Ali, as I stated in my post, I’m not beating myself up. I gave that up a while ago as it is counter productive and I’ve been following this WOL for far too long to expect it to be easy.

Jo, lucky you to enjoy fruit teas, I’ve tried many of them and they do nothing for me. The only non black tea I like is mint so I tend to stick to water on FDs.

I’ve had a nice afternoon watching some terrific tennis matches and am now talking myself out of opening a bottle of wine 😉

When I posted earlier I hadn’t noticed that we had a new page :doh:

Wee, wishing Jim all the best for next Thursday. I’ve seen quite a few of the operations done as they used take xrays during the procedure. I expect they still do but it was 15 years ago before I specialised in Nuclear Medicine and of course now that I’m a lady of leisure I’m not up to date with the latest advances and techniques.

Jo, we’ve not had any rain today but I’ve had to give in and put the CH on. I went to bed fully dressed yesterday afternoon but decide I didn’t want to do that again today!!!!!

I’ll believe tomorrow’s forecast for 24°C when I feel it………..

Wee,

Glad to hear summer’s arrived with you too 😎 Particularly since you didn’t get summer at all last year!

It’s been 23, yes 23, degrees ( c 😀 ) here today and blue skies. Been into the Lake District for the day, wall to wall blue skies and stunning scenery, such a lovely time of year, and shorts and ice cream weather too! Couldn’t be more perfect.
(yep P, we’ve been very English today 😀 ).

Helooooo,
I hope to catch everyone this time 🙂
To my vacation to London in July a friend told me not to bring too much clothes instead a suitcase full of English pounds 👍

Ali – be fabulous for all of us at the red carpet 🍷

Wee – thinking of you and Mr Kee next week! My fasting comes so easy this year. I have no problem with 5:2 but as addressed by others watch for non FD.

RT – Our virtual brother … No more counting calories. Let’s all break free from and embrace easy and simple 💖. Also been stauking Jason Fung as well. Looks like I am a serios follower. Thanks for the link.

Jo – it’s the bathroom remodel for a prospect tenant? We have an old building and don’t know where to start in terms of dollars name sense.

Cheers everyone! It’s the weekend. I might go to be big apple tomorrow. Fun and fun!

Be good my friend. Virtual big hug.
B

Morning/evening all,

I think summer has arrived here albeit it cloaked with cloud this morning. The bitterly cold wind has gone and it is several degrees warmer so the windows and doors have all been opened and the washing is blowing in the breeze. It is going to get another 7 or 8 degrees warmer during the course of the day and tomorrow and Monday are going to be 25 and 🌞 which means that the air will be heavy with the scent of sunscreen and BBQ. I know 25 is sweater weather to you SHers 😉 but to us it’s a heatwave so we must make the most of it 😎
I hope it continues across the UK for the next couple of weeks as Cornwall in good weather is fabulous!

FD today and lots of chores to be done. There’ll be ironing later (yuck, yuck, yuck) and I’ve plenty to keep me busy until dinner.

Have a good one everybody 😜

Hi
We are in the middle of a massive storm…extreme winds, flooding rains. Our drive and street are blocked by fallen branches and I’m mopping up water coming in through my lovely old windows and doors. The storm is from the north east which is very unusual for here, usually from the south. So trees, windows and outdoor furniture, that are normally protected, are copping the full force. And the main storm, which has raged all night, doesn’t hit for another few hours!
Don’t you love it? Drought, fires, then floods! That’s Australia for you! (Google Dorothea Mackellar’s My Country if you need to know more)
Have a good one 😅 P

I agree Apricot. Funny how storms are a combination of scary and exhilarating! I’ve been up for hours checking, moving, covering, tying down.
The funniest thing is, the apparatus on the new weather station that measures wind speed, has been blown away!!!!
I wonder what happens to the poor birds in these gale forced winds? They are certainty making a racket! ( Happy will know) P

