Pol, that’s good to know…thank you. I just hope I can restart my weight loss and be more mindful of what I’m eating. I inched just above 500 calories yesterday, so I did just fine, and today, I’m eating light in anticipation of our usual Friday night meal at a favorite Mexican restaurant. I love this way of eating and know what I need to stay clear of so I don’t sabotage myself. Your advice to Marie Anne is so true–don’t have anything in the house that’s a tempting trigger.

My next FD is Sunday. I received both of Mimi’s books, so I’ll be picking out a few recipes to make next week, so the NFDs are healthy eating days.

Happy weekend, everyone!

1st post on here… so here goes. I am 63 years old, male and just finished my 1st month. 8 fasts. Lost 9 lbs and am pretty happy with that.

The fasting days have been relatively easy for me – I do find that eating late in the day works better for me than eating earlier. My feed days are harder for me than the fast days as I am concerned of not going to much back. Some days early on I have eaten to much junk but have found I have slowly cut this down. I also, find that I am skipping or prolonging eating breakfast.

Month 2 is next Monday and this month I will start to integrate exercise. The plan is for some spin biking at home and Daily burn for about 30 minutes a day at least 5 days per week. Hopefully this will keep the weight and fat coming off. My present goal is another 15 lb loss.

Hello In it to thin it …

For the next month I will just be acclimating my self just to the habit of the 5 days a week of exercise. On the spin bike I will just be starting with about 20 minutes at a time at whatever pace allows me to complete the time. The Daily burn workouts are anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes for the beginner program. My main goal is to solidify the habit.

On one of the forums a member mentioned watching some videos from Butter Bob – they are very interesting and inspiring. I have also listened to the 5:2 Diet podcast with Kate Harrison – which is good as well. I try to daily feed my head with these things to keep the motivation going as well as giving me insights on staying on track.

I live in Hagerstown Maryland.

Hi, to our two newbies from wet North Wales, where I am envying nr’s 70 degrees.

We had our U3A dinner at ex-pupil’s restaurant on Thursday and it went down as well as I expected. For the first time since I started 5:2 I actually ate three courses. However, I had suggested that he makes them on the smaller size, more lunchtime portions, so that worked.

I had my breakfast at 1pm as usual. It’s a bad day today for me, though. Horrible weather and only boring jobs to do, so I’m longing for one of the small chocolate bars stashed in the fridge. They’ve been there for over a month, but are calling me today. Perhaps the confession will make me strong enough to resist. I put on a pound this week, but am still under my amended, downwards target.

Pol

Morning, everyone. The thread has gone very quiet. How are you all doing?

We’re ticking over, with me still maintaining, OH still evading settling down to that final stone loss. It’s proving expensive, with three new pairs of trousers for him and loads for undies for me.

Pol🙋🏼

Hi, all.

I have heard about 800 calories, but only in the reverse diabetes diet, otherwise Newcastle. Not convinced that it works, though. I don’t know about IF on 800, it might be easier initially. I hope you can turn things around before you see your doctor. Avoiding any sort of medication is best, especially when you think of travel insurance costs!

Where are you, in it to thin it? My son and co are in Princeton. The boys were excited about having some snow. Probably stir crazy by now as they wont be going to school and crèche today. Son and daughter in law will be taking turns to work at home.

Pol.

You’re doing well, mddharma. I’m ticking over between 9 st 126 lbs and a couple more. I definitely do not want to go under 126. At our age it’s very easy to look gaunt, as I do on my 50th birthday photos. I’ll be 70 soon and if I could put a pound on each cheek, I would.

How’s everyone else doing? The thread is very quiet. 🙋🏼

Hi Rocy65-

I’m in the same boat. Have been since Super Bowl Sunday back in February.

I’ve also been trying to get back into my groove for the last 2 weeks. Had one clean week then blew it. Now I’m in another clean week. Or let’s say I’m calling it “clean” despite some minor slips. But I’m headed into my second week still feeling resolved and determined.

This has happened to me before in the 1.25 years I’ve been doing IF. The good thing about IF is I *can* claw my way back even after a couple months of indulgence — along with the attendant size increases. And, *if* I’m beginning to see a pattern it’s getting back to where I was plus making some progress before some big event comes up to trigger another out of control period of debauchery and indulgence.

