Hi Fasters,

I’m starting to get the hang of this WOE, I’ve been on it for just over 4 weeks now (I sound like I’m in confession!. I have lost 8lbs but have also enjoyed my weekends…. as my name suggests! (can I add my weight to the baby elephant JoJo? a minor growth spurt)

I just wanted to say thank you to you all… such inspirational people. When I’m having a tough couple of hours or day I will read your posts and it sets me back on to the path. I have had a couple of failed fast days but I think that tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to fast.

SAMM/Nama – I followed the links you put up for the “I quit sugar” and I’m now reading a book about it (I love to research when I find something interesting – very geeky of me!). It is such an eye opener, I am seriously going to go through my cupboards and take a hard look at the sugars. I never paid much attention to the sugars just the calories but I’m going to be changing the way I shop. It’s frightening what they put into the children’s so called healthy snacks… I will be making my own (It’s a good job I love to cook).

I’m also eagerly awaiting the release of “that sugar film”. I think it will be released this month in Australia (To all ausies – If you’ve seen it please post a review.

This is such an informative forum….. you have encouraged me in a good way to open up a metaphoric big can of worms with regards to my eating habits and question why I eat what I do.

Happy Fast/non fast day. Wine.x

Good morning you Losers 😆
yes AO you interpret very well I wash and y-fee drys and puts away so she can get her OCD on 😉 and you have your fast on boost as well good stuff from team SA people I liked the 18-6 as well IF extra bang for your buck and have just rolled it up an hour now to 19/5 all good Barata my father tells the story that on his honeymoon they stayed in a caravan park mum had a shower took engagement ring off put on soap holder went back to van realised shock horror that she had left it behind went back and at had gone vanished he never bought her another one she did though and 25 years later it ended in divorce may have been a sign 😯 you guys with belt work and belt surgery crack me up that’s gold. Thanks team !!! and hermajtomomi good recipe links thanks heaps good stuff there
CRON – Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition <home> <other CRON topics>
An Overview
As I see it, the basics are simple: Subject to certain limits, the fewer calories you consume, the better your health and longevity. Benefits are proportional. The primary payoff is avoiding, or vastly delaying, the major killer diseases: heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer (also see: Calorie Poisoning: Civilization’s Exploding Killer Disease). Other benefits include a stronger immune system, increased fitness, and a greater appreciation of food.
Over the longer term, the simplest way to judge calorie intake is weight. However, getting to the minimum, healthy weight should be done slowly – roughly no more than 2% per month for overweight people, 1% for others. In any case, preferably, weight should not fluctuate by more than about 3% (+- 1.5%), measured first thing in the morning.
The lower limit of healthy weight is most easily determined by body fat and BMI (see below).
However, lower calorie intake and low weight are not enough: Good nutrition is absolutely crucial – this is not about starving! Most nutrients should come from foods, not supplements.
There is also good evidence that increased fitness (cardio & muscle) through additional exercise are factors in longevity – even for people doing CRON successfully.
Practicing CRON:
CRON is a lifestyle, not a diet – (i.e. habits you change permanently, not just a short-term weight-loss program However, as your weight gets closer to optimum, focus shifts increasingly from cutting calories to improving nutrition). This implies that you need to work out a way to enjoy doing it – it isn’t something you just have to ‘get through’. It also suggest that slow, gradual changes are more likely to work – new habits have to be formed. This does not mean one can’t go ‘cold turkey’ on some sub-optimal eating habits.
Make CRON fun, a journey of discovering new tastes and habits. Don’t focus on what you shouldn’t do or eat, but rather on what great new foods you can bring into your life. Nurture a new appreciation of food as you become more aware of tastes, ingredients, and options. Don’t beat yourself up over failures or perceived limitation in your program.
Become knowledgeable about calorie and nutritional content, health markers, and your own psychology (what you find easy or difficult, enjoyable or not, etc). Learn various ‘tricks’ and techniques that make CRON easier and more fun (see: Easy CRON and My CRON experience).
Peace RT

Hello all

It’s been another busy couple of days on this thread!

