Day 20, London, UK, FD,

I’m sticking with the B2B2B’s at the moment as they’re relatively easy whilst at work and by day 4, my 1st NFD, the dragon is so weak that I can drown him & his grumblings fairly easily with water rather than wine or a lovely miso soup. I’m feeling comfortably back on track at the moment, but still not counting ANY chickens!!🐔

Yesterday was actually a LFD at 430cals 2 bowls of soup – no chewing as the tooth is still making its presence known!!! I had an appointment at the dentist almost 2 weeks ago, I mentioned the sensitivity so she checked with a cooling gel which didn’t kick in for a few seconds so she determined the nerve was dying & root canal was required, but the earliest appointment was 7 weeks away 😧😱. Three days later the pain came from nowhere like a⚡, maybe she irritated the nerve, but it’s now settled to a dull ache which I can cope with until my appointment, but I AM living in complete & utter fear the pain returns!!!🥺

Catching up on posts, too many things to comment on, Sicily, surfing, scrabble, new words ( @penz thanks!! @funshipfreddie said it perfectly – “Coolth/warmth – now it makes sense!”)

LOL @stitchincarol, sad but true this was my problem with keto as a true born & bred flour-baby – you can have as much meat, butter or cheese as you want………………. Just no rice, bread, potatoes or crackers to smear, spread, mix or melt it on!!!!😥😭😢😲 Cruel is not the word!!!🤬🤬🤬

@penz, DTF is probably only suitable for those who can put the cork back in the bottle until the following day, not me of course🙄 (that’s why it’s Sober October!!) but I wouldn’t dare to presume😏 you’re in the same ‘empty the bottle’ camp as me🤣🤣🤗!!!

@daffodil2010, glad to hear the prognosis is positive, the relief must be immense!! 🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️

Stay strong folks, think skinny jeans!!!

“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.”
— Oprah Winfrey

Day 20 – UK – NFD

Hi all, it’s been a while! I hope everyone’s ok. It’s been a tricky 10 days this end – I spent last week with my dad which was lovely but not so great for having proper FDs. I managed a couple of OMADs none the less. However, this weekend my beloved cat suddenly stopped eating and I’ve just found out he has what looks like an aggressive cancer in his abdomen. Waiting to hear what was found on the biopsies that have been taken but it’s safe to say my mind has been all over the place the past couple of days from when we were told they could feel a mass. He’s been fine up until now, so this has come as a big shock. I feel like I need to apologise for being so upset over ‘a pet’, but I’m sure so many of you will understand how it feels. It doesn’t look like there are really any options for him, bless his heart.

So I can’t really tell you what my eating has been like these past few days, though it’s safe to say I’ve lost quite a bit of my appetite through shock and sadness.

Sorry this has been a negative Nelly post!

However, @northgeorgia – I’m over the moon to see you’re safely in the 210’s now!! I was so happy for you when I logged in and saw that figure! Way to go!

Day 20 – Ireland – FD
Hi all. I hope you are all well! I have been MIA since my holidays (fab!) as work has been super busy and family events and my birthday have all distracted me but checking back in with you now and it feels good 👍
I have not caught up with posts but hope to do so over the next few days – thanks @high5 for hosting 😇

Looking forward to catching up and getting back into my fasting swing…

Take care

Day 21, FD, Aus

Thanks @daffodil2010 – I might be failing at DTF but at least my FDs feel solid!! And great news re your optimistic physio. Amazing how interconnected the body is that a trapped nerve in your spine can radiate down to create such a painful foot. And what exciting family gatherings you have coming up!

Dear @flourbaby – I thought we established some time ago that we were kindred spirits, whether it’s PB or bottles of vino. Tho in Australia, most wineries these days use screw cap rather than cork, but the same principle applies. Of course, leaving some wine left in the bottle runs the risk it will go off, so much better to empty the whole thing!

@babs_b – do NOT apologise for being upset over your beloved cat. He is most definitely not “just” a pet. Our animals are often more part of the family than human relatives. So sorry to hear your news and I can only imagine the anguish you are going through, especially with deciding what is best for him (and you).

