Day 14. U.K.
NFD.
Just checking in
Good luck everyone.

Australia, day 14, NFD

Bajlish – What you have is a plateau which happens to many losing weight and many on 5:2 at different times. Someone described it as going down in steps and stairs. It’s normal and part of the process. We plateau for various reasons. A plateau usually lasts up to 3 weeks. More than that and they may be a less than normal cause. When I plateaud for more than 3 weeks a couple of months after starting 5:2 someone suggested I stop eating any starchy carbohydrate foods which includes grains, gluten free starches, potatoes. I did this and my weight loss immediately resumed. For me, this went further where I found pumpkin, sweet potato, peas, corn also were too starchy for me to lose weight. There seems to be a group of people where eating starchy carbs stalls their weight loss. So.. Till I’m at maintenance these are only for special celebrations.

HannahWatto and others with family members who have mental health conditions and addictions:

* The Three C’s

I didn’t Cause it
I can’t Control it
I can’t Cure it

We can treat them with respect and dignity, but we cannot live their life for them or make their decisions for them

Onwards and Downwards,
Merry

Day 13: Pacific NW USA, NFD

It’s usually a good idea for me to check in before those in GB are up otherwise I know I’m going to bed way too late. Didn’t have a break long enough to do so today and everyone is getting ahead of me. I ate below TDEE today but it’s tricky when that number goes down by a little each week and I have to recalculate my portions etc. I think that could be contributing to my slower weight loss too.

I’ll have a FD tomorrow and run around and get errands done and then try to have a restful weekend. Hope the same for you all!

Day 14 Italy – NFD
Yesterday’s Fast was ok, I clocked 600 cals..a little over. I’m going to indulge a bit today and make myself cauliflower cheese. I’ve been lusting after it for a while, but can never cook it as my partner doesn’t like cauliflower or cheese. He’s just left for a weekend in Warsaw to celebrate his 40th birthday with his friends, so I’m going to treat myself and hope to get an extra FD in on Saturday.

#Merryme I’m grateful you said that. Thank you. It was mentioned in a general conversation within a group about starchy food, you have said it directly so I’m going to take heed and do just that. I’ll look more closely into what I’m eating. Shop bought soups for example. I need to adjust what I’m eating not the amount. I eat a sensible amount. I’ll not give up. I’m not that sort!!

For all who have encouraged me-I’m grateful. Thank you.

NZ, Day 14, NFD
Weigh in tomorrow – eaten a bit heavy this arvo/tonight but hoping just feeling extra full after long fast yesterday till mid-day today. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow – the scales won’t lie!!

Good to read through all the posts – nearly mid way through October already!
Take care all. Xxx

Day 14. NJ USA NFD. Finishing up another fast day – I’m really beginning to look forward to them this has been week 6 so I guess it was my 12th fast day I just feel so good after it I sleep like a baby look forward to a quiet morning and breaking my fast at noon time for a total of 40 hour fast. I definitely have to lose weight but started the 5:2 program for a health issue. I had some serious liver issues last winter never really got an answer as to why and started doing some research found fasting is good to rest the liver. I start every morning out with lemon water which is good for the liver and starts bile flowing and the fast day
gives my liver a rest.

Merry. Thanks so much for the 3 C’s we have very serrious alcohol problems in the family and this is a good way to help my brain wrapped around it – thank
you. Have a good day.

Day 13 – E.Canada, NFD

Well, I normally post in the evening, when the day’s eating is done, but yesterday I felt tired after a bath and lay down ‘just for a minute.’ I woke up this morning having slept for 11 hours and my hair, having partly dried on the pillow, looks like it was washed in the washing machine! How spouse didn’t manage to wake me when he went to bed I’ll never know!

Anyway, yesterday went okay. I had my planned lunch (1/2 bagel and avocado). Supper was light because that’s all I felt like eating.

Day 14 – should be a FD but I don’t know if I’m up for it. We shall see.

