Woohoo, Tartanlass, I can see you shimmying in your sequins now! I, too, enjoy being distracted from exercise, which is why I prefer group activities and running with friends. I catch up on TV shows when I do my morning workout.

Afternoon all.

Second fast day of the week. I got up early and went shopping as I needed a few groceries and decided I would treat myself to some sushi for dinner. The pack I chose has 380 calories so I bought a couple of beautiful fresh figs and am going to have one with some yoghurt and agave nectar for dessert.
I promised myself that I wouldn’t get on the scales until the 31st but I couldn’t resist. I’ve lost 5lb since 11th August so I’m very pleased with myself.
I happened to go past two of my favourite clothes shops today so went in both for a browse around. I came home with three new tops. My excuse is that I need smaller clothes. I can’t find my tape measure so I’ve no idea what my measurements are, so I’m going to go by how my clothes fit. When I originally started the 5:2 plan last year I was a size 18-20 and am now a 14-16. Like Jojo I’m aiming for a 12 which is a 30 year old memory.
Everyone on this thread is so positive and encouraging to each other. It is so nice to read the comments.
I’ve worked out today too and am just starting to feel hungry so I think it is time to try some of the green tea I bought this morning.

iT IS ALMOST MIDNIGHT BUT i JUST WANTED TO DO A QUICK POST.

i HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE NOT LOOSING WEIGHT AND GETTING REALLY DOWN ABOUT IT .
WHEN I LOST MY WEIGHT A FEW YEARS AGO ( MAM AND DAD BOTH HAD/HAVE ALZHEIMERS.
AND WHEN MAM PASSED AWAY I PUT SOME BACK ON ) ANYWAY I USED TO STALL FOR 6 WEEKS AT A TIME but EACH TIME i WOULD GO DOWN ANOTHER DRESS SIZE .
Oops ss caps . On 5.2 I have lost 17 pounds but again I see more inches lost than weight . I lost 5 stone at that time .

I am just trying to say …please don’t think because you are stalling weight wise that you are NOT loosing inches .

Sorry about the Caps . hands too sore with RA to retype this again .

Wee xx

SAMM, you crack me up. Either your posts are full of scientific info, or a quick shot of enthusiasm! Either way, always welcome.
Catchy York, welcome and congrats on your weight loss. Your goal is attainable!
Jojo, your dinner sounds delish. I just finished some garlic & rosemary lamb chops with a side of zucchini noodles. Yum! I bought a pair of hot-pink shorts tonight…we could be twins across the pond!
I invested in a new hobby tonight. I bought a gigantic dollhouse from a virtual yard sale site that needs some sprucing up and total decorating of the inside. I didn’t like girly stuff much when I was little, maybe due to being surrounded by 4 brothers and almost exclusively boy neighbors, and by the time I wanted to play with dolls I was too old. I have 2 sons, so none of those girly impulses were satisfied there. Perhaps a granddaughter? In any case, I am quite excited about this project, which will be very long term. The three-story, mansard-roof house is wired for electricity and has working windows, a two-story porch, and beautiful staircases inside. Not the most active hobby, but I find crafts very relaxing and stress-relieving, which can only be good.
Good night, fast trackers!

Hello all

Back from a lovely week in Wales. Rather indulgent – a meal out, an Indian takeaway, friends in for lunch and an M & S Dine In For Two – plus quite a few glasses of wine! I did however manage a FD while we were away, and have just done a Back2Back. Got on the scales this morning and was amazed to find 2lbs off! I’m now just another 2lbs off my second stone. I couldn’t be more thrilled. We did do lots of long walks with the dogs , which must have helped. OH has lost a pound and is also just a couple of pounds from his two stone loss.

Can’t get complacent though – quite a few more social things coming up over the weekend, starting with afternoon tea with champagne this afternoon – a treat from himself, so looking forward to that, especially as we are going in our old MG, which we can finally fit back into!

I haven’t caught up on all the recent posts, but a quick glance indicates that everyone is doing really well. What a lovely determined bunch.

Hermaj – I’m happy to have a go at setting up a new thread, but wonder if we really need it. Everyone is so nice on this one – and of course if JoJo is happy for us to stay – but if you think we should have another thread for us oldies, then let me know. What do our other senior posters think?

