Day 17, QLD (AUS) FD800

Thanks so much for the commiserations and constructive advice, all.

An increased salt intake may well have been the culprit, as I had just starting adding salt to my food following advice I read on the forums. I knocked that off and my weight has dropped right back down.

I had no idea salt could have such dramatic effects!

Hoping the scales will resume a downward trajectory this week. I am going to stick with FD 800 as a daily average over the week, but have a bit more variation in calorie count from day to day.

I so impressed by those of you doing cardio on FD! I feel noticeably more lethargic on a very low calorie diet. And I do want to feel strong and fit too, not just smaller.

Day 17, London, UK, FD

Good Morning all, I missed a couple of days posting (off my January plan!) but I had good reason!!! My mum💕 now has a lovely sticker on her jacket, it reads …………………………………………. “I’ve had my Covid vaccination”!!!🎆🎇 You’ll know, I’ve been determined to get her vaccinated at the earliest possible time and although not at the top of the list at 81, I did the thing we’re not supposed to do and badgered her GP’s surgery😟. I know, I know, but I only called twice, when I called to ensure they used my mobile number for contact, I asked what the procedure would be and they said all over 80‘s in alphabetical order😲!!! As a ‘W’ I thought I would ‘chance my arm’ and called once the vaccination hub had opened and they gave me an appointment! Whether it was her scheduled appointment or not, all I can say is Phew!!! Whilst there I thought I would be cheeky and ask if they had any spare vaccine (from the no-shows etc) they said possibly, just wait 20mins or so which was fine as my mum had to be observed for 15mins anyway. It wasn’t for me, but I had hoped my brother❤ could be vaccinated. Unfortunately they didn’t have any spare😭. He lives with and cares for my mum, but he’s also a frontline worker😇 delivering hot meals to care homes, the housebound and the elderly in general😷. He’s super anxious about being out and about and returning home to my mum, lock-down doesn’t apply to his job! Anyway, I’m somewhat relieved, now to start praying for my brother’s appointment!!! 🙏

So, back to fasting. Today I feel lighter, less stressed & less anxious, so the fasting wagon is back on the road, we had a glass of vino to celebrate the vaccination yesterday😲, therefore today WILL be OMAD💪 with a lovely cabbage & chorizo soup at about 5pm, followed by a swift slam, bolt & chain of the kitchen door!!!

@songbirdme, you should be chuffed, chuffed to bits in fact since you’re our poster girl for 5:2 and specifically maintenance 🙌!!

@stitchincarol, I did ADF last July💪 with my FDs being LFDs!! I’m not sure where the mojo to complete the month came from, but the -10lbs was very welcome at a time when lockdown stress was kicking my a*se!!! I’m not quite sure what happened for the remainder of the year, I guess I just took my eye 👀 off of the ball!!!

@clemmi, isn’t it strange how we’re now talking about lockdowns, mask wearing and 6pm curfews in such a casual fashion? I hope we don’t forget simpler, happier, less restricted times🙏!!!

@i-hate-lettuce, yes, you’re definitely another one of our poster boys for 5:2!!! Good to hear the curry has returned to the menu, what’s life without curry???? ………………………… and for you, a sneaky beer or three🍺🍻???

I think I used this quote in my last post and I’m keeping it in mind throughout the days since, it really works for a professional procrastinator such as myself😁!!!!………………………………………..

“The Way Get Started Is To Quit Talking And Begin Doing.” – Walt Disney

Post 2 – @litprof – I am so glad to hear it is the salt intake. I am one of those people who hold on to salt, and the water that loves it, especially if I am stressed out. But don’t give up salt altogether, just use a little bit in cooking and up your water intake. That should help with the headaches and water retention. At least it does for me.

