Did you gain weight over Christmas?

In paleolithic times man would gorge on the honey tree if they stumbled across one – Christmas can be regarded as the modern day alternative to the honey tree, as long as it is kept to ‘just’ special occasions naturally!

Hi okcole

Like you, I tend to start fasting at about 6pm. It seems to work for me and I hope that it doesn’t matter when you start so long as you do about 24(ish) hours.

The question I have is this – if you don’t eat ANYTHING during the 24 hours, is that REALLY bad???

#confused

Chris

I am also interested in thoughts on not eating at all during the fasting days, I started fasting this week after some test days a few months ago and, I fasted on Tuesday and Thursday, I did not eat anything at all from about 2100 on the evening before the fasting day until 0900 on the morning of the day after (36 hours fasting but only one day). I felt fine both days and not really hungry at all,. I do drink cups of tea (with a little milk) and also water but no food.

I am obese and I need to lose about 30KG but for me mentally not eating at all is much easier that thinking about what I will have next. Its early days but I also notice that I am probably eating slightly less on non fasting days as well.

Anyone else doing something similar.

I forgot to say that I now sleep like a log now that I follow this pattern.

I found it easier to use most of the calories in one meal too – I kept my weight stable over Xmas by (most days) not eating until the evening (or late afternoon) even though I was then eating the usual Xmas treats 🙂 I had my share of 3am turkey sandwiches and large glasses of advocaat too so this method really does, for me, do away with the whole idea of “being on a diet” and moves me into the zone of “eating like a thin person”

Hey! Over Christmas and the New Year, I had a holiday from Fasting. I gained 5lbs over 3 weeks eating very heartily indeed. This was not helped by the fact that I also had Flu and a Chest infection which completely knocked me off my feet for another two weeks. Boxes of Chocolates, Cheese Boards, big family meals, snacking and over eating was the norm. However, Got back on the 5:2 plan this week and have lost 3lbs already.

I started this 4 months ago and lost 1.5 stones in 3 months. I am also a runner and since starting my diet I have improved my personal best for 5k from 27.10 to 23.05. I am 55 years old, thanks Mike!

I started at the beginning of January, did 2 weeks, and then went down with a cold last Sunday and don’t really have the mental energy to stick with it this week. I’m not going to let that bother me and will get back on again next week. However, I’ve found it tough to drink black anything, but begrudge giving up may calorie allowance to milk.

Having a sweet tooth and a passion for anything ginger flavoured, I’m thinking of going to work with a bottle of Waitrose low calorie fiery ginger beer. I think this will make my fast days more than tolerable but I’ve not seen low calorie drinks or food advocated anywhere on Fast Diet pages. What do people think?

Like Jolene I have read the book and started on ,y road to a slimmer and healthier life. I have just turned 47 and recently had my hip replaced. Weighing in at 14st 2lbs I hope to be 12st 7lb.

I have tried dieting before without success, they seem such hard work,being miserable around food for weeks only for a night out with mates to undo it all.

Fingers crossed……

Help… i have been so positive and excited about this, got my husband to start with me, the first week i lost 3lb but for the last 2 weeks i have stayed the same, my husband is steadily losing! i have most of my calories in one meal but do use up some in white tea with sweetener throughout the day, had a really good fast day yesterday and just weighed myself and again i’ve stayed the same 🙁

Day 3
Well I made it through the night, had big rumbles in the bath so hungry went 8 with out a single calorie and then had a cup of tea then all night and woke up thinking what I could have today on my normal eating day. 9.00am and I made a seeded bread, tuna, salad cream, cucumber, tomato, lettuce sandwich for my breakfast?,,,!, its what I really fancied. Had cup tea and I really struggled to eat the whole sandwich. Thought about dinner and trying to have all my meals in a bunch as early as possible. But I really don’t wanna think about food. I reckon I could do a day two of fasting? Because there’s talk of a 4days fast in the book. But didn’t think I could do that. Weighed myself on wednesday and I was 141pound and this morning (friday) I was 139 pounds so that’s -2pounds in 2/3 days?!!!!!!! Whoop whoop , yeah it’s prob mostly water but who cares rite? I feel lighter. I feel in control. It’s only 3days but yeah I’m feeling good 🙂 it’s now 9.40am I wonder how long I can go without calories today? Difference is tho if I get hungry later I will eat something because its a normal eating day. I’m not going to starve myself. I’m going to listen to my body and eat when I need to.

Have started 5:2 this week. Fasted on Monday and Wednesday and did not find it too bad (I have a very busy worklife!). Was really hungry yesterday, though, and had 4 small (healthy) meals rather than my usual 3. Today I don’t feel so hungry. I really feel this lifestyle will work for me, as I love food!

