@erikaa67 – sure do hope your symptoms abate quickly!

@basyjames – thanks for the support. I could have gotten the 1st one quite a while back, but was going to be out of town for the 2nd. This time, I can get them both.

My normal 8-week interval of blood donation is a week after my jab. From what I have read, I still will be able to give.

Day 20 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

My first FD of the month too! Obviously I was not going to fast while I was sick (except for the enforced nil by mouth fasting in hospital when surgery was possible) and I still can’t believe my weight has not budged. What’s going on?

I finished my meds yesterday, so now I want to concentrate on rebuilding my gut biome which has probably been shot to pieces with the dosage of antibiotics over the past two weeks. Funnily though, I don’t have the pains or other symptoms of upset digestive system so maybe the years of fasting and home made kefir have got my gut biome into a good state anyway?

Today I fast until lunchtime then it’s a blood orange for Vitamin C, a glass of kefir for good bacteria, and a banana for potassium. Evening meal will be a spinach and red lentil soup. I am keeping away from chillis and such for now to let my gut settle down.

WFH not so bad, but it will be good to get back to the office next week. I know that I am lucky that I have the choice, most of my colleagues don’t and are at home for a year now, and I feel for you @basyjames with the decision that you will be home permanent from now on.

Jealous of all you guys getting your vaccines and meeting up with friends. Here in Ireland we are only getting to the over 65’s around now, it seems so slooooooow. My sister in the states is younger than me and already had her first jab. Oh well.

It’s so great to hear of you all getting out and about and I wish you all well @songbirdme, @erikaa67, @brightonbelle and what a lovely sign @i-hate-lettuce in your garden ☺️

Have a great Tuesday -who is on the pocket list with me?

Pocket list day 20 -Together we are stronger
@daffodil2010

Day 20 – UK – ?FD800/?

CD

Day 18 was a cloudy and hazy but still warm but had a lazy day catching up with life and enjoying some reading in the garden. Baked a Rhubarb and ginger infused custard tart from Great British Chefs website, a bit of work but well worth it says OH (who did not do any of the work 🤣)

Yesterday the sun was out in full and it was T-shirt walking weather – a long low level hike of just over 17km and some 400m elevation gained – tired legs last night and slept like a log!

0830 Yoga class to stretch and strengthen the legs to start today and only going out for a gentle 6km hike as I also have a High Impact Pilates class early evening

Yesterday was a FD800 and not sure if today will be another or end up a CD – see how things go…..

@songbirdme – you certainly seem to have this maintenance lark well under control – how fab to have enjoyed a holiday and no weight gain on return!
@snowflake56 – your Friday certainly sounds like hard work – very sensible to take it easy the next day!
@emma-taylor – can’t remember if I wished you a happy birthday, hope you had a good one. I’m glad that OMAD works for you – I belong to the ZBC so 2 meals a day on NFDs and often OMAD in the evening on FDs is the way that works best for me – the flexibility of this WOL is the beauty of it!!
@nellen – like you I had no reaction whatsoever to my first vaccine, sorry to hear from those here that have had some nasty reactions – I’m not getting my 2nd one until mid May so will see how things go 🤞
@northgeorgia – you can do this and I’m positive that you will start on the downward trend soon – one of the things I learnt along the way was that I did not have to finish all the leftover food just because it’s there…..something to think about perhaps??
@i-hate-lettuce – lovely to read that you and Mrs IHL are enjoying life and socialising once more and we have had great weather for the BBQ to be in use
@daffodil2010 – listen to your body and take little steps in your recovery 🤗

Right off to get changed and stepping out for my walk – the sun is shining and it’s warm – what more can one ask for??

“If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now”

Day 20 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 225 lbs. This is 3 lbs less than last week. So far, it looks like a good reset!

@at Yes, but I have to figure out how to change my mindset. Let me analyze myself haha! I have been cleaning out my basement slowly over the past two weeks (always wearing gloves; case in point, I found a 1.5 inch black widow spider hiding behind a canvas of a painting I did back 30 years ago. Eek!) I’m not much of a hoarder, but I think 40 cardboard boxes (in case I need them for Christmas gifts) is a bit too much. And jars. Why am I saving three dozen pickle jars? At least both items are easily recyclable.

