Writing tonight as tomorrow will be crazily busy at work.

NFD and Sunday so far has gone reasonably well today. Hope the formal weigh in tomorrow will show good result. Fasting tomorrow and I’m ready!

Graham, agree we should practice 5:2 all the time and not looking for excuses. I struggle doing 5:2 while on holiday. The next booked holiday is not till Nov. Hopefully I’ll work out what to do then.

Also have you checked your scale? It may be useful to test other scales. It’s unusual for your weight to stay the same when you have noticed changes in your body.

Hope the weather is good for both you & Alx, and Graham you enjoy walking with your friend on Monday. We are getting into winter here with lots of rain.

Have a great Monday!

Hooray Graham! I still think you should check your scale – I suspect you have lost more than 3 pounds.

You will keep the focus and determination – I don’t have any doubt. Keep telling yourself this and it will happen. You will be surprise how powerful self reinforcement (or brain washing) can be. I told myself I hated certain food (that I used to like eating) like pasta and ice cream. Now I don’t eat them.

My formal weigh in this morning showed a lost of 800g (about 2 pounds) last week. I’ve reached my lowest weight since Jan 2019. Had reached this weight back in April & May but it kept going up, & my will power was weavering in last few months. Thanks to you guys Alex, Graham & Merry for your contribution to this forum. You have really help me to keep going. Only 3kg to go but commit to do 5:2 forever.

A whole day meeting tomorrow, so should be a reasonably easy NFD.

Have a great Tuesday!

Thanks Graham! You are absolutely right about the need of a boost. The last time I gave up 5:2 when I hit plateau for 2 months. This time I will hang on.

Challenging ourselves like doing 5:2 is not going to be easy. But it’s satisfying that we are actively taking control of what and how much we eat and don’t eat. One trick I learned is not to sacrifice my favourite food, but only eat half portion. For e.g. Instead of have a whole donut by myself, I will share it with someone. Eating slowly helps too.

NFD today. Had a sweet biscuit at morning tea, chicken salad for lunch and a normal dinner. A muffin for snack. Surprisingly I’ve lost 400 g from yesterday – mostly water I assume.

My work has a farewell morning tea tomorrow. So no lunch tomorrow to compensate, and plan to eat more fruits. I like vegetables more than fruits, but fruits are better than biscuits or muffin. So my next strategy is to eat fruit before lunch and dinner at NFD.

Have a fantastic Wednesday!

A good fast day yesterday. Had a lunch time meeting. Put cut fruits in front of us (so others felt more comfortable eating their sandwiches) but I didn’t eat any till much later in the day. This is another strategy I can use in future.

My office is celebrating Matariki the Māori New Year today and will provide lunch to staff. Unsure how challenging eating wise. But a dentist appointment this afternoon should hold back my appetite.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Hi Pheonix
Is it just us two left on this thread?

Don’t know if Alex is returning
Hopefully he’s just too busy to log in

I am looking after my mother but actually finding although I’m away from home and routine the fast days can still be stuck to quite easily which is fantastic

So although the calories on the NFDs may be all over the place the fast days can still happen

So I still feel I’m on track and at least doing SOMETHING towards my weight loss

Psychologically this also motivates me to stop eating ridiculous amounts and dropping the whole idea and make better decisions

Pheonix don’t desert me!

Hi guys, I’m definitely still here. I often forgot to post during weekend. Also very busy trying to organise an Aug trip to Rarotonga. All done now.

Graham, sorry to hear about your mum’s illness. You are doing so well by sticking to 5:2 when you are away from home. Keep it up.

Alx, I admire your determination when you were away & faced with more food temptation. If it was me I’ll be lucky just to maintain my weight.

Last week started well for me but crumbled from Friday onward. Friday work lunch was a delicious hangi (Maori traditional food) that consists of fried bread (like a big savory donut), pork belly, vege/potatoes/pumpkin cooked in fat, and desserts.

Then on Saturday I went to my husband work do – murder mystery. It was really good fun but I must have overeaten the finger foods that served constantly over about 3 hours.

The result is an increase of 600g in weight, compared to a week ago. No point cring over spilled milk, and I must exercise stronger will – more eating events this Friday & Saturday nights.

Today is another fast day and I’m ready for it.

Have a great Monday everyone.

Pheonix

You’re right about spilt milk

It’s all about keeping on and looking forward and gradually changing old habits

Thanks for the message x

Started to at 87.4 kg.
Had porridge with blueberries and tea in the morning…
Its 1:30 pm and I’m crashing.
Want to go to bed and sleep.
Headache around the corner 🙁
I dont want my first day to be a fail!

hi penguinchick and saman!

thanks for joining in!
the more the merrier

saman I hope you didn’t get a headache – nothing worse when you’re hungry!

