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Alx, not sure which state you live. Hope you are ok re the earthquake. I’m not good at excercise end too. But after today, I will have more time in the evening.

Penguinchick, are you from US too?

Graham, your experience is quite common among the fasters. It certainly happened to me a number of times that I ate a lot more than I needed, in both fast and NFDs. I tend to reflect and work out a stretegy to deal with it. And the strategy may be “let it go”‘ don’t beat myself up, make better choices next time.

I’ve been taking it easy eating wise last few days – big deadline is tomorrow and cooped up in front of computer many hours this weekend.

Have a great Sunday

Hey again!

Had a super busy day again and almost did a fast day, but had a seafood salad and made that my one meal. I did snack on some celery, peanut butter (on the celery) and I had some fruit. Was doing great, then I was doing some late work before tomorrow and I ate the remaining bits of chocolate from a bag the kids had been eating… dumb yes, but hey ho, it happens sometimes!
@phoenix – No, I’m from the Uk, I just keep odd hours lol! 😉 Better to be the same weight than more, so you’re still winning! Thanks for the link too, very useful info.
Good luck with your FD, I’m fasting Monday too, so I’ll be strong with you!

@graham – Hope you’re still with us? Please don’t sweat the small stuff – we’re with you on this journey and it will be tough, we all know how you feel, we have the same issues, but we will be a support to one another.

@alex – you got lost in Wimbledon? You’re here on hols? I’ve been glued to the tennis all week, looking forward to week 2, as it’s going to be amazing with all the great matches being played! So exciting if you’re going? I’ve not been for years, but I used to go every year and watch all the matches I could possibly see, it’s awesome!

Happy fasting if you are having a FD too, have a great day!

Alex
Good for you!
You’re right we have to take the rough with the smooth

I’m feeling really under the weather with a heavy cold
I think mentally I am over my big sulk
Which is why being ill is very frustrating not only because it’s the **middle of bloody summer** but if I’d been well I could easily have fasted today and made my comeback!

As it is I’m too sickly to face it

So thank you for all the guilt Alex! Bring it on
I’d be so heartbroken to stop now after feeling genuinely excited by how well I was doing

The grown up thing to do is get rid of this stinker of a cold and plan to do my Thursday fast

Thanks also to everyone for keeping up the fight xx

Evening to you all!

I’m SO happy that you’re posting, even when unwell Graham, sucks that you feel horrid though… My mum always said chicken soup made for the best ‘cold’ remedy ever and I’ve always found that to be true… It was a funny chicken soup though, it had rice in it and was lemony, but OMG, SO delicious – yet low in calories and incredibly nutritious… I’ll try and find a recipe, as I don’t know it off by heart. Wishing you better very soon, but stick with healthy foods, citrus is good for Vit C, which fights colds, so plenty of water and maybe a ginger/lemon hot drink, with a little honey in to soothe your throat if it’s sore.

@ Phoenix – you’re welcome! We’re here to help each other overcome, you all help me by being here and posting your journey. I’ve had an ‘ok’ day (FD), but it’s 23.45 and I’m SO hungry, I will go to bed soon, but if my tummy rumbles, I won’t be able to sleep, so I saved 100 calories so I can have a little zero fat yogurt instead of my milk before bed. I have only had carrot soup and a few celery sticks, with a little peanut butter on a couple, so I’m within my 500, but I have felt really hungry all day. Must be something in the air this week, we’re all feeling it! I’m going to try hard to resist more than just a couple of spoonfuls, as I know the hunger will pass if I allow it to! I usually find Monday FD really easy, but today I’ve thought of nothing but food!
Well done on the walk and dancing, I haven’t had time for my workout today, hoping I can squeeze one in tomorrow, as it really helps with making me not want to eat and feel like I’ve achieved more in a day if I get a workout/dance/walk done. Was it your birthday yesterday? If so, belated Happy birthday!