It’s a good question, @stitchincarol. I definitely enjoy the first glass of wine, but the rest (of the bottle!) doesn’t give me the same pleasure. It then just becomes habit. A bad habit.

@mariaelena – I hear you! My OH and I also have a LOT of stuff. Fortunately with our work, we get the opportunity to move around a bit which is always an exercise in discipline to work out what we really need, and what we just cart from place to place because it’s easier than making the decision to get rid of it. What a great opportunity, tho, to be able to leverage your MIL’s house sale to off-load some stuff. You should take some before and after pictures of your house to give you extra satisfaction about how good it looks and feels once it’s all done!

Day 21, London, UK, FD

3rd & final FD for the week unless that weird ‘I really need to fast’ feeling occurs over the weekend……………… highly unlikely, but miracles DO happen!!!

@penz, my fellow wino!! I know you’re with me walking the vino-tightrope🤣 I’m just glad we don’t have empty plate/glass/jar syndrome when it comes to peanut butter!😱They don’t make knickers big enough to accommodate that particular habit!!!!
In terms of the demon drink, you’re so right – the first sip is the best of all sips, the first glass, better than all that follow, the first bottle ……………………….😨 Here, of course, is the problem, am I chasing the pleasure gained from the first glass by continuing until the bottle is empty, or, as I tell myself, it’ll taste terrible tomorrow, so finish it!? I usually end up pouring the final glass down the sink anyway, the habit is emptying the bottle, not necessarily drinking it!!!😜

At the moment, I’m combining low(er) carbs with my usual 500cal FDs, this seems to keep me satiated and FDs don’t feel like fasting, just delayed eating if you know what I mean. I think I’m trying to say I feel satisfied whether it’s a NFD or not☺ Lot’s of veg with some protein, guzzling water like a pro, Greek yoghurt, eating lots of pickles (gherkins, beetroot, onions & cabbage) & limiting my cheese since I don’t think a block of cheese a day is going to keep any doctors away😁

@babs_b I read your post with moist eyes and a lump in my throat, no need to apologise, love is love whether for a pet or a parent, just of varying degrees, and sorrow at any level is painful. 🙏🏼

Onward & downwards people!!!

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”
— James N. Watkins

Day 21 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 220 lbs. Considering I broke all the major rules yesterday with the office potluck, not bad. It was 8:30 am – 3 p.m. all day grazing on mostly carbs with a side of lemonade. Eeek! The nice thing is that my tray of three or four dozen tacos was demolished to a mere six.

Going for another liquid FD today, maybe. Yes, I noticed that breaking a liquid fast is kind of upsetting to my stomach. I read up on it and it appears that the best thing to do is eat something very light and quickly digestible, then don’t eat again for another half hour. For me, I found that a small banana works wonders. So, I’ll just break my fast at, well, breakfast, tomorrow morning before driving an hour to the potluck/business meeting.

As for now, I’ve got to run!

Pocket list – day 21
@northgeorgia

Day 21 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

late again, duh?

@babs_b – so sorry to hear about your kitty, & I hope you get some good news from the vet soon. Sending you a hug 🤗

rounding up the Thursday fasters:-

Pocket List – Day 21 🎯
@penz
@flourbaby
@northgeorgia
@brightonbelle
@funshipfreddie

Day 21 — 16:8

Yesterday 500 day went well.

@penz I’m still trudging through excess. We have lived in our home for 16 years, so I guess this is to be expected? Wow, I have never lived in one place for even close to this long, and it is hard to believe we have been here this many years.

@babs_b and @stitchincarol: nice going on the weigh-ins!

@babs_b: keep us posted on your kitty. I’m sending special mental scritches and love.

Back to work!

Day 22, NFD, Aus

I want to create a new acronym – the PFDR – “relief” rather than “smugness”, that I got through it and resisted all temptation.