I guess, like being hungry gets you moving, so does facing danger. All part of our evolution.
We were trapped in our truck with our two little boys, years ago. A storm had brought down trees and power lines, way out in the country, where we lived at the time. My husband wisely moved the truck back slightly, once we were stuck. He saved us from the next tree falling right in front. We had to spend the night there and walk a couple of kilometres home the next morning to check our animals. My old cat never returned. 🐺 P

Morning from Melbourne!
Yes RT, looking forward to the footy this afternoon, if I survive that long!! We are doing a DIY bathroom renovation at present and apart from the tiling, husband doing a great job on everything else. However, he has come slightly unstuck today with replacing cornices. We went a bit modern and tiled all the way to the ceiling on every wall, so had to remove cornices before tiles. Replacing them is proving something of a nightmare (as first timers!) Up and down ladders like a honeymooners nightie! And my man is not a patient type!

Purple I do hope you are ok and my namesake (your cat Annie) is not too stressed either! Sydney can have wild storms even in Summer. I hope there are not too many big gums over your house. Thinking of you today and no longer complaining about our cold and wet weather.

Dont get me started on ‘camping in storms’ stories! Don’t camp these days, too soft! Our Jayco campervan nearly got blown into the Southern Ocean at Wilsons Prom once, really scary stuff.

Quick hello and hug to Weemam too – will be thinking of you and Jim this week. What a relief you will feel when the surgery is over, its been hanging over you both for such a long time.

I did an ‘Amazon’ Fri/Sat with B2B fasts, 2nd day definitely easier than the first and pretty hungry now. But saving up for a roast dinner tonight. I will avoid the spuds and have stuffed some mushrooms to put in the oven instead.
Have a great and safe Sunday all x

Hi Fast Trackers
Nicky Emel and Aussie O in South Australia Nama in Victoria Bay in ACT PVE in NSW WiWi France Barata in NZ and Jojo HappyNow Amazon Herm Lizzy Ply Tartan lass Smiffy Weemam Lor_PA CakeyWakey Sarah103 HealthCoachB Tessy pen nib Iona72 Pentimento pranayama and Hello World (You All know Who You ARE) 😉

“Saving Australia Diet”
Updates are here.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/a/31660229/the-saving-australia-diet-cassandras-check-up/
Updates
https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/a/31708730/the-saving-australia-diet-jack-tonys-check-up/
Tony LCHF Pete Evans
Jack 800 cal BSD Dr Michael Mosely
I will let the results tell the story but simply put well done is better than said.
RT

Hi Purple yes i couldn’t agree more 😯 💡 It is though very empowering to see the on going evidence continue to stack up with each and every individual charting their own way along this our chosen WOL.
RT

Well another lovely day here. I could get used to this!

P, I hope everything’s settled again where you are? And the birds have piped down?! What birds do in a storm depends on the bird. Some get caught up in it and just keep flying, but birds that perch have a perching reflex (what stops them falling off when they’re askeep!). They sense changes in barometric pressure, find a sheltered sturdy branch and just sit it out. The wind/rain of itself isn’t a problem, but birds can get chilled (particularly chicks) and the loss of feeding time and reduced food sources (particularly insects) can be catastrophic.

We’ve had guests staying, but I think – no I know – I will be fasting tomorrow…

Morning/evening all

I guess the thing we know for sure about birds is that they’ve survived for a very long time so most of them will get through on instinct. The mynahs will be stuffing themselves on an unexpected bonus!
I love Australian birds and always spend hours on my friends balcony watching the birds that come to the table in her garden. She puts out seeds etc for them but it doesn’t stop the cockies destroying her sunflowers 😆 If I’m really lucky I see a koala or two 🙂

Purple, I hope everything is OK and there is no damage to deal with. I guess the rainfall is a blessing but not what brought it!

I got through my FD yesterday. It was a real struggle but nothing to do with hunger just wanting to eat. I am really pleased I made it to bed time as I’ve struggled this week. I’m doing ADF until I go away next Saturday due to social commitments on Tues and Thur which should work out OK :fingerscrossed: and I’m planning on fasting during the journey on Saturday.

