2nd post

I’m longing for a beer. The coldness, the wetness, the carb calories…sigh. Instead, I have a bowl of baby carrots sitting beside me, and I’m crunching away on them, drinking water (and, I have to admit, that water tastes pretty good!), and reminding myself I’m no longer on vacation and must behave like a reasonable person, and beer at 2:50 in the afternoon is absolutely uncalled for.

Something just clicked to explain why I’ve gained so much weight since Easter. I was gone on a week’s vacation, I was consumed with my hymn fest, I was doing VBS and enjoying the visit of DD and DGD, and then I was gone again for ten days–and I missed posting on many of the days since Easter…possibly even half of them?

So, all those people who’ve commented that they have to post to keep themselves accountable? I’ve just realized I’m proof positive of how true that is! I’ve always been faithful because I like the chatter, but now it’s clear that it’s also a big part of keeping me on track!

Day 3, U.K. NFD

Good FD-700 yesterday.

Another delicious recipe from DrClare Bailey’s book – smoked salmon omelette 😋

Right 2 x non fast days this weekend and I must try to behave myself!

I’m going to try to do extra exercise to try to get these last four pounds OFF!!!

@stitchincarol – have come to realise more and more how true your above statement is! Checking in daily is a good way of trying not to go too off-piste on non fast days!!!!

Happy weekend everyone xx

Day 3 – Lake district UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Been absent for a lot longer than I realised! You probably haven’t missed my morning bletherings, but it’s funny how quickly you can get out of the habit! I used to ‘call in here’ every morning with a mug of coffee, but since 13th June ended up occasionally popping my head round the door for a quick looksee later in the day when I wasn’t in ‘habit mode@ so hardly read much and didn’t post anything!
@at … Sorry for not contributing and supporting June, but I’m sure everything ticked along regardless.

@northerndawn … Thanks for hosting July, will try and put in an appearance until towards the end of the month when we will be away for a holiday trip again!

July is the month I joined the 5:2 forum and this is coming up to the end of my second year. How much has changed and so much has happened, but regardless of everything, still going well.

I’ll try and catch up on the posts since I went AWOL, certainly have a little more time again soon, the neighbourhood gardens I’ve been tending will stop over the next few days, everyone will be back home! It’s been quite a job for the last few weeks.

Take care all.

Day 3 UK NFD

Of course we missed you @i-hate-lettuce and @funshipfreddie Good to have you both back👋 , a few of us are aiming to go back to basics this month and aim to post daily so the more the merrier

I admire your resolve @stitchincarol , day time beers are a lovely treat but all too easy to become a habit so well done on the water

Day 3 OMAD London

Thought I’d better post a bit more often. This is a lifeline. So, I bought a pair of Toast jeans from a charity shop recently – lovely quality and I thought they were my size – couldn’t find the label! Put them on at home and they were very tight – I could get them done up so long as I didn’t want to breathe. Felt a bit fed up, took them off, found the label (…) and realised they were a size smaller than my normal size. Cheered up immediately.

Have a lovely weekend all.

Day 3 – UK – TDEE

Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday’s NFD – our special meal from HAAR and the English sparkling 🥂 from Chapel Down that accompanied it was 😋 so today will be below TDEE

Woke up to a damp and grey day here – a bit of change after all the glorious sunshine we have been enjoying so planning a lazy day at home catching up with chores….

@funshipfreddie – great to have you back – goodness you have had a busy 10 months and absolutely right there is nothing like daily posting for accountability
@michelinme – you are on the right track – 6lbs was a great loss for June and a great motivator as you say
@stitchincarol – great to have you with us for July – what a lot of travelling over the past 2 weeks – you must be glad to be back home
@i-hate-lettuce – great to have you back – looking after all those gardens must have kept you out of mischief!! I think we were all a bit quiet in June but many are making a great commitment to posting more regularly in July, myself included so looking forward to your daily posts too – happy 2nd anniversary to joining the forum!
@dvw – great to see your post – an effective June for you with 4lbs dispatched – what a quick sale of your house, well worth all the prep work you put it!
@emma-taylor – that was a lovely surprise with your Toast jeans find

OH has just returned from his daily run…….yes even in the rain!!! I’ll join him for a cup of tea whilst he has his post run feast!!!