@alex – flooding doesn’t sound good, but well done on sticking with the fast, I’m here sticking with it too, only 12 hours to go (I have my seafood salad ready for tomorrow, SO excited to eat that lol!).
Hope the rains ease for you there and that you get some sunshine to dry it all up.
I have managed to watch the highlights of the tennis today, some amazing matches, but I’m sorry to see young Coco Grauff go out, apparently she had an upset tummy or something which will have affected her game I’m sure. She reminds me of the Williams sisters when they started! We do have a UK hopeful now though, Konta is through to the next round and ofc my hero, Federer! Such an exciting week for tennis! (Sorry if no-one else is into it!) 😮

Have a great Tuesday and get well soon Graham 🙂

It is very odd. I posted this morning but the post is not showing. Hope this time it will get through.

Penguinchick, you are doing so well. I tend not to stay up late, due to early start every weekdays. May be you can try to sleep earlier nights before fasting? If I stay up past 10pm I would be very hungry too.

Alx, you are spot on about being patience is the best way to deal with plateau. I’m in the same boat – struggling to reduce past 68kg barrier for 3 months now. Lets be patience together, with good food and exercise management. I’m off to Raratonga at end of Aug for a week, so also need to plan ahead. I should reduce processed carb (my biggest weakness), and eat plenty of fish, salad and fruit.

Graham, please ensure you are hydrated. Chicken soup is best – I agree with Penguinchick. If you got not time or energy to make soup from scratch, the tin or package one will be good too. Take care.

Yesterday NFD went better than expected. Skipped breakfast, had a small lunch, chocolate cake saved from the day before, and a small dinner.

Will repeat the same for today, minus the cake and add an apple.

Have a lovely Wednesday everyone!

Hey guys,

I’ve been a bit busy but I’ve also been struggling a bit, I tend to go off the radar when I get a bit low, but I’ve made myself log on.
I was fasting today, wrote everything down, listed cals; I’d done 345 cals by 6pm, having had my soup/salad. I had some (calories) left over for a last thing snack and then had a spoon of pasta /rolls eyes! I was making some for tomorrow and it was hot and it had a divine smell…then I had a teaspoon of peanut butter, no control whatsoever! I don’t think I went too much over, but late night spoon of pasta/peanut butter V. scales in the morning… /rolls eyes again. Where is my control?!

Glad you are doing good Al/Phoenix, good work both! I’m jealous of your massage Phoenix, haven’t had one in weeks.
I did do one brilliantly virtuous thing today though, which I feel good about… two whole hours of exercise! 30 min HIIT followed by a 90 min yoga class. I’m going to pay for it tomorrow, but the yoga was worth every second of pain, I love yoga and felt/feel so good immediately, going to make it a thrice weekly thing, like I used to, pre-kids! (remind me I said that tomorrow! lol).

Weigh in tomorrow and NFD, but I’m going to try and make it a good day regardless of the scales.
Hope you are feeling better Graham? Do let us know how you are 🙂 We are all wishing you better soon!

Have a fab Friday all, I’m pretty busy this weekend, so may not be able to post til next week, but I will be with you all in my mind and heart and wishing the lbs away for us all! 😉

Penguinchick, you have been very disciplined, please don’t be too hard on yourself. Yes I enjoyed the massage on Thursday. It wasn’t the relaxing type however, but a Chinese Tui-na that stimulates pressure points & can be quite painful. And I always felt good afterwards.

Alx, have a relaxing holiday.

Graham, get well soon.

Attended a Zumba class yesterday. Tried it once a few years ago but gave up because I couldn’t to keep up with the moves. I decided just to enjoy it this time, and I had so much fun, same as everyone in the class. I should do more Zumba classes.

NFD for last 2 days gone reasonably smoothly, apart from eaten perhaps too much after dinner. The real test will be the formal weigh in tomorrow.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

hi guys
sorry I haven’t been writing on here
completely over my cold and therefore totally run out of excuses!

this thread has been such a strong motivation to get back into the 5:2 so thanks for your support and encouragement and your EXAMPLE all of you

fast day tomorrow (I’m dreading it having been out of the mind zone)
will keep you posted xx

Graham, I’m so glad you have recovered. Take it easy and make sure you are hydrated properly.

Xatie, agree wholeheartedly. While we should learn from the past, we should always look forward.

A good fast day yesterday until the evening. An apple at lunch time then small dinner. But consumed a sandwich, a few crackers and pineapple pieces after that. The total calories would be close to 800c. Not too worry about the calories but I need to substitute sandwich with something else. Fruit is too light, may be I should try lean protein.

