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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

Countdown to May...

130 replies

desikated · 02/04/2024 22:03

Welcome old and new fasters, those on and off the wagon, those losing, gaining or maintaining for a gentle supportive countdown to May thread.

Never started a thread before copying in people so let's hope this works - some previous usernames no longer existed so had to do a cull..

@HarpQuartet

@MademoiselleFrenglish

@jane46b @TheBorderBinLiner @Crazycrazylady @Doughnutcarrotall35 @2Early4BreakfastIn2024 @TerroristToddler

Please tag in anyone else

OP posts:
Original poster
desikated · 26/04/2024 07:47

Well done @HarpQuartet - fab work!

OP posts:
Clearingaspace · 26/04/2024 07:53

Wow that is fantastic @HarpQuartet well done on getting your April target.

good idea to concentrate on healthy choices and looking after yourself if you have bad periods @desikated

think I am down a fraction, the scale varied between 182 and a tantalising 179!! Going with first weight which was 181.9 - so approx 1lb down from last week, nice to briefly see the 170s again even if it probably wasn’t correct!

Saraswati · 26/04/2024 08:54

Happy Friday all! Checking back after 2 weeks off. I was away for work last week so not much fasting and ate a lot but enjoyed myself!

I went back to fasting this week and weighed in this morning and I'm still at my target of 9st 7lb, due on my period tomorrow too so was expecting much worse.

Hoping for maybe a pound or two off before my holiday at end of May as a buffer for all the food and wine I'm going to have :) But for now I'm concentrating on eating well to fuel myself for a good time in my 10k race on 19th May.

Hope you've all had good weeks!!

HarpQuartet · 26/04/2024 09:35

Congrats @Saraswati most inspiring! @Clearingaspace those tantalising milestones really boost my brain and mood - funny isn't it, the mind-body relationship. @desikated I'm sure you instinctively know how best to look after yourself. Do you feel like you need to do anything about your periods or are they manageable?

I would also like to say a general thank you for this thread. I might be losing weight more slowly than anyone else in history 😂 but the point is that when I'm content with that, people here "meet me where I am" and are happy for me to succeed on my own terms ❤️

Original poster
desikated · 26/04/2024 19:34

honestly @HarpQuartet slow and steady wins the race. From what I've read, slow manageable weight loss with lots of steady 'no changes' and occasional gains, is the way to make weight loss - but critically healthy choices - sustainable. I see this as looking after ourselves thread first, weight loss second.

And thank you for asking My periods are, and always have been, dreadful - I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. So there's a diagnosed problem, and both cause me to have quite bad anaemia. Some days are fine, some are not so fine - one day at a time!

Well done @Saraswati you are inspirational! hope the 10k goes well.

OP posts:
HarpQuartet · 26/04/2024 21:36

@desikated poor you! I hope the NHS can do something to help you. I only know a very little about endometriosis because of a character in a Sally Rooney novel and will have to Google adenomyosis. I am sorry you suffer xx

And thank you for your encouraging words ❤️

HarpQuartet · 26/04/2024 21:38

@desikated oh my goodness, just read a brief description, it sounds awful 😔

Original poster
desikated · 27/04/2024 11:27

oh @HarpQuartet you lovely person ❤thank you xx

OP posts:
loveyouradvice · 27/04/2024 11:40

Yesterday 11.8 phew, back where I was 2 weeks ago, 5lbs down this week
TW: 11.2

Now just got to hold it ... so my goal for next Friday is to be posting the same weight!!

And a confession – I did have some help, I’m doing Prolon’s 5 day Fast Mimicking Diet for health reasons, and weight loss is a delightful side effect. I’m going to start a thread on it, as I’ve done two rounds so far and find it really good for me, giving me more energy and clarity and generally feeling good - and hopefully helping reduce my cholesterol (won’t know til July, measuring it after 4 rounds).

And next week – on Monday – I plan to start some gentle strength training. I posted on Mumsnet looking for inspiration for simple videos to start with just 10 minutes or so, and got a fab response so will be working through those!! Anyone else like to join me? And for those of you who already do strength training how are you finding it? What’s changed for you and your body?

loveyouradvice · 27/04/2024 11:42

@desikated Love your wise words about doing your future self a favour – I’m going to use that one!! And heavens, that’s a challenge – friends have similar and I know how very tough it can be

@HarpQuartet – 77.5 – that’s fab and safely in the 77s! Huge congrats. And losing slowly is a triumph... scales moving in the direction YOU want, what’s not to like? And I personally, as a yo-yo dieter whose weight can shoot all over the place, find it deeply inspiring and hope to follow your model in coming weeks as I tackle the final pounds.

@Clearingaspace .. 1lb down, may be more ... looking good!

@Saraswati – I remain in awe – still at target!!! Im cheering you on for your 10k race in May – enjoy the healthy eating as you prepare

HarpQuartet · 27/04/2024 11:48

@loveyouradvice I am ready to start strength training! Great timing and I'm so pleased you mentioned it. I was just saying to a friend that the big missing "good habit" from my life is exercise.

loveyouradvice · 27/04/2024 13:12

Hey hey @HarpQuartet that's great - how do you plan to start?? And when?

