Well hello everyone. Just here for a moment to re-connect briefly after the shocking news re Dr Michael Mosley. He was a hero to me and many millions of people, simply asking us to listen to the science and not the hype and blather that surrounds us.

The world is a better place for Michael Mosley and we will benefit from his wisdom for years to come.

It has been 2 years since I achieved my goal weight on 17 June 2022 using the simple tried and trusted 5:2 WOL, nothing else. It was my second time round this racetrack as had done it once before but, thankfully, this time (and forevermore) have been able to maintain on 6:1 for last 2 years without any conscious effort. Sharing this information is my humble attempt to praise and thank the good doctor for sharing his knowledge with us all. Vale Michael Mosley😢

I am warmly surprised to find many of you here, all the familiar names plus a few more.

I wish each of you all the best on your own personal journey and thank you all for holding my hand through my own journey.

“poco a poco” – little by little, bit by bit, slowly, gradually

LL

Day 11-No. VA USA-FD

Joining the pocket list today. Weight is stable, but I would like to lose another 8 # over the next few months, so need to re-focus efforts. My garden is wildly overgrown, yet lots of flowers poking through:
echinaceas of several shades of pink and white; orange tiger lilies; orange butterfly weed; and a few red and orange daylilies.

Work became very annoying, suddenly, when one of two receptionists gave notice last week (taking a job working from home); and then one of the nurses also gave notice yesterday. So now I need to interview to hire two new employees. Can I express how much I despise personnel issues??? And I really don’t have anyone to do these interviews but me, so I will “get on with it” in the words of Queen Elizabeth….

Very sad to hear the news of Dr. Moseley. Odd how he seemed to be a personal friend, when of course we never met…he certainly left a legacy, though.

Onward and downward!

pocket list:
@flourbaby
@snowflake56
@excelsior12309

Day 11 – Rural Nebraska, USA – WFD – 162.8

I got that huge project sent off to be printed–245 copies of it–and headed out to the yard. I pulled some weeds, collected some branches in the grass from the tree that constantly drops branches, planted a hosta, planted a fern, transplanted another hosta to a better location, planted a tomato, tidied up the herb bed, and lots more…all in all, I was outside for almost six hours, accomplished lots, and had a grand time. I made a sandwich and sat outside to eat it. The day was plenty warm (82F/28C), but the back yard where I was working has lots of deep shade, so whenever the sun got too hot, I’d move to the shade, sit in my chair, and take a break to read my book. ‘Twas a glorious day.

Today is piano lessons followed by a church meeting to discuss getting a new organ, so my WF should be easy enough, and if not exactly easy, too busy to stop for food, LOL.

@merryapple I laughed and laughed that you thought I typed VATICAN Bible School.

@jaifaim I’ve been walking a bit each day when there was time available, and DH and I have gone for a few walks, so thanks for the nudge. Now planks? Hmmm. You too with “vatican”? I should just have used the more common (for DH and me, at least) “VBS”! And I love your quote from June 4.

@missybear It’s so lovely to have you back! I’m sorry you were so sick last year, and very glad you’re recovered now. And to be frustrated to be losing the same pounds again? Right there with you. Two years ago, I was down to 140 and below. Somehow, despite never leaving this forum, I kept losing the fight and the discipline and the determination, and now I’m back in the 160s. Gah. Let’s be successful (again) together, okay?

@snowflake56 I’m so impressed that you can do 5 minute planks AND whip out side planks so easily!

Okay, I really need to shower and get ready to leave. I got to Day 6, so still have a long way to go to read everything. But I love hearing all your news, so I’ll get there!

Have a grand one, everyone!

The Choices You Make Today Will Determine the Quality of Every Tomorrow

Day 11 pocket list:
@flourbaby
@snowflake56
@excelsior12309
@stitchincarol WFD

Day 11 – USA/TN

Day 10 was supposed to be a FD, but I went overboard to 1000 cals. Hoping to do another FD this week.

