Day 8 – NFD – Alaska USA
So today is a NFD but since we have plans to go out tonight for “Burger and Brew” which comes out to be roughly a 900 – 1000 calorie meal, I’m going to stay within 500 calories for breakfast and lunch so I will hopefully still come in under my TDEE.

@mjrbcd44 – I’d say staying on track through the smell of chicken fried rice is a huge win!!! Great job!

@daffodil – ROTFLMAO… thank goodness you survived!!!

@fatrabbit AKA unfatrabbit – Congratulations!!!!

@msraven – So glad you’re feeling better! Hope spin class was great. I’m going to have to try spin someday soon. It sounds killer!

@missybear to flourbaby – really very good advice. Very well said. I just had that conversation with a friend about how our subconscious somehow tricks us into thinking someone else is forcing us to do things that we’ve chosen to do. It’s the weirdest thing. I’ll be so excited and motivated one day with that whole, “I CAN DO THIS!” attitude and then all of a sudden I’m hatin’ the b*&^% that’s putting through this, where is she??? Somebody tell her … I’m Not going to do this anymore. And it feels so real! It’s really a strange thing.

@april sunshine – good for you on the half hour of exercise! Great job!

@bert – you are absolutely right! It was obvious from reading the article that the author had never tried it! And thank you for the reminder about the hunter gatherer lifestyle!

And 5:2 makes so much sense to me when I think back to how I ate and stayed slim when I was younger. I didn’t think about scheduling and portioning and Macros and meal timing etc. etc. I ate when I was hungry and food was available and when I wasn’t or it wasn’t ….I didn’t! And I ate what sounded good and stopped when I was satisfied!

@anna6 – you were still way under TDEE so your day was not a total fail!

@blueninjamum – awesome name!

@maayyaa – 😀 funny funny guy’s those husbands. 😀 mine does similar stuff. I think my husband feels like he’s being rude if he doesn’t offer me some of what he’s having. He’ll say things like …I know it’s your down day (that’s what he calls FD) but should I pour you wine or not? Probably not huh?? And then I’m like…well of course you should!!! NOT!! 🙂 He’s so cute. He really is very supportive though. I seriously hope to get him on board after the holidays!

@everybody else! I wish I could tag every one individually! I don’t have time but I love all of your posts just the same!

Have a wonderful day! Stay strong and remember that whatever you can’t have on a FD you can have on a different day!! 🙂

2nd post Day 8 Sarasota, Florida FD I just want to say I’m REALLY hungry right now (we eat in an hour.) I’m just going to be with this and experience it. We so rarely allow ourselves to be hungry!

Day 8 North Wales NFD

Day 9, NFD
Another evening went by where colleagues enjoyed their red wine and I nursed my Coke Zero. A few more calories in the bank 👍

Day 9 UK NFD

The advantage of starting maintenance on a fast day is that I didn’t have an upwards blip to take me above goal again, in fact banked a little extra wriggle room.

I am doing 5/2 now but I lost most of the weight doing ADF which I found suited me better because it is a regular pattern and made me feel fully engaged. The NFDs are actually harder than the fast days so having fewer helps, and with more fast days you compensate more easily for the blips you do have. Even doing 5/2 I also use an eating window – I never eat in the morning and usually not until after 4pm.

