Hello everyone! Please feel free to join us in the June 2019 challenge!
Excuse this very lengthy post but there’s lots of useful information for those who may be new to the 5:2 Way of Life (WOL). If you have an questions at all, just ask! This forum is filled with lots of fabulous, supportive people who are more than happy to help. (One of the reasons I love this forum.)
The monthly challenges were started by @coda in May 2016 and that fabulous tradition has been followed ever since. Thank you to everyone who has hosted a monthly forum and to everyone who joins the forum.
Many of us have benefited enormously from the generous and invaluable support given each and every month from our global community – and it truly is world wide. Some of us are in maintenance (oh, envy!) while others are on the path of finding their happy weight (me too).
Below is tried and true text copied and pasted from previous challenges as the general guidance as to how this works (same as it has always been) and we add to these tips as we go along …
1. Start your daily post with the day of the month, where you are and if you’re on a fast day (FD); a non-fast day (NFD) or a controlled day (CD) – (e.g. for 1st of June it would go something like “Day 1 – Canberra – NFD” for me.)
2. Provide a quick intro about yourself in the very first post – mostly for the benefit of the newbies and as much or as little as you like. Some people like the anonymity of this forum so feel free to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with. This could include a brief blurb about your journey so far and what you aim get from this WOL, your starting weight and any other measurements (waist, hip, bust etc) you aim to keep track of throughout the month. Whatever you want.
You can record this on the spreadsheet available on google docs here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CbxN7Sk6ZCrdSjfCVrXpcnzfW48rR6uaeu85cGCeuBE/edit#gid=267525576
You can choose to use the spreadsheet or not. It’s completely up to you. [I have not used the spreadsheet before so will be turning to the challenge community for help to make sure I’ve set it up correctly and to answer any of your tricky questions!
3. You can add any comments/questions/moans/whinges/triumphs… or anything you feel like you want to share with the rest of the forum. We all have good days and bad days, days we fall off the wagon and days when we hang in there for dear life. So if you want to share it – post it.
Recipes, tips, tricks and questions can also be shared – most of us are logged on at one time or another and can clarify things, offer advise, support etc when needed – this is the great thing about this international forum, there’s always someone online!
Over the course of these monthly challenges, there have been small groups doing their own mini-challenges – called ‘pocket fasters’ or ‘pocketeers’ – they set a target and support each other through it. Anyone can join one of these groups or start a “Pocket List” – it’s entirely optional and flexible. A pocket list can be – quite literally – a list of people who are going through the same experience as you, and which you keep in your pocket as a form of physical and emotional support. It’s a reminder that you are not alone!
For those of you who are new, if you are copying the pocket list on FDs on your phone or a tablet these steps might help:
Copying the pocket list: there is a knack to copying the pocket list on a phone or tablet: You should hold your finger on the first line you want to copy e.g. “day 1 -pocket..” and the select option will display. You should then see a “start” selection marker and an “end” selection marker…drag the “end” selection marker to the end of the list and choose Copy..
It’s best to start the selection on standard text rather than people’s names/links as they are links and you will automatically be linked to their profile..it can be a little frustrating…
5:2 basics – answers from @simcoeluv who used to come on and answer queries newbies had many FAQs plus top tips (and some very funny, and informative posts):
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/
Here’s the wonderful list of abbreviations @rainbowsmile made a while back and hosts have added to every since:
IF Intermittent Fasting
WOL Way of Life
FD Fast Day (500 cals)
MFD Modified Fast Day (800 cals) on the new Fast800, it’s a FD
WFD Water Fast Day (Water only)
CFD Controlled Fast Day (1200 cals)
NFD Non Fast Day
EFS Epic Face Stuffing (we’ve all had one of those days!)
5:2 5 days NFD:2 days IF
ADF Alternate Day Fast, FD, NFD
16:8 16 hours fast 8 hours non fast
B2B Back 2 Back (days of FD or WFD)
Hunger Dragon – that dreadful psychological beast that sometimes cannot be satisfied
DD, DS Darling Daughter, Son
OH, Other Half
LOL Laughing Out Loud
Keto, way of eating that generates Ketones
LC, Low Carb way of eating
LCHF, Low Carb High Fat way of eating
TDEE: Total Daily Energy Expenditure (see the ‘how it works’ link on the home page to work out yours)
I look forward to reacquainting with old friends and getting to know new joiners to the forum. More about me in the next post. In the meantime, enjoy, and pat yourself on the back for being here.
– Penz
10:00 am
30 May 19