Meon-dweller, stay strong.

I do find many similarities when reading your thoughts or struggles. I have similar issues re yo-yo. Although I was just looking at the file and you are smashing your FDs!

I am amazed how strong you are. Do you think that maybe your metabolism has slowed down because of the number of FDs?

Stay positive. 2016 has been terrible for me and my family and I can’t wait for it to go. I think we just have to move on with lives and look after ourselves, health wise, nobody else would. And if we are stronger and healthier within ourselves then we can help the closest to us. I prefer that way, not the other way round.

@Meon, @WWFH, @tanchora
We are in this for the long haul; I want to join the encouragement Meon to say it’s ok to have hard times. Don’t beat yourself up. Your identity and worth are not packaged in what your body on the outside looks like; being kind, gracious, compassionate are of so much more value. Love yourself at every size.
I also understand about family stress, and am extremely fortunate to have my work slow down and be working a lot less this year, as I’m coupling this with additional mindfulness, inwardness, and reading. All hell broke loose in my family last year, and this has been part of reflecting on how the pieces got picked up and put back together, albeit we are all different because of it. It was really hard to process at the time; so I guess my question is, is fasting helping, or hindering stress management? Part of self love is engaging in activities which help manage stress, not add to it.
@micky – oh no stomach bugs are the worst!
You are all so inspiring to me!

Day 22 NFD
Had a really good day today.
Did an upper body workout then took the dog for a walk.
Came home and spent the afternoon sweeping and cleaning windows outside.
Food wise I think it’s been a good one, omelette for breakfast and a chocolate treat for lunch…but small and nothing else then a lovely light dinner of carrot and courgette fritters made with egg and besan flour and a side salad with no dressing.
Chocolate wasn’t the best lunch from a nutrition perspective but I’ve found that I need a small bit regularly or I go WAAAY overboard. If I fit it in without blowing my TDEE even when I have it in place of a regular meal I keep the blowouts at bay.
There’s many things I’ve tried over the years to avoid it but going without chocolate just isn’t an option for me so I hope no one judges my ‘lunch’ too harshly.
Onwards and downwards everyone😊

@lany36 I don’t judge chocolate indulgence, in fact, I think life without chocolate is sad. I was beyond bummed when I discovered chocolate is one of my migraine triggers! I had to abstain at a cookie exchange on Saturday because it was one of my high risk migraine days. I’m uber impressed at all your NFD choices, that wasn’t too far off my early FD meals!

Day 22: NFD. Getting ready to go to body pump so I ate a high protein breakfast, hopefully I can do ok with yesterday being a FD. Ran a wonderful light 5k yesterday, complete with sunshowers and rainbows. 🌈 Really starting to enjoy how I feel on FD! I love how it’s unexpectedly helped my evening snacking tremendously, and I have pretty much stopped eating any meals in favor of eating dinner with the family, which always tastes amazing after not eating all day!
Have a great day all!

Day 22 — NFD
Nothing much to report, just doing what I need to do.
WWFH I’m in for December if this group continues …

OOPs, did not realize that I skipped so many days’ reporting.
Day 18 – FD.
Days 19-22 NFD
Planning to fast today.

Best wishes!

Day 22 & 23 NFD
Day 24 FD
Wwfh I would love to carry on into December seeing as you are happy to keep track. The small group is so beneficial to follow and im sure it will help the silly season madness from undoing all the benefits of fasting if we keep reporting and supporting each other.
Jray I’m so pleased you are seeing benefits outside of weight loss, regular migraines must be awful😥

Day 23: FD.

Went pretty ok. I think I am getting used to fasting. Reading the book, it seems that 5:2 can change your outlook to food on NFDs. I think this is what’s happening to me. I started thinking calories, nutrition, not overdoing weekends to spoil the results etc. I think this is good. I like the diet so far.

Day 24: successful NFD. I am *stuffed*!
Continued my fast until after my early afternoon 4 mile run. Enjoyed a high butter thanksgiving meal. Happy turkey day Americans!
@lany36, I also recommend reading the original book, it’s a fast and easy read and I felt like it helped set and steel me mentally better for this as a lifetime habit.

Dat 24 – NFD
Day 25 – NFD
Not sure how today will go. Lots of Thanksgiving leftovers and I will be baking a cake that my daughter loves. I will try to be good, but will also allow myself to enjoy food with family. Which is fair and right for me, even if it does mean eating a bit less mindfully than usual today. Good luck today, everyone.

Day 25: nfd, and a 3 mile hike carrying a 40 lb child on my back. Still enjoying leftovers, though I think the fast days help some in stomach shrinkage, I just don’t feel like I eat as much at a meal.
Happy weekend!
@karlanz, you want to be accountability buddy for that run? I want to try to get one in tomorrow too! I’m a hunting widow this weekend, and being solo with 2 kids it takes more conscious effort to get it in. 😊

Days 24-27: NFDs.

The business trip meant sandwiches as the only accessible food. Nothing hot (no time). I don’t think I like that. Craved a bowl of home made fish soup.
I’ve decided to eat more fish, by the way, which I love. I think red meat feels heavier on my stomach.

Keep coming across all these articles about best foods for brain power, anti-ageing and all that. I think I am almost there, just less sweet treats and maybe more fish.

Lany36, I am, by no means, 100% changed person. But I think I started thinking in the right direction. Tiny tiny steps, every little helps and all that. 😀

Have a good weekend everyone!

