My Fast800 then 5:2 Journey

[silvershell]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for everyone who has shared their journeys on the WOE, it has helped give me the confidence to get back into it after a year of not caring much (thanks SSRIs).
I had posted on another thread, but I think it would be better if I made my own for this journey. I'll repost what I posted for Day 1.

I did well on 5:2 a couple of years ago, but I had an episode of depression which led to medication that made me care less about what I was eating. I gained 1.5 stone in 2 years. I am 5'75 and at the higher end of healthy BMI for my height, but my body fat is 31.5%!!! Never in my life has it been that high. But I know its what I was shovelling in my mouth and possibly also a minor effect of the medication messing with insulin. I am now 3 weeks off the medication, so I'm ready to sort myself out!

I started Fast 800 today, and would love to be around others also in this WOE. I am doing the 16:8/800 calories for 2 weeks. Then dependant on weight loss, continue F800 or move to 5:2. Clean fasting with electrolytes. Oh, and I'm ovolacto-pescetarian (is that even a term??) - basically I am vegetarian, but eat eggs and fish :)

Day 1 (yesterday)

Food
250ml soya milk
Bowl of homemade lentil soup
250g salad
2 boiled eggs
1/2 an avocado
200g Soya yogurt with small amount of crushed walnuts
1 Cadburys highlights
= 808 cals
= 81.8g carbs

Fast window opened at 9pm-1pm.

Feelings
Even though my carbs were higher than recommended, I didn't actually feel hungry which is always nice. I need to have a look at reducing carbs though, as it may get harder when at work (yesterday was my day off).

Not sure when I will weight yet. I'd love to not weight for the 2 weeks, but I doubt I will manage that, I tend to weight daily or every few days.

Day 19 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 =
Day 21 =

Day 19 Food
600ml soya milk
240g basa fish fillets + 350g mixed veg + 1tbsp pesto
30g Turkish delight
25g 85% dark chocolate

= 821kcal

TRE
I clean fasted from 8.30pm last night to 1130 today (broken with milk in my tea) = 15hr fast. Skipped lunch and had dinner at 1900.

Feelings
Still feeling good. Hunger was very well-managed today, I think because my carbs have been pretty low over the last few days. Noticing my clothes feeling more comfortable.

Day 20 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4
Day 21 =
Total loss in 3 weeks =

So, a wee annoying 0.2lb increase on yesterday, but that's the point of weighing daily, to see the little fluctuations and avoid only weighing on a day when weight goes up, which could lead to thinking it's not working. My BMI is really starting to irritate me though, it's taking so long. I've never been in the 23/24 range before and I don't like it 😞

I'll start a new 3 week log block after day 21, so the log doesn't get huge on the page.

So I just checked my muscle mass and it has increased since yesterday, so that must be the weight increase. OK fine, I'll take it!

what are your bowel movements like on this diet op?

@Endlesslypatient82 just the same as always - like clockwork every morning. And my IBS-D symptoms have improved drastically. I used to have to go anywhere between 2-5 times in the morning, now it is just once and it's normal, not "D".

@Hanswurst how are you getting on? Hope your finals went well!

Day 20 Food
600ml soya milk
400g veg + 100g hummus
3x 15g bars of Turkish delight
25g 85% dark chocolate

= 834 kcal

Feelings
I had a bit of a meltdown today over a stupid pear. I had gone to the shop on my lunch for pesto for dinner, and thought I'd pick up a piece of fruit as I was having a busy day at work. I considered apples, but at around 100kcal, I thought I should pick something lower. I'm preferring to have most of my calories in the evening. So I picked up a bag of pears, thinking they would probably be around 50kcal each. When I got back to work and logged a pear into cronometer, the "small" pear entry came up with 118kcal and no food scales in work to check!!

So I was really annoyed as you know what it's like when you decide to have something and then find out you can't. Like when you're at a restaurant and spend time painstakingly reviewing the menu, only for the server to say they have run out of what you want.

