5-week fasting countdown to September

[Peae]

Starting on Monday 31 July I'm going to do a five-week accountability thread. Five weeks will get us to Monday 4 September and the start of term. I would be very grateful for company along the way.

Requirements
Every Monday, check-in with:
A measurement from the scales or tape measure.
Your fasting schedule e.g. 16:8 or 5:2 or OMAD.
Progress to date during the challenge, e.g. 1.5lb lost or number of plant-based foods eaten etc.

In between Mondays we can offer support and companionship. Even if I'm the only committing, I'd appreciate some encouragement if you happen to click on the thread.

(This is inspired by the successful thread by @waistchallenge, www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4835460-5-week-intermittent-fasting-challenge?page=1).

I mean 1.6lb lost! Failed on the first week 😂

End of Week 1 weigh in:

Starting weight: 75kg
Current weight: 74.9kg
Lost this week: 0.1kg
Total lost: 0.1kg

Did not manage to fast longer than 12h at all over the weekend, so surprised to see even this tiny loss. Feel re-motivated this morning to go hard this week, before another wedding this weekend will probably make a mess of everything again.

Monday weigh-in: 14st 8 3/4lbs, so only 1/4 of a lb off which is not unexpected as this week has involved lots of meals out/hosting family.

However, what it does show me is that by being mindful of choices (but still allowing myself to enjoy food) I can maintain my weight. Rather than going off the rails and then giving up, I have had a few lovely pub meals and then refocused.

1 week until I go on holiday so I am going to try really hard this week.

Week 1 check in:

Starting weight: 11st 7
Current weight: 11st 3
Lost this week: 4lb
Total lost: 4lb
Fasting schedule: aiming for 18/6, averaging 17/7

Have found it pretty manageable this week and am delighted with a 4lb loss! Well done to everyone for sticking with it.

Measurement: xxx.5 kg

Fasting schedule: Generally OMAD with two 36 hour fasts thrown in

Progress: this week - 1 kg; to date - 4.5 kg

Just wanted to say well done to everyone for sticking with it and for those losses, or maintains - which to me have always been very important as so much nicer than a gain!!

End of week 1

Starting weight: 16st 3
Current weight: 15st 11
Loss this week: 6lb
Total weight loss: 6lb
Fasting schedule: 5:2

I know not to except such big losses every week, it's only because this is my first week on my weight loss journey but still delighted!

Well done to everyone checking in!

I only managed 3 days of 16:8 last week and then I ended up out every night 🙈 So just 1lb off for me. I also did 4 workouts and hit my step goal 6/7 days.

End of week 1

Starting weight: 10 stone 12
Current weight: 10 stone 11
Loss this week: 1lb
Total weight loss: 1lb
Fasting schedule: 16:8

Monday check in:
Today's weight 12st 6.5lb
Today's waist 36 inches
Lost 2.5lb

I've been away for 4 nights with family so am very pleased with this. I managed to fast ranging from 14/10 to 18/6 by moving onto sparkling water rather than wine or prosecco to start my fast. I did have a cooked breakfast one day and a 3 course meal another day to join in the celebrations 😊

Congratulations everyone, it's inspiring seeing how many people have completed week 1!

Checking in too - well done everyone for sticking with it and showing up for check in!

Measurement 83.9kg, waist 38" - technically a gain of 100g but I know it's a few days before my period, and I always bloat up like a pufferfish. It'll be fine once my period hits, not worried about it.
Fasting schedule 16:8ish - not mega rigorous on exact timings, evening meal at about 6.30-7pm, and then just see how long I can go before having breakfast, but sometimes get to about 11-12. Easier because I WFH mostly. Low carbing, low UPF, more varied veg.
Progress -3.7kg, -1 inches off waist since July 20th. Technically up a bit from last week but that's a cycle-related blip. Most exciting thing was having friends round for the weekend, enjoying cooking for and hosting everyone and still largely staying with this way of eating (plus some minor treats, but much more moderate) - it feels like a very liveable approach to food, which is the important bit. Onwards to next week!

END OF WEEK 1 CHECK-INS

A measurement 16 stone 2.6
Fasting schedule 16:8
Progress 1.2lbs

I'm not gonna lie I'm fuming because I got weighed after 3 days and had lost more! Never mind, I have eaten whatever I wanted and still lost, and I managed to stick to the times.

