Hi all,

RT trust you to notice the contradiction between me being an animal lover and loving to eat meat! For me there is a really (primal?) big need to eat meat sometimes, nothing else will do! I love seafood, poultry (heck I love all food!) etc too, just never get the urge for a nice juicy vegetable! But one of the best things about getting away to our country cottage is sitting on the verandah watching the kookaburras, parrots, cockatoos, Wood ducks and bunnies that live here. I never have the urge to get out a gun, even for the screeching cockies!

Don’t get me started on Xmas …… I LOVE it! But as you say, so much easier once retired.

Off for a walk now husband has done the dishes….I am fasting so didn’t ‘make’ any!

@nama

I love cows. I like to eat them!

im the typical meat and potatoes guy.
after much reading on the sibject of meat safety and vegetarian issues with diabetes.
I cook everything.

My approach is to eat meat only five days a week and only once a day on those days.

basically cereal s for breakfast ,
salads for lunch
balanced dinner.

Beans and or fish on the skip meat days.

basically I view processed meats just as poor a food choice as emulsified corn syrups.

I dont remember when I stop eating the typical western diet. It was many years ago. But when the 5:2 diet came on the scene. It fit my meat approach very easily. Basically only 20 meat maels a month for immune health. Eating chicken legs or ribeye steaks. I still make my own hamburger from ribeye steak rather than eat the mystery burgers.

didnt get me wrong I like the stuff it tastes great , I decided I would begin to know exactly what im eating with no mystery ingredients . Especially the ingredients that are only there to help extend shelf life or are inflammatory.

Sunflower oil is in so many things like 80% of all processed foods and it highly inflammatory. But so is most meats. So the opinion I started to form is to decide to start eating a non inflamation diet.

By making a 5:2 and 4:3 menus its much easier to accomplish. Than I thought it would be.

Ok nearly rambling on if I dont stop here.

Hi fasters,

Not posted for a while, though I have been lurking and reading the posts – just been crazily busy with my new job and every minute I am not working I seem to be doing something.

It was me that went to Berlin for a long weekend with my husband and mam & dad last weekend. And boy was it cold around minus 2-3 all the time – colder at night. My mam is in a wheelchair so she gets a lot colder as she’s not moving, and it was hard work getting around. However, Berlin is gorgeous, loads to see, and the markets were fantastic. We did a lot of walking and a similar amount of eating and drinking – and we all had a brilliant time.

Good to hear that the York trip went well. This is the first Xmas in a while I haven’t had a weekend there – I do love it!

Hermaj – really sorry to read about your family troubles – thinking about you – and a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS on your MA Merit (albeit a bit late!).

Jojo you are as inspirational as ever 🙂

I am trying to get back on track. I dipped to a low of 10 stone 12.5 a few weeks ago but since then have varied from 10stone 13 to 11 stone 2. Completely my fault due to overindulgent weekends and in the last week especially a real break from routine with being away from home. This week my fasting has been rather patchy so I am fasting today as I am going to a concert tonight and as I’m driving there will be no drinking so I am determined to get at least 1 decent fast in this week. Also I’ve not been to the gym for 2 whole weeks 🙁

I now have a couple of weeks with loads of social events and straight after Xmas I am going on a beach holiday – so really want to lose rather than gain by then – but that will be a hell of a challenge!

Hope everyone continues to do well!

Cath xx

Hi Fast Trackers
Welcome back Amazon Cuba sure sounds full of fun life colour and wow
Nicky Emel and Aussie Oma in South Aus Nama in Victoria Bay in ACT PVE in NSW and Jojo SAMM HappyNow Wiwi Amazon Herm Lizzy Ply Weemam Tartan lass Smiffy and Hello World (You know Who you Are) 😆 I am happy with a -1.2kg loss for me this week
22/9/14 Start 96.0 kg
Week 1 – 2.3kg = 93.7 kg
Week 2 – 1.1kg = 92.6 kg
Week 3 – 1.3kg = 91.3 kg
Week 4 -1.8kg = 89.5 kg
Week 5 – .08kg = 88.7 kg
Week 6 – 1.5kg = 87.2 kg
Week 7 – 1.4kg = 85.8 kg
Week 8 – 1.1kg = 84.7 kg
Week 9 – 1.2kg = 83.5 kg
Week 10 – 1.4kg = 82.1kg
Week 11 – 1.2kg = 80.9 kg

