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

I am fasting today instead of thursday, not sure i am motivated today but hopefully will go ok. Thanks for that tofu recipe it looks delicious, will give it a go on the weekend.

Never eaten tofu, keep thinking I should try it on DD (worlds fussiest vegetarian!!) but have been unsure how to cook it so thanks for the recipe! Any other tofu tips? She prefers bland flavours.

Another maintain for me, but I'm ok with that right now. Put all my meals into my journal and am currently coming in at 1271, so I have 300 cals for a mid afternoon snack if needed.

@flindorama I definitely find the fast days have got easier as time goes on.

Good luck to all today's fasters! Stay warm it's grim out there today where I am!!!!

@flindorama I find it easier if i dont eat until later in the day, because otherwise i feel hungrier from the moment i eat. If that makes sense ?

Second FD of the week for me. Im still exercising every morning, feels great. I finally weighed myself yesterday and I still have 10 kilos to lose eeeeeeeek! And it's all on my belly 🙈

Welcome to the gang @flindorama
and yes, it gets MUCH easier
as your brain gets used to the new way of eating.

Re Tofu
I promise I'm not on commission, but this brand
tofoo.co.uk/
is in most supermarkets.

Its even converted my DH.
Cubed into ANYTHING that requests chicken or prawns
DD has it stirred into pasta pesto and broccoli.
I've had it lightly fried in a veggie dish and a box left two of us STUFFED

I was going to fast today but I seem to be coming down with a cold (fingers crossed only a cold) so I'm being kind to myself abd will pick up fasting when I'm feeling better.

Turns out it's hayfever as an anti histamine has sorted me out. I've had two boiled eggs and an apple so I'll have my planned 350 calorie evening meal and shouldn't be too far over 500 calories.

Good to know it has a normal cause.
Stay warm.

I’ve been meaning to try tofu.I bought the silken kind by mistake and never got round to getting it after that. That recipe looks lush though.
I’m maintaining so far this week after a 6lb in 2 weeks loss. Hoping to shift more after tomorrow’s FD. Feeling good and my clothes are all fitting better, even my knickers!!

Benji
I had some very bad experiences with tofu in the past but DD came home from Uni obsessed with it.
This is basically what she had for lunch
tofoo.co.uk/recipes/tomato-soup-tofoo-croutons/

I love tofu when I have it in restaurants but it's always a horrible texturewhen I try to cook with it.

Thanks @listeningquietly covid has me paranoid about every sniffle

Sorry can I ask another question? So apparently my current TDEE is just over 2000cals.
I am tracking everything just now to hold myself a bit more accountable until I get used to what constitues "normal". But both Monday and today I'm looking at more like 1600-1700cals.
Is that ok? Should I really be trying for the full 2000?
Also when do you reassess your TDEE? Every week after weigh in?

Sorry in advance for all these questions but I have read the book previously and I'm re-reading but I'm trying to teach my own classes, homeschool own kids and prep for an interview on Friday!

I'm such an idiot! I forgot I was fasting and just ate some cheese and crackers.

That’s so funny @KylieKoKo!
Just shows you’re getting used to it though. Can still be on target if you adjust the rest of your food today.

I’m getting nowhere near enough iron on mfp. Definitely need a supplement.

@Benjispruce2 might be worth getting your levels checked. I dunno, I don’t always trust MFP for stuff like that

I gave blood before Covid and wasn’t anaemia but was in the lower end of normal and they have a high threshold so I should be ok. I eat any red meat and eat vegetarian a couple of times a week at least but I eat eggs and green veg, pulses and fish regularly. Today I’ve had porridge, tuna salad and Spanish chicken casserole with brown rice and green beans. MFp says I’ve had about 1% of my iron goal.

• I DON’T eat red meat.

Gaaaa predicted text is doing my head in. I don’t eat much red meat, probably once a fortnight.

Benji
MFP is not reliable for things like that.
Then again I remember being told to take Iron supplements when pregnant (even though I'm a total carnivore) and they were like happy pills

Yes I did too @ListeningQuietly but I don’t remember that effect. I’ll ignore mfp then. It does seem out of kilter on nutrients.

Hi there @flindorama
There is so much information out there that its REALLY hard to filter sometimes.
Key numbers you need
TDEE - sedentary - at current weight and age
TDEE - sedentary - at happy weight in a year's time.

Then work out your weekly plan. An example is this :

Monday : 500 calories
Tuesday : Happy weight TDEE
Wednesday : Happy weight TDEE
Thursday : 500 calories
Friday : current weight TDEE
Saturday : whatever
Sunday : current weight TDEE

Doing that you should have enough deficit to lose a bit over 1lb a week - which is the healthy pace
AND
You'll already know how much food to eat when you get to happy weight

@ListeningQuietly that is brilliant. Thank you so much!

@Benjispruce2 fair enough keeping an eye when you already had your levels checked

Interestingly my doctor got my iron levels checked because I’m vegan but mine were actually higher than the normal range!

That’s great @KobaniDaughters.My aunty has been vegetarian for 30 years and was told similar.

Iron is one I watch very closely as DD struggles with anaemia, we all take a daily vitamin to ensure we get enough iron. She's a veggie so it's really hard to get enough iron into her. Especially as she's a veggie that hates veggies!!!

I'm very proud of myself today, under Tdee and no snacking. Planned out tomorrow and thanks to a good healthy Greek salad for lunch I'm currently on track for 950 cals.