I have had my times of self pity about not being able to eat the foods I used to like best that everyone else eats. I adored pasta and toast and tortillas and rice and pizza but I just can’t eat those things without gaining weight. Cakes used to be so appealing. I could easily eat a whole one as once started stopping was too difficult. My hunger hormones were completely off, I was always hungry and eating only made me hungrier. Now I know that even if I have some of those foods it won’t satisfy me, I will want more and more and more until I feel dreadful. Why is that a treat? Surely a treat should make you feel better. So not eating those things is the treat, treat yourself with respect for your body’s true needs instead of satisfying the cravings of the bad bacteria in your guts. Why do we want to eat like everyone else when the world is going through a crisis of obesity and disease? I think I am nearly rid of the majority of the sugar loving variety, the ones left seem to like fruit better. My sister remarked last night that she had never seen me eat an apple before, but now apples taste a lot better than cake which just strikes me as an unappealing conglomeration of fat and gluten. I used to think people who avoided gluten and carbs were going too far, being too fussy, being hypochondriac, but what a difference avoiding it has made. I am a convert, and now avoid it all except where the carbs in fruit and veg is concerned. Remember our gut bacteria make the chemicals that affect our mood. If they want sugar they make us miserable when we don’t get it, until they are replaced with better bacteria who like what is good for us and make us happy again. I want to be the one deciding, not delegating control to bossy sugar fiends. Not eating sugar and the other processed carbs really is the easiest, best thing to do for yourself in the long run. An empty stomach feels a lot better than an overfull one. I got really hungry at about 3pm yesterday, but I noticed that I also got a surge of energy at the same time. I enjoyed the energy and ignored the hunger and half an hour later it was entirely gone. I didn’t eat for another 7 hours but was full of energy for that whole time, walked about 8 miles, was alert and interacted in my language class and worked while on the train. Whereas if I had had a treat I would have been left wanting more, I would have had to drag myself to the train station and probably would have given up and gone home to eat when the train was late instead of waiting and being ten minutes late to what was a very good session that I am glad I didn’t miss. And I wouldn’t have still been below goal this morning. I don’t want to eat like everyone else any more. I want to feel good, to have energy and to be the one in charge of myself.

I can’t seem to be able to make myself exercise for the sake of it, so I haven’t done anything else besides working and walking to the train and back. Oh and danced a bit in the barn when the mood takes me, but not regularly, only when I am bursting with energy.

Day 9, Germany, NFD
@maayyaa HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! enjoy your cake! 😊
@fatrabbit very true what you write about sugar and “empty carbs” and very inspiring!
Had a good FD yesterday with exactly 500 kcal… Yet late in the evening I really felt like I needed something, so I had my favorite hot drink which added like 60 kcal. Perfectly fine for me, especially on an extra FD.
This forum really keeps me on track! Thanks everyone!!
This morning I was really tempted to step on the scale, but then thought of what you told me, @StephieS and didn’t!!
Feels much better to free myself from the numbers! I am sure, if I go on like this I will be happy with the results at the end of the month…
Have a great Thursday everyone!

Day 9, Belgium, FD

FD for me, I’m trying just having liquids today, I have a big pot of green tea on my desk and miso soup for later. I did bring emergency rations (2 hard boiled eggs and a couple of tomatoes) so that I don’t go bonkers and head for the deli downstairs if it ends up being too hard lol ! So far so good, skipping breakfast was the hardest this morning, but it settled after a while.

My daughter’s at her dad’s till Sunday evening so I hid all the junk food, filled up the fridge with healthy stuff and add an extra FD 🙂

@miraclelou, well done! I know those scales are there and tempting lol I’ve often wondered if I’d be happier not having any in the house 😉 If this 5:2 works for me I might just get rid of them and accept FD as a way of life! Good going with the FDs !

@jessyoursize, how did it go? did you get the results on your tests yet?? all those FDs b2b must be helping !

@fatrabbit, very inspirational! I had to look up AFD and had the choice between the alchool free died and alternative fast diet LOL I did think you meant the latter 😉

Have a great day!

Day 9 Ireland CD
Day 8 FD
Day 7 NFD
Day 6 FD
Day 5 NFD
Day 4 NFD
Day 3 NFD

Hi all, thank you for the online support which this forum provides. I don’t post every day but I do sometimes check in to read the posts. This is a fantastic forum for motivation when the going gets tough.. you are all inspirations! Slightly up on calories on my FD yesterday but happy with weight loss on weigh in day today 9lbs down since starting out mid October and then joining the forum on November 1 – no sugar (except where it can’t be helped :o) and no alcohol (with a planned blip this weekend of OH’s birthday). I know that this will slow but thrilled that already I’m in a pair of trousers I couldn’t wear a month ago.