I have now convinced myself that the 4-3 Is for me at least the best weight loss mode there is the results are so even and consistent and IMO I really think that one extra fast day is the kpi that seals the deal in a big bold broad brush statement if someone had said to me how would you like to lose 1kg a week and feel great I would of said how much & where do I sign………………. 😆
“There is nothing else you can do to your body that is as powerful as fasting”
I Love Life
Have a great weekend everyone
RT

JoJo
If poor foods were naughty I’d be getting a spanking. Lol
Today has been a very poor choice in alcohol and processed meats and cheese.
My past revisited!
It started at a health food store, but disintegrated into a meat shop. Don’t get me wrong . I’m enjoying the he’ll out of it. Just that I’ll be not on Break tomorrow . A fasting day is in order for the calories.
Will be also taking in sauerkraut and yogurts. I know I’ll be very hungry, but amends will have to be played.

Morning all, what a lovely description of the wonderful time you had Amazon, definitely sounds like a place to go visit.

Jojo you asked what I do for this WOL, in a nut shell here is what I do:

Every day – no breakfast as I find that if I have food before 11am I’m hungry all day and end up snacking which for me is no good.

Non-Fast Days (4 or 5 depending on what’s coming up or if I’ve over indulged somewhere along the line) – Light lunch, maybe some Ryvita or similar with maybe a tiny bit of ham and salad in summer/warmer weather or where I’ve made extra of an evening meal and made small lunch size serves ready in the freezer one of those. Winter or cooler days, home made soup or again the small lunch size serves of main meals. Tea or Dinner I have something along the lines of quick spanish beef or fish/small steak with steamed veggies during the week or may make a roast once or twice a month on the weekend. Usually between 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day

Fast Days (2 or 3 as per above) – Lunch is a cup of Bovril or similar. Tea/Dinner chicken kebabs (2 or 3 depending on weather) with LOTS of steamed veggies. Up to 400 – 410 calories.

If I know that I’m going to be going out socialising (eg tomorrow) I will semi-fast the day before in that I’ll have a Fast Day lunch but a non-FD evening meal and have a Fast Day the day after.

Overall since commencing mid-September in total to date I’ve lost 10.8kg (I put on 400g this last week due to over indulgence of things I KNOW that I should not have so restarting again today). Some weeks I’ve lost only 100g one week I put on 800g (more socialising but over the whole week so only got two semi-FDs that week) and other than my first week where I lost a large amount I’ve been losing on average 1.4 lbs per week (this includes where I’ve gained too but does not include my first week, if I did that it would be 1.98 lbs per week).

My “regular” fast days are Tuesdays and Thursdays as they suit my lifestyle best.

At the moment I don’t do any specific exercise however I must admit that I do WALK a lot at work, and take every opportunity to add in some extra incidental walking at work.

One piece of advice that I would give to any new starter (and welcome one and all by the way) I not only weigh myself I take measurements of chest/bust, waist, hips and neck and I’ve found that even on the weeks where I’ve over indulged and put on a little weight my SIZE has gone down – for example this last week I put on 400g but lost a total of 3cm off my measured areas which means that I haven’t totally over done things and am still on track just need to do a 4:3 week (4 non-FD, 3 FD or even 2 non-FD 3 semi-FD and 2 FD or swap semi and FD’s around).

Another piece of advice is even though you’ll be excited by your results and know that it’s good for most people don’t tell people about it UNLESS they ask you how you’re losing all this weight as immediately they’ll say Oh that’s not healthy blah blah blah. I’ve been asked how I’m doing this what I say is that I am following a sustainable change in my eating habits, I can, within reason, have anything I want to eat most days, if you want to know more I’ll send you some information and you can check it out for yourself to see if this is what you’d like to do. I then send them a link direct to this site and suggest they read this and research more about this WOL. I found if you start telling them about it you can almost see their eyes glazing over which is why I don’t tell them too much now. One of the people at work knew I was doing this from day one, and I’d waxed lyrical about it and the person said was not for them, well this week they asked me what I’m doing as I am losing so much weight, I said again 5:2 diet, they were worried about not eating at all on FD’s and I said we DO eat on FD’s just not as much and sent the link to this site for them to research. It’s now up to them if they want to come and join us.