Day 17 5:2 Houston USA
Is it too late to join?

early ( 4.30 am!! ) Day 18. country west Australia FD
Finally the wind has eased but now the heat is setting in – 35C plus all week forecast.
Been trying to be mindful but busy busy busy with life happening in all directions.
Clothes fitting better.
Scales superglued in position and not moving but I am not worried as I feel better in myself and eating less so eventually the scales will behave.
Just seeing DD off to early work. Might post later after I read some of the posts from the past few days.

Day 18, FD, Aus

Love a Monday FD. I know how much weight I put on over my 4 weeks off, but I hadn’t taken my measurements. Wish I had because my work skirt is far tighter than the kilo increase would suggest it should! It was loose in early December… Sigh….

You are the early bird today @lilymartin!

Welcome back @mogaman and welcome @greenbkpr (love you handle btw).

Day 18 – Western Australia – FD
Day 17 – NFD
Day 16 – NFD
Day 15 – NFD
Day 14 – NFD

My Sunday weigh-in was a little disappointing 😐 My NFDs became ever so slightly gluttonous and reversed a bit of my fast-work so the target wasn’t hit (off by 1.5kg) and now my monthly target is looking a little shaky! I guess that’s what you get when you drop the accountability and don’t check in!!!

Will try to check in daily this week and get back on track. Two weeks to try and hit the goal… hmmm I reckon I still can 🙂 Going to give it my best shot anyway! Going to try to stay keto until the end of Jan as that’s when my weight drops. Picked up a fresh pack of monitoring strips, so here we go.

Hope you all had a good weekend. Will read through the pages of updates I’ve missed as there are always pieces of gold to be found in your posts – be they tips on what to do, inspiring posts or hilarious recounts of things that have happened. Thanks for being my internet fast buddies 😀

Day 18 U.K. FD

Really sorry I have not posted for ages!

However I have been working away in the background

Also just finished reading the new Dr Jason Fung book, Life In The Fasting Lane.
I would really recommend this book to newbies and also to people like me who are coming back to fasting after quite a gap.

More later…

Happy fasting everyone 🙂

Day 18 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Morning all. It’s Blue Monday today, apparently the most depressing Monday of the year due to being so far away from Christmas and pay day still not until end of month, and today will have more people ringing in sick than normal.

However I don’t believe today will be a Blue Monday. Getting ready for another week, another FD today….to change things around I might not have much this evening and just have my main meal at lunchtime. Weight is staying put for now.

@flourbaby super news that you got your mum vaccinated. I must check with my Dad when he will be getting his, at 84 and underlying conditions he will be soon I hope. Me and DH are 14th on the list of 15 priorities…..so it will be a while for us yet. Planning of holidays won’t really happen until then

Have a lovely day everyone.

Day 18 – UK – FD

Unfortunately no FD since I Day 12 – I have to admit that my fasting mindset has not been very strong for the past month really – too much of the old 🍷🥂 has definitely weakened my fasting mojo……The only positive is that my exercise levels have stayed the same – doing all my regular zoom classes and yesterday enjoyed a 12.6km hike and started today as usual with my regular Broga class at 7am.

I haven’t weighed myself for this challenge but I know that some kgs have been added during the last 2 weeks of December and the first 2 weeks of January so I gave myself a good talking to yesterday whilst I was walking and am pressing my RESET button with FD 800 Monday to Thursday and staying dry for the next two weeks until Friday 29th when I have a special meal delivery coming from Simon Rogan at Home – now all I need to do is to put my words into action🤞so must ensure that I log in daily for accountability – and I am to log it all on the spreadsheet now to remind me of my promise to myself!!! “If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now”

