Wow guys I’m so impressed by how much exercise you do! That probably sounds terrible to say, but I am a confessed sedentary, mostly because of my desk job and partly because I have never ever had a good relationship with the gym or exercise in general.

Pissupoosa the Insanity workout is an extreme programme based on High Intensity Interval Training, in reverse. Rather than short bursts of intense activity followed by longer periods of less intense activity, it’s the other way around. You are supposed to to a workout 6 days per week for 60 days to achieve the advertised result…but I’m nowhere near that level of fitness. So I am doing a couple of Insanity workouts per week for now to break myself back into exercise.

By the way, I am totally with you both on the rice and potato front! Let’s not also forget pasta… enough talk of food!

Beck100, hope your little one settled and you managed to get through your fast day OK.

Natasha, I used be a bit of a gym/exercise-phobic too. In February, I bought my self a block of personal training sessions at my local gym (at a discount as a part of a new membership) – they really got me started. I realised that regular exercise had a significant effect on my mood (I’ve been going through some tough times lately). So I slowly started doing more and more – gym classes, working out at home, running with a friend, cycling etc. I can’t afford PT sessions continuously, so once the discount block ended I carried on with classes etc. But I must say, I’m still a bit ‘chicken’ when it comes to gym equipment and weights :-p

So, at the end of today:
I managed to survive mostly on calory-free liquid (water, roobosh tea), a bottle of M&S sugar-free ginger beer (5 cals) and many many trips to the loo! 🙂
Dinner was a prawn+veg omelette with a mixed leaf+avocado salad. Managed to stay under 500cals overall with a good 12h fast. So overall a successful FD.

Hi all! I am fasting today after giving in to hunger pangs yesterday, but still having a good day yesterday (only 156 cals over TDEE, which I’m really pleased about as it’s the best NFD I have had so far) and I am trying really hard to keep strong today and power through. Not made any easier by walking to work and smelling hot toast and bacon!! Oddly I feel like today I am getting waves of slight nausea…anyone else had this during a fast?

FrauB that cauliflower rice sounds delicious! I’m going to try that tonight, it could be a real game changer!

Hi everyone,

Yes, I will try cauliflower rice tonight too. I think I will roast it, or maybe just microwave it. I scrolled down the BBC good food page and got some tips, like only adding salt after cooking, not before. I also plan to blitz up a whole cauliflower (in two or three stages like they suggest) and freeze some it for fast days etc. I’m going to give it to my kids tonight with homemade chilli con carne, let’s see what they make of it. If they’re hungry, they’ll eat nearly anything so will have to hide all snack type things when they get back.

Today I had full fat natural yog with strawberries and watermelon and a bit of homemade granola and maple syrup. Tasty and indulgent, but only about 260 cals. Lunch was courgettes with bacon and blue cheese, again, seemed very naughty for only 400 odd calories… I even had a whole line from a giant milka bar which cost me about 180 cals but was worth it 🙂 Tonight will be a lot of cauliflower with some chilli and some veggie sticks. Barring any red wine I should stay within my TDEE.

Pissupoosa, I agree. I know sugar free soft drinks are eeeeevvilllll but sometimes I have one. I even bought a bottle of caffiene-free diet coke at the start of my 5:2 adventure but I found I was just drinking it for the sake of it. I tried tesco’s sugar free ginger beer a few years ago and I wasn’t keen. I decided to make full-sugar ginger beer a very rare but very yummy treat!

Well done everyone!
Cheers 🙂

Hi Beck, hi everyone, sorry not checked in sooner. Yes, indeed, I am fasting today. So far I’ve just had tea and water. I’ve got past the lunchtime barrier, I really felt like having some lunch and although I know I can have a light FD lunch and still keep the fast going, if I get to 3 or 4pm before I eat then the rest of the day is so much easier.