Day 12, London, UK, FD800

I’m much better today, but it must be something in the (worldwide) water!! Et tu @jaifaim & @funshipfreddie??? hibernation, duvet days and general discombobulation abounds!!!!😲🤔😁 100% its weather related, worldwide its just NOT supposed to be as it is right now!!! Summer central heating & rain in the UK, @funshipfreddie is either melting in line to vote or checking Ebay for a tweed winter coat, @merryapple is getting hot & humid stormy weather followed by a European winter!!! Todays news reported a months rain fell in Majorca (guaranteed good weather destination for many Brits!), closing the airport! Is nothing sacred??? NO WONDER we’re discombobulated!!! I’m voting for hibernation!

I’m boring myself talking about the weather!!😁😁 I hope everyone is focussed on fasting or having a mindful NFD. Soup for lunch and an omelette for dinner should keep me on track, unless a tornado whips through London!!!🤣🤣

Keep the faith folks!!

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou

Day 12 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 162.0

I’ve lost my WF muscle, and yesterday ended up a FD–and then it was probably closer to a FD800. Once those gates open, you know… I’ll keep at it, and focus hardest of all on the skill of eating only at a level 3, as that was giving me lovely results when I was absolutely faithful about it.

I did some more gardening this morning, planting a couple bell peppers (it’s so LATE, so I bought larger plants in hopes that would speed them along to producing), a mammoth jalapeno plant (as in the jalapeno is mammoth, not the size of the plant itself…I’m dreaming of jalapeno poppers…) and some basil. Now I just have to go out and do some tidying in my perennial bed, but that will probably wait until Friday.

@jaifaim Canola oil is just a standard kitchen oil that’s mostly flavorless. Corn oil, vegetable oil, all those that are the cheap things would substitute. So would, of course, olive oil, although it would certainly have a flavor impact. So whatever strikes you as a reasonable oil for a salad dressing can be used for canola oil. Which, for the record, used to be considered healthy, but now is considered wicked. I’m so tired of all that commotion, LOL, so I simply use what I want and call it good. Like eggs. First they were normal, then they were deadly, and now they’re healthy. Wait long enough, and canola oil will again be considered fine. And if not, oh well.
Oops. That was a bit of a soapbox, huh? I try not to rant, but every now and then it slips out, LOL.
Oh, and I’m loving all your Gaelic lessons, so share every bit as much as you want!
And, actually, no, by Tuesday noon, my thighs were screaming at me. The gardening I’ve been doing has both helped work out the pain, but also exacerbated the pain, by pulling just a bit more on muscles that needed no pulling. I am still a bit uncomfortable, but the pain is finally gone–whew! But I love the DOMS term!

@merryapple Yeah, those meece were a distinct irritant and I’m so glad they’re all gone. I too am suffering ants, and use a product called Terro: you put some drops on a bit of cardboard, the ants find it, love it, circle around it to eat it, go back to their nest–and those drops on the feet of the ant are actually poisonous, so it kills the whole nest. So I get rid of them all, and then two weeks later, they’re back, so I do it again…but at least it works for some period of time!
Your sweater sounds both lovely and truly challenging! I was making rapid progress on DH’s Fair Isle, but have slowed down in the last few days. I love knitting while watching some pointless movie or series (I’ve been loving Brokenwood and Harry Wild), so with the wicked heat we’re supposed to have today, I may just sit and knit with a show on this afternoon, once I’ve finished my to-do list…which is AMAZINGLY short, LOL!

@snowflake56 So glad your husband ended up not needing to stay the full four nights, and is doing well!–Oh. But now I just read that the news wasn’t all good.

@linda.b SO lovely to hear from you! But where were your signature emojis?????

@excelsior12309 Your garden sounds lovely even if it is overgrown–and I’m so sorry for you that you have to hire new people!

@flourbaby I’d absolutely love to come help you in your garden…too bad you’re so far away!

