@ciren2 thank you so much for hosting the Novemver 2019 Challenge and @rafiki44 for making a spreadsheet again! I’m in!

The link to the spreadsheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_FCogpf6lum9Ls9JvTuYYAHXPBZRCbtLfc7I7j_f31A/edit?usp=sharing

..and the list of acronyms & abbreviations from previous Challenges.

IF Intermittent Fasting
WOL Way of Life
FD Fast Day (500 cals)
MFD Modified Fast Day (800 cals) on the new Fast800, it’s a FD
WFD Water Fast Day (Water only)
CFD Controlled Fast Day (1200 cals)
NFD Non Fast Day
EFS Epic Face Stuffing (we’ve all had one of those days!)
5:2 5 days NFD:2 days IF
ADF Alternate Day Fast, FD, NFD
16:8 16 hours fast 8 hours non fast
B2B Back 2 Back (days of FD or WFD)
Hunger Dragon – that dreadful psychological beast that sometimes cannot be satisfied
DD, DS Darling Daughter, Son
OH, Other Half
LOL Laughing Out Loud
Keto, way of eating that generates Ketones
LC, Low Carb way of eating
LCHF, Low Carb High Fat way of eating
TDEE: Total Daily Energy Expenditure (see the ‘how it works’ link on the home page to work out yours)

I have been struggling with maintenance after losing over a hundred pounds using intermittent fasting. My weight is up and my health is deteriorating. My asthma is back with a vengeance. I had been almost entirely free of my inhalers but am not sleeping as I can’t breathe when I lie flat and am becoming fatigued during the day very reminiscent of how I felt just before I discovered intermittent fasting three years ago. But this time I know the weight isn’t to blame as there is still 100 pounds less of me than there was then.

So I am going to revisit the monthly challenge as an aid to sticking to fasting again. I never stopped restricted time eating but it clearly wasn’t sufficient. I need to do some more significant fasting. I aim to fast every other day but still eat my veggies every day so I will allow myself up to 800 calories on fast days. I want to see if I can improve my asthma this way. Some weight loss would be a welcome side effect but is not my main goal.

I am very pleased to see the monthly challenge is still going strong. It is also good to recognise a number of familiar names. Waves a hello 🙂

@ciren2, you really are a trooper to continue doing these challenges, let alone hosting 2 this year, Thank-you!!! I’m confident you’ll get back on the wagon and join the rest of us desperately trying to find that comfy seat that suits us ‘just so’!!! ……………… As you can guess, I’m in!!

Like @daffodil2010, 2019 has NOT been kind to me, I’m heavier than this time last year and in all honesty, it’s totally down to complacency ………………………….. mixed with a huge helping of denial!!! Yes this WOL works like a dream, but only if you put the effort in, only if you curb your binging & only if the maths adds up for the week, no calorie deficit = no weight-loss, shocking, I know!!!! ‘See’ you on Day 1!!

Welcome back @fatrabbit, as we all know (not from experience in my case!) maintenance is where the real work kicks in, you’ll be back on track in no time & remember, we’ve got you!!

Thanks for hosting @ciren2

Hoping to get back on the wagon and have a good November

See you soon x

I’m in for November!

Dear @ciren2 – Thank you so much for being our host in this penultimate challenge for 2019 🤗💐

Welcome to @lindsosa @ayame and dear @fatrabbit – great to have you back with us – you have been missed!

I will offer straight away to do the December Challenge as it is my anniversary month – 3rd year in maintenance!!!!!!

“If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now”

@at — glad to see you’re doing December! We’re in this thing together, aren’t we? 🙂 I might be able to do January.

Day 1 – Japan – WFD #77

Feeling good, but very busy.

New to this forum.
Helping my colleague, Patient1, with data entry and trend graphs for their weight tracking data, BMI, and TDEE.

They started the 5:2 Fast Diet “FD500” about 2 months ago.

After seeing the 70-day weight loss graph data, it is quite surprising.
Whether the 3.5kg per month weight loss will diminish for them over the course of the first year of the diet, remains to be seen.
According to the data trend, it may take more than 1 year for them to reach their BMI goal at the 3.5kg/month loss rate.

