Don’t despair MsMarple, abdominal fat is well known to be the absolutely most difficult to loose, but sooner or later with this WOL it does shift. Mine has been hanging on to the grim and bitter end, but in the past couple of weeks I have been seeing a big difference as I zero in on my last couple of lbs. I attribute part of it to the fact that I have been doing the 30-day plank challenge (turning more into the 45-60 day challenge for me). I have been stuck for a while at the 90 second mark, but I am planking twice a day and the results are becoming clear to see.

Congratulations Pink!! Wishing you much happiness. This site is definitely contagious in the very best of ways. Welcome Alexandra, it is nice to see another Canadian on the thread, particularly one who is just down the 401 (I’m from Montreal). After a couple of months on this site you will probably find your vocabulary increasing with all sorts of interesting expressions – I am finding myself to be chuffed quite often :-).

After being so tantalizingly close to target, I have been suffering one of my periodic bouts of extreme insomnia this week. Exhaustion leads to eating and I am now back up to 127.5. I tried out Melatonin last night and it definitely seemed to help. I also received my order of zero noodles from Amazon on Friday, so I am well set up to make today a successful fast day. Wish me luck. Fit glad to hear that you are progressing. Be well all and to blatantly steal from a fellow poster on this thread, may the fast be with you.

My vote goes to Action Hero. Great news about the jeans. It is such a great feeling when jeans become loose and you can fit a smaller size. Makes all our effort worthwhile!! Have a good day. Ray

Hi all scales on blink so no lbs to report. Will report later this week or at weekend after another 3/4.
Have thought of name for next months recipient – Atilla the Ton!
Have a great connected to your thinking week.

I feel like I’m being ganged up on here, do you all know what you’ll be getting yourselves in to if I set the challenges for those who want to come with me for the month of September??? I’m game if you guys are.

We might try a couple of different things and set up a couple of goals for those who want to extend themselves, no excuses though, no blaming things that might get in the way, it’ll be yours to take ownership of and be accountable and responsible for.

So have a think but lets not get ahead of ourselves, this is still Fit’s month and she is doing great keeping us all focussed on this month’s goals. We are seeing some good lbs being reduced and fattening out Miss Muffin so keep up the grerat work everyone and make August the best month yet, there’s 14 days to go, that could be another 3 or 4 lbs for those who are really serious, so reset your focus and just do it, whatever it takes to throw away the size 14 or 16 and slip into those 12’s, one size down by 31 August, how good would that feel??? And think about the comments from loved ones who wonder who this hot looking person is in their lives… Take care everyone, we are all amazing people…

Wahh!! Sad. No lost weight this week to report. Sorry! I did not gain so that is good news I guess. I will start this week strong. Here is to 2 lbs for end of week (next Monday). Bittersweet.

Gym scales today put me at 127, so total damage done is a gain of 1.3 lbs (rather than 1.8 as it was yesterday). I managed the .5 lb loss by sticking to FD yesterday and lot’s of exercise – another one hour barbell workout + 5K run which is leaving me pretty wobbly. The wonderful thing though, is at the beginning of February I couldn’t sustain more than a minute’s running and was lucky if I could lift my shopping bag, let alone dumbbells. Losing 24 lbs really contributes to enabling exercise. Let’s hope that next week allows me to shift those last 2 pesky lbs. to Miss Muffin.

I also vote for AH. I’m kinda hoping I won’t need to participate in the challenge (not because of you AH, because I will have met goal!), if that is the case I will drop in every now and then to cheer from the sidelines. Also love Attila the Ton.

Hi chipmunk:

The average weight loss on 5:2 over time is about one pound a week. Sounds like you are right on track!

Here is some information that may help: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

Thanks Simcoeluv. Wow, you certainly have your finger on the forum threads!! Really helpful.
I am on my second go round on 5:2, having just let things slip over a few months of travel. Am back on track now and this forum is helping.