Have a great day all, whether it’s fast or feast.

Smiffy x

Hi everyone.

Yesterday’s fast was much easier than Monday so I’m feeling confident that I can manage another one tomorrow.
Interesting that many of you are following low carb low sugar diets too.
I have cut down on the amount of carbs I eat since I gave up work but only because I’m no longer in an environment where there is always a plate of muffins or a box of cookies or doughnuts hanging around. I make my own bread but limit how much I eat as I love it and could easily eat half a loaf at one sitting and of course it would be covered in butter and whatever else I fancy! I also make granola so I no longer buy breakfast cereals full of hidden sugar, but apart from that I don’t do anything to limit carbs or sugar.
I don’t buy biscuits (because I’ve never been able to eat just one or two) processed food or ready meals apart from a pizza now and then so there isn’t really much to cut out.
Do you guys do it from a health point of view or because you think it helps lose weight?

Hi jojo,

Another shared opinion. Which is great! On the subject of “elderly” animals. In our innocence we took out pet insurance for our two moggies. When they reached the ripe old age of, would you believe, 8 (!!!, we were told that premiums would rise steeply as they were now considered old. We cancelled the policy. By the time they popped their clogs, at 15 and 21 respectively they would have been considered antedeluvian.

What was very annoying was that we never claimed on the insurance. The sort of routine stuff that pets go through, e.g. immunisations, weren’t covered. And all their illnesses and injuries were so minor that the amount we paid not high enough to constitute a claim.

Don’t get me started on the issue of ageism. I set up a thread on the subject quite a while back and it’s still there if you are interested. I would love to go public and genuinely campaign against the kind of stupid, sweeping generalisations made about the more mature. Take this unflattering and, I think, totally unfair vision of the over-55s, indeed of anyone from the 50s – many of whom looking to be in their late 30s – to the 90s and beyond – many of whom could pass for 70-ish – in reasonable health with marbles intact:

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

However, I work on the fringes of the meeja where ageism is rife and it could be disastrous for me to reveal my age. It’s a very “mature” profession and many practitioners carry on into their 80s and even their 90s. I didn’t really hit my stride until 60, when my work went up several notches. Colleagues think I’m hovering around 60 as many of them are. The reaction to the very, very occasional off-day is “Hermaj had an off-day, not to worry,” rather than “Hermaj is losing it, let’s put the poor old thing out to grass”, that could be the response if I revealed my DoB.

Thanks for the invite to your super-60 party. Could I come as a souped-up, intergallactic version of Catherine Tates’ Nana, wearing my pants over my leotard? She’s a naughty older woman who could swear for England – just like me. After all, I am a “language” specialist. 🙂

Thanks Cheeseplease, it is always interesting and often useful to know what motivates people to do something.
I’ve had a tough time over the years with my inability to limit myself to two biscuits or one slice of cake but I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that the only person who can help me to lose weight is me. I can take encouragement from fellow dieters like all of you on here (who I think are very generous with your kind words for each other) but I’m the one who has to make the decision to not eat any more bread. Sometimes I fail miserably, but these days more often than not I succeed, and the idea that I can have it tomorrow is what has made me stick to it where all else has failed. I said no to a G&T last Saturday because I knew it would lead to another and another, which would then be followed by uncontrolled shovelling of everything I could find into my mouth, and that would undo all the effort of my fast days and leave me feeling bloated and unhappy. I don’t know who was more surprised, me or my friend. I don’t remember ever refusing a G&T before…….

Hi Cheeseplease,

Like you, I must have saved squillions over the years. Spotty youths hold no fears for me. As they approach, physically or telephonically, my inbuilt s**t detector goes into action.

One not so youthful bloke trying to sell me something a few years back gave up in despair when I failed to respond to his sales patter. “Blimey,” he sighed, “you’re difficult, aren’t you?” “Well spotted, mate,” I refrained from saying. Poor chap was mightily peed off already. I didn’t want to increase his suffering.

awww Jojo he is the specialist so he should know what he is talking about . It must be hard for you being told not to do things as you are always so active but you just have to be good ( as good as you can be lol .

