Hi, Fab thread – I’m new too (ish). I’ve re-started this week. I got fat in pregnancy; I had borderline gestational diabetes so I felt starving all the time, alongside terrible pelvic pains (SPD) whenever I took a step or put any weight on one or other leg unevenly – felt like a big horse kicking me in the crotch every single step, so I spent 9 months stuffing my face and being barely able to walk, the net result of which was a 5 stone gain by the end of the pregnancy!

Anyway I lost it after a mammoth year-long effort, including a few months on 5:2/4:3, but I have now put a stone back on, so I’m re-starting to get rid of the extra weight ASAP. I’m really motivated but tend to need instant spectacular results to keep me on a diet (as I hate dieting). But even after only a week my stomach is a lot flatter (I’ve given up fizzy, which bloats me out) so I’m very happy with how it’s going. Would love to hear others’ experiences and results – good luck everyone. xx

Hi!

Im starting on monday my 5:2 diet for the first time ever 🙂 im pretty obese, my bmi is over 40.
I’ll update my measurements on monday. Now im still “enjoying” my bad habits of eating unhealthy food heh!

Im from Finland and im 24 years old. I live with my fiance and two chihuahuas. I have managed to lose weight before but i always gained it back. Now its time to try again and i feel i have a good drive going on 🙂

Im sorry for the typos, im writing with my phone plus my native language is finnish so… 😀

– Natrium

Hi Natrium and Tricia 🙂

Good luck to you both. My advice is to stick to protein foods and vegetable soup on fast days as these fill you up better. Other than that, just hang in there it gets better as time passes!

Hi all. Best of luck to you starting tomorrow Natrium and Monstersmum. I think a lot of people choose to fast on a Monday…me included. My tip is to drink plenty, to prevent headaches and fill you up a bit, and to plan what you will eat in advance, so that you don’t have to think too much about it tomorrow. ☺

Mamamoo (love that name), I’ve noticed the heavier-wallet effect too. With two out of three of us in the house fasting, there’s been quite a dip in how much food we need to buy for the week.

Hope you all have a great last bit of the weekend.

x

Hi Monstersmum, good luck and remember the fasts get better after a couple of weeks. Just to warn you (and hopefully not put you off lol!) losses can also be a bit slow after the first 2-3 weeks if you’ve not much to lose but just stick with it and it will come off!

HungrySchmungry, my nickname comes from hubby because I call my eldest “Moo” so he calls me Mamamoo.

Idreamoflean, not too late! I’m the same height and got about 20lbs to shift. Us shorties get the rough time because 1lb makes a lot more difference to our appearance than someone taller so unfortunately a stone put on can make us feel horrid.

I want to fast today but not sure if I’ll make it. I usually go until 11-12 before eating but I’ve been up since 3 with my little monster (14mths) who is teething. I came downstairs to give him breakfast at 4 as I couldn’t let him carry on crying. Feeling hungry already which is unusual. Loving the old cartoons on Boomerang though, not seen The Flintstones in about 15 years.

Wow Gingerbeard sounds like you’ve had a rough time! I really hope your therapist can work out a suitable exercise plan for you to minimise pain. Perhaps the exercise might help with pain reduction over time. I have been mainly walking as I have 2 young children but the eldest starts school in September so the baby will take her place at nursery. That will give me one morning free. I will probably go to Zumba as the gym I (used to but still have membership) go to does a class on thurs mornings. I went for several months before Christmas but then I became very unwell and had to take time off to recover and have tests in hospital etc. I’m proud of myself for maintaining my weight within a 3lb window and now I’m starting again where I left off. Also considering the plank challenge but a little slower because I have a weak stomach borderline hernia but not yet perforated and I’d like to try and fix it without surgery. Anyone tried it?

Hello everybody. Just wanted to share my experience and commit myself to starting afresh on the 5:2. I did it last year from March to June and came down from 257lbs to 203lbs. As the weight came off my confidence grew and I began to excercise more and more, cycling and walking. I hit a wall at 203lbs and my wife told me not to lose any more and as well as that I was starting to feel cold all the time, I mean in June I was going to bed in thermal underwear and t-shirt and jogging pants. I’m not tall, 5’11” and my ‘ideal’ weight is around 175lb according to all the charts. Just wondered if anyone had similar experiences. Back to 234lbs as of this morning.

Thanks Mamamoo, it did make me a bit wary of sticking to the plan rigorously again. I never once felt unwell doing the diet, in fact quite the opposite although that was down in large part to the confidence boost I got. I have been able to lose weight every week since then but after the weekend I’m always +1/2lbs from the previous week so I need to remember that what I eat/drink Friday to Sunday is my downfall.