Day 26 – NFD (again)
Not even trying to do a great job today! Kids still home from college and we made a cake in honor of National Cake Day. I’m sure I’m over my TDEE but it is what it is. Tomorrow I will start getting back on the horse.

Day 26 nfd
Day 27 unexpected mostly fd

Life and migraine caught up with me this weekend. No run, migraine today positively wooped me especially herding two high energy kids. No appetite with migraine means that I actually probably came in 500-600 calories for the day, an unintended fast. Ready for tomorrow’s fast and praying that the migraine doesn’t run its full course. @karlanz I failed at keeping up with run! Boo.
@lany I’m impressed you do hit on fast days! Any tips or pointers? How long have you been fasting for?

Haven’t heard from @meon, thinking of you and hope you’re doing well!

Last week of November is upon us! I feel as if I need to be extra serious this week. Anybody else is feeling the pressure?

No business trips and two classes of zumba (Mon & Thur) for me.

Good luck to everybody and migraine free life, ideally.

Day 28: FD
Thanks for the migraine sympathy you guys.
Going well so far today; I caught migraine early and only required on half dose of meds to get under control so I’m a lot more functional today. Coffee/water only until after a 3 mile run this afternoon, then ate half a can of lentil soup. Was feeling quite off after the run, so added some extra salt to my soup and sat for a bit rehydrating. Guessing it felt harder because it’s basically been a 2 day fast.
@lany36 I’ve been exercising/active/training for a long time too 🙂 I actually didn’t have trouble during the morning HIIT/weight exercise, but bonked hard mid-afternoon. You remind me that I ended up dehydrated that day, perhaps that was my downfall. Thanks for the reminder! And ah! The sugar dragon! I hate that damn thing. But baking is fun and actually good for your health.

I think that is quite smart to only get on the scale once a month. I tried to hide ours but my husband likes it out – when I see it I step on it as it’s right next to my sink. I wish I didn’t see all the little ups and downs!

@tanchora – I feel like I just need to stay diligent and committed to the fast days to cancel out the effects of the holidays lol. Though I have to say by the end of last week I was actually looking forward to another FD.

Okay, a catch-up from me. It looks like the last time I posted my stats was Nov 20th…

Nov 21 – Nov 25th FD
Nov 26 – Nov 27th NFD
Nov 28 FD

Thanks for the supporting words last week, I will get through it all. I think generally I am quite a strong, positive person. We all have our ups and downs.

I have only ever had one migrane… I thought I was dying, it was unbelievably awful.. so huge sympathies JRay.

I wish I was more sporty or active, all of you guys make me feel so lazy and inadequate with your physical pursuits… it is just not me… I walk the dog and that’s about it.

I would like to continue through December please.. Keep strong everyone…

Day 28: FD
Day 29,30: NFD

@j-ray sorry to hear about your migraine, that’s a very good reason not to go for a run 🙁

Went for a run yesterday, but pulled something in my calf. I’m hoping it heals up quickly so I can get in my other runs this week!

Well today is the last day of November, I haven’t quite reached my November target of losing 5kg, maybe that was a little optimistic… I have lost 3kg’s though so I am moderately happy with that. Weight isn’t exactly dropping off and I am aware that December is likely to be more challenging. So I guess I would be pleased with a 3kg loss in December too . . which might be attainable up to December 23rd when I am going away for a week . . . and I’m afraid I do plan on enjoying myself and not thinking about my calorie intake!

Last stats for November therefore are Nov 29 & 30th FD
Target for November lose 3kg.

. . . . where did the year go . . . December!!??

Day 30 – NFD.
Well, the scale is saying 91.4 kgs this morning. Lost about a kg since 11/1, but it’s been slow going. Looks like I only made it halfway to my goal weight of 90.4 kgs. I guess that my yo-yoing, plus Thanksgiving, were stronger than my good efforts this month. Oh well, a kilo is a kilo, and I will persevere. Congratulations to everyone soldiering on here! Let’s see what we can do in December.

Thank you so much, WWFH, for keeping us in line and on track. I know it’s a lot of work and I really appreciate it.

Day 29: NFD
Day 30: FD

I think I have a bit of a occasional binging problem on my NFD – it’s not all the time, but I indulged in some wine and chocolate last night (ice cream plus a couple wrapped Dove’s), and boom, mild migraine back today, after Tuesday (day after fasting) being fine. If anything I think fasting is helping me isolate my triggers.

Was not super productive today but managed a 5K run at the track while the kids played, at pretty much my fastest pace ever. (My migraines are improved by vascoconstrictor/increasing BP/heartrate – exercise/movement helps even though I feel like crawling under my covers). Anyway, I’m super excited that I’m discovering I can run like this on fast days!
@Meon – down 3kg in one month is faster weight loss than the average women – good job and congratulations!

I’m down total about 3lbs for the month, was down almost 4 and popped up after the thanksgiving weekend. And my occasional nighttime binging, which this is bringing attention to.

@karlanz, I missed responding to your Antarctica travel mention – how very, very exciting! Yes fasting is probably frowned upon there! I’m guessing work brings you there? Can I ask what you do?

@micky42 – yes a kilo is a kilo! Net loss during thanksgiving month is an anomaly, not the norm!

@lany36 – thank you, and you too! Yes we do have an amazing little community here! Thanks for @willworkforhealth for bringing us all together!