Day 7 Minnesota, USA NFD
Quick check in. Best of luck to everyone!

Day 7, Gozo, Malta, nfd

Coda I hope you heal quickly. I also hope you’ll be able to see your grandson soon. You’re in my prayers. Please take care.

Today I ate too much of yogurt ice cream, about five 136 calories each. I didn’t do a fast dat.

Tomorrow my pregnant daughter is finishing her last exam this week, an oral on Skype from South Africa at around 9.00 local time. She wants me to go have lunch with her. Then on Friday we’re taking her son to Malta to the aquarium.

I feel I cannot attempt to do any more fast days this week.

I need to have more will power in order not to binge and start eating mindfully again.

Onwards and downwards. Good night 😴💤 everyone.

Day 8, 8 am FD, Australia.
@basyjames- thank you for fixing the spreadsheet.
I think this is my first fast day for the month, but not sure. I didn’t keep tabs except in the spreadsheet. I really need this FD after a weekend away.

Day 7, Guildford UK, Feast day

Ate a whole packet of biscuits. I am a stress eater.

Mari

@coda – wow, it sure does sound like some mental illness to me. Not that knowing just what the cause might be solves the problems, but it could help. @ciren2 I completely agree. The controlling factor might also be post partum depression or even something worse. Bipolar disorder often manifests in early 20’s.

@bellyblast – it was called “water dog” and we did it often! It is sort of an upright angled against the wall dog. This website describes it: https://www.allinahealth.org/HealthySetGo/SingleArticle.aspx?id=36507243931

Day 7 Ohio,US — NFD

Well, no worry about seeking balance today! Went over TDEE again. I suspect that the periodic high-stress time at work has begun and will probably last the next month. Not gaining any weight during this period will definitely be a victory, and something of an acid test for me with this WOL. From the time that I’ve already been on 5:2 it seems that there’s a very good chance of that.

@rainbowsmile I can empathize with you! I use Mary Pickford’s statement as my mantra: “Failing is not falling down, it’s not getting back up again.” So tomorrow we’ll definitely be back up again!!

@shinything Hope the shoulder gets to feeling better fast!

@ciren2 Let me recommend an Omron step counter. I’ve been using mine for 5 years now and it still keeps an accurate count. I just put it into a pants pocket or a jacket pocket when I get dressed in the morning and it seems to keep an accurate count. It’s now become a habit like keeping my keys in my pocket, etc. I find that keeping a daily log of the count really does help with the long term motivation. Good luck with the counting!!!

Day 8, Cornwall UK, FD

The Dry Til Fri attempt is going well. No alc since sunday and won’t drink tonight as its a fast day. So thats a result! I am going to check out low alc beers and wines as well. Just have to watch the sugar as there is little point reducing the alc and increasing the sugar!

@daffodil2010 – i too was involved in the drinks business for a while – and had a customer who would choose his wine entirely by the alcohol strength! Wine fairs taught me how bad wine is for your teeth as 2 days of wine tasting made my gums ache terribly. One of the reasons why i changed job and realising how many people out there have a drinking problem and not wanting to take their money or join them.

@coda – stay strong for your grandchildren and sorry your family problems are so difficult at the moment. Is there someone who could talk to your DIL to see how she sees family contact working? Then you know how far apart you are and if you have to get legal help. Hope things improve.

@songbirdme – water yoga sounds odd but interesting. I checked the link you sent and may try it if the opportunity presents itself. Here in deep rural Cornwall we don’t get offered much but you never know. We have a v posh local hotel that charges locals £500 just to access the pool – and by invitation only! I suppose i should harden up and swim in the sea. Imagine sea yoga?!

Day 8 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Going to try a B2B! I have already had my two FDs this week, but food wise today it’s all planned to be good, so I may have an 800 cal max day. Weight stayed the same after yesterday’s FD BUT I am comfortable in a skirt that I have not been comfortable in since before my holidays, so onwards and downwards.

I have final class of yoga tonight but not sure if I will go. My knee is a bit sore, but, in all honesty, I am not so sure about this type of yoga. It’s Kundalini yoga, and while I love the poses, there is far too much chanting, and breathing, and singing and downright happy clappy hippyish things for me. I am going to source another yoga school in the area, maybe some Pilates too ☺️

What type of yoga do you guys all do?

@coda my heart breaks for you and your family. I see the same situation with my SIL….her son split up from the mother of his child and won’t allow access to granny and grandad, and only occasional access to the father. My own OH went through a lot of this with his own kids when he split from first wife. Oh it’s terrible and I have no wise words but am sending you love and comfort.