*If* this becomes my pattern I can live with it.

ANYwaaaay, what I came here to tell you is that it *can* be done and when I get in my groove I find that the pattern becomes very helpful to me. It’s as though my body wants the assurance — that my brain already has — that my periods of fast will be followed by my periods of food and that — once I get my insulin cycle back in control sans the sugar and carbs — I won’t be plagued by the compulsions of insulin-driven faux hunger.

So hang in there. And if it helps to know you have company, I’m out here too putting up the same good fight. And I’ll share your success when we get this rolling again!

I’m 66 and just completed my second FD after a break of about 18 months. For me, it’s made a big difference to be able to go up to 800 calories (although both times I managed it on only 700). Let’s see how we go!

Hi, chubster, NR and newbies. I’ve been maintaining for six months, now and coming up to my anniversary date on 5:2.
Like NR, OH and I have found that our appetites reduced quite quickly and we simply cannot eat the huge portions as we did. Yesterday we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Prezzo – a shared hummus starter, light pizza with salad for me, meal balls with pasta for him and affogato afterwards. We had a bottle of wine, too.

The difference from before was that was our only meal. I had three satsumas at 8 for the fruit and vitamin C. Previously, I’d have had a big fat sandwich later and would have had breakfast in the morning. We were eating by time, rather than hunger. We never have three meals a day now. Saves money, but we’ve bought loads of new clothes!

Pol. 🙋🏼

LAchubster Thank you for posting! I didn’t do too well last week, I seem to be able to do 16/8 but haven’t been able to do a full fast day. This weekend the sun came out and that did it shorts and tshirt weather but only in the confines of my own garden! I worked most of the day weeding and clearing, felt good till yesterday when I really felt very stiff! But it was a beautiful day so OH and I went on a 20 mile bike ride! This morning I’m actually feeling ok but need to do some pilates to losen up!!
I am planning to fast tomorrow and will keep you and Northrancher in mind knowing we’re together on getting back on 5.2 track.

Pollypenny well done for maintaining! I love your mantra ‘eatig by hunger not by time’. You’re realky fotuneate to be doing this with your OH, mine is really not helpful and probably the reason why I’m finding getting back on track hard. He is able to eat vast amounts without putting on weight. I’m going to put up a big sign in the kitchen to remind him I’m fasting, hopefully that will help! I know I should have more willpower!

Surely the 800cals Sugar Free Diet is the one Dr M has devised for diabetics? I have read the book and makes absolute sense. Very hard to stick to unless you are type 2 diabetic, with all the awful effects on your body. Not sure if it would work on the 5.2 regime.

Is not the idea of fasting to give your system a rest from digesting food to give your body the opportunity to repair? I know that when I fast for a minimum of 24hours, then have a small 400/500 cal meal, my health is better and my arthritis is less painful!

This is why I’m getting so frustrated at being so weak willed! The benefits of fasting are amazing. I know this so must get back on track!!

Good luck to us all this week.

Hi, I would love to join your thread. I have been posting on another thread, but it is so large I am struggling to keep up.
I am 62 and a retired teacher. Exercise has always been an important part of my life, but I managed to be fit AND fat. I lost about 20 lbs before Christmas, but haven’t really jumped back on the wagon since then. I fast on Monday and Thursday, but life often gets in the way and I find I have to ‘reset’ an indulgent weekend. I have a touring caravan and regular weekends away seem to sabotage my efforts. I would like to lose another 10 lbs or so, but that will mostly be dictated by my waist measurement. Most of me is thin now except sadly my waist, so my main goal is to reduce that.

Hi all,

Im 55 and i started the 5:2 diet 3 weeks ago, i started at 74kg and i am now 71kg, so 3kg so far lost.
Fingers Crossed i keep on losing weight.

JuJuDider hi and good luck!, I’m 69 in June and started 5.2 last May. I did really well losing over 2.5stone, got to within 6lbs of target. Since Dec I lost my way a bit and put on 7lbs! I am now back on track, my head in the right place! My first target is lose the weight put on, preferably by my anniversary on May 1st!
5.2 really does work!

nellybly well done, you’re really into it!

