Good morning all.

RT!! Wow, 96 hours, well done!! Inspiring! I can’t even manage 48 hrs properly, maybe I need to try without 500 cals. From memory I did 24hrs easily once without any food, my problem is I just enjoy food too much…. But you have inspired me to try again next week.

Well done on resisting the fish and chips Amazon. Resorting to PJ’s was a great idea! They NEVER taste as good as you imagine them, its all mind games. The healthy Coq au Vin will taste divine, even if you dilute it with extra vin!

Good luck with the bowling Jojo. It sounds like the challenge to stay on the straight and narrow food wise will be more than the bowling! Just remember your long fast leading up to this, remember how strong you have been if you are tempted. Sounds like you are well prepared though!

My house smells lovely at present as I have a huge batch of tomato chutney boiling on the stove. 8 kgs tomatoes and 3 kg onions, took forever to cut up last night but it will be worth it. Love home made chutney and its been too long since I made it. Big walk coming up this afternoon with husband and fasting today….

RT that is a wonderful story re the doctor curing his own ulcerative colitis. It is a dreadful disease. I nursed lots of teenagers with it and its cruel to see the powerful drugs they are put on. There is a new book out written by a Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon commenting on the fact that so much surgery is done uneccessarily – and the guy is a surgeon himself! The medical profession wont be too happy with him. He talks about very early interventions that were done in the name of medicine (such as blood-letting), pointing out that his profession has always preferred to do SOMETHING, even if ineffective, usually as a placebo. Quite a controversial book.

Have a great weekend all x

Morning/evening all,

Jo, I have tried several green teas and I don’t like any of them and I hate the taste of camomile too. If I do liquid only it’ll be tea in the morning with milk, a couple of coffees with milk and lots of water. I also drink peppermint and fruit teas occasionally so can live happily without the green stuff.

I got through yesterday without fish, chips or beer and am very pleased this morning as Thursday’s FD turned into 900-1000 calories due to cheesecake. Not a bad week, three FDs and one low calorie day is good.

I’m taking lots of boxes and a couple of dining chairs to my friend across the road today to be stored until the work is over. Not much more to do now and I’m glad I’ve spread it out over the week and not sprained or tweaked anything although I have a couple of lovely grazes on my hands 😦

I think it is safe to say that my back is almost better but still in need of lots of stretching 😃

Time to get moving, have a good one everybody 😜

Mmmmm, tomato chutney sounds delicious, Nama!

Pentimento, you are a star!

I am not a tea drinker either, Amazon, and mint is the only kind I really enjoy. I can distract myself from hunger with a cup during the day, and I have replaced my wine at night with tea for the time being. Tonight we are getting together with family, and the fermented grape juice will be flowing. I am looking forward to my first glass in weeks! I am bringing veggies with an avocado ranch dip, so I will stay on the straight and narrow food wise.

Yesterday turned into a regular fast day, as I came home exhausted and fell asleep early. Only consumption was a handful of sunflower seeds and a couple of hard-boiled eggs. The microwave at work is broken, and I didn’t feel like making salad to bring in the morning, so no lunch for me! I will be doing lots of veg prep today for the coming week, since there are still lots in the fridge from BSD shopping trip.

Six new students from Haiti arrived at our school this week, and none speaks any English. I was being introduced to two adorable first graders, who politely shook hands and told me their names. I didn’t quite hear the second name, so I leaned down and asked him to repeat it. Instead of repeating his name, he gave me the sweetest little kiss on the cheek! Completely made my day. 💗

Happy weekend, everyone!

P.s. If anyone is interested in trying a guided meditation experience, here is a link to one entitled, “Shedding the Weight, Body, Mind, and Spirit” that begins in a couple of weeks. I have done others in this series, and I enjoyed them. Still have the goal of making meditation a regular part of my life, but not quite there yet. These short guided series help.
https://chopracentermeditation.com/experience

