Countdown to JULY

[loveyouradvice]

All are welcome!

We’re a friendly group that uses Fasting in one form or another to help or maintain our weight loss. We all have our ups and downs, and welcome insights from others and laughter along the way.

Summer's here so let's enjoy getting our bodies ready for July, whatever that means to each of us!

Fridays are our informal day for weighing-in (optional) and reflecting on the week – often with ideas for self-care and new goals in the coming week.

We cheer each other on, and commiserate when things don't go to plan.

If you’re new to this group, do introduce yourself and share your hopes and plans.

And welcoming regulars to our new thread...

Hello to our regulars and those who popped in on the last thread
@ItRainsItPours
@HarpQuartet
@IDareSay
@Clearingaspace
@debsiedora
@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans
@Octopus45
@Mull
@tiredwitless
@Queendodo

Hope I've caught everyone - please flag up those I've missed!!

Sounds eminently doable @IDareSay - you're doing great!!

Oh @Mull it is disappointing when that happens - I think we just have to keep reminding ourselves that it doesnt mean anything, except that coming down the next week is FAR more likely.

Welcome @conflictednow ... So get it! What's your plan for the next week?

And I'm feeling mega chuffed that my weight did not go up after the most most delicious chocolate puddling I've ever eaten last night, so light, rich and creamy...... feasting with daughter and friends tonight so crossing fingers I might just stay the same...and resolving NOT to eat too much cheese despite it being SO delicious here...

@loveyouradvice sounds like a lovely holiday, with some lovely food, you are doing so well 👍

Thanks for the welcome! This week doesn’t count cos I’m on holiday (lots of steps but possibly too much lovely food). Back at work on Monday so aiming for first fast day then, (un!)fortunately away again with a friend the week after so i really really need to account for myself in July. 2lbs would be amazing for June if i possibly can.

Closed the kitchen just before 6pm, 1160 cals, roughly 70g carbs, and 60g protein. Chicken salad sandwiches again but no beer
17 to 18 hour fasts so far this week.

Love the no beer @IDareSay ... and darn, I ate too much cheese....

Friday check-in - How's everyone doing? How's your week been and what are your plans for the coming week, both eating and self-care/nurturing?

Me - here goes:

SW: 14.2
CW: 11.6, so 2lb down this week
GW: 10.10.... when life settles down again
GW for end June: 11.4 or 11.5

Swimming and walking daily, and eating protein for recovery going well. Need to focus on making friends with my water flosser that is still just sitting there in my bathroom - my teeth would love better care!

This is a week for laughing more - finding the fun and funny in life on holiday... something I'm relearning after a period of grief... I'm back to fully appreciating the beauty in Life: I can't believe the number and variety of butterflies on holiday in France! And I'm finding it fascinating and life enhancing to go and listen to the frog/toad chorus after dark. Just gorgeous. But laughter is still a little elusive, and I'm gently opening myself up to it

Sounds like you are doing great with the self care @loveyouradvice. I must do better so writing them down:

• Paint my nails this weekend
• Have a bath with my lovely Neals Yard bath foam that smells like a spa

Right, that’s all I’ve got. I’ve sat here for 5mins and can’t think of anything else! So, also on the list:

• Think more about self care and come up with some better ideas for next week 😆

Hi 👋
@loveyouradvice 2 lbs is great - well done! Love your goal of laughing more - can be particularly challenging after grief but love your outlook at finding the positives in life.

I am 0.5kg down. The fasting is fine and I have managed 16-18 hours each day - its the calories that I'm consuming within my eating period that's an issue! On a positive, I have managed 3 x workouts this week!

My goal is to food prep, calorie count and stick to 1400 each day. I am aiming for 1kg loss this week!

Closed the kitchen last night at 6.30pm, 1400 cals, roughly 60g carbs, and 60g protein. Cheeky glass of red wine went down very well. 🍷
17 to 18 hour fasts continuing.

Weighed in this morning to find I am now within 0.9kg of my lowest weight this year. Would be great to hit that by the end of the month; should be doable in 2 weeks.

