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?

Coffee. And mornings are always worst for me on a fast day so the worst is over.

Ah it's that time of day where I post my cautionary tale of what not to do on a fast day. I was doing very well today and indeed rather complacently thinking how easy 5:2 is, when I went shopping for my 500 cal evening meal. I got a ready meal for 400 cals and ... fatal mistake... A low fat chocolate mousse for 90 cals. As I'd had a few hot drinks this would have seen me end the day at about 550, which would be fine. However obviously there's basically no nutrition in the mousse at all and I spent the next two hours feeling really awful (bit sick, lightheaded)... I guess I'd effectively forced my body to get by on 400 calories and a load of artificial sweeteners. So I had to have some low cal jellies and a mug of hot skimmed milk to fill myself up. I probably came in at 600 which is not the end of the world but it was an unpleasant end to an otherwise easy day. So note to self, when I only have 500 cals to play with I should eat proper food, not rubbish!

The only upside is that the mug of skimmed milk really hit the spot so that's worth remembering if you're desperate.

Hello everyone. I am fasting today...second fast day in a row as otherwise I wouldn't have managed to have 3 this week. Not ideal I know but I have done alright. Left most of my cals for dinner of salmon and broccoli with a tablespoon of low fat mayo (which I love and can't resist). Am having a mug of green tea now and trying to resist the temptation to graze on the stir fry I am cooking for dh

Are those low cal jellies any good, Weary? Was thinking of buying some as people keep mentioning them on here. Why would I eat them though? I assume they are not filling so just for a sweet treat?

Actually they are surprisingly filling butter... Similar to a yoghurt. I wouldn't say they taste brilliant (tbh I dread to think what's in them!) but they're fantastic for fast days, I buy four a week at the moment! I do have quite a sweet tooth though.

Your dinner sounds delicious by the way. I really will stop buying ready meals on fast days soon... The only downside to 5:2 for me so far, apart from the hunger of course, is that I'm eating more processed food. I will have to put a stop to that as I don't think it's a good habit ... But one step at a time...

Hi guys, my two non fast days have felt so nice, stuck to three sensible meals a day and minimal snacks.

Was thinking of doing a mini-fast tomorrow ie not eating until 6pm but eat normally after then so not a calorie restricted meal. Not sure if that's a good idea or not as monday is my fast day. Hmmm.

Butterandcrumpets How did it go having two consecutive fasts? I definitely wouldn't be brave enough for that.

Hello all just found this thread and I'd like to join. I started with my first FD yesterday, which went well. I didn't eat until the evening. Drank loads of water, then had a big chicken and veg stir fry (practically dry fried)

I have several stone to lose, and this was suggested by my GP.

Next FD for me is Monday although I need to think of things to do as I won't be working to keep me busy!

Hi luvvies. Do you use those one cal sprays for stir fries? I have one and I think it's really good (frylight). Well done on getting through it! You'll find Monday is much easier than your first fast day, I bet.

Not yet, but I may get one. I just used a splash of sesame oil and reckon that some of it burns off. But I did factor it into my figures.

Haven't decided what to eat on Monday, but agree with others that its important to plan ahead.

I have some homemade veg soup in the freezer, made with any old variety of veg, and usually a splash of milk. No idea how to work out calories in that so I'll have to have a try at that as its quite filling.

Hello everyone and welcome Luvvies. I really like soups for fast days as you can eat a big bowl for so few calories. I find that clear broth type soups (chicken and chunky veg or lentil and tomato) work better for me though. What I really enjoy at the moment is finding low cal recipes and trying them out. There are loads on pinterest.

Jetblack, having two consecutive fast days was ok but nothing I would do on a regular basis. I expected to be much hungrier on the second day but wasn't. I did develop quite a bad headache though in the evening of the second day despite drinking lots and lots of water and tea. Bizarrely enough though, what I struggled with the most was eating normally on the third day. Got up late so had a bigger breakfast as we had planned to go out for the day. I don't think I had that much to eat, two scrambled eggs, two slices of toast, a rasher of bacon and some strawberries, but it left me feeling almost sick, really bloated. Could only stomach a very light dinner that evening. The next day everything was back to normal. So yeah, I'll try to avoid consecutive fasts in the future.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Oh sorry for epic post

Well we are home and had a lovely break. I am now trying to decide whether to fast today. Haven't had anything to eat so far so think I will probably go for it.

Hi to luvvies, glad to see everyone is doing well. Am planning a very lazy day and following the tip up thread am going to look up low cal ideas on pinterest

Hi Peas what did you decide?

I've worked out my soup will be about 200 so tomorrow evening I'm going to have that plus a salad and a couple of hard boiled eggs. Also keeping scope for a mid afternoon banana. Or supper if I can hold out.

I'm trying to keep my FDs low carb or at least low GI.