Today, Friday, is both a FD but also my official weigh-in day. Trouble is my scale readings are all over the place. I have been watching how my weight varies through throughout the day – and either the weight, or the scales, or both, vary by up to 3 pounds in a day. So this may account for why some people feel the scales don’t move – the fat might be off some but the water content of one’s body is up, or the scales are within their margin of error and just randomly up or down.

Anyway, I’ll take the highest reading, which puts me at half way to my goal of a 6 pound loss for the month. Since the month is half way through, this means I’m on track – I hope.

US, Day 14, FD…. Hanging in but losing my mojo. Maybe I need to plug in my hypnosis MP3s.

Moth…my scale has also been all over the place…in the space of 3 minutes! Maybe I need to clean out the battery connections.

Day 14 USA (Illinois)

NFD for me today. In maintenance, I am seeing if 6:1 works better than 16:8. My fear is if I don’t do at least one FD per week, I will not pay close attention to my NFD calories. I am very careful with carbs having had some success in the past with South Beach dieting.

I just found what looks like a good recipe to make zucchini “bread” grated, salted squeeze out liquid in cheesecloth, add eggs and cheese, form on parchment paper (sprayed with non-stick spray) into 4×4″ squares, then bake for 25 minutes. Make that “bread” into grilled cheese sandwiches. I do love cheese, so the bread was always an issue. Having a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup is a fall necessity!

Plateaus have been part of my 28 pound loss since March 15. I like that for me it has averaged to about a pound a week. That seemed healthy and sustainable.

Onwards and downwards!

Day 14|NFD |Toronto
Disappointing FD yesterday and away this weekend at a seminar/conference where WiFi may not be available. I try to avoid caloric minefields, and the “Dragons” but it is a challenge in real world environments outside of the home. One day at a time I guess is a good way to go forward.
Best regards to all

Hi all UK day 14 FD or a low day maybe?

Misgizmo – there is no blame on this thread – this is your journey and you should not compare yourself to others – difficult at times not too I know. Everyone, hold your hand up if you are perfect……em no hands going up that I can see. None of us are perfect and we shouldn’t strive to be – just to do your best. We all have slip ups, after all we are human. You actually don’t need to confess here either you know, if you can’t face telling us, just log on and put on a brief daily post – we won’t know, lol though now we will ha ha. However if you are struggling do let us know so we can offer support – we have all been there and got the tee shirt remember and you will get back on track, you just have to stick with it.

Rocy65 – I want you to think of that heavy burden that you are carrying – throw it as far as you can and when you walk (or cycle) along when you come to it just carry on walking (cycling) past, leaving it behind. I can imagine that other person is not worrying as much as you. Maybe Merry’s 3 C’s would apply in a way to this situation? One day maybe things will be different and will change? Until then hoist yourself up on that horse!

Georgia/USA/Day 14/NFD:

So the scale was nice this morning. Back down to my end of September weight. Probably just water weight, but I’ll take it. Skipped the gym this morning, been really tired lately. Only did 3 days so far this week. I will be getting back into a more regular routine starting this weekend. Just been so freaking busy in my professional life. NBut I’m staying the course with this month’s challenge. Thanks again to you all for all of the support along the way. I think I’m the only guy in this group. LOL

Coda thankyou so much!x Got one foot in the stirrup!

Misgizmo – we’ve all been there!! Perfect people? ummm don’t know any!!

We’re all here to help and support each other, not here to judge, how can we. We’re all in the same boat striving to be slimmer, fitter and healthier so we can enjoy life!

Happy Friday every one. Onwards and Down!

Day 14: Gloucestershire, UK: Turns out to be ANOTHER non-fast day. Started well. but I came home from work starving. Oh dear….
MisGizmo: I know how you feel….look at me again today. Sometimes, maybe just log in and say “non-fast day” and have done with it.
We all have our struggles, you’ll be fine.