About to break my fast with scrambled eggs on toast at 11.30; I am feeling very hungry today!

@IDareSay great weight loss and I love how you are keeping track of carbs, protein etc. Other than trying to prioritise protein, and trying to make better carb choices, I don’t do that. As mentioned upthread (or was it on the last one?!) I might start calorie counting when I get closer to goal (long way off yet!)

I had lunch as normal at 12ish but feel really hungry this afternoon. It’s because I’m trying a new lamb recipe in the slow cooker and it smells really good - it’s going to be a long old afternoon 😬😆

Thanks @Mull
I could do with lowering the carbs and raising the protein as always, but I'm finding what I am doing fairly comfortable so I'll keep aiming to improve but not get hung up on the numbers too much. If I do or don't hit my end of June target then I'll rejig things a little either way.

I find having bread occasionally, just 2 or 3 times a week, is easier than cutting it out altogether, but not really missing pasta, rice, or potatoes much, though I do have a spoonful of rice with curries now and again.

Very little upf in my diet which I think is helpful in preventing cravings.
My eggs on toast have kept me satiated this afternoon but DH has decided to experiment with some breadmaking this afternoon which isn't helping! I empathise with your lamb smells 😁

@IDareSay how do you manage to stay within calories and enjoy a glass of wine? Could you give an example of your food in a day? I used to be really good at managing my cravings and choosing healthy options but I just can't seem yo get back into it - especially when working from home! Also, well done on the weight loss!

Also, does anyone exercise whilst fasting? I have started Caroline Girvan which is fine but was going to try some HIIT but read that you should avoid this during fasting.

@LumpySpaceCow I so agree - food prep is key to me - I've my oats/ berries/etc gently marinating on the side and break my fast at 10.45 this morning...

I'm giving myself a 10/11 hour window while DC and mates here on holiday - Come Wednesday, it's just DH and me, so I'll be moving back to 8h windows, except when socialising.

I think @LumpySpaceCow many of us have found that the cravings gently vanish (most of the time! not always) with IF and avoiding UPFs and eating fairly low carb. I'm definitely one who if I up the carbs especially sugar those cravings leap up. So now I seldom get physical cravings, just emotional ones after a rough time.

Love to hear more about Caroline Girvan - how much are you doing each week? How do you find it??

Just wondering - avoiding HIIT while fasting - does that just mean while in a fasted state? Which makes sense... but fine to do in your eating window. Some people run or cycle in a fasted state so I think it might be a case of finding what works for you...

Thanks @loveyouradvice my diet isn't too bad but I know that I do eat some UPFs.
Yeah, I think it means in the fasting state - but maybe I just need to try and see how it goes, if I struggle I could do it in my eating window.

So far, I'm really enjoying the caroline girvan. I've started on the ultra beginners programme which is initially 3 x per week and then increases to 4. You do need some weights, but mine are only light! I will probably need to invest in some heavier ones if I continue to enjoy it, however, when I was in the best shape of my life I only ever used light weights so might not be so much of a problem! You can get a 2 week free trial and then it's 9.99 per month after that and I have found the videos engaging and informative.

Food shopping today so going to ensure that I am fully prepared for a positive week! This thread is really motivating!

I'll put a couple of day's food on here when I sit down later @LumpySpaceCow

Two fairly typical days here (I normally eat 2 meals a day in a 6 to 8 hour window and sometimes have a small snack in-between). I use the nutrition information on the packs where possible:

Scrambled eggs on toast (3 eggs, 2 slices wholemeal bread, 5g butter in the eggs) 520 cals, 46g carbs, 33g protein.
Sourdough crackers x 5 with garlic Philly cheese. 95 cals, 11g carbs, 1g protein.
Turkey thigh fajita casserole (My own recipe, I count all the ingredients as I cook it then divide for my portion). 395 cals, 26g carbs, 18g protein.

Total for the day: 1010 cals, 83g carbs, 52g protein.

