I'm doing it! 5:2 starts this week. Anyone else starting out?

[SageYourResoluteOracle]

Okay. Huge issues with weight all my adult life. Have done weight watchers in the past and was my slimmest on my wedding day (a cliche, I know). Fast forward 4 years, one baby later and a diagnosis of premature menopause (and a lot of other stress which has shamefully led to comfort eating) and I have to get my weight sorted. I feel exhausted almost all the time and I can't go on like this. I also used to run half marathons and 10ks. Can't imagine being able to do that atm.

My stats:
Age: 35
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 13st 13lb
BMI: 31.3= obese
Dress size: 14/16
Shoe size: 6/7
Health issues: on cyclical HRT until I'm at least 50; hypothyroidism.
Mercifully, my bone density is great (there is a risk of osteoporosis with premature meno due to low estrogen levels)

All my weight is middle centred or on my thighs. Not healthy.

Anyone else just started 5:2 or about to start?

I am thinking about it. Convince me I am 45 next month, 5ft 8 and 17st 9lb as of this morning. I have previously been extremely fit and skinny at a size 8. Marriage and three kids later, plus moving from an active to a sedentary job, and my arse is the size of a small planet.

I have done pretty much every diet going, but not 5:2

Valium- please join me. I'll be convinced when I lose weight and keep it off.

Tomorrow is my first fast day: 40g oats made into porridge with water and 70g of berries for breakfast then smoked mackerel, poached egg and green, undressed salad for supper.

We shall see!

PS I'm sure your arse isn't the size of a small planet at all. My 'apron' belly overhang following a c-sec nearly 3 years ago, however, is an entirely different matter.

And I've never been a size 8. Maybe when I was a child. I'd be happy as a 10/12!

Sage, you're better off avoiding carbs and fruit on FDs - they kick off the hunger switch with many people, and can make you hungry all day.

Check out the 5:2 Recipe thread for other suggestions which don't have the same effect.

Then, why don't you and Valium come over and join us on the new thread, number 41? And have a look at the Inspiration thread to see how others have fared.

Don't be put off by all the experienced fasters on there - we all started off unsure of whether we could fast, or whether 5:2 would work for us.

We found out that we could - and it did!

I start week 2 on Monday! I ate nothing until lunch on a FD so I can eat more the evening. The first day I was hungry at bedtime, which was horrible.

Good luck tomorrow.

Hi, DH & I started last week too. I'm all evangelical about it as we've both got on the scales this morning and we've both lost 3lbs

I watched the Horizon programme & read some articles about the science behind it so that I can remind myself how & why this works if I'm struggling.

I only have two days experience to speak of, but so far, I've actually enjoyed the fast days! It feels good to recognise my natural appetite again, and to start to tackle my irrational fear of hunger. As someone on the big thread said, it's not like any of us are going to spontaneously expire after a couple of hunger pangs

I met up with a consultant at work who I hadn't seen for a couple of years. She looks wonderful, slim, glowing & healthy, and she said she did the 5:2 for nearly a year but is now on 6:1 for maintenance. She gave me some good tips as I'd started out buying loads of new ingredients for 3 low-cal meals, which would work out too expensive to be sustainable. She said she now just doesn't bother with breakfast or lunch, but drinks plenty of water & fruit tea throughout the day, then she has a 500 cal version of whatever her family are eating for dinner. I think I'll try that next week.

Good luck, I look forward to hearing about how well you get on

Thanks both for the tips. I'm going to combine your advice and eat nothing until as late as I possibly can. Then I'll have a couple of poached eggs & some miso soup. For supper, a recipe I found on the 5:2 recipe thread here (forget who posted it) for chorizo, courgette and cherry tomatoes, followed by some natural yoghurt and a few almonds. All weighed and counted and logged on MFP App.

I'm scared so will hop over to the ongoing thread now.

Valium- are ya in???

Lady - cross post there. Sounds like a possible way forward to try and wait completely until tea. I might wither away though! I'll see how I go today.

LOVE the support from the 5:2 vipers!!! Okay. Off I go to the main thread.

And 3lbs in one week is fantastic!

Welcome everyone (smile)

Lots of us find that breakfast on a FD will kick start the appetite, so you might find drinking lots of water, tea and coffee will see you through the day (remember to count in the calories from milk) and then that will give you plenty of calories to play around with for a good sized dinner.

