5:2 Thread 94 : Its a New Year, a New Day and we're feeling GOOD

[ListeningQuietly]

Welcome to the latest edition - 94,000 posts done and we are still here (just with less Chocolate Frenzy)

Links to lots of the ~ scientific information ~ hints and tips ~ abbreviations and terminology ~ are in the header of the last thread here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/4057993-5-2-Thread-number-93-Drive-in-the-fasting-lane-to-goal

But basically :
If you are new to fasting / 5:2 ~ welcome, introduce yourself and join in
If you are returning to 5:2 ~ welcome back
If you are a long standing Faster ~ great to see you still here

Chickpea and feta salad with pimentos and olives on a bed of lettuce
STUFFED

I just ate bean chili and konjac rice. I'm not hungry but my mind keeps wondering to chips. I am on my period though which makes fasting harder for me.

@ListeningQuietly you would approve, I'm drinking a big glass of water and when I've finished that I'm going to clean my teeth.

Oh that sounds lovely @ listening, i am enjoying that i am trying new recipes since i felt i had lost my cooking mojo and was stuck in a rut.

Well i cant thank everyone enough for all the support and advice on here. I weighed today and lost nearly 2 kilos! I am delighted. I realise this is too much and not sustainable and not what i intended either however it is actually my 4th week of dieting and dry january so overall is a 1lb a week. It was sorely needed this week since i think i would have thrown the towel in and now i am motivated to carry on. It has been a wake up call though in the actual numbers of calories i need compared to what i believed and was eating!
Will follow the advice upthread about non fast days but feel much more positive and that this is sustainable.
So thank you for being so helpful everyone, and @ kylie and listening.

Well done @Humphriescushion !!

Yesterday I sort of ran out of time for dinner and having had a healthy salad for lunch I came in well under my tdee, even allowing for the jelly sweets if dd's I scoffed!

Aiming for another tdee kind of day today. But won't be too cross if it goes a little over. Have a good day everyone

Well done @Humphriescushion - that’s amazing!

Good FD yesterday but not enough to unpick the damage of a couple of days off the wagon, and dds birthday today: defy anyone to turn down freshly baked cinammon buns for breakfast, let alone home made duck pancakes and chocolate cake for supper. I could probably have done without the cheese toastie for lunch, but freshly baked sourdough (yes, I need to bake less....) with grilled veg, pesto & cheddar just spoke to my soul. And, sadly, my waistline.
Oh well, tomorrow is another day, right?

Well after a great Monday my week went terribly. Still bf and co sleeping with my 1 year old and she didn’t sleep very well three nights running. Lack of sleep is my Achilles hill I just can’t seem to stop myself from reaching for the sugar/carbs. So much harder to resist on weak days when you are constantly serving food to three children !

Today I’ve woken up feeling more rested so I’m going to use the weekend to reduce calories to about 1400 then fast on Monday.

*achilles heel

@Hazelflies I'm the same. If I've slept badly I just want greasy carbs like chips and pasties from Greggs. I also can't imagine fasting on days when I'm cooking for others!

No advice but I have sympathy at least.

@KylieKoKo thank you

Hello, may I join please?

I'm hoping that joining you all will keep me accountable. I did the 5:2 a few years back successfully, however now after a pregnancy and a baby I am the biggest I've ever been
Baby is now nearly 18 months so it's time to start losing the weight.

Has anyone done this whilst breastfeeding or with a higher daily limit? I'm thinking 800 rather than 500?

Re snacking when exhausted
@Hazelflies
keep some hard boiled eggs in the fridge and have one of them if you are peckish (the ceremony of peeling them is quite therapeutic too)

also, have a glass of milk - the proteins and fats are very satiating and will help recharge you
without causing a blood sugar spike.

Welcome back @H0twaterbottle
Congratulations on the small person
and yes to 800 calories if feeding.
Keep your protein up to manage hunger

@ListeningQuietly thank you

First fast day on Monday...