NDF today. Meeting all day and there will be a very healthy work lunch. I will work on not eating sandwich after dinner tonight – this has become a habit lately and i need to manage it.

Have a fantastic Tuesday everyone!

Hey guys 😉

So glad you’re better Graham, good to hear and also that your FD went well. Phoenix, well done on the zumba class! I’ve got a vid for that and I too found the moves a bit of a ‘mare, so I gave it up. I’ve been super busy as it’s the 2nd to last week before kids break up, plus work is also super busy – why schools leave everything to the last week, I’ll never know! Makes it such a bind for parents trying to fit everything in. I’m off again in a minute for another ‘end of year show’ :/
Anyway! I haven’t lost an ounce again, I’ve had good days and bad days this week, along with a headache and lack of motivation – I’m sure you all know that feeling of having tried SO hard and nothing shifts…
Still, at least I haven’t gained – though I have a confession – I was SO mad today, I ate a whole packet of M&M’s chocolate, then felt sick all afternoon.
I’m on a NFD today and haven’t breached 800 cals yet, but most of my cals have been BAD today, so I’ll make up for it by doing a super controlled NFD tomorrow and no dinner for me tonight. (I’m not THAT disciplined Phoenix, sadly – or I wouldn’t be here I guess! lol).
I’ve kept up with my HIIT workouts and doing yoga and HIIT again tomorrow, plus once the kids are off school next week, we’re going on long walks (I’m bribing them with a trip to the cinema), so I’m telling them they are helping me to get fit if they join me!
We’re also planning a hiking holiday in August, so that’ll shift my fat backside haha! (OMG, I hate hiking and countryside! Haha!).
I’m mad this week as my hubby has lost 2 stone, so he’s overtaken me and this was ‘my thing to do’, he was ‘helping me’, so I feel a bit surpassed (not that I’m competitive much, obviously!). I’m trying to manage my feelings, as he’s so amazing, but I guess I thought I was the one fasting, he’s not and he’s lost a stone more than me in the same time frame… He does extreme exercises though and also weight training, so it does make sense. (Still, Grrrr!).

Right, going to focus my mind and be positive, thank you all for your lovely posts, it really helps me focus, you’re all amazing and doing great, we will do this together! xx

Thanks Penguinchick, the recipe sounds so yummy and I’ll try it this weekend. I had headache at last fast day too. Trying to find low calories electrolyte. 2 coffee, lots of Jasmine tea and fasting seem to cause de-hydration. This is why I no longer fast longer than 18 hours.

Graham, all of us have good and bad days. Let’s persist. Also tell yourself you are gorgeous already. The weight loss will make you more gorgeous.

NFD went well yesterday with a healthy lunch and small dinner. Had a sandwich as part of dinner and didn’t snack after dinner – a small sucess.

Whole day meetings again today so eating wise should be well under control.

Have a lovely Wednesday everyone!

Yesterday a good fast day till after dinner – again ate a sandwich that can do without. Still managed to control calories to about 800c.

NFD today. With no expected eating challenges (office morning tea etc), it should be an ok day.

No particular eating challenge this weekend too. But this can be my most challenged time, as I tend to get too relaxed. Plan to do zumba and a step class with daughter this weekend. Last attempt at step class was 2 years ago – I probably won’t be able to walk after the class.

Have a lovely Friday and weekend everyone!

Hi guys
Great to read all your news and how are your persevering
Really inspiring

I’m doing great on my fast days but terrible on my no fast days

but I haven’t put any weight on the 8 pounds I lost initially I’ve kept off

Another 5 or so off and I would be **FOURTEEN STONE** something!

Even if it’s 14 at 13lb I won’t care

I haven’t weighed 14 stone something for I can’t remember how long – years and years

Penguinchick
Great your husband list the weight but I know how you feel my friend and I talk about being fat all the time and she has lost a stone! (doing keto)

I was convinced I would be leading the way as her example!
Serves me right

But it’s actually really encouraging because I do feel if she can do it so can I so maybe you should look at it that way with your husband I’m sure you already do

Enjoy your Zumba Pheonix!

