Day 1 KZN South Africa FD

Hi everyone. I’m a Brit, living in SA. 57, Been doing IF on & off for about 5 years. Retired from working on cruise ships a year ago. I enjoyed my first year of retirement too much! I got a bit lazy, inactive, drank & ate too much & gained a few kilos. I recently managed to lose about 3 kgs, but I still need to shift 4 or 5 more. Not so much, compared to many people, I know. But I want to ‘nip it in the bud’ before it gets out of hand. I’ve got a busy, stressful month ahead. I’m moving house, & currently splitting my time between two places for a while, until everything is finalized. Maybe that’s a good thing; I certainly won’t be sitting around, thinking about food!
Best wishes to everyone for this month. Especially to the newbies. I’ve posted very little since discovering this forum, but it’s been an invaluable source of help & inspiration for me. Everything you need to know about fasting and this WOL you will find here!

Please count me in for May Challenge!

I’ve been doing 5:2 on and off, hoping to stick to it now for health reasons. Would love to get below 60kg by the end of August but one day at a time 😊

Day 1, UK, 69.5kg

Planning to get to 66.5kg by the end of this month. Will have FDs on the 1st (today, yay!), 3rd, 7th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 28th and 31st.

Let’s do this!

Day 1 Herefordshire UK FD

Hiya, it’s been awhile since I’ve been here and hope you don’t mind me trying to slot back in. Life got busy with loads of distractions that made following this WOL difficult especially when in a weak frame of mind when faced with entertaining visitors most w’ends. Least said about the end results on my body and weight! More entertaining coming up at the end of the month but have to get back in the groove and get a good head of steam up before then to ride me through it! Feel bad about jumping ship but also relived to have found my way back and can set a new course with all you lovely people. Lots to catch up on but hope life has been good and kind to you all. Thanks @jaifaim for taking up the hosting mantle and looking forward to a positive month. @snowflake56 are you still Saturday fasting? This Saturday impossible for me but after that I’ll be back to my usual routine, missed our Saturday chats. Hope you’ve picked up from feeling not so good awhile back and I can see you have become quite the spreadsheet techie! It’s never too late to learn new tricks and hoping to take that on board this end too!

Wishing all a positive and joyful month.

Ta x

Day 1 Pocket List
@dykask WFD
@betsylee FD800
@funshipfreddie
@jaifaim
@georgia83
@dingping

Hope you don’t mind me scooping you all up but I need the presumed moral support! Good luck to all fasting today.

@betsylee: I’m 65 and I too have SHRUNK (in height, that is). I used to be 5’2 and THREEQUARTERS, now I’m a whole inch down. Ggrrr….they say its because your discs dry out and so your spine shrinks…….oh dear.

So, for those who don’t know me. I’m a post-lady with the Royal Mail, so walk loads and the job is very active. I’ve been on these challenges, most of the time, since they were started by @coda exactly three years ago this month. At first I did well and lost ALL of my excess fat (28 pounds) accumulated over 30 years. I stayed in maintenance for the rest of 2016, then gradually fell off the wagon. However I’ve never totally gone away from the challenges, always hoping to re-gain the motivation I had at the beginning. So, today, I have about 25 pounds as excess baggage!
I live in the Cotswold area of SW England, have a husband, a small dog and a dear daughter currently working far, far away in Australia as a research scientist in Victoria.

Day 1- Atlanta, GA- USA-FD

I’m pleased with my results for April. Looking forward to burning off these last few pounds this month then into maintenance. Can anyone give me some advice on how to maintain in this WOL? I had trouble in the past. I’m thinking of doing a Fast under 800. Thanks!!

Hello, all. I am back for the May challenge. As others have mentioned in their journeys last month, I also lost two weeks at the end of April, primarily to a lovely 5 days in Charleston, SC. They have some wonderful food and drink there….Lots of wonderful food and drink…so now am back on track. Hoping to keep the motivation going! Would like to lose 5 # this month if I can.

Day 1 Bristol UK

I couldn’t sign in for a few days – was blocked by the site’s new spam filters apparently!

@daffodil2010 – how were your OH’s MRI results? Hope it’s something easily fixable.

@betsylee – I hope your cold is much better today

@aglowworm – I think many of us go through difficult time – I know I have this month, after pretty much breezing through all the earlier part of doing this. We can all get back to it, with each other’s support.