Okay, I think I’ve responded to the relevant things of everyone–I’ve at least read everything. I do treasure all of you, you know.

Okay, now to plan what supper will be, take a shower, and head to town to buy the groceries I need. By three o’clock, I plan to be knitting!

Have a grand one, my friends.

Day 13, Germany, FD

Another wet day overhere as well but next week it will be better.

@jaifaim, @stitchincarol and @merryapple, thank you all so much for your support! No news from the surgeon yesterday, we didn’t sleep very well last night. No news always makes us nervous.

@jaifaim and @merryapple You’re both doing well on the planks, I once started with 15 sec and had to give up because my arms couldn’t hold it any more. It took me a while to get to 1 min.

Pocket List 🪸
@flourbaby
@funshipfreddie
@leoniraats
@merry🍎
@snowflake56

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 13 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

Yesterday’s line-dancing was fun. We finally got to use the resident’s lounge again, after being crammed into a small-ish dining room for the last few weeks while a reno was going on. Our teacher introduced us to the ‘Big Hug’ line dance. I was a disaster, like a headless chicken. I’ll have to get some homework done before next week. It looks so easy when you see other people doing it. Here are some experts doing it on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG5pB64YXSE

@merryapple – 72.3?! 🎯 You’re doing so well this month. I think I’ve been doing a combo of hibernating & EFS-ing this week. I blame the colder weather. My new obsession is toasted rye bread + avo. And toasted rye with liver pâté since my neighbour brought me a new supply yesterday. I need a REALLY good FD today 🥴️

@snowflake – wishing you receive only good news from the doctors today 🙏

@jaifaim – I think our posts crossed again yesterday. Perfect walking weather here today, sunny, & hardly a breeze . Planning on at least an hour’s walk too 🚶🌤

Sending RESOLVE to my fellow fasters 🎯💪

Pocket List – Day 14 🪸
@flourbaby
@funshipfreddie
@leoniraats
@merry🍎
@snowflake56

Day 13 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 230 lbs. Only a pound down, but down is down. Getting ready for my trip next week…leaving out Saturday, so it’ll be almost a week and a half until my next FD.

Day 13 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 161.6

I’m loving that drop in weight even though all I did yesterday was eat only at a hunger level 3, and only at meal times. If only I always succeeded in that! Today, I have a toosed green salad planned for lunch, and supper will be salmon, fresh asparagus from my sweet neighbor, sauteed baby mushrooms, and whatever leftover veggie salads (which need eating) that appeal to me.

@merryapple I printed off your recipe and will make it once tomatoes are ripe around here. I once attended a wedding on a farm a few miles from here, where the reception food was prepared by a chef friend of the bride, and the food was glorious. The only thing I still remember–and remember rather clearly–was an appetizer of sliced rounds of polenta, fried, and then covered with tomato jam, so your recipe may be just what I need to recreate that, because the couple times I’ve tried left me unimpressed. What do you do with the jam when you make it?

@snowflake56 Prayers for your husband’s health and for peace and good sleep for both of you! Hopefully you’ll hear from the surgeon today.

@jaifaim Actually, I think canola and rapeseed are exactly the same; I’d forgotten its alternative name, so, well done for figuring that out.

@funshipfreddie Actually, I don’t think that dance looks simple at all, and that’s spoken as someone who did tap, jazz, ballet, and toe for years, and many dance recitals with multiple dances in each. So the fact that you were tripping over your feet (is that a fair description?) seems entirely reasonable to me.

@flourbaby Hang on to that hunger with joy; the Wondr program I’m on (sorta…haven’t paid lots of attention just of late) says that when you’re hungry, that’s when you’re losing weight.

@northgeorgia A pound is indeed a pound, and worth be glad over. Where are you headed on your vacation?

@missybear Good luck on resolving everything with the house purchase, and being pleased with the resolution. And, wow, skipping meals without intending to? That’s a concept that simply makes no sense to me, LOL!

