So, I had to add another post to comment on the entrees on the page prior because, as many of you know, you often lose your post when you flip to the page prior to read and come back to it!

Anyhow, Kitty, good luck with your fast day today. Hope it’s less “fuzzy” and you get those fluids in!

Carolina, yes, I’ve fallen into the trap of the chip feeding frenzy myself recently! I can commiserate! Move on, right? 😉

Oh, and Salma thanks for the PA info. Have you ever utilized a virtual PA and if so, how did it go?

Scale up a bit this morning (maybe 1/2 lb). I think from too much salty stuff yesterday. That and the heat we’ve been experiencing might mean some water retention. At least that’s what I’m hanging my hat on today!

Cinque and everyone else, hope you’re all well!

Welcome Joneill! Welcome Maryland Gale!
Joneill I am the same age and height as you and was just a few kilo over 80kg at my fattest. Very glad to be in my low 50’s now!
Was yesterday/today (I get confused on the Australian side of the world) your first fast day? Best wishes for it!

Congrats Gale on cutting down caffeine, it is hard and does come with such a nasty headache. I keep planning to have a few caffeine free days a week, and it would be perfect to have them on fast days… but I haven’t managed any yet!

It is day after Fast Day for me. I love the feeling waking up in the morning. And then I love breakfast! 🙂

My last post disappeared as this site did its irritating thing of logging me out in the middle of my typing. So I’ll post now and see if it comes through.

Lori,
Hooray that the itching has gone! I hope you never have to go through that again (and your husband too).
Isn’t it hard, those horrible eating days! You are angry at yourself as you know it is destructive, and yet you want to enjoy every mouthful because, fingers crossed, you will never do it again.
I hope your green tea day felt very kind to yourself.

Carolina I knew just what chips you meant! Oooh I wanted some yesterday as my daughter bought a big packet for my granddaughter’s 2nd birthday party tomorrow. Josie wanted some too! She cried all the way home, yelling ‘Kip! Kip! Kip!’. I knew just how she felt. We had to hide them quickly.

Yes, hooray for Slow And Steady.

Salma, my sister is better enough for me to visit her this afternoon, she rang last night and it was so good to hear her voice. The drip is out and she can eat. Should be home on the weekend. Horrible experience!

Off to make that lovely pot of coffee now! Best wishes all!

Happy end of the work week!

I woke up sore and achy this morning and decided not to do my normal walk. BUT, then I felt guilty and after a short while I felt not so bad so I went after all. I feel good now but we will see about later. I think I have crappy athletic shoes even though they’re only a month old- so I think I haven’t been getting the proper support when I walk and that’s why I’m achy?

Anyhow, cleaning day today, working alongside my cleaning lady organizing! Later it’s an evening at the local small waterpark for my elementary kids’ school. The kids love those places but I can’t help but feel they’re a big pool of germs no matter how much chlorine they put in! YUCK!

I’m doing a traditional fast day today, not the cleanse/fast I usually do. gh I probably will, however, throw in some of my bone broth I’ve made that’s in the freezer as it’s low cal and satisfying.

Tomorrow is yet another birthday party (for my great nephew who’s turning 1). As I’ve said, in my large extended family there seems to be something going on almost every weekend! I endeavor to stay away from chips this time! Maybe I’ll bring a bag of parsnip chips that are a good, healthy, low carb substitute!

We have a new-ish couple with older kids that moved in across the street who are about our age. I talked to the wife today about taking a hike in the hills near us (with giant sticks and pepper spray in case we encounter any mountain lions!) when her hubby, who’s a pilot, is off flying. She’s game! Also they want to go out with us to a local brewery next weekend. I’m excited because it’s so hard to find people you can hang out with that aren’t school friend related at this age and time when everyone’s so busy! Here’s hoping we have a good connection!

Cinque, I’m so happy your sister is feeling better! When does she get to go home? Any fun plans for the weekend with your family?

