Getting your carbs from veggies instead of processed grains and sugar does not mean you are “low carb” or Atkins. Just means youre opting for a more healthy option. Can we have an agreement on that? Or is that concept still up for debate? To my way of thinking it makes more sense to seek advice from people that have successfully achieved their goal rather than seeking advice from someone that isn’t achieving their goal. This applies to everything in life and not just weight loss. It doesn’t mean you have to take that advice on board but at least listen to it and see if its suitable for you.

Hi Happy,

Can I please have an argument with you…..

Albert Einstein was quoted as saying “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”.

I will make the assumption that most of the forum members here either want to lose weight or want to improve their health, or both!! However if you continue to eat the same foods (both food types and quantity) and exercise (or lack thereof) in the same manner why do you then expect the outcome to be any different?

Listen to the advice of those that have been successful, try it, if it works great. If not, try another version of 5:2. Eventually, hopefully you’ll find a version that works for you. Once you do hang onto it, and go for it.

Ha ha Big Booty, when you get to know Happy more, you will find she is extremely cheeky. And loves a good argument. Methinks you two are well matched with logic and common sense!

WhyamI I was determined to ignore you, but reading your last post about people being militant about diets, plus using the word cult, I cant do that. If you bothered to read more of this thread, you would find a fun, friendly group of people with a common goal, supporting each other and sharing ideas and knowledge. We all realize that different things suit different people and are very tolerant of each other.

Re point 5: I dont recall anyone saying 5:2 was easy!! I have yoyo dieted for 40 years, losing substantial amounts of weight then slowly regaining it. However, once I started 5:2, I found I could still lose weight without feeling I had to ‘diet’ ALL the time. Its mind games. Then once the weight started coming off and gradually my sweet tooth was tamed (due to lack of sweet stuff) I finally discovered a way I could actually stay in control without feeling deprived all the time. Hopefully as a ‘nice, normal, intelligent person’ I can say to you that clearly 5:2 does not work for everyone. Probably people are not in the right head space when they attempt it, or they don’t really commit properly. Fasting, once mastered properly, gets easier as your liver gets used to converting fat for energy. But people who want instant results wont get them. You might find that if you are substantially overweight you will have to change some of your habits and eat mindfully for the rest of your life. All of us on here have a real love of food and eating, or have used food as a comfort or substitute. But those of us who have managed to keep our weight off, have consciously decided that we prefer to be slim and healthy and accept that it is an on going journey. We use this forum for mutual support, plus many of us have made good friends along the way! Please don’t judge us so harshly, we are not members of a cult, thats pretty rude to say that.

Bigbooty,

I’m sorry, it’s all very well coming on here with your wise words and sensible advice. But I AM going to take issue with you! I’m not sure if you’re trying to deliberately mislead people…I guess I should give you the benefit of the doubt…but…

“Albert Einstein was quoted as saying”.. I’ve done some reading and there appears to be some doubt as to whether Einstein did in fact say that. But attributing it to him rather than oh I don’t know Taylor Swift lends it a certain gravitas and weight.

And I really think if you’re coming on here making these outrageous claims, that I can’t keep on eating the same and exercising the same and expect different results, then I really think you’re going to have to produce the evidence!! Have there been peer reviewed research studies of this alleged truth? Or is this just something that ‘everyone knows’?

🙂

Everyone’s a clown today 😁😁

BB,

Albert Smith’s middle name wouldn’t happen to be Einstein would it?! If not, you could always suggest he changes his name by deed poll…

Amazon,

It’s a squally morning here, and tomorrow looks wet too… Boo hiss. On a bright note, I think my cold may have gone. But I can’t get out for a walk or run because the roads are flooded in both directions…

And Nama!

‘Loves a good argument’?! ‘Enjoys healthy and robust debate’ please!

Power of a positive mental attitude, Amazon! You are NOT going down with anything until your holiday is over! And hopefully not even then!

My positive attitude is working overtime for several reasons including telling myself that everything I want to pack is going to fit perfectly 😉

I’d been ignoring the tender lump under my jaw until my throat became sore so I prescribed myself paracetemol. Not sure if they are working or the improvment is coincidental but I’ll keep taking them for another 24 hours. As for the sneezing I reckon it’s pollen/seeds/sawdust…….