I went to grab another ball of oatmeal Jamieson’s wool and couldn’t find it. So I hunted. And hunted some more. And more. And then in the same places I’d already hunted. After doing that multiple times, fussing over where that extra yarn could be even in my sleep last night, I got out of bed at 6:40 this morning and went and hunted even harder (I have a LOT of stuff in my sewing room…) and I’ve finally concluded that either I’ve somehow used all my oatmeal (and a couple other colors as well!) because my gauge is that much tighter than I intended, or I’ll eventually find the rest of the yarn in the pantry or in the garage with my gardening tools or in the closet with…you get the idea. Gah! There’s a yarn shop in Omaha where I can pick up some more, assuming she has the right colors. The woes of a knitter, LOL!

Have a grand one, my friends. I’m going to focus on this quote today:

The Choices You Make Today Will Determine the Quality of Every Tomorrow

Day 13 – USA/TN

Been investigating “set point” in weight loss, due to the frustration of not being able to shake the few pounds I feel I need to lose.

Also studying the benefits of castor oil; Tried a remedy for constipation and it worked overnight!

@excelsior12309, I remember stories about Father Divine as well. His group ran a home in Jersey City, NJ, not far from where I grew up.

Day 14, Germany, CD

I just lost my post after looking at the line-dance video.

Thank you all so much for your support, I was in real panic mode yesterday, I’m much calmer this morning. My DH called the hospital but the results hadn’t come in yet. I have to develop better strategies for getting out of the panic. One of the onco-psychologists who helped us to cope with everything going on thaught me how to concentrate on my breathing but it doesn’t always help.

@missybear Home buying and selling can be so stressful. Are the problems with the house solvable or could they be the reason not to buy the house?

@excelsior12309 I never liked doing job interview as my DH had his practice. It’s hard to find someone who fits the team and is willing to work. What a greedy Corgi you have!

@merryapple You’ll get there with the planks, every day just a bit more will get you there.

@jaifaim I hope you feel better today.

@funshipfreddie We hardly do slow line-dances, the favorites of the group are Billy Jean and Jerusalema. Our dance teacher likes a bit of chaos and always manages to cause some.

@stitchincarol It’s so satisfying if you see the result of your efforts on the scales, isn’t it?

@flourbaby I try do most of my drinking in the morning otherwise I’ll forget.

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 14 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD 70.5 kg

I had a fairly effortless FD & racked up 12,500 steps. Followed by another amazing sleep. It’s odd how my sleep score always goes way up after a FD. I’m over a kilo heavier than I was this time last week though, so I really need to ditch the bread. And I will, as soon as the pâté is gone 😜

@stitchincarol – it’s comforting to know that, as an experienced dancer, you don’t think the Big Hug line-dance is simple. I wasn’t tripping over my feet exactly, they just weren’t doing what my brain was telling them to do. And as soon as I have to change direction, it’s all over. But I found another video that breaks it all down into baby steps, so next week I’ll be a star 🌟 🕺

@snowflake56 – I’d love to try the Jerusalema. I heard they did that just after the lock-downs ended, but they haven’t done it since I joined. Our teacher doesn’t like chaos; she’s in her ’70’s & currently has a sore back! 😅

It’s another gloriously sunny day, so I’m off out for some sunshine 🌤

Happy Fri-yay! 🍹

Day 14 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 162.0

Plans got completely changed yesterday, so I’ll have that tossed green salad for lunch today, and then we’ll go out tonight. I’m so very happy to finally have all my obligations met and done with, and finally have a relaxing summer here. Not entirely sure I’ll be ready in August to pick up the pace again, however. LOL!

@excelsior12309 What a scream that your corgi goes into the trap to eat and then just waits patiently until you let her out!

@metatauta Yup, those old remedies–case in point, castor oil–shouldn’t be so casually ignored and forgotten.