NFD today has been quite low calorie for once
Onward and upward xx

Happy Sunday!

Well done Phoenix on the Zumba class! Even if you were out of breath, you’re doing something really positive and you’ll get better at it in no time, huge step forward 😀
Re: 36 hour fasting… Here’s what I do:
Sunday night I have my NFD meal around 6-7pm, then I don’t snack unless it’s a veggie (celery/carrot/banana/apple) and at about 11pm that’s my cut off point for not eating past that time. I go to bed, fast all through the day Monday, having my FD meal at about 6pm, I drink lots of water, when I get hungry I eat a celery stick and have a hot coffee (with milk and I count the calories in it). I have a carrot soup for my FD meal, which is 500g and costs me 192 calories, add the milk on my coffee to that through the day and I’m at about 292, I have 1 small slice of wholewheat bread (55Kcal) with each bowl of soup from my allowance, so that’s maximum of 110 kcal for the bread which makes 412 total, then just before I go to bed, I have 100g of zero fat greek yogurt @ 54 kcal = total 468 kcal, then if I really need it, I’ll have some more celery or an apple or something to take me to about 500 or so. Then on the Tuesday, I eat nothing all morning and have my first NFD food from midday, but I’m usually not hungry until about 12.30-1pm, so that covers my 36+ hours with no more than 500 kcal. I don’t deviate much from this standard on FD’s, as I know what the calories are, but if I do have something different, it’s 400g salad with prawns (111 kcal for half a pack and salad is very low, no dressing at around 50-70 kcal for a plate full!) Hope that helps, happy to elaborate further if you need more info.
I do find Thursday FD’s harder than Mondays for some reason, which is odd, as Monday follows 3 x NFD’s, but I’m always hungry all day on a Thursday :/ It’s not easy, but I’ve never broken the rules I set in my head for FD’s, as I always say to myself, you’ve only got ‘xyz’ hours to go and then I drink lots of water to fill me up – though the toilet visits are frequent lol!

@graham – So glad you’re back on track, I know exactly how you feel and yes, I am pleased for my hubby, it’s just a nag in my head that ‘this was MY journey’ and I’ve done so little for ME for so many years, I’ve always been a ‘giver’, so I am trying to ‘take’ a little something for me for a change, get my body back and my sanity with it!
I’ve been really crap about exercise for a few days, but planning a big yoga session today, as I’m feeling aches which had vanished with all the exercising, so back n that horse again from today.
I also had a fab weekend with friends and didn’t over eat/drink! I served salads and fish for the dinner I prepared and everyone loved it, commenting how healthy and filling it was and we didn’t drink nearly as much alcohol as I thought we might (I only had one drink all night – and felt quite tipsy!).

Have a great day everyone and thank you SO much for your wonderful support and encouragement, you’re all amazing <3 xx

Thanks Penguinchick for the tips. When I was doing 24 hours fast, I was consuming no calories during that time. For e.g. ate dinner on Sunday at around 6pm, then no calories (but black coffee and Chinese tea) till 6pm on Monday. I thought it would be good for my guts to have a proper rest. But I was very de-hydrated and had to give up. So now I normally eat an apple around 1pm during fast day, then a small dinner.

The formal weigh in shows no change. I know some is to do with higher water retention due to more exercises. But on reflection, I started eating from 5am on Saturday (I woke up at 3.30am & couldn’t go back to sleep); plus larger portion of meals on Sunday. So will aim to do better. For e.g. if I wake up early on weekend, I could do a Pilate class in the lounge.

Have a lovely Monday everyone!

Welcome back Alex, and it’s great that you have had a fantastic holiday.

When I returned from an overseas holiday, I always able to loose about 2-3kg quickly due to water retention. This may apply to you?

Agreeing with your comments about how long to get bodies to recognize the new norm. I’ve been struggling in last few months to reduce below 69kg. Sometimes I got down to 67kg, but most of the time it stuck around 69kg. Saying that I do need to closely examine my eating habits – too much snacking during NFD, and I need to be more discipline about no breakfast every day.

A less disciplined fast day yesterday. It was ok till dinner time. Again consumed around 800c.

NFD today. Will skip breakfast and be disciplined about lunch and dinner.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!

