Counting down to July

[desikated]

And we're here......
1st June
As the great Delia Smith once said, let's be having you...

@Clearingaspace @Cherryblossom81 @HarpQuartet @Saraswati @ItRainsItPours @Loubelle70 @TooEarlyForBreakfastInMay

SW 1st January 17 stone 5
CW 7th June 15 stone 1
TW 1st July 14 stone 13

3lb loss this week but I had no loss the week before so it’s actually my 2 week loss. Still pleased though, I am officially back on the wagon after half term and a bank holiday weekend away.

Looking good @ItRainsItPours 🙌

@desikated for me, low sugar only really means no biscuits, no chocolate, no Tunnocks - the big guns! Those are my foods that purport to comfort me but actually don't do me any favours.

Sw 204lbs
lw 185 ish
cw 182.5 - super happy with that and the slightly longer fast this week also seems to have helped my achy knees!

@ItRainsItPours lovely to have a whoosh - 3lbs is fab! Well done also @HarpQuartet - I am also up and down - think it’s partly hormones for me but also just getting overwhelmed at times with all the boring mundane stuff I have to do - the house is just gradually getting more messy and I really need a spring clean! I didn’t train my teens well at all about tidying up 😂

@desikated i am with you on bring on the wine!

@NewYorkNewYork24 apparently breaking your fast with cucumber and parsley helps with funny tummy when breaking fast.

I don’t worry too much about sugar but do try to stick to low upf. So I avoid sweet foods like penguin biscuits as I could easily scoff the whole multipack. Instead I bake and put less sugar in that the recipe calls for. If it is less sweet and I have gone to the effort of making it I don’t tend to binge. That’s not to say I don’t fall off the wagon and each a whole bag of bakery cookies every now and then 🫣

Ah well done @ItRainsItPours that's fab and also to you @Clearingaspace !!!! Great stuff and a boost to go into the weekend with

I weighed in today and:
SW - don't know but probs 7172/kg
Cw: 64.2kg
Goal weight : 63kg

That's nearly 2kg loss from last week some of which no doubt is water weight but I'm really pleased and feels like I'm back on vague track (the only track I'm ever on).
Now running to work and may treat myself to a non sandwich from home lunch..

Well done @desikated you are so close to your goal! Amazing!

@ItRainsItPours what you are describing with low upf is what I’d like to achieve. I figure if we have to make sweet treats we will end up eating less. Dc3 made some amazing brownies with 90% dark choc this week - they did help keep me off biscuits, but the mess is ridiculous brownie somehow end up everywhere 🤪 and chocolate pans etc. I haven’t been too bad this week but have been eating ultra processed sliced bread in my window and I know it sets me off overeating.

Friday check in

SW (30th May) 17st 9.4
CW: 17st 4.9
July target: 16st 12lbs
Down 4.5lbs

I have a target of 2lb a week which will get me to 16st by end of August but currently above that. I know it’s only the first week so things are likely to slow down a little bit.

going to try for another 20 hour fast today but eat something small to break it before I have my main meal and use the whole 4 hour window.

@NewYorkNewYork24 yeeeaahhhh!!! Gp you! That's fab achievement, well done.

@Clearingaspace @ItRainsItPours my non (wel nearly non) upf best treats:

Apple slices (like sliced not in chunks but as circles) with peanut butter
As above with melted dark chocolate (whack them in the freezer for a few mins)
Dates in melted dark chocolate
Banana and dark chocolate melted
Dark chocolate rice cakes (Kello are my fave)

Do you sense a theme ?! 😂

Well done all on your great weight losses this week!

I'm still hanging out at 9st 6lbs, it's my birthday end of next month so I've decided I'd like to be 9st 4lbs ish by then, to give me some wiggle room for treats.

I've been focusing on upping my protein this week and found a vegan protein powder which is actually nice! I'm veggie not vegan but don't like whey. Its called free soul, I got the chocolate flavour and I've been having an afternoon smoothie with almond milk and a banana which is really nice. I have yogurt and fruit to break my fast at lunchtime then a smoothie a few hours later and then a decent meal around 5ish with the kids and so far so good, I've felt quite energetic this week despite having a cold. Maybe next week it might help with weight loss, we shall see.

I too love dark chocolate and am now pondering ways to melt a couple of squares so I can dip things in for a treat.
On the subject of protein, I have heard a theory that if we are eating a low protein diet we will be very hungry. The body is saying “ I’m hungry “ because it has not yet has enough protein. So this is why protein fills you up more calories from carbs or fat. Don’t know if it’s true but I do find high protein foods more filling.