Haha TTL, love the caveat.

Hi all, after a successful fast day yesterday, and shedding all that pms water weight, I’m down 2.5lbs this week, so that’s 2.5 in total this month, 11st5 now and 17.5lbs to date. Only when I am down to 10 stone am I going wedding dress shopping, so that’s the incentive!! Love to all, and speedy recovery fit! Xxx

Eeeeeek! Not only have I not lost – I have gained 3/4lb. on top of the increase last week of 1lb. things are not looking too hot for me! Don’t quite understand how this has increased so much – yes I did eat a lot of calorific stuff last week, but thought I had tracked my intake well so it would disappear again. Alas, not so. The jeans are still falling down and a few people have said how well I look, so I guess this is just a big blip!
It has been so long now since I have increased that I had forgotten how mind crashingly unacceptable it is! I’m now waiting on Thursday coming around so I can fast again. If that doesn’t work I feel a third fast day coming on this week. I hate this feeling, but know what to do about it now. SO JUST DO IT!!!
Back to Aquafit and Pilates this week after holiday break, so I guess this has not helped either. Come to think of it I haven’t been rebounding either. How the hell can I forget to do that when I fall over the bloody trampoline every day???!! OK enough beating up on myself, time to get totally back on track with all you lovelies.
Great to hear from you again Pheobe – the very best of luck for a speedy recovery after your op. great that your pooch can relocate north without even walking on your hands! LOL
Fit – well that’s another few days gone towards your recovery. You will soon be back up on your feet again, putting us all to shame with all your exercising! I know how you feel trying to get rid of those last few stubborn pounds. It is frustrating, but again, I guess patience is the key, and keep doing what we are doing with 5:2. great work everyone and hope to join you again with reductions by the end of the week. TTL

carolinacatz, I think gain is normal after traveling – many times is water retention, swelling from being seated in car or plane. It happen to me going to and coming from PR. At least you kept active! I would love to go hiking!!! (To dream…) Good luck everyone! I had an iffy week last week but I realized yesterday I was focusing on the wrong things instead of keeping motivated thinking about health and long life benefits.

Congrats pink on your engagement. Wedding dress shopping will be a great motivator for you. Only a small loss on Monday 0.6kgs but when I took my measurements I was really happy. Fit fast I hope you’re recovering well. I had foot surgery 3 years ago and have never looked back. I love walking and not being in pain. Celebrated a bit much on the weekend with the ABs win so not a big loss. I’d better get a move on as we’re half way through August. Have a great week everyone and keep up those encouraging comments!

Yes, that ABs win was well worth celebrating Slim2be! Shame about the netball – my heart broke for those girls as they played their collective guts out. (For those of you who don’t follow netball, the Silver Ferns lost the Netball World Cup final to our arch rivals – in all sports – Australia). Four more years….

Fast day for me today as I mentally prepare for a week away – heading to Melbourne on Sunday for a few days to go to the “David Bowie is” exhibition. Such a great city and so handy for us across the Tasman, and of course, so many fabulous restaurants! Have already booked a couple on my list. Prior to that a few days in Wellington which, handily, has a restaurant festival running for a couple of weeks. How we are meant to get/stay slim when there is so much wonderful food about I don’t know!
Action Hero, I will go back to your earlier post and FOCUS on today, then the next day etc.

Fit I will report my loss so far this month (ever the optimist) tomorrow and everyone stand by for me not gaining by the time I get back from Melboune next week.

Hi everyone, great to read everyones posts and everything that is happening in so many people’s lives. We are certainly a diverse group of dedicated people with a lot of well formed goals.

Every post I read where someone had tripped up for whatever reason was firmly in control and resolute in their next actions to recover the result, even someone prepared to do a 3 day fast week rather than the normal 2, now that is really taking ownership of the challenge, well done.