Just a quick question: is the easiest way to get to the current posts to click on Recent Posts and then click into November 2017 Challenge and click back into previous pages? I may be missing something as am new to the forum. Thanks so much

Day 9, London, UK, FD

I need the control offered by a FD today, I may plunge over the edge if I try a NFD!! I WILL find my mojo again!!!

Thanks for the support and well wishes @missybear, @belfastsink, @aprilsunshine, @bert1802, @stephieS, @annemarilyn, @abfab5, @metatauta, @jessyoursize, and any others I’ve missed, I know the culprit …………………………………… HORMONES; and her accomplice COMPLACENCY, backed up by the chilly “I NEED comfort food” weather!!!! Back on the wagon and appreciating the empowerment (food does NOT rule me!!!) and the light & empty feeling which signals my fat is on fire, burning brightly!!!!!

How are my fellow Dry Winovember-ers doing??? I hope you’ve found water an appropriate substitute!!!??? I’m upping my herbal tea intake ‘cause it’s too cold for water, I could have murdered a fruity red on Day 7, or the bottle of Baileys I bought in hopes of saving ‘til Xmas …………………………. Yep, I hear Ya …………. only two hopes of that happening, Bob Hope and No hope……………………..yada, yada, yada!!!! I’m hanging in there though, I guess I’ll crack come December 1st!!

@abfab5, the joys of the unplanned FD!!! A year ago you would have eaten on autopilot ‘cause someone, somewhere said you should, rather than listen to your body and embrace hunger!!!!

@happymargo, glad to see your stroppy toddler (errm, I meant OH) FINALLY getting on board!!!!

Happy Birthday @maayyaa, enjoy the cake and your special day!!!

@fatrabbit and @bert1802, your advice gave me a lightbulb moment, there’s no point feeling left out or deprived when I see others eating in ways I can’t, because ultimately I don’t want to join them………………as you said @bert1802 “I’m the only one who eats the right way, everyone else’s is wrong” I’m inspired because I know one day I’ll get to the same place as you @fatrabbit and be able to say “I adored pasta and toast and tortillas and rice and pizza but I just can’t eat those things without gaining weight. Cakes used to be so appealing.”…………….. ALL past-tense, I will get there!!!!

My mojo is returning, I just have to stay focused, taking my own advice & keeping the faith!!!!

Day 9 Australia FD

Black coffee for brekky, cup of tea with a dash of milk for morning tea, Pho soup for lunch and Yummy grilled salmon and salad for dinner…food tastes soooo much better when you have only had liquids all day 😋
DH and I both do OMAD on our fast days, this seems to work well for both of us. He is now a true convert and is even sprouting the benefits to others at work and church.

@fatrabbit CONGRATULATIONS, I think you may have to change your forum name to thinrabbit.
@maaya HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🍰 Enjoy your cake.

Day 9, Copenhagen, FD

@flourbaby – Oh yes. I tried but went over 800 calories and then gave in and had a proper dinner. I think it was because I’d had breakfast, which I avoid on FDs, as it really sets off my hunger.

Fasting today. Feel hungry already, but I don’t think it’s real hunger. Will try to make it a liquid fast – when I fasted on Tuesday, I was not even very hungry when I ate my dinner and having it made me crave *everything* in my cupboards, so maybe the best way is to avoid food completely? I’ll see how it goes. 🙂

Happy fasting to anyone else fasting today! x

Day 9….Florida…FD

Okay my FD yesterday was a total flop. I did manage to stay under my TDEE. So, today is my FD reset……
for the newbies…….. here is a perfect example of why this WOL is so great….. yesterday was a flop for me, I didn’t do an FD….. did I ruin my diet, did I blow my efforts at weight loss!
Well that’s a great big fat NO! Since I only need 2 FD per week and I had an FD on Monday. I have 4 days, to do my 2nd FD. Since yesterday did not work out, I just moved my FD today. If it doesn’t work today….. I’ve got three more days to get one in.