Non fast/ controlled eating days have been my problem so I’m going back to what I did last Year reduce carbs, konjak noodles/rice replace those and no bread! Main thing is to plan plan plan!!!
Happy fastingx

Hi, to newbies. We’re off to Thailand tomorrow, tonight at airport hotel, so final weigh-in. I’ve lost a pound since Friday, in spite of Cadbury’ mini eggs. OH, who hasn’t weighed for three weeks, has put on 2 and a half pounds!

He was so pleased with himself to lose 3 stone, now I can see it creeping back!

Debster, you sound as if you put the weight on for the same reason as we did. I’m also a retired teacher and I think I missed the bouncing around the classroom and striding the long corridors.

Juju, I’ll be 70 on Easter Sunday.
Good luck and good discipline, everyone.

Pol. 💁🏼

Are you in the UK, debster? I’m in North Wales. I taught English in a large, very good comprehensive. Loved it, apart from the marking load and final line manager.

Pol 💁🏼

I just wanted to pop in to say “Happy Birthday” Pol! Enjoy your trip and safe travels!

And, JuJu, good luck with your fasting this week. I’m in the same boat and find pre-planning helpful to staying on track. I switched up my fasting days, so today is Day 1 for this week. Doing oatmeal this morning and a Lean Cuisine tonight, an apple or greek yogurt in between if needed. Getting my nails done mid-afternoon to keep me busy during my hungriest part of the day.

Have a great day everyone!

Hi everyone,
A reasonably controlled fast day yesterday. I went slightly over but I won’t fuss over that. I’m off in my touring caravan tomorrow for Easter and therein lies my problem. Since retiring, we’ve been away so much. We go away with friends and it’s inclined to be an excuse to make merry. I want to keep today pretty controlled too and stay focused when we’re away. I have a wedding to go to at the end of May and would like to be little lighter for that. Fasting never seems to be a problem for me, it’s the days in between!
@nellybly you seem to have got a real handle on this!
@norhrancher getting your nails done seems like a great way of keeping busy on a fast day.
@Rocy 65 is it milk or water kefir you take? I never got on with the milk variety but drink the water type daily.
@juju I struggle with water too. I keep a jug in the fridge and put a slice of lemon, orange, mint or anything that takes my fancy in it to make it more interesting.
We can do this everyone! Have a good day.

@curiouser – Great thread and I know how you feel (or felt) about keeping going. I feel exactly the same way – especially if I don’t see results! I have just started this diet and am trying a different mindset this time to try not to fall at the first hurdle. I am:

• Not weighing myself (controversial I know!) because lack of movement on the scales is too depressing. I will go by how I feel and the fit of my clothes.
• Keeping busy on fasting days – I do mine on days when I attend an evening dance class because I find that (a) the exercise supresses my appetite and (b) I am not sitting around all evening thinking about food. I treat myself to a nice hot bubble bath when I get home with an ice cold flavoured water – I look forward to it!
• Planning ahead, making gallons of homemade veg soup for fast days and freezing it.
• Walking the dog lots – he is so much fitter and loves fast days!
• Not eating on fast days until I really feel hungry which is usually past lunchtime.
• Not worrying too much if I can’t do 2 days fasting – next week will be difficult as it is Easter and I am going away for a few days so will do one fast and hopefully not too much damage will be done.

I notice you have had significant results since you have started which much be so encouraging and is such am inspiration for me 

Would love to know what other little tips helps everyone get through a fast day.
Dx

Have you read The Obesity Code by Jason Fung?
I now do 24 hour fasts and find them much easier and cheaper than 500 calories/day. I have lost weight and inches on the 5:2 but have struggled to shrink my waist anymore. Fung talks about the body set weight and how longer fasting helps to change that. It makes sense that the body regulates itself and tries hard to maintain the status quo by reducing calorie expenditure when we consume less as well as the urge to eat more so that we regain the weight lost.

Fung views obesity as a multifactorial problem which I have found very interesting. For me longer fasts, plenty of sleep, less stress and I have given up rice and pasta(they just make me sleepy and sluggish as well as drive me to eat more and more) as well as reducing sugar have all helped me to shrink further. I eat fish or meat with salad or vegetables, nuts, full fat milk, cheese and nuts and fruit. I feel much better eating this food and my body continues to change shape.