Yes I am fasting and have just had a salad of rocket, tomato, cucumber and low fat mozarela which came to 105 cals and was very tasty! Also I had to go to the supermarket which I have never done before on a FD but was actually ok. Feeling fine at the moment, so fingers crossed it stays that way. Still have some catching up on sleep to do after the weekend so am planning on an early night

Fasting again today. I have lost another pound which takes me to seven pounds in total since 7th July when I started. That's half a stone, right? I am pleased. My target is 1.5 stone (possibly more after that but that's the minimum I need to feel like my pre-preg self). So I guess I am a third of the way there!

Good luck to everyone else. spaniel if you're still checking in come and say hi!

Hi all, I'm also fasting today. No weight loss this week, suspect because I didn't fast at all the week before last. Determined to be good this week! How is everyone getting on today?

PS fantastic loss Tiger, well done!

Well done, Tiger. I lost a pound too, so 3 pounds in two weeks with which I am very happy. Fasting today too and sending good vibes to Spaniel and every one else.

Hello! Just wondering if I could join in the chat? I've been doing the 5:2 for 5wks and have lost a stone so far. Last week I was way off track I ate like a hog! I put it down to my mother taking my 2 oldest children on holiday so having just the younger 2 at home I was completely out of routine and had so much more time. Which resulted in me baking and eating lots. But I'm back on track and am fasting today. All I've had is a lemon tea 25cals? I'm a vegetarian so on fast days I tend to either have a tomato soup or omelette with 2 light cheese slices broken up in it. (If I close my eyes it could be melted cheese). I'm not going to weigh for 2wks because I'm going to focus putting right my binge last week. My last weigh in I was 11st 13lb.

Well done on everyone's weightloss. I hope everyone who is fasting today is doing ok so far? I had my first official weigh in this morning after starting out last Monday and was hugely impressed to find an 8 1/2lb weightloss!! (I have a lot to lose but have NEVER lost that much in my first week on any diet!) my DH is also on board and he lost a fantastic 6lb! I have felt fantastic all week and have made much better food choices...I seem to have loads more energy too. I have been lucky in that I have found the fasts easy to cope with...I spent the 1st one acting all delicate as I was worried I'd faint!! I now know I can just get on with life as normal. I find it easier to eat nothing all day and then use my 500cals for an evening meal. I'm hoping for a 2-3lb loss next week...am feeling very motivated and positive and finally in control!!

Whyohwhy that's amazing! Well done, I also find it easier to not eat all day and just have a 500cal meal in the evening. I'm aiming for another 24hr fast tomorrow. Just to kick start myself after my week off last week. I'm already feeling better being back on it. How many cals would you say you are having on your non fast days?

Well done whyohwhy. I'd also be interested to know what your calorie intake is on your non fast days. I'm conscious that this isn't going to work if I overeat in the way I have done in the past that's got me overweight in the first place!

I lost a stone over about 3 months before starting this. That had some spells of eating about 1500 cals and spells of just eating without really counting anything. So I was losing for a few weeks, then stabilising, then losing again.

I've fasted today, gone fine. I'll be weighing in on Fridays.

Well done on today fast Luvvies..I'm glad it went well...mine soon zipped by....good luck for tomorrow's too Goodgolly! I'm glad you are feeling better for it already too...I thought my friend was talking it up somewhat but it has been the same for me!

I haven't been logging my calories but it's fair to say I am eating a fair bit less than normal on my non fast days and mostly healthier stuff...my husband had us doing a veg only day on Saturday (he hates veg but is obviously liking the health benefits too) I've probably been eating what a healthy sized person eats (possibly more as my portions aren't the best)...i've looked out the smaller plates...I've stopped snacking on rubbish mindlessly in between meals as i know now i don't need it...but I have had treats if I wanted them..there has been the odd pack of crisps involved...and crumpets and Nutella (a bit of a favourite) as a lunch rather than a snack! Obviously most of the weight was water this week...but it was great motivation with having so much to lose!

Hello, mind if I join in?

I started 5:2 last Monday, but didn't manage to get a second fast day in last week, as I was just exhausted and ravenous for the rest of the week, so I'm considering it a test run. I did fast day 2 yesterday, and am hoping I don't get the same insatiable appetite and horrendous headache today.

I need to lose about a stone, but a little more would be nice. I'm already 4lbs since starting. I lost 3st last year just calorie counting on MFP over about 6 months, but I've ended up putting about a stone of that back on this year. The last stone was a bastard to get rid of first time round, so I think I need more drastic measures, and so far I haven't found fast days too difficult!

So yes. That's me. Hello!

Hello everyone and welcome Mackerel. Had a successful fast day yesterday and came in at around 440cals. Should I have eaten more? I was wondering the other day whether it's important to eat the 500cal (I know that on ww you are told to always eat your points). I could have easily had an Options hot chocolate to make up the cals but didn't really feel like it. What do you ladies think?