TTL, I’m getting worried about you when you wrote: “remember some of us are small,, white haired, exercise haters, trying to be skinny, ladies of a certain age…..” Sorry luv, that just does not cut it I’m afraid, excuses, excuses, excuses and we haven’t even started September yet LOL. I’ll be watching you very closely me thinks !!!!

Looking forward to seeing Fit’s results chart for the month on Saturday, this’ll give us all a nudge for the last few days to load up the pounds onto Miss Muffin for the months end. Together we can all do great things.

Cheers, Mike

Hi silversue – I have two versions of plank that I know of. Both are great ab and upper body workouts.

Through yoga – you are at the top of a full push up position – arms straight, hands under shoulders, back straight (no sagging!) legs straight, and as my yoga instructor would say “head on a column neck” that is, don’t crick your neck, keep it on a line with your (straight) spine.

At the gym – same as above but you are balanced with your elbows under your shoulders with your forearms flat on the floor in front of you.

I am sure someone else will tell me if there is another meaning. The challenge is likely to be how long you can hold the pose with good form.

Thanks to you both. It sounds easy but I bet it’s not! I’ll have go later on. Just got back from a 5,000 stepper so I’m crashed out on the sofa with a book right now.

It’s a FD today so good for reading.

Well, Chipmunk, that explains everything! Thank you!

I fasted three days last week because I knew I was going to be on a mini-holiday for four days and might not stick to my TDEE. Which I did not. They have the best ice-cream cones in the world in Huntsville at a little stand on main street and twice I indulged in that, but one scoop only. I had an apple strudel one night as part of a three-course dinner. But mainly I ate reasonably. During the days we were active — cycling for two hours one day, canoeing for three hours another day, swimming every day,, and always walking instead of driving. Yesterday, on our drive home day, I fasted. And guess what? I gained two pounds. 🙁

But that is life. Onwards. I’m going to assume that it’s all explainable by those points Chipmunk has listed. I’m still down twenty pounds all told and I’m still a 5:2 devotee. Today is a new day for me, and my grandson’s fourth birthday! I am so glad that my children and all of my grandchildren are a normal weight and eat normally. It will make their lives so much easier in future.

Have a great day everyone. I’ll be back on Friday for the week’s official weigh-in.

Hi Maryw, you have my deepest empathy! I was so disappointed earlier this week when I weighed in and had only lost 500gms so fasted again yesterday and weighed in this morning with great anticipation – zero, zip, nada, nothing – stayed the same. Like you I am off on a break for almost a week and will need to be strong to stay on TDEE. I won’t even try and fit in a fast day, though I am aiming for one tomorrow again before we leave.

I can hear AH shouting no excuses!! at me from here and he’s right. I will be responsible for my food intake and focus on each day as it comes.

Another 1 lb off for Miss MT, that’s 3 in total (scales hovered tantalisingly at ANOTHER pound off this am before coming to rest – I call that prophecy…BMI sitting at 30.5 – if I could get it to 30 in the next couple of weeks I’ll be thrilled. Little Miss, hope you’re ready to waddle off with the Crisco Kid and Lardy Lad. The very stuff of nightmares seeing that lot tottering off together (but never to return).
Glad you’re getting cued up AH! Each month whoever’s in charge of the thread makes it their own and brings inspiration and comfort to the rest of us – you are doing a great job Fit!
AH I’m not sure about being courageous but I certainly do amaze myself…on an almost daily basis…
Kate x

Argh fast day.

So, started off so well, natural yog and black tea…. then….for no reason whatsoever… wasn’t hungry, didn’t fancy it..as I walked past the banana and walnut bread I made for friends yesterday..( Jamie Oliver.. tho I don’t always like him, this recipe is fab) I cut myself off a massive slice, covered it in butter and ate it in approx 30 seconds. It was as if I got taken over by a cake eating maniac who operated thru my body in order to access cake. So.. nothing else to eat today…or do I just accept it is ruined and eat more cake?…. a generous sized 3 slices remain….. Let them eat cake?