Got my copy of the book Saturday and decided to start the diet Monday. Had to abandon that day and restarted Tuesday and it was ok. I think I may have gone over the 500 calories slightly but overall it wasn’t too bad. Forgot how tasty Ryvita and cottage cheese are and have found some really nice cuppa soups. Still have a cup of tea in the morning with milk and sugar which is my daily treat. Recently given up smoking and trying to diet at the same time is a little difficult but I am feeling very positive about things.
Next fasting day is Sunday… normally a grazing day, but I can manage with the support of my family and looking forward to filling my fridge with lots of lovely veg when I go shopping on Saturday.

my word, this diet is taking off like wildfire – suspect the impact of it will be huge – maybe outdoing Atkins and Dukan etc. Just spoke to the lovely lady in our local farm shop (we’re quite rural). She’s doing it (2st gone), her husband’s doing it, also 2st, all the chaps he works with are doing it, their son and daughter are doing it – crikey! Never known an eating plan that appeals to men but this one does. Might sound a bit extreme but can’t help thinking Michael Mosley’s programme may have saved a few lives and certainly the health of many

Shasha you can do it, you should be proud you’ve quit smoking and this diet I’m sure from what iv read and watched will deco help you make it up to your body. I’m loving this diet, I’m not going to post my really long messages from my blog that I’m doing lol, today is fast day. Day for and started Wednesday and I’m already -3pounds down 🙂 it’s a life change and I can’t believe how iv abused my body on so much food when if you really think of the old days life styles and the amount of health issues they had. It’s obvious. This is going to help obese people so much all they have to do is not eat for a day at a time…. What’s easier than that? I hated calorie counting and points system. I’m 100%committed to this as I’m scared of my long term fait. I will do anything I can to stay able and myself until as old as I can 🙂 thanks to all them ppl who did that research

I’m eating ‘normally’ on non-fast days but my ‘normal’ has changed since I started watching what I eat last September. I started the fast diet this week but I just eat what I fancy on non-fast days. I have found that what I fancy has changed in the last few months! Today I have had a late-ish breakfast of porridge and berries and was too busy for lunch but I really fancy pizza for tea. I really believe in listening to your body and giving it what it wants. I think this is starting to get easier for me-someone who has been overweight for most of her life and yoyo dieted for the past 20 years or so. Good luck!

Had a massive pig out this weekend with Burns night and a significant birthday party. Weighed in and have put on a pound.

Am I worried or disappointed?

If I was on any other diet then yes but fast day tomorrow and lets carry on.

Just read the book on Sunday night, decided to start fasting on Monday…My reason was I attend a well known slimming club and I am struggling with my weight loss…I either lose a tiny amount or maintain my weight, I have noticed however that after reading the book I realised I was fasting without even being aware of it…because I was being weighed on a Monday evening I would not eat from 7pm on a Sunday until 7pm on a Monday, but then i would come home and pig out more than the 500 calories recommended in the book, I have a funny feeling that most people who attend slimming classes do as I was doing so their weight loss was a little or much the same, now I know the secret I have nothing to lose apart from weight that is! As I said I started yesterday and found the first day liberating, not stuffing my face after a fast, I was only going to have the 500 calories (I only 480 cals) I can honestly say I have CFS/ME which makes it hard to sleep well last night was the first time in about 10 years where I have slept longer than 3 hours I could’nt believe it when I woke to find I had slept 5 hrs…when I got up I expected to head straight for the kitchen for something to eat but hey guess what I did’nt want anything until 10m this morning….what a relief…I am so looking forward to the coming weeks and to my next fasting day which is Thursday this week, I will report back and let you all know how I am getting on…….

Yesterday was my third fast day and I found it slightly more difficult than the first two – it was very busy at work and I was running around a lot (normally I would ‘manage the stress’ with several biscuits) and instead of porridge for late brekkie I had veggie soup for lunch which didn’t seem to work so well. However I made it through, slept well, feel great today, and am determined to carry on 🙂

HI all , first 5 days of this regime completed. I tried the no eating breakfast so as to have a long gap from night before. My milky coffee at breakfast time has never tasted so good. 3 lbs off, so very pleased but a long way to go…..

If I have say 900 calories 3 days a week instead will this work?

My partner and I fasted this weekend, wanting to support each other before we go back to work Monday, and give the diet a good kick start.
I lost 5.5lb, my partner lost 2.75lb.

We’re going to start doing non-sequential fast days now and see how it goes.

We worked from the book, but watched the horizon documentary last night on dailymotions.com and we are convinced this is worth pursuing.

Thank you 🙂

I adopted a 5:2 programme (4 weeks ago), but my fast days (Monday & Thursday)extend to 36 hours with no food as I stop eating e.g., 8pm Sunday and have first meal on the Tuesday / no food after 8pm on Wednesday evening, first meal Friday. I don’t go down the 600 cal route, but simple stop eating apart from water (found sparkling kills the hunger pangs better than still) and dash of lemon or lime for variety.

I must admit it is hard not to think of food when you are surrounded by it on fast days, but I think its want rather than hunger and my will power tells me it is doing me some good. I am a three weeks in now and it is now becoming routine.

Noticed fridge is emptier too ;-).

I eat very well, but not overdoing it on eat days, simply having what I would nornally and I have always eaten pretty healthily having a strange addiction to raw vegetables and salad. Meat does play a big part especially fish, but I have cut back on the portion size (a bit) in favour of mixed nuts as a snack. Alcohol on occasion has been involved too, but not above 1-2 units and then only ocasionally.

Lost 6.4Kg.

Would add, loss was greater at first, so assume mainly fluid (noted to self to drink more water on fast days, but not looking to waste away, more on the healthy benefits this regime should deliver.

My “fast diet” diary: Success! http://jayhutchsfastdiary.blogspot.com/2013/02/success.html?spref=tw