@basyjames. So so sorry to hear about your daughter. I’m so glad she has had a change of heart about what she did and send positive energy for her healing and recovery x

@matpi – Your experiment is so interesting! I’m going to do some more reading about that and might attempt it myself at some point. Thank you for sharing.

I only lost 2.7 pounds in April instead of my average 8, but I suppose with much stress and various other things happening, that’s still a victory. Will aim for a more gentle 4 pounds this month. Good luck everyone.
@bluespqueak – a definite win! Well done.

USA Day 1 FD

Can’t believe we are in a new month but grateful for the fresh start! 🙂 I rarely say anything about myself but I thought I might be due. I am a 69 yo female retiree, who accidentally came upon this site in early 2018 and have been posting ever since. Welcome back all new comers and returnees. I am still on a journey trying to discover a food pattern that works for me. I have discovered that I definitely need a pattern that can move forward into maintenance with me and help me not to fall into disordered eating. This is a journey for me to feel comfortable with myself so I don’t fret over each move. I think I can find that. This is looking like I will stick to the standard 5:2 this month while also counting my calories on both NFDs and FDs to keep me on track.

Good luck everyone!

Day 1 Pocket List

@dykask WFD
@betsylee FD800
@funshipfreddie
@jaifaim
@georgia83
@dingping
@flourbaby
@songbirdme
@ccco

Have a great day, everyone!

Day 1 Wales NFD

Phew, relieved to be here….I got temporarily denied access by the spam blocker. @ciren2 thank you for herding us in April 💐 and @jaifaim thanks for taking over this month 🌻

Good to see old friends in for May and welcome to new posters. I’m 60 and discovered 5:2 in July 2017. Lost 30 pounds in 11 months and have since been up and down a few pounds within my maintenance weight range which is about 14 pounds less than I have ever been in adult memory 😊

Like some of the regulars here I too had some stressful situations last month…..worry about DH’s health and a potential neighbourhood development which if it happens will make me want to move home but would probably make selling difficult 😕. So what did I do…..yep I reverted to type and nose dived into a vat of red wine 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 and comfort eating. Consequently I am now 2 pounds up on 1st April and 3 pounds up on 1st May last year. Maintenance isn’t easy but worth the effort……so I’m attempting to brain wash myself into a state of mind that accepts that there are situations in life I can’t change but I can control my response to those stresses!

Right…. I’m off to find the RESET BUTTON 😉

Day 1, VA, USA, NFD

Welcome to May! Stats from last month to this month
170.6 lbs.. April
162 lbs….. May
-8.6lbs….. loss
Measurements have all lost between 1-2 inches! I set a goal of attending a class (which I did) however I would like to attend more classes. This time I’ll aim for at least 1 a week.

I started Jan 29th 2019 with 4:3 I really like to eat, mostly Whole Foods but I also like stouts. Hence the 4:3 was needed to help me get to losing weight. I have also found a love of Water Fasting (WFD) and do enjoy extended WFD for about 72-96 hours. I have also let myself start with WFDs and transition to a regular FD calories <500 if I felt like I wanted supper.
——————————————————————————
Key things I have learned
——————————————————————————
1st – I finally like water. I did not care for water and always thought it tasted like metal (I believe that was due to possibly an imbalance in my body) Water taste sooooo much better now.
2nd – I finally have days I feel full. I started with just feeling like I was NEVER satisfied with food. NOW I experience fullness (not always, but it is becoming more apparent) Yay.
3rd – A support system is so helpful. Reading the stories on this forum and being there for each other is awesome thank you team! Helping each other process unsuccessful days and letting them go
4th – There are NO failures (because I discovered there is a reset button it’s labeled as FD so if you are looking for it, now you know what it has on it). If a FD turns into holy cow there is homemade chocolate cake and cream puffs Day aka EFS (Epic Face Stuffing). SO BE IT – enjoy the dang things you ate and press the (reset button) labeled FD for tomorrow. No shame in enjoying life. I like learning to enjoy the indulgence and also realizing NOT EVERY DAY should be an indulgent day.

@missybear – thanks for the reminder of the reset button.

@songbirdme – My Birthday is also tomorrow May 2 – Looks like we are birthday buddies!

@jaifaim – hooping today! I wouldn’t do 4:3 if I didn’t need to, but I eat too much other days and hate counting calories – which is another reason why after a few FDs I tried out WFDs. I was excited not to count calories. (To think I started WFD b/c I was too lazy to count my calories for food… well, just goes to show you need to find what works for you.)