“The Road May Be Bumpy But Stay Committed To The Process”

Day 3, London Uk, NFD

Aiming to be mindful, but I broke my fast far too early and I’m hoovering up anything within sight!!! At least I’ll stay HFLC, but a slab of Gruyere doesn’t bode well for the scales, no matter how low carb!!!!😜😂😝

Welcome back @funshipfreddie, hump days haven’t been the same without you!!! 💜

@i-hate-lettuce, I’ve been missing my “”Tales from the lakes”, glad to see you’re back too!! 💜

@stitchincarol, well there’s an opening line ……………………………………..”I’m longing for a beer”

Oh @emma-taylor, someone, somewhere was smiling down on you!! There’s nothing better than a huge negative turning into an enormous positive making you think …………………. “why would I assume it HAS to be bad news???”

@northgeorgia, life is for living and this particular WOL allows us to join those “eat anything skinnies😤” ……………………………….. for one day only!!!! Enjoy your Independence Day celebrations!!! 🎆🎇

Stay strong folks, we’ve got this!!!

Day 4, London, UK, NFD,

As usual for a S🌞nday it’s rather quiet, or is it just early?!!

I feel like I need a FD, but realistically, I doubt that today is ‘that’ day, so rather than try and fail and start weeping😭 in despair, we’ll call it a NFD but I’ll try to be controlled, yesterday I had a HFLC dinner with smoked Gouda & bacon cauliflower mash …………………….. My goodness, that’s definitely going on my weekly cooking list!!!

https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/bacon-smoked-gouda-cauliflower-mash-low-carb-gluten-free/

@dvw, congratulations on the house sale👏, I ‘sold’ my flat after 3 weeks on the market, it helped that it was entirely refurbished & empty😁, but the actual process is still happening, with a completion date at least a month away, if only it took this long to buy a bar of chocolate …………………………. My impatience would make me as svelte as a gazelle!!!! 👌

Enjoy the rest of the weekend folks, Stay mindful 👀 though!!!!

Day 4 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

Starting the week with a FD🥊 One more week of 4:3, or maybe 3:4 depending on how the scales behave. Taking no prisoners!

Happy July 4th 🇺🇲 to all the American forum members! 🎆🎉🎈

@i-hate-lettuce – sounds like you’re well on the way to a full recovery!🍾 So it’s England v Denmark on Wednesday; but they play so late?! It’ll be 10 pm here by the time they kick off, & my eyes won’t stay open beyond 11 pm 💤

Pocket List – Day 4 🍏
@funshipfreddie

Day 4 – Ireland. 🇮🇪 – NFD

Hey, good to see the forum livening up with posters old and new. Coming on here really does keep you accountable, even though yesterday afternoon was a dry roasted peanuts and gin and tonic in the garden kind of day.

No fasting today either, but will be mindful, and tomorrow is the big reset. I might follow your routine @high5, with keeping it OMAD and see how that works or me.

Unfortunately I have not been able to do much exercise apart from gentle walks, but now I feel I can up my game and do some Leslie Sansone walks with its kicks and knees etc. Next week I will try to get back to more aerobic workouts, gently at first, but my scars are healing well and I no longer have pain….so I am looking forward to the return to normality.

Great to have @funshipfreddie back in the gang, and @i-hate-lettuce, your early morning posts were also missed.
@stitchincarol, welcome back too.

Happy 4th July to our US friends. Enjoy the holiday.

Until tomorrow

Day 4 – USA/GA – FD

Post-feast day weigh-in: baaaarely into 224 lbs haha

I actually did have a ZBC yesterday, after all. The burger and hotdog were great yesterday, and other than grilled chicken, hamburgers and a few wieners, not much left (and none of it in my refrigerator except the guacamole I made and cucumbers I had sliced up(those cucumbers are on today’s menu!)). I’ll be joining @funshipfreddie not only on today’s FD, but on a 4:3 (maybe a 3:4) this week, too!

Determined to get into the 210s this month. Got to start marching downwards again. About 20 lbs away from kissing “official obesity” good-bye, and hoping I do that this year!

—
As John, Rita, Megan, and their delegation of nine other people walk in, the three of us stand up courteously, as if we were to be introduced to some unknown royals from the continent.

Megan smiles, and begins introducing the nine to us in a frenzy of Aunt so-and-so, best friend from school such and such, some guy from John’s work, and all sorts of names we would forget 30 seconds after hearing them. But there was one name that stood out that we all recalled.

“And, this is cousin Harold, but we call him Hal.”

“Nice to meet you Hal,” Lola says, extending her hand.

He shakes her hand and corrects Megan’s introduction. “Just call me Buzz!”

