Day 4 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

Tomorrow is my official weigh-in day, but I’m rather tickled by this morning’s 157.0 which is possibly less than DH, something I used to work hard to ensure. It hasn’t been true since I gained back all the weight I lost–so, since about Christmas 2022 or shortly thereafter–so I’m thrilled to be approaching a lower weight again! We have a wedding rehearsal tonight, followed by the dinner, so it will certainly be a challenge to eat with restraint, but I think I’m up to it…No, I AM up to it. 💪

Thirty-five years ago tonight, DH took me to a performance of CATS in Omaha, and proposed. 🥰❤️❤️

@lona72 I’m in awe at your total steps. What are you doing to accomplish so many?

@merryapple I wondered at your silence yesterday… How frustrating not to be able to knit. I have one of those belts designed to hold dps, and never was agile with it, so keep it now simply to make me smile. Have you ever been competent with it? How long before your fingers/hand will be out of whatever contraption is holding them immobile in order to heal?

@flourbaby Good luck on dispatching that project with speed and perfection!

@michelinme Wow. Just WOW. I didn’t get through the whole video, but have saved it to watch later, and I’m in awe, especially since her second hand is not simply immobile but is gone. People can be so amazingly indomitable.

@excelsior12309 Oh, your dinner of sole with langoustine sounds glorious! Have a recipe link you could share?

Too funny with all the talk of cheese: I did a rare thing last night because I’d bought two cheese for DH’s benefit (I also eat them, but am not addicted as he and some of you are), and one was a white cheddar flavored with caramelized onions, so I opened it around 9 last night and broke my WF with a tiny slice–like, the size of my pinky finger, and I have small hands, so truly tiny slice. But so ironic I did that even as you all are talking about your passion for cheese. 😉 (And that caramelized onion cheddar was indeed delightful!)

I asked Google to play Gregorian chants this morning, and right now am enjoying Veni Creator Spiritus, something I sang in college, and that was sung by my college choir at our wedding…what a lovely mist of memory I’m enjoying! 🥰

I’m distracted by all the piddly things I want to accomplish today, so it’s time to get at it. Have a grand one, everyone!

“You are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way.”

USA. Day 4. FD

Wow! I forgot we just changed months! LOL. Today is another FD for me. It was going to be a WFD but then I decided I really need some food to continue my healing, so today I plan to eat 490 calories. So far so good.

I love your comment Stitchincarol!

Day 4 second post

I’ve been faffing about not getting food prepped, so I’m posting for accountability. Determined to get a FD800 in!

Late lunch was carrot, ginger and cannellini bean soup from the freezer with quorn fillets for extra texture and protein. Supper will be cauliflower, mushrooms and spinach in a cheese sauce followed by spicy stewed apple. I need to crack on and prep that but I’ve been faffing online half-planning lots of travelling over the next 6 weeks instead of resting and eating and getting ready for tomorrow!

My male friend who is following FD800 has now completed 3.5 weeks and lost a whopping 9kg! He’s aiming to lose 25-30kg for health reasons (pre-diabetic) and has been ‘living like a monk’ but delighted with the amazing results. That should keep me honest and focussed!

Must go and cook – now

Day 5, NFD, Aus

Hello all – just checking in.

Your microwave ripening avocado story amused me @funshipfreddie. Did it taste bitter? An old neighbour of mine once made an avocado and mushroom quiche. It was amazing. She never did give me the recipe and I’ve tried to recreate it a few times, with no success. How she cooked the quiche without turning the avocado into that bitter flavour I have no idea.

Off for a girls’ weekend. Should be fun but not very mindful!

Day 5 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@penz – the taste was revolting; can’t describe it. According to the YouTube post you had to wrap it in cling film before nuking it. Then leave it in cold water for a couple of minutes. But you then have to cut the cling film off because it goes hard. I guess the avo actually absorbed some of the plastic?! 🤢 Avo & mushroom quiche sounds divine 😋

@excelsior12309 – They are frustrating! I don’t put unripe avos in the fridge though. I’m trying everything. I’ve got some in a bowl in the kitchen, one in a drawer, one wrapped in newspaper, & one wrapped up with an apple. Knowing my luck they’ll all ripen at the same time 😅

@stitchincarol – “I miss the 90’s…” funny! I think I miss the ’80’s more though. I saw this on Pinterest – “My kids asked me what it was like growing up in the ’80’s, so I took their phones away & turned off the internet” 😅

We’re getting a taste of summer today; going up to 33 C! That’s 11 degrees warmer than yesterday. Aiming to clock up plenty of steps, but nowhere near iona72’s marathon +20,000! FD tomorrow, most likely 💪

