I guess dropping the biscuits makes up for the cheesecakes? Do his dogs share those too, Happy? I LOVE your dad! P
This topic contains 11,627 replies, has 174 voices, and was last updated by hermajtomomi 7 months, 1 week ago.
On a brighter note…!
Just reading that 1 in 3 people in the UK are thought to have non alcoholic fatty liver disease, mostly seen in the overweight plus, due to eating more food than their livers can cope with.
Experts predict that by 2020 more liver transplants will be due to overeating than alcohol abuse!
More cake anyone…?
Morning all – ain’t this thread just wonderful! What I like best about it (apart from the laughs, the mutual support on difficult days, the chance to celebrate / boast about success – among people who will simply rejoice with you and not despise you for said boasting – or get consolation and advice in failure, the developing friendships — all that!) is the way it takes us back, every so often, to the fundamentals of 5:2!
Yes, Janey – and all: my post, written in haste in a rush to be supportive, expressed it so much less well than the others’, but it’s true: your therapist obviously gave it a name we didn’t recognise, but ‘re feeding’ is actually as much a fundamental of 5:2 as fasting. I won’t repeat all that others have said so well, but yes – it’s about contrast, feast and famine – you’re not supposed to restrict calories (nor to pig them!) constantly.
It’s easy to get seduced by the various apps, diet sites, magazines etc, away from intermittent (see, there’s that word again!) fasting and back to traditional ‘dieting’, or to over-complicate the basic principles: alternate feast and famine, as our bodies evolved to do; enjoy food to the full; make (mostly) healthy choices but don’t be afraid to indulge occasionally. We know from experience what works, but every so often it’s good to be brought back to it, and reminded again of the foundation of this way of eating which continues to work for us. Thanks, everyone!
P, do you mean vit D throughout summer for BP? I’ve taken it the last two winters, and managed to stop my previous winter dosage of St. John’s wort for SAD, but stopped it (the vit D) when spring came. I was just about thinking it was time to stop it for this year – but perhaps not? Is there stuff on the Fast website about Vit D and BP? (Sorry, that sounds / is idle – quicker to ask you for a pointer than to research from scratch!)
Sorry to confuse you, ffs.
We had Trust Me I’m a Doctor on tv last night. I had just been told my bp had gone up again, after being good for ages. Dr M was talking about the connection between Vit D and lower bp. I take Vit D for dementia (I don’t think I have it…yet). Mr P takes 2 a day and, despite living in Aust, his blood tests don’t show high D. I was wondering if my increase in bp (and raised stress levels) are related to the weeks of rain we’ve just had. I made the most of bare arms and walking in the sun today. P
Hi everyone, how nice to have such a lively debate to come back to. All has been said so well re re-feeding, feasting, overindulgence etc, no point repeating but I agree, that we don’t need to schedule for that it happens automatically.
After a great re-feeding bank holiday weekend, 😉
I am happy to fast again. Like many here, from Monday to Friday I do low carb, with sugar only in the form of fruit and I look forward to french bread or croissants for breakfast at the weekend…
Interesting info re Vit D – must look into it a bit more. Thanks for sharing.
Morning Bay 🙂
I bought a Fitbit, last year, after I reached goal, to see how good I was at managing energy in /energy out. I found it great as a reminder to move if I was having a sedentary day. I quickly stopped logging food as it becomes obsessive and we don’t need that 😉
I gave it to Mr P and he loves it. It has caused him to go for walks out of the office at lunch time or get off the train a station earlier to get the extra steps up. We compete to see who reaches 10,000 steps first 🙂
I ended up replacing mine with a Misfit Shine, as I missed that reminder to keep the steps up. The Misfit does not need recharging regularly like Fitbits do and is attractive. It looks more like a piece of jewellery. The downside is, it requires reasonably modern smart phones to sync, unless you want to go to your computer. If you have an iPhone or a Samsung 5, you are ok.