My RA was what made me really make my mind up about 5.2 . of course I love the getting clothes on that were too small for me BUT the difference on the “load bearing “on my knees is brilliant . This is a great group and we are all keeping each other going .
I think too that it is better having a wee bit of what you like ( as long as we can stick at a wee bit).

I can have some ice cream and count it in BUT I dare not have a full tub in the freezer . My dreams are sometimes about ice cream . Great when you have pigged out and then wake up and No Carbs or Calories involved lol

Wee xx

Just checking in before a quick nap before work.
JoJo .
I mean to say about rosemary , find a recipe that makes rosemary pair well with.
Even in a side dish, as long asit all goes to the same place in the belly is what matters.

Forgive me this moment as I share the samber news that my wife cancer is terminal, and a prognosis of 6 months. Very sad. ~sigh~

So with my fasting friends I’ll share my knowledge , on I approach my risk of cancer.

Think of a tree’s leaves. If you plucked them off the tree and ate them they may be good for you.
However as the turn color , and dry out in the fall, imagine then so dry that turn to dust. That dust is toxic. The more all other foods go from fresh on vine and or ripe, to becoming decayed until dust. The more risk there is of toxicicity. So to say like a fresh chicken, burnt to a crisp- burnt into dust. Is toxic.

Rosemary has risks, but also helps the human to deal with the toxicity of burnt foods.

This was an unplanned B2B fast day , as I’m just stunned. But at least I didn’t eat myself into a stupor. I’m determined to eat and exercise in healthy way , god willing to be here for my daughter as I as. Can. If I live for another 8 years I’ll be the oldest ancestor on my fathers side in many generations. So I all I can say is thank you to doctor on micheal moseys documentary , eat, fast, live longer. Achieve what’s doable.
Thank you sir , I’m walking, and eating what’s doable. I have more hope than I’ve ever had to get back to the weight I was in high school.

It hit me JoJo the melody of the KEEP ON KEEPIN ON song.

The same melody borrowed from knock knock on heavens door, by bob Dylan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jPg2M1UYgU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Nothing to do with that song,

But I may find it easier to Chang the words and keep the tempo

Starting with the first line.

Doctor please take this spoon from me, I can’t eat that way anymore.

I’ll post it on or near the 1,500th post

good morning all
SAMM I can’t really add anything to what has been said . I can send you a virtual cuddle though pal ( I am a Huger too) All you can do is be strong pal and keep telling your wife you love her , Knowing you are loved is the best thing in my opinion

Wee xx

Hi SAMM,

Can I add my message of sympathy at your very sad news. Like all your other friends on this thread I’ll be thinking of you. You come across as a wise, thoughtful, kind, caring sort of guy. You also have a lovely gentle sense of humour. I’m sure all of these virtues will help you, Mrs SAMM and your daughter through the very difficult time ahead. You may even enjoy a smile or two together.

Oh, SAMM, I am so sorry about your wife’s prognosis. How tragic for your daughter and for you. You are all in my thoughts.

I haven’t posted much, but I do read the forums a lot for inspiration and support. You are all fantastic, and have kept me going, so thank you.

SAMM, I’m very sorry to hear your news. You are so supportive of others, I hope you can take some comfort knowing there are lots of people thinking of your family and sending you love and best wishes.

Lots of you are talking about going back to school. I spent a lovely day in my classroom yesterday. I’ve gutted it! I found curriculum stuff that was 15+ years old, and chucked the lot. Ahhh satisfying! There’s something therapeutic about labelling books and sorting out tables and classroom layout. I’m looking forward to getting back to “normal” – school timetable. It’s sometimes impossible to eat, let alone over-eat!

I saw people mentioning languages being taught in school. I work in an infant school, and our children have a 1/2 hour French lesson once a week. I did French and Italian A-Level, and my year 2s LOVE when I suddenly break into French during e.g. a PE lesson, and refuse to speak any English pretending I can’t possibly understand them. They love to learn something funny to tell their French teacher. Hilarious! It amazes me how much French they can speak by the end of year 2!

Anywho,
Happy fasting everyone. I can’t wait to lose the next pound- the weight just goes up… And slowly back down during the week at the moment. Boo. I’m hoping routine will solve that.

Tracey x