Good to hear about your rapid weight loss yesterday, Alex.

Hope Graham & Penguinchick are doing well too.

Yesterday NFD went ok. Weight remains the same as the day before.

NFD today. Plan to eat more fruits and less processed carb.

It has been raining constantly in Wellington last fortnight. The forecast predicts no rain over next five days & sun is pouring over me at them moment – Hooray!

Have a lovely day too everyone!

My NFD yesterday didn’t quite go according to plan too. Decided to eat a small snack at 10.30am, so my stomach won’t make too much noise when meeting with boss. Ate a normal size lunch that I felt over full afterwards. Then a normal size dinner and again felt over full afterwards. I need to reduce portion size.

Alex, I like your ideas of not letting ourselves to freak out, and fake it till you make it!

Fast day today and I will be disciplined.

A sunny day today in Wellington. Have a great Thursday everyone!

Hey all,

Hope you’re coping with this awful weather! (I’m very much in the ‘Winter is Coming’ camp!) lol
Stay hydrated and safe!
I had a great FD Monday, with ABSOLUTELY zero lost. Also had an excellent and very controlled NFD Tuesday/Wednesday, again, zero loss. I was well hydrated, ate salad and chicken breast/or fish, no puds, no cakes, no biscuits, nothing remotely naughty. This is so slow sometimes.
I must admit with this heat, I have had no energy to do my HIIT training, so I’ve lost a week, though I’ve still been busy and active, just not high end.
I’ve slept well, despite the heat and aside from a little ice cream last night, nothing sweet at all.

I will take on board your post Graham, that makes good sense! I’m trying not to freak out Alex, but it’s hard when you do all the right things and nothing moves.
I suppose I haven’t gained any, but that’s beside the point, wth would have happened if I’d eaten what a ‘normal’ person would eat?! I’d be a stone heavier maybe?
Trying to stay focused and positive, I’ll re-read some posts to give me some sense, as I can’t work out why I’ve not lost a bean this week, the maths don’t add up at all.

Happy fasting if you’re on a FD like me today, I had a green salad and a boiled egg just now, I’ve got some carrot soup for later if I need it, but I’ve not been hungry in the heat, just drinking lots of water.

Happy day to you all xx

Graham, you nail it. We will not quit.

Penguinchick, hot weather may bring on higher water retention initially. One good thing about hotter weather is you burn more calories for coping with the heat; and sweating is good detox for the body. We are in the middle of winter here and can’t wait for warmer weather. Fortunately it has been a mild winter so far.

I admire your discipline and need to learn from you – reduce/eliminate naughty food as much as possible.

Alex, if I get dehydrated my body can react in bad ways. Good that you noticed your dehydration. I try to carry a keep warm cup constantly filled up with hot water or Chinese tea with me when I move around the office. All the best for your additional fast days. I never manage to achieve additional fast day, so good on you.

My fast day yesterday was quite miserable. I stuck in front of PC for long period to complete some very tedious, but important, work. Meant I couldn’t go out for long walk, massage etc. The urge to eat was strong early in the morning. Managed to hold on (thus miserable) till 1pm for an apple. Couldn’t resist a handful of crisps around 3pm. Then a small dinner.

Will continue with tedious work today, but at lease today is a NFD.

Another beautiful day in Wellington. Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

Hi guys
Didn’t do my fast day today
Hottest day ever recorded in London
Went for a picnic on Hampstead Heath and a mate did a salad and butternut squash pasty
Had lots to drink

Had a piece of mackerel in the evening and rice
Not terrible but definitely not a fast

The heatwave breaks tomorrow (thank god)
But more people staying

I love this time of year but there’s always so much going on

One weakness of the 5:2 diet for me is as soon as the slightest disruption happens to my routine I found it very hard to continue with 600 calories

I hope as i become more experienced and start losing more weight I will gather some momentum and learn how to to be strict in the face of all the distractions

However long it takes I want to persevere get this weight off

It’s all a slow SLOW learning process and that’s good for me
I am more comfortable psychologically with slow periods and then focussed strict periods than going all out and getting fed up which is all I’ve ever done

The motto “Don’t Quit” is great for me it stops me panicking about “perfection or nothing”