Then there is food. I know food will go bad, so I don’t “hoard” it, so to speak. But I will stock a separate freezer until there’s no room (oh no, I’m becoming my mother), and then I’m forced to figure out how to make room. Well, I have to use it! Usually though, the big meals from holidays create the greatest number of naughty leftovers. I know, for example, the container of pasta I made last weekend, should not be eaten in one sitting. But a little coleslaw, a little creamed corn, a little gravy on turkey and stuffing/dressing, a little fried okra, a little pasta salad, a little potatoes: they all add up to an enormous amount, and I forget how many calories are in “a little of this and that.”

I know what I should do, but I’m very frugal and abhor wasting food. These days, it’s hard to share food, too! But you’ve given me a lot of pause for thought and have inspired me to push myself downwards over the coming weeks. Thanks so much!

Day 20 USA (Illinois) NFD

My FD yesterday was just right, and my scale and I are happy this morning. 6:1 is working for me for maintenance.

Our main kitchen microwave oven decided to die Sunday night. I cannot complain, though – DH and I figured out it must be around 25 years old. Yeah for GE appliances! So I stopped yesterday and got a new one, but it must be installed as it goes over the stove hanging from the upper cabinet. Funny how much I miss it just after 2 days!

@daffodil2010 – a good “grumpy day” is often a necessity for me too. Others around us just have to take it for what it is worth.

@i-hate-lettuce – your garden sign is just delightful! I did have to look up “blether” though as I never hear it in the USA. 🙂

@michelinme – our spring flowers are going strong here too. Came back from my trip to see my lovely rhododendron in full bloom. It’s kind of deep blue. Daffodils are all wonderful with a few tulips already opening.

@northgeorgia – UGH! I absolutely hate spiders! But you’ve inspired me to go after our cache of Christmas boxes, at least, and more items in our basement too.

Storm and cold are on the way, but it appears most of the snow will miss us. Spring in Illinois…

Onward and downward.

Day 20 North Canton OH NFD

Good fast day yesterday and as usual I slept like a log – Its like the icing on the cake, the great sleep at the end of a fast day.

Today I am being mindful of calories, because NFD are notoriously sneaky in their ways. I have a couple meetings today out of the comfort of my home, and I tried on clothes that I haven’t been able to wear in 2 years – and they all fit! Some of them are a little loose- happy dance!!!

Another busy work day, I will catch up on posts later.

May the fast be with you?

Day 20 2nd post
@jaifaim – I take magnesium daily too, but you have to be a bit careful. Magnesium can be a laxative or act as a laxative – depending on dose and type. I stay within 200-250 mg/day. My guess is that’s what may be going on. It is really good for us, but you have to play with the dosage that works for you.

Day 21, Emden Germany, NFD
Day 20, FD

@basyjames Well done, it’s such a good feeling when you fit in your clothes again.

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 21 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Completed my FD yesterday but was quite cold as I worked from home, forgotten about the drop in body temperature and it’s only 3 weeks since my last FD 😆

Decided yesterday, as I was giving a disastrous (to me) walk through on a particular function to 5 of our Process Improvement guys, with just my single laptop and me logging myself out of applications in error while they looked on and were recording ….that I need to get back to the comfort of the office and all my screens and whatnot 😄

So going back today. I feel so much better today, better than I have felt in a while, just a wee twinge but hopefully that will clear, so I am ready for the office. It’s sparsely populated anyway as only us Operations guys are there, every other team WFH.

Thanks @i-hate-lettuce, I knew you would understand that sometimes a good Victor Meldrew is needed, grumpy can help the mindset indeed.

@jaifaim, I take magnesium but as a gel, I rub it into my joints and shoulders and it really helps me but I have heard taking it orally can upset the tum and lead to unpleasant toilet experience 😨 Now, just in light of my own particular experience, when I heard you had a pain in your lower abdomen I was like “No!”…. Keep an eye on that!

