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Fasting / 5:2 diet

Talk about intermittent fasting and 5:2, including what’s worked for others. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

4-week fasting countdown to October

69 replies

Peae · 06/09/2023 09:20

Starting on Friday 8th September, I'm going to do a four-week accountability thread. Four weeks will get us to Friday 6 October. After a plodding September, I would be very grateful for company along the way.

Requirements
Every Friday, 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 Fridays we can offer support and companionship. (Previous thread is at www.mumsnet.com/talk/fasting_diet/4860120-5-week-fasting-countdown-to-september?page=1).

OP posts:
HarpQuartet · 06/09/2023 09:29

@Peae thank you, and others too, I'll appreciate the company.

MerryPenopause · 06/09/2023 10:51

@Peae thanks for keeping the ball rolling… hoping to get back on track for this new thread

MegBusset · 06/09/2023 12:17

Thanks @Peae , I’m in for September:)

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 06/09/2023 13:57

I’m in, hopefully with more positive results this time.

However, I’m starting a new job, and I’m not sure if I’ll have to stick to a 9-5 schedule or if I’ll be able to be more flexible. So I don’t know what I’m doing with the fasting hours but I’ll try and be open with it.

Manicpixidreamgirl · 06/09/2023 22:12

I’m in. I didn’t update this week on the other thread so I’ll just do it from Friday. Thanks for the thread.

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 06/09/2023 23:33

Just seen myself on a video, utterly utterly horrific.

How much can I lose in a month? Is it 2lb/1kg per week? Or something like that?

Original poster
Peae · 07/09/2023 10:22

Just seen myself on a video, utterly utterly horrific.

That was difficult to read. I genuinely believe it makes a difference how we speak to ourselves.

How much can I lose in a month? Is it 2lb/1kg per week? Or something like that?

Gin Stevens famously tells her followers not to expect any weightloss in the first four weeks. Realistically I don’t think anyone can say - it depends on how you fast, what you eat, how you sleep, what stress you’re under, starting weight etc.

But what I can say is that fasting currently appears to be the most convincing way of losing weight, keeping it off, reducing excess skin and muscle loss, and bringing all sorts of extra health benefits.

OP posts:
Original poster
Peae · 07/09/2023 10:26

@GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife when do you start your new job? I start on Monday. Going shopping today for some new clothes and I’m going to buy myself whatever size fits and what feels like Me.
In terms of fasting I’m going to accept a longer window in week one, for the reasons you mention about finding my feet. However I’m going to focus on what I eat - good quality food that will reduce inflammation and nurture my body whilst giving me the energy and sleep I need (a new job is stressful no matter how positive we might feel about it!).

OP posts:
GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 07/09/2023 12:04

@Peae I start anytime in the next week or two, just waiting for paperwork to be sorted on their end.

I’m not buying any new clothes though. I’ve got enough to keep going for now, and to be honest I’m not hugely clothes focused - I wouldn’t know where to begin if someone said ‘you’ve lost so much weight, here’s £100, treat yourself to some nice clothes’! I’d probably just get new shoes or something 😁.

I agree with the good quality food and sleep too. Also, I’m going to massively reduce the amount of sugar I eat.

I’m not sure what fasting schedule I’ll follow yet. I’ll see if I can get something that fits in with work, if it doesn’t then I’ll find it difficult to stick to. Maybe one weekend day fast? And 18/6 in the week? Or 20/4?

But, whatever the details, I expect to see a loss. I’ve taken a screenshot of the video, I was quite shocked by it actually.

Original poster
Peae · 07/09/2023 13:00

I know that shocked feeling ☹️

Shopping going badly, am rubbish at work wardrobes and my eye keeps getting drawn to some casual shirts. 😁

I think I’ll take the pressure off completely in week 1, say I’ll do 12:12 and three small meals with no snacks. That means I won’t feel stressed trying to fit in a long lunch (salad takes forever to eat) and I will still have permission to eat a proper meal at home.

OP posts:
HarpQuartet · 07/09/2023 16:03

Hi @Peae you've inspired me to do a bit of planning too:

I've prepped my lunch to take into work tomorrow, I know what I'm having for dinner, I'll have a pudding afterwards e.g. a mini magnum (I have to avoid feeling deprived or it starts to go wrong), then I'll be done for the day. I don't like hot weather but I do like an early morning walk, so I'll go out early Saturday then figure out the rest of the weekend.

Original poster
Peae · 07/09/2023 17:39

I always tend to do better when I plan, including 'treats' that stop me feeling deprived and going off the rails. For example, I knew I'd eat out today as I visited a local city for the day, so I just planned to make it OMAD. So far, so good!