Carolina, enjoy your last few dance-free weekends! I hope you get to pick those blueberries! That’s one of the things I envy about you people who live in wetter climates…you have wild berries you can pick! When I visited my hubby’s family in Michigan, we’d always pick blueberries and make pies. Isn’t it late in the summer now for them? As far as movies, my friend said that new movie with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant was really good and that her husband even enjoyed it!

Have a good day everyone! 🙂

Happy Birthday to Cinque’s granddaughter. Such a cutie! Hope it was a magical day for her. Sending healing thoughts for your sister. I’m sure your support will mean the world to her.

Sherry….hope your new friendship with the neighbor works out. Hiking with Mountain Lions? Yikes….be careful!

Off to the golf course in a couple hours. I’m not really looking forward to it after the way I played last weekend. Maybe today will be better? One can only hope. I’ll just enjoy being able to be out there and not worry about the score. I will try to be mindful of my attitude today….getting upset certainly doesn’t help and in the grand scheme of life, my golf game matters not at all!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Be happy & love life!

A quick hello, resting after a big day yesterday.
Granddaughter started saying “No! Mine!” on her birthday, so she must be 2!
Fast day today. And rest. A good combination!
My sister might need a couple of days rehab as she is still finding it hard to get her balance walking.
Good luck at golf Lori, for your quiet Sunday Salma, and for recovering from those ‘kips’ Sherry! I avoided them ok so that is a relief. Cheers to everyone!

Hi ladies!

I’ve been in Milena’s “layby” all summer. Relationship issues got the best of me so I decided to set the fasting aside for a time and concentrate on that. And I didn’t want to burden you all with one long whine. But now a few things have been ironed out, the fall term begins next week, and I’m ready to turn over a new leaf and give it another go. Today was my second fast day and it feels good to be back at it.

My yearly physical forced me onto the scale and I was pleased to find it showed only a 2-3 lb. gain over the summer. So I now have about 10-12 lbs. (5 kilos) to lose. Should be doable, right?

Anyway I’ve missed you guys and your lovely support and hope you are all doing well. I’ll try to catch up with your posts from the last few months a bit at a time.

MM

Grr–just had a mysterious delete of my post!

Anyway, last Monday before school and the weather turned nice!

Salma, you do the lipo and give us a report, haha. It is the jiggly flabby stuff that gets me, too, but I have hope I can improve. I feel I’m just over the line so if I can stay focused long enough ….

Cinque, enjoy that two year old sweetness!!!!!

MM, welcome back. Good luck!!!

SherryAnn, I hope it clicks with your neighbors. We have a few neighbors we enjoy but when my son was small we had one family that was very close and it was awesome.

Lori, I’m guessing you are the competitive driven type! My kids are like that. I have to say it’s served my son well although I’m always trying to get them to take it down a notch.

My goal for this week is to undo the weekend damage and prepare for full throttle next week when school starts!

Hi Salma and everyone!! I’m enjoying looking through all of the posts! You sound so much like me:) I’m getting started today and am very hopeful about the program. The only time in my adult life that i have maintained a heathy steady weight I was pretty much doing the Fast Diet without knowing it so when i dicovered the program a Light bulb went off for me then I went through a down time and gained again. Since then I have tryed everything! Atkin, Ideal Protein, Xyngular, Weight Watchers Ect……. Totally screwed up my food mentality. I have about 40lb or more to lose. Wish me luck!!

Happy start of the week all!

Managed a not-too-hungry fast yesterday to take care of the excesses of the day prior. It helps when I have a light protein drink in the morning. It held me till dinner time. This morning I rewarded myself with some yummy pumpkin pancakes. I’ve got Fall on the brain I guess! 😉

Cinque, I was wondering what Josie was referring to when she said, “NO, MINE”? Was it the beloved “kips”? 😉 You’re a strong and better woman than I to have avoided those kips! I hope you had an easy fast day and nice rest to go with it!