“Buzz? Like the astronaut?”

One of the older gentlemen says, “no. Like short for ‘buzzard.'”

There’s some laughter and we sit down. Lola has a confused expression on her face. Megan leans over and whispers to me, “Hal was always searching the obituaries when he lived in Nashville. He’d go into the funeral home during the visitation, claim that he was some distant cousin or work buddy of the deceased, and would end up in the kitchen area, where he would help himself to several servings of food brought by family and friends to the bereaved. Buzzards always circle and feast when there’s death, and so… well, Hal was a buzzard. He claimed it saved him $200 in groceries a month when he was a student.”

“Uggh. That’s just awful,” I said.

“I try not to call him Buzz, hoping it makes the slightest positive influence upon him to do better. But that’s how he was, and still can be. Be careful around him. He can get you in a load of trouble in just a split second,” Megan responded.

Oh my.

—

Pocket list: day 4
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia

Day 4 UK NFD

Not a good start , day 4 and I nearly forgot my aim to sign in every day , Reset tomorrow See you all then

Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸

Day 5. U.K. FD 700-750

@penz ! Fear not for your mojo ! 😊 I am also joining the pocket list!
3 x FDs planned for this week…

Happy Independence Day for yesterday! (Also one of my favourite Will Smith films! 😍)

I had a little bit of a disastrous weekend! Full of enthusiasm for doing some extra exercise to try and help shift these last four pounds….. And I managed to injure myself first thing on Saturday morning 🙄

So this weekend I ended up doing absolutely no exercise whatsoever! 😵‍💫😵‍💫

The only highlight of my weekend is that yesterday I managed to have an extremely controlled day. The upshot of which is that I was actually starving by bedtime and now I do hope that I can get through my fast day ! I am such a wimp I like to try and make my fast days easy for myself!

I think I may have Salmon Fishcakes for my FD dinner tonight …. I can prep them during the afternoon and then cook them after my 630pm Pilates class

590 calories per portion… not bad. Leaves plenty of room for manoeuvre on the veg front! 😋

@singbirdme – I’m not normally a football fan but i was proud of the England side’s behaviour. Manager Gareth Southgate seems to have had a very positive effect on their general demeanour. And the fans were well behaved too. But I felt sad for Ukraine….

@northgeorgia – the Buzz story is hilarious! Loved it…!

Day 5 – Lake district UK – FD

Good morning everyone

Determined to get back to my old habit, one mug of coffee and a catch-up on the Daily Challenge!

So much going on and to try and catch up with, just when I thought I was out of the woods (gardening wise) with the neighbours home over the next day or so, ones having another week away with the caravan! Can’t say I blame them and this week looks a bit cooler so a bit easier.

@bellyblast – I reckon this last few weeks I’ve taken bimbling around in the garden(s) to a totally different level 😉

@funshipfreddie – Yes totally recovered now thank you.

@high5 – I’m not much of a football fan either, the game is on the TV but I’m invariably sat with my tablet in hand or reading. But I saw a bit more of the last game and found it was more entertaining than usual!

Proper FD today, haven’t been as strict recently, but weight has stayed the same, still no sign of the ‘Inner Warthog’ returning, think he’s now packed his bags and moved out 🙂
Funny, now its rather warm and I’ve been in shorts and T shirts most of the time or budgie smugglers in our back garden, more people are commenting on how fit and well I look. From one who said I looked ‘svelte’ to another who said to Mrs IHL “Who’s a lucky girl” !!! I wasn’t wearing a mankini either 🙂 😉 🙂

Take care all

Pocket list day 5
@penz
@high5
@i-hate-lettuce

Day 5 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

PFDS for me! Back on the list tomorrow.

@northgeorgia – thanks for keeping me company on that tiny list yesterday. 4:3 minimum this week; we’ve got this!🏋️‍♂️

@lindyhw – if you haven’t yet, it might be worth looking under ‘Body/ Medical Conditions & Fasting’ in this forum. I know there’s a huge thread there on reversing type 2 diabetes & the fastday lifestyle

I hope you have an easy one, Monday fasters!

Day 5 – Canada 🇨🇦 – FD

Good morning everybody.

Joining the gang of fasters. I’m on my way to Prince Edward Island tomorrow (home of Anne of Green Gables) for a 2 night break. There will be lots of eating and drinking so must have one good FD this week. Have a good one.