I love the way you look at silver linings @flourbaby – so true that the PB jar does not have the same siren call as a bottle of shiraz: “You MUST finish me in one sitting!!” One spoon is more than sufficient; I wish I could say the same for one glass.

@stitchincarol!!! You brought your scales with you on vacation?? Wow, that is dedication. Or desperation. I’m not sure which! BUT! The fact they were so kind to you shows who grateful they must have been to come along with you. Seriously – it’s testament to your fortitude. Well done!

Have a great weekend everyone (esp @babs_b with four legged fur baby)

Day 22 – USA/GA – NFD

About to head out to the brunch business potluck. Successful WFD yesterday (no broth) and I’ve just broken my fast with a banana.

Weigh-in: 217.1 lbs. Only a few ounces from meeting this month’s goal! But… JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER GOALS MET! Hmm, proof that the plateau has ended? haha

It also is a milestone. I’ve now lost a total of 62 lbs and have between 62 and 63 more to get to my ideal goal weight. I’ve arrived at the halfway point! Additional weight loss will mean I will have lost more pounds than pounds that I still need/want to lose on this journey.

The obesity tank, long stalled out, has inched downward towards “1/5 full.” Less than 15 lbs remain until “empty,” then I’ll be medically “overweight” rather than “obese.”

But watch out! The holidays approach! I feel better prepared going into them this year, though.

Day 22 – Rural Nebraska, USA – OMAD

I’m pleased with how I ate yesterday, both at the conference-provided luncheon and at our restaurant dinner last night; both times, I swerved the bread and potatoes (except for tiny bites of each), ate some meats with no breading and no accompanying pasta, some plain veggies and a massive salad. So far today I’ve only had water (there was no lunch served as the conference ended today at noon) and am planning on meat and veggies tonight.

Any why did I take my normal, regular scale with me? Because I wanted so much to know what two days of water fasting were going to do to my weight, LOL! I began my WF on Monday around 9pm and didn’t break it until Thursday at lunch–and have a funny story about that!–and didn’t want never to know what the weight was on Thursday morning, LOL! And it turns out it was good to have taken it along and seen that lovely number, the lowest since around March 2016: it was so exciting that it really helped keep me on the straight and narrow: “What’s more exciting, that piece of bread you’re eyeing or the 141.8 this morning??”

But by 11am yesterday morning, I was starving, I was shaky, and I was sweating…I think I needed food. But the only available solutions were all about flour and sugar, and I didn’t want to ruin the progress I was making in moving into ketosis. So I did something I’ve never done before.

Wait for it…

I grabbed a packet of butter from the luncheon table and ate that!! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 I kept thinking if HFLC is good, then butter must be good. And, sure enough, that tablespoon or so of butter had me feeling perfectly normal again after about ten minutes.

The things we do in the name of “healthy” eating and losing weight, LOL! And thanks for all the congratulations from many of you; it’s so lovely to finally be finding the combination that’s working for me.

@jaifaim Good to have you back!!

@mariaelena While I agree entirely that true vacations deserve relaxed eating, I’ve done so much traveling since April that much of my time has been regaining ground lost on vacations, which doesn’t do anything for my ultimate goal of 125. So this conference was a time to eat lots, and go ahead and drink wine (although I ended up only with one glass!), but not abandon my HFLC determination. And if you’d seen me eating, I PROMISE I had lovely food, and lots of it, LOL! As to inlaws, you have my sympathy that your situation is so less than loving and warm. I have some experience with that, and know how wearing it can be on the soul and on morale.

@penz}
@flourbaby} What about boxes of wine, where it stays lovely for a month or longer; would that be helpful in limiting yourself to whatever quantity you chose?? When DH is joining me in wine, or on a Friday night, I open a bottle, but the rest of the week is often from a box so I can have a glass or two but not go nuts on an entire bottle. 🥴 🍷 😁 😇

@babs_b Nicely done on the inch gone, and I’m glad you have a reprieve on decision-making for your furry one.