So anyway, I didn't have the pear. A couple of hours later, it occurred to me to check the nutrition label on the bag... 40kcal for one pear!!!!!! I could have had bloody two without messing things up much! 😞

Apart from the stupid pear, today was OK. Did a 13 hour fast, broken with milk in my coffee. Food from 6.30pm.

Day 20 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4
Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 23.3
Day 22 =
Day 23 =
Day 24 =
Day 25 =
Day 26 =
Day 27 =
Day 28 =

Total loss in 4 weeks =

Decided to do this in 4-week blocks. I've lost around half a stone in 3 weeks from a "normal" weight. I'm thinking another 4-8 weeks of Stage 1 may get me to a weight range I am happy with.

Interestingly, despite my weight fluctuating from time to time, my body fat % has consistently just gone down, no upward fluctuations at all that I've noticed.

1.6lbs to go til I am out of the 150s :)

So this is interesting as well....

Week 1 I lost about 2lbs
Week 2 I lost another 1lbs
And Week 3 I lost 4lbs

This is the opposite of what people believe to be the normal pattern of weight loss with low calorie intake. You hear everyone say you lose more at the start and then it slows down, but as you can see I lost more in week 3 than I did in the previous weeks.

My guess is that this is because my carb intake has gotten consistently lower each week, along with my clean fasting windows getting slightly longer, both which encourage the body to use it's fat for fuel.

And I have just discovered that there is a new BMI formula which "scales more accurately in relation to a person's height".
www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calculators/new-bmi/

Using this more accurate formula, my BMI is currently 22.8.

The NHS' BMI formula gives the same result.
www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

I guess the Renpho app I am using is a bit behind in the BMI times.

New Weight Log using new, more accurate BMI formula

Day 21 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4
New BMI formula from here
Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 22 =
Day 23 =
Day 24 =
Day 25 =
Day 26 =
Day 27 =
Day 28 =

Total loss in 4 weeks =

Day 21 (yesterday) Food
600ml soya milk
Canned sweet potato curry + 130g long grain rice + 100g mixed veg
1x pear
50g dark chocolate

= 933

Feelings
Rough day due to severe neck and shoulder pain. I've just started working at a new location and I think it the chair/desk height causing the pain. I took two doses of anti-inflammatories on an empty stomach and felt sick as a dog from 12pm - do not recommend!

Day 22 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4
New BMI formula from here
Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 22 = 151.8lb 👆BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 23 =
Day 24 =
Day 25 =
Day 26 =
Day 27 =
Day 28 =

Muscle mass has increased 0.2, so that'll be the 0.2lb weight gain roughly.
I'm not consistent with the resistance band, but my neck and shoulder were so painful yesterday I was doing it on and off all day. This is what physio recommended when I was assessed a few years back for similar pain.

Am I on my own again then? 👀

Day 22 Food (yesterday)
600ml soya milk
240g basa fish fillets + 136g stir fry veg + 4tbsp salsa + 7.5g sunflower seeds
50g 85% dark chocolate

= 825 kcal / 51g carbs / 69g protein / 41g fat

Hi @silvershell sorry I slipped off as my weight loss attempts were futile while the kids are off school! You’re doing amazingly though, how are you feeling?

@Hollyhead Oh I see, yes, it can be hectic to have any kind of routine when the kids are off! Feel free to join in with me when you feel ready :)
I am feeling good on this WOE for the most part. Looking forward to eating a bit more during the day though, as my job is quite demanding. But I am not finding it difficult.

Day 23 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4
New BMI formula from here
Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 22 = 151.8lb 👆BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 23 = 151.8lb 🖐
Day 24 =
Day 25 =
Day 26 =
Day 27 =
Day 28 =

No change in my stats today.

Really enjoy reading your posts. 😀
I have about 14lbs to lose and I'm on week 3.
Like you OP, I weigh every day and I also take my BP once a week to see what effect losing weight will have, so it's very interesting and reassuring to see how weight can fluctuate and the importance of not giving up.

