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!!

Morning all! I’ve decided to reactivate my MyFitnessPal login (used it on and off for years) to log my food and see what my calories are, how much protein I’m having etc. I know that writing it down is a good tool to keep myself accountable.

I see they have an intermittent fasting add-on since I last used it but that’s only available if you pay for Premium which I won’t be doing.

So I’ve put in my plan for today and it says I’ll come in at just under 1,200. I might need to do some weighing of regular items as it was all a bit of a guestimate.

Im going to commit to logging for the next week at least, to get a feel for where my daily calories are at. I’m not sure I want to do it longer term as, for me, I like how easy IF is in terms of ‘rules’. We’ll see.

Morning! Thurs weigh in for me and I’ve lost the 2lbs that I wanted to so I’m pleased. I’m now 13.5, 3st 5lbs lost in total. Now pushing on for another 2lbs next week to get to 3 and a half stone lost in total.

Im having a minor procedure at the hospital today (not the cancer, but a cyst that flared up from the radiotherapy) so not sure what I’m eating today, when I’ll get home etc. Just got to be flexible which is never a strong point for me but heigh ho.

@mull amazing, well done! Hope the procedure goes well! In terms of calories counting, I like nutracheck - you do have to pay a yearly subscription but find it easier to use than MFP. I use a separate app to track my fasting (fasting tracker) which times the fasts and keeps me motivated with a countdown and little achievement badges!

I took advice regarding UPFs and the cravings are gone and I'm managing to stay under calories. It might be placebo as only cut term out on Momday but it's working so I'm taking it!

Morning all
well done @Mullyou’re going great guns!
I’ve come on for a bit of accountability as after my run of OMAD over the weekend I’ve been eating not so healthily the last couple of days including a homemade pizza last night and late night cheese on toast- arrrgh. I normally never eat cheese..
its interesting though I’ve been feeling down for a couple of reasons and seriously overwhelmed with work stuff and feeling exhausted and I think that has driven some overeating.
Having said that, I did manage to stay within 16:8 and didn’t collapse into eating Magnums and chocolate - probably because there wasn’t any in the house!
And I went for a short walk at lunchtime yesterday which felt like a small win for my health. So not all bad.
Will aim to go for a walk at lunchtime again and to keep to 16:8 today with a healthy meal later.
best of luck to everyone today!

Longer eating window yesterday, broke fast at 10am and things went downhill from there! Well, not too bad really, but I was very busy and distracted and didn't note what I was eating properly, right up until 8pm...

Have just done a rough count and think I was around 1800 cals, too many carbs, and not enough protein. I really need to note my intake at the time otherwise it can all go too far off piste. Resolving to do better today.

Good luck for today @Mull
Great job on the UPFs @LumpySpaceCow I think I will give that fasting app a go too.
Exhaustion with work drove a lot of my poor choices with food @tiredwitless so I can empathise, and not having ice cream and chocolate in the house does help. I did put some Magnums in my online shopping basket last week and then removed them the next day, though given how hot it is here I did regret it! (But my scales are happier for it)

@LumpySpaceCow it’s fab that your cravings have improved. The Van Tulleken book about UPFs was eye opening, I’m not religious about it (I will never bother to make my own stock!) but, combined with trying to cut down sugar for diabetic reasons, I don’t eat much UPF anymore.

@tiredwitless I think small wins are always great for trying to create an ‘upward spiral’ for better eating and better health. On the flip side, I can so easily get into a downward spiral when it all goes out the window. Over the last few months I’ve tried to minimise these, to try to break a lifelong ‘feast/famine’ mentality but old habits don’t want to die! Keep on keeping on x

Kitchen closed at 6pm. 8 hour eating window today and planning an 18 hour fast from now.

1650 cals, 87g carbs, and 88g protein.

@Mull Well done with all the weight loss I am impressed. Hope the procedure goes well.
@IDareSay magnums are one of my downfalls too. Good job on taking them off the shopping. No temptation if not in the house.

I still managed to do only eating 12-8pm today. Although went out for dinner - so not to healthy - but managed to avoid having dessert. Avoiding the cakes, sweets and chocolate but am having alot of fruit - got to love strawberries and raspberries but at least healthier sugar.
Day 4 down - proud of my self for not having chocolate or cake.

Weigh in today - down 1.7kg which I am really chuffed about! Let's see how the weekend goes...we are socialising and I know I will want to drink, I'm just going to ensure I calorie count it all and not drink too much as I will then eat a load of rubbish!
@kittenhug you should be proud- it's hard not having the chocolate and cake, especially when eating out!

Kitchen closed at 7pm after a 7 hour eating window and an 18 hour fast.
A very sensible day:
1050 cals, 43g carbs, and 63g protein.

Well done @LumpySpaceCow what a great result!

@LumpySpaceCow amazing weight loss, well done! Hope your weekend goes well.

@kittenhug well done for avoiding the sugary stuff, it’s my absolute downfall. For years on diets I always let myself have a sweet treat every day to ‘not deprive myself’ but, in reality, it just makes me want more (I very much believe ‘sugar attracts sugar’) so now I just have it occasionally. It is the only thing I Iwill binge on and will be a lifelong battle to eat less sugar than I want to. It has taken being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes for me to lower my sugar intake 😬

@IDareSay you are doing so well, is the daily posting helping? I find it very motivating.

Thank you @Mull I do find the daily posting helpful and plan to keep it up until the end of the month if nobody minds my daily witterings
I'm sorry to hear your diagnosis; it was partly the fear of Type 2 (and the actual arthritis in my joints) that motivated me to crack on with losing some weight and most importantly some inches from my waist. I agree 'sugar attracts sugar' and think it is basically addictive.