@northgeorgia What a lovely number you again had! You’re clearly moving past the plateau that has plagued you for these past months!

Okay, we’re home, the suitcases are unpacked, I’ve chatted with all my forum friends, and now I need to deal with the mail that came while we were gone.

I look forward to hearing more reports from each of you as you have time to check in!

Day 22 – Minnesota – NFD

Hello to everyone.
My DH and I extended our vacation about a half week, and then when we got back I had much to do in order to catch up on daily life’s obligations.

I hope everyone is well……I have not read anything for the last 3 weeks. In fact, our vacation included no social media for the entire time. Dear family and friends sent texts as needed. That’s it.

I didn’t weigh myself, and still have not, and I didn’t count calories, ever. That was a lovely break after 14 months.

I think it best if I admit to not doing this challenge any justice, and remove myself from it, and I will pick up on challenges in November, if they are ongoing.

I can feel that my clothing is tight. But I think I’ll try for a very controlled week starting Monday, around 1000 a day, to ease back into 5:2, instead of trying to do a FD when I’m just not in the mindset to do one.

We had a wonderful, wonderful time away. It was much needed for us both. Beautiful scenery, great food and drink (too much of both), and treasured time with family and friends. One of our best holidays, all around.

I’m looking forward to having time this weekend to read the posts from the whole last month.

Be well and be safe, everyone.

Day 23 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@northgeorgia – way to go!! What an accomplishment, 62 lbs gone & over the halfway point! 🏆

@northerndawn – I’m not saying a word 🤐 except… 9 whole days left in October to get a head start on November! 😉

@mariaelena – wonderful news re finding a copy of your wedding video, so happy for you!

Have a great weekend everyone ⛅️ 🌈

“When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.”

Day 23 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: tried again after my grocery shop, and settled at 218 lbs. I may switch my FD to tomorrow as next week is a little complicated with a banquet.

@stitchincarol Thanks. Haha! Butter. Mmmmm 🙂 I love it! You make me want to take a stick of butter to work as lunch, take out my fork and knife, and call people into my office as I take a bite. LOL! Glad the little pat settled your jitters! How interesting.

@mariaelena What a surprise treasure to have received. Wonderful to hear, and the video clips project sounds amazing!

@funshipfreddie Yes, I feel like I’m back on my long journey downwards! I only have about one more set of clothes in storage I can switch out for a smaller size, so that’s pretty exciting. Sometime next year, once I’ve had to shop for even smaller sizes, I’ll donate all except one pair of trousers and a shirt from my largest weight. I have several containers in storage of “too big” clothes now, and only a few drawers full of smaller sized clothes inside, waiting 🙂

Enjoy the day, everyone.

2nd post

@stitchincarol My foot and leg cramps were bad once upon a time. Personally magnesium helped that problem go away. The latest research is questioning whether magnesium supplements truly help, but for me personally they were a game changer.

Are you getting enough calcium, magnesium and potassium? https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-muscle-cramps-foods

@stitchincarol – you could be on to something – coolth 😆 might indeed be the culprit.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/take-that-muscle-cramps

Day 24 UK NFD

Weekends just aren’t working right now . I will be having a rethink for November will try to end the month on a positive week 💪

Day 24. Ragusa Sicily

Our friend from London is coming to meet us for a week, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him. One thing I’ve really noticed, moving from different Airbnbs all the time, is how important mirrors are to how I ( we?) feel about ourselves. In one place there was a VERY flattering full length mirror which made me feel great, in another the whole wall opposite the bed ( not quite sure why but I could guess….) have a much more realistic picture, and I spent the whole time we were there feeling fat and fed up. Now we are in a place with no mirrors ( except in the bathroom – face only ..) and I feel fine again. BIG lesson there. I don’t think I’m in denial, but I hate disliking my body.