Hello dear FTers

I have been absent for a few days and so much to catch up.
Wee, I really love your courage. You are so clear-sighted about your goals.
I feel inspired when i read your progress.
Cuba sounds wonderful, Amazon.
I agree OA, I miss talking so much when not on the thread for a few days.

I am actually not losing much. My 15 kg loss seems not to advance.
My ability to climb wellington hills is increasing. We use feet as our transport means.

We are living in an empty house at present with about 100 steps and stairs, just above a beach. Lots of motivation to move around.
JoJo, the flat is available for October next. I just hope that it will be ok. It’s not luxurious, but functional. I will talk to you nearer the time.

The summer in NZ is non-existent. I see that in Oz, you are warm. The temperature here hit 6° minimum and 17° is the maximum. All good for keeping moving and I am doing my minimum of 15K steps a day.

As usual inspiration from you all. Thanks to all the gang.

XXTW

Hi jojo,

I started 5:2 in January 2014 with, I thought, 19lbs to lose. I lost 20lbs in 16 weeks, and then a further 8lbs in the next 6 weeks while I sussed out how to stop losing. So not 2lbs per week for the whole journey, but it still seemed amazingly easy and quick results.

I didn’t do any exercise until I’d lost the weight. I did 2 fast days per week most weeks, and never more. I did and still do skip breakfast daily (I’m not hungry first thing, and if I eat early I’m just hungrier and then eat more for the rest of the day).

I don’t do low fat, but I have pretty much cut out processed carbs and sugar (during the week at least, and a Monday fast acts as a break/ reset on that).

So I’m one month off my 5:2 anniversary, and have been maintaining my current weight by intermittent fasting (but not 5:2) for 6 months now. Happy happy 🙂

I agree totally AO the predictable response’s and replies are from people who collectively have absolutely no idea at all what the science is behind the 5-2 I can’t be bothered with them and I am happy to remain aloof. 😯
Yes SAMM the feed days are glorious for sure no doubting that. although for me at least it’s not a priority at all there is a lot of self-satisfaction for me personally for having a good fast day compared to a feed day when the restriction is lifted and like when you could get served at the pub as a 17yo in the local when your required to be 18yo 😉 and then when you are of age it’s not the same vibe
If that makes any sense maybe
💡

Supermam do you measure parts of your body with a tape measure? I find that the times I don’t lose weight or not much or even gain my measurements go down and usually have a good loss the next time.

SAMM I haven’t kept using a pedometer as I have to keep resetting it and it’s driven me nuts. I’m hoping to get a fitbit early next year so that will be good.

Have a great day/night everyone 🙂

Hi Supermam
Most people report plateaus on their way down. As AO says, usually your body rearranges itself into a smaller size during the plateau. Like you, I lost 8 kg in 7 weeks. Then I sat level for 2-3 weeks. During this time I lost a complete size in clothes. 😆

Please measure your waist, hips, upper arms, legs, bust if you havent already done so. The changes in size were a pleasant surprise to me. All the best.
Bay 🙂

Ellie R
As there are many variations to finding what works. Yours seems sound , thank you for contributing.
I struggled my first 4 weeks .
But after the struggle too achieve fasting days was over doing 5:2 moved to 4:3. Then to ADF .
I tried also back2back days. And found that I don’t struggle on the 4:3 of monday, Wednesday, Friday. And weekends free.

Finding also I had energy on feed days to do lifting and other time consuming exercises.
I do plan in the new year to start doing the HIIT for 7-10 minutes on fast days.

I did survive going to the grocery store albeit a health food market.
Only new extraordinary item I found that I will now put in my diet regularly is a wrap.

Its only ingredients are turmeric and coconut. It’s brand name is
Paleo Wraps turmeric
It’s sweet and chewy , but no sugar or salt . Needs no refrigeration .
I will be trying it out on my marathon walks!
I’m hoping it helps to provide a health and healing energy while on a fast at work.
Might be hoping for too much , but really convinced I should give it a go.

