Starting on Monday - anyone want to be my buddy?

[SpanielFace]

I'm planning on starting next week - it's my birthday on Thursday so want to wait until after then!

I'm 32, 5'7 and have about 5 stone to lose. I have a 10 month old DS and I have recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland, which slows the metabolism and makes it harder to lose weight - I started treatment 2 weeks ago and am already feeling much better, so I'm hoping to find losing weight a bit easier. 2 stone of this weight has been gained since having DS, which I feel ashamed about, but have been feeling exhausted and depressed (due mostly to the thyroid, it turns out) and have compensated by comfort eating.

I really hope this will be a solution to 8 years of yo-yo dieting, which have taken me from a size 10 to a size 18 A little nervous of the hunger, but I know it won't kill me.

Does anyone want to be my buddy, for a bit of mutual support?

[PeasandCucumbers]

Well yesterday went well and I am pleased that I have successfully done 2 FD's in my first week

Am still annoyed with myself for not weighing myself properly before I started as now I have completed two FD's I would like to know how much (if anything) I have lost. I have only counted roughly and in my head on NFD's but I have exercised a couple of times and will be happy with a slow and steady weight loss.

Weary and Spaniel I am planning on fasting again on Mon so will try and sign in in the morning too.

Have a good weekend everyone and good luck to anyone fasting today

[butterandcrumpets]

Fast day for me on Monday too so will try and sign in in the morning. Have successfully completed my first week of 3 fasts and have lost 1.1 kg. Quite chuffed with this . Will keep up the 4:3 for the time being I think as it seems to work for me. Have a good weekend everyone and well done Spaniel for planning your next fast day.

[AphraBehn]

Well done everyone on successful fasting . Think I will do Monday and Thursday next week as well so you have another nudger spaniel. Put this week behind you and start afresh, treat it as a maintenance week!

Fasting is definately getting easier. I now prefer to save everything for one protein based evening meal rather than splitting the calories up throughout the day. I do tend to go to bed early, drooling over cake based pinterest boards but never seem to fancy them on a NFD. Must be something about forbidden fruit.

[feggyart]

Starting on Monday. Currently have 8 stone to lose. Have been healthy eating and swimming for three weeks and lost ten pound but gp recommended 5 2. So will give it a go. Hope nobody minds me joining in?

[PeasandCucumbers]

Looks like there will be loads of us fasting Mon.

Hi feggyart, my advice, having only done one week so far myself is to plan what you are going to eat on FD's as I didn't do that this week and think it would have helped if I had. I found that how difficult I was finding it fluctuated throughout the day and was definitely at its worst the morning of my first fast which I think was totally psychological. I agree with other advice I have read on this board to go as long as you can before eating anything but everyone is different and I'm sure you will find what works for you.
Well done on losing 10lbs, that's a great start

[Wearytiger]

Ten pounds is amazing Feggyart, well done. Good luck for Monday. The first fast is definitely the worst... After that it becomes very manageable! And I speak as a former self confessed grazer!

I also agree that despite the fact I have made no effort to cut back on NFDs, I eat more healthy food and less food overall on NFDs... I view it as a nice bonus. butterandcrumpets I'm interested to hear how you get on with 4:3... I am saving that option in case I plateau on 5:2!

[feggyart]

Thankyou. I think planning will be the key. Yesterday I ate healthily all day but the evening munchies where terrible. I resisted but it made me worry how I will cope on a fast day. I satisfied my munchies last night with special k crackers but at nearly 100 calories that won't be feasible on fast days. Still going to give it a go though. I have a health issue that is only going to improve with weight loss. Start weight three weeks ago was 18 11. I'm now 18 1. So a very long way to go!

[Wearytiger]

feggyart someone said this upthread but being hungry really won't hurt you... A lesson we have all learnt!

On a fast day, I find I am fine (not hungry) until 9am. I have a cup of tea and find myself getting more hungry until about 1130 when I am really hungry. I have another cup of tea and then the hunger starts to subside until about three-ish. Then it starts ramping up again but I try and delay with more hot drinks or sometimes a 10 cal jelly until five. Then I have z good meal at 5pm or later with my 480 calories or whatever I have left! I go to bed feeling a bit puckish but nothing too bad.

If I can do it you can do it!

[Wearytiger]

Peckish, obviously. Not puckish.

[feggyart]

That's where I'm going to have to experiment. Spread calories over the day or have a relatively good evening meal.

