Thank you for the welcome Sherryann. 20lbs is a great loss- you must be very pleased. How long has that taken?

Yesterday was a NFD for me. I spent the morning cooking: 15 portions of thai vegetable soup (116 calories for a big portion) and 4.5 litres of butternut squash and chickpea curry ( 198 calories for a big portion). I went for a 23km bike ride in the afternoon and then we had a friend over for supper in the evening; lasagne, salad, wine, tiny portion of ice cream. I think my calories came to about TDEE.

Today is a fasting day. I’m going to do Mondays and either Wednesday or Thursday to keep it flexible. Unfortunately, we have a funeral tomorrow so I don’t think I could cope with fasting as well.

It’s really helpful to have found this website and encouraging to the support of other people in the same situation.

How much weight do other people want/need to lose? Ideally, I’d like to lose 20kg.

I hope you all have a good day.

Hi Tilly! I am also a knitter/crochet lover… mostly crochet, but I joined a knitting group back in May and they have rubbed off on me and I attempt some knitting here and there. Recently I pulled out a knitting machine I purchased years ago and stated making large knitted squares and then add a crochet boarder. So far everyone loves them and I hope to eventually sell some.
I’ve learned to crochet when I was very young and have gone through spurts throughout my life and found this new group to be so inspiring that I have finished off some long time projects from years ago.
Nice to meet a fellow yarn friend on here!!
Beth

Geez! I just posted and saw the new messages come through. Typed a response and lost it before I could hit send. I hate this website as it does that to me occasionally!

Firm, it took me from last summer to May to lose. I’m slow and sorta steady. AND SHORT, which I think doesn’t help! 😉 You make great food! I want some of that Thai soup now!

Beth, OMG, I think I’ll avoid Irish Potato Candy! Sounds addictive! You are a strong woman to not go crazy eating that! 😉 Now I’m remembering that you’re from PA. So is Lori! I’d love to really learn to crochet. My grandmother taught me a bit when I was young. I’d love to learn knitting too. A goal for me as my kids get older (they’re 16, 11, and twin 10 year olds) and I have more time maybe!

Ok, let’s try to sign off and not lose the post again! 🙂

Hi All
I’m in London. Lovely day here today but didn’t really see much of it as working on various things. Had lunch with friend so dread today think of scales in the
Morning. FD tomorrow, no excuses as in all day so can have lovely beef consommé bought on Sherry’s recommendation, grapefruit, egg and a few other treats.

Hi all,
Well home from our four weeks camping and touring around the east/south east of Australia. We visited some lovely spots although we seem to have attracted a lot of rain !! Lol Oh well the new camper performed perfectly so can’t complain.
Back into the swing of things now, washing almost up to date. Can never figure that one out, I was washing clothes and linen whilst away but I still have mounds when I get home !!!
Hopped on the scales yesterday, relieved to find I had only increased about 300gms which was definitely a relief. Had visions of having put back the 3kgs I had lost since starting the 5:2… phew!!
FD yesterday went well, so much easier to do when at home than when traveling. Back to the gym this morning. Didn’t get there yesterday as I had a hair appointment first thing and then it was way too hot for this little MS person to exercise in. Think it got to 37 deg Celsius yesterday, thankfully it’s a bit cooler today and we have had some rain too.
Hi and welcome to all the newbies.
Beth I almost finished my cardigan. I have done the main body, just need to do the collar and bands and sew it up. I can crochet sort of, my Nan taught me to knit and my mum taught me to crochet but I preferred the knitting. I am saving a collection of crocheted bassinet blanket patterns for when I finally have grand babies. Not sure when that will be, hopefully not too far away 😉
Anyway I can hear my next load in the washer is done, better get it on the line.
Love Tilly xx

OMG Halizabeth – those candies sound deadly.

Hi Everyone,

A quick hello before I head out to pick up the kids from school and take them to tennis practice and baseball game. It’s a busy night and I’ve no idea what I’ll have time to make for dinner!

Tilly welcome home! I know what you mean about the multiplying laundry when you go camping, despite using the laundromat at the campsites! We camp and with 4 kids, I’m always spending at least a day doing laundry when we return.

Also welcome back Lori. Didn’t know you were out visiting your sis again! Did you girls have a good time?

Gillian, have a great fast day! Sounds well planned and yummy!

Sue, I make bone broth and it does form a “gel” at the top, some chickens make more than others. If you want my recipe, let me know.

Ok, off and running yet again! As a temporarily single parent, the running never ends! 😉

Bye!

Wow–it’s busy on here lately!! It was so slow that I didn’t think I’d have a lot of catch up even after missing a few weeks….but I was wrong. That’s great!

Welcome to all the new people–it sounds as if you’re making great progress!!

Sherry, I think the HIT can be an awesome addition. I was doing it for a while but sadly everything has gone off the rails between the weather and our remodel. We are finally in the fun part, however, waiting for the granite. The cabinets are in and we will even start a soft move in this weekend. I will spend the next month dusting, which I despise. Even though we had dust barriers up, the house is covered in sheetrock dust, saw dust, etc. Blerg. I don’t mind vacuuming or sweeping or even cleaning bathrooms…not to say I do it as much as I should but I don’t hate it. But dusting, I hate.

