Goldensun, as the Nike ad says, Just Do It. Start your planking again and just pick up where you left off. I won’t kid you and tell you it gets easier (I am relishing the rest day after 90 seconds yesterday), but no point in letting your early work go to “waist” – small pun there.

Tarakihi is my OH’s fish of preference Action, and he is a keen fisher so we get to eat them a lot – my preference is Blue Cod.

That’s right rub it in AH!
Well I had my crumpet – well 2 actually – with butter and golden syrup and they were finger licking good! OH said he hadnt had crumpet either for a long while but may have been talking about something else lol!
Now that i have the crumpets out of the way has anyone tried candy floss grapes? I kid you not! Wasn’t sure what to expect but they smell just like sweets/candy! They taste sweeter than normal grapes and have been told you can also get tropical and strawberry. The candy floss ones went down a treat in the house so am on the lookout for the others to try as well and I guess much better than crumpets! Nite all

Just to let you know (well those in NZ anyway) woke up this morning to a lovely sunny and warm September. Ate my breakfast outside, so winter is a way yet. Not to say I could wake up tomorrow with frost on the ground such is our weather here.

TTL – Here is your link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1vvigy5tQ

Morning Folks!
Just caught up with all the posts from the weekend – lots of food for thought!! I’m having to really resist the urge for a crumpet (especially as I love them with golden syrup on top!!)
Weight in for this week give MBR another 3lbs from me!! that’s 6lb in two weeks and well above my pledged amount for the month. I’ll therefore up my target to 8lb for the month if thats ok? (I’m a bit dubious that I’ve lost so much because it’s my first couple of weeks and am very much expecting it to taper soon!!)
Keep up the good work folks 🙂
X

I missed 2 days of planking due to my dodgy knee but managed 90 seconds yesterday! I can definitely feel my stomach muscles this morning. FD for me today so have planned a stir fry for dinner thus evening. Have a good day 🙂

OOps.. have been off computer and only just caught up..

Sorry for starting Crumpetgate.. but you know you enjoyed it..

mmmm golden syrup ( said in a Homer Simpson mmmmmm beer voice)

Thank-you Jade for your kind words and MarywWriter for inspiring to once again try and finish Proust.

The bad news is.. you always pay in the end and so I have lost no weight and have nothing to contribute to Ms Belly Rolls.
The good news is.. I haven’t put any on either.

Have tanked on the plank as upped my running game and quite frankly was exhausted.

I know of you on here are much more informed then I am and have views on exercise and food.

I want to lose weight from my tummy where it has stubbornly remained since I had children, increasing as i age. I also want to get fit. I don’t really care about the weight… If I was toned and muscled and could do up my skirts I wouldn’t mind being 10 stone ish but have chosen 9 1/2 stone as my target. I am pretty stuck at 10 stone 2 and can’t seem to move lower.
I am not mad keen on running but it is free and i have lots of lovely Parkrun friends so it seems the best exercise at the moment.
I have never eaten unhealthily but did eat a lot of pasta and bread which I have almost completely removed from my diet. However when I run I am getting ravenous, in that way where you feel as if you are missing something vital…honestly sometimes I could just eat two dinners straight off. Running websites seem to recommend pasta and carbs. I am pretty good on fast days but am confused on other days.. Carbs do make me feel full and satiated but is that a mistake?

Some good results coming in, well done everyone. And such inspiration from our Glorious Leader – the boys in black must be inspiring him…… I am away from home so won’t weigh til Wednesday am.

MARYWWRITER re planking. So funny you smoked ons rest day! Somehow I know I’d never make that mistake. My understanding, and what I do, is plank on the forearms. That is elbows bent and directly under shoulders, forearms flat on the floor. Just did my 90 secs for today and I am dreading 120 let alone 300! I think I’ll collapse if not from exhaustion then from boredom!!

I loved the video AH (Mike), love the Haka! I was brought up on rugby league. My brother and I used to watch my dad play rugby league when we were children. My dad in his 70s still trains at his old ground and gym, twice a week. My brother used to play semi-pro for Keighley and Halifax and latterly London Crusaders. He now lives in Australia, married to a Kiwi and my niece was born in New Zealand. My brother and father have great respect for the AB, and so do I but they both prefer Rugby League 🙂

AH (Mike) – Yes, people are starting to notice my weight reduction and I’m happy to keep losing min 1lb a week along with the inches. As I said, I’m out for dinner on Saturday and I’m looking forward to wearing my new clothes; that is inspiration in itself as I’m determined not to put the weight back on and feel bloated.

EMILY – To be honest I miss breakfast most days. My official FD are Tuesday and Thursday but as the weekends are challenging for me I try and reduce my food intake during the week. Whilst I’m working M-F, I see how long I can go before I eat my apples, which I have for snacks and then I have either a tuna salad or vegetable soup for dinner. I do drink a lot of herbal tea and still water with fresh lime when I feel I maybe hungry. I’ve noticed that I don’t need as much food as I thought I did on this diet. I don’t count calories because that is tedious for me but I will if I stop losing weight. I know what I have to do at the weekend to increase my weekly weight reduction and I’m not going to have any other treats this weekend but the chocolate torte and ice cream dessert with my dinner on Saturday…yummy 🙂

Hi team,
-1lb this week which I’m very happy with! I did yoga everyday but only managed 1x 5km run (down from my regular 3x). This week I did 5:2 whereas I normally do 4:3 so feeling great with -1lb!