The problem I have fasting on work days is I can get low sugar, and or low energy. This unacceptable to my employer and to my doctors expectations. What I believe I’ve found here is a walking fasters low glycemic food. More fat than sugars. if i Intake what is basically a very thick piece of paper. In a square of 4×4 inches I wil get a 20 calorie hit , of chewy flavor , plan to alternate between water then the turmeric/ coconut paper. In very excited about trying it. As my fast days ate work ate always a struggle,and mostly beans,
I’ve figured out I want weekends free .
So doing 4:3 only fits on mon, wend fri.
So my fast. Starts 1 min after lunch on monday room to eat again on Tuesday at work . Basically calorie less at home.

Wednesdays are a struggle
And I start the last fast 1 min after lunch on Friday ending with dinnertime Saturday.
The formula is 600 calories in 36 hours.

I know it’s not typical of 5:2 nor as simple. But is best way for me to fit 4:3 into my schedule. And keep up my work performance without getting into low sugars issues. I monitor it constantly. If it’s low or high. Dieting takes an immediate back seat. Going low has only happened 2 times in 8 months. So it’s not needed to stop fasting, but is a priority of concern. I’m hoping this new health food is my answer.
I believe it’s not a sugar gushing food so it’s energy will last .so all my fast dayswill be on work days of 15,000 steps and be a mix of beans and coconut/turmeric .

The other stuff I got at the store I could very be deserving of getting a spanking so won’t go into those again.
To answer you question JoJo. Of what my plans are 2015.
Family matters are of great concern as there isn’t hope , so I just keep on Keepin on.
Personally though. I plan to focus extremely hard on getting as fit as possible .
With my learning focus on detoxification practices.

So ething PVE. Said to me struck me well.
Satiation is the key.
I had that opion myself for many years, buts it’s great to hear it applied to the fasting lifestyle.
I will be keen to see how I could apply satiation and detoxification in the fatingh lifestyle. So this next year 2015 will be trying my best to practice the longevity lifestyle.

2015.
I plan to walk 80 miles per week
To jump rope in HIIT faion 3 times a week
To semi fast 3 times a week
To lift 100,000 pounds per week
To detoxify 2 times per week.
To take in healing and herbal teas 7 days a week
To experiment with turmeric and broccoli sprouts as cancer preventers and tumor shrinkers.

I wish I could travel but my old boat will consume most of my expendable budget this year.
I’ve brought it back home to the city’s resivoir so I can repair it and bought the other 26ft sister sailboat.
The lake is small so they are the largest on the lake. I can sleep 12. 6- on each . But their old right now and need much attention. So I either to busy on their repairs or let them go.

My love says I love boats fore than I love her. I sigh knowing that i will never change. As my father had me sailing solo since I seven years old. I have to admit some of lifelong friends do around to stay on the boats when the indianpolis 500 races are taking place . As I don’t charge for hotel rooms costs. If they were not staying on my boats for free. One boat is for guests, the other is a pitiful hag of boat that only my drunken friends that to gamble get on . Its just improper the way we all carry on. Basically the guys that come around to help maintain it have the montra of no wives allowed. Which of course is not true. , and I laugh my arse off when I find them sleeping in it and have to call their wives to come get them . I’ll have try to find a picture and share it. Their costs. Really do consume most of my budget so I don’t travel very much. But prefer to spend summers at the Indiana lakes and my winters visiting my family and friends homes.

Both boats are over 41 years old now. I plan to maintain them till their 50 then have them disabled.
I’ll be 55 then. Basically was planning to give my daughter a plan to relax until her academic career is finished. We spend many summer nights there in the park. is a stark contrast to neighborhood that we live in. On the lake my nieghbors are millionaires, at home my neighbors are addicts and dealers, and thieves.
Don’t know shot I’m putting all this out there, but no need in pretending to be something else.

They say do what you love. And you’ll never work for the rest of your life. After tring to do that I’ve settle on just being healthy and happy. Ok now I’m just rambling on.

Hi all,

I second Bay, great work RT! Your dedication is paying off in spades.
Jojo, very pleased you got your 2lb loss, as expected! Your discipline is inspiring.
Great to read about your trip to Cuba Amazon, sounds wonderful!
I hope those wraps are useful SAMM! Being low GI is a good start, good luck with them.

