Starting 5:2 today (2nd Sept) - anyone want to join me?

[BlackberriesAhoy]

So I'm fasting today for the first time. I'm not expecting it to be pleasant

I've planned to have raspberries for breakfast, homemade soup for lunch and grilled chicken with veg for tea.
I'm also planning to drink lots of water. I'm going to give dc a cooked lunch so that when I'm really hungry I'm not cooking their tea!

Let the fasting commence!

[PoshPaula]

5.5 lbs in two weeks would make a big difference to how you feel and look, I would have thought. And with an amount like that, you have more chance of it staying off in the long term.

If after four weeks you've lost 11 pounds that is nearly a stone so that's got to be fantastic.

[Salbertina]

Sustainable average to lose each week only about 1 lb on a decent (non-crash) diet, unless water loss eg thro low carbing.

[TheArticFunky]

Do you think PoshPaula? I was disappointed the first week.

[PoshPaula]

Okay thanks! I will find the other thread.

Wow Arctic that's an impressive loss!

[TheArticFunky]

It took me 2 weeks to lose 5.5lb. 3.25 lb the first week and 2.25lb the second week.

[Salbertina]

Posh- i think everyones on the other thread!

[PoshPaula]

Was it something I said?! Anyway I managed my first fast day yesterday. I lost over one pound. I am keen to hear of other people's weight loss experiences.... how long does it take to lose four pounds? And what do you eat?

[PoshPaula]

Hi I am just starting the 5:2, today, mind if I join? I find it helps to read other people's comments. Like some other folk on here I don't have stacks to lose, just 3 or 4 pounds, but after three DC's and given the fact that I am in my forties, weight doesn't fall off of me as easily as it used to. And I am determined not to go up a dress size!

[TheArticFunky]

I started doing this a couple of weeks ago. On fast days (Monday and Thursday) I find it easier to eat the same, it makes planning easier and I know what to expect.

For breakfast I have a slice of whole grain toast with fruit spread and a black coffee, lunch is a slice of whole grain bread and minestrone cuppa soup and for dinner I have chicken breast with Cajun spices, carrots, courgettes and red pepper.

I'm finding that because I'm not skipping any meals I'm not feeling hungry.

[Salbertina]

Ok, well killed a thread but managed the fast

[Salbertina]

Marking my place for tomorrow!

[Disey58]

Hi all 5.2 dieters - I know positivity is the name of the game but this isn't for me although the positive bit is that its working for hubbie.
I have decided rather than spendng a 2 days being miserable I am going to carry on just cutting down and excercisng it works for me where as the 5.2 doesn't as I am telling my brain that my body doesn't need food but my body is telling my brain it does!!
Good luck everyone it has been a support reading your comments.

[Spanglemum]

I started on 2nd September, though I'd practiced a couple of days in school holidays. Doing this to loose some weight as part of being fitter.
Have lost about 3kg so far since august.
The fasting getting easier. Am i the only one who can't go without breakfast? I have porridge made with water and no sugar. It fills you up for ages.
Nearly at end of fast day. Keeping busy is the key I think on these days.
good luck everyone!

[tedmundo]

mostly .. nice one on the weight loss (and trim waist!).

I am now into week 3 and weighed in yesterday and had lost another 2 lbs. I want to lose 4-5 more.

I am finding it much better to just eat nothing on FD until dinner time. The minute I eat something my appetite becomes harder to control.

Today is a NFD and I just had 2 biscuits after lunch. And then felt guilty! I know I didn't need them and snacking is clearly the eating behaviour I need to curb.

Good luck with everyone fasting today.

[mostlysinging]

On my 6th FD and going well so far. I weighed myself everyday last week to see how my weight varied as was interesting!

My weigh in this morning is 3.5 lb less than my start weight 2 weeks ago so am really pleased. Have lost 1 inch from my waist too.

So far so so good....

[MuddlingMackem]

Thanks Snoot.

DH might do the soup one the night before, I don't do anything that involves pre- frying/boiling/baking as for me the whole point of a slow cooker is to just chuck everything in and leave it.