On that note, I completed my 17 hour fast at noon today, but I am not counting any calories etc. today as we are having a bit of a do and there will be all the foods I have been avoiding for a while. I intend to enjoy some of them and then get back on the horse tomorrow. Raising a glass of fizz to you all 🍾

@IDareSay enjoy your afternoon!

Speaking of inches off the waist, that is (yet another) motivation for me. I am a classic apple shape, and only 5ft 3in (160cm) so I’m holding a lot of my weight in the worst place health wise.

There is a rule of thumb that your waist should be a maximum of half your height so mine should be 80cm max. I’ve no idea what it was when I was at my heaviest but, even having lost nearly 3.5st, I’m still at 100cm 😬 So lots of work still to do!

Hey all
just checking in as usual. Not a great week ended up weighing myself today and 12st 8 which isn’t great.. had been sticking to 16:8 during the week but eating bread cheese etc etc and eating late at night.

SW 13 5
CW 12 8
GW 11

today broke 18 hour fast at 6pm and closed eating window at 8pm. No bread but delicious and calorific dessert was eaten :(
My goal this week is to keep to at least 16:8 and finish eating no later than 8pm - even if that means brushing my teeth and getting into bed at 9pm
good luck to all this week and thanks for being there! The daily posts are great!

It seems we are height twins @Mull ! Though I'm sure I used to be 1.62m so I have lost a couple of cm over the years. I'm also aiming to get my waist measurement down to less than half my height, I need to check it at the end of the month. I have definitely become more of an apple shape as I've got older.

That's a great fast @tiredwitless I also had a short eating window yesterday but too heavy on the bread and desserts too! I paid for it the last two nights with indigestion from the food and disturbed sleep from the wine.

Decided to eat no more after 4pm yesterday and attempt a 24 hour fast to make up for the excesses over the weekend
So far so good but still over 4 hours to go....roast chicken to look forward to!

I made it to 4.15pm, so 24 and a quarter hours. DH is in the middle of an electrical job but I could wait no longer! Chicken dinner devoured and I am closing the kitchen (for me) when I finish this non-alcoholic drink, so getting off to a good start for the next fast.
Aiming for 5pm until noon tomorrow.

Today's numbers: 750 cals, 57g carbs, 60g protein.

so far so good today.. 18 hours fast up to 6pm and finished for the evening at 8pm so stuck to the plan.. will go for same again tomorrow.
@IDareSay well done on 24 hours and a quarter fast!

Blimey @IDareSay I’m not sure I could do 24hrs, well done! I can see how it builds up though, I used to struggle with 16:8 but am fine with 18:6 now so I suppose you get used to it.

Job interview for me today! I left my previous job when I had my cancer diagnosis (restructuring was announced in the same week, it was a tough week) so I was able to focus on treatment and recovery. I’m in a much better place now so it’s time to put myself back out there! I must say I feel far more confident walking in there at 3.5st lighter than I was, I know it should make a difference, but it does.

Best of luck with interview today @Mull !

Well done @IDareSay and @tiredwitless for your long fasts. Not sure I could do that long - but will try sometime in the future.
I have been doing pretty good with 16 hour fasts - eating around 12-8pm.
Not fasting this week as away from home and going to be doing more than 10km walking each day this week, but trying not to eat too much sugar. I did let myself have a chocolate icecream this afternoon. @Mull definitely sugar begets sugar, going to see if I can do it occasionally, but yes if you have some you want more. Will be back to fasting next. @Mull hope interview went well.

Kitchen closed at 6pm. I started to feel a little bit ’snacky’ around 6.30pm but had already pressed the button on the fasting app so I resisted so as not to spoil it 😄
So thanks for mentioning that app @LumpySpaceCow

Scores on the doors today are 995 cals, 73g carbs, and 84g protein.

Keeping fingers crossed for you @Mull

Once you can knock off 16 hours regularly @kittenhug extending the time isn’t too difficult I find. You’re doing really well.

@IDareSay you're very welcome - glad it's helped a bit! I find it very motivating and I like being able to see where I am up to at a glance! Hope the interview went well @mull!

Today’s numbers: 18 hour fast followed by 1230 cals, 38g carbs, and 55g protein.
Good week so far, must keep going…!

Hi all, thanks for the encouragement for the interview. I think it went OK and I’ll hear today or tomorrow so 🤞

Weigh in Thurs for me and I’ve lost 2lbs this week which was my target so I’m really pleased. That takes me to 13.3, 3 and a half stone lost in total. I’m not sure the last time I was this weight but it’s definitely at least 10yrs ago!

So I’m away for a few days next week with a friend. I’m nervous about putting weight on but I have a bit of a plan:

• We will be having breakfast at the hotel so it will be longer eating windows. I’m planning to have breakfast, some sort of snack and then dinner.
• I will treat myself to some things but I want to do this MINDFULLY and not start any of my old, bingey habits. If I have a cake / chocolate then enjoy it, savour it and then move on with my day
• I can’t weigh next Thurs as I’m still away so I’ll weigh in two weeks. My aim is to STS at 13.3 (probably with some up and then hopefully some back down when I’m back)

So, we’ll see how that goes! I’m so keen to have better habits that can ‘withstand’ different situations as this has to be my long term goal, not just yet another short term priority and then I pile the weight back on (and more 🙄).

@IDareSay sounds like you are having a great week, keep going 👏🏻

Great result on the weigh-in @Mull and a good plan in place.

18 hour fast again but rather a carb heavy day. 1300 calories, 120g carbs, 50g protein. Aiming for a better balance tomorrow. Kitchen closed at 6pm.