I have some lamb in a Greek style lemon and oregano marinade from my BBQ book which is on the menu this evening and there will be some leftovers for a salad tomorrow. Not sure if it’ll be grilled or I’ll fire up my BBQ. I feel that I should in case today is the only day that is nice enough this summer 😉

I also found a recipe for aubergine slices rolled up around feta, basil and sun dried tomato which I intend to try.
The schedule for today will be arranged around Andy Murray’s bid to win the French Open and the forecast for Paris is nowhere near as nice as for London so it might be tricky for them to actually get on court and play.

Have a good one everybody 😜

Sorry P, my bad. I know the birds you mean from your description.

My friends in Perth have a family of blue fairy wrens that nest in their garden every year, and they are so bold they come onto the patio and perch on the backs of our chairs. When they have babies they bring them too! I guess they feel safe and know they won’t come to any harm as even the dog ignores them.

I’ve just prepped dinner. The aubergines are a bit fiddly as I have to BBQ or grill the slices then allow them to cool a bit before stuffing and rolling and then reheating, but I’m going to give them a go on the BBQ along with the lamb kebas, jalapeños stuffed with a small amount of goats cheese that needs to be eaten, and a salsa. I’m calorie counting everything so I can happily eat leftovers tomorrow for my FD dinner.

Can hardly wait 😎

I enjoy the preparation and cooking almost as much as eating so couldn’t agree more.

I walked to the local supermarket this morning for some fresh salad and herbs and strolled back in the sunshine thinking about alternatives to the rolled aubergines and came up with several different ideas which will be tried at some stage.

Pre 5:2 there would have been chips and dips which are no longer part of my diet although hummus with carrot sticks and mint and yoghurt dip with cucumber would be healthy and tasty alternatives.
There would also be some crusty bread and a potato salad but such things are on hold until maintenance and it will be one or the other never both.

I need to put this from my mind now and concentrate on something else…….

Amazon, my new hors d’oevres is smoked salmon on cucumber slices with a little dollop of plain yogurt/dill. I need to get some for my dinner party this eve!

Hi all. Jo, I live in Devon but was visiting a friend in Essex for the weekend. We found some lovely places, English Heritage and National Trust. Northey Island is the site of the battle of Maldon in 991. Lovely light across the marshes and a very cautious swim off Mersea, with the tidal stream quite strong parallel to the beach. Really pretty beach huts in different ice cream colours.

Mmm, some good recipes. Like the sound of the smoked salmon one KLo. Also the aubergine slices. I won’t be home till mid week so will just eat sensibly but not fast.

It’s good to read all the posts after being offline for a bit and JoJo, tiredness is one of the main saboteurs of healthy living / self care. A good sleep will make all the difference and I hope you have that tonight.

My books arrived yesterday and I realised I (double) ordered the wrong one (the 5:2 Beach one and the sugar one, which I did want). I’ve read about half of the beach one and there’s plenty of good advice in it. I have to say that I’ve never been so positive about ‘dieting’ before. It has really made me think about how we used to eat when I was young- porridge for breakfast with a tiny bit of sugar and the early bird always got the cream off the top of the milk; proper dinner in the middle of the day – small amount of meat, potatoes and vegetables with a glass of water; ‘Tea’ (as we called it) around 6pm was something like eggs (from our own hens) and toast and a glass of milk – and that was it! We were given a small sweet treat on a Sunday and we were extremely active.

I look at my son and see such a different experience. I feel guilty that I allow him to eat rubbish sometimes, much more than we did growing up (he’s 15) and watch too much on the computer etc. I don’t want a constant battle with him and sometimes (like this last week or so) he wants to take care of his health. I’m sure I’m not the only single parent who wrestles with not feeling like the best role model- anyway, I have a friend who says ‘progress, not perfection’ and I’m trying to apply that philosophy to the 5:2 lifestyle, as opposed to thinking of it as a diet – they’ve never worked (long term) for me in the past so the chances are they won’t in the future! If I can mend my eating ways it might have a positive impact on my son.