@nellen @basyjames @penz @daffodil2010 @flourbaby @brightonbelle – I’m another one to lose willpower when I’m drinking alcohol – and it certainly stimulates the appetite so no hope of staying within TDEE on those days……and I can’t even blame OH as he stopped drinking alcohol years ago (at least 15 years if not more) but he did buy me a membership for the Wine Society so it is his fault 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@i-hate-lettuce – good to hear that your are now able to extend variety in your diet and tolerating it well and thank you for adding me to the spreadsheet – no excuse now!
@northgeorgia – sympathies – it is so easy to underestimate what we actually consume……..
@litprof – great advice from many and I agree with the water retention due to salty foods – check on that and try to drink at least 2L of water a day – Just read that salt was the culprit!!!
@michelinme – good to hear from you and 🤞on your continuing recovery from long Covid – Self care is so important at these times – resting, eating very easy healthy food and sleeping sounds like a very sensible plan 🤗
@songbirdme – I’ll be looking up Lupin – sounds like something that would interest me
@mogaman – welcome back and you are on the spreadsheet!
@greenbkpr – never too late to join and welcome – I have added you to the spreadsheet too
Here is the link if you want to use it:-
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1u9-9iJVc4Xjj9RLAcuCWuk0WUE1ua9ovCw_Wwh-2TEo/edit?usp=sharing

Pocket list 🤗 Day 18
@lilymartin
@penz
@elektron
@fivetwofan5252
@stitchincarol
@at
@michelinme
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce

ZBC 🚫
@northgeorgia
@at

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@at

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@ccco (Dry January)
@at (Dry until 29th)

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!

Day 18 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 FD

Very, very wet here in Wales and weather warnings for heavy rain until Thursday so I’m going to have to keep busy with indoor jobs. Drank an adequate amount of wine over the weekend 🙄 but I have eaten mindfully, healthy choices and no processed carbs or sugars. Feeling optimistic for a good FD.

Pocket list 🤗 Day 18
@lilymartin
@penz
@elektron
@fivetwofan5252
@stitchincarol
@at
@michelinme
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@missybear

ZBC 🚫
@northgeorgia
@at

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@at

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@ccco (Dry January)
@at (Dry until 29th)
@missybear

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!

Day UK FD (third post)

@northerndawn – Thanks so much for your kind words!

–> This morning I have just lined up 3.5 litres of water, as a strong visual reminder of how much I must drink before I go to bed tonight.

I have also come across a rather crazy online guy, who wasn’t my cup of tea at all, but who seems to have invented a phenomenon called Snake Juice. This is a salt water/electrolyte recipe which I actually really like, so I have filled up a water bottle with “Snake Juice” too

So hopefully I am well prepared for today’s fast.

Day 18 UK FD800
Day 16 TRE
Day 17 TRE

Good bits: Feeling happier with an obvious bit of weight off. Still plenty to go at but running was a bit easier/faster over the weekend. Running in a fasted state was fine – I’m always a bit faster if fed before a run but it’s marginal and weight loss will get me faster 🙂 Carrying 10-15kg extra around running is hard work!

‘Iffy’ bits: Managed to do some TRE eating over the weekend with minimal snacks. (Fasted all Sunday until family meal at 7pm). But… It’s really hard sometimes when I’m chief chef in the house and others demand a pudding! So Tarte Tatin made with pears and 100g of purest sucrose was on the menu last night. Hard to resist served with a small dollop of ice cream. And that led to a couple more high carb treats before sleep. I’m hoping the 450kcal running has offset some of that 😉 but not sure it works like that.

Bad bits: Too many carbs over the weekend. 🙁

Interesting bits: Sweet foods already tasting too sweet.

Adding myself to the pocket list. I need to fast!

Pocket list 🤗 Day 18
@lilymartin
@penz
@elektron
@fivetwofan5252
@stitchincarol
@at
@michelinme
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@clemmi FD800
@johnnyr FD800

ZBC 🚫
@northgeorgia
@at
@brightonbelle

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@at

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@ccco (Dry January)
@at (Dry until 29th)

Day 18 US/DC NFD
Good morning all. Yesterday was a FD and it went really pretty well. It helped that I had a lot of work to do so not much time to think about eating.
I am interested in what many of you say about being fine until you eat – I am just like that. I say it’s my mouth that’s hungry, and honestly I think that’s right. If I don’t eat, I’m not really thinking about food but once my taste buds get a treat – it begins. I want to eat. Water helps, but doesn’t completely turn off that desire. Interesting.
This will be a very odd week here in DC. Hoping it’s safe and no one gets hurt. It is very, very strange in the city – empty except for National Guard. Who would have ever imagined.
Good luck this week all.