Also tonight I had a big bar of chocolate on my knee to watch TV with, had 1 strip and put it away! Little NSV

That's a good nsv, well done to you!

Without any reference to the aforementioned takeaways and biscuits, I’ve been thinking about the term “self-sabotage”. I wonder if a more accurate term might be “best self-comforting strategy I learned as a child”? I don’t think I’ve ever deliberately or subconsciously tried to sabotage my efforts, I think I’ve merely taken the best strategy I know to soothe difficult feelings.
I’m not sure where I take this thought next, but for now it feels a bit like a lightbulb moment.

I think this is a great observation, @Peae

Self-sabotage is a bit of a mean way of looking at it and doesn't fit with my personality at all. Self soothing or self comforting is a much more accurate description of what I do, even when (as an adult) I understand the limitations and harm that come with it sometimes.

IF actually complements this very well for me. We're having a stressful time at home (new kitchen - almost done now) and I basically ate rubbish yesterday. But then at 5pm when I was thinking about what on earth to magic up for dinner, I realised that I was already feeling over-stuffed and I'd be much better off just stopping eating for the day.

So gradually my stomach recovered, I felt less sick, and today I start again.

Thank you. It’s made me acknowledge that life is pretty tough at the mo, but this won’t last forever. So for the next few days I’m going to stick to 16:8 and allow myself a little comfort food when I get home from work.

Anyone else finding they're just not so hungry? Wandered aimlessly round Tesco for a while tonight and bought some stuff eventually but just wasn't hungry enough to eat it. Cooked teriyaki salmon for dh (ate none) but think my pangs etc are changing or even disppearing - hopefully...

I find it differs for me depending on my cycle/HRT. Some days I can do OMAD easily, other days 16:8 is pushing it!

We’ve got the second weekend up ladies. Remember Monday morning check-in!

Weekly check in

start weight - 75kg
weigh in last week 74.1kg
weigh in this week 74.1kg

total loss 0.9kg

I have had two days OMAD, three days 16:8 and two days of standard eating as I had a bbq and day out with the kids. I must have eaten a lot more than I thought on those days. I didn't expect to lose loads but certainly didn't expect to maintain my weight especially when I know I've been in a calorie deficit the other days.

I think this week I'll be a lot stricter with calorie counting and will predominantly stick to 16:8 even if I'm out. I might also change my fast times as at the moment I'm doing 12-8pm so I can have something after the kids have gone to bed.

overall though I do feel a lot better in myself for eating less/have a lot more
energy so I haven't lost hope!

Ps when I did 5:2 ten years ago when I was 27 the weight just fell off!!!

Morning all! Reporting for weigh in. Hope everyone's week is going well.

Measurement 83.1kg, 37" waist.
Fasting schedule 16:8ish, low carbing, low UPF, more varied veg. Period is due any minute so have been gentler on carb restrictions in the run up to it.
Progress since last week -0.8kg, -1" off waist, and -4.5kg, -3 inches off waist since July 20th. Yay!

Definitely also recognise the self comforting rather than self sabotage approach - me too, and actually I think comforting yourself is a positive thing overall compared to hating or punishing yourself, which is just unkind. I suspect the trick of it long term will be retraining myself to find that comfort in a bowl of strawberries and Greek yogurt rather than chocolate biscuits by adjusting my palate.

Good Morning!

Measurement Xst 5lb
Fasting schedule 16:8, sometimes a shorter eating window, once was a bit longer.
Progress To be honest, this week turned out unexpectedly shocking at work so I'm pretty happy just to be still walking about on two feet, never mind losing any weight.

Hi @Peae , sorry you had a tough week at work last week, hope all's OK or will be soon. Let the weight loss be as it is, it didn't go on overnight, it won't go away overnight either. One meal at a time, in and around your actual life. Keep plodding on and we'll get there.

Nearly 3lbs down this week 😊 so much better than last week! I'm off on an all inclusive holiday tomorrow, but am going to try my best to make mindful choices and do lots of swimming 😊

5"3 - 16:8 IF and tracking on MFP

Original start weight (June) 15st 9lbs

Thread start weight: 14st 9lbs
Weigh in 1: 14st 8 3/4lbs
Weigh in 2: 14st 6lbs