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 have decided to stick to Wednesday as my weigh day (as that’s the day I originally started) but have come along to congratulate your losses and share my super yummy dinner with you all! It might not look amazing but it tastes divine!

Wow that photo makes it look like vom 😂 I swear it’s not and it’s really lovely. Hot flakes salmon, mushrooms, spinach in a garlic cream and cream cheese sauce

What do you mean, @Peae ?

Well there’s a few of us with no progress (and I really like the idea that this means we’ve discovered maintenance!).

So do we need to try something different in September to help us lose weight? Perhaps a measure around UPF or sugar or gut biome or somesuch? Or is that not possible because we’re all doing fasting differently?

(The main idea I’ve got so far is a three week sugar-free challenge).

Check in-

Starting weight~ 13st 1lbs
Current weight- 12st 4.4lbs
Total loss- 10.6lbs

Fasting 17:7 but usually I do 20:4

(I actually weigh on Fridays and update here on the Monday to keep up with everyone else but Mondays just aren't a good day for me to weigh, I used to do it for accountability but actually it was pushing me off track so now I stick to the day I know I'll see the loss) x

Week 3 check in:

Starting weight: 11st 7
Week 1 weight: 11st 3
Week 2 weight: 11st 1.5
Week 3 weight: 10st 13.5
Lost this week: 2lb
Total lost: 7.5lb

Sorry to hear about illness and life getting in the way of things 😔
I've had a meal out this week (and another tonight) but managed to stay on plan otherwise which I am pleased about.

Late and brief from me, will be less stretched next week:

END OF WEEK 3 CHECK-IN

81.9kg
-1.7kg from first weigh-in
-0.6kg from last week
IF 16:8 usually

Anyone else doing a 24hr fast today? 🥵

Sounds tough! I would get too hangry, I’m sure.

Last night I was a bit headachey and grumpy and hormonal, and really wanted some chocolate. Instead I went to bed really early. I feel that after an easy first few days my body is now realising that I’m serious about this WOE and is complaining a bit!

Measurement: xxx.6 kg

Fasting schedule: 16:8 with one 36 hour fast

Progress: this week - 1kg; to date - 6.4kg

Hi all late check in as was on holiday.

A mixed bag of a holiday. Started off the week eating really healthily but then came down with gastro 🤢😢 as a result I then felt too scared to eat anything that could result in any food poisoning and lived mainly on bread, pizza and chips for the rest of the week. Big complaints made but not much that could be done. Such a shame.

Anyway long story short. 1lb down

14st 5lbs this morning

Hi @Peae I wanted to acknowledge your suggestion for trying something a bit different in September.

As it happens, I'm happy with my steady progress of about a pound a week and need to be careful I don't slip into feeling hard done by/deprived if I were to do something like "no UPF" or "no sugar".

However, I know I do need to eat more healthily sooner rather than later, and think I could probably start with something part-time like "no UPF on Wednesday and Saturday this week" (making it flexible enough to cope with a trip to the cinema or whatever).

So I'm glad for the nudge and once term starts again I'd be up for making a commitment like that for the rest of September. It's a time of year when making resolutions and new starts or learning something new works well for me.

Hello everyone, I am on a last minute holiday at the moment and it has done me the world of good. I think for the first time I have been honest with myself as to how tough the last few months have been work-wise. There have been lots of tears. I've also realised that I get nowhere near enough wild outdoors. I often go walking, especially on my own, but very rarely in any kind of bleak wilderness and I'd like to have more of that going forward.

The second thing is that I've been eating too much whilst away. Multi-course breakfast buffets and big evening meals out which are expensive. I am sooo fed up of tight-fitting clothes, being out of breath walking up hill, embarrassed by my heavy breathing at the top and looking in the mirror and not recognising myself.
I've been listening to Gin Stevens (who I find difficult to listen to) and have just downloaded Fast, Feast, Repeat for some extra motivation and guidance. I am looking forward to the last few days of our challenge.

@HarpQuartet yes, I was thinking we could personalise it. Something like our own goal for the number of meals that are UPF-free or number of hours before we ate sugar etc? A nudge as you say. I find that when I eat wholesome food I feel a bit more respectful and loving towards my body and that does me a lot of good.

Feeling very grateful on your behalf for your holiday, @Peae 😊I think you're good at noticing things. Retrospective noticing (e.g. how tough work has been) is a useful skill, as is noticing things like feeling out of breath and treating that as information that can be acted upon, not a stick to hit ourselves with.

I'm looking forward to our next steps nudge - I'll think of it as Steptember 😆 I like a rubbish, motivational pun.

Glad you've had time to reflect OP, enjoy your holiday and draw a line when you get back.

I actually gained 1.2lbs this week despite doing a 24 hr fast, shows it's not an exact science. X

Thank you both (I too love a good punning title, the more laboured the better).

@violetcuriosity How did you find the 24 hours and what time of day did you start it?

END OF WEEK 4 CHECK-INS

Measurement x st 6lb

Fasting schedule Was on holiday, so I'd say I averaged 14:10s.

Progress So I lost 2lb whilst on holiday and am 1lb up on my start weight.

I think what I've learnt this week is that if you're run down, not sleeping well and stressed, it's hard to lose weight. If you're relaxed, having some great sleep and time outdoors, it's easier to lose weight.

END OF WEEK 4 CHECK-IN

81.9kg
-1.7kg from first weigh-in
same as last week
IF 16:8 usually

I am ok with having maintained. The school holidays are great but I lose my routines and am generally less happy with my lifestyle for these few weeks.

Morning all! Well done everyone for showing up to Week 4 check in. Turns out it was COVID after all, so I've been off sick with it and parenting a sick three year old alone this week as OH is away. All thoughts of dietary management shoved firmly to back burner while we get through this week, so no fasting regime or carb restrictions.

Measurement 83.7kg, 37.5" waist.

Fasting schedule Normally 16:8ish, low carbing, low UPF, more varied veg. This week, basically anything goes, although everything tastes like cardboard anyway (damned bug!)

Progress since last week +0.2kg since last week, but wildly unbothered by that under the circumstances. Onwards!

Week 4
Starting weight: 10st 3lb
Current weight: 9st 9.8lb
Lost this week: 1.8lb
Total lost: 7.2lb

Fasting: 14:10 / 15:9 ish

Half a stone off in four weeks! Very happy with that. And bar a couple of grumpy evenings it’s not really felt like hard work.

Week 4 check in:

Starting weight: 11st 7
Week 1 weight: 11st 3
Week 2 weight: 11st 1.5
Week 3 weight: 10st 13.5
Week 4 weight: 10st 13
Lost this week: 0.5lb
Total lost: 8lb

So I had a bit of a blow out last Monday and have taken all week to get back to where I was (plus half a pound below). So that is a good lesson to learn about how long it takes me to get back on track.

Well done to everyone for keeping going this week. @AllTheWeatherAllTheTime I hope you feel better soon!

Well done everyone!

what are your thoughts for the next thread on the Monday morning check-in? I thought it’d help with weekend accountability, but I’m wondering if a Friday would work better in terms of motivation?

Either works for me, but given that 01 September is a Friday, that could fit nicely.

Just realised that it's weigh in day! The BH has thrown me.
So as the cruise gets nearer, weirdly, I've found it harder to focus on weight loss fasting. I think it's because I go on Thursday so am of the mind set that there's not much I can do now. I'll get back on it properly after the holiday and when my social life calms down a bit.
Today's weight is 12st 6.5lbs so unfortunately I've only lost 2.5 lbs in total, despite having longer fasts too. I do think me being menopausal doesn't help sadly.
Well done to the other posters for keeping going.