I’ve been lucky so far not one single headache for some reason and I’m not too great with water drinking but I’m obviously drinking enough

Going to bed hungry as hell tonight after my fast
Just want to go to sleep and escape the rumbling tummy
Welcome to the thread xx

Hi Graham and Phoenix 🙂

I have the book and am about 1/4 of the way through, hoping for a less busy day soon, so I can finish it; I never seem to have enough time!
I am careful with peanuts, I buy them raw, bake them for 15 mins then sprinkle the smallest pinch of salt on them. I have between 6-10 if any on a FD, usually none – but on NFD’s they make a good/healthy choice over a pack of crisps/biscuit. I also make my own biscuits/cookies, either shortbread or peanut cookies, both of which I’ve halved the sugar required and tbh, they taste so much better. I make almost everything from scratch, so I always seem to be cooking something or other!
I use a lot of chick peas in salads/cous cous too, they’re a firm favourite with us and I don’t mind the calories in nuts, as the nutrients in them are good, even the nut oil is a good one, I find it hard to overeat nuts, as they’re so filling.
I did a weigh in today and have only lost 1/2lb this last week, but it has broken the 3 week plateau I had hit, which was annoying. I need to increase my activity, as I was out with an ankle injury, but now it’s on the mend, I’m hoping to get back out there. Motivation is always low when there’s been no large loss I find.

I break my fast later today (usually do 11pm Sun -> 11am/1pm Tues), so am hoping for a sensible couple of NFD’s with increased activity… I live in hope! 🙂

Good luck if fasting today and thanks for the warm welcome!

A reasonable NFD yesterday, considered I was at home and stuck at desk for long period. Back to work today – NFD. Plan to skip breakfast and have a small lunch and normal dinner. Mentally preparing for fasting tomorrow.

Penguinchick, sounds like you are doing well & so organised. Home cooking is always the best as we know what are in the food. Re plateau I experienced that every 3-4 weeks, and the weight loss always continued after that. So hang on there.

I admire your constraint in eating peanuts. My problem is if I have peanuts around, I will eat them constantly until they are gone. While not big amount at one time, it adds up to very high calories. So I give up peanuts but eat other nuts like almonds in small quantity.

Alx, good on you to mindfully exercise your choices during fast day. This is a powerful thing – we tell ourselves we choose to do something that is good for our health. I need to do them more on my NFD.

Graham, hope yesterday has gone well for you.

Have a fantastic Wednesday everyone.

Hey all,

I’ve been busy, so not logged for a day or two, but reading through, you are so ‘on point’ Graham about this:

“I do not know how I became this person solving all my emotional problems with food

It’s not really who I am
I suppose it’s like any addict

I didn’t get up one day and decide to be addicted to food and make myself obese
It took years”

I totally identify with that statement, but over the past two years, while the problem became more of an issue, I’ve come to realise how much depression was the cause (mostly post natal for me)… The loss of a very happy career/business and several other factors. We each have such a different story, but they all come together over food, for those of us here and trying to change.
I find that talking to people in real life – as opposed to here, I try and hide so much pain/trauma/embarrassment, and to be truthful, even here I’m slightly guarded, but feeling more open than before due to the amazing level of positive support I have seen.

@alx – I feel the same about my Wednesday this week, it was a NFD, but I ate like a pig, nothing filled me up and I felt constantly hungry! I tried all the protein/veggies first, then ended up stuffing 3 mini cupcakes and a few cookies… I have no clue why, just HAD to eat lol! I’m refusing to feel guilt, as I’ve been so so good, making up for it today (NFD) by eating super sensibly.. beetroot/avocado + steamed chicken breast for lunch just now, FD tomorrow, so I need that greedy stomach of mine to shrink to fit! 😉

@phoenix – Self-sabotage.. I think we all know that feeling well!

Well done on the losses/fasts and stay mentally strong, that’s the real key to beating this cycle, I feel!

Have a great day 😉

A very good NFD yesterday. Actually lost small amount of weight having shared lunch at work and a lovely dinner at a Chinese restaurant. I’ve lost count of what I eaten. The 3 males at the table were big eaters, and I ate quite slow – may be this is another tactic I should use. Of course it needs to combine with restrictive order.

Today has gone well so far. Soon will be dinner time – roast lamb, potatoes etc. Not my favourite food so should be ok.