@daffodil2010 – I found 3 Nasturtiums plants so far and they are doing great. Thank you for the recommendations. I’m looking to plant some Chrysanthemums, Viola and Pansy (the pansy seems that most folks have them around here even tho it gets rather hot) I’ll try and plant them so they have shade from the setting sun.

USA Day 1 FD
Second Post

It is wonderful to see so many old friends returning! Welcome back! It shows how valuable this plan has proven to be for so many!

It looks like my FD is going to end at 799 calories. This is great! Tomorrow will be my “2” in the 5:2 program and I have planned it to come in at 500 or less calories. I find it so easy to keep my hunger under control with soup and salad. Since a salad can be anything, I have so many variations on it, but I measure and journal everything I put into it. Now I just need to maintain my tenacity. I did go out and bought a lovely new blouse, which I intend to wear when I meet my grandson soon. He is due any minute, so we all are on the baby watch. He will be my first grandchild, so it is especially exciting for me!

Hope everyone is having a gray day! It isn’t cold here but very gloomy. Hope tomorrow’s weather is better! 🙂

I do want to congratulate all of you who do water fasting, the thought of it makes me shudder. I am really not sure I could manage it, because it would feel too much like starvation. How did any of you start doing it, did you always aim for it? I must say it has never entered my head!
Is it safe for the elderly?! I am one of the ancient intermittent fasters at pushing 75 years. Does anybody know what age the eldest person is who is pursuing IF ?

Today my hulahoop arrived and it is very heavy. I think I forgot that I am no longer under 15 years old and decided that a weighted hoop would burn more calories, but as it is, I can barely pick the thing up. I used to be a rather good hulahooper.
Hey ho, as someone else has said,’upwards and downwards’!!

2nd Post

@yvette Hamilton – I love WFD, I did not start out that way.
((remember you have to see how YOU feel during your journey))

This is how my journey went with FDs.
I started out regular FD calories <500 I broke that into two meals, having a low calorie breakfast and a dinner.

Then FDs just dinner (drinking water with a slice of lemon or lime in it) OR a 0 calorie flavored seltzer throughout the day.

Then LFD (Liquid Fasting Day) – Coffee with just a dash of almond milk, flavored seltzers, (miso or veg) broth. I really liked the LFD because it meant I had minimal counting of calories about 10 for broth, 20 for coffee. *I realized in an earlier post, that I think I started LFD & WFD because I was lazy, I didn’t want to count any calories.

Then I tried a WFD – I started with plain water, and really only felt mildly like I wanted food at lunch time b/c my sweetheart works from home some days and they cooked. Otherwise if they are not home or I am out and about. I started to LOVE plain water!

Which led me to a topic from another faster on this forum about “clean fasting” which is nothing but WATER or BLACK COFFEE. (Not even flavored seltzer that has no calories) Because oddly enough the hint of flavor can have the affect to make your body hungry! AND I can say that I have experienced this. I finally gave up my beloved flavored seltzers (I still have them on NFDs b/c I still love them, but I no longer have them on WFD, b/c they make me hungry!)

This may be WAY more info than you were looking for, but I know for me I didn’t start out with the idea that I was going to Water Fast. I just tried different things and enjoyed the adventure to it. Now some days I start out with a WFD and transition to a LFD (having broth at night OR a regular FD having a small meal if I feel like I want to have a meal. Like truly want it not oh that smells good I must have it. I try and “listen” to feel if I am hungry.

and for the weighted hoop – I would send it back if possible. My hoop is not weighted, it has a bit of weight, like it is made for an adult, not a kid (but it is not weighted) I tried one of those and it was toooo much for me and I’m a dash younger than you. -30ish years. but thats just a number… I teach and do yoga everyday, tried the weighted hoop and OH MY GOSH it was a no for me.

Day 1 – Eastern WA USA – FD of sorts

I started out the day with a WFD and added some cream into a Pero (coffee substitute) at almost 24 hours. I’m doing okay, just a little droopy but that could be from a short night. I’ll listen to my body and adjust as needed 🙂

I’m a recently retired teacher who works part-time some of the time and also loves to travel; usually travel with a purpose (such as a teacher mission’s trip for a couple of weeks in Rwanda). If some of you have an idea for such future travels, I’m open to entertaining them. If some of the costs are covered, that would be my preference…

My highest weight was 245 and I have 50 -55 lbs dispatched on my former 5’3 1/2″ frame that has gone down to a little more than 5’2″. At first I lost fairly quickly but then it slowed down, plateaued, bounced… but so glad to have gone from a packed out American size 18 to 14 and some 12s. A big compliment came recently, when I travelled with a friend and she said I looked just right. I need to keep that in mind as I continue onward.