Day 24 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

This morning, I weighed 142.2 which is almost the 141.8 I weighed after my 65 hour WF. To say I was startled doesn’t cover it, LOL! I didn’t think I’d eaten so little yesterday, but clearly, I did eat little. I’m thankful for that, as I’ve already had a cinnamon roll (for brunch), and will have lasagna (for dinner at a gathering for 10 of us tonight), and am working hard to talk myself into swerving dessert. So, any progress I made yesterday will be so helpful to compensate for my food sins today! 😁😂🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I bought some pills yesterday (vitamins, etc) billed as effective for leg and foot cramps, and we put a second quilt on our bed, and I only had two tiny cramps before I fell asleep, so perhaps it truly was just a case of coolth. My fingers are crossed!

@northgeorgia Isn’t it funny how our bodies just suddenly lose and just as abruptly gain weight? You’ll shoot back down, I’m certain–probably at the same time I shoot back up! 😂🤣

@emma-taylor Wow, that’s insightful…and very true for me as well, and, I suspect, for many if not all of us. So what do we do with such insight?

@mariaelena I hope your afternoon has been calm and lovely and exactly what you’re longing for.

Outside, it’s raining, the wind has been blowing steadily, the leaves on the trees I can see are almost all yellow, and it’s a wonderful contrast to the warmth of inside, with a burning cinnamon-scented candle, surrounded by family I love. And, I must add, sitting on a butt that’s not as large as it used to be!!!!!! (That’s the best, right?)

Okay, with that, I’m signing off. See you all Monday morning!

Day 25 NFD country west Australia
Wow this month has certainly disappeared.😳😳
I have not been as diligent with reading and posting as I had hoped but trying to make it count from now on! 🤞
I always find I do better when I post daily and read the journey others are on.
Life has been unbelievably hectic but am trying to prioritise my health with 5:2 at least until Christmas and then into 2022.
Have maintained so it’s not a disaster but could be better!
@penz, how is it finally being out of lockdown??
Hi to all. Onward and downward.🙂

Day 25 UK FD

So what I’m doing at the mo is fine for maintenance- which I guess is an improvement for the last few months where I’ve been gaining but not enough for weight loss so I’m going to set new targets for November in the meantime hoping for a good last week

Kimchi still in its early fermentation stage , should be able to taste in a week or so thanks @lilymartin

Pocket List – Day 25 🍏
@penz
@high5
@brightonbelle

Here it is. Hope that works.

https://ne-np.facebook.com/discoverysicilyblog/videos/sicilian-train-journeya-very-special-thanks-to-the-world-most-scenic-railway-jou/273952910813207/

Day 25 – Rural Nebraska, USA – OMAD

We had a lovely time at our friends’ last night, I ate WAY too many carbs, slept like a log, and woke up at 145.6 lbs. Yuck, LOL! My contribution to dinner last night was a huge tossed green salad, and there’s plenty left for DH and me both to have a huge salad tonight, perhaps with shrimp and/or eggs for protein, so that will help overcome the damage of yesterday. It was sure a lovely evening and a lovely meal, however!

@penz We also are missing many of our regulars…I keep hoping to see them back; I miss them!

@lily-martin Well done on maintaining while you wait to start another downward path; that truly is tough, so you have every reason to feel some pride.

@high5 Thanks for the information on magnesium. I tried to replace my Magnesium Citrate on Saturday, and there wasn’t any on the shelf, but I did find at least four other kinds, so I’d already learned there were lots! I’ll keep my eye out for “Magnesium Breakthrough” and may even simply search it out.

@emma-taylor, Nope have no recollection of changing rooms ever being communal, thank goodness, LOL! And what a delightful video you linked for us; thanks so much!

@northgeorgia Nice weigh-in, but bummer on the continued tummy issues!

I’ve finally begun sewing down the binding on the quilt I finished and had quilted way back in June. Even with AC on, our summers are far too hot to be buried under a quilt while sewing down the binding, so this final step has had to wait until now. So I’ll do some hand sewing today, and some tidying (there’s always tidying…), and just have a wonderfully relaxed day after a long stretch of busy-busy-busy. It should be glorious!

Have a grand one, everyone!