As you requested Jojo, a quick summary of my take on 5:2:
I need to lose approx 20kgs to get to a healthy BMI and hopefully will be half way by the end of this year, having started 2nd week of Sept. Though delighted with this WOE, I am still tweaking what works best for me. Have tried 4:3 a couple of times but don’t enjoy it as much as I feel like I am ‘dieting’ all the time, so will just go with 5:2, am not in a hurry. Am losing average of 750g/week which is a whisker under 2lb. I am very happy with this as I have found 5:2 to be relatively easy. I feel my metabolism kicks in better with the alternating fasting then “feasting”

As you know I am not an exerciser, but usually active on a daily basis, with longer walks when opportunity arises. I just find formal exercise really boring and really respect those with the self discipline to do it. Also, I want to make this a life time lifestyle and therefore am not attempting anything I know I won’t continue.

Food wize: FD’s I need to keep my allowance til dinner time as once I start eating, I just want more! I get by with coffee, miso soup and mineral water til my 350-450 cal dinner. I am considering trying to cut this back slowly and eventually not eat at all on FD (? Same effect as 4:3) I can cope with hunger quite well and just need to be busy/distracted. (Fit allowance into family meal, just much smaller protein, more veg).

Non FD I don’t count cals strictly. Loaded MyFitnessPal but too lazy to use it! From a lifetime of WW and other dieting, I have a fair idea of food values anyway. And being an old fart, prefer a pen and paper anyway! I try to eat healthy, home cooked food with minimal carbs. I have home made muesli for breakfast with sliced banana, strawberries and blueberries, skim milk. I love every mouthful plus this keeps me going til at least 4pm. Then I have a coffee and a snack, maybe even a small piece of home made cake! Then dinner is lots of veg or salad with whatever protein the family eats. Usually chicken a few times a week, fresh fish once or twice and red meat once… But not a huge serve, probably 80g max.The best thing that has happened since starting 5:2, perhaps even as good as the weight loss, is the mastery over my sweet tooth! I just don’t crave sweet stuff any more, probably mind games as I know I can have it tomorrow if I really want it. That’s why this plan works for ME.

I expect my losses to slow as I approach the home straight, but am really not in a hurry. Have gone down a good size in clothes already plus previous heartburn has vanished. Lucky to be generally healthy apart from arthritic knees and chronic achilles tendonosis one heel. Knees will definitely benefit from less load!

I know a few people who have tried 5:2 and could not cope with fasting. I think for those that seriously want to lose weight and be healthier and are prepared to persevere with fasting until it gets easier, AS IT DOES, then this plan is unbeatable. The fasting is tricky at first, but eventually we all seem to look forward to it!

Please don’t apologise SAMM! Lovely to read about your dear old boats! Fascinating!

Cheers all!

Thanks all for advice. I have read on another thread somewhere that if you do not eat enough on your feed days your body can go into starvation mode? What is this? Is it true? Some feed days I am just not hungry. Surely the less I eat the better?

Long well written post went poof!

ARRRGH !

Nothing but low glycemic vegetables make a metabolism a dull boy.
Wish I had more time to explain supermam.

But if your on nothing but carbs, and there is fact no human requirement for carbs.
It may be very similar to the urban term ” starvation mode”.

Think about it if all the animals vanished , nuts, and fruits, fish too.
And the only vegetables left were low glycemic ones. It may be that. The human slavia that helps to sence food intake content never send the. Burn fat chemistry into the blood. Therefore the body just continues to hold fat in storage. Most likely not all the fats, but much lower rate of fat releases from the fat cells.

5:2. Means stuffing ones face with 3-4 meals 5 days a week. No starvation is possible . Infact 5:2 is. The doable minimum of fat loss.

I needed to lose 100lbs. If I lose 25lbs a year less than 1/2 a week I stll be over the moon In four years.
I’m not goinganywhere near a starvation response. It’s just not nessasary to lose weight long term.

Evening all.

Thanks for the encouragement Jojo. I’m determined to get straight back into my fasting routine. I knew that today would be tough but I’ve successfully avoided food all day and am now going to have some vegetable chilli.

I’ve decorated the Christmas tree and the lights are twinkling away. It never fails to cheer me up which I need as I’ve received two lots of bad news since I got home yesterday.

