Greetings to all newcomers, regulars, and those we haven’t seen in a while. Welcome to a new monthly challenge: Salubrious September! It has been a difficult year for us all with the ongoing Coronavirus health crisis, and believe it or not, autumn is already in the air. But there is some great news: this is going to be a fantastic month for losing weight and approaching better health! Please pat yourselves on the back for making this decision. Just being here and challenging yourself to do this for at least one month (You can do anything for one month, can’t you???) means you’ve got at least one foot on the right path. Be sure to set realistic goals, be kind to yourself, fight hard, think big, and believe in yourself. We didn’t put on the weight overnight, so we shouldn’t expect to lose it overnight, but slow and steady will win the race!
In May 2016, @coda started the very first of the monthly challenges, and they continue to be an invaluable and unique source on the Internet for amazing support, advice and friendship, providing many of us the motivation to start and continue on our 5:2 journey. These challenges are the ULTIMATE aid to success!!!
There are no hard and fast rules to follow, but we’ll stick with what has always worked:
• DO start your post with the day of the month; your location (as general as you like, no stalkers please), as it’s nice to see just how international we are; and the type of day you intend to have (FD,NFD, WFD, CD etc see list below) For example, if you join in from Manchester, UK on September 14 with your first day of fasting your first line might read, “Day 14 — Manchester, UK — FD” If you want to make a new post in the same day, feel free to do so, just put “second post” or “third post,” etc., as your first line.
• Do briefly introduce (or re-introduce) yourself in the very first post, what are you hoping to achieve from this Way of Life (WOL), and your journey so far (including ups, downs & the dreaded plateaus)! Also if you want to share, include your starting weight and any other measurements (waist, hip, neck, etc.) you aim to keep track of throughout the month. You can record this on the spreadsheet if you would like. You can include these in the posts if you’d like. Or you can choose to do neither.
• You can add as much or as little to your posts as you want or as time dictates, as we all have lives to live!!! Questions, queries, thoughts, musings, moans, secrets (non-criminal only!!), and of course successes. In fact, anything you feel like you want to share with the rest of us strangers, anonymity has its rewards!! Had a good day? – Let us know. Had a bad day? – Let us know. Hanging on for dear life by your last remaining fingernail? – Definitely let us know; there’s always someone here ready to drag you back onto the wagon!!!
• Log on as many times as you want to, as there’s always someone online. That is the beauty of this international forum — we cater for ALL time zones😂!!! There will be someone to answer any queries, or offer support & advice if you need it!!!
Originally there were small groups doing their own mini-challenges (B2B2Bs, LFDs etc) – called ‘pocket fasters’ or ‘pocketeers.’ They would set a target and support each other through it, either by writing down the list of participants and keeping it in their pockets or just by visualising fellow pocketeers which would give them much needed support if things got tough!
Recently, there have just been FD pocket lists along with some other mini challenges/groups such as DTF (Dry ‘til Friday), ZBC (Zero Breakfast Club), and 30-minute exercise daily lists. In the past there were also pocket lists such as Egg fasters, Hula-hoopers, Plank challengers, and Club Tor-twah🐢 for those finding themselves in a super slow weight loss period! Anyone can start or join one of these groups or even start a Pocket List – it’s entirely up to you.
You may have some questions that have already been answered, so try this wonderful thread from @simcoeluv below:
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/
I would like to personally thank @at for providing us with this month’s spreadsheet, which will be posted in a separate entry later.
Best wishes to all of you in Salubrious September!
ABBREVIATION LIST
Here’s the list of common abbreviations used throughout this challenge and added to on an ongoing basis:
16:8 – 16 hours fast 8 hours non fast
5:2 – 5 days NFD:2 days IF
ADF – Alternate Day Fasting (FD – NFD – FD – etc. etc. etc.…….)
B2B – Back to Back (consecutive FDs)
BMR – Basal metabolic Rate
CFD – Controlled Fast Day (a FD below your goal weight TDEE, whatever that is!!!)
DH,DD, DS – Darling Husband Daughter, Son
DTF – Dry ‘Til Fri (for those limiting the booze to weekend only ………….. & aiming for sainthood!!!!)
EE – Emotional Eating (reflex grazing out of a need for instant comfort instead of satisfying hunger)
EFS – Epic Face Stuffing (we’ve all had one of those days……………. Definitely due to a faulty OFF button!)
FD – Fast Day (500 cals)
HUNGER DRAGON 🐉 – that dreadful psychological beast that sometimes cannot be satisfied. Some people even name theirs (e.g. @i-hate-lettuce has an inner warthog!)
IF – Intermittent Fasting
Keto – way of eating that generates Ketones
K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid!!!………………or Sexy!!!
LC – Low Carb way of eating
LCHF – Low Carb High Fat way of eating
LFD – Liquid Fast Day (incl. tea, coffee, miso, bone broth & water)
LOL – Laughing Out Loud
M/WOAM – Man/Woman on a Mission (courtesy of @i-hate-lettuce)
MFD – Modified Fast Day (800 cals) on the new Fast800, it’s a FD
NFD – Non Fast Day
OH – Other Half (eg spouse/partner)
OMAD – One Meal A Day
PFDS – Post FD Smugness (courtesy of @penz)
TDEE – Total Daily Energy Expenditure (see the ‘how it works’ link on the home page to work out yours)
TRE – Time Restricted Eating
WFD – Water Fast Day (Water only)
WFH – Working From Home ……………….. Covid-19 enforced!!!
WOL – Way of Life
WOCA – Women Of a Certain Age
ZBC – Zero Breakfast Club
1:25 pm
28 Aug 20