Ply – I’m so glad you’re warm and cosy again. You will hate me saying this but we feel quite cheated that we haven’t had any snow in our part of the world this winter, though I certainly wouldn’t want the amount you have had. I know poor Weemam is probably glad to see the back of it up in Scotland but there have been very few other places affected in the UK for any length of time.

Like Amazon, we’ve had a lovely sunny but cold day today. We went to Laugharne, the last home of Dylan Thomas. He lived in The Boathouse, which is located in a wonderful position overlooking the River Taf estuary. He used to write in a little shed nearby, which also has spectacular views, and it is set out just as if he has walked out in the middle of writing – mug and beer bottle on the desk, screwed up paper all over the floor and a jacket on the back of the chair. What a brilliant command of words (though I appreciate not everyone’s cup of tea) and what a tragic waste of life dying at 39 from alcoholism. It’s sad that so many great writers and artists have gone the same way. Is it their tortured souls that brings out their brilliance?

Jojo – what a great day you have had – and well done on the loss. I still haven’t been on the scales – I’m in Amazon’s camp in that I would probably keep on eating out of misery if the news was bad. I’d rather get back on a strict regime for a few days and weigh at the end of the week after two fast days and three low calorie days. My jeans are certainly feeling more comfortable than they did a few days ago.

Wee – good luck with the walking. How fantastic that you are finally able to do it comfortably.

Amazon – hope you’ve had a nice evening and glad you got to see the orchids.

AO – hope you’re feeling brighter now. Good luck with getting back on track – we’re only human!

Hermaj – good to see you posting back here again. I’m going to look at that curry recipe. I put a rich beef casserole in the slow cooker before we went to Laugharne so had a lovely meal waiting for us on our return. 240 cals courtesy of the 5.2 Woman recipes.

RT – stick to the apron – sounds a lot easier on the eye than the baggy pants! Great about the belt!

Hi to everyone else – sorry, nodding off so can’t write any more.

Have a good one all.

Smiffy x

Ok
A pleasant surprise im enjoying .
didn’t think about sooner. But just sharing. So save this for future consideration.
so here goes

Adf i never got two days of eating tdee
On 4:3 Only 1 occurances of a weekend of eating.
5:2 I slowed on weight loss .

Ok heres the nugget.

on my current 4:3 schedule

I have two occurances of 2 days in row of feed days.
so basically it’s two weekend menus per week.

This is how it goes
27 hrs water fast 0cals Fridays
12hrs feed Window 2000cals saturdays
27 hrs water fast 0cals sundays
33hrs feed Window 4000cals MonTues
36hr fast 600 cals Wednesday
33hrs feed Window 4000cals thursfri
168 hours in the week
14000 weekly bmr 2000 daily
8600 cal weekly menu
=5400 calorie restriction +2000 exercise calories=2lbs

Hi RT

Another guru is born. 🙄

Cheers, Bay

Well done Jojo. I hope your shoulder is improving.
Mixed Asian lunch by the beach with a niece, (fabulous) now off to Korean with my son. Thank goodness for Thursday fast tomorrow. 😉 P

Morning/evening all.

Another sunny but cold morning. I hope it isn’t too long before my body gets use to the Pilates class as there are places that are sore where I didn’t know I had muscles…..

I’m not going to weigh myself until my 15 day fast and exercise blitz is over.

Well done Jojo, I hope your shoulder is feeling better today.

Have a good day/evening everyone.

Afternoon all.

Lovely sunny day today 😛

Just back from the gym which was really hard going this morning, but enjoyable and followed up with a nice swim and a sauna.

I got bitten on the neck (no, not a vampire 😉 ) when I was out yesterday evening, and considering it was cold and frosty I’m surprised that there were any bugs about!
Mozzies love me and I’ve suffered very badly in the past, even being bitten through my clothes. I’ve found something that keeps some but not all of the buggers away, but DEET is the remaining option. I’m loathe to use it as smell makes me feel sick, so I guess I’ll have to continue to be a blood donor 🙁

I don’t think it was a mosquito but it is not a good look 🙁

Just saw this on Twitter,

“Did you know that a blue whale’s tongue weighs more than an average elephant?”