Lori, your countdown continues! Glad the golf is going well! Soon you will have almost unlimited opportunities to golf! 🙂

Hi MM, welcome back and thank you for the birthday wishes back in June (I got the email notification from FB, which you know sorry to say I never really use!) I’m working at maintenance right now; currently drifting between 118-119 and wanting to settle in at 115-117. Hoping that will happen by year’s end! I too am sorry for your rough patch and hope all has worked out for the best because you deserve the best!

Salma, now that’s MY type of weekend! Hiking and strolling by the beach! Wish I was there to join you! And, HA! Didn’t realize I used “game” in the same sentence as mountain lion! So funny, but yes, let’s hope not! Re: the lipo, no I’ve never considered that (I’m fine with the size of my legs), but I would consider anything that could guarantee the tightening of the leg skin which I had mentioned prior the plastic surgeon told me is difficult to do unless it’s minor skin laxity. There’s lots of procedures out there that claim to do both lipo and firm the skin up at the same time so you just need to do your research on that. Good luck, and as Lori said, I’m in your corner whatever you decide. I think we all need to do what we need to in order to feel our best!

Carolina, yes, the dreades disappearance of posts on this site! Drives you nuts! Best of luck undoing the weekend damage and getting back on track for the week ahead. I think it will be easier for us moms with kids still at home to stick to plan now that they’re back in school, don’t you? How’s your daughter doing now that she’s back to her good eating plan?

Hi Rosie, welcome! You’re one step ahead since you already know this plan can work for you! I know the feeling of all those different, crazy diets messing with your head! Here, you can take a deep breath and just “simply” cut back twice a week. No crazy counting of points, etc. It is truly freedom in my mind! Good luck! 🙂

Time to get the smoked paprika chicken in the crockpot! Have a good one all!

Good Morning Everyone!!

Thank you sooo much for the encouragement :). I had a wonderful first day and feel better mentally about the “program” (not diet!!) than I have about any other in a VERY long time. I think that this will really work!! No more stressing about what I’m going to eat all day and how many carbs it has is very liberating!!
Salma, See if the skin bounces back a bit before you consider surgery. A friend had lipo on her stomach a few years back and its very lumpy now and the skin tightening looks pretty invasive ans leaves some not so attractive scars. although when i do get the weight off and don”t have the fat to plump up my skin I’ll probably be singing a different tune 🙂
I have a question about how you all handle the social drinking events that come up in life?? For me a couple of drinks can lead to senseless eating but I do like to have them 😉 any advice?

Hello!!

The better weather continues, yay!!! Also, my son was invited back to intern next summer in California!!! I had a long walk yesterday and will do one today. So things are going well.

Salma, so glad you’ve made progress on finding a care giver and reaching your goal. Woot, woot!! You are so right about the proper perspective on life, too. The refugees are on my mind a lot and while we have done things to help it’s just a drop in the bucket.

Lori, so exciting to have this countdown! Enjoy!!!

Cinque, you are not so very old, haha.

Sherry, the pumpkin pancakes sound very tempting! I love pumpkin in some things but not others. My daughter is doing better. It’s not perfect, but many times improved.

Rosie, glad your first day went well!!! For the drinks, try alternating seltzer water.

Today is fast day. Going well so far, knock on wood!!!

Have lovely evenings, all.

Good evening ladies,

Just finished dinner, yummy chicken tikka masala out of that wonderful crockpot! Not much going on hereabouts…the usual, shopping, cooking, cleaning (though I did have the Rumba vacuum/sweep today…love that thing!). Did pilates yesterday with the tough instructor whom I haven’t seen since three months ago when I started my travels. I feel the deep soreness every time I go to sit down or get up. It’s good to know it gets at those deep core muscles. Do you feel that after you’ve done pilates, Salma? This is my monthly upkeep and maintenance week, acupuncture to move the ol’ qi and chiro on Friday to adjust my back.

