Hi Anne

It’s cold here mid Winter, and most days we are lucky in that the sun shines and we max at 13C. I can still prune and do various gardening chores in the middle of the day. Or walk the dog, or play some golf. I make soup most days to keep warm and to maintain liquid intake. 😉

Great post, ET

I am the same. All of us who have been overweight have lost sight of portion size and nutritious food intake. I don’t count calories but I do record my food intake. From that I have learnt that white foods put weight on me straight away. If I eat even a small bit of potato, rice, pasta or sugary foods, I put on weight. This means that when I have them, I recognise that it is a treat and I enjoy a small amount.

The benefit is that I feel so much better when I eat a small amount of protein and lots of green vegetables. I have so much more energy without those white foods. However, I do have a sweet tooth, and I have to watch myself and have a small treat. 😉

A huge benefit for me of 5:2 has been the absolute knowledge that nothing bad will happen if I don’t eat at all on any given day. My trick for coping with a family get together, a wedding, dinner with friends etc is to not eat all day in advance and then to fast the day after. I drink black coffee, tea, lots of water, mineral water, but eat no food on most journeys. That way I just relax when out with friend and family in the knowledge that my TDEE is calculated over a 24 hour period.

We are all different in our responses, and this is just my way of coping with life. Happy fasting! It keeps my lost 17 kg at bay. Pun intended 😆

Cheers, Bay 🙂

No I do NOT count calories on any day whether fasting or not. When fasting, I drink no calorie drinks and homemade bone broth. I add whipping cream and butter and cocoanut oil to them sometimes. That is what keeps the hunger from my doorstep. On eating days I eat low carbohydrate, high fat foods and eat only twice.
Counting calories sucks!

Congratulations to everyone who has made progress recently! And welcome, SherylJoyce. To answer your question, I don’t always count calories on my non FDs but try to avoid the high cal stuff as much as possible.

I’ve had a busy week with company, a family birthday and Father’s Day which has resulted in my hitting a plateau and I’m now trying to get past it. Today was a Fast Day, almost over. I made a stir fry with a tsp of olive oil and no sauce for me – I will have to try the coconut oil instead of olive oil as mentioned by PJBR and faedawn. Hoping tomorrow or at least the end of the week I will see some results.

I’ve kept my Fitbit goal at 5,000 steps because I really want it as a reminder to get off my backside. One ankle gives me trouble if I try to do too much. I did hit over 9,000 steps the other day just from all the running around I did. I notice when I’m gardening, just moving, pulling weeds, etc. seems to put in a lot of steps. I was at a restaurant with my OH, daughter and her husband the other night and in the middle of the meal I hit my goal! We think it might be the motion of my arms when eating – so therefore eating must be a good form of exercise and weight loss! 🙂

Mary, it sounds like a great wedding you went to! It’s reassuring that others occasionally drift off the diet path too. I have a few weddings and showers this summer and fall that will mean overnight stays with family or hotels. It’s hard to be careful during those times but I think special occasions are important too and should be enjoyed (somewhat!).

ET,
Sounds like you have your life together, calorie-wise. It takes me forever to use new technology tools.
My husband though loves them! He is very interested in “My Net Diary” and wonders where you got it.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, about eating often is just too much food.
Fasting today and tomorrow as my granddaughter’s grad in Vancouver will require eating!!!!!!! Such a delight!!!!!
Good luck to you all this week.

Hi
ET, thank you for that information. Being the technobuff that my husband is, the ONLY brand allowed in the house is Apple. We will get My Net Diary for sure. I hope one can print off what you eat.
Hope you are not too dizzy from walking in circles. I do admire you for getting in 10,000 steps. I shall have to try harder.
Have a great weekend.