Hi Sarah, well done on your loss. I’m in the process of converting to food free fast days and I think they are easier to manage as I don’t spend the day clock watching and thinking about what I’m going to eat. Non FDs are an issue for me but I’m working on it 🙂

Thanks Amazon. Yes – i almost find non FDs almost more challenging. My target for over the weekend is to eat and drink normally but sensibly and with more restraint….

Sarah,

Great to hear that it’s working for you. While you have got a bit more to lose, it quickly starts to make a difference (as you’re already finding out) and I almost think it’s a good thing that it’s not quicker! It gives the fasting time to work it’s magic, and enables those of us that stick with it time to form new healthier habits for life.

On that subject, there’s a piece on the BBC today about the fast food eating habits of young people in particular. The article lists the food we need to eat every day to stay healthy. Apparently a third of what we eat should be bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, and we should eat one portion of foods containing fat and sugar such as two biscuits or a small chocolate bar.

We ‘need’ to eat two biscuits or a bar of chocolate every day! Really?!

@sarah,

Woooo Whooooo way to go. That liver of your will be cranking over now!! A fat burning machine!!

GOOD MORNONG FROM A VERY WET Scotland (AGAIN) .
FOR NEWBIES) Most of you know I am 74 and I lost 6 stone . 4 stone of that was over 1 year on 5.2 . I have managed to maintain that for around 2 years . I go up and down about 4 or 5 pounds . I LOVE this group and I will always be on here because I feel you are very good friends . I love how it’s not only diet ( healthy eating) we share but that we help each other through so many hard times in our lives because we can share things and trust each other ..xxxxx

Jojo a wee message for you pal . As you know I LOVE to try new things .Last night I tried another yogurt experiment . I had a ltr empty ice cream container and I sterilized it with boiling water then let it cool . I then filled it almost to the top with full cream milk . Then I emptied the milk into a big plastic bowl ( like a baking bowl size)and I added 2 tablespoons dried milk . I then put it in the microwave and watched it through the glass door until it started to rise . I left it to cool until it was just warm . Then I added 2 big teaspoons of natural yogurt with live cultures in it . I mixed it really well ,put the lid on then wrapped it in 2 thick towels . That was 10 oclock last night . At 10 this morning it WAS PERFECT. I have a yogurt maker but Just wanted to try this . SOOOO go for it pal xxxxxx

HELLOOO> Have I frightened everyone away? xxxx

Hi Wee
Sleeping in. ..dreaming about your yoghurt 😊P

i am not doing the same hing and exciting different results. i am rather bright as it goes. i am fasting 3 times a week.
that is a new departure 🙂

did my first one today. no big deal. 24 hours. sorted.

🙂 x thanks for all your kind replies

Morning/evening all,

Where did the week go?

I visited my niece and my great nephew yesterday. He is walking 😎 We took him to the park and spent most of our time chasing him to keep him out of mischief. It is amazing how within a few days they go from tottering unsteadliy holding on tightly to everything to running around. He is also carving out a career as a mountaineer and using the furniture for practice. My niece has her hands full 😅

I also made my Christmas cake yesterday and it is now wrapped up and stowed away 🙂

It’s a fast weekend to make up for going off piste earlier in the week. I’m still hoping to reach that low by next weekend.

This time next week I’ll be on my way to the airport 😃

Have a good weekend everybody 😜

Hi everyone,

It is a beautiful autumn day here. I went to Kew Gardens this morning for a long walk. The conkers, beech nuts, acorns etc are all coming off the trees, the leaves are changing colour, the holly berries ripening and the autumn crocii are in full bloom.
The salvia collection is along an old wall that divides the extensive rock garden from the kitchen garden/plant nursery and many of the salvias which are among my favourite flowering perennials are still in full flower and looking wonderful. There are also many formal flower beds full of colour and perfume.
I noticed lots of busy bees working hard collecting pollen, they have hives at Kew.
It was also nice to see so many people out and about early on a Sunday morning making the most of the glorious weather we are having in this part of the country.