Hi Erika:

The average weight loss on 5:2 is about a half a kilo a week. Many lose faster at the start because of additional water weight loss. But your kilo a week pace will probably slow down once your water weight stabilizes. When it does slow down, don’t worry, and don’t try to speed up your loss. Overall, trying to ‘lose faster’ tends to end in failure.

Here are some tips: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

Day 14|NFD|Bucks UK

Really pleased with myself losing another lb after yesterday’s FD.
My scales are weird too… I get different readings in different areas of my bedroom.

@songbirdme and @susiecarp thanks for the advice in keeping warm, I’m going to start my working week prepared 😊

UK
Day 14

NFD

Sorry, Fuvvie, I really thought I had posted yesterday, because I answered Missy’s post! Forgot to put my stats in… Oops

I must admit, it is a bit difficult remembering when we are on the road such a lot and I only have a Kindle to post from!

Anyhow, home now, thank goodness! Until Monday, that is!

Yesterday was a NFD, by the way.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Day 14. Wisconsin, USA.

NFD.

Today’s Menu

Eggs scrambled in butter with spinach
coffee and cream

Sausage vegetable soup.
Celery with a bit of peanut butter
1/2 cup of full fat yogurt with a TBS of peanut butter.

Cauliflower crust pizza (canadian bacon with olives)
Toss salad
Hot chocolate (made with 2%, cocoa and stevia)

Feeling great. Happy weekend, everyone!!! Here’s to staying strong and treating ourselves to the health we deserve!

NZ, Day 15, NFD
Start Weight – 66.5
Weigh-in today – 64
Happy to keep going down – only 3 exercise sessions all at start of week (Sat, Sun, Mon!) so will try increase and spread out next week. Overdid the snacking last night (e.g. 1 packet of biscuits is no longer in the cupboard!) & feeling heavy in tum. Very little water also.

Today – start of new week!
Exercise done.
Focus on water intake and avoid unnecessary snacking!

Take care all – look after yourselves & keep posting. Xxx

Australia, day 15, NFD,

Rocy – I have been where you are – NC (no contact) hurts in the beginning because you have been through a lot of mental and emotional to get to the point where you know that it is the only decision you can make for your own survival as a sane, contributing, healthy human being. There are many who do not understand because they do not understand the depth and never ceasing malignancy, often covert, of a particular type of person, but, there are also many who do know, and have come to the same conclusion and decision as you. You are stronger than you think, the turmoil and emotion will calm down and you will go on to a happier future. You aren’t alone. I for 1 am here holding your hand in solidarity.

Merry

Day 15 NZ NFD

Thanks Fuvvie, I’m glad my take on life gives you a laugh, hopefully others read my occasional mad ramblings and find a smile too.
There’s so much pain and self recrimination hiding just under the surface of so many posts here, on one hand it breaks my heart to know how much so many of us are suffering and have ‘coped’ with food leading to more unhappiness.
But on the other hand it is such a joyful weight off my shoulders knowing I’m not so different after all, and none of us are alone in how we feel.

Ive worked steadily in recent years on trying to see the bright side of life and let go of an intense perfectionist approach to everything.
I think my food problems have come about as a punishment to myself when I feel I’ve messed up, and I’ve certainly had a real self flagellation approach to exercise. As in, I’ve eaten the ‘wrong’ foods because I’ve already screwed up my day so making it worse is just what I deserved….but it didn’t matter because I would just run another 10kms and work it all off!!! (Such messed up thinking)

Such harsh self loathing thoughts…and I’m not going to be that way anymore.
5:2 has removed my food guilt, and when I’m less than perfect…well, I’m just the same as everyone else, fallible and human. I remember a couple of years ago I did some extra study, I was literally top of the class in every paper I took, one assignment came back with a 98.8% grade, 3/4 of the class had failed and the rest averaged about 65- 70%.
It was a really tough Nutrition paper. Despite knowing all of this, I cried, I went to the tutor and asked where I had gone wrong, how had I lost 1.2%??? I was so upset to be under 100. Looking back I know how ridiculous that is, but I just couldn’t cope with less than perfect.