Pancake (ground almonds, eggs, cream cheese) with 100g strawberries and 100g 10% fat Greek yoghurt. 435 cals, 12.3g carbs, 19g protein,
Salmon fillet 120g (marinaded in garlic, ginger, soy sauce) roasted on a bed of 150g tenderstem broccoli (sprayed with EVO). 325 cals, 2.5g carbs, 32.4g protein.

Total for the day: 750 cals, 14.8g carbs, 51.4g protein.

That would be a very low cal and low carb day. I might have a protein bar as a snack at some point (but they are upf) to add 200 cals, 16g carbs, and 20g protein.

So fitting in an occasional beer or glass of wine still keeps me on track. About 130 cals in a beer, and 150 cals in 175ml red wine.

@IDareSay that really helps - thank you!

I agree with @IDareSay about less cravings when eating less UPF although that basically means I’m eating far less sugar so that’s the biggest difference for me - no sugar highs/lows.

@LumpySpaceCow I looked at Caroline Girvan but chickened out! I am doing a YouTube workout 3x a week but it’s just a free one and I do the same thing each time. I should do something more structured, something to think about (this thread has me thinking about self care, exercise, calorie counting, it’s exhausting 😆)

I am keen to join to if that ok. So proud of you guys and the weight loss.
Not sure what my weight is but I think higher than ever been. Definitely over 90kg.
Been eating too much sugar and UFP. But no more in the house now do going to start tomorrow.
Aim to have 8-10 hour eating window - lunch and dinner and avoid chocolate, sugar. Hopefully this thread will keep me accountable. I do get cravings but need to make sure that 1. I dont have the food in the house 2. do something when I get cravings or feel hungry.

Welcome @kittenhug First few days are the hardest but I find daily posting in here is really helpful, everyone is so supportive.

I have had quite a calorific day but thoroughly enjoyed every bite! Haven’t eaten any rubbish, just eaten more than usual.
1600 cals, 106g carbs, 84g protein. 6 hour eating window today, kitchen closed at 6pm. Decent walk this morning and some heavy duty gardening this afternoon; I’ll feel it tomorrow.

Thanks @IDareSay
Did ok with eating did 12-8pm which was good. Avoided any chocolate!
Definitely felt hungry in the afternoon though. Day 1 down.

One more reason posting daily is helpful: I just said to DH that I was really achy today and couldn’t think why, then I looked back at yesterday’s post 😄
“some heavy duty gardening this afternoon; I’ll feel it tomorrow.”

1000 cals, 99g carbs,(DH made chips; I swear I would be tiny but for him 😳), 70g protein. 6 hour eating window again today, kitchen closed at 6pm.

One day down @kittenhug keep going!

hi all, just checking in. I’ve been doing a much shorter eating window the last 4 days - started on Friday when skipped lunch due to having so much work to do and just had dinner. I didn’t feel particularly hungry during the day so decided to keep it going over the weekend and again today. Essentially eating between about 6 and 8pm and having as much as I like - but avoiding chocolate and other sugar etc. I don’t count calories but try to eat lots of veg and not have carbs the focus of the meal. So far it’s going well as regards weight loss as scales were at 12.6 this morning down a bit from 12.8, 8 days ago.
Welcome @kittenhugand anyone else new!
well done on the daily posting @IDareSay that really helped me a few weeks back.

That’s a wonderful result @tiredwitless

I keep pondering doing OMAD (one meal a day) but by lunchtime I am really ready for some food!

Today’s eating window was 12.30pm to 6.30pm so till mostly still on 18:6 routine.
1220 calories, 49g carbs, and 112g protein (thanks to smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for lunch and a huge lamb steak with cauliflower cheese for dinner).
A good day so finished with a glass of red for an extra 150 calories; very enjoyable and keeping my plan doable 🍷

Reading everyone's messages on here is really motivating!
Had my best fasting yesterday/today - 20 hours and had one meal today that was under 600 calories (this wasn't the plan but not had any other chance to eat and wasn't hungry so have rolled with it!). Not sure whether eating so little is recommended on a regular basis but I'm sure it's fine!
Let's see what tomorrow brings!