Yes, bulking up for the rest of us with bread and butter is my plan too, hence why soup is a good one. I'm not fond of cooked tomatoes, but DH is so that would be an option for him. Thanks. :)

[Snoot]

MuddlingMackem I found this article, it's fairly entertaining and there's a recipe for a vegetable soup at the end. I'm working on the principle that tinned tomatoes are your friend they're 16 calories per 100g, 400g in your average tin. Lean protein and vegetables with herbs and spices should allow for a reasonable sized portion with minimal or no carbs, just provide the rest of the family with a baguette and butter on the side. That's my plan anyway

[MuddlingMackem]

Just seen this thread and thought I'd join. I'm not doing the fasting as I get migraines when I get hungry, but I am trying to cut down on cakes, chocolate and biscuits which are my downfall as DH has decided to do one fast day a week. We've also switched to skimmed milk rather than semi-skimmed.

However, he's normally the one who cooks the evening meals, but he discovered after his first fast day last week that he's just not up to it on that day, at least not this early on. Consequently, it's going to be me who'll have to do it. Last week and this it's going to be half a tin of sweet and sour chicken and half a packet of microwave rice for tea, but for future weeks I'm looking for two or three slow cooker recipes that all four of us can eat. Does anyone have any recipes or links for anything suitable? I'd like a vegetable soup for one of them if possible. DH doesn't eat fish or seafood, so I think that rules out a lot of possibilities as well. :-(

[Snoot]

Please can I join? I started this week, fasted Tuesday and today. I had low carbed Easter to summer hols and lost a bit but munched my way through the break and want to try something new and cheaper

Tuesday I ate one apple (50 calories, who knew?!?), 5 black coffees (2 decaf, jitter, jitter), 3 sardines in chilli and garlic with spinach (wouldn't bother again) and 2 vodka and slimline tonics (bought a measure, 55 calories a glass). I think that was around 600 calories.

So far today, 4 black coffees (1 decaf, got to stop this!) and an omelette made with 1cal spray, 1 egg white and approx 2/3 egg left from glazing scones yesterday, eaten with 1/4 can tinned tomatoes with fresh basil, what's that? About 60 calories so far? My tummy is gurgling like mad! Supper is going to involve prawns in some way, possibly in a tomato sauce on a tiny portion of pasta . I'm allowing room for a V&T, 2 is overdoing it but still much better than half a bottle of red with DH!

[GoodtoBetter]

Well, I've fallen off the wagon again. Haven't fasted at all this week. Think it was a bit ambitious to try it just before the busiest time of the year. Haven't been going crazy but haven't fasted either. Funnily enough I've lost a kilo!
Might give it a go next week.

[GoodtoBetter]

Well, I've fallen off the wagon again. Haven't fasted at all this week. Think it was a bit ambitious to try it just before the busiest time of the year. Haven't been going crazy but haven't fasted either. Funnily enough I've lost a kilo!
Might give it a go next week.

[mostlysinging]

So the weighing each day is showing that my weight can do down as well as up! I've done my two FDs for the week and do my 'official' weigh in on Monday morning before my next one.

I am being sensible on my NFD but not going as far as counting calories. I know I've cut down on snacks and have only been reaching for the fruit bowl so hoping Monday gives a lower number than this week's....

I've made myself drink green tea and find this helpful on a FD as does feel like you have filled up with something.

[tedmundo]

amber .. I am going out for a curry tonight so I am fully expecting to struggle to be sensible!

My head is saying "have the chicken tikka". My stomach is saying "have the makhani".

I also weigh myself everyday. But only plan to get excited/depressed by the sunday morning weigh in.

[AmberGamble]

Argh! This is the worst time of the day. I'm sooo hungry and ages until tea time!
Fasting is going ok (despite whinging) - I'm just struggling to be sensible on NFD. Anyone else having the same problem?

[dufflefluffle]

I had great success with this last year but have failed to get re-started this year so far (9 months in. eek!)
So I started Monday, drank buckets of herbal tea (having milk in tea and coffee really hoicks up the calorie count) and two huge chicken sandwiches on day one and came in around the 600 calorie mark. Today I've been really busy so haven't had time for a tea even. Had some melon at lunchtime and just now have had the most amazing discovery. Trawling through Aldi looking for something tasty yet low calorie and came across Pesto smoked salmon with honey and mustard dressing. 195 cal a pack and really really tasty. Filling too and because it's salty I'm drinking lots of water since (I struggle with drinking enough water).
Last year when I did well on the 4:3/5:2 (I lost 9lbs - all of which I have found again over the summer!) I bought cartons of egg white and lived on rice cakes and ham - which got awfully boring after a while.
Prawns are also a good low fat option, as are turket breast slices - filling too. A cauliflower broken into florets and tossed with a tblsp of oil, lemon zest and salt and roasted til crisp is delicious and virtuous too.