hello fellow Canadians [and distant neighbours],
I have been following this site for a bit, and recognize a few of you from the June challenge. So although technically a tad young at 58, I enjoy the camaraderie of this closer to home thread and would love to join in.
I now live in the middle of BC and get out to my lake house whenever I can, though grew up in Victoria. I have visited several of your stomping grounds near and far….. many involved wineries I must admit, even by camel near Adelaide…..! While I am casually active with gentle leisurely outdoor activities – gardening, walking dog, biking, snowshoeing, kayaking, and now paddle boarding, and some stretching routines at home to help with creakiness, I don’t do any thing too intensely exerting!
I began 5-2 in May when my BMI scarily reached the top of ‘overweight’ 29 after a combo of creeping up with menopause, a health diagnosis in the fall of breast cancer that led to some stress eating, and frankly just paying less attention overall to my intake. I eat real food mostly, but too much obviously and too many carbs — even whole grains etc are less forgiving as we age!
I have lost 13 pounds since early May on 5-2. I do Mon-Thu 500 cal, and don’t track other days tho try to eat the rainbow with less carbs and wine! Love this method of weight loss and feel it is truly sustainable long term, and forgiving of temporary guilt free blips! Now BMI is in mid 27 with a long term goal of sneaking into the top of ‘healthy’.
I have taken this bc diagnosis as a personal health challenge to do more to help my body heal. Did chemo in the fall and winter, now hair is growing back [mind you from blond lioness to silver tabby], and am awaiting Vancouver surgery date this summer.
Happy Canada Day tomorrow! Heading to lake this afternoon to celebrate with neighbours and fireworks.

Mary,
Do not fret. I understand that fasting increases bone density and muscle tissue.

hi everyone, and Mary — it must be in the air….. I am up a pound too this week 🙁 …..Yesterday, mind you, was first time I broke fast……. big bowl of popcorn and butter mid evening, and still felt like heavy styrofoam kernels in my stomach this morning. Yech.
Lesson learned [I hope]. First time I have not dropped weight, so feeling more resolve to behave mindfully today.
Enjoy your holiday. Sounds lovely. Right up my alley.

Yea Mary!! Congratulations!! I am so happy for you.
I was 60 and my true love 63 when we married in 2011. We knew no one…just us and a judge and his secretary as a witness.
My wish is that you be happy together…as happy as we are…and as grateful to be with each other.
Much joy to you. Anne

Phoebe on the lake
Hi there, what lake are you on? I am in Vernon, so have 3 lakes to chose from.
Many fires and much smoke, I do hope that you are escaping from having to worry about a fire too close to you.

Everyone,
Please think positive thoughts for me this next week. I am intending to fast for 7 days but have been having a great deal of difficulty getting through just one day of late. Willpower waining?
I really need to do this so send me those good vibes please.

Congratulations, Mary, to you and your new husband. What a lovely joyous occasion. Thank you for letting us share in your happiness. I wish you all the best for many years to come. 😆

Anne, Also what a lovely story to share.

PJBR, I was anxious when I read of your plans. I apologise for appearing to interfere in your life plans. However, nowhere does Dr Mosley recommend that we fast for 7 days straight. The most that is talked about in the literature is ADF, that is alternate day fasting. Do you have medical support for your seven day fast? You say you are having problems getting through a single day fast. Please consider practising a single day fast on regular 5:2 before launching into a dramatic seven day fast. Once you have begun receiving the benefits of regular 5:2 you could think about extending into different forms of fasting.

It is 18 months since I began 5:2 as set out by Dr Mosley in his book. With regular 5:2 (and limiting my wheat and sugar intake) of a max 400 calories on FD and 1600 calories on non fast days, I lost 17 kg and dropped from size 16 to size 12 clothing over six months. The weight has now stayed off for another 12 months.

These results are possible with regular 5:2 and they are more sustainable over the long term. Intermittent fasting is a sustainable way of life, a marathon, not a sprint. As a successful maintainer, I have to fast once a week to maintain my weight. Also I do it for the health benefits. It is the feast and famine aspect of 5:2 that is good for us. All the best.

Cheers, Bay 🙂

hello all, a very hot Friday here in BC!
Wow Mary – that is fabulously exciting! Heartfelt Congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon :))))
Prairiegrass, your later in life love story is also inspiring, ………thinks this 58 year old currently single gal!!
PJBR, [somehow I always think of peanut butter and jam!] my lake house is on Cluculz, 45 minutes from my regular home in Prince George. Northwest of you, my closest neighbour! The first fire of the year ‘Little Bobtail’ came within a scary 5 km in May.
Are you feeling the 5-2 is not working effectively? There are many ways to tweak it…… About the 7 days in a row, I commend you in your efforts to be strictly disciplined, but I concur with Bay’s concern… from my assorted readings, it seems the body benefits most from being tricked by the feed and fast cycling…. whether 5-2, 4-3 or some other combo… That way the basal metabolic rate is not lowered…. which I worry a lengthier fast might do.
Have you tried sticking to ‘healthier’ calorie options, and limiting processed carbs? I know when I do, my cravings subside, and I have better results. Sometimes life events or old habits get in the way, but back on the horse is only a day away. Best wishes, whichever path you choose.

hi PJBR,

My friend Purple has a story about reversing diabetes over 12 months through using regular 5:2. I will ask her to post.