Day 18 – USA/GA – NFD

Yes! Weigh-in: 229 lbs this morning! And this one wasn’t a “barely” like the one time it came in 229.9 or so back on the 4th. This one is 229.5, so it makes me feel even better and confident that I’ll soon be getting off this plateau. The mindful eating on NFDs was helpful, and as I start back at the office tomorrow, that should get easier. Hopefully, I’ll see the 220s at another weigh-in this week!

Welcome to all the folks joining us this month; I haven’t been able to keep up (sorry!) I’d love to hear more about yourselves, whatever you’d like to tell us!

Just removing myself from the pocket lists since I did my FD yesterday and will do another one tomorrow, but good luck to everyone below!

Pocket list 🤗 Day 18
@lilymartin
@penz
@elektron
@fivetwofan5252
@stitchincarol
@at
@michelinme
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@clemmi FD800
@johnnyr FD800
@ccco FD800
@suki2

ZBC 🚫
@at
@brightonbelle

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@at

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@ccco (Dry January)
@at (Dry until 29th)

Day 18 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD500

Scales were at 154.0 this morning. Remember when I hovered between 146 and 148?? Just one month ago??? sigh This week has nothing to interrupt my usual four-day FD500/FD800 pattern, so I’m hoping the success these days will bring will motivate me back to my strong self from last fall. Fingers crossed, right?

One thing that must change is my indifference to exercise. Well, I guess the indifference can stay, and probably will, but even while indifferent, I must DO IT. Because it helps me lose weight? Nah. It does help a small bit, but I want to be strong and healthy, and that requires either exercise or heavy gardening, and January in Nebraska eliminates any possibility of heavy gardening, so exercise it must be.

Is that my pledge to you all? LOL, I just sat here for several minutes, staring out the window, wondering if I could actually commit to a pledge. I’ll get back to you on the decision.

@snowflake56 Thanks for putting me on the pocket list! That’s such an amazing feeling of being looked after by a friend half a globe away!

@northgeorgia YAY for 229!

Pocket list 🤗 Day 18
@lilymartin
@penz
@elektron
@fivetwofan5252
@stitchincarol
@at
@michelinme
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@clemmi FD800
@johnnyr FD800
@ccco FD800
@suki2
@basyjames WFD3

ZBC 🚫
@northgeorgia
@at
@brightonbelle
@stitchincarol

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@at
@basyjames
@stitchincarol

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@ccco (Dry January)
@at (Dry until 29th)
@stitchincarol

And, I took a deep breath, pulled up my big girl panties, and put myself on the exercise list, because, for this week at least, I’m committing to the exercise. Won’t like it, but will do it. Why is this such a chore for some and such a joy for others? Amazing, eh?

Have a grand day, everyone. “A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – unknown I believe I need to print that out and post it in my kitchen as a reminder to me that it’s not my strength, my power, but my determination, my persistence, my willingness to keep on keeping on. We can do this!

Day 18 Canada FD

Such a mild winter so far, it has still been great skiing and hiking so I am finding lots of opportunities to get outside and feeling lucky to be able to do so. I don’t find winter the easiest season for this WOL though and seem to have more CD’s than FD’s. I have no idea how this is impacting my weight as my scales seem to be totally unreliable and are due for replacement. Clothes are feeling okay so I will use that as my guide.

It is great to hear so many are getting vaccines, read a lovely piece in the morning paper about the huge volunteer effort in the UK to support the role out.