Both Fitbit and Misfit can simply be tapped while wearing to see how many steps you have done. The Misfit also tells the time.
Just seeing it on your wrist, prompts you to move more. 🙂 P
Funny you should ask that, Bay. I’ve been thinking about getting one, but waiting for the latest version of Jawbone to become available because it also records heart health, which in my case might be worth having.
I’m now having a re-think, largely due to the ‘re-feeding’discussion on this thread. In the absence of a device, I’ve been using the ‘My Fitness Pal’ app to log food and exercise. It’s been quite useful, but -like P – I’ve realised that it can become obsessive – and more important, the recent re-feeding thread has reminded me that I shouldn’t be calorie counting on NFDs. (The app works much more on old-fashioned 24/7 calorie restriction, and although I set out knowing I’d need to allow for that, it does subtly push you toward a way of eating which isn’t 5:2 and doesn’t work for me – and I’m not sure mixing them is healthy. )
Because I’m now not working, and I’m living somewhere I can walk most places and have time for other forms of exercise, I don’t feel the need to count activity, so really, what price the device? As I say, I’m re-thinking – but ready to be convinced either way, if anyone else has more useful contributions to make. For the moment I’ve decided temporarily to stop logging in to the app; I’ll see what my weight does and decide accordingly. Watch this space!
ffs, I wouldn’t be without my Misfit now. I put it on first thing in the morning so I don’t miss any steps 🙄
I see it as a watch that keeps me competitive (Bay knows that’s not hard!) I don’t ever count calories, I’m surprised that you would think you’d need to at this stage, ffs. I’m more than aware of the basic calorific level of foods and know how to balance it. As a retiree, myself, it can be really easy, some days, to do hardly any steps (raining, reading, sitting in a car, going to a concert, working on the computer etc.) By having a gadget clearly visible, the reminder is there. I have been known to get up and run on the spot while watching tv in the evening if I haven’t reached 10,000. Today, I went into the city, lots of walking and mowed all the lawns, filled the green waste bins, so I have done 14,000 already (6pm). Other days, I might find I’ve done only 3500 at this time.
So, yes, I think it is a good healthy choice to have something like my Misfit to keep you moving, but no, I don’t think it is at all necessary for a maintainer to record food. This is the rest of your life, ffs. 🙂 P
Bay, you live dangerously, with delicious, jumping gelato jumping around. You are so lucky it found your mouth. Could have been a lot worse.
Have fun planning your holiday!!!
Interesting conversation about fitness monitor. It is something I would quite like to have in order to monitor my ordinary activity (as is now) but I wonder for how long it would be interesting. I used to have a step counter but after a while I stopped using it because I got used to what distance constitutes how many steps. Is it not similar to calorie counting – good in the beginning but once you know the calorie content of most things it becomes second nature? I don’t record calories per se but I make a mental note of roughly what I have on a NFDs. If I get it wrong (and I do) the scales will tell and I plan a stricter fast day or eat carb free for a while.
I walk briskly for about 50 – 60 minutes every day (uphill) and every now and then I put in a faddy exercise routine that seems interesting and fun until I get bored with it.
I might borrow my daughter’s fitbit for a week and see if it motivates me to move more or if the novelty wears off quickly. Who knows I might put in a special dance during the commercials – we just don’t know how we react to something until we have it.
FFS, if you are really interested in one, this is one of those perfect ideas for birthday or Christmas from your family.
Hi Lichtle and Purple
So exciting. Just booked and paid for our flights to Zagreb, Croatia, with the return trip to Sydney from London. Have also accepted a quote for a river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. We are so lucky. 😆
Will do more planning tomorrow. 😉 Eldest grandchild turned 15 today. Quite the young man. I am so proud of him.
Cheers, Bay 🙂
Hi Bay, wow that is a long cruise via at least three rivers, that is wonderful. You will love it. When are you travelling again? My parents did a river cruise from Munich to Budapest a few years ago (Danube only) and they loved it.