@merryapple Nope, no safe place for my wool: I found the receipt and only ordered two balls in the first place, as was called for. And in this particular sweater, with the very small gauge (8.5 st/in), there’s no worry at all that a different dye lot will be noticable; as long as it’s the correct color, it’ll be fine, thankfully. I’m only a few rows from the neck steek, however, and don’t like the wide shape of the neck at all for my husband’s body, so I’ll have to go back and learn Elizabeth Zimmerman’s EPS again so I can get the neck the size and shape I want. It’s certainly easier to simply follow a pattern, so why do I keep making sweaters that require me to think so much???? 😂😂

@jaifaim Look at you: you’ve moved down from 157 at last! I never doubted you would…

@funshipfreddie I’m glad that made you feel better, and I’ll just bet you ARE the star of the group next week!

@northgeorgia Have fun in Florida! Are you more of “lie on the beach and read a book” sort of vactioner, or a “keep busy and do all sorts of fun things” guy?

Well, things to do, so it’s time to get at them. Have a grand one, my friends.

Day 14…..Florida….NFD

Hi!
Gosh, not sure where to start……. In 2016, I started on 5:2 was extremely active on this site and in my journey. I was actually a member of this group with @coda when it started. Glad to see you all going strong!
Then one day…..my life decided to take a nose dive off a big huge mountain into a hole of hell….. Long story short….. I got a call from the police department in the hometown that I grew in to tell me that they found my mother living in unpleasant living conditions, driving her car almost blind and so much more. Out of all my siblings, she told the police to contact me….. So, I ended up having to be her caregiver for the reminder of her life. She died last year.
My mother just like when I was a kid, did a number on my mental health. So, to cope with her and her words, I reverted back to food.
So the last year, I’ve been healing my mental health and now ready to work on my physical health.

I hope that I can rejoin the group, if you’ll have me?

Thank you @jaifaim……. I’m in great spirits and ready to look how I feel!

Day 15 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@bert1802 – welcome back!

@jaifaim – bread IS the devil. I finally used up the pâté, but with a few Provita. Probably just as bad as bread, but fewer calories.

@metatauta – I don’t think there’s anything to the whole set point theory re weight. Nothing’s ever been proven. People go on weight loss diets, then revert back to eating as they did before, hence the regain. If you lose a substantial amount of weight, then of course your smaller body will require less calories to sustain it.

@merryapple – I don’t know what’s in the pâté, but my neighbour makes it himself. It’s amazing. Force-feeding animals is illegal here too. I remember seeing something on TV about that practise to produce foie gras; really nasty?! BTW, I’m pretty sure @bert1802 is female.

Have a great weekend y’all! 🌤🌈

Day 15 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

Still distracted by house moving issues, head is saying walk away from the purchase but heart is screaming out no…….so we are going to price the necessary work and try to re negotiate 🤞whilst still searching for an alternative in case the sellers stick out for full price.

Missed a few meals because of being so busily distracted but have probably over compensated for calorie deficit by stress drinking red wine 🤷‍♀️

@bert1802 Welcome back! You will see a few of us who remember you still here. I got to goal but struggled with maintenance, regained some and here I am again.

Enjoy the weekend everyone 🤗

Third post

I was just deleting emails and noticed at the top of your post, @jaifaim, that you’re at 154.4 today. WELL done!!! Finally, the visible reward for what you’ve been trying so hard to achieve!

Day 15 – USA/TN

Day 16 NZ NFD 72.9kg 🚴‍♀️

Eating well, weight’s up but nothing that kiwifruit won’t fix ☺️I went for an hour’s bike ride today on a lovely sunny crispy Sunday morning and met friends at a café. However the weather is not going to hold and we are scheduled for thunderstorms in the wee small hours. The big sky out my window is filled with large fluffy grey blue clouds that look like a Constable painting…
I am giving a lecture on Wednesday at Artspace on Early AIDS based on my experiences working in the Oakland trauma hospital, Highland General from the beginning of 1983 to the end of 1986. I’m drawing on my own recollections which I have backed up (memories can be fickle) by looking at the very few documentaries from the time. Understandably they focus on San Francisco General and their AIDS clinic. However I was in Oakland, a black city, so my experience is slightly different.

