Auriga:

Thank you for the information on your diet! It is amazing what types of benefits show up for different individuals.

FYI, cholesterol levels go up when you are losing a lot of weight, but return to (your) normal after weight loss stops. Cholesterol is contained in every cell in the body, including fat cells. So when you lose fat, at some point the cholesterol in the fat cell is released. Lots of fat lost = lots of cholesterol in the blood. But it is eventually filtered out so there is nothing really to worry about.

Your info is right that the older you are, the better it is to have higher cholesterol levels. This is a nice review of the current research on fat, including a segment on cholesterol levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QetsIU-3k7Y

Thanks again for the information and congratulations on your asthma going away!

Hi Everyone, I am now exhausted catching up on all your lovely and informative messages. I am having trouble with my ipad and I have gone off my desktop computer its too much trouble to come on after a busy day. this retirement business is very tiering. LOL. The weather as been wonderful in South Wales again and I have been bowling 3 out of 4 days and I am playing again tomorrow. I lost 2 lb at WW weigh-in last Tuesday and it takes me into the 9’s even if its only 139 lbs.
I will be reading messages even if I cannot reply for a couple of days.
Happy fasting and non-fasting. JIP

Hi Elaine and PVE, thanks for the congrats on size 8. Not sure how I feel about it yet! It doesn’t match the mental image I have of myself. The evidence in support of me no longer being the unattractive fat one is starting to stack up though! Next step, believe it, go clothes shopping again and actually buy something next time….!

Elaine, hope you have a great time with your friends. I know time spent with our friends tends to be a bit too boozy and foody, but plenty of laughter. So will be interested to hear how it goes for you, fasting and weight wise.

Auriga. So pleased people (including the mysterious simcoeluv) have managed to reassure you about your blood results. One might have thought the medical professional who gave you the results would have done that, instead of a random group of people (with unknown credentials) online…! Oh well.

PVE. Good luck with the blood pressure. I can’t really help with what else you should look for I’m afraid, except the obvious. And so sorry to hear retirement is so onerous (for you and JIP)… Poor you….!

Time for me to schedule my annual physical, I’m excited to get good results. I checked my BP the other day and it hadn’t gone down as I hoped it would. I’ve always been borderline high and on meds for it but I really want to be able to not have to take them (which I haven’t been for the past couple of months). I’m very interested to see what my cholesterol levels are as well, though they haven’t been a problem for me. That was very good info in the other thread that was linked to about cholesterol levels. With so much new information coming out, I’m even more and more cynical about whatever my doctor tells me. So much “conventional wisdom” is being debunked you really have to wonder who you can trust. I know medicine is not an exact science but sometimes they really seem to be making this up as they go along.

Hi there 5-2ers!

We are a television show in Australia and are doing a profile on Dr Michael Mosley and the 5 2 diet. You can see our website here https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/#page1

We know many people all around the world are experiencing great results after being on Dr Mosley’s diet. We would love to share your experience with our viewers.

If you want to share your story, could you please send a ‘before’ and ‘after’ photo to our email address: sundaynightcompetitions@seven.com.au

You can remain completely anonymous. We would just love to know:

* Your age
* Your previous weight/size
* Your weight/size after trying 5:2
* How long you were on 5:2

Thank you for sharing your story,

The Sunday Night Team

Hi BigDave, I am extremely interested to see what new info is coming from across the pond regarding BP perimeters. Although the 5:2 does seem to be a panacea for many ills, and of course weight loss, it doesn’t appear to make a lot of difference to blood pressure. Agree totally with so many on this link regarding how much trust we can put into the medical establishment with their oh so many hidden agendas and conflicts of interest…

Hi ho Mainenance Mates,
I think you’ll laugh at my story.
Went to a recital then had a long boozy lunch with a girlfriend at Jamie Oliver’s. Suddenly realised it was 3.15 and doctor’s app was 3.45. Ran to train station, ran two at a time up the stairs to the waiting train. Jumped on, then walked through the carriages to the far end to gain max advantage at the other end. Jumped off train at 3.40 and all but ran UPHILL for 9 minutes. Doctor was ready to see me immediately. (Never happens!)
I said” Look, if you stress me now, I’ll have all the factors for a high BP …wine, salty food, running, white coat fear etc!” Result was 135/77. He was impressed, considering all the factors. (I was still puffing, too!)
We have agreed that I will take the Coversyl without the diuretic for a month, taking my BP first thing every morning and recording on my Fitbit. Let’s see how I go.
Really was a very funny scene. I then sauntered off serenely to the train home. 🙂
PVE 🙂

Hi Auriga
I’ve been on medication for BP for 10 years. This is with taking meds.
I am trying to get off them. My nurse S-I-L warns against going cold turkey with the risk of stroke. Doctor also says people live longer the lower the BP, so why not take them? Hard to argue without facts;( I just don’t want to.
Any ideas?
Still 60kg this morning and BP first thing only 115/75 🙂
PVE

Hello all, seems like there is a lot of interest in finding a solution to high blood pressure. If I hear anything new or interesting I’ll be sure to post it here.

