Hi and thank you for the welcome Charmaine (see I said I feel I know you). I hope you don’t mind but I think this will be a “novel” by the end as I’m trying to get some stuff out there to make me accountable too 🙂

I’m starting day 3 now, have had two large glasses of water so far (I have some 8oz ones which I’m using) and will have a couple more before leaving for work in 1.5 hrs. I’m never keen on having breakfast but started having it when on WW but always was “starving” by the time I got to work or at the latest 10am so am so VERY happy to have a reason not to have it any more unless I am wanting it due to being hungry.

David I agree with Charmaine that inch loss is even better than the scales. I only hope I can do as well as you have one this.

A little about me, I’m a grandmother (as the name suggests, lol) and I’m in my late 50’s. My grandies are 12, 10, 7 & 5 years old. The oldest two are boys and the youngest two are girls. My hubby and I have been married almost 41 years now. I have an awful lot of excess to lose as I will be going down to 60kg which is only just in my healthy weight range (I’m not overly tall being just 5′ 4 or 5″) and even a touch lower depending on how I look/feel when I’m there. This means being in a 10 or 12 “fitted” dress size IYKWIM. The smallest I’ve been in the past 25 – 30 years has been 14 and if I hadn’t bowed down to comments like “oh don’t you think you’ve lost enough”, “you look good enough like that”, “if you lose any more you’ll be too skinny” etc … most of these from my mother!!! If said constantly enough you start to doubt yourself. But this time I’m NOT listening to the negatives which drag you down I’m going to achieve my goals.

Also as the name suggests I’m in Australia (South Australia) although I was born in England and lived there until I was 9 when we emigrated here. We breed and show German Shepherds and this will enable me to get some exercise by training them once I’ve started getting lighter/smaller.

Oh, yes, BTW my real name’s Gail 🙂 and I think I’ve given enough for one posting, lol.

Grrrr just lost my post, lol.

Hi Karen, I read about your hols and they sounded awesome, worth a little gain for that. Must run for now as need to get ready for work (it’s 7am here atm). Cheers, Gail

Thanks Taletha. Yes I am determined plus this seemed “right” for me as I’ve never been one for set times to eat and usually have overeaten when having to have meals at predetermined times, like now just finished the evening meal just before 8pm, whereas my hubby likes to eat around 6pm or earlier which is not good for me. He has, however, decided to join me with this but knowing him he’ll be at goal within a couple of weeks (darn, darn, darn it lol) as he loses weight very easily.

Hi Twilldoit, I too have loads to lose and will succeed here as it’s “right” for me. Looking forward to chatting too. I didn’t see the snippets on the Sunday program but came back into the room after something had been mentioned on Sunrise. I had been researching for a while and decided to start Tuesday this week, which I did, and then I found the full video from somewhere or the other and watched it all the way through (just over an hour I think it was) and it confirmed to me that this was the right way to go.

la_dolce:

Glad to see you back! You are a wonderful leader of a thread. And you know you can do it!

Hi Karen I hear you and will encourage you with losing those 4lbs (gee wish that was all I had to lose) … I’m also 5’4″ or thereabouts and in my late 50’s so I know about the harder to lose bit. Okay, I’d best let you know for encouragement (I hope not horror) that I have around 50kg to lose, probably a touch more to get into ideal weight range … not even thinking about lbs!!! although it would probably show larger numbers in weekly losses LOL (insert cheeky grin 🙂 )

Hi there

another newbie here, on my second fast day of week one going well so far 🙂 have subscribed to this thread as there’s quite a few newbies like me around hope you don’t mind LDV aiming for 3 stone to loose.

What day do you weigh on? straight after a fast day or does it matter?

Hi all, this is my 2nd FD and I’ve planned what I’ll be eating throughout the next 24 hrs. Weigh day is Tuesday, getting closer now, lol 🙂 hoping everyone has a good day today no matter what you’re doing.

claire/aussie OMA,
we all need to take out a leaf from your book and go hard/abstain on the fast days- but it remains tough-esp like for me and Pam/taletha who have someone cooking for us- but its also a challenge for the likes of charmaine who COOKS FOR EVERYONE ELSE! dont knock/doubt yourself charmaine.

Hello everybody,

I’m starting my third week. So far so good: I’ve lost 2kg in two weeks. I’m fasting on mondays and thursdays. It hasn’t been very difficult and I feel fine throughout the fast days.

Hey everyone one .. another lovely day

Can I brag, for me this is awesome, 3.7kg DOWN in ONE week!!!

David, I understand that we’re all in different situations and can see how difficult it is for you and the others who have food made for them (I’m the one making here but it’s only for one other person and he’s decided to join me so it’s even easier) and also for Charmaine as she has a young family to cook for as well. I’m not going to try to tell any of you, just will say what works for me and maybe offer suggestions which you can take or not take according to your situation and needs 🙂 … I would suggest that if someone else is cooking for you, even if it’s served up for you, try to eat only what you know is right for you, leave the rest. I’m only saying to TRY to limit your consumption of what’s available.

Before when I’m out for meals I have tried to eat all that’s on my plate. Friday nights we eat out with friends at a local pub, however I’m trying to only eat the vegetables and protein not the starchy chips etc but I do allow that before too much longer I’ll need to have a “doggy bag” to take left overs home with me lol as even last Friday I struggled but didn’t leave enough to bother taking home but when it gets to half left then I will do. Friday nights are my “bad” night in that I have one bitter, lime & lemon drink and afterwards a sundae (chocolate of course, lol) but I have my FD lunch or nothing to eat during the day just so I can enjoy the time with friends eating together. So I’m really NOT that strong just determined to make this my way of life and over time I’ll lose all the size/weight that I want and have health gains (most important) that so far I can only imagine.