OP posts:
Original poster
Peae · 08/09/2023 06:42

STARTING MEASUREMENTS AND GOALS

OP posts:
MegBusset · 08/09/2023 07:25

September Week 1 weigh in
Starting weight (1 August): 10st 3lb
Current weight: 9st 9.4lb
Goal weight: 9st 3lb

Fasting: 14:10 / 15:9 ish

Have put on 1lb since Monday annoyingly, but did go out for a curry on Wednesday night so suspect that’s why!

Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius · 08/09/2023 07:42

Thanks for thread! I skipped august as on hols so def on for October challenge - also have an event in 21st sept I need to fit into a dress for so v motivated!

.
fasting schedule - 18:6
starting weight week 1 (today); 10-7
activity: 10k steps plus 5 small workouts a week
goal; 9-10

thanks for thread! Delighted with Friday check in day (Monday always a disaster for me!!)

LucyWardrobe · 08/09/2023 08:06

Thanks so much for the new thread!

Week 1 weigh in
Starting weight (1 August): 11st 6lb
Current weight: 10st 9.7lb
Total loss: 10.3lb

Goal weight: 9st 7lb

Fasting schedule: 16:8ish

BlueBlueBerries · 08/09/2023 08:29

Hi, would love to join Smile

Start weight: 63.3kg
Goal weight: around 58 I'd be happy
Fasting schedule: 16:8

Starting my day off with a cup of lemon green tea and today I'll break my fast at 1pm for some home made cous cous salad with spinach.

Chocolate and sweet treats are my downfall so I will be avoiding those as much as possible as they definitely lead to binge eating for me. I'll also be trying to drink more water during the day as well

Original poster
Peae · 08/09/2023 09:01

Starting weight 13st 5.
Goals Majority of days which are UPF-free and sugar-free. 18:6 until Monday and then 12:12 for the first week at my new job whilst I suss the situation out and manage stress.

Good luck everyone!

OP posts:
HarpQuartet · 08/09/2023 11:11

Starting weight: 81.9kg

Goal for this month: 79.9kg (ultimate goal 68kg, but I'd be delighted with 74kg and ecstatic with 72kg)

Method: IF 16:8, often a longer fast.

Step change: I'm really nervous about failure so I'm going to start small. Rather than having days where I won't eat any snacks (typically chocolate and crisps), I'm going to have days when I won't eat snacks until 3pm. I hope this will work well, putting in a small, manageable halt.

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 08/09/2023 12:10

Starting weight 99kg.

I’m starting a new job in a couple of weeks so I’m not sure what schedule I’ll be following yet.

I’m not sure what my goal this month is, but ultimately my goal is about 70kg.

HarpQuartet · 08/09/2023 13:13

Holy moly, my "no snacks until 3pm" is already proving what a strong link there is in my brain between finishing a meal and having something else after. I know I'm not hungry (couldn't finish my lunch) and I've already had enough fruit today, so it's nothing more than habit calling me.

AllTheWeatherAllTheTime · 08/09/2023 20:15

Ah, here you all are, excellent! Thanks for all your help on the last thread, and looking forward to this one. Congratulations on the new job @Peae - best of luck with it.

I weigh and measure first thing in the morning so will update then, just placemarking the thread for now.

Fouramclub · 11/09/2023 23:17

I'm in please! Thanks for starting a new thread @Peae and congrats on the new job!

starting weight 73.1kg. Will be doing 16:8 aiming for 1200-1500 calories a day.

would love to be 71kg by October and 69kg by December if possible 😬

ultimately want to weigh 65-66kg and maintain this weight 🤞

violetcuriosity · 14/09/2023 07:19

Just placemarking, sorry for the late arrival!

Been IF since the beginning of July when my baby hit 5 months old and I stopped breastfeeding. I found I had about 3 weeks of maintaining which was annoying but I have found a way that seems to work for me now. I basically eat/drink whatever I want at the weekends and throughout the week I get better and better at fasting and find by Weds and Thurs I can survive on one afternoon meal a day which has meant the weight has been coming off for Fridays.

I won't check in tomorrow because I've got an early commitment but I've just weighed.

Starting weight- 13st 1lbs
Current weight- 12st 1.8lbs
Total loss- 14lbs
Target weight- 11st (for now)

Schedule- 17:7 with 2 days of one meal a week.

Original poster
Peae · 15/09/2023 06:41

WEEK 1 CHECK-INS!

OP posts: