Day 16 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 212 lbs. Got to drive an hour to a meeting, then I have a six or seven hour work day tomorrow. But, so it goes…

Have a great day!

Day 17 UK NFD

Quick check in , will catch up tomorrow x

Day 17 – 16:8

The temperatures are slightly cooling and I’m here for it! Mixing in some brisk long walks with my hula hoop cardio – got to keep the body guessing!

My weight is sitting stable since I returned, a few pounds above my happy point but just under my ‘top maintenance’ weight. I’m hoping my return to more scheduled eating and healthy choices is just taking some time to register on the scale.

The cats are fine, and were much admired at their annual vet visit. They are a bit clingy since our return, So I know our trip unnerved them, even though we had someone come over to play with them feed them and change the litter twice every day we were away. Poor dears.

I might just schedule a WF day next week, because I’m struggling with extreme and frequent hot flashes the past few weeks. The only correlation I can figure out is that when I eat (any food, no specific types) that triggers hours of these hot flashes. So my ZBC membership makes mornings easier – and I really could use a longer break. I have noted that the autumn weather, when it is cooler so the air conditioning doesn’t come on as often – can be an especially challenging time. I keep portable fans all over the place which helps some.

Well, it is sunny and 80° outside so I’m off for that walk! Have a happy weekend all!

Day 18 – UK Cam – NFD
Quick check in – all going well, trying to keep an eye on food intake between FDs and with the Queen’s funeral tomorrow there’s no volunteer garden work so FD will at home instead, with all the temptations! Today is a busy allotment day – clearing the plot for winter and planting up spring greens. DH feeling a bit better but weak so will be propping up the spade rather than using it! Think I shall get a good body workout, one way or another.

@northgeorgia – well done with the Saturday low – keep it down!
@mariaelena – what on earth is a hula hoop cardio? Visions of you twirling a hulahoop down the road in a tutu
@matpi – you will need to move the tent from the garden to the allotment – the conference pear tree is dripping with pears …

catch up with you all tomorrow!

Day 18 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 216 lbs. Celebrating my father’s birthday this evening, so likely to see an increase tomorrow. Will make Monday a FD. Then, not sure. Wednesday would be ideal, but there’s the lunch on site. I may have to do a B2B FD and deal with Wednesday on its own terms, but cautiously! LOL

I’m taking Thursday off and don’t plan to make that a FD.

Day 19 – Monday – Gold Coast Queensland Australia – FUN DAY (FD) 🥦🥬🥒🥑🍄🍄🍄🌶🥕🍅🍅🥦🥦

🥳🥳🥳 woohoo! 🥳🥳🥳 3 months + 2 days maintained goal weight! Happy days!😄

About to turn on the box to have the funeral proceedings in the background. I am very surprised that, with over 177000 COVID deaths in the UK, there is nary a facemask in sight. I suspect the UK might be in for yet another ‘wave’ of COVID after this. 😷😷😷 Watching it all from afar has been very interesting and feels like the end of an era. Britain does tradition and ceremony like no other country in the world …. and, because of the great 21st century tech advances and electronic media, it has been a privilege to be able to watch it all from the comfort of home.

Today has been busy, as was the weekend, nevertheless on track with my FUN DAY today. Today also had a government funded Heart Health Check …. apparently I’ve missed this little joy and ‘slipped through the net’ as our government wants people between 45-75 to do this annually…. who knew? Anyway, all done ✅ This business of being a LOCA is full of little surprises!

2022 has been quite a year and now it”s time to tune into London…

cheerie dearies

Thought:
We might not be able to predict what the future holds but we do have a certain amount of control over the course our futures will take.

The week’s events certainly bring some reflection about life, the universe and everything. 42.

Day 19 pocket list:
@northgeorgia
@penz
@i-hate-lettuce
@linda.b

Day 19 UK NFD

Postponing FD until tomorrow see you then 👋

Day 19 – NFD

I did my regularly scheduled M fast yesterday while I was recovering from a migraine. And today, husband surprised me with some fast food hash browns – fried salty potatoes are my kryptonite – so an unusual non ZBC day.

We had a surprise this weekend in the backyard- a stray cat who had made his home in our yard for approximately 5 years was obviously not happy with mama cat and family so he slowly stopped coming by this spring. He is a friendly one (to people, not other cats so much) and we missed him. Well, he’s back! He yapped at me and let me pet him when he took some food so he does remember me 😀. The neighborhood does a lot of trap-neuter-release and Shadow (our name for him) has the indicative ear notch – we mulled over taking him in, but except for the frigid winter sheltering in our warm garage it is pretty obvious he doesn’t want to be an indoor cat. I’m very glad he’s well ( my research says he must be a pretty old age for a stray) – he looked good and is still the sweetest thing. I hope he winters in our garage again this coming year.

@matpi – yes separation anxiety is a thing my cats definitely have. Particularly one of them with me and another with my DH. I wish we could explain things to them.

@gardenlily I try to get cardio in every day, and my hula hooping around the waist became too easy to get my heart pumping so I started adding dancing, marching in place, walking and side stepping to the mix while keeping the hoop up. I’m working on one legged hooping but can only balance on one leg for about 30 seconds while hooping. I stretch out by doing the old ballet 1st-5th positions while hooping – that is quite the challenge too. Really anything I can think of to keep it fresh and challenging is on the table.

Well, the day started off 😈 naughty with the eating front, so I’m going to pay special attention to eat well the rest of the day. While with the calories from the hash browns will eliminate any chance of a FD 800, I plan to keep under 800 for the remainder.

So many of you are following the funeral for the Queen of England, and I hope you find some closure and solace from it. It is fascinating to think how much changed during her lifetime and reign.

I’m off and sending goodwill to all!

Day 19 UK NFD
Day 18 NFD
Day 17 NFD

It’s been a full on weekend with DD staying, church activities and today the Queen’s funeral. I’d forgotten the extra work of having two people’s schedules in my head as it’s been such a long time since she’s been here. Really good to see her in this window of early radiotherapy before the side effects kick in – first time she’s visited in 10 months, which is the longest ever.

Yesterday it was good to be at church with a special service for the Queen. After a lunchtime meeting I spent a few hours back in church welcoming visitors, directing to condolence book and candles and listening to their stories. It was such a privilege to simply be present with people at this time.

No fasting happened here or even CD, but neither has there been any big blow out, toh a lot more carb than usual and I’ve definitely not drunk enough the whole weekend. Friday had sugar in the form of oat-milk choc ice and baby jacket potatoes, Sat carb in the form of GF gnocchi and homemade oat sodabread with linseed, raisin & cinnamon; Sunday baked sweet potato and a popcorn bar I usually only make sodabread to take to community events but made it for DD, and then ate half! Amazingly this morning I was still weighing in at 174lb but I suspect that will be up tomorrow 🙂

I’m thinking of b2b FDs from Tues-Thurs, beginning with a LFD. I know it worked for me the last two weeks so even tho it’s a hard switch after all this carb that’s what I’ll be doing. It’s a busy day tomorrow with DD in the morning, PA assistance and mother visiting plus a huge pile of project work to get in for next month’s conference. Weds I’m in town all day and Thurs is full again so that should keep me on the straight and narrow!

Hope all is going well with you all

Day 20 – UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Another day in the brewery today, that may just have the stock level back to normal so there’s plenty conditioning in the bottles which takes a month or so.
I was asked recently about beer drinking and 5:2 WOL, it’s an easy answer, just like anything else don’t overdo it and stick to light ‘blonde’ beers with a low ABY of 4% or less.
The advantage of Craft brewed beer is it doesn’t contain any chemicals, the only ingredients are malted barley, water, hops and yeast, nothing else. So many ‘health drinks’ have a list of additives or ‘enhancers’ that people don’t realise.

@matpi – Any walk I do alone is a MOAM walk, (Mrs IHL is only a smallhausen and can’t keep up, so when we’re out together it is a stroll) we’re lucky to have a lot of good walks from the doorstep, however to answer your question …

I do the same circuit when it is purely for exercise, from home a gentle uphill walk, then across the top of the village to the bottom of a long steady climb where I push on. At the top of the hill turn around and ‘coast’ back down, then a circular route back to home. I do occasionally head off on my own for a longer walk but my ‘exercise route’ is about 2 miles and takes about 25 minutes depends who I meet en route.