Morning guys and welcome newbies. Also a big well done Aussie oma that’s an amazing loss in one week!
I fasted yesterday and lost 2 lbs which was a record for me too but then I’ve had a bad few weeks doing this and fell off the wagon a few times so it’s given me a new enthusiasm to re-start this properly and lose the last few lbs.
Pam, how are you doing? I will catch up with you on fb soon. Still no sign of Charmaine for a while so a bit worried she’s still not well. If you’re out there Charmaine give us a shout, you’re very quiet.
Well David are you still losing? You seem to be doing fine with a combination of ww and 5:2 so if it works ok stick with it.

Well hope everyone has a good day, see you later x

Hi Aussie:

My goal is to temper expectations so people will not quit 5:2 when their elevated expectations of weight loss are not met, not to throw a wet blanket over a happy weigh-in result.

The average weight loss on 5:2 (average includes women and men) is one pound a week. Women lose a little bit less. You need to cut 7000 calories per week out of your diet to lose two pounds a week. This is very hard to do on a consistent basis. It can and has been done, but only with considerable effort and ‘self control’. This will explain the ‘numbers’ and what I am talking about: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/tdee-for-the-curious-or-why-dont-i-lose-weight-faster/

Keep up the good work, and Good Luck!

Charmaine glad to see you here, we’ve missed you 🙂 as said I’d be happy with around 2lb/1kg each week but even a 500g loss is worth while 🙂 or if not kg/g’s then cm’s 🙂

Hi PVE:

The number is indeed unscientific. It was derived from thousands of reports on various 5:2 sites. It is roughly confirmed from a ‘numbers’ standpoint by the basic numbers outlined in my TDEE post. Many people have reported higher losses, but, as you know many report no loss at all. Taking the posts of those that have ‘kept at it’ for awhile on their face, one pound a week seems to be the number. As I often indicate, men report losing a bit faster than women, but the heavier you are to start, the faster you lose, especially initially. Most report losing the last few pounds takes longer, basically because their TDEEs have declined but their caloric intake has not. In the same vein, those that start with little weight to lose generally do not lose weight very fast on 5:2. Reports on 4:3 do not show a significant additional weight loss over 5:2. It is assumed that people doing 4:3 tend to eat a bit more on their non diet days, and even if they don’t, the numbers do not predict a large additional loss for an additional day of dieting.

I use the number as you suggested – to temper the expectations of newbies. I saw one poster on this site awhile ago that was convinced he could lose 35 pounds a month on 5:2. When I suggested he might not be able to do that, I never saw him post again. We now have a new group of newbies, and many are reporting large initial weight losses. That is not uncommon, but if they expect that rate of loss to continue, they will be disappointed and many will drop out. I feel that is really too bad and try to stop that from happening by trying to temper their expectations. Guess it is a hobby.

You and your husband are in the overachieving group of people doing 5:2 and are to be congratulated for your successful weight losses – and maintenance of your weight losses. The fact that your husband also cured his diabetes with a diet change and 5:2 is also wonderful. Newbies need good role models, and you are super.

Regards

I think we are often in agreement Simcoe, however, as I’m sure you are aware, all we can do is offer suggestions. The rest is up to the user. We cannot hold other people’s hands forever, just offer sound advice. If it is taken up and works for them, all good, if they choose not to then it is their choice too. If they drop off the site doesn’t mean they have given up 5:2 either.
If I’ve learnt nothing else from being a counsellor and a teacher, it is that people are responsible for their own actions. Many seem to be asking permission for their poor life choices when seeking ‘advice’. They need to take personal responsibility for their decisions.
Thanks for all your ready references, especially your advice for newbies…very well laid out! Cheers P

Hi everyone, i used to be on this thread too, but found out very early on that the 5:2 diet was not for me. At the moment i am on a healthy eating plan. ( not diet) lol. That’s what i like to call it. Anyway I’m on this thing at the moment which i got refered to from my doctor called your shape. The only trouble is that my scales say a completely different number to there scales all the time. I just wondered if anyone could help me and tell me what ones should i go by. There about 4lbs in difference last week they said i weighted 10.3, but my scales say 10.7. There scales are normal step on ones in kg with the needle thing my are eletronic please help anyone x

Hi taletha, thanks for replying. I have weighed myself at our local boots before and it did say the same as my scales. I weigh myself on my bathroom floor. I weigh myself everyday which is not good i know but ccant help myself. My husband and i have got a little bet going on. Who can lose most weight lol. X thanks for ur help x

I have lost 16 kg in the last year doing minimal calorie intake every day using a popular online meal and exercise plan here in Oz. I started 2:5 last week, this is week 2 of, and yesterday was amazed to go to the gym and had my monthly weigh in. I havent lost any weight but my muscle mass is up 10%, water too, my metabloic rate increased, and metabolic age dropped 10 years. I have been trying to get these shifts for over a year with diet and gym , i go at least 2-3 times a week and i do long runs. Im sold. My clothes also fit alot better. Yay

flower, my scales at home would have a 7-8lb variation range depending on where u stood on them. so i went to ww

after loosing 2lbs twice in a row i even had the courage to measure my waiste AROUND THE TUMMY BUTTON-or NARROWEST POINT! thats the rule

Hello,

I just popped in to tell you that after one more week, another kilo is gone. It’s working.