Runningnorth- I did 4:3 for the first 4 weeks and lost 12lbs: 6lbs in the first week, 0lbs in the second and then 3lbs in week three and again in week 4. I have Monday and Thursday as my definite fast days then I give myself the option of fasting on Saturday. I’ve done back to back fast days (Thursday/Friday) when I’ve had plans for Saturday and haven’t found that to be a strain. The hunger monster didn’t grow!

Fast day today. Third one in 6 days so a bit of alternate day fasting for me as I try and break through. Am reading through the posts drawing motivation as it feels like it’s going to be one of those difficult fast days. Off to do another 90 sec plank. Why isn’t this getting easier???

Morning All
Another glorious morning in Sydney! I’m on my second day of B2B fasting, just done a step calss at the gym and have a cottage pie planned for dinner!

Running North – I have been doing 3:4 for my first two weeks and am again doing it this week. I fast on Mondays,Tuesdays and Thursdays so that it doesn’t interfere with my weekend. It seems to be working for me (6lbs in 2 weeks) but I haven’t done 5:2 so I can’t compare. But my appetite is much smaller, I’m making much more sensible food choices and don’t really deny myself treats. (I buy mini chocolate bars and keep them in the freezer – none are really over 70 cals so are good for that chocolate craving!) You could just give it a try – if it’s really hard then drop back to 5:2. Your exercise should boost your weight loss too! Best of Luck

MsMarple – Well done on continuing to run even though it’s not your favorite thing. Loading with pasta and carbs is what runners do but in reality only when you’re running 10k+ and at race pace i’d say. The best things for you to eat after a run (and ideally within 30 minutes in order to aid recovery) is protein and some low gi carbohydrates. I used to eat Yogurt with granola, dried apricots, brown rice salad, a banana with peanut butter or even some rye bread with a little honey or nut butter or eggs. They all fill you up, keep you full and aid muscle recovery without overdoing the starch. Just eat it slowly as when you feel ravenous there is always potential to really over eat as soon as food is put in front of you! Keep it up!

Happy Tuesday x

Well Done Chipmunk! There is something really satisfying when we choose not to be tempted. Somehow it’s like putting ourselves first. I’m sure there is a chocolate fish coming your way 🙂

Double well done Chipmunk as you have inspired me.

I am really struggling with family stuff at the moment. Am also working by myself at home so too much time for introspection. It’s my fast day and i just didn’t feel in the mood.. Also blanked the plank. So all set for a nightmare day.

Thought of you in the airport stepping away from the snacks and weirdly felt better, just the idea of another person sometimes helps.

So am about to plank.. then am going to out to supermarket to buy something nice for supper, perhaps fish, spinach and poached egg…someone mentioned that on here before..sounded lovely.

AND then return home as if I’m going to work.
Marywwriter.. seem to recall some famous writer did that.. left his house each morning, walked around the block, then hung up hat and coat and walked straight into study. Then did same at hometime. Do you recall who that was? Think he was French.

ALways loved the idea as stops the slide around in PJ’s that leads to putting a wash in, cleaning stairs, tidying house before sort of starting work at 10..11..12.. then having to work late to make up time.

It’s a grey day here, one where the clouds turn into an oppressive ceiling and thoughts become curdled and stagnant. A brisk walk to Morrisons ( sigh) is in order.

Love to all and good luck today. Ms m

Hi all,

2lbs from me, now just need to keep focused, staying low cal every weekday, only very slighyly more at the weekend.

I work from home too MsMarple. I stay in jammies most days, unless Im going out. I go to the local costa for business meetings with hubby, who works with me, less challenging than you would think, though it took us a few months to stop arguing over every little thing. I dont get waylaid with chores, hubby keeps on top of the washing and the dishes. My downfall is not stopping, I begin as soon as I wake, and Im still at it at midnight. Also, housework often gets left, we no longer iron anything, and the house is often untidy, work spills into every room. But no office politics!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well, if not make a plan, if we follow our leader we wont go far wrong!

Well I can add 3lbs to Miss Belly Rolls this week, down to 169!! I am very happy with that as really only managed one fast day and 2 low cal (up to 1,200) days. I tried a back to back last week (Wed and Thurs), but Wed got sabotaged into a low cal. This week I was fasting yesterday. Managed fine (well constantly thinking about food but resisting…) until 8pm then got but got attacked by 2 chocolate truffles followed by 2 slices of homemade brown bread – it was fresh!! I now have to do a back to back today and tomorrow as I don’t have any other possible fasting days. Still, my 3lbs loss is encouraging…I CAN DO THIS.