@songbirdme and @rabbette – wishing you wonderful birthdays tomorrow!

Welcome to the new folks, and others coming back like @mia139! Together we are stronger.

Day 1 Pocket List

@dykask WFD
@betsylee FD800
@funshipfreddie
@jaifaim
@georgia83
@dingping
@flourbaby
@songbirdme
@ccco
@mia139
@annemarilyn

May 2 – Japan – WFD (4th in a row, but this will be it this time.)

I’m 91 hours into this fast. I’ll finish it at the 100 hour mark with a mostly keto dinner. I’m going to have some onion, good amount of aged cheddar cheese with fried eggs, salmon cooked with salt, butter and garlic as well as a large salad of dark greens with olives, cucumbers and some new onion dressing I found. I’m pushing the limits of keto, but nutrition is more important to me than ketosis. The magic of a longer a fast happens during the re-feeding so I’m mostly avoiding carbs. I might chop up some nuts to sprinkle on the salad though. Tomorrow morning I go back to my oatmean/fruit routine.

I’m ending the fast today because I’m starting to have problems. So far mild muscle cramping which indicates I’m low on potassium, excess gas in my stomach and in general I’m feeling weak. I’m not used to feeling week. So I’m going to try to drink several cups of black coffee (mainly for potassium) and I took a calcium tablet to help with the gas. Last time I did a fast this long I didn’t have as many issues, but I also had a couple bowls of miso soup during the fast. This time I was mixing in some 16 hours periods of dry fasting just to see what effect there might be. I think that was a mistake. I probably won’t work out today although I did the last three days. I think my body is too stressed out right now for a workout. I may do some easy walking.

This morning my blood glucose is at 62 mg/dl (~3.4 mmol/l). That is low, and matches the lowest reading I had on my 7 day fast, that happened on the 5th day then. I feel okay, which indicates I have a lot of ketones being used for fuel. However I do feel a little weak, which is something I’m not used too and I don’t like. I also didn’t sleep that well last night, so that might be part of the weakness.

I can see why fasting clinics push just resting during longer fasts. It doesn’t put the extra stress on the body that exercise does and it helps past the time if you can sleep the day away. No good for me, I have to work.

Final thought … my weight is down to 79.2kg this morning. Last year I was breaking 80kg a lot, but since then I’ve really worked on my upper body strength and my shoulders, upper arms, chest and back have more muscle now. Also in the fall I had bronchitis which greatly reduced my workouts for a few months. I gained several kg of fat then, but that is all gone now. When I can’t breathe, I put on fat fast. Anyway I expect my weight to go back to around 83kg while not fasting. Maybe by fall I be around 80kg again, but muscle is heavier than fat and that is okay with me.

@alisa253 – Sounds like you have a great plan!

Day 1 California NFD

I’m a 52 YO female from the U.K. now living in California. Started 5:2 in December and briefly got down to my goal weight of 125 last month only to bounce back up as a result of visitors,birthdays and vacation. I just dropped my parents off at the airport to go home to England (always a very sad trio to the airport) so I’m ready to tackle May fast days.

My goal, motivated by Dykask, is to do a WFD this month which I’ve always been afraid of because I don’t like to go to bed hungry! I’m also revisiting my goal weight and will try for a little lower as based on my height and build I think it seems reasonable.

Day 2 – 3rd post

@rafiki44 – I used to have a lot of trouble sleeping after a full day of fasting. Sometimes I still do, although the more normal pattern is to go to bed feeling a bit empty and wake up feeling fine. It took a few months though before that started happening. You might try skipping supper starting your fast over lunch, then you won’t be as hungry when the night comes and stop you fast at supper the next day so that you only have one night. It also helps to have a good book to distract yourself.

