. Buffets – avoid these if possible. If not possible pick up a small plate to put food on. Choose what you like but take a smaller portion than you normally would. Don’t load your plate up high. Elegant sufficiency is what you’re going for. Enjoy what you have. Take your time.if you go back for seconds have only a very small amount on the 2nd go.

16. Walk 10,000 steps every day.

17. This first holiday where you and OH are motivated to go home the same weight, make it a game to see where you can make changes to your past experiences, but still be enjoyable. There are simple things you can do
Eg
a boiled or poached egg has less calories than a scrambled one.
Strawberries and rockmelon (canteloupe – sp?)have less calories than other fruit.
Halve the amount of cream.
Have prawns instead of steak, chops or sausages – less calories.
Grilled fish instead of battered fish.
Check the fit of your clothes. If they’re getting a little tighter, do a FD the next day. Some of us have discovered that if we have an indulgent day the fastest and easiest way to get that off is to do a FD the next day.

Yeah I’ve folded during the last two fast days and gone way over even the 800. It’s no wonder my weight loss has stalled. I need to work out how to improve my motivation again!

Janejust – It’s so encouraging to have things other than the scale to mark progress! I always want the scale to move, don’t get me wrong, but pulling on a pair of jeans fresh from the dryer and not having to jump and bend and wiggle… that’s amazing! Pulling out a pair that didn’t fit months ago, and having them fit now too… every milestone is so encouraging! Way to go!