Time for my FD dinner, I can wait no longer!

I didn’t finish that book as I got bored with it…………….

I’ll do my chores tomorrow when it is raining.

Enjoy your meal 🙂

Hi all EFB’s
Nicky Emel comespring and Aussie O in South Australia Nama & Keirra in Victoria Bay in ACT PVE in NSW WiWi & Barata in NZ and Jojo SAMM HappyNow Amazon Herm Lizzy Ply Tartan lass Smiffy Lor_PA and Hello World (You know Who You) 😆

And Now For Something Completely Different 😆
A day with RT
Up before the alarm at 2.45am
Short black throw down for a heart starter made the night before zapped in micro-wave
Out walking by 3am usually back in 75min it is a very well lit with street lights and I walk inside the bicycle lane.
Make a green tea to brew and have a shave and shower
Ready for work I live 8km from the plant 10 minutes’ drive perfect.
Smack down a bottle a water 600ml and the green tea to start with and then in the office by 4.45am I start at 5am I work day shift
Production starts at 5.30am till 2.30am and second shift 2.45pm till 11.45pm I started at the plant in1993 as a labourer in the boning room and worked my way into the Day Shift management team.
Process workers on the factory floor work a 7.6 hr work day 5.30am start 7am 10min break 8.30am 20min smoko 10am 10min break 11.30am 30min lunch 1pm 10 min break 2.30pm home time.
Like AO I have some miso soup sachets and Bovril in the top draw of my desk if needed but I usually find black coffee green tea black tea and plenty of water and perhaps 1 or 2 200ml mini diets cokes is enough to get me through the day.
My job however allows me the freedom of not taking any/all or some of the assigned breaks and I can leave accordingly since September I have been working straight through so am home usually by 1pm for coffee unless something has hit the fan!! Which is why the 19/5 sits so comfortably for me
Other than a fast day a light lunch at around 1.30pm then potter about catching up on the days share news and hover over my share portfolio read the papers watch the TV news then out on the reverse way walk by 3pm the school kid gets home around 4-15 he rides a bike then family time as a rule every second day we go out the farm check on the mother in law. We have dinner done usually by 6pm washed up and chilled out then showered ready for bed I’m normally in bed by 8-30pm and watch a few shows on pay-tv usually lifestyle food with my eyes shut and repeat the next day. Please feel free to add a day out of your own week fast friends. Morning PVE 😉
Peace RT

Hi Purple

Can you post the link to SMH article on foods to eat, please, here and on Maintenance.

I must learn how. 😉

Thanks, Bay

from an email to me. Hope it adds to store of information. Cheers, Bay 🙂

Sugar: Can we add to our scientific knowledge as to why sugar is so damaging to us? I’m trying to understand how it works so as to avoid the complication in the first place.

Is it true that:
Fructose is processed only in the liver? The liver then turns it to fat. The liver tries to store that if not immediately required?
Glucose on the other hand is processed in lower intestine and creates a different energy source for the body cells?

From: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-fructose-bad-for-you-201104262425

When fructose is joined to glucose, it makes sucrose. Sucrose is abundant in sugar cane, sugar beets, corn, and other plants. When extracted and refined, sucrose makes table sugar. In the 1800s and early 1900s, the average American took in about 15 grams of fructose (about half an ounce), mostly from eating fruits and vegetables. Today we average 55 grams per day (73 grams for adolescents). The increase in fructose intake is worrisome, says Lustig, because it suspiciously parallels increases in obesity, diabetes, and a new condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that now affects up to one-third of Americans. (You can read more about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a Harvard Health Letter article.)

Virtually every cell in the body can use glucose for energy. In contrast, only liver cells break down fructose. What happens to fructose inside liver cells is complicated. One of the end products is triglyceride, a form of fat. Uric acid and free radicals are also formed.