@cornish-jane Dry till Fri rocks! Like, today is Thursday and that, in the past, was a trigger …it’s almost the weekend, blah blah….but now, taking 5:2 mantra, I look forward to my wine, but tomorrow 🍷

Pocket list day 8
@daffodil2010
@cornish-jane
@judyjudes
@cateaus

Day 8: Gloucestershire, UK: NFD
@judyjudes: Poor you…my husband had colitis many years ago, gall bladder trouble more recently, and ongoing intestinal troubles still. They suggest IBS for lack of any real diagnosis/ He’s had all those tests you are “looking forward” to. Good luck and I hope it resolves.
@matpi: I’ll look up about your step counter. What gets me is, how can they count steps by being just in a pocket? Not strapped to the ankle? What about any other movements you make, getting in and out of cars for example?

Day 8 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 FD

Heres the pocket list for today

Pocket list day 8
@daffodil2010
@cornish-jane
@judyjudes
@cateaus
@basyjames
@kerryn73
@missybear

Happy Thursday fasting 🙂

Day 8 Minnesota, USA FD

Here’s the pocket list for today:

Pocket list day 8

@daffodil2010
@cornish-jane
@judyjudes
@cateaus
@basyjames
@kerryn73
@missybear
@northerndawn

Happy Thursday fasting . Best of luck to everyone!

Day 8 – Eastern WA USA – NFD

Yay, I get to eat today as I complete yesterday’s fast about noon – 40+ hours. I’m working on making my FDs true water fasts. Cutting the cream in the coffee is harder than I thought.

@snowflake56 – hope you’re doing okay.

Okay, off to a couple of observations this morning. Maybe a haircut this afternoon if James has room for me.

On this journey together!

Day 8 Belfast FD

I’m going well this week (famous last words!)

@coda – you and yours are in my thoughts ((Hugs))
@daffodil2010 – my yoga teacher calls her class ‘chakra flow’ and it’s mostly pose based and flows wonderfully well. She says it is her own mix of different types.
@judyjudes – that sounds like a long time to wait for your scopes. I hope you get sorted soon and heal quickly.

Watching carefully what I eat this week and it’s working well for me. My mojo is definitely back.

Onwards and downwards

Day 8 Arizona FD

Its tough to sit at a computer all day and not give in to the munchies. Doing well so far.

Adding myself to the pocket list.
@daffodil2010
@cornish-jane
@judyjudes
@cateaus
@basyjames
@kerryn73
@missybear
@northerndawn
@ccco
@bellyblast
@lpswaite

Day 8 UK FD

Yesterday’s OMAD didn’t stop 🙁 If only I’d stopped after supper, or even pudding, when I was still under 800 calories…

Instead I was tempted by the little cafe-baked bread rolls left over from my post-event supper – which I’d brought home to freeze and offer to my houseguest bc they were going to be thrown out 🙁 ….But of course I pulled them back out of the freezer and defrosted a couple in the microwave. And kept eating them even tho I knew the gluten would make them stick to my guts and draw in huge amounts of water 🙁 I stopped after 4, so around 80g wholemeal bread… Obviously today I feel lousy – hungover, gut ache, increased joint pain and with a glutaceously aching carbtastic tum that’s back in the 3rd trimester. Will I never learn? 🙁

Waiting for my friend to arrive for the remembrance & peace events this weekend. It’ll be a quick drop off stuff & zip out to a dinner so I’ve just eaten weird leftovers meal. Feeling v full after salad, smoked tofu and steamed cauliflower – total 300 calories so room for pudding. Perhaps spicy stewed fruit with a few chopped nuts & fat-free Greek yogurt with cacao – yum 🙂

On the bright side, today I passed on a couple of lovely Cos dresses I’d lived in last year bc I simply can’t wear them 33lbs lighter 🙂 And bought my first New Thing since my Spring sale summer dress: a lovely soft down gilet. I still bought a man’s size bc I like having the extra wiggle room rather than the more fitted women’s style and lovely colour, but rejected the larger sizes because now I’m swamped by them. It’s just what I need to wear under my long brown dryzabone coat, as I turn away from black and shades that blend in to the background 🙂

@shinything sorry about your shoulder, hope it’s better v soon
@ccco sounds as tho you’re doing wonderfully in your preparation for water fasting
@rainbowsmile a big hug and some flowers to cheer you up https://goo.gl/images/kwQsR6 (btw I’m past my busy time and would be delighted to find a time to meet up..?) x
@coda so sorry this is so hard. Keeping a diary of it and getting a legal opinion might be helpful in nipping this in the bud before it becomes established. Your grandson needs time to build his own relationships, and she will not be allowed to control this. Times have changed. Both parents have rights and both are required to put the infant’s well-being first, which includes time with both parents.
@daffodil2010 I’ve been using LIM yoga – Less Is More – for the last 6 years. It’s an adapted yoga developed by an inspiring Canadian instructor for people with neuro conditions – specifically parkinson’s or dystonia, but most people find it helpful. There’a book, DVD and online classes. Doing it at home works for me!