P

artisan02 …… you could be my twin! I am also 66, short and round in the middle (!) – I am on blood pressure medication, also asthmatic and have had recent foot surgery (not hips). I also did about 8 months of 5:2 about 18 months ago and then somehow fell by the wayside. I too have been reading the 8 week Blood Sugar Diet and wondering if that’s the best way forward and if I have the willpower to do it for 56 consecutive days! I have decided for the time-being to stick to 2 x 800 cals Fast Days because the weight seems to be shifting and is much more do-able for me than the 500 cals. I thought that, next week, I would go up to 3 days a week and possibly even up to 5 Fast Days. Michael Mosley mentioned in his book on the Blood Sugar Diet (or rather, it was in his wife’s cookbook) that many people do the 5 days a week (at 800 cals) and then have a slightly more relaxed 2 days. I will see if I can work towards doing that. 16:8 works for me on Fast Days too and I have given up sugar and refined carbs.
Good Luck … let me know how you decide to proceed.

starting week 11 this morning. Today is a fast day. I have lost 18 lbs in the first 10 weeks – which has made me very happy. Next step on my goal is 190 lbs – 6 lbs more to go. I am thinking on working on dropping another 10 lbs from there, which would put me at a weight for me not seen since I was 30. The 196 lbs I weighed on Friday is the lowest weight for me maybe in 15 -20 years.

5:2 has been working for me. I have made sure on my fast days I stay at the 600 calories or lower. I have found the one meal on FD in the evening works best for me. When I tried to split meals on a FD I found myself thinking too much of the next feeding on those days. Where knowing I am just eating one meal after 6:00 frees me from that.

The morning after fasts I have been skipping any type of food as I an not hungry and find myself starting to eat on feed days after 1:00 PM.

During the first 10 weeks I have also found myself on feed days not thinking or obsessing for snacks like before starting 5:2. Perhaps that is because when I eat on the feed days I am eating a good size meal and more and more – the meals are cleaner meals.

Wishing everyone success in their efforts.

Hello to Glyn99 and Zenhampster. Glyn, I am a month away from my 69th birthday but have 6 inches in height on you. I started this back in 2013 and have returned recently . Like many others I have experimented to find what works for me. I have done days similar to zenhampster and also water fasts of between 24 and 55 hrs duration. Have done back to back, 18 – 6 and almost every thing in between. I change my fasting days or add more days as and when it suits me to do so. No it is not always easy but once into the rhythm of 5:2 then yes it does get easier. Just remember that a lot of the benefits of fasting are not seen because our inner body improves as a result. Whatever we do, do it to suit our selves to make our 5:2 fasting a way of life.
Good luck out there.

Losing weight is tough. I have been trying for several years. I wanted to be at my best health for me when I hit 50. Then I changed to 60. I turned 66 last month and discovered 5:2 plans from my son and daughter-in-law. I didn’t think it would work for me like it did for them since they are young. I started researching and happened upon this site somehow. Anyway I started trying to work the program two weeks ago. I have lost 9 or 10 pounds which I have not been able to do before. I do have some health issues like most of do at our age, but will get in to that later if you accept me into your group. I am an Amerian not Canadian, but have visited a few cities in Canada 🇨🇦 and love it! Thanks, Gail

13 weeks finished now and down 21 lbs. The going for the last 3 weeks has slowed in terms of weight loss – but still losing. My fast days continue to be no problem – especially as now I am pretty set in my ways to just eating 1 meal at the end of the day. I have found for me, knowing I have only one meal, 🙂 eating seems to escape my thoughts throughout the day as it is a Fast Day. On some days when the time comes to eat on Fast Day I start debating whether to make it a 36 hour fast – but that hasn’t happened yet 🙂 . The hardest part of this system are the feed days. I normally do not eat until after 12 or 1 and try to stay in an 8 hour window. However, sometimes the food choices during those times are not the best. But, as with a lot of things in life, this The 5:2 Fast Diet is a practice. The more I practice the material the better I will be.