@flourbaby…… so, glad your feeling better. You are doing fantastic!

@kerry Ann…….. Those authors of those negative articles drive me crazy. I wish, I could contact all of them and show them that I haven’t starved in my year of IF, then offer them the challenge of trying it for one month. Just to prove they are not going to starve to death but actually have the opposite results, healing their body from the inside out!

Well I’m Off to adult in the most awesome way…… My way!

I do not have ducks 🦆
I do not have rows!
I have monkeys 🐒 and they’re running the circus!

Day 9, Belfast, FD

Just catching up on some of the latest posts…@fatrabbit – such nice words and great outlook 🙂

Hope everyone is doing ok. Good luck today x

Day 9- Colorado USA- NFD

@onahealthyhigh – I was surprised to read that I help inspire you. Happy that I can do that for others (I am a nurse after all & we love helping people!) but not quite sure as I muddle thru this 5:2 intermittent fasting process, how I inspire. That’s a head-scratcher! But thank you for that. Gave me a warm fuzzy. Like a hug with words!

@flourbaby – I’ve suffered thru the exact same pity party before too. It’s not pretty! I’ve thought those same things: ‘why can’t I eat like everyone else’, ‘why do I have to fast’… But when I look around at my SLIM athletic co-workers & friends at lunch break, they’re all eating salads or a soup. Or only half a sandwich with just one slice of cheese. Or just an apple & string cheese. Very small, nutritious meals. No junk.

My pity party is usually more about: “why can’t i have the fun foods I love like McD’s french fries or Mac N cheese or ice cream or a heaping plate of lasagna or giant toasted bagel or Skittles or wheel of Brie cheese with a bottle of red wine….” Wah, wah, wah 😩

But that’s all the yummy stuff that got me into this mess. “My mess” means a double chin that makes me dodge cameras on vacation because I don’t want this face documented. And batwing arms that don’t allow me to wear cute tops. And pants waistbands that dig in & threaten to cut me in half (because I refuse to spend money on larger size pants.) …Well, you get the picture.

Sometimes I just need to give myself a stern talking to & remember that those “yummy foods” are not my friends & do me no favors. I prefer being fit & healthy. I prefer feeling confident in a bikini on the beach or pool deck. And it will take work on both the food & exercise fronts to achieve my goals!

One of the wonderful parts of this forum is the group of Maintainers that still hang around! They remind me that they still Fast for health. And keep those pesky extra pounds at bay by selecting healthy foods & taking long walks or hikes on the regular. And attend yoga class, or swim laps. They sound happy! And that can be us too!

Day 9 USA (Illinois) – NFD

Because it is my DAFD (Day After FD) I have to be very careful. There is a cocktail meeting this evening which means wine and what they call “heavy hors d’oeuvres” where we graze around a table of fatty or caloric treats. Heaven help me! I will make that my supper.

Congrats to @fatrabbit on such tremendous progress. There was a website showing dozens of celebs who have lost significant weight explaining how they did it. Only one said it was due to “starving” himself. I tried to post the link to it last night, but it wouldn’t post. I am sure if you’re interested, you can find it.

Onward and downward.

Day 8 – Cumbria UK – NFD 😈
Day 9 – Cumbria UK – NFD – hoping for 😇

“Eat for the body you want not the body you have”

Great aerobic class this morning then out for coffee with OH and I admit to a lovely slice of Victoria sponge (sorry @flourbaby) but no other food today until a healthy dinner tonight!!!

Been a very busy last few days so trying to catch up today with the posts today……so many…..

