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

@ginsparkles it’s very hard and raw for you right now. Look after yourself. Hope you have lots of support xx

@ginsparkles im sorry for your loss. I hope you're okay. Sending you virtual hugs xxx

My heart goes out to you @ginsparkles

For the past few weeks I haven't lost much weight but have lost inches and am starting to look toned even though my BMI is still around 28! Has anyone else experienced this? I'm trying to focus on the inches as that's actually more important than what the scale says but part of me really wants it to go down.

Also my waist is back and I look like an hour-glass rather than a sack of potatoes!

How are you today gin? Sending you lots of virtual biscuits! You deserve them.

Great NSV @KylieKoKo!! Yes I’ve found that but I think it’s because I’m doing ab exercises every day including side abs so maybe that’s it

Have not quite got to my happy weight but have now lost weight on my boobs so it’s maintenance for me now I think

@KylieKoKo I noticed the same. I only lost 0.6 kgs in two weeks, but my jeans are falling off and I can fit again in my size 10, even wore a size 8 yesterday. How is that possible? And it's not like they are old and lost their elasticity. I still have fat around my abdomen though, and my bmi is still putting me in the overweight category 🤷‍♀️

5:2 is a cracker for shifting belly fat.
Not sure why
but it does

And definitely working on toning increases blood flow and helps the body shrink
even when the scales do not move by much

I definitely feel my belly fat is diminishing but not much change on my weight. I wish it would reduce boob size - I can fit into a smaller size jeans but tops are still tight

Thursday fast here it’s been ok I have taken on board some advice and saved more for my evening meal. Had a small chicken breast and Lots of salad with olives.
So hopefully that protein will stave off hunger.
Well done on getting into smaller jeans @Lilice I can’t wait to be able to buy a 14 again.

Thursday fast here. Had a salad at lunch and just cooking a tomato/chickpea curry. I’m enjoying my much flatter stomach and my skirt kept spinning round today as too big.

Well done Benji! That’s a fantastic feeling.

I’m enjoying just about fitting into my clothes. Nothing is loose (yet!). Yesterday was a FD (lentil soup, oatcake, melon) and today has been a successful NFD (lentil soup, oatcakes & a small fish supper). Managed a work out today too!

The 14 day challenge I start on Monday includes no alcohol! Can’t remember the last time I’ve gone that long. I’ll have to have a wine or two this weekend!

Thank you @ilovebagpuss you can do it 💪

At this rate I'm only losing 1 kg per month. Is it normal? I thought 0.5 kg per week was the norm. I still have 6 kilos to lose, 6 months seems a very long time

Lilice
We are all different
and weight loss is not steady
1kg a month combined with getting fitter sounds a splendid direction of travel

@ListeningQuietly thank you

Might try for a b2b, closing the kitchen on 546 and def seeing a difference in terms of hunger by just having all my calories in a high protein low carb meal around 4

Hi all, just checking in. Went to Dads today, felt odd being there without him. Kept expecting him to walk in. Made funeral arrangements and came home with a little robin statue that I bought him when I was a kid.

It all just feels surreal, likes it's happening to someone else. Not sleeping well (obviously as I type this at 4am!) and haven't fasted at all this week. Will aim to do some next week so I'm not a big lump in a black dress at the funeral in a couple of weeks time.

So lovely to read all you updates. Makes me smile to see the NSV's and fabulous fasting days. Keep going guys!

Ah @ginsparkles I remember doing that for Mum. It’s just awful.

I’m 0.6lb down this week.

Well done on the loss @Benjispruce2

Just done my morning yoga class.
One of our gang lives in Wales so she is looking forward to being allowed to leave home this weekend.
My gym opens on Monday.

Luckily not the indoors bit with the boditrax machine - I have three more weeks to get my backside in gear for that.

Ginsparkles
Remember to eat. Stress makes you lose weight surprisingly fast and you'll need energy to get through the next couple of weeks.
Plenty of protein and a decent amount of fat, minimal 'bulky' food.
And yes, going to a house when the owner is no longer there is VERY hard.

Thanks @ListeningQuietly ... I'm so tired. But I wake around 3 and then I just can't get back to sleep.

I hope you get a good night sleep tonight @ginsparkles

Hi everyone, sending lots of love to you gin - I can only imagine how difficult this must be.

I'm finishing a Mini today after my post B2B weigh in showed zero movement on the scales, probably due to going over TDEE a few times over the weekend. It's the start of the school Easter holidays here so the next two weeks aren't looking brilliant from a fasting point of view but as long as I don't put anything on then it's not the end of the world I suppose.

Hope you slept ok @ginsparkles

Wasn’t quite a b2b as I had to sample some amazing tequila a friend bought for DH and then snacked but well under TDEE

This weekend am aiming to just be mindful as we’re away for DH’s 40th until Weds and have all
Manner of deliciousness in food and cocktails planned!