Hi Nama, just reread you story (clicking on your name). I’m looking forward to achieve a similar weight loss as your have for my end-goal of 19-kg of fat thrown away in the FAT-BIN. ( not to be confused with sin-bin where it comes back in 10-minutes).
For me the motivation is both vanity and health. I have a new knee-buckling handsome husband I want him to be proud of his choice in taking me as his wife AND I have a sore body; carrying around a totally useless 19-20 kilos of fat on my joints must be a direct contribution to pain. So I just woke up one morning and decided to take control and change my body. 5:2 is a WOL vs a diet. I can easily eat and exercise like this forever and ever. I’m not doing any of the extreme things some of you all are doing. Again just-for-me, it’s a commitment to mindful eating, counting calories and watching what KIND of calories I’m consuming and of course my personal challenge daily cardio exercise and 20 minutes of stretching AGGGGGHHHHH! And when I indulge like yesterday when we went out to eat and we all ate fresh-caught grilled tuna belly with green beans in garlic ‘n olive oil AND YES a platter of yummy chips… well then I have to make up for eating the extra calories by either eating fewer calories this week and/or increasing my cardio work-out… just a matter of physics and math,
action/reaction, yes?
My desire to do whatever it takes to become fit & healthy again is MUCH stronger then my desire to continue indulging in my comfy old bad-habits. It’s simple just not not easy.

Last night watching the France vs Wales match I craved a glass of wine like taking a breath of air while drowning. No sh-t! A damn serious craving for a drink ‘n some popcorn…got up and walked past the wine cabinet 9xs during the game AND even set out everything to pop the corn…shameful stuff, really! Instead I made two cups of herbal tea and ate 2 corn ‘rice crackers’ with a thick slice of salted tomato on top. No sometimes it’s not easy at all………sigh…….. I am SO VERY INSPIRED by those of you who have succeeded before me and are now are maintaining your happy healthy bodies and minds. Good on you! I’m right behind you.

Enjoy the roast lamb today Nama always a big hit in this house I do ours in the webber out the back Y-fee is a mad face booker seen a post and thought it might be good for me/us to join in the Meatless March program hmmm 31 days doesn’t seem long but as I know you are a happy and keen carnivore I am wondering whether or not your on-board this also 😉
Happy Sunday Fast Trackers
Go Crows
RT

Dear RT, Thank you for the comments.
You motivated me to do my TDEE calculations again. The good news is that on Food Days I’m consuming fewer calories (1,250 cal) then my TDEE recommended (1,896 cal) but on the other hand I’m consuming more then 25% of the TDEE calories on my FD; 25% of TDEE equals 413 cal vs my own 500-550 FD caloric consumption. Just dunno, if I can drop down to 413 calories on FD…. not sure and more so probably not too willing. On my own system I don’t ‘feel’ deprived or particularly hungry on FD. If I DO feel strong hunger I just eat something (that’s STILL eating mindful ‘correct’ food) such as my always on hand for Fast Day, green veggie blended soup or I have a large cuppa tasty hot broth, something yummy and satisfying passing me lips so I’m still within my FD caloric count but I’m not hungry-hungry or irritable OR obsessing over FOOD. 5:2/4:3 is a WOL about health and only part of my daily thoughts.

As long as I’m consistently losing around/close to/and over 1 kilo per week I will stay on my currant bespoke program. The suggestions from the 5:2 program are excellent guides and have put me on a successful path of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) + Mindful Eating and Exercise. I love it!

But as far as skipping me brekkie? It’ll never happen. This is my total favorite meal of the day, on the other hand supper is not so compelling. I can miss that meal easily but why would I skip any meal? I’m delighted with eating my 5-6 wee mini-meals throughout the day. Me LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, eating, yes I do, very much! Just don’t want to be fat or sore any more. So I’m still ‘eating’ albeit MUCH differently then I the way I did in the past that allowed me to acquire this extra fat.
Smart changes vs deprivation.
Well folks, just stay strong and if you fail just try again…sigh…and again..

Hey folks don’t forget to enter your profile information.
Tasa…I’m I newbie here but I blew the entire first month messin’ around, making excuses and such things. There is HUGE power inside you to manage a full load of life’s tugs & pulls; work, children, social, home-life AND your health management program. You just gotta reach deeper, much deeper, make some additional sacrifices and modifications to your day …just a tweak here and there, get up 30 minutes earlier or drink more water or what ever works for you. If you can’t do 10k steps do what you can! If you can’t do 500-cal on FD, do the best you can, if you can’t keep the caloric count low on Food Days to your own personal goal, well just do the best you can….but keep trying the only failure is to stop….just adjust where you need to and get back on the wagon. GOOD LUCK!

