Countdown to AUGUST

[loveyouradvice]

All are welcome!

We’re a friendly group that uses Fasting in one form or another to lose weight 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 August, 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 for 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.

Some of us find daily posting helpful for accountability - others just pop in every now and then

Hello to our regulars and those who joined us on the last thread
@Clearingaspace
@Mull
@IDareSay
@tiredwitless
@conflictednow
@LumpySpaceCow
@kittenhug
@EATmum
@jayni149
@xSoFarSoGoodx
@2Early4Breakfast
@2Early4Breakfast2025

Hope I've caught everyone - please add any you notice I've missed!!

Welcome @Millie2008
I have used 5:2 in the past but didn't find it great for losing weight; I found it helpful for maintenance though.
On my 500 days I often resorted to a ready meal or salad/veg with a protein (usually chicken, so not helpful to you!)
If you eat eggs would an omelette work?

@tiredwitless I do find routine helps; even though I am retired I do have a fairly stable weekday routine and the weekends are more unstructured.

Thanks @IDareSay. Yes, something egg based is a good call. Shame that you haven’t found it that helpful for losing weight (as that’s my aim). Maybe I’ll try it for a couple of weeks to ease me in, then depending on how it goes add in some IF on the other days. I really hate counting calories so would love prefer to limit that to a couple of times a week if possible

Horses for courses @Millie2008

It probably didn't work for me as I am a greedy mare! Knowing I was only having 500 calories on 2 days gave me (in my head) permission to have more treats on non-fast days than I normally would, if that makes sense.

So it worked for me as maintenance, but I have to make an effort every day if I want to lose weight (and for me, I have discovered calorie counting is a necessary evil).

Managed a 22 hour fast, very happy with that.
Kitchen closed at 5.15pm, nice and early.
860 cals, 100g carbs (had rice with dinner!), 50g protein.

Onwards and downwards

Well done @IDareSaythat’s a great fast.
I got to 21 hours fasting today and closing eating window after 3 hours.
Dd’s birthday, so not so low carb today. Did eat lots of green veg and salmon first, so not all bad 🙂
Aiming for 16:8 tomorrow

Hey Millie, I do 5:2 and it’s definitely working - slow but steady. I find I can keep it up because eating is only ever delayed! I don’t eat at all on my 500 days until dinner so I can save all my calories till then. I find that works best for me as otherwise I can struggle to sleep.
Weirdly I fasted today and then went to the gym. I have never exercised on empty before but actually it was fine. I thought I might feel faint but forgot after a while that I hadn’t eaten. Maybe that says more about how hard I (don’t) exercise than anything!
I quite like getting soups for dinner on 500 days. They are easy and feel like they fill me up. Good luck!

Thanks @EATmum that’s encouraging to hear. Well done for exercising during a fast- that’s impressive 👏
I feel the same about 5:2 meaning eating is just delayed! From a mental perspective, getting through a day of 500 cals feels lots more doable. And means I don’t have to feel like I’ve failed on the eating days if I don’t eat well. I’m also a sucker for enjoying a couple of beers/glasses of wine on a Friday/saturday so allows for that too! Life is so stressful atm so don’t have many pleasures in life - food/drink is one of them unfortunately!

Had a rubbish day yesterday. Ate within my window, but went way over my calories when I found a packet of biscuits stashed at the back of the cupboard. I could have stopped at 2 but I didn't. I ate half the pack and then felt like shit.

Today is a new day. Have decided I just need to get myself straight to bed when I've had my dinner to avoid the temptations of the kitchen.

Joining please. I am going on holiday on Friday for 10 days and have been trying on my summer dresses to pack. They all fit ok last summer but look terrible this summer. I was sort of aware I had out on weight. Stripped to my undies and looked in a full length mirror (I never do this). The horror! I could have cried.

I got out the measuring tape, my username is my current measurements. My measurements most of my life were 34/29/32. My tummy is the worst but I also hate having big boobs. I have narrow shoulders and skinny legs so the overall look is awful. Face also puffy from too much white wine.

My plan is no alcohol on holiday, I am going to a country where wine isn’t normal so that should help. On my return I will do Fast 800. I did this about 5 years ago and lost 2 stone so I know it works for me. I am 20 lbs heavier than this time last year.

Welcome @C403541
Sounds like you have a good plan in place so stick around here and keep posting; it really helps.
In my experience we are all far more critical of ourselves than we are of others, so don’t be too mean to yourself; you have decided to take some action and that’s great.
I reckon you’ll need to change that username pretty quickly once you get going!

17 hour fast done.
Kitchen closed at 5.30pm.
1120 cals, 60g carbs, 60g protein.
Decent day, better on the carbs.

@IDareSay thank you, that’s very kind.

