Counting down to June...

[desikated]

All welcome - new posters and old!

A gentle supportive fasting thread with as much or as little checking in as you like

@HarpQuartet @loveyouradvice @ItRainsItPours @Clearingaspace @Catherino @Saraswati @ItRainsItPours @jane46b @TooEarlyForBreakfastInApril @angeldebs444

So much news! @Saraswati I like it that you need new goals, that's an exciting time. And welcome @mynamechangemyrules and I don't think I said hello to @Benvolio up-thread, but hello everyone, 6 mile walks and the like are very inspiring.

I don't actually know much about the science and whether it's better to do X or y number of hours, I've just found a pattern that I'm content with.

76.9kg this morning, a good start for my "stay under 77" goal.

@ItRainsItPours I meant to say have fun shopping for smaller clothes, that's a nice success.

Sw 204 lbs cow 180.5lbs

Well done everyone! Really sorry not to reply properly but I’m not feeling well and only got a couple of hours sleep.

so I was trying calorie counting the past week and lost at least 1lb which is good. I did Not sure if it was fasting with calories rather than clean fasting, doing multiple long weight workouts or a total coincidence but I now hsve a virus, my period is 2 weeks early and I have a sore knee! Will need to try something a bit different next week I think

Cow should be cow 😂

🙄 cw

Hahahah @Clearingaspace at the cow (not the virus and period)

There's some nasty stuff going around. I'm also in depths of a virus - lots of slapped cheek (which I have but the adult version I think - boo). Anyway, I hope things improve for you soon - I have sometime found taking a few more supplements (particularly zinc, b12 and folate, and iron) can be helpful

Thank you for support and suggestions. Weighed today, and have regained sixteen pounds this year. My initial goal is to lose that plus four to take me back on target for the summer.

I’ve being sorting through paperwork and diaries this past week, and was surprised to see that I’ve never really stuck to food plans for more than a few days at a time.

So I’m going to stop letting myself feel like a total failure every few weeks then relapsing completely. I’ve bought some sourdough bread for afternoon downtime sandwich and healthy filling. I hope that this will stop me cruising the kitchen later in the day. And no more sachets of latte, which kick off sweet cravings.

Most important is to not eat after 7pm. Drink only plain tea.

You have GOT THIS @TooEarlyForBreakfastInMay

Just keep thinking tonight - waking up tomorrow morning and feeling great that you did the first and hardest day of the fast.

I like sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon as a fast acceptable drink (just FYI!)

How's everyone BH weekend?

I did well yesterday... but today has been a blow out. Stressful emergency hospital visit with suspected toddler concussion so now I'm stress eating dark chocolate after eating a lot of roast potatoes 😭

Tell me one day won't matter 🤞

@desikated it truly won't matter and crikey, I hope your toddler has a good rest tonight, you too. Can you have a low-key day tomorrow?

My weekend is not going well food wise but I am enjoying it and we have great weather. We’ve had a bbq, lunch out and my dd insisted on baking. Oh well, back on the wagon tomorrow.

❤️ thank you @HarpQuartet

Yes. Hoping tomorrow can be the opposite of today! Toddler is asleep but have to check on her through the night so hoping there's rest in between and no more symptoms

@ItRainsItPours similar, our for a treat afternoon tea today, and emotional "storm eating" yesterday. I'm a lot more tuned in these days though: my stomach has been so so uncomfortable both days, and I think I just used to have that as "normal" whereas this evening has been properly unpleasant, being so full. I am definitely resolved to eat better tomorrow, the afternoon tea was delicious but the three hours after were yuck.

Had a lovely long lie, tidied and puttered, and stuck to 16:8 fast starting around 11.30am Food not very on plan. I’m trying to eat from the freezer and cupboard and not go to the shops which is very stressful for me. It feels good.

Forgot to order lemons,@desikated Great suggestion though. Thanks! Will add to next order.

Was off fasting for the long weekend but back on it now! Trying to distract myself from an evening snack 😳

Just signing in to say a quick "Fuuuuuuck". Having a "storm eating" week, so I thought I'd pull myself together here and remind myself what I can do:

Don't just "eat the thing". Set a 20-minute timer and drink a glass of water to check I really want it. (Clue: I don't want it, I'm just a bit sad and scared. Food won't fix this.)