@flourbaby I’m with you on the gluttony 🙁 but also in getting my mojo back now 🙂

Adding myself to the pocket list.
@daffodil2010
@cornish-jane
@judyjudes
@cateaus
@basyjames
@kerryn73
@missybear
@northerndawn
@ccco
@murph
@debster251
@bellyblast
@lpswaite
@michelinme

Day 8 – UK – CD

Started the day with an aerobic class – does set you up for the day!

Caught up with friends over a coffee this afternoon.

Have discovered cooking using sumac recently and cooked a new recipe tonight – If anyone is interested this was the recipe but I added a bit of fresh chilli and some baby spinach leaves to the salad and found that only about 1/2 of the dressing was required – OH loved it!
Sumac-coated fish with green bean, lentil and parsley salad – Recipes …
https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/sumac…fish…/f637a902-8b55-41d3-95fc-0

@coda – my heart went out to you when I read your post – so sad that something that should be celebrated and enjoyed as a family is causing so much heartache – As others have said there might be some mental health issues here with your DIL – I do hope that there is some positive outcome for your DS as well as for you 🤗🤗
@bellyblast – definitely high intensity yoga is the hardest class I have done!!!
@murph58 – that F word is not allowed – we all have bad days but the beauty of this WOL is that you can pick yourself up the next day or the day after or the one after that and press that RESET button – As Winston Churchill Quotes:- Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
@shinything – hope that shoulder settles down soon xx
@rainbowsmile – that is why I don’t keep biscuits in the house……..🤣
@matpi – not sure if these words will help you during this periodic high-stress time at work but might be a good mantra for you over the next weeks “Character is who you are under pressure, not who you are when everything is fine” Remember you are stronger that you think!! 🤗
@judyjudes – thinking of you – fingers crossed you get those tests done sooner than later and a plan of action can be put in place 🤗
@snowflake56 – how are you my friend? some short posts from you recently – hope all is OK xx
@daffodil2010 – my teacher mixes up her yoga classes – Some weeks the classes are more strength focused, other times more restorative, and sometimes more flowing in nature. Like you I’m not much for the chanting and singing side 🙏
@annemarilyn – well done on that 40+hr FD
@lpswaite – nice to see that you are still with us x

Reading through the posts and writing my own this evening has taken me over the danger period of feeling the need to nibble on something so I’m ending up on a good CD 😇
Due to various social outings looks like I’m only going to manage 1 x FD this week but have got in a couple of good CDs too and I’m managing to stick of my 4/5 alcohol free nights each week!!! As my weight is on the lower end of my maintenance range I’m happy with that!

Tomorrow night OH and I are going out for a meal and Jazz concert celebrating the music of John Coltrane 50 years after the revolutionary’s death – looking forward to that and will no doubt enjoy a couple of glasses of some red 🍷

For those struggling at the moment – It’s okay. NO REALLY. It’s okay if you’re not feeling 100 percent today. But you know what – You have to get back up – You have to try – People depend on you but most importantly you depend on you, too!!!

I have found this poem by EDGAR A. GUEST inspiring in the past and hope it helps some of you too 🤗
DON’T QUIT
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low but the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit…
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many failures turn about
When we might have won had we stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow…
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out…
And you can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit”

Day 8 second post

I have made it thru a proper FD today – yay! – coming in under well under 400 calories. And done yoga & meditation, for the first time this week. Nothing momentous has changed but a bit of breathing space and a series of small decisions made by my better self.

It’s not about doing the impossible once, but about taking small steps in the right direction 🙂

Day 9 – Melbourne AUS – NFD (but will try and keep the choices clean)

Sorry I’ve been absent, I’ve been reading all the posts and I’m still here!
Recap: Day5 MFD turned CD (1000cal), Day6 NFD, Day7 FD (580 cal), Day8 Not quite a CD (around 1400)

Was feeling a little on the heavy side at the start of the week (likely due to the extra wine I’ve been having) as there have been a few events on, and I find it hard to say no. The tub of magnum surely didn’t help. But I’ve pulled it back, done plenty of exercise, and feeling good again. I’ll give myself a weigh in tomorrow to see where I’m at. The fiance is away in Sydney for his bucks party, so i’m going to bake some salmon and veg, glass of Riesling, and get stuck into the new House of Cards.

Interesting discussion about the alcohol, I’m definitely going to have a listen to Brooke Castillo’s podcasts as it definitely wouldn’t hurt to cut down, and her approach seems very relatable.

Two solid fast days next week and it will be wedding time.