Natasha, I also tried Cauliflower rice and I really like it. I think for me it’s what I will use at home instead of rice or couscous, but I will still eat rice when out. I also think it will help me out big style on fast days. Today I will have it again with some homemade chili con carne and I’ll be able to have a big portion with some grated cheddar on top and veggie sticks and still only for 290 calories! I might even use my other calories for a glass of red wine to celebrate finishing a huge work project yesterday!! Anyway, back to rice, we don’t actually cook with much rice at home, more pasta… I am about to move to Asia though…

Natasha enjoy your NFD- it sounds like you’ve got some yummy food planned.

Beck, great that you new jeans are comfy- stay warm! It’s great that you had a fast day with a couple of beers and that you’re still fasting despite being below your target! That’s the kind of attitude I hope I adopt in maintenance mode. That’s still a long way off though. My weigh-in was stubbornly unchanged yesterday morning so hoping for great things from the scales tomorrow morning!!

Have a great day everyone!
Cheers 🙂

Oh and before I forget to answer your question more fully. It’s a three year contract in Brunei. I’m a university lecturer. There’s an option for another three years and so on. I guess we’ll see how the boys feel after 3 years and their school situ. At the moment we don’t know how long we’ll stay, but definitely minimum 3 years. Cheers 🙂

Sorry that was a long one! 😮

Hi everyone! How was your ‘light’ day Beck? I have had a very free few days since my last fast day on Wednesday so tomorrow I’m swinging back into action. I plan to have two fast days again this week but be very restrained on the other days to try and make up for my decadence over the past few days. My aim is to ‘see’ 57 by the end of the week. I got a reading of 58.1 on Thursday am last week so that is encouraging but I really have let things slip since then so I’m worried I’ve undone the good work. (just to remind people in case they haven’t read one of my earlier posts- I am very small in height but quite ‘strongly’ built so 57 kilos is still an overweight BMI for me. I don’t want anyone to think I’m skinny-trying-to-be-skinnier- nothing could be further from the truth!) Anyway, the last few days I overdid the alcohol and I had a bit of a chocolate binge this afternoon- my first in the last six weeks. But that has really left me with no desire to drink or eat chocolate this week so I’m hoping I will find it easy to be good. To prove to myself that I can have days where I don’t count a single calorie but I can still lose weight over all over the course of a week or two. That will feel good! And I’m really sure that writing in this thread and sharing stories with you guys is really making me stick to this whole thing much more than if I wasn’t active on the forum so THANK YOU! Let’s help each other keep up the good work. Cheers everyone 🙂

Hi all,

It’s my week 3, FD 1

It’s a tough one today! Went to the gym (Kettle-bell class) this morning and had a 252cal breakfast (2xboiled eggs, ademame bean salad and coffee with skimmed milk). BUT since breakfast I’v been yawning my head off, feeling drowsy and slow!
I think this might because of my lack of discipline over the 4 NFDs including the weekend: I overdid it with food 🙁
On a postive note, I did manage a 5km park run on Saturday and 45mins power-yoga on Sunday morning.

I think my undisciplined NFDs are making it tough getting used to the FD today. Saying that, I’m already starting to feel less lethargic as I’m writing this – well, they say sharing lessens the burden 🙂

Haven’t planned my dinner tonight yet – I have home-made soup and cauliflower rice in the freezer, so it might be one of those depending on how bothered I can be to cook.

How are your FD/NFDs going?

Hi guys,

Hope the rest of your fast day goes well Pissupoosa. It sounded like you were starting to feel better about it already. I had an ok fast day yesterday, I probably went to about 550 which is quite a lot given i’m supposed to have about 411. I couldn’t count exactly because I had salad for lunch at a friends. Today was going well, I jogged before I broke my fast, had banana pancakes for breakfast and now I’ve had some cheese and crackers (and some chocolate) over lunchtime. Tonight I want to cook asparagus (for the last time, if I can still get any). Tomorrow will be another fast day and then I’ll really try to have good days on Thursday and Friday.

My best weigh in reading today indicates that I’m only 200g up after such an indulgent weekend and NFDs so that was encouraging. I think there’s a chance I’ll see 57 on the scales on Thursday. So I need to focus on that.