[AphraBehn]

feggyart do what suits you best. I started out by having 2 meals and a snack on FDs. After about 3 weeks I found I could quite happily wait and use all my calories on a bigger evening meal, eg chicken or fish with veg.
The first couple of FDs can be hard, so if you need to eat a couple of times to get through it then that might be better than holding out and then
potentially sabotaging the whole day because you
are ready to eat a horse!

[Wearytiger]

I did read on the main thread that son people recommend going down to 750 cals first for a few fast days and then going down again to 500 once you're used to it. Makes sense. I didn't know that though so just dived in!

Also Spaniel I'm just checking in to say good luck for tomorrow! Get the tea bags ready and I'll join you on a tomorrow first thing!

[feggyart]

I was wondering if maybe six hundred might be ok for me due to how heavy I am...certainly heavier than the average man! ( 18 stone) or am I just making excuses before even starting!

[Wearytiger]

I just looked this up on the 5:2 diet book website and this is what it said:

The average would be 500 calories for women or 600 for men, but that varies a bit depending on your current size and your activity levels. You can work out your own exact limit but the average works for most of us.

Some people do end up fasting completely for the health benefits, but you don?t have to!

So 600 is fine, I am sure. You can do 500 though you know, it's honestly not that bad after a couple of goes...

[PeasandCucumbers]

feggyart I have also been very susceptible to evening munchies and a glass or three of wine but I honestly think 500 is doable. Weary's description closely matches how my hunger levels have gone throughout my FD's. What you need to tell yourself is that it is only one day and that the following day you can eat normally again. Saying all that don't beat yourself up if you don't manage it, I was planning on fasting on Thurs and caved early afternoon so tried again on Fri and did it fine.
Good luck for everyone fasting tomorrow (Mon). I have a mega busy day so hoping that will help and that I can go to bed early.
Will try to check in again in the morning

[WhyohWhyCantIThinkofaFabName]

Would it be ok for me to join you all too? I'm looking forward to my first fast day tomorrow. I have lots to lose (8st and then some) I've been overweight for as long as i can remember and until recently it hasn't hindered me...but it's now got to the stage where I feel I'm living half a life so need to make a big change...I have a friend who has lost lots doing this so has really inspired me to give it a go!! You seem a friendly and supportive bunch here...and I'd be grateful if you'd slap my hands away from the biscuit barrel if I need you to!!

[JetBlack]

Could I jump in and join as well please? I tried this about 6 months ago but didn't even last a week because I completely over complicated it. Also I didn't post on here which I think might help as it might shame me into sticking to it. So going to start tomorrow and keep it a lot simpler. I want to aim to lose a stone and then see how I feel when I reach it.

Oh I'm a little big scared now

Well done on your losses so far! I hope I can stick to it and be as successful as you guys.

[AphraBehn]

Welcome along jetblack and whyohwhy.

Feeling bleugh today after a chinese takeaway last night. Horrid sick and bloated feeling so I am going to enjoy this FD I think. Today is weigh in day but I refuse while I feel like this so will wait until tomorrow instead.

Lots of us fasting today, I think. Have a good one.

[feggyart]

Whyohwhy I'm starting today and have 8 stone to lose as well.

Good luck to all fasting today.

[feggyart]

Oh and thanks for the advice 're: 600. I will aim solidly for 500 but if I slip slightly over I won't see it as a failure.

[PeasandCucumbers]

Signing in for my FD today as well. Have a really busy day ahead as have reports that have to be completed today so came in early only to have no systems! Not a good start, hopefully will get better!

Hello to the newbies, spaniel I hope you don't feel we are taking over your thread and hope your FD goes well today

[SpanielFace]

Hi Feggyart, Whyohwhy and Jetblack. Feggyart, well done on your weight loss!

I'm checking in for my morning cup of tea & gentle kick up the bum. I need it, I'm ready to get back in track but it's hard! How has everyone's weekend been? Who is fasting today?

[SimplyTes]

FD today. Disaster last week, will not weigh myself as bound to be very cross! Will FD three times this week to make up for it - hope this does the trick. Have also book in circuits and will run every morning, why do I always mess up when I am doing so well?

Good luck to you all - lots of support and cheering to you, one and all!

[WhyohWhyCantIThinkofaFabName]

Good morning all...thanks for the warm welcome. Just about to do the weighing/ measuring before I get on with my day. Hi Feggyart - we'll be in it for the longhaul together!! Good luck today!!

[butterandcrumpets]

Just checking in, fast day for me too. Consider yourself gently nudged, spaniel, just take it one (fast) day at the time. Good luck to everyone else fasting today. I am looking forward to it.