Tomorrow I weigh myself and I hope I’ve lost some of the 4lb I put on last week. I’ve been much better this week and and stayed away from sugar, so fingers crossed. I did eat ‘many’ bags of crisps yesterday – won’t say how many, so we’ll see.

All the best to everyone starting a new week….one day at a time : )
Aine

Bad luck Jo. There’ll be another day. ☺☺
Amazon, I’m at the other end of the fast day, and seasons. Too cold for a fast salad, so some hot veg (leek, capsicum, bok choy, carrot) with zero noodle angel hair, lemon and cooked salmon. We need the warmth.
Today had been an easy fast (45 minutes to go), I’ve kept busy painting watercolour landscapes. All the best northern fasters. P 😊

Hi Fast trackers

It’s a beautiful day in the Castelli Romani, just south of Rome. It’s good to be out of France which is in a depressive mood at present. The weather has been awful, and there are strikes everywhere. My theory is that Easter was too early and there were half the number of May/June public holidays as there usually are (public holidays are never mondayized in France, 1 May and 8 May are both holidays but fell on Sunday this year). People have had enough of austerity before it even starts and also the rainy weather. France as a place to live in and to visit are two very different things. It’s a grey place with little relief in the towns. The country where I live is perfect as a place to live I should add, though I know the other situation too).

Today is a fast with a bit of food tonight (salad) and I just have to admire the big bowl of cherries bought a few minutes ago from an orchard.
Yesterday we ate in what I call a no B***S**** restaurant. They weigh the meat (of which there is plenty) you eat the most wonderful array of meats and cheese; artichokes and aubergine à la romaine, eat the crusty bread they make themselves, and you drink the local red ( €1 per litre!)- so you do! This is a traditional taverna style meal and you can almost imagine the dogs under the tables waiting for the scraps.

The spring has over in Rome and fruit and veges are in abundance.

Happy Fasting!

xxx Sisi (today)

Hi Wiwi,

Rome sounds like a much better option than France at the moment. Enjoy the rest of your visit 🙂

I’ve been out all day and didn’t even think about food until I saw asparagus for sale in the market. Huge bunches of it for £1.50 so I bought 4!

I went shopping as I wanted a pair of cutoff casual trousers. I found a denim pair and they are perfect. I then proceeded to my two other favourite clothes shops for a look round and the grand total was one pair of cutoff jeans, one skirt, one dress, a long shirt, a linen shirt (fuchsia pink so impossible to resist) and three tops to go with both the skirt and the jeans.

YOLO 😉

I dropped my purchases off at home and went to Kew for a walk which was beautiful. The clever swans have kept all nine cygnets safe and sound and they look almost twice as big as last week 🙂
I went into their plant shop and bought another salvia to replace the one that the slugs devoured and I’m determined they won’t be snacking on it.

I’ve had my BBQ leftovers. The aubergine dip was divine and it’ll be worth cooking aubergine slices that way again just to make the dip.
A good day well spent (pardon the pun 😄 )

Like the sound of your outings, Amazon. Clothes and Kew, what could be better! Sounds as if you’re pretty much ready for Cornwall. I like the sound of the Aubergine and lamb, must try that. Barbecued lamb is so good too. Once my OH cooked a whole shoulder of lamb on the barbecue, covered in herbs and with the lid on. It was absolutely delicious, took around two hours. We were going camping, so had some hot then the rest went with us, cold. Very nice with its smokiness.

No fasts yet this week as I’m still away, but yesterday’s meals were fish and veg, healthy options. Oh yes except for the banana split, hmm! And the wine. But long walks round Henley and Reading, the Thames looks lovely at this time of year and lots of ducklings/goslings were out with anxious parents.

Good luck with FDs today. And JoJo, what can you do to break that cycle? Nuts sound good though high cal. How about cream cheese wrapped in ham or in celery? Hummus dip with carrot? Hard boiled egg? A clementine for sweetness, or some strawberries? Might help the cravings. I’m bad too when I get on a carb trip, biscuits are my bad thing as they are too more-ish.