I think, now that fast days feel ok, and certainly two a week is manageable, I need to work on being strict on NFDs and avoid chocolate etc or at least limit it.

Anyway, good luck everyone!
Cheers 🙂

Hi Ladies

Thanks for checking in on me Beck….my silence on the forum for the past week is evidence of my guilt, it has not been a good week. I fasted last Tuesday 7th June, and then I just caved in every day since then. I was trying to stay within my TDEE and make good choices but I failed miserably. But without trying to dwell on that now, I am back in the game today, my first FD of the week and I hope to fast again tomorrow. *sigh* I have been seduced by really gorgeous treats in my office this week as there have been a few birthdays, and due to my current time of the month…I feel as though my cravings have been sky high. But onwards and upwards, today is a new day. I stepped on the scales this morning and the reading has shocked me into getting myself into action, so as well as fasting I am making an effort to walk as much as I can today. It also helps that there are two women in my office who are also openly dieting, one is doing slimming world and one is doing the cambridge diet. So I have inspiration here in person, as well as you lovely ladies here 🙂

I hope you are all doing well, it seems as though you are from your posts. Happy fasting you guys x

oh dear! I had to abandon my fast day! That’s the first time that has happened to me this time around. You know how I wrote earlier that I had some cake? Well I should have seen what was coming. I can get ‘hypoglycemic’ if i have a load of sugar or simple carbs and nothing else all day. It’s happened to me twice before, not when I was fasting. One time I was jetlagged so hadn’t paid attention to meals and went to collect my kids from daycare (we were in Canada) at about 3pm, suddenly I felt dizzy at the wheel, I was driving alone, so I had to pull over. I connected it right away to the fact that I’d only eaten two buttered crumpets all day. The second time was quite recently when I had leftover birthday cake for breakfast (seemed like a good idea at the time) and then at work the staff lunch was pasta in a tomato sauce (with no meat or cheese or anything) and I just had it without thinking because I had no time. A few hours later I nearly collapsed. Basically my blood sugar must just suddenly plummet. I read into it a lot at the time and self-diagnosed occasional hypo-glycemia. I think most people would feel like that if they only ate sugar/ simple carbs and then no physical activity, (the lack of physical activity exacerbates it too) but it definitely something I have to avoid. I was worried about pre-diabetes but actually I don’t think I am at all. I’d love to hear if anyone else has experience of this.

Anyway, not long after I posted above, (after having nothing but tea and two small pieces of creamy spongey cake at about 11:30 am) I started to feel queasy and a bit dizzy and I thought, darn, here we go. I had to drive to pick up my son so I made a decision to eat some cheese and crackers so it wasn’t dangerous to drive. I thought maybe I could just count that as my 500 cals and still fast but when I got back I felt like I should eat something, so it’s been an under TDEE day, but only probably by about 200 calories. I’m trying to see the positives and that if I get another fast day in this week that this was one ‘good’ day in the bag etc etc but this on top of a few other annoying work things has led to me feeling a bit annoyed with myself and stressed! Kids will be in bed in an hour and then I have loads of work to do and hubby is away but hopefully I’ll start to unwind.
Sorry for the ranting and raving!!!
Hope everyone’s ok 🙂

Hi Bigbooty, no, I haven’t had any surgery, interesting to consider that it can be common in people after that type of surgery though. When I read up on it, it seemed like I just don’t do well on sugar only and then no physical activity to burn it off. I don’t get it when I fast or if I eat a mix of food groups. I’ve only had it (or noticed it) three times. It’s a blood sugar crash I guess and a good incentive to stay as far away as possible from refined sugar and pure simple carbs. 🙂

Morning All,

FrauB that sounds awful – but Im glad you caught it in time and knew what to do. It must have been really frightening the first time it happened, especially as you were driving. But Beck is right you always have next week, and nothing stops you having good days the rest of the week. (As if I can preach!!!)