Graham, well done on not over consuming sweets. Hope you will find 5:2 easier once you settled back.

Alex, I’m not active fitness wise too. Gave up my gym membership so my daughter joined instead. Better this way as I still can go with her, and she can take a friend with her at other time. But what it means I no longer doing my Monday yoga/Pilate class. I suppose to do 2 seesions at home but so far it has not happened. We are in the middle of winter so no hill climbing due to rain at most weekends. Got a big deadline for tax returns on 7 July – mean stuck in front of the computer at every spare moment. So hope to do 2 excercise sessions at home during the week, and a gym session during weekend.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Penguinchick – What an excellent idea for making exercise fun! I should try something similar.

The weekend eating was ok but could be better. Roast dinner was fine but I ate too much desert, and too much lunch on Sunday. However I managed a reduction of 400g (close to one pound) from last Monday, and I’m happy with that.

We are going to Rarotonga for a holiday in late August, so I should set myself a firm target of loosing 400-500g a week from now on. And to increase exercise level.

Have a fantastic Monday everyone!

Hi gang

@graham58 – I had to chime in when I read your post about eating fast. OH MY Gosh do I eat fast! There is no reason for it, and I have tried many times to slow down, to count my bites, to enjoy it….sigh.
I like your ideas of separate dishes. (pause after each dish) maybe have a little water before the next dish

one thing that has helped is to set down my utensils after a couple of bites.

another thing that helped was actually water fasting during the morning (now I have had moments of weakness/mindlessness scarfing) but I notice if I can pause at least at the first couple of bites I will be slower at eating over all.

the last thing that has helped, is eating the same thing or kind of thing… for example I eat broth with a few cut up veggies for my FDs – i notice b/c the broth is hot that I have to take my time to eat my dish, and b/c the dish is simple. Its not soooo much flavor/texture that I’m just craving to get to the next bite.

Hope thats helpful. Cheers!

Good morning all!

It has begun… I did the 20 min workout! I have literally just finished and before I head for the shower, thought I’d post (yes, I’m sweaty as hell!).
I had to modify a couple of the exercises, as I’m a bit stiff at the knees and lower back, but already my lower back feels energised and I’m buzzing a bit (probably dehydration lol!).
I’m determined to do this every day this month, as I’ve got a super skinny friend coming to stay at the end of the month and I want to look ‘better’ than I did last time we saw each other (I know that’s a crap reason, but I need motivating and this helps!).

I’m fasting today, so going to drink lots of water and have a seafood/leafy salad later, possibly with an egg thrown in for the extra cals to 500 (I stick to around 500 on FD’s).

Happy fasting if you’re doing the same today and smile, everything is better with smiles 🙂

Hey! I started a week ago, and down by 1 kg (despite having rice, and some fried food last night, and a helping of a banofee pie.. i was scared to be on the scales today… but when i did i was HAPPY to see, I was down by a kg in the first week.

My son asked me, “are you on a diet” and I explained to him “it’s not a diet, I’m managing my insulin production to keep my body markers in check. I’ve spent 40 years of yo-yo dieting, and mad loads of sugary food. My body has kept up with it, by storing a lot of fat, but thank god with no diabetes. But now, the body needs a rest twice a week to defrag”.

He got it.

And I got it. There’s less pressure of weight LOSS and more a feeling of health GAIN.

I like this 5:2 because it’s not a diet. It’s my system DEFRAG, and weigh loss is a bonus.

Good you’re back on it! You’ll do just fine.

Hey Graham,

I’m doing my workout watching the tv, but I downloaded the vid from Amazon, so I can watch it on any platform, but it’s easier for me to watch/workout in my living room as it’s the biggest space I have. I have a yoga mat, 2 small hand weights and a small pillow, in case I need to protect my knees for press ups! You don’t need heaps of space, just enough to stretch your arms and legs out side to side.
I figured that if I do the routine before midday (on days I’m not at work) then it’s coolest, as it’s hot here too (also a Londoner).

Another trick I do, which might help you slow your eating is to leave things ‘accidentally’ in the kitchen, so you have to keep getting up from the table to get them, like I might leave a cup of water/a fork/part of the meal in another room, so I can’t wolf it all down in one go, which is also pretty bad for digestion, as I’m sure you can feel when you do that?
Another trick for me that works is to watch something while I eat, so I get my head out of my plate to see what’s happening.. like a tennis match – you’re good for that for the next two weeks! (Love Wimbledon <3 )
Hope this helps, we’ll keep prompting you if it’s useful! 🙂

@saman – Well done on the loss, feels good when that happens, keep at it, you’re doing great!