So far I've lost (and kept off) 6.5lbs, most in the first week. My BMI is currently 25.4, so not really awful but too much for me as I feel uncomfortable around my middle.
Annoyingly, I fell off the wagon last weekend due to it being hubby's big birthday. Although I didn't eat lots, I did eat some rubbish and also had too much alcohol 🙄consequently this week's loss is just undoing the damage. 😫

@silverbeetle that's fantastic, well done! Thank you for sharing, and it's great to know you are enjoying my posts :) Is your BP heading in the right direction?

I know what you mean about being uncomfortable in the middle. I had developed what felt like a third belly when I was sitting down and it felt like it was obstructing food when I ate. It's smaller now, as I am sure yours is.

I wouldn't call that falling off the wagon, you can have a relaxed day if you want! I had one yesterday. It has been a long two weeks as I had a big job to apply and interview for, so I had some extra dark chocolate and an Irish coffee, taking my calories to 1187 :) If I was eating over the 800 every night, I would probably just move to 5:2. We need to be careful about feelings of guilt and failure because these are what usually sabotages people trying to lose weight. The great thing about the F800 is that you can just move to the next stage if the 800kcal isn't suiting you any more, and still lose weight, just a bit more slowly.

Ultimately, you shouldn't gain weight if you eat under your TDEE :)

Day 24 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4

• New BMI formula from here

Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8 Day 22 = 151.8lb 👆BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8 Day 23 = 151.8lb 🖐 Day 24 = 151.2lb 👇BF = 30.4% BMI = 22.7 Day 25 = Day 26 = Day 27 = Day 28 =

Day 25 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4

• New BMI formula from here Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8 Day 22 = 151.8lb 👆BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8 Day 23 = 151.8lb 🖐 Day 24 = 151.2lb 👇BF = 30.4% BMI = 22.7 Day 25 = 151.2lb 🖐 Day 26 = Day 27 = Day 28 =

So I was celebrating a little bit yesterday as I was offered a new job on Friday, my partner took me out for dinner. I didn't count calories, but I probably ate around my TDEE or less. Weight stayed the same, although my skeletal muscle increased slightly - I wonder if this was in my jaw from the extra chewing lol

Day 26 Weight Log
Day 1 = 158.6lbs (11st 3) BF = 31.8% BMI = 24.3
Day 2 = 157.6lb 👇
Day 3 = 157.2lb 👇
Day 4 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 5 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 6 = 155.0lb 👇
Day 7 = 156.6lb (2lbs loss) 👆
Day 8 = 156.4lb 👇
Day 9 = 155.8lb 👇
Day 10 = 155.8lb 🖐
Day 11 = 155.6lb 👇
Day 12 = 154.6 lb (4lbs loss) BF = 31.1% (0.7% loss) BMI = 23.7 👇
Day 13 = 154.8lb 👆
Day 14 = 155.6lb 👆
Day 15 = 155.4lb 👇
Day 16 = 154.2 lb👇 BF = 31% / BMI = 23.6
Day 17 = 154.0lb 👇 BF = 30.9% BMI = 23.6
Day 18 = 152.8lb 👇 BF = 30.7% BMI = 23.4
Day 19 = 152.2lb 👇BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.3
Day 20 = 152.4lb 👆BF = 30.6% BMI = 23.4
New BMI formula from here
Day 21 = 151.6lb 👇BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 22 = 151.8lb 👆BF = 30.5% BMI = 22.8
Day 23 = 151.8lb 🖐
Day 24 = 151.2lb 👇BF = 30.4% BMI = 22.7
Day 25 = 151.2lb 🖐
Day 26 = 151.6lb 👆
Day 27 =
Day 28 =

0.4lb increase on yesterday, probably the extra food over my celebratory weekend catching up (apparently it takes around 1.5 days for food to be processed from the point of eating it). Week 4 so far is proving to basically be a plateau, but that's part of weight loss. We carry on :)