IF, 4:3, 5:2 - Maintaining a healthy weight - Chapter 2

[Breadandwine]

This thread is for those who have been practicing IF (Intermittent Fasting) for quite a while and are now at or nearing their target healthy weight. It's also for anyone who is doing it for the health benefits alone.

How do we experience fasts and balance a stable food intake while having little or no weight to lose?

How do we ensure that this WOL keeps us at the healthy weight long term rather than revert to yoyo games?

Several of us have been stable at our goal weight for a few months, now, and others are joining all the time. Obviously, the more the merrier!

Here is the current main thread for posters practicing IF to lose weight.

There are two other associated threads:
This one, which is an absolute goldmine of Tips and Links on how to practice IF, and the research behind it.

And here is a treasure trove of 5:2 recipes, mostly low calorie for fasting days, but there are also recipes for when you want to treat yourself. And, now we're maintaining, we'll need more of these!

[Talkinpeace]

(((Literarygeek)))
feel free to unburden here. This thread is quiet enough that those who have something useful to say are here and the rest stay away.

Bssbosh
I am staying with 5:2 because it suits me. I do not stick to 500 calories but I now enjoy fasting.
I don't do 16:8 (ie skipping one meal a day and only eating in an 8 hour window) as I like my family suppers and find it easier to skip lunch - breakfast went years ago.
I've got 4 lb to lose, but with it being my work time of year, my TDEE is down to 1500 so a couple of fasts a week still makes sense.
That and fasting leave space for fizzy wine on Friday!

ATB
that juicing malarkey sounds too much like hard work - that and I'm working all over the place and builder tea is much simpler!

mollys
have you let the pub know - not to claim money but to help them prevent recurrence ... DH and I once had a dodgy supper, called the restaurant with what we'd eaten and thought nothing more. Two months later we went in and they had held our details and gave us a free main course as we helped them identify the off ingredient.

[frenchfancy]

Handing out a big hug to Literarygeek as she sounds like she needs it.

A pretty good week fasting wise for me, I'm maintaining spot on my target after a 5:2 week. I have just eaten more chips than I normally eat in a month without a cintilla (sp?) of guilt. Finished of some fantastic German chocolate called toffifee to finish.

NSV today: some ebay stuff I ordered arrived. My first time buying size 10 in about 22 years, and they fit comfortably One of the skirts is WELL above the knee but it put a on DHs face so it must be OK.

[catsrus]

I'm completely mixing it up bosssh depending on work, social life and how 'in the zone' I feel. Yesterday it was a 4-6hr feeding window (no cal restriction) today was carb fest due to the consumed . Tomorrow I intend to properly fast with 500 cals, Sunday will probably be a 16:8 day. Monday will fast all day but them meal out. Tuesday I have work lunch, weds not sure yet and so on.

[ellenbrody]

bshh I've been maintaining by mixing up a bit too. One proper 500 cal fast on Monday and a 1200 day on Thurs with an overindulgent weekend and 3x TDEE days. I try and leave eating as long as possible each day, usually breaking my fast mid morning, or at lunchtime on more restrictive days.
Hope that helps.

[BsshBossh]

Very helpful, thanks so much for sharing everyone. The variety of fasting strategies reflect how different we are and at different times. Can't wait to join you guys :) 1 lb to go!

[Breadandwine]

That's good enough for me, Bssh. IME there's no such thing as a steady weight - My weight varies between 9.1 and 9.4 and has been doing that since November. Our ancestors weight must have varied enormously at times of feast and famine!

My WOL has been 6:1 with a mini fast later in the week. Last week I combined the two (before my 48 hour fast) and I think I'll do that in future.

My wife is due back on Sunday, so any more fasting experiments are out for the forseeable future - although reading that thread about 4 day fasting on the 52 forum has certainly given me food for thought! I'm guessing you're a bit intrigued by it too, maybe?

ATB Good luck for the 70 miler! I'll be thinking of you when I have my lie-in tomorrow morn!

Laska glad you're feeling better - things will work out for you, I'm sure!

Right off to get the bloody sodding ridiculous unwieldy annoying bastard vacuum cleaner out . We are not friends

I'm completely with you on the VC front - I hate the bloody things. However, before my wife returns I shall get it out and wave it around so it makes marks on the carpet!

She'll love that!

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

Aw B&W I'm not sure if you meant that to be posted here instead of a PM to Laska but lots of hugs from me to you. Sounds like a tough situation and heartbreaking too - you are being incredibly sensible, don't know how you do it. My brother is in the forces and if he was in your DSs shoes I would struggle not to tear his wife's throat out...

Enjoy your lie in though

[Aftereightsarenolongermine]

Just posted this on main thread:-

Morning all. Not been on for ages & haven't time to read thread but I'm still here.

For anyone who doesn't know me I started this WOE in August & I've lost 3&half stone. I sort of bounce for a few weeks before I lose each time. The weight loss has definitely slowed down, but I'm also doing it for the health benefits so I will carry on regardless.

I've found my body has now adjusted in that I'm not usually hungry until around lunchtime on a normal day, so I often have 2 meals a day rather than 3. I find it liberating & no longer listen to or believe the mantra 'always eat breakfast'!

[BsshBossh]

Breadandwine yes definitely intrigued by a 4 day fast in the future .