Not eating bread isn’t a problem. I miss it but it does mean I’m making better choices. The problem lies in trying to give up bread and added sugar at the same time. The idea was to help me stick to the plan but it hasn’t worked out that way at all. I want to lose weight and keep it off but I’m not prepared to be miserable in the process and failing so added sugar in moderation is back on the menu.
I intend to continue with 3:4 and limit anything that contains sugar without eliminating it completely and see if that is doable.

I have a busy week ahead and am looking forward to having a brand new bedroom. My living room is an obstacle course as it is so full of stuff and the bed frame is yet to be dismantled and added to the mess 😆
At least I’m not climbing over things as was the case when I had my kitchen installed!

Jo,

It sounds as if starting the blood sugar diet can’t come soon enough for you! You might not have a sweet tooth, but simple carbs certainly seem to be your weakness (and they metabolize the same as sugar). You’ve obviously got fasting sorted (you’re one of the few who’ve done more than a day!) but you undo it on non-fast days?! Scrambled eggs AND porridge and fruit sounds like two breakfasts, not one. Pasty for lunch. Spuds for tea. Simple carbs at every meal to keep your blood sugar elevated all day… I hope today’s eating has been more successful?

And I have to say your mind set seems wrong…’dreading all that shopping and cooking’. You’re the woman who apparently loves new challenges and learning new skill/hobbies! You want to be slim and reduce your risk of obesity-related illnesses? So why not view this as an opportunity? Think of the BSD as a new hobby/ a short course, and actively look forward to it. You know, you’re the only thing standing between you and a slim healthy future.

Good morning all.

Sorry for long silence – been very busy at work and home but have had time now to catch up on posts.

Wow Jojo, well done on the 3-day fast. You have inspired me to have a go. As I’ve said before, and like Penti, mealtimes at home are for socializing so it’s very hard for both of us for me to either sit and not eat anything, or not be present. However, OH has another week’s consulting just before Easter so will definitely do it then. So much time and money saved by not cooking and eating.

My 40 days of no added sugar have been going well except for a small blip last week when an opened packet of Maltesers at eye level leapt out of the fridge and demanded to be sampled 🙁 The grandchildren had had them in the car and they had gone soft in the hot weather; limited myself to 4 but very cross. Apart from that smallish sin, it has gone well and have lost a little under 3kg (6lb 8oz) in the three weeks since starting.

Amazon, I knew that cutting out all carbs wouldn’t have worked for me so still having 2 slices of mixed grain bread on my 4 days at home/week.

Interesting to hear of the BDS adventures Ply, some of the recipes sound delicious so might have to get the book for that reason.

Take care all and keep up the good work. n xxx

Thanks Jo for the advise, I’m in the process of starting my own business but since Started dieting and exercising i couldn’t focus on the business and that frustrates my a great deal. both business and weight management require immense focus.The problem is I can’t do two things at the same time. It’s not only business and diet. i have to take care of the family and coach boys through exam etc. sometimes when I slip and the eating don’t go well I get hugely disappointed and tempt to leave it completely (the stage i’m in now!)

To plan the meals for the fast (and non-fast) require time and planning too. getting red of long life unhealthy habits can be challenging at times. Am I not going to eat bread for the rest of my life? this comes to mind sometimes!

I’m indeed want and keen to be healthy, slim and happy but I need to put significant effort on the career/ business side and that is where i’m struggling now.
On the positive side the clean feeling inside my body is amazing! The walks everyday are getting easier, the shrinking butts and the drop in the dress size is wonderful. the disappearance of pain and aches in my feet and back is marvellous. Thats what keeps me going. I will try my best to keep it up and hope fully it will get easier and i will develop the skills to get the career part on track by determination, focus and hard work.

I have put on 0.3 kilo. behind my goal but i will try not to be disheartened and keep going. Today is a fast day and i will keep you updated on how I’m progressing.

Have a great day everybody!

Many thanks Nama for your encouragement and kind words. as you said being patient is the key. I’m trying my best to keep on track. coming to this forum is one of my strategies. The next two weeks are going to be critical but I will survive.

Thanks again and have a great day!

Hi all.

