5:2 Thread 95 : Lockdowns are lifting, as are we

[ListeningQuietly]

Welcome to the continuing thread for those following 5:2 or other forms of IF (Intermittent Fasting) such as 4:3, ADF, or daily 16:8 smile

Last thread was here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/4128689-5-2-Thread-94-Its-a-New-Year-a-New-Day-and-were-feeling-GOOD

Basically it is 2 very low cal days ("fasts") per week - which need not be consecutive - and eat "normally" to maintain on the other 5 days.

For those who have dieted or maybe overeaten for years, eating "normally"
means roughly the number of calories your body needs to maintain - NOT reduce - its weight (see TDEE calculator below).

IMPORTANT
If you have had past diagnosed Eating Disorders or serious MH problems you should NOT do 5:2 or any other kind of fasting

JARGON alert

16:8 is a different type of fasting, which can be combined with 5:2.
Daily zero-cal fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8 hour window. To lose weight, this needs a weekly calorie deficit as well

b2b (optional) back-to-back / consecutive fast days, each with an increased allowance of 650 calories instead of 500

BMI (Body Mass Index) healthy range is 18.5 - 24.9 for Caucasians. Upper limit may be 22 for some of Asian origin.

FD = single Fast Day: aim for 500 calories (600 for men or 25% TDEE whichever is higher) or 1000 cals for BF
No alcohol or junk on FDs
Even if you exercise strenuously, do NOT increase FD cals to allow for exercise

MFP = My Fitness Pal, a useful App or website to track food & drink calories

miniFD = MiniFD, 850-1000 calories, no alcohol or junk

NFD = Non-Fast Day, averages around TDEE

NSV / LSV = Non Scale Victory / LifeStyle (change) Victory, e.g. compliment, smaller waist, clothes size

SV = Scale Victory

TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure, the average number of calories you burn in a day, is calculated from your current weight, height, age, activity level.
Aim to average about this for NFDs.

WOE / WOL = Way Of Eating / Way Of Life. We say this instead of "diet", to emphasise that we must make a permanent change in how we eat, to maintain our new healthy weight long term.

There is LOTS more information in the header of Thread 93
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/4057993-5-2-Thread-number-93-Drive-in-the-fasting-lane-to-goal

Jump in and say hello

Thanks @frustratedwiththepandemic

Week 3, FD2 today and for some reason I'm really struggling today. Used up 270 kcal so far but finding it difficult in comparison to previous FDs. The only difference is that I changed the milk I have with my coffee from semi-skimmed to skimmed to save a few calories, surely that can't make that much difference..?

FD today and I seem to have hit a bit of a wall. I was losing weight regularly but none last week and I feel that I look flabby round the middle again. Today my meals are -
Breakfast - toast with a little butter
Lunch - yoghurt with raspberries
Dinner - scrambled eggs

Not sure if that is what a FD should look like

@ChubbyCat

Thanks *@frustratedwiththepandemic*

Week 3, FD2 today and for some reason I'm really struggling today. Used up 270 kcal so far but finding it difficult in comparison to previous FDs. The only difference is that I changed the milk I have with my coffee from semi-skimmed to skimmed to save a few calories, surely that can't make that much difference..?

TOTM approaching perhaps?

Doesn't look bad but maybe the toast is making you crave more carbs?

On FD's last time around I used to eat once at 4pm. I found that easier hunger wise... just had to push past the lunchtime cravings

@frustratedwiththepandemic

Doesn't look bad but maybe the toast is making you crave more carbs?

On FD's last time around I used to eat once at 4pm. I found that easier hunger wise... just had to push past the lunchtime cravings

@RaraRachael

Thanks. Some people suggested skipping breakfast but I couldn't last out till 12.45 for lunch.

I had a lovely M and S ready meal for 300 calories last week so I might try and get some more of those as it was nice to eat a proper meal.

I’m one who skips breakfast and actually after doing 5:2 a few years ago realised I don’t actually need breakfast so now I very rarely eat it. I just find I’m more hungry sooner if I eat it.

Aiming for b2b today and tomorrow to offset yesterday’s “fail”. And going to 650 therefore instead of 500 for some wiggle room (no lattes today!) have some ready made soup to make it easier

Lost a dear friend and I have been having chocolate binges. Even got some salt and vinegar chips to much on. It's like trying to fill the emptiness 😔. I will be back soon hopefully in more positive state of mind.

Sorry to hear that Witchone1 I find that I binge when I'm fed up and it's been hard lately with nothing to look forward to in life.

I've just had my main meal but all I want to do is eat!

Sorry to hear that @Witchone1.

@frustratedwiththepandemic took me a while to work out TOTM! I actually don't get AF because of the contraception I'm on, but guess there could still be some hormonal effects.

Just making a cup of Earl Grey to enjoy it with some boiled eggs, tomato and baby leaves and that will close the kitchen at 476 kcal. Going to have an early night so that I don't have a chance to get hungry again.

Looking forward to tomorrow morning and my morning latte!

@Witchone1 so very sorry to hear this. Was it covid? May they rest in peace

Take your time and let yourself grieve x

So sorry @Witchone1

Finished on 598

Sorry to hear that @Witchone1. Take care of yourself.

After a few glutinous days off, yesterday I stuck to goal weight TDEE and today will be my first FD of the week.

So far so good. Did the food shop. I’ve bought hot smoked salmon for dinner. Plan on having it grilled with veg and new potatoes.

After school activities are starting up in our area again. Tonight I have 3 x 4 mile round trips to do after school. On a Friday . Hopefully I won’t have time to feel hungry or eat anything I’m not supposed to, so that’s a plus.

Happy Sunday gang. Back to grindstone tomorrow, humph! Anyone joining me in an FD?

@harriethoyle yes me! Plan is to do a b2b. Going to hold off till lunch and then maybe have some egg and then chickpeas and potato curry in the evening.

Thank you for kind words @RaraRachaelra @ChubbyCat @MazDazzle @KobaniDaughters @frustratedwiththepandemic
...yes, lost a kind soul to Covid...a yound dr. I am back with more gratitude to be just alive and healthy. What a time to be alive and witness this pandemic!!
I am doing b2b FD today and tomorrow 🤞

Good luck @frustratedwiththepandemic and @Witchone1 - I'm hungry but busy and have a huge jug of chilled water at my desk which I'm chugging through in an attempt to push lunch til 1ish... probably going to be the usual fishcakes for tea, as long as the supermarket has them on the way home 🤞

FD for me as well. Really need a coffee now so will have about 200 kcal left for dinner. Looks like will be boiled eggs and salad for dinner once again!

@Witchone1 how awful, just when it is starting to feel like things might be getting a bit better.

FD Monday (6:1). Ate at 12-mixed green salad and a small apple and lots of water all day. Just making lean pork meatballs. I’ll eat 3 with roasted peppers and onions and a spoon of cous cous. Good luck everyone.

So pleased yesterday to be only one pound off my target weight. I may keep going in an endeavour to get down to a size 10.

FDs are going ok now that I've cut out most of the teas and coffees and used those calories for food instead.

..ending at 600cal..thanks to a bite of banana cake I couldn't resist ...😅 hope tomorrow will be a better day. Thanks @Chubbycat, some days are better, some worse...FDs seems to help somehow.

I'm at 449... space if I'm ravenous later but if I can hang tough, gives me up to 800 tomorrow 🤞