@bert1802 My humble apologies, I assumed you were a bloke!! My twin brother is a Robert or at least Robbie so it was an easy mistake for me to make! Welcome again and may you enjoy the monthly challenges with a mix of new and old friends!!
@metatauta Wonderful to hear you have dispatched 60 odd lbs. Those 5-7 will be on their way shortly!!
@stitchincarol Also your fingers also swell in heat, which you no doubt know. An increased blood supply goes to peripheries to help you cool down and the opposite happens when you’re cold. My rings are lose because of today’s temperature… Sometimes I wrap wool around them to make sure they won’t slide off…
My sweater is off the needles for a size assessment. It seems to be growing very wide despite all the numbers panning out. I’m wondering if I should frog back and go onto smaller needles after the yoke pattern or partly frog back and add in some shaping decreases… I would love to have a dressmaker’s dummy in my image since I make up patterns…🙄
@jaifaim Great to see you back in maintenance!! And to hear your fingers are back to being chipolatas not sausages!!🤣 The peak of the Kiwifruit season is May to July here so you should be able to find some. 2024 is a record crop with 193 million trays exported!!
@funshipfreddie Delicious!! And so nice of your neighbour to share the proceeds of his cooking with you. Paisley the Scotties’s mum has started making cakes for the first time in her life – one each weekend and seems to have great joy in giving me a huge slice… Tomorrow I am to receive a slice of her apple upside down cake made with mint, honey and almonds… Yum!! But you’re in maintenance and I am not…🤐
It’s a FD for me tomorrow. I’ve got to get back to my lecture…👋

Onward and Downward!!

Day 16 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

Kicking off Jolly June Part 2 with a fast day 🎯 Father’s Day here too today; not even a card from my ungrateful moggie 😿 And also ‘Youth Day’, commemorating the Soweto uprising of 1976. As it’s a Sunday, tomorrow will be the public holiday. Not much for the youth to celebrate though; unemployment for under 35’s in SA is around 45%!

@merryapple – I’m now trying NOT to think about apple upside-down cake on my FD. I love anything with apple, whether it’s pie, crumble, turnover, stewed…😋 and now @jaifaim has me thinking about Eggs Benedict.. & lots of other things 🤯

Michael Mosley’s last interview:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13531883/Dr-Michael-Mosley-praised-wife-BBC-interview.html

@jaifaim – I thought this might amuse you…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13531715/irish-merriam-webster-hardest-pronounce.html

Happy S🌞nday!

Pocket List – Day 16 🥚
@funshipfreddie

Day 16……Florida…..CD

Quiet Sunday around these parts….. Thankful for it as I have a long week ahead of me.
Started my fast at 6:30pm and ended at 10:30a. I was starving, was so good to eat but found myself hungry about an hour later. No headache today so that’s a win!
Just finished up dinner and started my fast like 4 min ago at 6:30p. So, figured this was a good time, to touch base I with you all. I’m staying on CD’s until Tuesday, figured I’d give my body a little time to adjust before I head into only 500 calories. I ended today, at about 1100 calories.

@flourbaby and @missybear, my prayers are with you. It’s crazy how everything can be going smoothly then something so small can create some pretty big waves.

@metatuta, people said the same thing to me when I lost so much weight but those were the same people that commented when I was gaining weight, my face looked bloated and stretched out. Hubby always said, I need to be at a place where I feel most comfortable regardless of how it made others feel. I’m passing that tidbit onto you!

@merryapple… no apologies necessary…It something that happens when you have a username like Bert. When my hubby and I were dating he called me sherbert, then shortly after we were married he called be Bert. So, that’s how Bert came to be…..

Okay, well I am off got to start my nightly routine for work tomorrow.