I finished the 3rd week of my 4:3 fasting today,(it supposed to be on Saturday,but i went out with my family for coffee and i decided to do Sunday as fast day instead of Saturday.
I weighted myself today morning,and i had gone up 200g 🙁 (i weighted myself after taking thyroxine tablets with a small glas of water,so the weight gain it might have been the water)
Last week by the end of my third day of fasting i weighted 77.2 kg
And today i was 77.4kg

I don’t know what to do,but when you see that the weight goes up instead of loosing weight,it makes you feel so discouraged
I will continue with this diet,but i am not sure if i am going to lose weight,but all the positive comments that other people leave here,makes me feel better and having the desire to continue,and thinking if i haven’t lost anything this week maybe i will on the other week coming 🙁

Have a good day everyone.

Good morning all.

Glad you won your bowls match Jojo. A good feeling when your team was the only winner. The beauty of teamwork of course is that even if one member is a bit off, the others can take up the slack.

Amazon, renovaations are nearly as bad as moving house IMO but, as you say, the messy bit is over and you can look forward to an improved room. Keeping busy is the best way for a FD to fly by.

Tasa, you answered your own question regarding the 200g, a glass of water weighs about that much. There are times when the scales stay stubbornly stationary or, worse, go up for no sensible reason. That’s often when I and others have found that measurements have decreased. Who knows what happens? Nama’s advice is sound as usual: just focus on the doable.

Good FD yesterday with only about 250C consumed for the day. 100g of microwaved salmon and a plate of salad for dinner.

Not a FD today, so looking forward to a cafe latte at 11am. Have an almost impossible schedule of three appointments this afternoon so need to rearrange. Currently it involves driving across town twice in 90′ with a 30′ appointment in the middle, coupled with lots of road closures and speed restrictions to accommondate a b****y car race on the weekend. I detest lateness!

Take care all and keep up the good work. n xxx

Your post must have crossed with mine Jojo – good luck!

Thanks for your support Purple. It’s good to be back!

Hi all and thanks Amazon Nama and Jojo.

Unfortunately my Mum is not very happy and prone to tears when I leave her. I know she would be happier in residential care with other people around her but she is determined to stay ‘independent’ which In reality means she is more dependent than ever. She has carers three times a day and I visit every other day, so we can only take it a day at a time at present.

I’m not pre-diabetic but I do like the science behind the Mediterranean diet coupled with Michael’s views that losing weight quickly with a very low calorie diet is not the mortal sin we have been given to understand it has been over the years. I want to get this weight off quickly and get back to 5.2 for maintaining. No, Jojo, I am not drinking alcohol! I had a successful ‘Dry January’ but had a very Wet February!

I am using the basic guide lines as set out in the book (i. e. Low carb, no sugar and including some fat and lots of olive oil) but using those recipes that incorporate ingredients that I already have in my cupboard and freezer. I’m fairly confident that I will be eating a wide variety of the right things as my every day eating includes a lot of these type of foods in any event.

Incidentally, there is a website for the BSD set up like this one, with a forum and some really good, illustrated recipes posted by other dieters. Worth a look from the 5.2 point of view for fast days as well.

All that said, we are meeting friends for a Nepalese meal tonight! It will mean rice, but I will be back on track tomorrow, so no harm should be done.

Hope all the work to your flat goes well, Amazon. An upheaval, but well worth it in the end.

Have a good day/evening all.

Smiffy x

Hi everyone,
I’ve had another good day.
I slept in this morning which is unusual for me, then went to the gym and had a great workout and a nice swim.

I went shopping this afternoon to Kingston which is a very enjoyable 30 minute bus ride away. I got a bedside lamp and matching shade which was the purpose of the trip, and managed to avoid the hot cross buns when I took a shortcut through M&S food hall. They are the only HCBs I like and I always buy some, but that will have to wait until Easter this year.

I’ve just had my FD dinner of cous cous with vegetables and chicken with a huge green salad. I know we’ve all said it numerous times but keeping busy is the answer on FDs.

I’m looking forward to a normal day tomorrow which should leave me ready for another B2B on Thursday and Friday.

With everything being upside down here I forgot to weigh myself this morning so I’ll need to do it tomorrow 😳

Jo, I’m curious….why do you need to “get your metabolism working”. As Dr M says, exercise is irrelevant at this stage for weight loss. It is important in maintenance. Concentrate on the limited food at this stage. Get it right and you’ll be winning 😀 I’m here to support your success, mate P