Rosie, YAY on your first FD going so well! Re: the social drinking/eating: I’m kinda a lightweight and don’t drink much or often. I usually limit it to one glass of wine (as I’m usually the designated driver as well!) and if we’re going to a restaurant, peruse the appetizer menu online in advance so I can try to find the healthier options. Also, I try not to go hungry (i.e. my old mentality of starving myself before I go out so as to eat unlimited food when I get there!). I eat an apple or a handful of nuts beforehand to take the edge off and then I don’t go too crazy. Hope that helps!

Salma, I’m so sorry for your poor mother. Were there any helpful tips in the book I recommended to you? I was wondering if you found it useful. Is there a natural remedy perhaps that can help with her anxiety? Maybe investigate online or talk to a naturopath? Obviously get it cleared with her doc beforehand. Music can be very soothing and calming to them too, especially the old tunes since they’ll usually remember those old memories. With regard to the potential caregiver, my fingers are crossed for you too! The fact she sounds kind is wonderful! Do agencies there do background and reference checks on the caregivers? Is she TB tested and does she know CPR? All good to know. Enjoy your upcoming birthday and dinner! 🙂

Carolina, so glad your daughter is doing better for the most part. Good job on your walking. How’s the fasting going? The pumpkin pancakes I made were made with almond flour…very low carb and filling. I know what you mean about pumpkin! I like it in things like bready stuff but not when it’s mostly pumpkin, like pumpkin pie!

Cinque, how right you and Salma are that we are very fortunate and should count our blessings. It is great that Australia offers you the pension and housing to help out. My mom always says, all you can do is look the best you can for your age-don’t compare yourself to what you were years ago or younger people. Be happy with what you’ve got in other words! I’m not thrilled with my loose skin on my legs but hey, those legs are strong and enable me to walk, hike and get where I need to go and they look a lot better than they used to 15 lbs. ago! 😉

Time to tuck in the little monkeys! Good night all!

Hi Africa, welcome here! All power to you!

It is rough to fast and cut out coffee at the same time!
In fact I ended up having my cuppas with milk on my fast day, and so 160 calories in milk. And then have a bowl of soup at the end of the day.
I do mean to have a couple of coffee free days a week, and it would be good to have them on fast days… One day!

You’ll work out a way to do it that suits you!

Hi Salma and Lori, bed time here! See you tomorrow.

Hello!!!!

I had a nice long, hilly walk with my friend this morning and I’m very sweaty. I’m so ready for fall, but it was good to get some real exercise. Fast day yesterday went well so now not to blow it today!!!

Africa, I echo the idea about coffee. In fact, I have more caffeine on fast days. I’m on the side of doing what you need to do to make it work long term. For me that means coffee with milk and sometimes I’ll even have a diet Coke. Find the pattern that works for YOU. For me, that’s not eating until late afternoon, when I let myself have a tiny bit of juice and ham/cheese or something IF I feel that I need it. Also, after dinner I will allow a tiny bit of the same if I need it. And I’ll use no calorie breath mints when I start thinking about food….may not be ideal but it enables me to keep with the plan!!

Sherry, I love tikka masala! Mine is never as good as the restaurant’s though.

Lori, enjoy your time with your sister!!!

Salma, hope your mom is having a good day.

Cinque, I guess you’re getting ready for the weekend already!

Now that I’m sweaty I should do some dirty housework…..

Take care!

Africa, Susan! How did your first day go? Did you survive it without coffee? Don’t we all relate to what you are going through! haha

Carolina I hope you are having a wonderful sensible eating day after your glorious walk!

I’m just being quick as I need to write an email, I think, and then take my daughter shopping (she is hoping to get her drivers license in a couple of weeks!)

Yes it is Friday morning here, Good morning everyone! Hi Sherry, Hi Salma! Great golfing Lori!
And this weekend I am going to try fasting on Saturday, instead of my usual Sunday!