Oohhh @Saraswati that sounds lush, could you send the name?
Also, can you send the name of the zero calorie electrolytes you drink?
You are def my inspiration for today food wise! Hah.

@ItRainsItPours dark chocolate is so good. Also it's good for you, and eating too much of it just makes me feel sick so it's a good limiter! Whereas with dairy milk I'd just eat it all and then some

Of course protein is called free soul (I've only tried chocolate flavour) and I use hi5 electrolytes, the zero calories ones. I like the tropical flavour, can't vouch for the others!

Hi, I'd like to join this thread, please. I did 5:2 intermittently a few years ago for the health benefits more than anything. I stopped when looking after a little one became my priority and I needed all my energy for that! Six years later , I want to get back into fasting but will have to ease myself in slowly!

This week I've done 2 days of missing breakfast (18 and 16 hour fasts) and then just eaten normally from around lunchtime. I think I need to train my body to go for longer periods without food before I reduce any calories. On both days, I've ended up with headaches and found it difficult to stop thinking about food and not being able to eat it!

Please tell me it gets easier! Has anyone else started out this way?

Hi @Misstabithabean yes, me!! The first time I did intermittent fasting I put on weight and gave up. I've now been doing it (second attempt) for maybe a year, and I can tell you that when I'm in a good steady routine it feels nearly effortless to fast and (crucially for my goals) to eat less.

BUT, when I've fallen off the wagon intermittently, it's been quite "gritted teeth" to get back to that good place. I hope you find the same as me: that the good groove, and the pay-offs are worth having.

It really helps if you drink plenty of water whilst fasting, that can help prevent the headaches.

No weigh in for me as I’m away but think I definitely need a couple of weeks anyway before I’ll see a loss (if I do) Aiming to fast 16:8 at least 4 days next week and keep calories in control. I’ve been so much better with fruit etc this week. I agree about the water, definitely find fast easier if I drink lots

Thank you for the water tips @Bunnie007 and @ItRainsItPours I did drink quite a bit but will increase it next time.

@HarpQuartet thank you for sharing your experience. It's good to hear you have found it's got easier. I think routine is going to be key for me in sticking with it.

@Misstabithabean welcome!

And yes the early days were hard but your body does quite quickly get used to it. Now when I eat breakfast, or eat inside fasting window, I can feel quite sluggish and bloated. (I'm saying this because I'm trying to resist the urge to eat breakfast this morning...!)

Water with a squeeze of lemon and black coffee help me through, as does sparkling water xx

Well done everyone on getting through the week!

here are my stats:

SW: 73.4kg
CW: 72:4kg (lord knows what I weigh today, I ate a lot yesterday!)
TW: 65kg

so a loss of 1kg which I'm really pleased with.

I think what has slowed me down massively in the past is eating the kids leftovers. I just can't seem to help myself. For example yesterday they leftover so salmon and chips so I had a bit of that as well as a hefty falafel wrap for my dinner 😬 I wasn't even hungry, I knew I didn't need to eat it but I just wanted the flavours (citrus/salt on the salmon and chips with burger sauce 🤦🏽‍♀️) it's a habit of a lifetime which I thought I had made some headway in breaking but unfortunately the stressful period at work ended up with me going back to old habits! Still, at least I have some insight, just need the willpower!

This is the first day this month I've closed the kitchen by 7pm. In light of today's sad news, I'm going to watch MM on c4 and listen to the podcasts over the next few days, and get my mojo back.

@TooEarlyForBreakfastInJune such sad sad news. He really changed the way I think about food/eating and the 5:2 diet helped me lose so much weight 10 years ago. Rest in peace Dr M.

In the spirit of transparency, I have promptly put the weight I lost back on just over the weekend and have shot up to 73.7kg 🤦🏽‍♀️ the crisps and pizza I hoovered up after a play date didn't help!

I really need a reset and as well as 16:8 this week I'm going to do two 800 calorie days too this week. Starting today. I'm going to make a
big vat of veg soup and have it for lunch and dinner and supplement with fizzy water and coffee /tea.

Hope everyone has a great week!

@Fouramclub good luck getting back on track, I will repeat one of our mantras which is weight quickly gained can be quickly lost. If you’ve been eating extra calories in the form of upf you will have gained a small amount of weight and a larger amount of water weight.

Pretty angry today. Lost 7lb in 3 wk, been poorly so been on antibiotics so needed to eat 3 meals a day..on OMAD...scales grrr says ive put on 2lb this week...i havent snacked.. what's going on arghh. Back on it today xxx

See my post above about weight gained quickly @Loubelle70. Also being ill always gets in the way of weight loss but in a few days you will hopefully feel better and get back on wagon.