Pocket list day 5
@penz
@high5
@i-hate-lettuce
@daffodil2010
@dvw

Day 5 – UK – FD800

Went out for a quick 5km walk yesterday and ended up doing twice as much…..got caught in a brief but heavy rain shower and by the time I got home it was blue skies and sunshine!!!

After a bit of overindulgence on Friday and Saturday, I managed to pull back with a good CD yesterday, and following with a FD today, started with my regular 7am Broga class and it will end with a Dynamic Yoga one this evening!

It’s Manic Monday at Wimbledon so looking forward to some great tennis this afternoon!

@lyndyhw – might be worthwhile investigating FD800 – this has shown evidence that remission, or reversing type 2 diabetes, is possible. Not knowing what type of diabetes you suffer from, or if you take oral medication or insulin – I would advise reading a bit more about FD800 (there is an online forum specifically dealing with FD800 and diabetes) and perhaps discussing with your GP – good luck!

I’m joining the growing group of Monday Fasters
Pocket list Day 5
@penz
@high5
@i-hate-lettuce
@daffodil2010
@dvw
@brightonbelle
@at

“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”

Day 5 – USA/GA – NFD

Looking forward to another 4:3 (or 3:4) this week, with Tues & Thurs planned as definite and Saturday as a maybe. Wow, it was hard to fast on the 4th of July, but just seemed natural following our cookout on the 3rd. Did really well, though.

Weigh-in: 221 lbs. Been a while. On June 20, after a post-vacation 3:4 week (first one of those I’ve done), I was able to get back to 220. Haven’t had anything below 222 since then. Hoping this will be my week to start hitting 220 again, and who knows — a peek below into the 210s? (woo hoo!)

—
A basket of bread and rolls with a side of butter is placed on the table. Almost instantly, Buzz grabs a yeast roll, slathers butter across the top with his knife and takes a huge bite.

“So… Buzz,” Lola says in a uncertain tone, trying to hide her confusion. “What is it that you do?”

“I work.” Buzz muffles through the bread being chewed up in his mouth.

“Yes, but…”

“Did I tell you that Hal here has a degree in finance?” Megan interrupts.

“Wow, is that right?” Lola says.

Buzz nods.

“Yes, but you know how hard the job market is out there right now. He’s just between jobs until he…”

“Oh Megan,” Buzz interrupts. “I told you that finance is just not my thing. Who wants to be cramped up in an office all day when there is so much out there to explore and experience.”

Megan looks down at her lap and sighs.

“Oh, well, I’m sure that there is something out there that…”

“No, no, no. I’m just… Pretty lady, what’s your name?”

“Me? Lola…”

“So, Lo, the deal is, I want to be free, you know? Not tied down to any one place. So I just make a buck here and there, until my next adventure comes along. I’m thinking of checking this place out.”

Lola’s eyes bulge out at just being called “Lo” and follow Buzz’s fingers adorned with various sizes and designs of stainless steel rings as they comb through his purple hair. He presently interrupts the server filling the water glasses.

“Hey, Wally! Are you hiring? I need a job bad, man.” The server tightly presses his lips together and says, “I’m sorry. Not today, sir,” and walks quickly to the next table.

“Well, you’ll let me know if that changes, huh?” Buzz yells.

“Hal! Stop yelling. This is a restaurant for fine dining,” Rita says.

“Hey, it never hurts to ask, does it?”

—

Good luck to our pocket listers today!

Second post

@i-hate-lettuce Never let yourself think that we don’t love your chatter; this group is not the same without you!

@flourbaby Thanks for the recipe; it’s in my make-soon queue! And congratulations on your own sale! Did you find a nice little house with a garden for you and your mum?

@dvw Congratulations on selling your house so quickly! Do you know yet where you’ll be moving?

@funshipfreddie I am in awe at how completely you’re roaring back into the 5:2 (4:3, 3:4) WOL, and at how much of your gained weight is already gone. Impressive!

@emma-taylor What a great story about the jeans! And you’re clearly not seeing your actual size that you were so fast to assume that the size of your body was to blame for the jeans being so tight.

@daffodil2010 How delightful that you’re healing so well. I can well imagine how impatient you are to get back to “normal,” but it will all come at the right time.

@bellyblast I can hear confidence in your voice (especially obvious to me as my own is sorely missing!), so, well done on getting back on track!

@songbirdme “We’re hoping to see some fireworks tonight to celebrate our liberation from those nasty Brits of 250 years ago.” That made me laugh out loud. Funny how a couple centuries can change out outlook, eh?

