Ok, I think I'm ready to start

[QueenofLouisiana]

I've been lurking for a while and picking up tips. I thinki am ow ready to start my 5:2 diet. I have stocked up on fizzy water, fruit tea, soup and salad.

I plan to fast tomorrow and Wednesday this week. Wish me luck.

I think I am ready to start! I will say hello to the big scary main thread soon but thought I would dip my toe in with you guys first.

I'm guessing that people are nervous about joining the main threads for two reasons:

Firstly, fasting for the first time is scary! Certainly was when I began. I was so unsure of myself that on my fast days I began by dividing each meal in two (so roughly 1200 calories twice a week - I'm a bloke). And I was still googling "What can I eat on a fast day?" late in the evening of that first day!

Secondly, people are so confident on there! And …they all seem to know each other!

To answer the first point, you just have to read through a couple of pages of any of the previous threads to see how quickly people become accustomed to fasting. And with every fast it just gets easier. Until it becomes second nature.

And secondly, everyone who joins the main threads is given a warm welcome and made to feel at home - and given advice from the off, if that's what's needed. We love it when posters de-lurk and come and join in.

Bear in mind that we were all beginners at one stage! It's a bit like learning to drive - every driver you see started off as a learner driver!

Meant to say, Whineo (that doesn't sound right! ), you're better off asking that question on the main thread - I'm sorry, I don't do calorie counting.

So, come on and join in!

wine have you downloaded My Fitness Pal or Track My Fast? I use MFP to count calories on a fast day- I was delighted on Wednesday to find I could have a small owl of strawberries at the end of day!

Which days are you doing this week? I am sticking to Monday and Wednesday.

Welcome everybody

Why not pop over to the new main 52 Thread41
Loads of advice and support there.

On NFDs, you can eat what you want within sensible limits

If you find you are not losing, you may have got used to eating too much over the last years, so you need to monitor NFD calories until you learn to judge meal size.

To monitor NFD calories:
Calculate your TDEE for your activity level.

Eat within this TDEE, on average over the 5 NFDs

When you exercise, do NOT subtract these calories from your daily calorie total, or you'll be eating them twice.

If your weight loss is too slow, then recalculate your TDEE for sedentary and ignore any exercise calories you burn.

For FDs, eat 500 cals (women) / 600 cals (men) but don't worry if you exceed this the first few times. You'll still have a good calorie deficit on FDs.
Don't forget to count calories for drinks, especially milk in your hot drinks.

Drink lots of water, tea, coffee, bovril, other very low cal drinks.

On FDs, concentrate on protein and veg, so very little starch and not too much fruit. Soups and stews are very good.

Most of us skip breakfast, then have soup for lunch, to save most calories for supper.
This also increases the fasting periods, which we think has health benefits.

Thanks for the encouagement to join the main threads bread&wine and bigchoc. 3rd fast today: still haven't managed 500: 600 today, it's getting a bit easier, but it's astounding how it all adds up. Going to buy spray oil for making my egg white omelette