You have a 15 yrs old grandson? Happy Birthday to him. 🙂
Haha, fitbit for DH 😉 is that a subtle hint?
Thought I’d report in after so long on the 5:2 diet. I started the diet when I first saw Dr Mosley’s program when It was first aired. I didn’t need to lose weight (well a few pounds maybe) but started just for health reasons.
I initially ate and drank really badly on the 5 days but was strict with the fasting on the other two days. I managed to maintain my weight at 10 stone 12 pounds (I’m 5 feet 10 inches) for years despite my bad eating habits. Recently I looked into the myth of low fat diets and how gluten wrecks our bodies. Bad news for me as I love bread and grains of all kinds.
So recently I have gone nearly totally Paleo, cutting out carbs and booze. I’m sticking to the high protein (meat, cheese, nuts) and natural fats with loads of veg and the odd fruit smoothie. Good quality suppliments are a must to get things back in order with this approach. Whole compound Vitamin C which is hard to find, which unblocks the arteries (search Youtube on this, very interesting!) and other gut/brain foods are all good.
Milk was another thing to cut out, but cheese seems to be OK and I don’t have an intolerance by the looks of it. The results are looking very good. I feel so much better and have lost a few more pounds despite going to one day per week fasting. I quit the booze ages before so It wasn’t just the lack of it making the difference.
I’ve got more energy and just feel right again.
I’ll still keep the fasting for those health benefits though and unless I start to get really thin I can’t see me stopping.
Hope that helps some of you.
Hi Pete
Good to read your story. There are a number of us on here with full fat , low sugar, low carb food intake. Have you seen That Sugar Film? It tells all about the danger of fructose and sugar in general. A small amount of protein at every meal seems to give energy.
Cheers, Bay 🙂
Thanks, Purple, Enjoy your trip 😉
Hi Lichtle, I had babies in my twenties, as did my son and DIL. It does seem amazing that this deep voiced tall young man is my grandson. I remember my son at that age. August will be split between Croatia and the cruise. Cheers, Bay 🙂
Hi Pete, excellent work on your diet front. Well done for being able to stick to such a drastic change of diet. Do you intend to eat Paleo for a very long time (for good) or until you feel your system is in good shape?
As you can see from previous posts, most of us seem to agree that a diet lower in grains and sugar seems to really help with our general well being and of course also our weight and quite a few of us have slowly changed our eating habits to that effect However we still indulgence occasionally and enjoy a good time with good friends That is why we love 5:2 so much and because it is gently making us more attuned with what our bodies need. (Unfortunately not very much food at all 🙁
Do you think that fasting became the catalyst for your health conscious diet? Did fasting change your relationship with food over time?
Thank you once again for your positive and inspiring post.
Thanks guys. Quite a few questions there and I’ll do my best to answer them all.
Purple, I do eat yoghurt, but not Kefir. Although it was recommended. I may try it some time and see what It’s like.
Batleafoz, I didn’t see the sugar film, but watched a specialist on Youtube talking about fructose and how the liver processes it along with alcohol. Also another video about sugars generally being bad for us.
Litchie, I’m not fully Paleo as I’m eating cheese and the occasional 100% wholemeal cereal in very small quantities. Mainly just to use up the stuff in the pantry! I will also eat the occasional wholemeal pasta for the same reasons, but there after the plan is to have no carbs.
As for time, I’m going to play it by ear. I think the occasional cheat is fine and as we eat out with friends it inevitable I guess.
What really inspired me to start thinking about the recent change was a video by Dr Darren Schmidt on how to unblock arteries with vitamin C. It was Dr Mosely’s program that impressed me so much thogh and started us thinking about what we should be eating. (my wife is on the same diet) The 5:2 diet has been part of our regular routine since that first airing.
I started on alternate day fasting, but lost weight way to fast as I was riding a bike to work 13 miles away and started getting a bit gaunt!