Okay, I sound like a big whiny baby, haha. I’m lucky to have a nice home to dust, I know…..

Somehow I have been doing just enough not to backtrack too much so I hope when I can focus on 5:2 and HIT, I will be ready to make progress!!!!

Good luck for the weekend and St. Patrick’s Day!!!! We may go to a photography exhibition by one of our friends…

Welcome Jayne!

It sounds as if you are really up to going back to the 5:2 plan and having successful results! You don’t have that much to lose so it won’t be long until you see the number on the scale that will make it all worth it. I need to get back on it myself! I have no trouble, usually, staying within an 8 hour window of eating, and sometimes even a 6 or 7 hour window! It’s the fast days that I need to do! I HAVE done them and it sure didn’t kill me! So thanks for your post, and all others posters, too, for the inspiration to get me going again!

Welcome Cosette,
I feel your pain. I never had a weight challenge until I hit menopause! Be encouraged you have made a good choice starting this journey. There are many tips here on the website, but also the encouragement and camaraderie of the people on this forum is so helpful, at least I have found it that way.
Fast day today, I had my mums and my eldest sons birthday afternoon tea here yesterday. I did indulge in a small slice of the birthday cake I had made. It was delicious. Vanilla butter cake with raspberry purée and Swiss meringue cream. Looked pretty good too haha. Hence the fast day today !! Although I did note I had dropped a 100gms this morning. May be I need to eat more cake hahahaha I promise I will be good. Having lunch with my walking girls but the cafe we go to has some very healthy and low cal options.
Cooler and wet here in Melbourne today after a number of weeks of hot and sunny. The garden is very appreciative.
Have a great week,
Love Tilly xx

Happy Sunday ladies!

My day started early with a tennis match for the twins then on to the mall for a bathing suit sale and lunch. My one 10 year old twin decided she was finally ready to get her ears pierced! A big milestone in young girl’s life! 🙂 The other one decided today just wasn’t the “right day? to do it! 😉 I told her when she’s ready, she’s ready!

Very busy weekend in all as yesterday was spent almost entirely at the baseball fields for my son…team photos, pancake breakfast, practice and then game. I took an hour to take walk in the neighborhood near the fields to get some exercise in.

My weight was up a little over half a pound this morning…who knows why? Hoping it goes back down tomorrow. I’ll try to eat light tonight so that hopefully happens.

Gillian, how did things pan out after your slightly greater than 500 cal fast? Didn’t sound too far off!

Elizabeth, congrats on the soon-to-be-completed remodel! And, now things should be easier for you to stay on track too! Wish we could post pics here so we could see it! My bum/hip has been hurting off and on since my trip to HI from overuse (too much hiking, walking, etc) so after that heals up more, I’m going to get on the HIIT plan too!

Jayne, welcome back to 5:2! It’s encouraging that you’re back because that means you know that it works! All of us hit a bump in the road (I did at Christmas and gained back 5!), but it’s nice to know this plan is waiting for us when we want to get serious again!

Hey Stranger! I’m rooting for you that you get two proper fasts in this week and get back on track! You can do it! Keep us apprised! 🙂

Unlike you, Cosette (and Tilly too!), I’ve pretty much battled my weight since my teens. At least your life was free of this burden till now! 😉 You’ll do great I’m sure! Just stick with it and with us and we will help see you through!

Tilly, the birthday cake sounds scrumptious! Why are you tempting us!? 😉 Anyhow, yes, you could start the “cake diet” with those results after eating it!

Hi to Lori and Sue and anyone else I’ve missed. I’m so exhausted after this week…I feel like taking a nap but then I won’t sleep tonight. Such is life!

Sherry

Thank you, Sherry! I am glad to join the group and see positive changes!!

Hi Everyone,
Welcome Cosette. I am in week 3 FD 1. Weekend away with the girls in Cornwall – lots of walking, lists of pizza and ice cream and beer means that I have gone back up to 139lb so last week’s gains gone so not quite back to the beginning at 1.4lb lost from the beginning. I got down to 135.4 after last week’s fast day so I guess I’m just in that beginning yoyoy phase. A few obstacles this week: cousin’s dinner, dinner out, someone’s 60th. I think I will have to eat nothing on those days.. plus 29th wedding anniversary & Mother’s Day combined.
Eek.

Hello Slimerella,
I love hearing from women all over the world. When I am failing, I like the Allan’s carr anti-smoking mantra which says that you are learning more so you can succeed next time. I am also post-menopausal 56 and never had a problem younger but have to be vigilant now and have crept up since being made redundamt /retired.

I’m not an expert but believe you can do any ratio you want and no window necessary. I try to defer eating as long as possible in the day as like you, once I start eating, it’s difficult to stop.

Good luck!
Gillian

Hi! A quick hello and good morning to you all!

Firstly, I’m so sorry for our ladies in Great Britain! Heard the terrible news on the TV this morning about the supposed terror attack near Parliament. My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

I have to quickly take my morning walk and get back to the school to pick up one of my twins to get the stitches removed from her leg where they took out the mole. Weather here is dreary and threatening to rain so I have to get a move on!