Checking in, not a great day today as went above 8 hours eating window by about an hour. Ate healthily lots of green veg and protein and.. also several cupcakes followed by fruit and yogurt and whipped cream.
It's because these things are in the house, and it's late and I'm tired..
Tomorrow want to fast until 7pm

17.5 hour fast done.
Kitchen closed at 5.30pm.
1290 cals, 60g carbs, 70g protein.
Feeling positive

Hope you managed your long fast @tiredwitless ?
I couldn’t resist eating cupcakes if I had them in the house either! I have to leave them in the shop. Fortunately DH not a great cake eater; ice cream and chocolate on the other hand…

@tiredwitless I wouldn't have been able to resist the cupcakes either.

Had a better couple of days, scales are slowly going in the right direction. Got stuck at work today for a few extra hours (unplanned) so ended up doing a 22 hour fast.

Going to have a quick dinner (pasta ready meal), then start my next fast by 7.15pm.

18.5 hour fast done.
Kitchen closed at 6.30pm.
1280 cals, 84g carbs, 60g protein.

Good news on the scales @FatLarrysBanned and that’s a great fast!

Evening all
Ended the week not too badly , fasted till 7pm Wednesday and 6pm Thursday. Weighed this morning 12 3 , no change. I’m not surprised after birthday food etc earlier in the week. and basically no exercise. Decided to go for a longer fast today so not eating till tomorrow at 12 midday. Feeling fine so far not that hungry.
@FatLarrysBanned getting stuck at work with no food can definitely have a plus side when it comes to fasting. Being ridiculously busy at work is my secret fasting weapon. I can never retire though…

good work @IDareSay lots of good fasts and amazing calorie totals

Not having the delicious carbs in the house is definitely a goal but easier said than done. I think I kid myself that I’m buying for the tall and hungry teenagers but in actual fact I eat just as much of the sweet treats when they’re in the house… but I am getting better at getting a bowl of yogurt and fruit and pumpkin seeds instead..

How are others getting on?

Hey 👋
Should have checked in a lot sooner as I have had a rubbish week. I find the fasts easy but have over eaten in my earing periods and had a take away mast night and a bottle of wine 🙈
My aim for this weekend is no alcohol tonight and tomorrow as that's what throws my weeks!
My weight is static which is understandable. Need to do some food prep as well as that hasn't helped.

Eating too late just now. Too hot during the day. Need to drink more as I think I’m hungry but actually thirsty.

Forgot to post last night so these are Friday's numbers:

18.5 hour fast done.
Kitchen closed at 6.30pm.
1270 cals, 82g carbs, 50g protein.

Not much of a difference from Thursday.
There has been wine today (Saturday) so calories will be higher. Will post when kitchen closes.

17.5 hour fast done.
Kitchen closed at 6pm.
1550 cals, 97g carbs, 68g protein. (Extra cals and carbs are wine, and toast with breakfast, thoroughly enjoyed!)

So gorgeous to have so many new posters - and deeply inspiring to read what everyone is up to....I'm another who's saying your user name will soon be inaccurate @C403541

And taking a leaf out of your book @IDareSay I'm fasting to get rid of the crap.... Here goes....

Coming back into the fold....

I have – as you have probably guessed from my absence... had a HUGE lapse. Just 10 days of it, and my weight soared to 12.7. A very challenging time emotionally and I found myself binging in a way that I hadn’t done for over 10 years – eating food without enjoying it, because I just needed to cram it into my mouth.

I find it so strange that so recently I was celebrating my lowest weight in 8 years (10.12 just a couple of months ago) and I was feeling as if I could eat this way forever and it FELT EASY. It felt like a gorgeous eating lifestyle, with eating windows of 2-12 hours, flexing socially and to what the scales said – loving eating consciously for health and pleasure, with masses of good-gut food, protein, fruit and veg, few carbs: Eating truly delicious food as well as the occasional pud in a restaurant or with friends, as well as daily dark chocolate and nuts. I was that person – I felt relaxed and triumphant. My body felt great walking down the street, moving easily and I revelled in wearing fab clothes, old and new, loving my curves, small waist and statuesque figure... and I thought I was there for life. I was even toying with the idea of getting down to 10.7, as it would probably help reduce my cholesterol. And I was delighting in the novel experience of thinking I had “food sorted” and could focus on exercise as my number one health goal.

I am keeping that elusive joy in mind, as I get back on the wagon, feeling a little shakey and shocked at what I've done to my body. I hope some of the weight will come off very fast, and then the rest more gently. I’m doing a 60 hour water-fast today and yesterday to start rebalancing.

And my plan for the coming week: 6-8 hour windows with high protein, berries, veg, etc and then probably doing a Prolon 5-day mimicking diet as I’ve one pack left from those I bought in a sale. A great way to recalibrate my body after a challenging three months.... Hmmm.

Lessons to be learnt and I'll fully digest it over the next few days!!

What are your thoughts and plans for the coming week?

I've 5 days of 6 hours/1300 or so calories .... first one done today. FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK ON IT!!!!!

And two dinners with friends to navigate....hmmm