Morning everyone

Thank you al for your support yesterday. So yes I made it through my first fast day. And no I didnt have any coffee. I was suprised that i didnt feel hungrier, I kept busy and then ate at 5pm. I am suprised that i dont feel hungry particularly this morning. What I am even more pleased about is that I made it to a yoga class which was wonderful and had a go on the treadmill the first time in a year. A year ago i ran my first 5K for a breast cancer charity and it was the most brilliant feeling. Since then things have gone down hill with the hypothryodism and overeating and i have done no exercise at all so yesterday was major pyschologically. I only walked for 4 mins on the treadmill and ran for one, but at leas I got on! I also decided that I need to make friends again with my lumpy body that I have so abused. So after the yoga class i gave myself a bit of pampering, rubbing in a lovely body lotion. That seemed more positive than staring hatefully at my body in the mirror.

For me diets fail because of the sense of deprivation, and feeling I have no choice. So I follow a diet a bit, rebel and then overeat. How lovely it was to wake up today and feel that I can have my cup of coffee and eat what I want.

Lets hope it lasts!

Hi folks, hoping to have some camaraderie with the group since I fit the bill as mid fifties and trying to lose weight and get healthier. Just wanted to introduce myself and say how much I appreciate everyone’s posts. I don’t feel quite as alone.
Marc.

Just started back to school and working too so I will check in when I can. Back from vacation earlier this week and won’t weigh in right away!! Back to the fasting though as I feel so much better and lighter on my feet. Will give periodic updates as time allows…

Best to all of you and I enjoy reading about your successes! I plan on trying to build muscle and seeing inches go down and not rely on scale so much. I see some frustration out there with the scale. I just want to say if your clothes fit better its all good!!

Salma, I have seen some info on cold therapy for the jigglys. I forget exactly what it’s called but they freeze the fat cells and then those cells shrink, the before and after pix are great and not as much risk with that procedure. If I find the info I’ll post it.

Hello Everyone,
It is Saturday morning and I am trying a Saturday Fast after months of having Sunday as one of my Fast Days. My daughter and I are having meal prep Sundays, so they aren’t my quiet day any more.

Sitting here with my first cup of tea!

Hi Marc! Welcome to this band of companions! Have you begun 5:2 already? All power to you!

Africa, congratulations on a good first day. Isn’t it fascinating finding out which parts of fasting are easy or hard or simple or complicated. How wonderful that you are getting back into some exercise, AND having some pampering!
My very favorite part of 5:2 is waking up the day after a fast day. I generally feel wonderful.

Hello CactusRose! I am so glad you have been able to pop in and share your news. Good luck for school this year! You have a busy life, but hooray for slotting 5:2 into it so that you can keep getting lighter and healthier. Yes, sometimes you have to kick the scales, but you can always enjoy feeling lighter and healthier!

Lori, so glad you are having a lovely weekend with your sister!
My sister is home, finally, so I am going to make her a big soup and take it over to her today.

Salma, you ARE seeing the 80 figure! Woot! I am so glad that those physical things are getting you through this stressful time, and helping with your strength and fitness! You are going to feel brilliant on your birthday.

Cheers everyone else!

Good Saturday morning ladies & gent!

We had a great dinner out with the neighbors at the brewery restaurant. I received a compliment from the neighbor woman when she said, “You know, people think skinny people like “us”! don’t have to watch what we eat, but of course we do”! Ok, so I’ve never been called skinny by a skinny person so that was a wonderful first! 🙂 This is what true “skinny” people like her do: they eat HALF their dinner and then try to give the rest to their husbands (he declined-he’s skinny too!). For me, I’m always thinking I’m out to eat, I’m paying for it, I’m going to eat it all and eat it now-no take home boxes! I ate healthily at the restaurant and then got home and snacked too much. Very weird- I’m a work in progress! Yesterday, I was back into the 117’s after the prior day’s fast and I’m sure I’m not there now! So, today I fast!

Tonight is yet another great nephew’s birthday party at a crazy kids’ pizza place where they have tons of kids, games, etc. You’re ears are ringing by the time you get out of there from all the kids screaming! Can’t wait. 😉

Cinque, are you and your daughter busy at your multi-meal prep today (Sunday for you)? How was your Saturday fast?

