4 week fasting countdown to March 2024

[Fouramclub]

Hello all

just starting a new thread to carry on the good work of @peae@HarpQuartet tagging others @welcometothenightcourt @loveyouradvice

and anyone else who wants to join! I couldn't tag everyone for some reason as some usernames don't seem to work!

checkins are on Fridays but feel free to check in anytime for support/musings/a rant/anything else!

@Welcometothenightcourt Very interesting - I've just bought a book about using the 6 hormones in healthier ways, so will focus on the dopamine to start with - as well as the calming ones, as I often get overstretched and lose my calm

My top tip for staying on track is fully recognising how much time and effort losing weight can take and giving it this as far as possible .. so I start my days (when I can) by reading this stream on Mumsnet and a couple of other ones, or do so later in the day. And build on this by doing other self care things and reading more about nutrition ie making sure it is front and centre in my life when I am doing it, recognising that for me it is not something I can just do "alongside everything else" as a simple add on. But that's me as a lifelong yo-yo dieter who is determined this is the last time and I'll get back to my target weight for life and STAY THERE!!!

Second top tip - find out how to flex IF so it really works for you over the coming weeks - it is SO adaptable which is why it feels like a great WOE for life.

Thinking about tomorrow and our weekly check-in....

How would you all feel about including something, little or big, that you would like to do to cherish yourself in the coming week? self-care or fun or whatever appeals.

I'm thinking it might brighten our February thinking of compassionate or fun things to give ourselves, especially since so many of us seem to have had a rough ride in January.

@Welcometothenightcourt I think yes and no, I think I care less what I look like since having kids and have less time to think about it so that means I'm less strict with what I eat. But then I have moments where I look in the mirror and think omg who's that?! I do actually like healthy food and we are a veggie family so I hope I'm teaching the kids good habits, but they still love all the beige foods just like evey kid so you can't win really!

Nice idea, @loveyouradvice , I'll join you in that

@loveyouradvice great idea! I've just been doing some online shopping (oops) but hoping some new clothes might inspire me? Probably will return the majority but I find trying them on quite fun ( I make sure to buy my real size/above my size to avoid depressing tight fitting stuff ha!)

I was going to ask- when do you guys weigh? Was thinking probably most forgiving time would be at the end of my fast on Friday (12 noon) or first thing in the morning. I just got my period this morning so it's probably not going to be great but maybe that will bode well for next week's.

I always weigh in first thing, even if I’m fasting I think as I drink lots I would be heavier later in the day. Also easier to be naked 🤪

Welcome new fasters @Carno18 @desikated , so sorry to hear of your horribly sad and exhausting recent week @StealthLaSilkySightHound.

Not got much to add, half term has just started, so need to think about managing being home with a ravenous teen who keeps asking to go shopping for snacks and wants help making cakes and plates of ramen.

We have nice weather where I am and so I have been walking outside. For ten months of the year it is too hot to do so. It’s much easier to fast when I am out and about moving around. Not looking forward to the heat returning and being stuck inside all day.

Friday weigh-in: 79.8kg, a small gain from last week. My overarching February goal is to reintroduce more fibre, typically by adding salad at lunchtime. I used to do this and don't really know why I lost the habit.

The compassionate thing I'm going to do is be my own grown up and take myself outside every day. Sometimes I don't even reach 1000 steps if I'm having an indoor day, so six days out of seven for the rest of Feb, I'll go outside.

CW: 9st 12lb
I stayed the same as last week, I weighed a couple of times earlier in the week and was a pound down but I'm due on my period in 2 days so it's expected. I used to get so bloated before my period and I've found IF reduces that a lot. Maybe less water retention?

Anyway something to cherish myself, I've actually done a bit of that this week, had my hair and nails done just because. I also have some new clothes to wear to the theatre tomorrow!

To cherish myself next week I'm going to focus on getting some good sleep as it's half term so I'll be juggling kids going to clubs/grandparents and working. Work is hectic as we near the end of the financial year so if I try and go to bed a little earlier and sleep well I know I'll cope better with the busy week ahead.

SW 14 stone 7
lw 12 stone 11.9
cw 12 stone 10.8

@PartridgeInAPearShape lol i will be having similar challenges with my teens being off! I might aim for 1/2 mad rather than any 24 hour plus fasts next week.

@Saraswati have a xx lovely time this weekend

@HarpQuartet love the idea of being my own parent, I will definitely need to get myself to be earlier, eat more veg, do more cleaning etc! I got some skincare for Xmas so I might try and actually use it too as my self love

Have been reading all messages and catching up.

@StealthLaSilkySightHound sending you big hugs, what a horrible week you've had. That means only one thing, it's going to get better now. ❤️

Fab idea re cherishing yourself in some way in the coming week.

I'd love to go for a swim and sauna, or even just sauna on its own. The weather has been so awful lately, these high winds are relentless and I seem to be permanently frozen, so something to warm up and soothe my body and soul is definitely in order.

My stats:

SW 05/01/24 66.1 kg
02/02/24 62.7 kg
09/02/24 62.7 kg

No loss for me this week but I'll happily take it since it's only a few days till my period and I've not done more than 18 hour fasts seeing as I'm in Nurture Phase.