Thanks for the welcome @daffodil2010 @at @ciren2 @flourbaby it is so good to have this familiar place to come to when I need support:)

Day1 UK NFD

I had a successful (modified) fast day yesterday and felt better for it. I really hadn’t managed to do anything other than 16:8 since entering maintenance in early 2018. I weigh 153.2lbs this morning and would love to get under 150lbs by the end of the month. Longer term I would like to get as close to 140 as possible. But my main priority is improving inflammation symptoms as my asthma is limiting my life at the moment and reading about the carbon footprint of inhalers in the news yesterday has added even more importance to finding a better way to control it. I didn’t expect the improvement I got before but I can’t see a reason it shouldn’t work again. It may take the entire month for me to see a difference so I must be patient and stick with it.

I am 54 and 5ft8 and my BMI is currently 23. I am fairly active although lately I have felt my energy slipping away. I run a Rabbit Sanctuary and am outside most of the day looking after them all in all weathers. Three years ago I weighed about 250lbs which I got down to under 140 with a year of intermittent fasting, mostly ADF but also a stint of Fast800 to break through a plateau.

I am planning on every other day fasting with up to 800 calories on fast days. It worked for me before and I see the limited intake of healthy plant based food that I have on fast days as the equivalent of the fast mimicking diet. I am fully vegan at the moment as dairy is too inflammatory and my hands get too painful when I eat it. With the cold weather coming I need to stick with this as I work outside every day and the cold makes it even worse. I also can’t tolerate processed carbs so have had hardly any bread or pasta or rice since I first started fasting in Nov 2016. I also avoid sugar although I have let eating chocolate with my nuts become a daily bad habit and it needs to stop. If I eat any processed carbs I pay for it by feeling as if İ have flu so İ don’t have much trouble staying away from them anymore.

I am really looking forward to this month of fasting. It feels a bit like coming home. I found trying to simply maintain very difficult as it was less structured and lacked that psychological boost that successful weight loss gives you. Which is probably why I put that stone back on this year, a steady gain of about a pound a month. Time to reverse the direction and take back control.

Day 1 – Lake District UK – CFD

Firstly – @ciren2 -Thanks for hosting this month, I’m away (again) for a couple of weeks, from Monday, but will be back….. and will be needing to shed some pounds gained from holiday, managed it easy enough last time!

Me, joined this group which has really helped with motivation, started 5:2 on 26th July – was feeling my age (male aged 64) and weight.

Starting point………. 265 lbs BMI 38 BMR 1999 TDEE 2748
This morning weigh in .. 244 lbs BMI 35 BMR 1903 TDEE 2619

Very pleased with progress considering there was a 2 week holiday in that time!
I write everything down, record calories in and walk, a lot! (my ‘Man on a mission’ walks) Maybe exceed my BMR figure once a week, but 2 fast days and 2 or 3 controlled days a week have really worked wonders, as has belonging to this group!

Keen follower of Rugby (Union) and have actually started watching daytime TV … don’t worry not become a couch potato, the World Cup Rugby being from Japan has morning KO …. For those not in the know runners up match today and final (England vs South Africa) tomorrow! I know my friend @funshipfreddie will be watching along with others from the forum, but he’s in South Africa, hope it’s a great final, good luck buddy!

Good luck for November everyone, welcome to anyone new and take care all!

Day 1, London, UK, NFD,

The slate has been wiped clean; September & October were less than perfect fasting wise, so November is finger-out time!!

A little about me! I’m hanging on to my mid 40’s, a Civil engineer working a part time 3 day week – 3rd best decision, after giving up smoking & fasting!! Having made it to -40lbs following 5:2 and 4:3 with B2B2Bs I now find myself struggling with bouncy-bouncy scales and currently -34lbs. I’m determined to make November’s challenge successful and actually view this for what it is ………………… a Challenge!!! I don’t think I can manage a dry November with all of the birthdays and anniversaries this month, but there’ll be no drinking at home ……………………. So I’m hoping for lots of invitations!!! (joke!)

I’ve set myself a 6lb goal this month, I WILL make this target, it’s all in the planning, meals drinks & calorie counting since control appears to be an issue for me.

Happy fasting folks!!!