Salma, I can relate to your pilates aches! Arnica gel helps tremendously! I just ordered a product called “Quell” that you supposedly wrap around your calf and it stimulates a pressure point that gives all over body pain relief. It’s highly rated so I thought I’d give it a try. I will report back once I’ve tried it. Glad you are getting some much needed stress relief from the exercise. It is definitely what I do for stress relief! Yay for the 180 number! You are there. Doesn’t have to be an “even” 180 to celebrate! What a wonderful birthday gift you’ve given yourself!

Susan, congrats on a great, no coffee fast day. I’m happy it was relatively painless for you. See, you can DO this! I know what you mean about other diets making you feel deprived, you lose a little weight and then go off the rails and gain it back. That’s always been me in the past.

Hey, Lori. To answer your questions, back to school night was fine. The usual, only now my son who is almost 11 and in 5th grade is starting to go to different classes for different subjects (they’re training them to get ready for that in junior high), so you have to run between 5 class rooms to get the scoop in the span of an hour. My husband did that while I went to my twin fourth grader’s (they’re almost 10) class to listen to their teacher. My oldest is almost 16. Have a great sisters weekend!

Marc, you are not alone! We’re here for you. We’re mostly a bunch of gals but we all go through the same stuff with regard to weight loss, so hoping we can be of support to you! Good luck! 🙂

Welcome back Cactusrose! Hope you had a wonderful vacation. Look forward to hearing about it!

Hi MM, yes I’m pretty much on maintenance as I mentioned before. Teetering now between 117-119 but aiming for maintaining between 115-117. Hoping to get to that point before the year is out. I’m happy that your 3 fast days went well and hope you hit your birthday goal.

Hi to all you others out there!

Good morning!

Its a Bank Holiday here in the UK and the sun is shining. It is also my second fast day and already I am feeling peckish! I think I am going to have to keep myself busy today to distract myself from hunger pangs.

Lori, good luck achieving your plan over the next 6 weeks. I am sure you will look smashing in your new clothes, whatever. Your trips sound incredible, how I would love to do them.

Salma, I hope you had an enjoyable birthday and celebrated in style.

Sherryann, enjoy your compliment. How lovely. I am trying to eat like a skinny person and not feel obliged to eat everything on the plate just because it there. Have you been on the 5:2 for long?

Have a great day everyone.

Good morning, everyone.

Salma, it sounds like you had a lovely birthday! So sorry things are difficult at work. Firing someone has to be really painful, I imagine even worse than failing a student and I hate doing that. (Funny how much fun Donald Trump seems to get out of saying “You’re fired!” Tell us something. How awful if we end up with a president who has so little empathy.)

Lori, I’m jealous of all the travel you have planned. My next trip comes up in about six weeks as well and I, too, am committing to sticking to regular 5:2 for those weeks, so let’s support each other. Recalling the success you had last January and February with low carb I’m also trying to restrict myself to having a starch at only one meal a day. Not too hard since most days I either don’t eat breakfast or have a single egg with a bit of feta. It just means salads, lettuce wraps, or soup for lunch.

Africa, it does get easier. And while those peckish moments will come, they generally go away rather quickly. Once you’ve fasted for awhile you get much better at ignoring them.

Sherry, how wonderful to be within two pounds of your goal! You really stuck to it over the spring and summer.

Now, my whine for the day. I have either fleas or bedbugs in the bedroom! I’ve thought it was fleas (I have two lovely large poodles)and have been laundering, sweeping,etc. like a crazy woman all summer, but today found something in the seam of the mattress that looked more like a bedbug. Got bitten four times last night. So I’ve finally admitted defeat and called in the professionals. Someone is coming on Friday for an inspection. It’s hard not to get a good night’s sleep.

I’m fasting today. Good luck to any of you who might be as well.

MM