MsMarple, what were you thinking…. what about all the hard work you have already put into your 30 day challenge, what was it, the LBD Challenge? I just Googled that and saw how much hard work it means and if you are a few days into that then how much will you go backwards after your binge?

Anyway, don’t beat yourself up too much if the deed has been done, get over it and reset the focus, reset the Pleasure Target of achieving your goals again, think about the Pain of going backwards, make the Pleasure greater than the Pain so it doesn’t happen again then just do it. You are very brave confiding in us all, hope it made you feel better and stay strong, we are all amazing people….

Miss Marple, I hope you have stepped away from the cake by now and patted yourself on the back.

A bit further up this page I wrote about the BBC doco and what you are going through – wanting to finish the cake – is one of the things they covered. They did an experiment that showed when we think we’ve broken our diet we are more likely to consume more calories that day. So you are not alone. Do try and watch the doco or see on line. Google the right diet for you and it will come up with the BBC Horizon link. Now get back on the horse!! Or in our case programme.

I am on an extra fast day today having had a tough time shifting kegs to Miss Muffin Top, so if it’s any consolation you post made me more determined to have a good fast day.

Extremely happy to be donating one and a half pounds to LMMT this week. This means I have met my August minimum pledge which I am delighted about. Next week my main aim is to maintain this as I have friends staying with us through the week, and I know it just wont be possible to fast as they are expecting seaside hospitality of seafood, bbqs and the odd glass (bottle) or two 😉 But I am going to try my best to lose a little more. This WOL is just amazing, I have now dropped below 12 stone – having lost 11 pounds in total since starting on the 23rd July. And this is with still entertaining at the weekends, enjoying a glass or two of my favourite Prosecco in the evening sitting on our bench on the beach. Is it true? Can I keep on keeping losing? I would love to hear from some long termers who are near their ideal weight what their initial weight was for inspiration. I have frequently managed to get to this weight before, but it’s the next drop that I think will prove difficult (I am now 50 and it is so much harder to lose weight). As for determination and commitment – I have it! I am loving the fact that we can always eat or drink it tomorrow – my appetite has already shrunk so much and food tastes just wonderful. I actually (in a weird way) enjoy fast days – they just help me reboot my attitude to food and my need to eat it – I find I am craving bad foods less, and have certainly cut down my alcohol dramatically which has to be a good thing. Good luck to the rest of the crew who haven’t weighed in yet this week, and well done to everyone on this thread whether they have had a good week or not, I still feel we are all committed to giving it our best as we know it works! Enjoy the weekend – we live on the South Coast (UK) and actually have some sunshine for the first time in what feels like ages. Sadly there are reports that we are going to be experiencing a weather front called a Spanish Plume, which is going to bring high winds, torrential rain, flash flooding, thunder storms and the potential for tornados – I shall be on waterspout watch from now on and will report any sightings!

Reporting in for the week, Sat afternoon here in NZ and another week under our belts (which I must say my belt is getting tighter, that is it has gone in 2 nothes since 1 July) so I can actually see results now.

Sad to report I don’t have any lbs to contribute this week to MMT, this is the first week since 1 July that I’m the same weight as I was 6 days ago. There is a positive to this of course, it’s not higher than last week and the week hasn’t exactly been a “normal Fasting Week” for me. I managed to do 2 good Fasting days and ate reasonably controlled on the other 5 so maintaining is good. There were about 3 glasses of wine amongst those normal days (Sorry melina, couldn’t resist the beautiful smooth Aussie red wine offered to me at one function)so Life is good at the moment.

I’m reading quite a few reports on here about reaching a “plateau” and the body making adjustments to the WOL of fasting, maybe this is my example, so I’m looking forward to the next 9 days and measuring my results again. I might try my alternative day fasts between now and the 31st which could see 5 fast days over the next 9, that should shift some more flab I’m sure.

Take care everyone and keep reporting those great results.