Take care all

Day 20 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 213 lbs. Second FD of my B2B FD. Need to show something for my efforts in 2022 other than a plateau! So, I keep trying! Too much post-pandemic celebrating with friends and family, I think. But I need to watch my snacking and other NFD choices, too. I think some small changes could have a bigger impact. Onwards we go…

Pocket List
@goal10kg
@northgeorgia

Day 20 UK FD

OK trying to reset again ! Nothing seems to be working for me just now , guess I just need to try harder

Pocket List, Day 20
@goal10kg
@northgeorgia
@stitchincarol WF
@brightonbelle

Day 20 UK WFD

Well I slept like the dead last night and alarm went off mid-dream – sign I need more sleep! After a more carbtastic weekend I weighed in back up at 176lb which keeps me well motivated for my b2b2b this week.

I finally did some morning stretching – a sudden realisation that if not now, when? – so I did! Only 15 mins gentle stretch and focus on the breath but I’ve had a much more chilled, centred day which motivates me to repeat tomorrow. A short time daily is better than a longer time never!

DD went home in time for afternoon radiotherapy and my 84yo mother came for our weekly tea visit. In between I’ve plugged away at project stuff, mostly around next month’s conference – amazing how much more time there is in the day when not eating.

I’ve had 4 decaf black coffees, two marmite teas and around a litre of water thus far, so I’ll make a flask of ginger tea and take that and water to bed. Time for a relaxing soak in the bath and a lovely early night. I’m off into town tomorrow 12-9.30 with some visiting Swedes but keen to get some yoga and project work done first thing.

@penz I hope you find the headspace soon. I know how hard it is when it just won’t come xx

@matpi your yesterday sounds like a mare – some days need turning off and turning on again!

@goal10kg lovely to have your holiday nearly here – where are you off to?

@funshipfreddie thanks for the link!

@northgeorgia hope your second day of b2b has gone well

@stitchincarol well done for noticing – now for action. I found this so helpful:
‘ @matpi I remember your comment about NFD eating being rather like just getting out of prison abandon, and @northgeorgia I remember your comment about you not doing the basics–housecleaning, healthy cooking–with any regularity.’
That’s exactly it – eating tons on a NFD bc we’ve been released, and getting out of the habit of all the things which sustain us healthily. I’m now finding the opposite – finally back in the fasting zone, I’m having baths and earlier nights, doing my chore routines morning and evening, just restarted morning stretching and meditation. They definitely come together – but where to start? Paying attention, and starting something, knowing that intention plus action make progress toward a goal. And once the momentum has begun it’s so much easier to maintain, either towards health or away from it…

@mariaelena i would swear by phytoV which has restored my energy levels post covid from perhaps 25% to 80% of pre-covid levels

Missing some lovely regulars… If anyone is lurking do drop in and say hello, no matter what.

Pocket List, Day 20
@goal10kg
@northgeorgia
@stitchincarol WF
@michelinme WFD b2b

Day 21, FD800, AUS

Hi all! I’ve been off-forum most of September, and just enjoyed a nice long catch up on everyone’s progress.

A really helpful aspect of the forum for me has been recognising patterns that emerge through writing stuff down and sharing updates on a regular basis.

That has helped me see that a major hindrance to eating well and exercising regularly is my workload: mid-semester when teaching and with a large service/admin role means I could probably work 24hrs a day and still not keep up, and the expectations in the university system here is that everything will just magically get done, even if it means we have crushing loads. That whole Great resignation/quiet quitting movement is really starting to make sense to me!

Over the last few weeks I have been really pushing myself – leading to more dinners out/takeaways, wine and treats, and a lot less exercise.

I’m thinking about the extent to which I can change this, and the extent to which I have to accept it, and then use the non-teaching periods to prioritise health and not feel guilty about it.

But I had never really recognised the extent to which the weeks of looooong days were adding up before.

Did my first FD500 this month yesterday, and already feel less bloated, and am planning an FD800 today. Hopefully will get back on track, and lose those extra cms about my belly!

Day 21 – UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Gradually emerging again from my self imposed ‘rest’ and social media, this is about the only site I’ve come across where it’s pretty much ‘support’ and no keyboard warriors!