None of this is good. Triglycerides can build up in liver cells and damage liver function. Triglycerides released into the bloodstream can contribute to the growth of fat-filled plaque inside artery walls. Free radicals (also called reactive oxygen species) can damage cell structures, enzymes, and even genes. Uric acid can turn off production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps protect artery walls from damage. Another effect of high fructose intake is insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.

From wiki
Fructose malabsorption, formerly named “dietary fructose intolerance” (DFI), is a digestive disorder[1] in which absorption of fructose is impaired by deficient fructose carriers in the small intestine’s enterocytes. This results in an increased concentration of fructose in the entire intestine.

Occurrence in patients identified to be suffering symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is not higher than occurrence in the normal population. However, due to the similarity in symptoms, patients with fructose malabsorption often fit the profile of those with irritable bowel syndrome.[2] A small proportion of patients with both fructose malabsorption and lactose intolerance also suffer from celiac disease.

Fructose malabsorption is not to be confused with hereditary fructose intolerance, a potentially fatal condition in which the liver enzymes that break up fructose are deficient.

Also in the USA the most commonly used source of “additives” for processed foods is corn syrup and then “high fructose” corn syrup which is nearly all fructose used as the sweetener and is a base product in the majority of processed foods? this link seems to make a distinction ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_syrup

Morning all … just finished my Wii Fit for today … over 1,000 steps just doing that and I know it’s going to be an active day at work today.

Hmmm, my day starts by 6am (often before but trying to not get up too early at the moment), two 8oz glasses of water (room temp) straight from the Puratap filtering system (I could have ice/cold but prefer not), followed by Wii Fit (on the days I’m doing) then hop on here and update, followed by letting the chooks out (daylight by then), into the shower, dress, ready for the day, off to work at 7:50am at the latest, often 7:45am as I start work at 8:00am (6 km/mins down the road so I’m always a little early), grab a coffee and keep working, 30 min break around 1 or 2pm (not allowed to work through) finish work at 5pm (couple of coffees and 750ml bottles of water – take my own container and refill as required, Bovril at lunchtime if needed but unless a non-FD I generally don’t lunch), tea/dinner around 6 or 7pm depending on what we’re having, put the chooks to bed around 7:30pm, in between play with the dogs, visit friends/family or get online or watch TV in the evening, bed by 10:30-11pm. I aim to use Wii Fit minimum 3 times per week for minimum 20 mins while I build up stamina. Forgot to mention often I’ll be making or experimenting on projects in my craft room, weekends I spend more time in there.

Hope everyone’s having a great FD/non-FD … another FD for me today … oh yes, almost back to where I was before those 2 norty weekends of partying and I really think it was the sugary stuff that did it as I was not eating overly much as I stop eating once I start feeling satisfied/full enough but did have some coke’s (no diet stuff and no mini’s for me) and cake and so those are totally off my things I can have in moderation and onto my only on very rare occasions and then limited.

Must run for now. Catch up later 😀 have fun everyone 😆

Didn’t want to disappoint you, Nama, but I’ll keep it brief as I’m turning into a pumpkin at this late hour.

My take isn’t about “trying hard” to stay young. At any age, it’s about making the best of what we’ve got. I’ll never be Helen Mirren, but then I wouldn’t have been her at 30, let alone 60. What I like about some of our still-beautiful mature actors is that they are confortable enough in their own skin to age up, often unflatteringly, if the job demands it, like Helen in Last Orders and Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal in which she played a very unpleasant embittered woman.

Sure, keep an eye on fashion, but cherry-pick to create your own style. I can’t see why something that looks good on a 30-something shouldn’t also look as good – with a few amendments – on someone 30,40, 50 years or more older. With advancing years, there are more bits of the bod that we prefer to hide (it happens to much younger women too), but a bit of judicious dressing can take care of them. Skincare – keep it clean and keep it moisturised and don’t slap the make-up on with a trowel. Above all keep the ageing brain in gear and don’t hang out only with people of the same age.