@stitchincarol your strength is still there, let’s make this week a good one
@i-hate-lettuce I think you are an amazing role model for so many great things

Congrats to everyone who are doing well this month and losing or maintaining and welcome to the new posters and those who are back.

Pocket list 🤗 Day 18
@lilymartin
@penz
@elektron
@fivetwofan5252
@stitchincarol
@at
@michelinme
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@clemmi FD800
@johnnyr FD800
@ccco FD800
@suki2
@basyjames WFD3
@bellyblast

ZBC 🚫
@northgeorgia
@at
@brightonbelle
@stitchincarol

Exercise 🏋️‍♀️ 30×5
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@at
@basyjames
@stitchincarol

DTF 🚫🍸🍷🍺🥂
@suki2
@brightonbelle
@ccco (Dry January)
@at (Dry until 29th)
@stitchincarol
@bellyblast

Day 19, NFD, Aus

Good FD yesterday and a good night’s sleep for once!! We are expecting v hot weather at the end of this week which means the nights will also be a little too warm for my liking. The air con is poised to be switched on! Please send me some of your rain @missybear.

So true, @nellen “it’s my mouth that’s hungry”!!!

Can someone explain the salt/water retention/temp weight gain phenomenon to me please? I get why salt intake would lead to water retention but why then do some people recommend having salt on a FD? [I’m a bit slow this morning – haven’t had my second cuppa yet!]

Everyone – keep posting about the benefits of counting every single calorie!! I don’t count, but all your posts are making me more mindful about “every peanut, every bite of the kid’s toast, chocolate, lick of the raw cake mix etc etc” as @lilymartin put it. I’m a ZBC member, but I give the dogs a spoon of Greek yoghurt for their breakfast, and then I lick the spoon. It’s probably only 5 calories in reality, but those small numbers soon add up. If you keep reminding me, then maybe I’ll get off my lazy mental shelf and start diligently logging incoming food.

@stitchincarol – promise ME you’ll exercise today. I know you keep your promises…

Day 19 country west Australia CD
Yay- I LURVE my scales today!!!💞 They were very kind when I stepped on them this morning so hoping this downward trend, although small, continues.😃
@northgeorgia – woohooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great result.👏 Maybe we will eventually whoosh off the plateau together. Anyway, very well done to you. 😇
@basyjames, I would very gladly give you some of our sun.☀️☀️ We are expecting a day of 37ºC today after 34ºC yesterday and climbing to 38/39 ºC on Friday.🥵
We don’t have aircon as it affects me with allergy like symptoms all day when I am at work and I am concerned about what all the air conditioners might be doing to the planet ( though think I would defs have one where the temp gets as low as some of you report!) . So simply have to put up with it.😓
More a mid 20s girl myself.
@penz, the only reason I started counting calories was that so many of them flew under the radar for me. Seriously out of whack with what I thought I was consuming ! Those pesky little calories hide everywhere and in the most unexpected places. 😳 Hoping to wean myself off MFD in time but whenever I think I have it sorted, I plug in the figures and it’s certainly an eye opener!!😳😲😳
Off to water the garden before the heat really sets in.
Onward and downward

@songbird – many thanks for your best wishes for those of us in the States. We will get through it. I am optimistic that after Wednesday things will start to get back to normal – including the National Guard leaving the Capitol. (Who would have thought I would ever be having to say those words!) thanks

Day 19 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

It’s raining so heavily out there, flood warnings in place, so no morning walk for me. Instead I did a new workout which concentrates on the legs and the knees and hips that get creaky with middle age….I expect to feel sore later, but it’s good to move.

@stitchincarol…I only find exercise interesting first thing in the morning, once the day starts I either don’t have time or little inclination, and unless it’s the weekend and I can do a super long walk around my rural area, if I don’t do it in the morning then it’s not going to get done. Find the time that’s good for you. Holding your hand, you can do it.