For anyone ‘rebooting’ or losing the mojo.
Funny how missing calling in for a month or so hasn’t affected my 5:2 WOL, after 3+ years it’s become a habit. I just seem to be chugging along in maintenance mode, which is very handy. I carry on keeping it simple, 2 FD’s a week, flexible if needed as to which days and the other 5 well, just eat healthily and smaller portions than I used to. Yes I still have ‘treats’ occasionally, but now the ‘Inner Warthog’ has been banished large meals etc have gone. In fact I’d struggle to eat the amounts I used to, there’s a bit of a clue in that. Confession time … the Inner Warthog was actually me all the time and once I got my head around that and did something about it, the rest is pretty much there!

@penz – Re your observations about ‘walking the dog’ isn’t necessarily being good exercise due to constant stoppages! It’s amazing how many dog walkers I pass twice on my MOAM walks, once on the way out and again when I’m on my way home, they’ve often not covered more than a few hundred yards.

Take care all

Day 21 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

Quick check-in. Planning a much-needed FD tomorrow. I really need to knuckle down for the last 10 days of September to stay at my goal weight.

@mariaelena – I used to have an entire daily vitamin/mineral regime. I would take maybe 8 or 9 different supplements of things I thought I might be lacking in my diet. I probably wasn’t lacking anything; I think my compulsion was simply a testament to the power of advertising. It got a bit ridiculous, not to mention expensive. So now I take just one multivitamin/mineral supplement per day, whether I need to or not 😅

@litprof – welcome back!

It’s a lovely, cool spring day, so I’m off for an i-hate-lettuce-style MOAM walk along the sea-front. 🚶‍♂️

Happy Hump Day! 🐫

Pocket List – Day 21 🍋
@litprof

Day 21 UK FD

Yesterday’s WFD swerved to pick up some late evening vegan cheese, tomato and cucumber totalling around 300 calories. This morning I woke feeling de-puffed (sounds more positive than deflated!) and back down the weekend’s 3.5lbs to just under Friday’s 173lb. That has me well motivated for today’s 2nd of 3 b2b FDs 🙂

I’m off into town at midday to spend the afternoon/evening with some visiting ministers from Sweden. I’ve scheduled a London leg for their 5 day trip to the UK learning about inclusive and inter-faith projects. Taking my laptop so I can catch up with other stuff while they are in their various conversations, and aiming to steer clear of the delicious snacks and treats on offer as we have our teatime meeting.

My fortnightly fruit & veg box arrived today full of autumn abundance – tender broccoli, green beans, carrots, aubergine, enormous misshapen potatoes, yellow peppers, red tomatoes, baby spinach and a round orange squash and some shiny persimmon. I’m finding it a wonderful way to shape my menu around the seasons and my meals around veg. Already thinking about carrot & ginger soup, stuffed peppers, roast aubergines – and making my leftover veg into beetroot & sweet potato dal. I’m eating a lot less instant vegan food since I started fasting b2b, and thinking more carefully about cooking from scratch, giving time and space to cook properly a few days a week. Each of these healthier steps seem to lead to the next one… such a relief after a LONG time in the wilderness, slogging away but not really motivated or getting anywhere.

Okay, time to get on!

@litprof welcome back! Yes, I find the writing down and support/insight from the group SO helpful
@penz the plans sound good! Hope the mojo sneaks back in with every passing salad

Pocket List Day 21
@litprof
@michelinme b2b

Day 21 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD

I’m still not certain I want to do a regular FD today; after a WF yesterday, and another tomorrow, there’s every possibility my inner child will rebel by Friday if I push too hard. I have a salad and hamburger patty (total of about 480 calories) planned for supper, but if I just “can’t” get through it, I’ll make some deviled eggs for lunch; that will be healthy and not dramatically high in calories.

I did lots and lots of thinking yesterday and one important fact has emerged. Perhaps some of you remember that I used to do all my “thinking” on piano lesson days (T & TH) and I’d be all fired up with my plan, the tiny details of implementing it, and very excited about the prospect of losing weight. Yesterday, I suddenly realized I haven’t been excited at all at any point this summer. That thrilled anticipation of losing weight? Gone.

There has to be a direct correlation.