@northgeorgia, don’t know if this is an option for you, but I leave out leftover food to the birds and it’s gone in minutes. Obviously not spicy or mega processed foods or sweets, but the crows, starlings, rooms, magpies, blackbirds, doves, robins, tits….all of them visit the garden and take something from my leftovers …just a thought.

Have a good hump day. 🐫.

Day 21 – Canada – NFD

Good FD yesterday and a lovely walk in a wooded park. Today will be a day of cooking and exercise.

@nellen – thanks for sharing your thoughts about maintenance. I can understand your worries. When I get to that point I will also be watching the scale with an eagle eye 🙂 it’s so easy to get out of control.
@basyjames – how wonderful to have your clothes fit! What a great feeling. I tried on a pair of jeans last night but I really need to lose another 6 pounds before I can do the happy dance.

Stay strong all.

Day 21 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD500

And finally, I’m back home and on my laptop, which makes it SO much easier to post! The morning after I got home, I was up two pounds from my week of abandon; I fasted that day and the next morning (yesterday) was back to the weight I left at. I ate normally yesterday, and this morning am almost back up to the return weight. I clearly did some damage, weight-wise, with my Easter excesses and my week-long trip, but have zero regret; both Easter and the days following, and the Texas trip have given me some lovely memories that I’ll enjoy for years. Now, however, to return to discipline and controlled consumption.

I’ve hit the ground running since I’ve returned, as I walked out the door at 8am yesterday. First, I played for a worship service for pastors, then drove to Omaha to teach a new piano student, did some grocery shopping there, and then came home and spent several hours pulling music for my May 13 hymn fest. I’d love to read everyone’s chatter, but need to head out the door again by 8am this morning; my goal is to have all music pulled and the service pretty much written by late afternoon.

Being gone all day and absorbed in such a big project will certainly make this week’s ADF easier to get through. Good luck to all of you in your goals for today!

Day 21 North canton OH FD

Welcome back @stitchincarol, life is meant to be lived and I am so glad that you had a great time- no need for regrets.

@northgeorgia wonderful to see the downward trend for you, diligence and mindfulness pays off

@dvw thank you and your happy dance is coming

keep the faith.. and the fast

Pocket list day 21
@northgeorgia (ZBC)
@basyjames

Second Post:
Reported the post soliciting money for forgiveness of sins, above. How idiotic to post such a thing. And how opportunistic. I know none of our group would go to that site. I hope no one reading the forum posts (lurkers) would take the bait either. So reprehensible.

Day 22, Emden Germany, FD

@stitchincarol Nice to have you back with us again, it’s good to enjoy the nice things in life and being with friends is one of them.

Pocket list day 22
@snowflake56

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 22 -Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD/CD

it will be a controlled day, I usually do ZBC on a fast but as I have to build my good gut bacteria back I am taking acidophilus and that needs food. So I have had kefir and blueberries for breakfast with those supplements.

I want to start losing weight but I also must concentrate on building back my strength.

I was tired after the day in the office yesterday, but onwards we go, back to normal.

Hi @northerndawn I also reported that post last night, we get a few spammers in here, but they are easily spotted. Never the usual happy supportive posts that we normally get ☺️

Have a good Thursday

Day 22 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 FD

Hi everyone, I am cutting back on internet time so haven’t been here recently but I’m continuing to be careful. Doing regular Monday and Thursday FDs and nothing naughty on Tuesday and Wednesday and relaxing over the weekends, it works for keeping weight stable but to lose the several pounds to get back to goal weight I will have to be more controlled at weekends and I just don’t feel like doing so right now. So for the time being I will continue as I am……at least its better than giving up.

Hope you’re all well and happy with your 5:2 progress. Stay safe 🤗

Day 22 – UK – FD800

Had a lovely day out joining with DD whilst she out doing her dog walking business – we covered nearly 12km and then enjoyed an alfresco lunch overlooking the see at a little place near where she lives.