@high5 Bummer on the injury! How long will it be hanging around? And those salmon fishcakes sound lovely!

@lindyhw Welcome! Wow, the challenges of 5:2 when combined with diabetes seems overwhelming; well done on taking it on! TRE is possibly not the best choice for you under the circumstances…yes? I personally prefer on a FD to save all 500 calories for supper, but if that’s going to mess with your blood sugars, then multiple small meals will do better for you. Let us know what your diabetes educator tells you, okay? Good luck!

Why the sudden worry about “keeping this forum going”? Has there been talk of the forum going away?

Okay, I’m feeling quite virtuous for having walked 5,833 steps so far today. It’s time to go water my flowers, and soon head for our friends’ lake cabin. It will be a fun day, but tomorrow I’ll RESET.

Good luck to all the fasters!

Day 6, NFD, Aus

I didn’t stick with my usual LFD yesterday as I had leftovers for dinner. But I’m pretty sure it was under either a 500 or 800 calorie limit, so I’ll chalk that one up.

@lyndyhw – lots of great advice on this forum and others. I don’t know much about the interplay between diabetes and 5:2 except that it is possible! Do speak with your doctor and find out how it will best work for you. We’re here in support!

@basyjames, your post reminded me of that terrible joke: my suitcases have not been out of the cupboard for over 18 months so now I’m dealing with emotional baggage! V envious of your upcoming holiday.

And I forgot to mention yesterday @northgeorgia, I’m loving your new character Buzz. (Tho he’s the sort I think I really should love to hate!) Oooh how scary about your sunroof! V relieved to hear you didn’t get showered in glass.

Day 4- Ireland – NFD
Day 5 – FD hurrah!
Day 6 – CD

Hi all,

I had great intention to post yesterday but I just had one of those days where every minute was taken up.
I had a good FD after a weekend of EFS! Knowing that I’m now going to apply myself… I just have to… overeating certain foods just doesn’t do me any favours and I end up feeling really bad physically and mentally. I know this but I just fall back into bad habits and as I get older it seems harder to stay away from goodies… it should be the reverse 🔄🙄
Thanks @dvw for offering your company yesterday! I hope you had a good one. 💪

Great to see you back @i-hate-lettuce and great to see so many people active on the forum..

Omg @northgeorgia how frightening is that!!! Thank god you had the extra protection!

I don’t imagine they will close the forum down because of inactivity on these monthly challenges – there are a lot of other active threads going at the same time and I have always felt that we are providing very useful anecdotal information to Michael Mosely and his team… for free… so it should work both ways – hopefully they’d give us a heads up if ever they were going to shut it down 🤞

I have a specialist appointment I need to get through before I can focus on anything else today…

Have a good day all especially the fasters. 💪

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day six, UK, NFD

Yikes yesterday’s fast day was HH AAAA RRR DD !!!!! Really tough. I was hungry all day and all evening and I am hungry this morning (Normally after a fast day I’m actually not so hungry).
I did stick with it and I did manage to stay under 700 cal
At one point I was just feeling so low in energy that I had to have half a banana with salt sprinkled on it!! However it really did the trick and I felt much better after that!
Sadly though the half a banana made my dinner even smaller!

The Silver lining is that I slept really well (as I did not have any rice?!)
I cannot remember whether it was @northgeorgia or @stitchincarol who said about the rice being like cryptonite for her body, but it certainly applies to me, so thank you to both of you anyway 😊😊😊

@basyjames – Nothing like a deadline eh? I find them quite motivating as well… I have a family party coming up on the 20th of this month so I better get on with this!!!!

@dvw – It is me – @fivetwofan5252 here! Glad you’re back for this month’s challenge and your trip to the island sounds fun!
How are you doing on your goal? I still have 4 lb to lose in weight…

@stitchincarol… I have done something to my back! I can do Pilates but nothing else which is a bit frustrating although I should be able to go for a long walk today at least, hopefully I will be better completely by Thursday

@northgeorgia – the new storyline is brilliant! It’s so relatable ! Are you an author? If not you should be! X

Right I am off to get some breakfast as I am STARVING!!!!!
😋😋😋

Day 6 AUS FD 800

Checking in for accountability. It’s 90 minutes till dinner and I’m starving, but I’m going to take that as a good sign.

I’m doing a reset from too much indulgence with 4 FDs in a row, and focusing on eating fantastic nourishing food. Tonight is an eggplant and zucchini tagine, yum.