Thanks for the interest everyone. Good luck with your own diets.
Pete
Lichtle (sorry got your name wrong last time, I should wear my glasses more often!) You asked about changing attitudes and relationships with food. I’d say more recently that It’s changed. It’s a real eye opener finding some of the info I’ve mentioned in my previous post.
Although there is some conflicting info out there. I guess It’s a case of finding what works for us as individuals.
Some other great videos that may be of interest to everyone are on “leaky gut syndrome” A search on Youtube will bring up lots of videos.
Gluten seems to be causing us all sorts of problems. If I understand correctly, once fixed, eating wholemeal foods seems ok.
I know sugars have been covered on here, but haven’t read through every post so don’t know if leaky gut has already been touched on. Judging by the highly knowledgeable posts I’ve seen, I’m guessing it has.
Something I didn’t say was we have taken up indoor wall climbing in the last few months and I seem to managing to build more muscle on than before. I also feel stronger all round. Don’t know whether the Paleo diet helps with this?
Cheers,
Pete
Hi Pete – good to have you on board, and congratulations on what sound like really good results. The combination of Paleo diet and Feast-and-famine eating sounds like a natural combination.
I’m not sure about the gluten thing, though. I can appreciate that we didn’t originally evolve to eat grains – and several of us here find it helpful to avoid too many, along with sugar – but my understanding is that unless a person actually has coeliac disease, gluten is unlikely to be a problem. It’s refined (ie white) and processed stuff which is much more problematic – low in both fibre and nutritional value. Of course you’re the best expert on what works for your body and makes you feel good – but I’d be hesitant to recommend gluten-free as a general rule, as cutting it out when you don’t need to can deprive you of some important nutrients.
Keep posting your experience – the more of us, the merrier!
Hi Carol
Kefir is fermented milk, similar to, but better for your gut, than yoghurt. I bought “kefir grains” on line. Each day I add them to about a cup of fresh milk and leave it on the benchtop for 24 to 36 hours (depending on the season). I then sieve it with a PLASTIC sieve and store the creamy kefir in the fridge. The kefir grains in the sieve are then added to fresh milk. You can buy it in places like Thomas Dux, but it is SO easy and cheap to make and very good for you. 🙂 P
Interesting…….http://www.healyourlife.com/craving-sugar-and-carbs
Thanks Fastfastslow. I’m going to play it by ear on the gluten. Although the stuff I have seen about leaky gut syndrome is very interesting, I do believe a small amount of gluten is fine. Or at least a few of the better grains such as Kefir.
Thanks to the other posters for answering the Kefir questions!
Hi Carol,
Thanks for the link. This morning was already depressing enough (UK Politics!)… But now if I get excessive cravings later, I can console myself that it’s not really about sugar, it’s just that my life lacks meaning… 🙂
On a serious note, not sure I buy into the ‘soul’ argument, and I’m not an emotional eater, but I do believe a craving (so long as it isn’t always for sugar!) is my body’s way of highlighting a nutrient deficiency.
PS Loving zoetrope! it’s not your middle name by any chance is it Pete?!
What, Calvados, Purple?
FODMAPs or gluten, I don’t really care, the result is the same for me. 😉 I bloat and get tired when I’ve eaten wheat and am better never eating it.
Have a fabulous time! Will be thinking of you. Have fasted 22 hours on water today. Hanging tough as I am on the upper edge of my weight wobble.
Cheers, Bay:)
That link was a bit of a joke Bay, but for plenty of us (read:me!) emotional eating is something to consider. I find I am doing less and less of it since I have been on 5:2 which is good. Like you I get tired and bloated when I’ve eaten wheat or drunk wine. As I often do the two together I now have to experiment to see which causes what. I think the wine causes tiredness and the wheat definitely bloats me. One of them – I think wine, also reduces my resolve (maybe due to tiredness). Happy Mothers Day everyone! 🙂
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