PS Planking – I know that AH says whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are correct. I think I can try 120 seconds all I want tomorrow, but judging from the 90 sec today….Looking at 105 perhaps??

Good luck to all this week – hope that injuries resolve and resolve doesn’t get injured! We are smashing September XX

Oh dear, for the first time since starting 5:2 I feel as though this week is slipping away. Monday is my normal fast day. Got a phone call from friends down south who were in the area. I cooked a meal and they stayed overnight, which was lovely catching up after 5 years. Of course full breakfast etc, the whole 9 yards, including copious amounts of wine.
Refuse to admit to you all what the increase on the scales is!
Wednesday lunch, I’m feeding family of OH! So again, more wine, pudding, etc etc. Thursday is fast day (roll on), and the Friday am having girlie lunch out with friends. Phew!! Can’t believe how my eating habits have changed. Already feeling stuffed at the thought of what’s to come, will just have to have small portions and hope to keep things in control!

Emilyashen – I started a few weeks ago not having breakfast or lunch on fast day, and keep my allowance for one evening meal. I find it much easier not to eat at all during the day. I do have to drink a lot or I get headaches. I have a cup of bone broth mid afternoon, and I do try to keep busy through the day.

The best thing I have done for dropping pounds is to cut out carbs. No bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, potatoes, rice, pastry, or any processed foods. To me any food that has a label on it is suspect. So basically fresh foods, meat, full fat dairy, fruits form the basis of my diet. I feel much healthier, and have lost 17 lbs and lots of inches since January. Also down to size 12 for the first time in 16 years! If I can do it, anyone can.

Good luck all, hopefully I will be able to post no gain on Friday, or Action will be waving the big stick at me, TTL

Chipmunk and Irishtrier, I’m doing the plank challenge as well, up to 60 seconds today, but my lower back was giving me grief. Could it be my technique? Do either of you have this problem?

Nirvana – agree with Irish and don’t push it. The point of the plank is developing core abdominal strength and when you back hurts your abs aren’t engaged. Next time as soon as you feel your back start to hurt, really focus on tightening your abs and see if it makes a difference. I do get the same thing and this works for me, at least it does now though I wonder as the seconds turn to minutes!

Hi just another little loss for me .100 but from tomorrow will be keeping a food diary and hopefully will stick with it for the rest of the month. Will try to plan all my meals and a few little treats – if not on plan don’t eat it! If it is to be it is up to me!

I know.. Action Hero…you are.. well .. a hero!

Fasted yesterday and supper of haddock, spinach and poached egg. Yum!
Hoping it’s within calories but don’t care cos it was so nice.

Today reduced calories but eating.. am going to do 3 fast days this week, Tues, Thurs and Sun to try and achieve my target of 6lbs.. by end of month.
2 down …4 to go.

Have just confirmed my holiday dates from 23rd Sept so won’t be online for end of challenge.
AM going to aim for 2 lbs before I go!

Good luck to all

Mx

Hi AH and all, been keeping a low profile since the beginning of the month as my two month plateau continued into September, however delighted to report that after my official weigh-in yesterday I am down one pound – now got two weeks to drop another pound to reach my meagre 2 pounds target for September to take me to my original goal of 9 stone. I have dropped a few times over the past couple of months – even once got into the dizzy eights – but never on official weigh day, so that didn’t count in my eyes.

I have had a very hectic social life over the summer so was not too concerned at the plateau, being content that I hadn’t gained – but from the start of September with not as many social events I have been disappointed to not lose as I have been back on track. I think I agree with some others on the forum that the nearer you are to goal a loss tends to kick in about a week after a good week! – Chipmunk, please note! Or, perhaps I have slowed to a half pound weight loss after a good week and as I don’t have scales which register in half pounds it takes two weeks to show these two half pounds???!!! Might consider buying new scales ! – can anyone (in the UK) recommend ?

Enjoy the upcoming Rugby all of you who are following!

Well Master – wise words indeed! Thank you and yes a little disappointed but I am still going in the right direction. I know I was a little lax about non fast days but I will endeavor to do my best to achieve – is that ok rather than cop out and say try? If I do my, best hand on heart, then I will achieve my goal. Won’t take my fish just yet if that is ok (doing my best after all) will wait till the end of the month and then enjoy!

Your post and where you were going brought to my attention a message I have on my desk – it was hidden by other thing put up since I put it there. It reads
‘If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves’ it is attributed to Thomas Edison.
There is also another quote I read which I will try and find but it mentions the success of tomorrow rather than the regret of yesterday or something like that. Watch this space.

Will put Who moved my cheese on my amazon wish list – have just ordered Mary’s book along with a couple of other items so waiting imminent arrival.

To the next 2 weeks!

Cheers Coda, I forgot to mention, I love all things rugby. Strangely my husband isn’t into it at all but that’s all the better for me. I watch the match he takes care of the kids. Do not disturb me when rugby is on, that’s the rule in this house!

JFitzy, I am so jealous, you lucky duck