Have a good weekend everyone 🌤🌈

Hi all,
I’m late joining this group but I did start on September 30th.
I started 5:2 way back in 2012when the documentary came out – I remember watching it with my husband and he said ‘we would be crazy not to do this’ – and he was a real sceptic as far as ‘diets’ went. I have done 5:2 on and off since then but over the last few years it’s definitely been a lot more off than on. I recently moved back to the U.K. from Spain and my diet has been awful! So I decided to really get back on board. I watched the documentary again and reread the books to inspire me.
I have decided to do 3:4 to kickstart myself then go back to 5:2 at the end of October after a visit to a friend for a few days.
So I have completed my 3 fasts for this week – I’m 1kg down and feeling good. I had forgotten how much energy I have after a fast day and not even particularly hungry.

Good luck to everyone on this journey

PG x

USA. Day 5 (already!). WFD

Yesterday went pretty well, so today I am trying a WFD. I have already lost 1 lb. Now I hope to continue that trend downward.

Welcome, @purplegranny! I am one of the long timers. Everyone here is very nice and supportive. Good luck in reaching your goal. 👍🏻

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Day 5 – NE England

Another good day to get out walking, making the most of this lovely dry weather. An hour in the morning and about 45 mins in the afternoon and then the general pottering about for the day is about 20,000 steps.
We are going to a fundraising event this evening which will probably include a few beers, looking forward to that after a dry week.

Day 6 UK CD

Yesterday wasn’t quite so controlled – succumbed to a kitkat and a square of chocolate cake at my two events, alongside my yummy packed lunch. Weighing in at 85kg/187lb, just a smidge up on yesterday’s PFD low. Today’s CD is being kind to Future Me.

Saturday morning’s conference was really interesting. It was hard to pull myself away at lunchtime to roll down the road for my second event, tho I was glad not to miss that too. I bumped into several people I know from different places – and met someone who follows me on twitter!- but by 4.30 I was yawning and ready to go home so skipped the last session. Last night I slept for TWELVE HOURS without even a bathroom break – that’s pretty epic even for me!!

Today is a rest/relax at home day – I’m sitting in bed with a very large coffee and beginning to think about some meal planning and batch cooking. I’ll do some gentle yoga in a while, eat, soak in an epsom salt bath and get an early night.

@purplegranny welcome to the challenge corner. Like others, I successfully reached goal weight some years ago then let go and gradually regained. This time is for keeps.

@iona72 Time restricted eating of 16:8 or 18:6 is my normal daily routine, but FDs are those 24 hour periods when I have fewer calories eg FD 500 calories or FD800 calories. I’m amazed by your daily steps – do you have beautiful countryside to walk in?

@northgeorgia you’ve done well to lose weight on steroids! I usually find they puff me up. Antibiotics can be taken with a spoon or yogurt or banana so it’s fine to fast if you feel like it. Hope you feel better soon!

@stitchincarol congrats on the steady (!) progress. How was the wedding?

@excelsior12309 Good luck with today’s FD! Popping you on a pocket list for some company and motivation 🙂

@funshipfreddie I love your mosaic vase! what an excellent project to have on the go

@at great to hear you are back in the swing of full and active weeks! Hope the mountain wasn’t too windy yesterday

@ccco I hope your healing is continuing well

@penz hope you’re having a fun girls’ weekend

@missybear I envy you your seaside walks which always sound amazing

@merryapple all your knitting talk made me remember to start knitting again! I took a barely-started hat out with me yesterday and knitted through both events, finishing just before teatime. It’s a simple beanie with rib brim – I usually make 1-2 hats weekly over the cooler months for a project at my church. And I realised/remembered that I actually knit mostly with one hand!!! It’s so normal for me that I forget, tho my mother used to laugh at me. I have reduced hand strength and can’t hold things in both hands for any length of time. So I use my LH as usual but prop the RH needle in my lap, my RH wraps the yarn and I steer the needle with a couple of fingers but don’t hold it, if that makes sense?!

Pocket List Day 6

@funshipfreddie
@excelsior12309

Day 6 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

It’s a dark wet day here, me and the cat are snuggled on the sofa and I’m browsing health related articles to keep my motivation fired. Having a well controlled sober weekend, the control is probably made easier knowing a holiday is on the horizon. I want to drop 2 pounds this month despite the holiday, so I
need to be extra good before I go.

@purplegranny I’m from the West Midlands. DH and I moved to Pembrokeshire 9 years ago and now want to go back home if we ever manage to sell our house.