Reading through recent posts, I’m going to invest a bit of time tomorrow setting up for Monday’s FD, so I’ve got some boiled eggs and chopped veg ready in the fridge.

I struggle with fasting & working at home on days when I don’t get a proper break between meetings, which is fine in the office (too busy to snack) but hellish at home because I end up reaching for something high sugar or high carb to “see me through” because I don’t have time to prep something healthy, but the fridge & store cupboard are right there. I need to nail “no excuses”!

This week is going to be difficult as 2 year old DD is self isolating due to covid at nursery. Going to try out the boiled eggs in the fridge and some veg cut up. I never think of drinking milk for some reason which is odd as I really like it.

I didn't weigh this week so will keep going and weigh next Friday.

Cant believe there's 800 calories in a big tasty! I never really paid attention to numbers before, as in normal times im a size 8 and eat what I want. Now this will make me think twice before treating myself to a Macdonald's 😱 it's nearly half of my tdee!

@Lilice it's amazing how many calories are in some things isn't it?! Certainly makes you think about what your eating even on the non fasting days.

Not to bad a week, all things considered. Didn't track Friday or yesterday but was pretty sensible. Back to tracking things today. Fasting Monday and Tuesday.

Have lost my tape measure which is super annoying as I found taking measurements was really reassuring when the scales were shifting!

@ListeningQuietly thank you for the tips! Unfortunately I’m that awkward person because I’m a vegetarian who doesn’t like eggs - annoyed myself because it’s such a good protein option for a vegetarian!
I’m going to make some almond butter protein balls this week as an alternative.

Hi there Hazel
Have you discovered Tofoo ?
I am a confirmed carnivore but its FAB.
DD eats slices of it like cheese.
I love it cubed and used instead of any white meat.

As an immediate snack, have some STRONG cheddar in the fridge and cut a slice of it
or hummus with some carrot sticks
or even make up some falafels and freeze them to microwave as a nibble snack

@ginsparkles yes you're totally right, now i think no wonder i havent been able to lose any of the baby weight. I didnt realise how rich my diet was. Now on non fast days, I do think twice before opening the cupboard of despair (the one where we keep all the biscuits and chocolate) 🤣
Ill be fasting tomorrow and Wednesday. I dont keep track of the calories on non fast days on my fat secret app, but I am being sensible (at least I try). It will be my third week of dieting. Ill do one more week before getting the courage to weigh myself. Im hoping ill be under the 70 kgs bar. I did put a lot of weight during my pregnancy, like i always do 😔
I struggled on my last fasting day and was so hungry. I still managed to do it. I only eat 500 calories. I noticed some of you had 600. Does it make a big difference ?

Hi everyone,
Fell off the wagon, spectacularly but now January is done, I'm getting back on it for February.
FD tomorrow, weds and fri - maybe a mini on Friday, will see how tomorrow and Wednesday go.
I hope everyone's doing ok...I'm off to read the thread for motivation!

@ListeningQuietly ooh will get some tofoo and good idea re cheese and falafels.

Welcome back bottl

I'm also fasting tomorrow.

Morning all, fast day today for me. Finding this a bit easier than a thought atm. I especially like that on non fast days i am trying different recipes, think i had got into a rut on slimming world and eating the same things all the time. Non fast days i am aiming for my tdee. I did decide to have saturday "off" and will see how this works out for me this week. I counted the calories on this day as well though just so i had an idea of how much this actually was.
Thanks all for your help and encouragement.

Fast day for me too, good luck. After 7 months of being missing and several months with no news, there has been a possible sighting of my dog so I’m going there with the kids to leave some food this morning. At least I will be away from the food cupboards for a few hours! Planning on not eating until this afternoon to limit the urge to keep eating.

Oh no @ hazel that must be so awful, my heart goes out to you. Our dog escaped from the kennels just before christmas and we spent an awful 24 hrs but luckily someone found her. Really, really hope yours turns up.