I even know why there’s been no thrilled anticipation: I’ve carefully avoided encouraging myself because I was afraid I’d take that encouragement as permission to misbehave (eat more). Silly, huh? Instead, I’ve been trying to take myself firmly in hand. I think the success that has enjoyed is obvious.

Now, to be fair, let’s remember I’ve been on two vacations just since August 28, that I’ve had two conventions over the summer, a birthday celebration, a Labor Day lake party, and etc., etc., etc. Which doesn’t mean I COULDN’T have eaten well, little, and sensibly, but that it was a huge challenge, and I wasn’t equal to the challenge.

But I am today reclaiming my abilities. I’m encouraging myself with excited anticipation, and dropping the “take myself firmly in hand” approach–that’s far too negative an approach for success with me. (I know people for whom that works; I’m not one of them.)

And that’s where my thinking yesterday led me.

😜🥰💪

I hope all this thinking out loud helps someone else. For me, the keys are
* Excited anticipation
* Promising myself and then following through on my promise
* RESOLVE
* and more RESOLVE
* All based on excited anticipation

It’s all mental, after all, right?

Pocket List Day 21
@litprof
@michelinme b2b
@stitchincarol

Day 21 – UK Cam – FD
Missed a couple of days – been hectic here. DH had his hospital appointment despite the royal funeral; my dear friend’s mother, aged 101, died in the middle of the night; another friend just out of hospital, unable to drive needed a lift into town plus another friend’s partner, recently admitted to a care home with dementia broke his tooth so I was taxi to and from the dentist while she persuaded him I was not abducting him! All a bit of a nightmare. I shall be very glad to go off on holiday on Friday – I am more than ready!

Monday’s FD went very well and I opted to do an 800 FD today as my usual FD on a Thursday just won’t happen this week (altho’ I may try another 800 day tomorrow as I shall very busy). I don’t know about anyone else here, but when I go on holiday I like to try and leave the house clean and tidy which means masses of laundry, housework etc I guess I don’t want any potential burglar to find a dirty, untidy home!!

I have just sorted out the online grocery order for our holiday cottage – goodness knows if the delivery van will actually find us, we will be 2.5 miles up an estate track with cattle grids, gates and very narrow with only a few passing places (not that there is any traffic apart from Jo with his quadbike and a sheep on the back) . One thing about self-catering holidays, we get to choose the food and I have really made an effort to ensure that there is good, healthy stuff in the order as well as some nice treats. We tend to eat ‘hot-pot’ meals (in the pot in morning, leave all day and eat at night) but then there are the puds …

Glancing back over the recent posts I can’t help but notice some of us are struggling – I have only been on this WOL for a few months so can’t really give advice. So far I find it working for me but some days it is a struggle not to give in and stuff my face. When I get that urge which seems to override commonsense, I try to ask myself WHY do I want to eat that chocolate bar/packet of biscuits etc and usually it is because I am bored/tired/sad or want to treat myself. I recall one comment- don’t give yourself food as a treat, you’re not a dog (paraphrased) – and that really resonates with me. Perhaps take a moment to think about why you want to eat more than you need?

Enough rambling from me – see you all tomorrow!

Day 22 – UK – FD

Good morning everyone

FD today and busy so expecting an easy fasting day.

@stitchincarol – Yup, it’s all in the mind and once you can control it you’re there, but that needs willpower and determination. The one thing I think of now is I like feeling like this, keep focussed.

@gardenlily – Have to agree with your post about snacks and treats, we’ve pretty much stopped buying snacks and treats for the store cupboard, found it easier if they’re not in the house. Yes we do occasionally have ‘treats’ etc but when we’re away on holiday, but even then we don’t bother as much.

Take care all

pocket list day 22
@i-hate-lettuce

Day22, FD, Scotland

Hey everyone, well I ate a lot of crap last night, cake, crisps, the lot. So im raring to go today! I have my vegan salad for lunch and my chicken sausage, veg and bean concoction for dinner. I have a basil plant that I cant quite keep up with, its always full of fresh basil! So instead of spice, i think ill try mixing some basil through my dinner. Metafit class after work. Lets go Thursday fasters!

Pocket List – Day 22 🍏
@i-hate-lettuce
@funshipfreddie
@goal10kg