Wishing our Sunday fasters a successful day.

Pocket List Day 6
@funshipfreddie
@excelsior12309

Day 6 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 237 lbs. Whew another week of antibiotics, but at least the last steroid is tonight. Still got a bit of chest and nasal nonsense, but I am definitely breathing and sleeping better.

Day 6- NE England

Not so many steps today! 15,750 and not intending many more! I feel like I made okay food choices for the weekend when I’m not usually as strict. No breakfast, Feta cheese salad and a pear at lunchtime and a small portion of lasagne with side salad this evening, no alcohol DTF.
@michelinme not lovely countryside unfortunately, just suburban streets and a couple of green parks on route. We have a spaniel who needs exercise so at least one of us has to get out everyday. Sometimes we go to the beach but not lately.
@purplegranny hope life will settle down for you now, stress is very debilitating.
@funshipfreddie we have had a very poor summer up here on NE coast of England, how I envy you and your warm weather, although 36C is scorching.
Hope everyone is feeling positive for the week ahead, downwards we go!

Hi Funshipfreddie,
I lived in the southeast, about 20km inland from Cartagena. Very lovely but soooooooo hot in summer! From July to end of September the temperature doesn’t drop much below 30 even overnight 🥵 We even wore shorts and t-shirts on Christmas Day.

PG x

Day 7 NZ FD 70.4kg

I am just managing to stay under control… my distractions such as knitting and spinning have gone by the wayside… it’s easy to gaze into the fridge and think I’ll just have a wee bit of this or that… I’m going to get some more fish for the week but tonight I’m having venison with roasted vegetables and a cheese sauce on broccoli. I had a lazy day today reading in bed and talking on the phone. I’m going to drive everyone mad!!
@stitchincarol I have a splint on that immobilises all my fingers and wrist on the right x 2 1/2 weeks. On Thursday I go to see the specialist for the next phase, which as I understand it is gently moving the two joints but not the knuckle joint. I have to wait 6-8 weeks for that. Then if my finger is too stiff I may need the plate and 6/7 screws removed but not the wire which means going back through the tendon and then
here we go again…
@michelinme thank you for the one armed knitting video!! I have a vintage Shetland knitting belt somewhere but have never used it and since NZders are twice the size I doubt I will be able to do it up!! I’m glad that you’re back on to hats with winter coming up for you over there in the north!

I’ll post this and continue tomorrow…

Day 7 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 238 lbs. Antibiotics only as of today. I’m hoping this works. I feel better, but still have a few symptoms lingering such as groaning/wheezing at night.

Day 7 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

The scales were up a couple pounds into the 160s yesterday morning, but I ate with far too much abandon on Saturday at the wedding dinner. Thankfully, it was not horrible food, and I had indeed made it an OMAD, so after being very, very reasonable on Sunday, I’m back in the 150s this morning–an excellent weight on the morning before my first WF of the week.

@funshipfreddie Wow, that was a HOT day! And my scale does ideed drive me nuts, but my body does the same thing, and always has fluctuated from day to day, so it just seems an extension of my personal norm. As long as it continues to trend down, I’m content… Wow. I just listened to the video you posted, and that sent me down a path of several more videos. Dry fasting had me intrigued, but I concluded I need to wait until life is not so busy so I don’t add undue stress. Nonetheless, it was fascinating!

@michelinme Oh my. Nope, your description of how you knit makes no sense, LOL. Was I correct in understanding that you hold the yarn in your right hand?

@purplegranny I had to look up TOFI, so thanks for that new piece of information. Your determination is impressive and it’s fun to have it added to our mix! BTW, do start to add the header to your posts.

@missybear A dark and wet day to snuggle with a cat on a sofa? Sounds like bliss!

@ccco Does your doctor and do your family know how much you’re fasting????? I cannot think it’s good for your health. It appears you’re making your version of 5-2 be 5 FDs and 2 NFDs, rather than the intended other way. Please, please be gentler to your healing body. Are you getting sufficient protein and fresh veggies?

@merryapple I fully sympathize with how you’re struggling given that knitting and spinning have been removed from your possible activities! I finally did the figuring yesterday to know for certain that the sleeve was long enough and started in on the ribbed cuff last night, getting 3 of 20 rows done. Going back and forth from 3 knits to 2 purls on double pointed needles and two colors of yarn is not for the faint of heart! 😂🤣😂 It DID, however, fully engage my attention and interest, so while challenging to balance everything, it was fun.

@excelsior12309 Thanks for your “recipe” for what you ate the other day; I’m planning to copy that some day soon.