@at thanks! After a year doing 5:2, my body has actually been craving a fast – for flexibilities sake it’s going to be one CF, a FD, and a MFD to see me through the week.
@rainbowsmile thank goodness no one was hurt! And lucky you’ve found the cause of the issue. It’s never easy to live in chaos, stay strong!
@claire Suzanne I think we all struggle with those body insecurities. I’ve tried to focus on fitness achievements (half marathon a few weeks ago, and now to do a single unassisted pull up) to help keep focused on what matters, good health and fitness. I’m sure you will look stunning 
@sparklyshoes welcome back!
@coda that sounds awful, so sorry to hear you and your family are going through that.
@murph58 wooohoo congrats on the FD!!!!

My Sundays are usually my undoing, so I’m going to make a promise to myself to log in here, as the positivity and support always helps me refocus 🙂

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Day 9 – France – CD

Am annoyed with myself as weight is not moving down as it should, maybe because i botched last night’s FD in particular with a nice big glass of vino 🍷. I made a delicious cauliflower soup (not really a low-calorie one), it was yummy and i couldn’t stop eating it. So today is a controlled day, see if that gets things moving downwards.

DAY 9 – UK – CD

@ciren2 Thank you for your kind message. Sorry to hear your husband is having problems too.

@songbirdme & @debster251 Thank you for your kind words and TY @at for posting a great poem!

Yesterday’s FD a bit off as consumed 585 cals rather than 375 required for a true FD. I still ate 50% less than my TDEE. Today will have a CD and aim for 800.

I’m feeling better in myself everyday but remain incredibly bloated … think 7 months pregnant bloated. So uncomfortable and looks dreadful. We had booked to go away at Christmas but have cancelled as it’s was a very food based holiday, think set menus with wine accompaniment. Would be a total waste as can’t face alcohol and food is taking a back seat at the moment.

Have a great day you lovely lot 😊

Day 9: Gloucestershire, UK: NFD
Dull, damp and chilly here today. At least, not being at work this week, I don’t have to be outside if I don’t want to be….ha…ha..!
@matpi: wow…thanks for trying out those scientific (!) experiments for me on your step-counter. I’ve ordered one on Amazon, seemed to have mainly 5-star reviews, although, as usual, there were some less (even 1-star). So, I guess, I try it and see, as it’s not very expensive, a basic step counter (three dimensional, as you say). I don’t want to get obsessed by it…but am curious how much I walk each day, especially with the job I have (postie).
@gretta: I’ve actually found the house in Pakenham my daughter will be sharing! Isn’t google maps/streetview amazing! I had my directions COMPLETELY wrong…I pictured Pakenham and her future place of work, Ellinbank, to be to the WEST of Melbourne….actually it all seems to be to the EAST!!!! Oh well…

Day 9, London, UK, NFD

It’s a quick post before Pilates, I’ll have to catch-up and comment this evening, on most of the posts, as I’ve just skimmed. It will be a CD today as tomorrow won’t be!!!

@songbirdme, lovely to hear that our own songbird had her own songbird, do you and your DD sing together??

@at, I’ll look forward to enjoying that poem later!!

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Day 9, Surrey (UK), NFD, still maintaining at 151.2lbs

Yesterday was a FD but I didn’t get round to adding myself to the pocket list…sorry. Strangely I am 1lb heavier this morning, I think due to food in transit…no need to go into details!

This maintenance phase is all about experimentation for me. So I ate mostly vegan food yesterday. Vegeree (rice/ curried veg dish), pulse stew, veg soup, estimated total 800 cals. I enjoyed it but sadly OH was not too impressed! Going to keep on trying different recipes.

@kerryn73 thanks for your comments – I didn’t intend to underplay my weight loss success, just to identify those factors that might make my experience different. People are often shocked when I tell them my weight. I ask them to guess first, and they usually underestimate by 10-15lbs. Muscle weighs more and takes up less space, simply put. Rest assured, I am one proud lady, ha ha!!

@at – I loved the poem. It hits the spot.

Keep on keeping on, everyone. You know you’re worth it!

Day 9 Wales NFD

Yesterday’s FD was successful, so thats my 2 FDs done for this week. To keep distracted from food yesterday I decided to try on those vintage size 12s clothes at the back of my wardrobe with 26 inch waist, just to see how far off from fitting…..and to my shock and delight they fit!!! I didn’t quite believe it so I measured me and sure enough the tape measure confirmed 26 inches. I’m still maintaining my weight around 130 pounds so its odd that I’ve lost another inch from my waist and 2 inches from my hips whilst holding the same weight. I can only think the toning pilates exercises and daily walks are finally showing results. Happy days.

@at thanks for that terrific poem, its so right that we shouldn’t quit when things seem at the very worst…..I will hold on to that to use when tough times hit as they do for all of us at some time.

Wishing everyone good health and happiness xx