The image below shows how parts of the media perceive the older woman. I’ve given instructions to my younger relatives. If I’m in any danger of turning into one of these sad old souls, take me out and shoot me, or if no fire arm is available, put me out with the bins!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26654759

Hello everyone,

Firstly Sew49, welcome to this thread. Highly recommend you stick with us if you want results. Read Jojo’s advice carefully – she knows her stuff and many of us on here adhere to most of the things she recommends. Personally I love this eating plan, as once you have mastered fasting, it gets easier and easier. I am probably a similar age to you (also married 42 yrs) and have tried ’em all since a teenager. The beauty of 5:2 is that you wont feel like you are dieting, but if you follow it, the weight will come off steadily. The constant struggle of watching everything you eat, every day is just too hard. You wont feel deprived. Most of us find our tastes gradually change and we lose the desire to eat unhealthy food. I also have arthritic knees and they play up in hot/humid weather. This time last year (Summer in Aus) I was told by a surgeon that I needed two new knees. As a nurse, I wasnt going that route without a fight! But after losing over 13kgs, this Summer my knees have been fantastic. A few twinges, but no swelling and no real pain. The only thing that has changed is 5:2 since mid September. The enthusiastic crowd on this thread have also convinced me to do some exercise, something I would not have believed possible. I now swim 2-3 times a week and love it. Your profile indicates a good sense of humour, you will fit in well here!

Hermaj, I agree with all of your comments completely re ageing women and that photo is horrendous! But thats exactly why so many older ladies spend so much time and money trying to look younger,they know what society pidgeonholes them/us as! I still visit the hairdresser every month and would love to stop, but am scared of going grey and losing 10 yrs overnight! Husband thinks I am just too vain, but a lifetime of trying to look as attractive as possible is pretty hard to shake!

RT now we know you are not an Avon lady selling rouge! I hope you get cheap meat for getting up that early! I did shift work when I used to be a useful member of society, but would rather do ten night shifts than one 7am start! Your days sound very full, likewize AO. I think I am more like Smiffy since I retired, life is much more relaxed – even with the morning swimming! It is very pleasant after 45 yrs of being responsible to little children, employers etc, to only be responsible to oneself. The days still fly but I have no routine whatsoever.. I did get up very early yesterday however, as when I opened one eye at 6.30 (to look at the clock), there was a very large and hairy huntsman spider watching me from 1 metre away. I climbed over the top of husband and out his side of the bed very quickly – gave him a big fright!

Today has involved a morning swim then an afternoon 5 Km walk, now I am really knackered, but my halo is shining. A fast day too…

Good evening (or morning/night) to all and there’s so, so much activity on the thread my head is spinning but it is all very inspiring. Welcome sew49 and I second what Nama has said – having struggled with my weight for too many years, this is working for me and while not easy it’s achievable and I’ve been losing slowly but surely for almost 7 months now (my GP recommended it 😉 )
Every FD has been different and some are much tougher than others but I’ve never woken up the next day and regretted fasting, the way I’ve woken up and regretted many other things in my life 🙂
Okay, well time to cook some FD dinner – take good care of yourselves everyone, and especially of those aging and/or overloaded joints!

Morning/evening all.

Another sunny morning, but that is going to end soon as rain is forecast.

I was going to get up early this morning and do a few things at home before going to the gym, but when the alarm woke me I turned it off and went back to sleep! One of the joys of being retired 😛

I’m being shown how to use the weight and resistance machines today, so will be pumping iron later 😉

I need help!!!

Why oh why did I do it????

Yesterday I was looking after 2 of my grandchildren and the littlest one force fed me one of his white chocolate buttons (they get 10 in a little dish after lunch,). Now I don’t particularly like them but to please him and of course encourage sharing I ate it……huge impact. I just wanted to Hoover up anything I could for the rest of the day and evening.