Weekly check-in:
01/01/24: 195.2
02/02/24: 193.8
09/02/24: 192.9

Slowly slowly but happy with what I'm doing. Gym x3 this week so I like to think I'm getting stronger too.

SW 08/02/24 66.8
09/02/24 66.4

So inspiring to read everyone’s check ins, well done all! Love how people are really valuing self compassion, and reflecting so thoughtfully on the journey, respecting themselves...it’s really such a nice non-toxic group in here ha!

Cherishing myself this week by: treating myself to some nice new clothes as mentioned and going to dig out some pre-baby stuff to see what I’ll be able to wear (jeans and stuff are a no-no but tops and bras may still fit OK). I dressed up nicely for work today - I really love wearing my nice clothes but when I don't have much confidence (usually body but also work related) I tend to wear the same ugly plants and different knobbly jumpers...today I wore a nice skirt and some new shoes I got for Xmas. My feet hurt but I feel v self-cherished!

Will also make sure to get a gym session in one day this week or just a work out at home - I love the time by myself and always listen to some motivating music to pretend I'm in a movie as a hot confident kick ass main character! All workout play list songs welcome!

Good luck to all over the weekend!!!!

Congrats to all for weight loss, easy jeans-pulling-on and other NSVs - and in tough weeks, maintenance is a far greater achievement than weight loss in easy weeks.... at least it is for me.

I'm feeling a bit annoyed - yes, I know it is only a number but I was feeling triumphant that the last 3 days I was back to my pre Xmas weight of 12.0. For me that felt like a big success after my 7lbs Xmas weight gain which I lost in first January fortnight and then regained/relost with big emotional challenges in last 3 weeks. But so be it ... we are all in it for the long haul!! I am feeling far more stable now and ready to gently move forward.

SW: 14.2 (summer 2024)
CW: 12.1... 2lbs down from last week
TW: 11.2
Current approach: lowish carb, high protein, lots of veggies and some dark chocolate, nuts and seeds. typically 900-1200 cals. Eating window 1-9 hours, usually 3-5.

Gentle reminder to self – I lost 40lbs in 2021 to reach my 11.2 target and kept it off for 14 months: I can do it again
IF is how I look after my body for the rest of my life

and my cherishing...putting a date in the diary for an evening of turkish bath, sauna, body scrub and relaxation at Porchester Baths... I haven't been there for a couple of years and am looking forward to it already!!

And practising pausing more often in the day to appreciate the good stuff, to savour and relish it ... whether a cup of good coffee or the trees in my garden, my wee dog's soft stroke-able tummy or all of you. I'm looking to create a less stressful life by doing simple things throughout the day.

@StealthLaSilkySightHound haha! You made me properly laugh! Not sure how wearing ‘ugly plants’ (harsh) and no pants would be in keeping with our labs infection control protocol…poss frowned upon by the core scientists. Winifred sounds awesome, say hi from me- hot is overrated especially as for an Edwardian that may actually mean you have typhoid and are to be covered in leaches!

Thank you @loveyouradvice that's so helpful,

I actually did coffee minus milk today and fasted for 16 hours. Was a bit grumpy with the first one but I did feel less hungry!!!

Haven't actually dared to check my weight for ages so that's the next brave thing.

Good luck with the weekend everyone. How do people manage drinking / wanting wine /gin?!

Actually dying here 😂🤣
@StealthLaSilkySightHound thank you for making my afternoon

@Welcometothenightcourt Britney's Work Bitch gets me going and keeps me going. Likewise, Lizzo's 'boys'. All the other stuff I run to is probably a bit weird niche folk music and musicals (yup it's quite the music taste I have)

Start weight Feb 1 - 12st
Weigh in #1 Feb 9 - 11st9 + 3/4

feeling great tonight, I had an evening at bingo with friends, but took my sparkling water & stuck to my fasting! Would have been easy to throw the towel in as haven’t made great choices today, but so determined to stick to it, want to be 11st2 by the time I go on hols mid March.

My self care thing is going to be to try and have 3 days next week where I get 10k steps, I have such a sedentary job I barely move most days!

xx

@Fullsteamahead thanks for the tag!!
Wonderful to see so many making awesome progress!!
I've slowed down this week.
Last week: 64.0kg
This week: 63.6kg
Start weight in Oct 2023: 72.5kg

There's a previous poster, I'm sorry I can't remember who you are!!! but you inspired me with your mini goals!! Since seeing your mini goals I've made a list of my mini goals and been ticking off as I reach them! Here are the ones I've reached so far:

66.7kg as this is 10 and half st
66.0kg as this is 1 stone lost
65.3kg as this is 10% body weight lost
63.6kg as this is 10st

Next goal is 62.9kg as this will be 1.5 st down!!

Good luck everyone!

I've had to rethink some aspects of my life over the past two weeks. I'm sticking to my IF window, food is not as healthy as before, so my plan is to sort that out over this weekend. Looking to lose two pounds to get to the next half-stone block, hopefully by Wednesday.