Started today with my regular zoom classes, a 7am Broga class followed by a 9am Aerobic class that my teacher calls “Happy Hour” 🤣 I have to admit that we always have a laugh…….

Day 20 ended up as a CD and yesterday was a NFD – aiming for another FD800 today 🤞

@northgeorgia – when we got an empty nest, and I only had to cook for two – it took some time for me to stop cooking large portions……I now weigh carbs like rice and pasta and only cook what I need and if I make a lasagna or a dish that only works in bigger sizes I ensure that leftovers are frozen into meal size portions so I only defrost one portion at a time…….and as @nellen says “Yes, I know – it is wasting food, but the alternative is my eating it and that is not a good alternative for me”
@jaifaim – it was lush – two of my favourite things – rhubarb and ginger together…..
@i-hate-lettuce – 👋 fab walk you and Mrs IHL ended doing – have done it myself in the past – wonderful scenery! Like you I haven’t done any high fells for a while but happy memories of high level hikes OH and I have enjoyed in the past remains with me 😊
@daffodil2010 – thinking of you on your return to work – remember to take things slow and steady and listen to your body x
@northgeorgia – great job on that downward trend!
@stitchincarol – good to hear that you had a fab time away and no real damage done weight wise

Another beautiful sunny day here – some of us from my Happy Hour aerobics class are meeting at 1100 for a coffee and a face to face catch up at one of our local cafes that have set up a cafe in the large gardens of their B&B – lots of space and tables so we can separate into two groups at different tables – how lovely to be doing some “normal” things once more

Joining the pocket list started by @snowflake56
Pocket list day 22
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@missybear
@at FD800

Day 22 – Canada – FD

Just checking in and joining the pocket list. Good luck all.

Pocket list day 22
@snowflake56
@daffodil2010
@i-hate-lettuce
@brightonbelle
@missybear
@at FD800
@dvw

Day 22 USA (Illinois) NFD

I’m off shortly for a massage before my 1st Moderna jab. Friends at Silver Sneakers yesterday gave me a few hints: take Tylenol after and drink Gatorade to keep up electrolytes. Bought some, so I am prepared for that. I hear people’s reactions can be all over the board.

I’ll report back and post more later on —

Onward and downward.

Brief report on my day: Pre-COVID jab massage was delightful. I ran quite a few errands after my requisite 15 minute wait to make sure I didn’t have adverse reactions. I was fine. Today being Earth Day in the U.S.A. we were asked to recycle rather than put things in the landfill. I had a huge bag for Goodwill and some better clothes for our local re-sale shop. I know many ladies who volunteer to run it as a fund-raising entity for a day care (pre-kindergarten). By the time I left there, a headache was coming on with some tiredness.

One long-time fellow singing friend who I had not seen in a while remarked about my weight loss. Wow, people are still noticing it for me to tout the praises of our WOL! I had begun 5:2 in March 2016. And know that I am far from skinny now with a BMI right at 25.

@stitchincarol – thanks for the props on my weeks of vacay with no scale but some built-in maintenance techniques. I would love to sing with your hymn sing! Can you send me a list of the songs you ended up with? I’m always curious.

@sarehkkk – the home pages of this website have LOTS of helps on how to begin IF and the first page of our Challenge kind of goes into how we operate around here. The water is fine! Jump right in!

Onward and downward.

Second Post:

@songbirdme – I hope your side effects continue to be mild. Fatigue seems to be the most common one with Moderna.
After this beautiful day we are dipping to around 40 F tomorrow, and probably a frost Saturday morning. This cold is on the way to your area also, I think. Then, maybe, we won’t have to worry about frost again until the Fall. I’m so wanting to get out and get my planters full of flowers. Fingers crossed the warm weather comes back and stays.

Day 23 – Lake District UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Weigh in day today….. plus another 1 pound, makes 2 this month!
Was 14 st 7 lb on 19th March – 14 st 9 lb today

Reason for this, finally after 5 months since the end of treatment, I am starting to really enjoy food and drink again! Sense of taste and smell is pretty much back, sensitivity towards acidic foods/drink is getting less, the dry mouth is slightly improved. Various tubes and parts are either opening up again or healing properly (I was completely deaf in my right ear until 2 weeks ago!)