Exercise is medicine 😀

@i-hate-lettuce oh yes, I got out into my garden Saturday and did the “tidy up”, cut back, cleaned up……and was delighted to see the crocus, daffodils and snowdrops unfurling. My crocuses should be blooming soon. There was still growth and blooms on my hollyhock but at 8 foot tall and looking raggedy I had to cut it back. Hoping it does well this year.

And I am noticing the days are getting longer again, it’s still dark when I finish work at 17.30 but there is a lingering brightness..in a few weeks it will be bright for my commute home.
Yay, Spring is starting……birdies singing earlier in the morning, nature continues apace despite what is going on in our world.

@nellen thinking of you in DC, and hoping normalcy will resume soon.

Have a great Tuesday……how can it be the 19th already?

Day 19 – UK – FD800

Hello all. So nice to speak to peeps from all over the big wide world. If we all lose weight will the earth spin faster or slower?

Yesterday’s FD800 was good. A bit hungry but nothing too bad. I managed a short run with trippy-up dog. I need to put a GPS on the dog as I’m sure she runs twice as far as I do when we go.

In spite of lost of fasting this week I’m not expecting the scales to go down. Upping the exercise will probably mask any fat loss 😐 So I’m hoping my belly measurement will shrink… I definitely look like I’ve lost a bit of fat and my legs are heavy from running. Only time will tell I guess.

Do we have a pocket list for today.

I’ll join in if we do. 🙂

Keep fasting fellow fasters. It’s all worth it. You are all inspirational in such an honest way.

Day 19 UK NFD
SECOND POST

Just checking in to say that yesterday was my best fast day ever!!

Normally on fast days I decline any activities after 1800 as I tend not to be the best company and I certainly don’t work past 1800 on FDs. Normally I just want to eat my 500 cals in the evening, watch TV and go to bed.

However last night, I wasn’t even hungry by 7pm, this is literally miraculous. I wasn’t tired and I wasn’t grouchy. At that point, I did then consider making it into a water fast day, but given my recent issues (dizziness/faintness etc) I thought that would be unwise to push it that far!

I have always thought that water fast days just weren’t within my reach, but maybe they are…..?!

Even better, I did weights before breakfast this morning and had no shakiness/dizziness etc, hooray!

Without a doubt, it was the Snake Juice that made the difference!

So on the subject of Snake Juice, I am just weighing in on the salt issue 🙂 🙂

Personally, I have been told by various doctors in the last five years that I need to increase my salt consumption, as my bloods repeatedly reveal low salt levels. One crazy doc actually told me I needed to eat more crisps! Go figure…
(US: crisps = potato chips)

However, I am also well aware that plenty of peeps with high blood pressure have been told they need to reduce salt. Horses for courses as they say.

Dr Jason Fung (yawn I’m mentioning him again, hahaha) is a real advocate of salt. He’s even done a 45m lecture on it, it is on youtube if anyone is interested!

@johnnyr – haha re trippy dog! My dog is fine when I am just running slowly, but as soon as I start sprinting it is a DISASTER! He circles me giddily barking… I just have visions of us both ending up in a big tumbling snowball of legs, arms and paws everywhere! And I’d definitely come off worst, hahaha!

Day 19 France FD800

Bonjour everyone

Yesterday’s FD800 went well and I wasn’t really hungry until 10pm so we went to bed early.
Very nice to hear of others’ progress in their gardens and the imminent arrival of spring for those of us lucky enough to have mild climates.
@ daffodil2020 Nice to hear about your daffodils and crocuses popping through
@ JohnnyR. Good work with the prepping the dahlias for winter. I hope they’ve survived! What sort are they?
Great news on the hedge project part 1. We finished cutting and clearing yesterday so that job has a big tick in the box. This morning, I pruned a couple of pear trees and a fig tree.
I’m trying to stick with FD800 all week and then TDEE Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
I’ll start off today’s pocket list. Please add your names, if you want to.

Pocket list
@clemmi FD800
@johnnyr FD800