I did have a good fast day yesterday thanks guys. I only had tea and juice (with sweeteners) until lunchtime, when I had 2 boiled eggs and some baby spinach leaves for 104 calories. Then I had a ready meal for dinner (Chicken and Vegetable Chow Mein)for 289 calories, as I didnt have an opportunity to cook. I dont have the time to cook most days, I do most of my cooking on the weekend. I was under my 411 cals by a couple by then, but I had a banana before bed which tipped me over just a tad, but still under 500.

I am fasting again today, because I am eating out (lunch and dinner) tomorrow, and I have family meal plans on Saturday, and then Sunday is my day with my Husband at home so I dont want to fast then. Today is my only option and I will be really pleased with myself if I can do it.

Hope you are all having a good day, whether its a FD or NFD x

Thanks FrauB! Yesterday I powered through really well, but today I am definitely having to dig deep. I really wanted breakfast this morning, and I still do. I have already had two cups of tea and I don’t want another, so my only option is water/juice. Its going to be more challenging than yesterday, but I have to do it. I only have to hold out until 1pm which is when I will have my boiled eggs again, which tied me over nicely yesterday. I just reeally hope I see something on the scales this week. Admittedly it wont be much, as I did not stay within TDEE Monday or Tuesday and I will do my best this weekend but my calorie deficit wont be the best it could have been. But I will have done 2 days which I will be pleased about.

I am still in awe of you guys who fit in exercise during the day when you work. I limit myself to 20 minutes for lunch, so that I can leave work on time to get home in time to give my little boy his dinner at 5.30.

Beck your food for the day sounds appetising 🙂 I did not end up having my eggs for lunch, I had a banana instead. I hope that sustains me until 6 o’clock. That water/juice fast you did sounds intense, I think I would be a nightmare to be around if I had to do it! You are clearly a very strong willed woman.

Hi all,

It’s great to hear everyone’s trials and tribulations with fasting. Really keeps me motivated. Thanks ladies 🙂
FrauB, your hypo episodes sound scary. Have you spoken to a doctor about it?
Beck, well done on the 1000 cal workout – what did you guys do?!
Good on you Natasha for keeping at it. 2 consecutive FDs is very impressive.

Sorry about my long silence. It was a tough old week last week! I only managed 1 FD (Tuesday).
Rest of the week I was so restless in my mind and felt really down, I didn’t attempt to calory restrict. I managed to keep to my TDEE (1800) most other days. In terms of exercise, all I managed was the gym class on Tuesday and a 40km cycle ride yesterday.
Has anyone experienced headaches, either on a FD or the day after? I seem to be getting mild (but annoying!) headaches the day after a FD. This started around the 2nd-3rd week of fasting. I also suffered from bad constipation (sorry!) all of last week. I’m not sure if the 2 are connected or it’s simply down to dehydration.

As for weight – I weighed my self on Saturday (18th) morning and I had gained ~0.5kg in the space of a week. In some ways I should be happy that it wasn’t any more considering I only fasted one day!

A new week – a new goal 🙂
Today is my FD (week 4). Had fruit and yogurt with chia seeds and honey (280 cals)
Just had a chicken stock bullion to get me through lunch time.
Planning a raw veg salad with smoked mackerel for dinner.
I’m also constantly drinking (water, redbush tea) to keep my self hydrated – I’ll see how I’m with the headaches tomorrow.

Next FD will be Wednesday.
Hoping this week is better than the last.

All the best with your FD/NFDs. x

Hello there everyone, I am having a NFD day today because I’m out tonight for dinner and drinks. So my fast days will be Tuesday and … probably Friday. I’ve got quite a few social things on this week which is going to make it hard. But I definitely plan to skip breakfast (did today) and compensate for dinners out etc and have at least one bona fida fast day. Hopefully two. I was surprised on the scales this morning, and not a good surprise! I felt last week had gone pretty well and then a moderate weekend, also I thought my bloating would be down based on ‘time of the month’. Anyway, I know the weight does fluctuate and it’s just part of the process. I’ve accepted that to get down to my target weight is going to take months not weeks and I’m in it for the long haul! But, yes, yet to see what is proving to be an elusive 57…
Well done to all the fasters out there! I’ll be doing it tomorrow.
Cheers 🙂