@maayyaa – sounds like you did the right thing standing up and the outcome was certainly positive for you! Happy Birthday to you 💐 and enjoy 🎂
@rainbowsmile – hope you are having some quality time with your Dad and sister and cherishing the time spent together xx
@murph58 -Like others have said – I also tend to stick to 500cal or 1/4 TDEE for my FD and I save most of my calories (apart from a little skimmed milk in my cups of tea) for an evening meal. On my NFD I follow a 16:8 rule every day having a snack at lunch time and an evening meal. We all experiment and find what works for us – I tend to have a drink when I first feel hungry and often the feeling of hunger goes away…….and so I don’t eat
@excelsior12309 @chewb41 @portiavenice @mdporter @chloeelouise – Welcome to the November Challenge – Weight loss comes from eating less calories, whether you spread your food over the 24hr or 8hr period – exercise is great for that feel good factor and improving your energy levels but plays little part in weight loss. Some general advice that might be useful (a)Try eating to the TDEE of the weight you want to be (and not the weight you are!) and eat 1/4 of that on FD (if that is a struggle and go up to 500cals) if you want to speed up the weight loss! (b) Also don’t add calories expended on exercise to your TDEE (c) remember to drink plenty of water 2-3 Litres a day…….You might also find this link useful:-https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/
@debster251 – hope you are enjoying Athens – it will certainly be warmer than here!!!!
@daffodil2010 – your Day 8 post made me smile……Valencia is a great – City of Arts and Sciences – Enjoy
@happymargo – hope the sleepless nights are improving – I see lots of good advice given already
@lew – great to see you posting again – I remember you from the March Challenge – I’m still in maintenance and log into the challenges to keep me focused and remind me why I chose this WOL😀
@clairebear12 – great to have you back with us – logging in daily to these challenges are a great form of accountability! Hope your Day 9 stayed strong!
@awilson – 😊
@blueninjamum – Hello to you too – I’m still here for accountability and also happily staying in maintenance 💃 I still do 2 x FDs each week for hopefully the long term health benefits and also follow 16:8 on my NFDs weight has stabilised around 1kg below my target weight. Great to hear all is good with you too 🤗
@miraclelou – perhaps a trick to stop you eating leftovers is when tempted to remind yourself that “Your body is not a rubbish bin”
@bigviking – Great job on listening to your body and leaving 1/4 of a pizza – WOW!
@fatrabbit – 👍on getting rid of that 100lbs in a year! Great to have you join us in maintenance – this is a great WOL!
@flourbaby – Reach for my hand and I’ll pull up and stop you sliding down that slope – Try to think of fasting as improving the quality of your life and your longevity and not as a weight loss tool and see if that changes your mindset 🤗
@red-cat – Welcome – join us – The challenge is just of a group of folks from all over the world who are following the 5:2 WOL and post on here for support, advice and encouragement – we are a mixed bunch, from some completely new to this WOL right through the spectrum to those in maintenance
@rahul1905 – welcome back – thought we had lost you!
@lilymartin – poor you – hope you start to feel better soon – take care x
@happymargo – sounds like you need a big hug 🤗 you can do this! “She believed she could, So she did”
@coda @ciren2 @okeydokey – thinking of you all – “Keep the Faith. The Most Amazing Things in Life tends to Happen Right at the Moment you’re about to Give Up!”

I’m off to do some xmas shopping as I need to be organised – I’m heading down south at the end of the month to catch up with friends from my old hometown – so looking forward to seeing everyone again!

“Any experience can be transformed into something of value. Everything depends on the way you look at things. You cannot have the success without the failures”

2nd post

I’m going to the gym soon on an empty stomach as it is my FD. I remember loving working out in a fasted state, but it’s been so long that I’m scared I’ll get ill. I’ll bring a banana or something just in case my blood sugar drops too much, but I am hoping I’ll be fine.
Does anyone in here work out while fasting? x

@abfab……I workout fasted every day. Technically, I do have a cup of coffee with a splash of cream in it first but I don’t eat anything. I’ve been doing this for years with no problems.