My guilt…the need to be perfect in everything, has Dropped away to almost nothing, I don’t know if it will ever be gone completely, but even if I don’t lose any more weight I will forever be grateful to 5:2 and this community for supporting me in just being human.

Perth, Australia, Day 15, NFD

Special hugs to all of you battling demons whether they be the demons of your own mind or of others. Be kind to yourself.

Have a good weekend

Here’s the post I mentioned, thanks Coda:

Coda
4:54 pm
12 May 16

UK day 12 – sorry for the long post to follow but found this interesting – it was on MFP so apologies if you already read it

Sad Eating
Let’s face it—when heartbreak hits, eating a tub of ice cream seems like a good idea. A bit of sweetness to drown out your sorrow. But before you know it, you’re caught in a self-perpetuating negative cycle and it can be very difficult to get out of it once it’s started. You eat because you’re sad, then you feel even more blue because you’ve eaten so much; this can lead to a “what-the-heck” attitude, increasing the likelihood of overeating when the next bout of the blues hits.

Healthy alternatives:
1. Talk it out. If you’re feeling blue, it probably has something to do with an upsetting incident that has happened and you may feel a whole lot better to get it off your chest by calling up a friend and sharing what you’re feeling.
2. Exercise. Research has shown over and over again that one of the best ways of battling the blues is by moving your body and getting your heart pumping. Even doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise boosts the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain.
3. Boo Hoo it out. This is the non-technical term for having a “pity party for one.” Really indulge yourself here: Take a hot bath and light candles, listen to sad music, and cry until you run out of tears. You’ll feel a whole lot better after.

Anxious Eating
Many of us eat in an attempt to lower anxiety and a way of self-medicating ourselves. In fact, research has shown that carbohydrate-rich foods actually boost serotonin levels, a chemical that makes you feel calm. This explains why we often reach for carbohydrate-rich comfort foods when we’re stressed.

Healthy alternatives:
1. Take a nap or go to bed early. Research has shown that people who are well-rested are less susceptible to anxiety and stress, and are better at resisting the urge to overeat. Strive to get at least 8 ½ hours of sleep each night to reduce the urge to overeat in your waking hours.
2. Do something relaxing and calming. We all have different ways of relaxing. The next time you feel stressed and anxious and instinctively turn to food, resist the urge to run to the cupboard or fridge and, instead, practice one of the relaxing activities you enjoy the most.

Angry Eating
Often we will eat instead of focusing on what is “eating us.” We stuff our anger down with food to cope but, unfortunately, this doesn’t get rid of our anger. It simply buries it and if we don’t deal with it, it will keep popping up until we do. To make matter worse, we hurt our bodies by overeating and then add the feelings of guilt and shame to the anger we started with.

Healthy alternatives:
A way to get out of the “angry-eating trap” is to delay eating (even 10 minutes will do). Sit down, take a deep breath, and tune into what you’re really feeling and what you need to do to let go of your anger. Ask yourself the following questions:
What happened today that may have made me angry?
Why did that event stir up angry feelings?
What do I need to do in order to let go of this anger and feel peaceful?

Hope it may help if you feel you are in danger of emotional eating

Tweed Coast Australia / Day 15 / FD

Going well. It’s 2:30 pm and I’m just thinking of eating my first FD food for the day.

I treated myself to some sun down at the beach for a half hour to help raise my Vitamin D levels. It felt wonderful lying on the soft sand with the sound of the waves breaking nearby.

I was just re-reading the above paragraphs about emotional eating. I’ve had a history of emotional eating/ bingeing. For me I eat emotionally when there is something I need to do or say and do not honor or stand by myself. Once I’ve taken the action, said what I’d been afraid to say, I find I’m no longer hungry and am satiated with TDEE levels of calories.