I ended the evening with a bar of chocolate bought for my birthday do on Saturday for the children…… every time I get stuff like that in it calls to me from the cupboards.

It’s a good thing today is a fast day. Perhaps I can get back on track, but I am feeling pretty down at the moment.I have let myself down. Perhaps it’s the bigger numbers attached to birthday s these days, I don’t know.

Must get up and stop whining.
WN.

Hi Wilbersnanna, you are human, thats why you did it! And all is not lost, you will get back on the horse and that chocolate will be gone. Maybe think of a plan in case it happens again. As Purple says, one lick of a spoon, one mouthful of something forbidden and bingo, the “demon” takes control! I just cant have some things in the house as there are always times when my resolve weakens. I am sure you have all sorts of thoughts, such as not punishing the grandchildren because you cant eat those things, we all think like that! Hopefully you feel better by now after getting it off your chest – this thread is great for that as we have all been there!

Smiffy I think your cat sounds rather lucky! Electric blanket no less! Pets are part of the family aren’t they?

Afternoon all.

Back from the gym feeling absolutely knackered!
I had my induction on the resistance machines today. We went through everything and I then used the rowing machine and the X trainer before commencing with my first session of resistance work. 3 sets on each of 7 machines. 5 of them were fine, but 2 of the upper body/shoulder exercises were killers. I really struggled with them. At least the first session over and done and the next one should be a bit easier, fingers crossed.

I am also starving hungry today. I’ve downed a couple of glasses of water and am now having coffee in the hope of settling the humger monster down until at least 4pm

Wish me luck…..

I used to have two black cats, brother and sister. I got them when they were 8 weeks old. He was a sweet little boy, very well behaved once I had got him out of the habit of jumping on the dining table and putting his face in my guest’s dinner whenever anyone came round for a meal:lol:
She was a little moo! The first thing she did when she walked out of the carrier was wee on the carpet. She was quite the naughtiest cat I’ve ever met, but also the most friendly and affectionate. I had them for 15 yers until her kidneys failed, and my boy lived for another 4 years after that. I miss them but I am enjoying the freedom of coming and going as I please, and not having the worry of finding someone to care for them when I go away.
I haven’t ruled out the possibility of having another cat one day,but mot just yet.

Hi Mamma and Smiffy.
Thank you for your kind,encouraging, and wise words. I did feel much better after posting. It’s good to have somewhere to sound off when needed!!

It’s one of the good things about this WOL which means one can draw a line under a bad day and just get on with life, isn’t it! So this afternoon I am giving myself a bit of a pamper…. hair, legs and nails. Weather is pretty awful so not a day for outdoors really,I did get out this morning and fresh air always helps you to feel a bit better. Fast is going well,too.Nothing yet apart from green tea and water.
WN.

WN,
I know what you mean about eating one mouthful of something and it destroying your eating plan for the day. That is why I try not to eat until dinner on FDs as once I start I don’t want to stop.
It is also hard to write it off and not be disappointed with yourself, but in the words of Scarlet O’Hara, tomorrow is another (fast) day 😉
I’ve managed to avoid having anything so far today with the help of copious amounts of water, coffee and the miraculous Bovril!
Thai style turkey curry this evening with enough calories left for some berries and yoghurt 🙂

I’m very tired today which is no surprise as I’ve been to the gym every day. I won’t be napping though or I might not sleep tonight.

I’ll be glad when it gets dark so I can draw the curtains on this miserable weather.

As the person that does the shopping, and takes the animals to the vets, I am well aware of the expense. OH not so much…! And if it was up to him we would be totally overrun with cats. I absolutely put my foot down though and refuse to have any more than four 🙂

And yes we are tied…but then we have hens as well… And in summer the veg patch, polytunnel and glasshouses are perhaps even more needy than the animals. We rarely get away together these days. Oh well…

And rather than downsizing, I’m waiting for the right moment to get another dog 🙂

Smiffy, yes I saw the high court decision at lunchtime also. The right decision, but an expensive one for the taxpayers unless the developer now has to pay costs…