I’m going to eat dinner and then watch some of the stuff I’ve got recorded on my Sky box.
Have a good evening everyone.

Hi guys . not been online much today . t
Thought seeing it is getting closer to Christmas you might like a wee poem I wrote Many years ago for our youngest granddaughter .She will be 21 next year 🙂

GOOD GIRL

Have you met our Rebecca she really is sweet
She posted her letter to Santa last week
When we went over to visit last night
She was like a wee angel all dressed in white
Oh! Santa’s been Nanny look can you see
All the present’s he left underneath our big tree
He left me a bath so I could wash dolly
And chocolates and sweets and a big sticky lolly
Some nice cups and saucers so I can make tea
And a thing that makes music can you sing with me
Do you think Mummy told him that I’m nearly three
Because he left the right present’s all wrapped up for me
I couldn’t sleep Nanny as I lay in my bed
As I listened for Santa’s bells over my head
Mummy left the curtains open on Christmas night
Just in case Santa’s sleigh came into sight
She said now Rebecca you’d better not peek
Because Santa will know if you’re not fast asleep
He’s magic you know and he really won’t come
If children aren’t asleep and I mean everyone
But he did come Nanny I knew that he would
Because Mummy told him I’d been really good

Wee xx

Hi all.
Supermam, on the homepage of this site Dr Moseley has debunked quite a number of myths. One of them is the “starvation mode” myth. Basically, eat as little as you can on fast days. If you also listen to your body on feed days, you will eventually start choosing smaller portions, wiser, healthier foods and reducing snacking. The HUGE spinoff from intermittent fasting is the long term changes that happen to your eating habits.
All the best for your new healthy life. PVE

I tried to avoid too many carbs when I was on holiday. Potatoes are rare, but rice is plentiful at lunch and dinner. Most days I left it, but occasionally had a few mouthfuls. The only time I ate a lot of it was the day we went on a catamaran to an island off the coast near the city of Trinidad, where a lunch of seafood paella was included. It was also the only time I indulged in a second helping.
Bread was provided at every meal, and I tried not to eat too much of it. Most breakfasts were fruit and egg based, and I noticed that on the days when I had the option of croissants/sweet buns and pastries and indulged, I was left feeling bloated, and hungry by mid-morning.
I have to say that I didn’t feel deprived as there was so much beautiful fish, seafood and meat available, along with salads and vegetables. I had lobster every time it was on offer, which was almost every day.
I couldn’t believe the amount of food that some were piling on their plates at breakfast, and wondered how they were able to stand up, let alone walk after the vast amounts of food they put away.

I realised how much my eating habits have changed. Previously I would have been eating every carb in sight, and had as much as I could eat regardless of whether I was full, or even hungry to start with. I walked away from every dining table satisfied with what I had eaten. The only fried food I had was eggs, and plantain chips, apart from one lunch of fried fish and seafood.
We won’t talk about the number of Mojitos, Daiquiris, Pina Coladas and beers consumed…………….
Cubans have a very sweet tooth, and their monthly ration includes 9lbs of sugar, which has just been reduced from 12lbs. EEK!!! I don’t buy that much sugar in a year. They are on the verge of an epidemic of ill health, and hypertension and diabetes are on the agenda for many of them if they don’t do something about it.

I seem to have lost the first line of my post, which said that I love salted nuts and cannot stop once I start. In Cuba they sell freshly roasted and salted peanuts in little paper cones. I only succumbed once, on the last but one day of my holiday and I’m glad I didn’t do it sooner as they were so good I would have been buying them every day!

Hello all well despite a number of Xmas functions and many units of alcohol I managed to lose 400 gms. I am happy with that as I have been able to curb my eating without feeling deprived. Work is full on and there has been some unpleasantness, hence little sleep this week but I still am positive. I love the tips…. My intention for 2025 is to follow the suggestions! Samm you have such a great store of knowledge and practical advice!
Jojo no email or friend invite has come through so what would you suggest as a next step?
Gosh am tired , had to get up early and did not get to sleep until one. My cousin and I went to see Felicity Kendal in Hayfever. It was superb.

One would hope, a decade is a bit too forward planning and a tad low in expectations