I still find it hard to keep to 500 cals on FDs, so am usually around the 600 cal mark, which still gives me a good calorie deficit.

I did my first fast yesterday and it was fairly easy. The only thing I missed was the copious amount of coffee I usually have!! I thought I would be really hungry this morning but I'm not. I stuck to my usual weetabix and an apple but I did have an extra large coffee! I've done weight watchers for two years, lost three stone but nothing since Christmas although I have stuck to it so I decided a new approach was needed. Let's see what this week brings.

Breadandwine thank you for the invite to the big thread. It is a bit of a scary prospect joining such a well established thread, and I need to do reading around it too.

I will be in soon, and will watch with interest. All three kids are ill at the moment so I don't have the time or brain power to do anything other than grab a slice of toast here and there. I think I will like the fast days as I will happily survive on fruit tea at work.

I would likely make a huge vat of veggie soup to have in the evening of the fast day. But as I said I need to read up on it.

At least being this fat the weight should fall off me

I like the idea of this but am still breastfeeding (not heaps, he's 15 months) so would I have to eat more cals on fast days?

Hi suze

Lots of BFers on the main threads - most seem to allow 7-800 cals on FDs, but the odd one or two go down to 500 cals without reporting ill effects.

I'm thinking of starting on Monday.
That stone won't shift itself.
Weight in Monday morning.
I'll do the 5:2 and stick to 500 cal.
I'll be out all day, so it will be easy to do it.

Well, relatively.

Hi Suze
We recommend BFers start with 1000 cal FDs. You can gradually reduce to 700, but only if you feel comfortable doing so.
Your body has a lot to do, so be kind to yourself

During growth spurts, BFers may find they need to return to the 1000 cals for a while.

Everyone: come join us on the new Thread41
Plenty of support and advice

Sage I'm starting today. Been successful with Weightwatchers before but since DD was born a year ago, I've struggled to plan my meals. But, after I had to fast before a medical procedure last month I reckoned I could manage it regularly!
So here I am... so far so good. Surviving on black coffee, peppermint tea and water. I'm very much someone who needs to eat as late as possible because breakfast always kickstarts my appetite - so I'm looking forward to my apple and slimasoup in a while!

Hello, it's my first day today, I had porridge for breakfast and just had lots of drinks. Will try not to eat til after I've been to the gym ( so probably 7) which is later than I usually eat. I have felt hungry most of the day but also slightly virtuous!
Good luck everyone! I will look at the Big thread later

I'm starting today. Not eaten anything until now and had a waitrose soup (200)and a French toast cracker (31). So now need to try not to eat anything until a bit later, maybe some fruit after I've done yoga.

I started 5:2 in Jan 2013. I stood on the scales at new year and had a shock! I didn't have loads to lose as I was about 11.5 stone but I'm quite short so this still showed my BMI as overweight. I lost a stone within about 6 months which was great. Since then I've not been as strict with myself on it as I was before and have put a bit back on at the end of last year but started again this new year and have lost another 4 lbs. I'm getting married in June which is good motivation! The good thing about this diet is that even when you have your off weeks (or months in my case!) the weight doesn't just pile on. I ate "normally" for a few weeks and still only put a 1lb or two on. Because I had lost the weight slowly and sensibly (not like these fad diets where you can only eat lettuce leaves) I've managed to keep it off. I'm now 10.5 stone and hope to lose another half by the end of June!
Personally I couldn't stand the thought of having to weight and measure food and watch what I ate every day. I can manage being good 2 days a week (even though it's hard sometimes!) and know that the next day I can be free to eat whatever.
Good luck! you won't regret it!
Liz

Hi all! So excited that there are others starting out too. My first FD went reasonably well and I've definitely been more mindful of what I've eaten yesterday and today. Really trying to avoid any snacking.

Next FD is tomorrow so I'll go and plan how to use my 500cal in a sec.

I'm over on the big thread (5:2 thread 41) - can't seem to link on iPad. Come and join in over there!

Hi Sage, how are you getting on?

I am so pleased, just had a weigh-in at the end of week 4 & I've lost half a stone. Only 2 more lbs to go & I'll be under 9 stone for the first time in a decade! I LOVE 5:2!

That's fantastic, LadyBumps. Nine stone, coming your way soon !

Me! I'm starting it this week! Slightly apprehensive... I've always been naturally quite slim but have put in over a stone since getting married just over a year ago and can't let this carry on creeping up! Would live some fasting meals inspiration. x