Cheers, Bay 🙂

Hi everyone. I always read your thread with interest. Just wanted to drop by and give my congratulations to Mary. Just from the little I know from this thread I know you to be a thoughtful, kind, strong, determined, smart and wonderful woman. He is lucky to have you. But I am sure he knows that 🙂 Have a lovely honeymoon and look forward to a new and magical stage in your life
Tessy xxx

Hi Mary and Anne, and those of you lurking;)
Perhaps we are all in the summer/diet doldrums…
I will look for you on FB, Mary, thanks. And I agree, these things are not linear, and you have gone through some major changes, which always, well, changes things! I was sorry to hear of your fall off the bike, and I hope you have healed from that. And you have proven you are strong willed enough to adjust your non FD’s- although I tend to agree with Lustig and his take on sugar; I suspect the more we eat of it, the more we want.
Anne, I agree perhaps we need to be on here again to encourage each other. I have not done a true fast day in a while, but I have been maintaining my 7 lb weight loss, by tracking what I eat and not going over my Fitbit calorie count- and I have increased my exercise- I find I am more motivated to be healthy in my choices over all when I have spent 45 minutes invested in my health already, and also I know that keeping muscle mass is always a good thing! I mentioned Fitstar, I am really liking it as a doable exercise app.
Onward!
xo ET

Just wanted to let you know I’m still here and have kept up with reading the posts, and first of all, congratulations, Mary, on your marriage; that’s really wonderful. I’m in awe of some of you on this forum who have been through so much; you are such fighters!

I have to admit I’ve been a little discouraged lately and not sure about writing. I had reached the point of 14 lbs weight loss but then I started feeling like I was spending part of my precious summer just wanting to get those days over with. So I decided I would continue with the regime, but reduce the food intake even more on the FDs (while being good the non FDs), and I would allow myself a glass or two of wine in the evening. My OH and I look forward to our evening meal and drinks at the end of the day and I found that hard to give up.

Then I put on 2 lbs again. After watching the Robert Lustig video I decided to spend yesterday with absolutely no sugar or sweetener of any kind (including alcohol). I didn’t have my usual grapefruit in the morning and went all day with nothing to eat, until 6:30 when I had 2 slices of deli chicken and a basic garden salad with a couple of drops of oil/vinegar. I figured the total intake for the day was about 170 calories. I really wanted to shock my system.

I woke up at 5 am and couldn’t get back to sleep. Finally got up and weighed myself and there was no change whatsoever! I do know from experience that it doesn’t work that way but still…

So I’m continuing on because I am pleased with the loss I’ve had, but I won’t get that extreme again, and I’ll try to increase the exercise. Mary, I don’t think you need to be too concerned about those variations in weight; it seems to happen to all of us. And I think the first drop in lbs is easier than the next level. Likewise Anne, just the fact that you are aware of what you are eating, and know what works for you and what doesn’t, is part of the process, don’t you think?

We are doing some home renovations and I’m still working at home too, so I’m keeping busy. We have 2 wedding showers, 1 baby shower (my daughter’s) and 2 weddings this summer/fall, all of which require long drives and hotel stays. One of the weddings is the day before my daughter’s due date so we are contemplating the possibility of being in 2 places at the same time (downtown Toronto and Barrie)!

Thanks Anne, for your words of encouragement, they are appreciated. It was nice that your sister came for a visit. I hope you are keeping busy and not feeling too lonely. Mary I’m glad you are healing from your fall; it’s a shame it happened on your honeymoon. ET64, I will check into the other apps you mentioned but I’m limited somewhat – my cell phone doesn’t pick up a signal where I live and I don’t have internet on it.

Mary, thanks for your comments. I know you are right and I will try to stay with the routine. Things have already settled down again and I’m back on track. Today is a fast day and so far I’ve had a peach for breakfast (so delicious!) and coffee with skim milk. I know what you mean about the heat, it’s hard to get a lot of exercise when it’s so hot. I have completely stopped the upper body strengthening exercises, believing I’m getting enough through gardening, but it’s too hot to do much of anything outside. So I need to get back to the weights and push ups. We don’t have a/c but it’s not too bad during the day.

When I was at one of our family get togethers a couple of weekends ago, I was wearing my fitbit and my brother-in-law’s ex-wife came over to me and held up hers. She said she had already done 20,000 steps that day before she arrived! I have made just over 11,000 once.

Take care and keep cool everyone! Watch out for those tempting cookies!