Tonight, I go out with my girlfriends. I’ve been to the restaurant a number of times, so have a good idea what I’ll eat; I think by making it OMAD, I’ll be okay on the total calories.

This coming Sunday is the big dinner I have planned to celebrate both boys’ birthdays, and it’s a doozy–the kind where I have to start cooking several days ahead, and have a schedule stuck to the fridge so I get everything cooked at the right time. I certainly wouldn’t want to cook like that all the time, but it’s a delightful adventure occasionally, and since both boys will want some study time during the day, it’s a way to keep me busy so I’m not distracting them. The meal is heavy on fruits and veggies, with brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, parsnips, green beans, beets, strawberries, blackberries, salad greens, more blackberries, and dried apricots showing up in abundance–sounds like a @michelinme meal, huh? 😇 So this morning, I’m going to figure out the timeline; that will keep the stress down of thinking all week how to accomplish it all in a calm fashion.

And with all that chatter, this post is plenty long, so I’ll quit and tell you about falling on my butt yesterday at church on another day, LOL!

We’re missing some regulars, and I’m sad to be without their chatter…@jaifaim, @flourbaby, @snowflake56, @at, and far more. And @daffodil2010, I sure wish you’d pop in and say hello at the very least!

Hugs, everyone!

Carol

Day 7 NE England 17:7 DTF

Slight gain, half a pound over the weekend, not worried about that, it’s easy to see why!
It’s been a good day for sticking to the eating plan! I picked some apples from the garden and made a crumble substituting the flour with a mix of ground almonds, oats, cinnamon, mixed spice and flax all whizzed together. Then I added raisins to replace half of the sugar. Served with a little fresh cream it was delicious.
An hour walk this morning then another at sunset after babysitting all afternoon. It was a lovely evening and the sky was very pretty. Forecast to get colder later in the week 😩 wish we were just starting spring like the southern hemisphere.

Day 8, NFD, Aus

Welcome @purplegranny – lovely to “see” a new face. I’m also one of those on and off with 5:2 people, but determined to be on again and stay that well.

Great results, @northgeorgia, keep it up!

we’re off to country New South Wales tomorrow to catch up with an old friend so won’t be posting for a few days. Despite my newfound commitment to 5:2, the next few days will be off piste!

Day 8, London, UK, FD800

I’ve been AWOL for a few days as my workload is overwhelming at the moment (working over the weekend!!😡😡😩), but I’ll push through it!

I hit the bottle on Saturday and finished it off on Sunday, I’m only making excuses about work stress, weekend working, blah, blah, bah!!! Back on the wagon!💪🏼💪🏼

Welcome @purplegranny, we all know 5:2 works like a dream, as long as we DO IT!!! I’m not sure why I keep forgetting that🤔 and resorting to eating the way that led to a dress size I despise!!! I’m focussing on staying ON far more than OFF this WOL …………. I must remember, it IS a WOL after all!!!

Happy fasting folks💪🏼

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” – Margaret Thatcher

Day 8 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 240 lbs. Ugh…not the 240s again. A few more days of antibiotics. Yesterday, the pastries at work were too much for me and I surrendered. I had been maintaining with a lot of soup and salads. Still going to keep it up until I can properly fast next week.

Day 8 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

I think I was probably a bear in a previous life. I have just been reading about Alaska’s Katmai National Park fat bear week on the BBC website:

“Shortly after Fat Bear Week in October, as the weather gets colder, the bears will head to their dens. This period of time is often referred to as a hibernation, but brown bears don’t actually fully hibernate in winter. Instead, they enter a deep sleep known as torpor, from which they may occasionally wake and move around. During the summer months they will enter a medical state called hyperphagia, in which the hormone leptin is supressed. Without it, the body doesn’t signal to the bear’s brain that it’s eaten enough and feels full. Instead, the bear will simply continue to eat and may gain up to four pounds a day.”

My body rarely signals that I should stop eating and I have a huge appetite! That said I did manage a very decent 500kc FD yesterday, slept wonderfully well and my berries nuts and Greek yogurt brunch tasted divine. I quite fancy some salmon for dinner 🐻

Have a good day everyone 🤗

Day eight of a failed fast. So sorry to have let you all down, I don’t dare to show up until November. Usually I lose weight when stressed and troubled, but not now. (Maybe because this is such extreme stress and trouble) Hope to be allowed in in November, good luck to all of you!

Day 8 second post

@louloudi sorry to hear you’re having a stressful time. No shame here in not having a successful FD. We all struggle and that’s why we’re here to support each other. Stay in touch even if you don’t post and show up any time you like 🤗