Write a meal plan. My body likes healthy food. The rubbish I've been eating gives me the shits, makes me heavier, and makes me hungry.

Put on shoes and go outside.

Do some weeding.

Write about it, then see if I definitely still want to eat it.

Remind self: you're not an idiot, just a human who needs looking after.

Now get up and have a good day.

Ahh @HarpQuartet we've all been there. Your list sounds great - especially the 20 mins timer.

What's going to be your self care thing to say well done harp quartet you're doing brilliantly?

My secret weapon this week is sparkling water with a lemon slice. (For fasting times but also whenever). And for hungry times, peanut butter in rice cakes. Filling and a bit of tasty.

@desikated thank you, and yes, we really have all been there, haven't we? I think my self-care thing is going to be food-related: there's a beetroot and chickpea curry I absolutely love, and I've got some beetroot in the garden that I'm hoping are going to be ready right now... and in fact if they're not (first time growing beetroot, they might be horrible and manky) then I'm going to walk to Asda and buy some beetroot and make it anyway. AND I'm going to make some fizzy water in the soda stream RIGHT NOW!

I’ve had a disaster week. I pulled my back so am having to take ibuprofen. That means 3 decent meals spread over 8 hours which is not my fasting pattern. I’ve also succumbed to emotional eating and to be fair it was agony the first two days. Yesterday was the first day I felt a bit more human and managed to eat my normal foods albeit spread over a longer eating window. Hopefully things will settle from now on.

Oh no @ItRainsItPours back problems are definitely something to be cautious with - glad it’s beginning to feel a little better.

@HarpQuartet i am seriously impressed by the homegrown beetroot 🤩 I hope it makes a delicious curry. Also effectively making your own fizzy water. Your list is useful for everyone I will definitely read it again.

@desikated i am so with you on peanut butter on rice cakes. Lidl do a big tub of 100% peanut butter for about £4! We are getting through it a bit too quickly in my house though!

hope you are doing well @TooEarlyForBreakfastInMay and @mynamechangemyrules @loveyouradvice and everyone else x

Hey @ItRainsItPours owwwwwww! I'm so sorry, you poor thing. Have you hurt your back before? I'm just wondering if it's a "known" thing i.e. it will get better, you just have to wait?

I'm very sympathetic wrt emotional eating, I hate it. It so rarely does what I need it to do, and the bit afterwards (getting back on the "healthy eating" horse and losing the weight, just to get back to where I was) is sobering. That's where I am now. Let's take care of ourselves as best we can.

As an aside, I managed to do my two "right now" things correctly and did not try and put the beetroot through the soda stream. Beetroot curry in the oven. I won't bother growing them again, I'm not really cut out for mud and grit and ants.

I am used to low level back pain but this is another level. Seeing an nhs physio today so hoping she might have some tips/exercises to help. Back in January I did the daily yoga with Adrianne and my back was so much better. Once it settles I’ll just have to prioritise that over walking which burns more calories.
When I grow stuff to eat I do things like tomatoes and strawberries that taste so much better homegrown. Don’t know if beetroot is like that but I’m not really green fingered either, mainly do the odd bit as the DCs enjoy grazing in the garden.

Yes, hope the physio can help. Thumbs up for tomatoes and strawberries, yum yum.

Came on to ask about fasting 'fun' drinks! When I fast I drink lots of mint tea but today we are in the garden and I thought what could I have which is a bit more exciting than water- but then I saw up thread someone mentioned fizzy water and a lemon slice. Anything else v v low cal but interesting..?!

Also I wanted to share my weights as I'm feeling quite pleased but have so so far to go!

Started 2 weeks ago but had 5 days off 😂

SW: 92.7kg
CW: 89.2kg
TW: not sure as the one the BMI calculator says I should be is what I weighed at uni when I lived off cheap vodka and coke, recreational drugs and the occasional slice of marmite toast so I'm not sure it's really attainable...! For now: 76kg which is what I remember weighing after child #1 13 years ago!

Also the weather! ☀️ 🌞
But walked past a large window at work today feeling all floaty in my summer dress and did a double take at my little round body scooting past 😭

I think windows and mirrors are best avoided at the moment. I feel great to be 2 stone lighter than I started the year and expect to look skinny then get despondent when I see myself.