But today being Friday, my 5:2 day off, BBQ and friends round to make the most of the warm sunny afternoon. The 2 lb can wait for next weeks FD’s and more careful days.

Certainly not going to worry about the 2lb it is in my buffer zone, my thoughts are 1 pound doesn’t bother me, 2 pounds be aware … 4 pounds stop kidding yourself or the ‘Inner Warthog’ will be back in residence!

Take care all

Day 23 Lisbon, Portugal NFD

Good morning everybody!!!

I apologize for my absence, this month has been difficult, my mother-in-law died …

anyway i already lost 2kg more.

Nuno

Day 23 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD500

The monthly dinner out last night with the group of women ended up being delightful, but OMAD didn’t happen yesterday, and reasonable eating didn’t happen yesterday, and I was NOT happy with myself by about 1am. Isn’t it funny how our desire for X has no memory of how our body will feel during the night if we indeed eat X? I’m working hard at thinking this through constantly, so that when I have a craving for whatever and try to deny myself, I remember that it’s not always an “I-want-to-lose-weight!!” reason, but a “Think-how-you’ll-feel-in-the-middle-of-the-night-because-you’re-no-longer-32!!!” reason. I’ve begun to think that people who are naturally thin, and people on this forum who have moved into maintenance, have mastered that concept and distinction. Yes?

So, I’ll fast today, and slowly, slowly, slowly I’ll make progress to being the woman I want to be with the eating habits I want practice. It’s all a process, right?

@songbirdme How fun to have received kudos on your weight loss after all this time! And I’ll email you information; that will be fun to share. (And should you want another vacation in order to sing in the choir, you know where I live!!)

@northerndawn What a treasured use of technology, to see your DGD in her musical and your DGS at his track relay!

@i-hate-lettuce How lovely that the healing is nearing “complete”; enjoy the BBQ today!

@nuno My condolences to you and your family on the death of your MIL.

It’s a sunny day (at least for now) with a current temperature of 48F and an expected high of 64F. Monday is forecast to be completely sunny with a high of 88, Tuesday is gloomy and 66. Gee. Is it spring???? Soon, soon, soon I’ll get to be outside puttering in my garden beds! Have a grand day, everyone!

Day 23 MN/US FD

@i-hate-lettuce – It’s good to hear how well you’re progressing. I like your strategy: “my thoughts are 1 pound doesn’t bother me, 2 pounds be aware … 4 pounds stop kidding yourself or the ‘Inner Warthog’ will be back in residence!” I think I’ll adopt that rule for myself.

@stitchincarol and @basyjames – I also ate “stuff” yesterday that left me feeling
blaakk” this morning. But as you both point out, relationships and time spent with others is more important than the occasional side track off from our WOL. AS long as we get back onto the wagon and “persist” like that river you mentioned, @stitchincarol, we will meet our goals.

@nuno – Very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are sent to you, as well as hugs. It’s quite an achievement to have continued to lose weight throughout the stress of such a difficult time.

@missybear and @brightonbelle – It’s easy to lose weight when doing 5:2, compared to other so called diets, but for some reason it’s not always easy to find the motivation to fast as we know we should. My motivation comes and goes and I have yet to understand why it disappears some days, and even for weeks. Right at this time I am using the wonderful feeling of my clothes fitting me loosely and comfortably as a motivation to at least stay where I am and not allow a gain. I’ve even gotten into some pants I haven’t worn for a couple of years. I don’t want to go back to feeling stuffed into my clothing like a sausage in casing.

Good luck to all fasters and have a great Friday and weekend to everyone else. I have my second Pfizer jab tomorrow morning, so I’ll be taking it easy this weekend. Hopefully, I won’t experience anything too uncomfortable. I plan to eat healthily and hydrate with gatorade (thanks for the tip, @songbirdme) and plenty water. No alcohol of course, and limited sweets.