Monday afternoon for me .. I'll try one of the recommended videos... going to take it slowly, step by step. I already walk a lot, but strength training feels key and something I haven't done for ages

Original poster
desikated · 27/04/2024 13:39

What strength videos are you hoping to use @loveyouradvice ? I'm inspired to join as someone who does zero strength other than wrangling my toddler occasionally haha

OP posts:
Clearingaspace · 27/04/2024 14:42

I would love workout chat please!! I have les mills on demand it works out 6.66 a month 😈for the full package if you get an offer. The boot camp is great but being removed from the platform in a week unfortunately. Body pump uses light weights so I am going to explore if they have anything else for heavier weights when the bootcamp is removed. I did the bootcamp mobility recovery workout today it was floorwork and it sucked as I have pointy elbows and knees and no core! We also have no space so I will need to get rid of some furniture if doing workouts a lot …

I haven’t read all messages so will come back later but prolon sounds really interesting @loveyouradvice I read the fasting mimicking diet years ago and always planned to do my own version but never got round to it!

agree about loveliness of @HarpQuartet ❤️ and am sorry to hear about endo @desikated - is fasting something that could possibly help or not really; please excuse my ignorance as I don’t know much about it xx

Clearingaspace · 27/04/2024 14:47

When I workout regularly with weights I find I look slimmer in my tummy and have improved posture and slightly less flabby arms - doesn’t usually help me with weightloss though

Clearingaspace · 27/04/2024 14:48

Running gives me slimmer legs but I can’t run and feel extremely embarrassed and go very red 😂

Saraswati · 27/04/2024 17:50

I do body pump at the gym once a week which is strength training to music. I love it! Been doing it for a year now and my arms are actually toned and I find running easier as my legs must have got stronger. @Clearingaspace I didn't know about les Mills on demand, do you find you use it much? I'd like to fit in some more strength in the week but getting to the gym can be difficult to fit in

Thanks lovely @desikated @HarpQuartet and @loveyouradvice did a crappy 10k run today and cried a few times so it was a boost to read your messages! Period arrived so that explains the overreaction 😂

HarpQuartet · 27/04/2024 17:51

I have absolutely no clue about strength training other than I know it's "the thing", i.e. it'll do me good as I sail through my 50s and onwards to have good healthy working muscles. Would it be easy to link to your thread about this please, @loveyouradvice ? And I'll nick ideas from there. I have two sets of hand weights and some stretchy pilates bands and NO SPACE! I can only do pilates when it's warmed up enough to use the conservatory, and even then I'd have to get rid of all the clart that's accumulated there over the winter - this happens EVERY YEAR. If Mr Harp were to die, I think the problem might disappear, but I'm not actively wishing it to happen 😁

HarpQuartet · 27/04/2024 17:59

@Saraswati if you only knew the heights and depths of my admiration for your 10k efforts! I did body pump once, then the next morning I went into work and the phone was ringing, so I picked it up and... I couldn't bend my arm to get the phone to my ear! So I had to bend down with my head practically on my desk to take the call 😂 so I will have to take baby steps. I can start tomorrow!

Saraswati · 27/04/2024 18:03

@HarpQuartet that made me laugh! I had a similar experience the first time I went, couldn't walk up the stairs at my office the next day, had to go sideways like a crab! There's a 60 something lady in my class who uses much heavier weights than me and I am in awe. I'm in a secret competition in my head with her, when I get to her level I might buy myself a cake.

Clearingaspace · 27/04/2024 19:02

@HarpQuartet 😂 oh my goodness both your messages made me laugh!

@Saraswati I think if you have motivation to do the exercise you do already you would definitely benefit. I have been slack but probably do at least one a week and find them fun. Make sure you wait for an offer and it should be the 12 year sub working out at less than £7 a month - sometimes they do offers for a 4 month period. Orrr use an email to do a free trial - then cancel in good time and wait for another offer - you might need a 2nd email. I Love body combat and rpm - they also have lots of other classes. That lady at your gym sounds inspiring 🤩

ItRainsItPours · 27/04/2024 20:52

With the weather being nicer I have been getting in some longer walks, which for me means 6 miles. I know others are walking further or running but for me that is quite far and quite hard work.
I just don’t know if I should also be doing some weight training. I guess my legs are getting a decent workout but walking doesn’t do anything for the arms or core. As a post menopausal woman I am worried about muscle loss.
I did the yoga with Adrianne January daily challenge which is great for flexibility.
Trouble is there’s only so much free time, I guess we have to pick whatever we know we can stick with.

loveyouradvice · 28/04/2024 09:05

Yes to training together - I'm ooking forward to a firmer tum and less flabby arms @Clearingaspace ... perhaps even toned @Saraswati . Wow, for me that would be quite something, so yes inspired by you, now an ambition

Sorry, couldnt work this out - I don't know how to post a link to another thread - its my post on 21 April called Simple strength training for an inactive over 50... Does anyone know a good video online? - 26 replies and lots of great suggestions if you want to check it out. I'm just going to try a few different ones and see which works for me.

If one of you is up to finding it and knows how to link it on here that would be fab!!

loveyouradvice · 28/04/2024 09:07

@Clearingaspace if you decide to go ahead with Prolon, there's a 20% spring offer on at the mo... I can send you the code if you DM me. It is quite pricey without a discount - luckily I've had all mine with 20-25% off.