Weigh in for me tomorrow… slightly pensive to say the least!

Alx, from my experience exercise does not affect weight much. But it is good for us, the endorphins it creates make us happy and the it helps to tone our bodies.

In fact, too much exercise may result in higher water retention at initial stage. This may be happening to you at the moment Penguinchick.

Yes I tried 20 minutes of beginners dance last night and it was so much fun. I should so do more and add yoga/palate too. Thank you Youtube for so many free video clips.

Graham, have you started your aerobic walking?

Yesterday NFD went well. No breakfast, a small lunch and a small dinner. Then a few snacks after dinner. The calories intake was good but I need to replace some snacks with fruits.

Another NFD today. Plan to do the same as yesterday with more fruits and less snacks.

Have a fantastic Wednesday

hi everyone
2 NFDs which went well – no bingeing
tried my idea of putting my main meal on 2 plates and it did make me remember better to chew

Even then I still caught myself starting to speed up!

there was a gap as I started the second plate which helped a little I think
I’m having to learn to EAT!
it’s no exaggeration – I seriously do not know how to chew food it’s so long since I ate a meal like a normal person – it’s as though my bbrain has forgotten how to work my mouth

Penguinchick try to put your weight not going down out of your head – that’s what I do – nothing more discouraging than being really good and your body not getting the memo

it can really trigger my sabotage mentality so I just think “if this is still happening in a month’s time I can get upset but for now who cares”

you’re right – it will all kick in later

Pheonix I haven’t done my aerobic walking thanks for asking
today I had no excuses
maybe tomorrow – I’m tempted to maybe start dancing in the living room like you and Pennguinchick
It would be good as a second type of work out when it’s wet weather
dancing puts you in such a good mood
Alex you seem so well organised and consistent which I find really inspiring
Today my brother and his wife were in town and I wore trousers I haven’t worn for months
they DIDN’T NOTICE my weight loss – I was hoping they would go OH MY GOD!!

people will be doing that soon enough
anyway this is very much my own internal exploration so it’s not about anyone else at all – I’m much more worried about what *I’M** thinking rather than what other people are thinking when it comes to my weight!

99% of this is psychological

Hey everyone!

Firstly, WELL DONE Graham – both on the plates/slower eating and on the loss, I’m sure as Phoenix said, people tend not to comment on weight loss if they’ve not seen you in a while – my theory is that they can’t be quite sure, so they’d rather not say anything. It’s shitty, but it’s true. I saw a lady the other day that I haven’t seen in ages, but I don’t know her super well and she’d definitely lost weight, so I went up to her and made a point of saying how well she looked and I loved her outfit, as I wasn’t sure if she wanted people to comment on just her weight – I felt like that was a good compromise, as I left her smiling and hopefully, feeling like someone had noticed!
Secondly… I’ve dropped 1lb – so it IS paying off, I didn’t doubt it, but it does as Graham said, mess with your head. I’m feeling energised today and have already started got a lot done, off for my workout in a few, then work later and as it’s a FD, I’ll have my soup and salad as late as I can. For some reason I find the evenings harder and I find Thursday FD harder than Monday… All in my head, as it’s no different, I eat the same things pretty much on FD’s, I find it easier.

Wishing you all a pleasant & uplifting day, whether fasting or not and Happy 4th July to our friends across the big pond <3 xx

I’ve hit the buffers

Yesterday was my fast day I had eggs early because people were coming to fix my shower

then the Day kind of got busier and I was out until 10pm having not eaten anything just drank water which was fine

When I got back I had my soup

I went on the internet getting hungrier and hungrier and instead of going to bed I did my usual thing of starting to eat

At 11:30pm I ate THREE tortilla wraps with hummus on them one after the other

As I was eating them I was so depressed but I was so hungry

but why wasn’t I in bed?

When I finally went to bed I just lay there and thought what on earth have I done? Where is all that motivation and focus and positivity and hope it just shriveled to nothing

Today I just feel completely disheartened and sceptical as to whether I’m going to continue there doesn’t seem much point I’m just a fatty and that’s that

like I said before all this is 99% psychological so I’m going to try and sit this downer out and hope I’ll get back to feeling motivated maybe later on today – yeah right

I’ll try and watch the calories today my usual behaviour would be to just pig out but I’m going to try and fight that compulsion

psychologically I just feel today like I always did
That the food is stronger than me and I need it and I’m dependent on it
all that crap

I’m fed up