On another positive note, I lost 2 lbs for the week. I’m at the lowest weight I’ve been in at least 10 years, so I’m pretty happy about that. And I only started this in May, love this so much more than daily calorie restriction. I’m still doing 4:3, I’ll probably drop back to 5:2 in August as I’m really close to my goal weight (unless I decide to set new goals).

Dave

Ha thanks PVE…I want to be BigDave because of muscle, not fat. Hopefully I can find the right balance!

Happy Friday—

Dave

PVE. I have a great image of your manic journey to the doctors! Perhaps that’s how you should arrive every time?!
Although I’d love to, I’m afraid I don’t know enough to help you. I know I’d be the same as you though, not wanting to be on medication, but without sufficient information to make an informed decision. How high was it before you went on the meds?

Hi PVE. We’re not quite at Solstice here but to be honest I’m looking forward to the nights drawing in! I’m currently sleep deprived by effing jackdaws wakimg me up at 4…

Hi there, maintaining buddies 🙂

I finished my 16-days-without-a-day-off and am still tired after sleeping well last night. Have to work again tomorrow and Monday, but at least have Tuesday and Wednesday off this week (before working Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday — this new schedule is going to take some getting used to!) Have read all your lovely posts but may need some time to catch up with replying to everything!

Had a strange experience with my scales this week. My weight went up about 4 pounds in 4 days (one of which was a fast day with 12,000+ steps in it), then dropped 3 pounds in 1 day. That’s a lot of water weight! My day to write down my weight each week is Saturday, so 116.2 this AM 🙂 still comfortably in the lower end of my maintenance range, but yesterday I was a bit perturbed, trying to figure out what on Earth would put on weight so fast! The only thing that was different is that I’ve had several restaurant meals (when it’s not possible to know exactly what’s in your food) in the last week and a half, when normally it’s almost all home cooking, little factory-made food (mostly single ingredients like yogurt, canned tomatoes), most prepared food we have is locally/artisinally (salsa, cheese) made, and I’m a conscientious reader of food labels. I did take advantage of an opportunity to cut down on the number of restaurant meals I’m expected to eat with my new clients (from two a week to one a week) even though it will cut down on my hours/pay a bit, too. The food in the dining room of the senior high-rise where they live is not all that bad, but I’m not crazy about eating it twice a week, either.

Beautiful weather here, going to get out for a while this afternoon, but taking it easy today.

simcoeluv, intermittent fasting has a track record for alleviating inflammatory conditions, asthma in particular, see ‘The Alternate-Day Diet’ by James B. Johnson, MD.

Have twice attempted to bare my soul and share, only for my smartphone to delete both. I had been extolling the virtues of fasting in terms of mental health and positive outlook (from my perspective). Having been thwarted twice by technology, the moment has passed and you can call me GrumpyNow.

Ooh look! Phone’s letting me post this one. Grrr.

Good advice, Auriga, about long posts. V frustrating to lose everything.

It’s been a lovely weekend here. Plenty of gardening, and also been out on my new bike. This year I’m not at all embarrassed/ ashamed to be out and about in full lycra. Can’t think why not….!?

Anyway, Saturday is my official weigh day, and 59.5 is another milestone of sorts, as it’s 28lbs lost in total and that’s 2 stone in old money…. I never dreamed I could make this sort of difference to my life in such a short time, or so easily.

Thanks Auriga.

I think the cycling (and running) are easier for not lugging that dead weight around.

It’s always difficult to put weight loss in a meaningful context (10 bags of sugar, etc…. well I’ve never bought that much in one go to know how heavy it is!). But I do buy a 10kg bag of cat litter, so know that’s heavy. I also buy 12.75kg sacks of wild bird food. And I don’t want to carry them very far! And that’s pretty much what I’ve lost. You’re not wrong when you say it’s a weight off!

Good luck with the I phone. I’m just smart, not i!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I just finished my first zero calorie fast today, wasn’t really much harder than when I eat a small meal. Happy Monday—

Dave

Hi Happy
I did the 24 thing last week and it really threw me. Today I have been comfortable on the old 16:8. I love the way this is such a flexible WOE we can dabble with different ways and vary depending on the weather, social engagements etc.
Well done, Dave. My husband also found the no eat system suits him too.
PVE

Morning all. HappyNow, it was actually closer to 35 hours, I just didn’t eat any calories on my fast day. So from about 10pm Saturday night (we had some late night Mexican) until 9am Monday (right now basically on the east coast of the US, I’m in Atlanta).

Are you doing 16:8 every day of the week instead of 2 full fast days? I like the idea of 16:8 but I think it would interfere with my patterns too much, especially on the weekends.

Thanks PVE, how many days does your husband fast?

Dave

Auiga,
Still reading The Fast Beach book. I only read it on train trips on my Kindle, so taking a while. It IS full of good ideas and just helps to keep your head around the whole system, doesn’t it?
You don’t have to weigh the same as Mimi. Just be comfortable with your shape at the size you feel is healthy for you. 😉
Your Maintenance Mate, PVE