Your DIL sounds like a lovely, decent sort of human being . It's terrific though that your GD is switched on and I am sure she'll not allow any estrangement.

[ellenbrody]

b&w lovely advice, sadly true - always the giver, but hopefully the rewards of the continued relationship will always be worth it .

.5 lb up this morning, but TOM so I'm not too worried, plus I've had a couple of rather too indulgent days!

[Laska42]

b&W thank you and (((fellow hugs for your situation ))) back ..forgive short answer as ive just had to hurriedly read through your post as only popped back here for a quick nose whilst looking for something else for guest.

I won t be back on today as we have guests , but will read it all properly tomorrow,...
J

[Laska42]

ill PM you tomorrow

[Talkinpeace]

BreadandWine
I've reported your big post : you don't want that much info about your family searchable on google
and the fact that you used the recipients real name rather than her ID makes me think you meant it as a PM.

You have my email. Am more than happy to chew the fat and offer support off the boards. And you're only in Summerset - not far from here :-)

[Breadandwine]

Thanks, everyone - you're all very lovely and I appreciate all that's been said!

I did indeed post on here by mistake! The trouble is that there is no preview facility when you PM, so you've got no idea what your message looks like.

As soon as I hit 'Post' I realised what I'd done, and reported the message right away. However, it was still there the last time I looked, around lunchtime. So maybe it was you reporting it as well, TiP - thanks for that (and your offer of support) - that did the trick. I had visions of it being up there all weekend until the office staff came in on Monday morning.

Just as well I chose this thread on which to preview the message - as Laska has generously said, it's OK, we're all friends on here, and indeed we are! [hugs all round]

I haven't been on here today - I've been painting my daughter's bedroom all day! I wanted to get it finished before my wife returns tomorrow - she's no idea I've been busy.

I'll need to be even busier tomorrow - the place looks like a tip! But by the time she returns, it'll be sparkling. I also intend to change the bedding, prepare the evening meal and do a quick thorough hoover round!

[catsrus]

I reported as well B&W I think MNHQ were a bit busy on other bits of the site!

When you've finished your quick hoovering can you beam some of that energy over here? I could do with sorting my bedroom out and keep putting it off.....

[mollysfolly]

I saw the post B&W and thought it was a mistake but it still made me cry, just as Laskas did. We parents go through so much, I thank God (sorry not a religion alert) every day that my children's marriages seem to be rock solid. Hope things work out for all MNers especially on this thread.

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

I feel like that and mine are only tiny!!

I am a physical and emotional wreck today - did a 70mile training ride that I nearly didn't complete it was so hard - huge hills, awful heat, wind in completely the wrong direction. It was tough. But I rode with some amazing people with some amazing stories - we're training for a ride in June that raises money for 2 AIDS charities so the emotional bravery of some of the riders who are doing it for people they've loved and lost makes it very intense. It totally removes the ego about it being about you completing the ride and reminds you the real reason we're riding.

But good god my body is destroyed today!

[frenchfancy]

Respect ATB. My body is destroyed today too, but because I have drunk and eaten way too much; DD1s confirmation today, and the sun is out so we had BBQ. I've lost count of the glasses of wine, and my face is tingly because of the sun, but we have been working so hard recently it feels sooo good to have a day off.

Fasting tomorrow to remove some of the toxins!

[Talkinpeace]

Oh Bugger.
My daughter has just perfected baking cinnamon rolls.
Its my birthday Tuesday.
I'll be good after that (or when I've finished them, whichever is sooner)

[Laska42]

Hi all, well , I have eaten and drunk the equivalent of my bodyweight this weekend I reckon. but it has been lots of fun .. .But I do think that all this means that I'm getting a bit of the tummy back.. not good news so I'm going to recommit to evil Jillian and proper fasting this week.

Also as from the 29th April ? 3rd May ill be doing the Live below the line challenge, living on £1 a day to raise awareness against extreme poverty. Its going to be a real challenge for this total foodie , but hopefully ill be able to do it . So if any of you would like to know more and hopefully sponsor me (or fancy having a go at doing it for yourself) here is the link to my page

[BetsyVanBell]

Laska That challenge looks difficult! It's reminded me how much my shopping bills have gone up these last few years - and how massively grateful I am that I haven't had to think too much about reducing those costs. It was certainly a different story for my mum who really had to count every penny to feed us all - in fact I distinctly remember us having to grub down the back of the sofa one day to get enough funds for hopefully some kind of treat rather than dinner that day. I'll be interested to see how you get on - do you get to post up a report on that page?

[Laska42]

Hi Betsy , Yup i think the biggie will be going without coffee, but I think it wont be hunger that will be the problem ( as after 9 months of 5:2 il be fine, its just finding something ok to eat for the money .. I think ill be going down the rice, veggies and dal route. ill probably blog something but the last two days will be the biggest challenge as ill be working in a polling station on thursday 2nd from 6am to midnight , and the next day doing the vote count .. (but I think probably actually do Sunday to Thursday ratter than Monday to Friday )

[ellenbrody]

ATB that ride sounds amazing, well done.

Scoffed today, but weekly total on MFP is spot on so I shouldn't feel guilty. Fasting tommorow and will do 3x Jillian DVDs this week I think.

[Laska42]

TIP mmm cinnamon rolls