Hi Moonpie
I think that feeling cold is normal as we lose weight
I have lost 21kg over the last 18 months (from 91 to 70) and I think my protective fat layer has diminished!
I wear mittens all the time (very cold mid-winter in Hobart at the moment) and just feel the cold more than I have ever done.
The up side is never felt better or fitter
So keep at it, it is worth it
best wishes for ongoing fasting
Vicki

So I will definitely break my fast today, really hot day and have just been invited to a pool party with bbq, but are not beating myself up, just have to do the fast tomorrow instead.And on the bright side, I only have had around 100 kcal today so will be able to eat with good conscience!

Hi everyone!

My husband and I started 5:2 today and having our first fast day, which will be Monday and Thursday. I want to lose just over a stone and my husband about the same. I have to say I do have mixed feelings, particularly with the calorie counting and the speed and inconsistency of the weight loss.

I lost just under 3 stone on Dukan a couple of years ago and I found it very easy to stick to because I didn’t particularly crave carbs and I didn’t have to calorie count. I am a very results-driven person and that is what motivates me to carry on. When I did Dukan I didn’t lose anything for the first couple of weeks and got very demoralised, but once I started to lose it was pretty consistent. From what I’ve read, it sounds as though I’m going to have to be very patient.

Good to “meet” you all and wish you luck!

Hi MrsG! If you are noticing slow results after a couple of weeks then you can do 4:3 to kickstart losses again. This plan is not targeted at fast weight loss though, more of a slow and steady approach. Make sure to check your TDEE to make sure you’re not overeating on non-fast days as many people (myself included) don’t need 2000 calories each day. I had to adjust my calories last week and lost an extra pound this week as a result. Good luck 🙂

Thanks, mamamoo. I’m not really looking for a fast loss, just steady and consistent. Just something to keep me motivated really.

I’ve got my TDEE and it’s only 1432, so I will need to keep a close eye on things, although I do tend to eat relatively healthy generally.

Yay! I have made through the day! Soon it’ll be bedtime and i have brushed my teeth (helps when you have a craving for something).

Im feeling hungry but thats about it. The world didnt collapse or anything heh. also the meaning of food is more clear to me even now after one day. Im not craving for fatty foods or sugar. Just normal regular and healthy food.

I’ve drinked plenty of water and for that i had to run to the toilet like 10 times today heh 🙂 but the body gets used to larger amounts of water after you drink it for a while.

Have a lovely evening everyone! Its going to be another hot day (+28) tomorrow here in Finland, huh!

Hooray Natrium! Glad you got through it ok, well done 🙂

Hi Jacaru, well done! I personally would have had more veggies because they are very low calorie so there’s a lot more substance (vitamins & fibre) for your allowance. Was the Kiev homemade? Protein is very good as it’s more filling. The store ones are not so good because the added fat, salt & fake breadcrumbs waste calories. A grilled chicken breast might have been a better choice. But you stayed within your calorie count so that’s fantastic keep it up 🙂

My first week 4:3 went well – I was sooo strict and stayed well within my TDEE, even though that’s about 3 Calories for someone my height, haha! It was really hard at first but I’m in the zone now – even did a back to back 2 day fast for the first time ever and the second day was easy peasy. I’m a massive breakfast person and can’t usually do without even on fast days, but I did it and found lunch and dinner was much easier and nicer. And I have lost 5 lbs! I have totally kicked my caffeine habit, I only ever drank coke and tea/coffee before, so it was quite bad, but I drink water all day long now and feel much better for it – I’m awake and chirpy in the morning, yay! My bloated tummy is gone and looks pretty flat now. Hope everyone else is going this well! xx

Haha stupid autocorrect should say tummy not yummy LOL!!!

Loool – well it might be a yummy as well, haha!
Good luck Dawn, you can do it! It’s only hard the first few times so you just need to get them out the way. xx

Welcome dawn57! I’m a newbie too, just started yesterday with my first fasting day, and I have to say it went really well. I’m waiting with anticipation for the books to arrive!

Hope this works for you with your aches and pains. Good luck!

3 fast days gone and into my second week so I weighed myself this morning. 4LB lost and 3 inches off my waist. Woohoo! I do realise that losing so much is easier at the start of 5:2 so I don’t expect this to continue, but a steady loss of 1LB per week will be fine. Next fast day on Thursday.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

I’ve managed to post twice! How do you delete a post? Can any one help please?

Toby

Wow everyone is doing so well 😀

Welcome Dawn! Have you calculated your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) on here yet? I use myfitnesspal app to track my calories to make sure I stay under that level on non-fast days and 500cals on fast days or I overeat. Best advice I can offer is fill up on veggies and protein and watch the non-fast days. Any questions we’re all ears. Good luck 🙂

Well done Gingerbeard. Hunger is a funny one, I believe after fasting for a while you lose your food “addiction” and then feel only a real primal instinct to eat after long periods of calorie deficit. Best of luck with the first weigh in, its often a surprising and happy experience!