UPDATE:
I’m now feeling good, in fact I don’t even really have hunger. I even did a light workout, 30 floors of stairs, 4km run and 2km walk. However I’m keeping to my plan to stop at 100 hours because I want to start working on a harder level of push up to help increase my shoulder strength. I’m also worried about cramping. Black coffee is a good source of potassium, but not nearly as good as dark green leafs. Plus I felt like I was at my coffee limit after the 2nd cup. My weight is down to 78.4kg but that won’t last. I would rather see that after a full day of eating than after 4 days of fasting. 😀

Day 2 Wales FD
Day 1 FD

Happy Birthday @songbirdme and @rabbette, mine is Sat 4th x
Off to work again x

Day 2 pocket list:
@dykask
@gretta
@russetfox

Day 2, London, UK, FD

Yesterdays’ FD ended with a handful of cashews, so I probably should add a few (100+) calories!! I don’t mind so much since ‘Nature’s Prozac’ gave me a fantastic nights’ sleep, the first in three weeks of virus fighting!! @michelinme I hope your day in bed keeps the virus at bay, especially if it’s anything like the plague I had!!!!

Happy Birthday to our resident songbird and our blue haired yogi …………………………. @songbirdme & @rabbette……………… enjoy the day and the cake and the wine and the treats!!!

I’m feeling more positive today since I know this WOL works, and it’s really no hardship so there’s no need to beat myself up about falling off of the wagon in April …………………..Life got in the way, now I need to learn to view this WOL like breathing and blinking …………… No thinking required!!!

@daffodil2010, back to my rightful place ……………. posting after you!!!

Happy fasting people, we really have got this!!!

Day 2, UK, NFD

68.6kg

Did well on my FD yesterday, leaving all calories for the evening meal that I shared with DH. Even had some black forest gateaux😊.

Staying on healthy vegan food today.

Good luck to all fasters today!

Day 2: Gloucestershire, UK: NFD

Phew…..the May forum is looking busy with lots of chat and plenty of new faces. Big welcome to everyone who is new to this and those who’ve come back after a break.
Still nursing DH with his back. The wound is still leaking serum and so is a nuisance, needing dressings. We’re back to the hospital after I finish work, for a wound check.

Pocket list for today:
@dykask
@gretta
@russetfox
@jaifaim
@daffodil2010
@flourbaby

Day 2 Herefordshire UK NFD

Thanks for the hello’s lovely to be back amongst you all. It’s going to take, it seems, a few FD’s before I get back in the groove, upping the water intake would help make life easier.
@jaifaim – thanks for remembering I’d recently moved, no regrets, but constant visitors most w’ends have distracted me from this WOL and so I need to re learn control and balance again.

@ccco – so delighted to hear your little one is almost here! Agree re discovering the right food pattern.

@missybear – sorry your wine episode was down to stress and not fun, we are only human and now you’re back, still an inspiration to me.

@aglowworm – hang in there you’ll find your mojo again, sticking around here will help.

@songbirdme and @rabette happy birthday to you both, enjoy your special days.

@matpi – bites – will count mine today, anything that keeps me focussed, concentrating and mindful. Hope life stresses ease soon, good luck.

@michelinme – hello and congratulations on beating the plateau! X

@ciren2 and @daffodil2010 – sorry to hear your OH’s are is still suffering, fingers crossed for the best.

@funshipfreddie – good luck with your move.

@snowflake56 – sorry to hear you’re not fully recovered, so important you focus on you and self care, something I know you understand and time to put into practice so do what feels right, you’re good at listening to your body.

Hope all your loved ones are well and you are enjoying all the hard work you poured into your house in early spring.

As for us there are no major works done at the house. Pleased though with mini projects in the kitchen turning a wardrobe into a larder cupboard and a workbench bought on eBay into an island unit. Both painted in the F&B Purbeck stone that the rest of the kitchen is painted in. Any slow progress is down to not being able to get on with heavy jobs when OH working away and too many lovely visitors, but we are slowly getting through the list.

DD and her OH enjoy being here and like us embracing all the bookshops locally and looking forward to the Literature Festival happening near the end of the month. We’re also going to the music and philosophy festival happening at the same time with both our kids and their other halves.

Eating gone awry with so many guests coming and going, my problem is not whilst they are here but managing the left overs. Need to not cook so much and/or shove the left overs in the freezer ASAP!
Resetting now and so I can be in control before the next lot of visitors come.

Take care and hope you pop in here now and again when up to fasting or not, come by and say hi. In the meantime lots of love and big hugs. X

Finally @coda and all who started with her plus all the other long time posters congratulations and thank you for all your inspirational contributions. Three years on and still going, thank you to all here.
Ta x