Day 1 Melb Aust CD (1077 cals)

End of the day here. I’m a just-turned-70 retired female, single, whose household is run by male cat, Wilbur, a rescue ginger tabby. He was a “tom” till he was 3 years old, which explains his dominating personality! 🙂
Started 5:2 at the end of November last year, lost 14 kg, then regained nearly 5 kg over the winter, of which I’ve now lost 3.4 kg, so I start this month 1.4 kg above my “lowest” weight on this WOL, but still much better than the starting point. I still have a ways to go, to reach goal weight, nearly 23 kg to go. For me it seems much easier to lose weight in the warmer weather, so am hoping to begin another dive downwards from this month.
This is my 12th monthly forum, and it has been such a blessing and encouragement to be part of each forum, with the amazing hosts from diverse backgrounds.
Let’s all have a great month!

Please count me in for the November challenge.

Day 1 – Stratford upon Avon, UK – NFD

Following a couple of disastrous months for one reason or another,I’m tentatively committing to the November Challenge, trying to hang onto the wagon but in danger of falling off and being run over….this month if I can at the very least commit to 2 FDs a week I’ll be doing well, anymore will be an achievement – I need to do this for me so it’s time to gather my thoughts and refocus….please be gentle with me….:-)

Day 1, VA, USA, CD

Greetings to the regular gang so far… and welcome (or welcome back) to some new names for me: @lindsosa, @fatrabbit, @ayame, @doctorscience, @marroni

I have a sweetheart, we just celebrated 10 years married this year and two adorable kitty cats that both know tricks (like sit, standup, play dead etc) Their names are Kamoki and Birdie.

I started this WOL Feb of this year. I’ve lost a bit over 50lbs and learning to not only make better choices, but also enjoying the better choices (not just b/c they are healthier but realizing now they actually do taste better. For example my arch nemesis (crisp/potato chips) no longer have the vicious hold on me! Which has never happened in my life until now.

I am excited to hopeful work in a 5 to 7 day WF this month. 1st for the health benefit 2nd would help me get to my first goal which is only -5 more lbs!. I like the health benefit not only to reboot my immune system (especially before we go visit the family with loads of little ones running about) but also I find it helps me feel less bloated/inflamed/puffy feeling.

Great to be here with you guys!

Day 1, Oxfordshire, UK FD
I’m a 58yr old female, married with 2 adult children and a 3 yr old cocker spaniel. I started 5:2 in 2014 and lost 30lbs. I maintained for a couple of years but then things slipped. I gained about 14lbs so I joined the challenges in August and lost 3.5kg. I’ve been motor homing in Portugal and Spain for the last 2 months and trying to make good choices.
I decided to start this month with a FD because I couldn’t be sure what the scales would say.
I’m pleased (amazed, relieved) to say that the scales were kind and only registered a 200g gain.
My target this month is another 3.5kg loss.

Today’s FD has gone well, I’ve kept busy unpacking, washing & dog walking. So far I’ve kept out of the kitchen too, my dh is cooking tonight.
Here’s to a successful November.

Day 1 UK FD

Hello I just wanted to get in under the wire on day 1. I’ve been on the forum for a while and have had a couple of previous attempts but have fallen off the wagon each time. I’m feeling pretty determined to persevere this time. I will add more info about myself tomorrow.

Day 1 – USA – NFD

@betsylee, thank you for hosting October! @ciren2, thanks for taking up the reins in November. Hard to believe 2019 is almost past us!

I’m glad to join this month’s forum again…reading all your posts has been one of my favorite things to do since February 2017. I am 65, still working 2 jobs, 2 grown children and lost 57.5 pounds on 5:2. I’m in maintenance and enjoy about 3-4 FDs a month while I keep accountable on MyFitnessPal; I eat low carb, healthy fats, and moderate protein. I have a ton of recipes for meals that I love and find that substituting ingredients and planning is key whether fasting or not. Welcome to all the newbies, and hello @fatrabbit! Welcome back!

Day 2 – 2nd Post

@ciren2 – yes, you’re right. I am torn. A pity it can’t be a draw! I’ll be happy for whoever wins. But South Africa are the underdogs, and we need some good news after surviving the Zuma years. We got a new president last year; a World Cup win would help towards the sense of a fresh start. May the best team win!🥇