I’m doing Ok eating-wise. Weight is hanging out in the 118’s. I think I’ll be doing a 4 day bone broth cleanse in the next week or so which usually is good for a pound or two (if lucky!) loss.

Sue, happy for you that your back is feeling better (mine, not so much right now…comes and goes!). I know what you mean as to how it’s a relief when the kids go back to school after a break! My kids’ spring break is still yet to come in mid April.

Gillian, I always say “easy on, easy off”…just get right back to it and those pounds you just gained should slide right off of you! 😉 I know how you feel when you have so many “eating” events coming up in a row it makes it very hard to stay on track. Just do your best and make the best choices you can and then get back to fasting asap.

Hi Slimmerella (Slim), love the name! If you look on the thread topics section, there’s one for “newbies” authored by Simonconluv I believe. He explains a lot there that should be of help, but like Gillian said, there’s no right or wrong way, just what seems to work for you! Best of luck and we will of course try to help you along the way!

Thanks so much for the recipe Firm! I will try it soon!

Hello all you other MIA ladies! 🙂

Ok, on to my day! Ciao!

Sherry

Thanks K-Lo! I need that sort of encouragement. Turns out I had events every day last week, so I’m poised to try 5-2 next week. I’ll be planning my two small meals in advance to help keep me on track!

Hi Everyone!

Sherry has given me the nudge to get my butt back here! 😉 I do more IF and LCHF(low carb, high fat), but I still enjoy reading about all of your journeys.

Sherry, that farmer’s market sounds awesome! Yes, I’ve heard of the “Golden Door”…Ooh La La! I couldn’t afford to walk past the place! LOL!

Sorry I’m not up to speed with all of you. I’ll try to get caught up so I can comment intelligently!

Have a great weekend!

Hi Everyone,
Just checking in before bed and wk 3, FD 1 – needs to improve. Have bought Thai soup ingredients so finger crossed!
Gillian

Hello everyone including all the new girls.
Well after four days of eating out for various functions I had put on 900gms !! FD yesterday pulled it off thank goodness. Still hovering around the 60kgs just can’t seem to drop below for long. I’m doing all the right things except for the past few days. Any ideas ladies ??? My goal is to fit in a beautiful dress I had for my daughters wedding four years ago, I think I have about 3kg to go but just can’t seem to shift it argh!!
Beautiful weather here in Melbourne, we had some much needed rain yesterday. Managed my gym session. Unfortunately not going to get there today, waiting for tradesmen who are coming but when who knows !
Encouragement to all who are just starting, you have made a great decision.
Love to all
Tilly xx

Hi guys,

Checking in real quick. Exhausting days out here. Hubby is home in a week and I can’t wait! 2/3 of the way through the 3 wks of solo parenting. I’m just feeling so DONE!

Tilly, just hang strong…the pounds have to bust loose sooner or later! Maybe switch up the foods you’re eating…a little lower carb or less sugar or white stuff? Different exercise? Just change things up a bit and see what happens. For me, I know when I have too many eating out events, I can’t lose for anything.

Hey Lori, good to see you here! Sounds like you’re on the right track!

I haven’t weighed today but did my pilates and then walked a little over an hour while the girls had their tennis lesson.

Time for shower and bed! Good night!

Hi All,
Week 3 FD 2 here, also with Italian meal to negotiate before going to see a play. Half a pizza is about 500 calories apparently. Will I succeed in not eating the other half and also avoiding glass of wine? Next instalment tomorrow.
Gillian

Hi, just started, new this forum, in fact I never post anything. I do it myself, beginning to think that’s not the way forward! So ready for this to work!!

Hi Lolibee,
It’s definitely worth a try. It’s good to have encouragement.

Well – for a first week, I guess last week wasn’t so bad. Not eating during the day wasn’t hard, keeping to 500 calories for dinner was challenging. I’m sure I went over, but I’m not going to beat myself up about it, I am just going to get better at it this week!

This is the first online forum I’ve joined and I’m so appreciative of all your support!

Happy Sunday ladies! I’ve had a very busy three days, with the kids off for a long 3 day weekend. Lots of activities going on to keep them busy including Beauty and the Beast, my other twin finally getting the nerve to get her ears pierced as well, and tennis matches. Phew! I’m tired and ready for school to start tomorrow to get a break! All of these days involved more going out to eat and snacking/party events than I usually deal with in one week and my weight is up a pound as of yesterday (today I decided not to look!). Back to the drawing board tomorrow!

I’ve been meaning to do my broth cleanse but haven’t had the time and energy to do all the cooking/prep it involves. Hopefully when my hubby finally gets home Tues. after his 3 week business trip I’ll have some time.

Hi and welcome Lolibee! Hope your last few days were successful!

Cosette, good job on your first week. It will surely get easier as time goes on!

Tilly, I eat similar to you, but eat a late breakfast, some light snacks during the day and usually veggies and maybe some chicken at dinner.

Best of luck in the upcoming week to everyone. We have lovely weather here in San Diego…breezy, slightly cool and sunny…Spring has finally sprung! 🙂

Sherry