Nama, you don’t need to worry about eating nice cake from time to time even if you overdo it as you know very well that the rest of the time you are eating a healthy diet and that any over indulgence can easily be cure by an extra FD.

I would take a glass of wine with a meal over ice cream for dessert every time 😉

RT, thinking of you and your family.

Have a good one everybody 😜

I wore my denim jacket when I went out and soon wished I hadn’t bothered. I wanted to laugh out loud at the number of people I saw in big puffa style jackets, hats, scarves, gloves and fur lined boots. They must have been sweltering 😆
Then there was the girl in a vest top and the briefest shorts 😄

I was really annoyed with myself a couple of days ago because I felt I had eaten too much this week but when I looked at my food diary it was only one day where I overdid it, and compared to pre 5:2 that would have been a normal day.
I seem to have mastered maintenance, the only problem is that I’m not at goal yet although my weight has moved in the right direction in the past couple of weeks.

My swollen glands and sore throat have gone which makes me very happy 😎

Morning/evening all,

Sunshine and blue sky but jackets needed. Autumn has arrived in London.
The workers are here to finish the garden stairs which will take a couple of days so the good weather is very welcome.

HCB, rich fruit cakes using dried fruits, candied peel, spices such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and alcohol usually brandy are a tradition in this part of the world and a few other places. The cakes keep for a long time and often taste better after being stored for a couple of months. They can be fed regularly during the storage time with small amounts of alcohol dribbled in via holes made with a cocktail stick or similar and are often covered with marzipan and icing before being eaten.
Stollen and panettone are enriched breads rather than cake but are definitely under the heading of traditional Christmas treats. I’ve made Stollen a few times but panettone is a lengthy process and it is so much easier to go out and buy a good one 😉

I’m going to the ballet this evening which I’m reallt looking forward to.

Have a good one everybody 😜

Morning/evening all,

Jo, it’s nice to meet someone like that at slimming club. She is the one who’ll keep the weight off because she has already changed her habits in order to lose weight. It is a fabulous result for her so far, especially with a family to feed who she is cooking for every day. Hopefully she can pick some healthy tips up from you and will be able to ensure that none of her children are ever in need of a slimming club.
You are doing really well and I hope you can keep it up, it would seem that the accountability of being weighed is working for you.

I’m still struggling despite all my good intentions but I’ll keep going. I’ve got a friend coming round tonight so will be drinking wine but I’ll fast today and have a small meal so should be able to limit my calories to around 600, and I’ll probably aim to fast again tomorrow.

The ballet was wonderful. It was the first night of Carlos Acosta’s farewell concerts. He picked all his favourite pieces from different ballets and asked his favourite dancers to perform. There is an American dancer called Sarah Lamb who is a Principal at the Royal Ballet and she danced the Dying Swan. I’ve seen her do it before and it is the most beautiful piece of ballet I’ve ever seen so I was thrilled that it was included in the programme.
There were a couple of pieces that involved a chamber choir and soprano and baritone singers. It was incredible to see ballet performed to the sound of such beautiful voices as well as musical instruments. Because it was at the Albert Hall, the orchestra were on the stage and the dancers on a platform in front and below them so it was easy to watch the musicians who are usually hidden in a pit!
We had front row seats in a four person box almost directly opposite the stage so had a perfect view. I hadn’t realised when I purchased the tickets back in March that they were box tickets so it was a pleasant surprise and very nice to sit watching ballet whilst sipping a G&T 🙂
When the dancers took their bows at the end, Acosta was completely overwhelmed and in tears. It must be very emotional for him to be giving up ballet after spending so many years eating, living and breathing it.

The painter has arrived, time to go and make his coffee 😉

Have a good one everybody 😜

Hi Nama,

Sounds like a lovely day with your new niece and her parents.

I usually find that an upcoming holiday helps me to focus but that hasn’t been the case this time and I think some of it is due to the fact that the clothes already fit. I’ll continue to work at it this week and am going to make a plan for when I get home. I’ve not been exercising as much as usual over the past few weeks for various reasons, so need to ensure that I get back into my exercise routine as soon as I get home.

Purple, welcome back, hope you had a fab few days 💕

HCB, hope all goes well today.

Beautiful day again today. I might try to get out for a walk this afternoon.