Hello everyone, I’m Liz. I’m 62 with three grown up children. I practise karate several times a week. I started the fast beach diet by fasting on Monday this week and yesterday(Thurs). I’m going for 4:3 so will fast again tomorrow. Getting weighed first thing following a fast day is certainly encouraging. I’m looking forward to seeing a waist again! I’m also keen to gain the promised health benefits. My mother had high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s at the end of her life so looking to reduce my risk of all of those.

Hello Lichtle, thanks for the encouraging words. You’re right about health issues driving me at least as much as weight loss. Fortunately I don’t struggle as much with my weight as my mother did and my older sister does. I’m more sporty, a bit taller and take more after my Dad who’s never had a picking on him! But I’ve slowly crept up to the very top end of the healthy BMI range and complacency is dangerous.

I agree, Lichtle, and kind friends don’t help by saying, ‘You look fine! One biscuit won’t hurt…’ etc! Part of my problem with friends is that I’m a bit taller than average at 5’6″ and I don’t carry weight conspicuously in one place so I don’t necessarily look my weight. If clothes skim over the muffin top and the tyre under my bust, friends will only be convinced by seeing the reading on the scales or tape measure with their own eyes or sharing a changing room when shopping. Usually it’s only my eyes that see what’s under the clothes or what wobbles that shouldn’t!