Day 9 Stratford-upon-Avon,UK FD

Following my Sunday meltdown, I’ve managed to successfully complete 3 FDs this week. Have to admit I am looking forward to the 3 NFDs to follow and will try hard not to repeat last weekends mistakes. On FDs I am finding the OMAD approach easier, sticking to water, coffee and Bovril during the day and saving my cals until my evening meal. It’s working for me so far and I must say Bovil was a real find for me, at 10 cals a cup, it’s great in this cold weather.

With so many posts on here it is impossible to reply to them all but I am motivated and inspired by you lot every day and learning heaps along the way.

Day 5 – FD – Massachuesetts

I am a total newbie, and this is only my second post on the site. I came to the challenge a little late. I am on my third FD and so far its been much better than the first one (no headache). I feel a little out of it, but so far I’m managing okay! Seems like I am doing better with no food at all. Third FD this week may be aggressive, but I know I am going to have a busy weekend that involves a lot of eating… trying to be preemptive here!

I’m not usually the posting type, but everyone seems to encouraging and I’m hoping that you guys will help me stay accountable.

@jessyoursize wonderful news – congratulations on your progress

Day 9 – McMinnville Oregon USA – LFD
Finally home, got to sleep in my own bed last night which was great. LF today. I didn’t get on the scales this morning, too afraid of them 😱

I just found out my niece is getting married this December in San Francisco. I’m feeling motivated to get my weight down as much as possible before the big day. There will be lots of picture taking and I really want to feel good about myself and every little pound gone will help. 😐

Love the conversations regarding pity parties, as I’m a master at it. Some very sound advise on this forum. I’m going to start reframing how I talk to myself when I start down that path.

@fatrabbit – Your words and results are an inspiration – I think I may try ADF
@missybear – Love your “wobble”, such a good descriptor.
@happymargo – Good job on converting OH!!
@maayyaa – Happy Birthday = Good job staying strong on your FD!!
@jessyoursize – I’m so excited about your good test results!!
@camcd – I hope your doctor can help identify what’s going on.
@daffodil2010 – Have a great time in Valencia, I’ve not been so I hope you will tell us all about it!!
@bigviking – Your amazing!!
@lilymartin – Hope you start feeling better!!

There’s a bit of a sun break so I’m going out for my walk. 🌤

Day 9 – FD, Alaska USA
Thank goodness I started on the first of the month or I would never remember what # day I was on.

Today has not started all that well for a FD. I’ll skip the lengthy explanation and give the short version. My morning routine got screwed up and I ended up not working out which really bums me out. But the unfortunate part is that I could’ve stayed asleep and, therefore, blissfully unaware that I wasn’t eating for another hour!

I am definitely hungrier than I was on my other FDs so far. Hmm, it just seems more difficult today. But!! I’m going to do it. I will drink tons and tons of water, mint tea, and if necessary, miso soup. Maybe it’s because I’m actually starting to lose fat and my body is trying to get me to feed it!

I definitely feel leaner today and that is a huge motivator for me to keep going. So I’ll just remember that tomorrow I can have whatever I want.

@abfab – hope you had a great workout!

@mjrbcd44 – no worries about me dashing the beautiful picture you have in your head. I don’t live in Anchorage. I live in Kodiak! And although we are not completely isolated, I do have neighbors, we are nestled in the woods, surrounded by mountains and spruce trees… and water…we’re surrounded by the Pacific since Kodiak is an Island.

Yes! we have seen “Buying Alaska”! We love that show. It’s the only Alaska reality TV that we like. There are some beautiful houses and cabins on that show!
I’m with you on the third FD thing!! I’m working my way up!

@leggit – welcome! I’m in awe of you doing a third FD right off the bat. I’m kind of working my way into that. I feel like I’m going to need for my basic 5:2 to become second nature before I add another FD but I love the idea of it!

@yoyo Fletch – great job on 3 FDs!! You are an inspiration!

@songbirdme – great article!! Thank you.

Have a great day everyone! Wish me luck today….I’m going to go make a cup of mint tea now