Countdown to SEPTEMBER!

[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.

Gosh - September seems so close now, and I thought summer had only just begun. Hopefully you've got lovely August plans and strategies to safeguard weight loss.

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
@IDareSay
@Saltedporridge
@FatLarrysBanned
@tiredwitless
@LumpySpaceCow
@conflictednow
@DogPawsMudFur
@hellotomrw
@Mull
@conflictednow
@Clearingaspace

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

Well, it's been a really dud week for me.... I had a viral infection and was very hungry and tired, and working to a tight deadline which has got tighter after three days in bed.... So eating more but being gentle with myself about it. This will be the toughest part of my pattern to break long term - overeating when life is too full and demanding (and I'm not spending time getting motivated and keeping a food diary). So weight's up by 3 lbs but expecting it to come down a bit next week, and then I've three intense dieting weeks when I'm not overstretched to hopefully lose most of the extra before going away again.

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 11.13

Hey, I hope it’s ok if I join the club. I have been doing 5:2 for a year and dropped 10kg and a dress size… slowly… but I guess that is the way to sustain it.

Overindulged on holiday so it’s crept back on a bit so really determined to get fasting again and keep between a steady 70-71kg.

Great to welcome you @furrysocks ... that's where I'm aiming to get back to too! I was there in Feb.....

Let's get back there together.

And congrats on the 10kg... slowly and sustainably is fab

Thanks, @loveyouradvice
I used to be on the big 5:2 threads when BigChoc was around and found them really helpful. I was also 5:2ing with a friend which was also a big bonus. I've tried and failed many times to get back into it and really want to succeed this time.
Hope you're feeling better and hope the next few weeks go to plan for you.
Ooh, btw, have drunk my 2l of water today and have another 1l in the fridge - I did read once that your bladder adjusts to holding more volume eventually...wondering if I can train it in 2 days to make trips to the loo less frequent 🤔😀

How's everyone's week going?

I was a little disappointed with my weigh in this morning and my planned 'no breakfast' fell by the wayside. Lunch was sensible but the flat white and rocky road this afternoon were definitely a big fail. However, af arrived today (unexpectedly) so not only have I not had my usual bloating, my pmt hasn't been quite as severe as it could have been so I'm pretty pleased overall. And I have now decided to fast (as of 3pm when I had the rocky road!!) until tomorrow lunchtime.

I was reading up on the extended fasting and found it all so fascinating. I'm definitely not at that point (too much life stuff going on at the moment) but think it's something I'd be interested in trying when life settles down a bit.

Tonight's challenge is to get through another 1/2 litre of water and hope to not have too many loo trips through the night 😃

Back up to 64.3kg (from 64.1kg last week) this morning following my 5 day break. OK with that given I did not skimp on scones!

Stuck to my plan of walking lots and eating mindfully, fasted pretty well, but there was one night of very late eating (Chinese takeaway with family and by the time everyone got organised and sorted out what they wanted it was very late); my body clearly did not appreciate either the quality of the food or the timing of it as I discovered at 3am the next morning 😩

Happy to be home and back to normal. I'll continue with my plan of 1300 calories Sunday to Thursday and 1800 on Friday and Saturday, with at least a 16 hour fast. Had two 1000 calorie days since I got back as a reset so I'm looking forward to my 1800 calories today!

Started another round of 30 day shred too, and I'm just about to go and do day 3. If I can hit 64kg bang on by next Friday I'll be delighted as I can see and feel I am building muscle so not expecting my weight to shoot down.

Doing ok, I fasted on Thursday but it’s so hard when I’m not at work, time just drags! About 71.5kg but I need to get better at weighing myself at the same time each week. Interested by your 3pm - 3pm fast, @Bottl, does it say anywhere that it has to be morning until night? Not sure if that might be easier.

Found it hard to stick to fasting during the holidays, and clothes got a bit tighter. Back to being more disciplined.

Morning cup of tea makes a difference, much easier to fast until after 10am. Alarm set for 6pm for light evening meal.

Hi all
just checking in. I’m moseying along with my 16:8, 18:6 or sometimes 21:3
Not great at closing my eating window on time but I am doing the fasts. So I often have to fast a bit longer to get to 16/18 hours etc
My weight has stayed more or less the same 12st3 but hoping it might go down a bit this week as have been generally good at avoiding sugar this week. My usual downfall of bread has been part of the picture though.. I also eat quite a lot of nuts.. I need to eat more veggies I suspect and just lower the nuts and bread.
I think I’m gradually improving my eating habits.
this week I’m prioritizing sleep and aiming to do at least 18:6 each day with 8pm close each night
good luck all with fasting goals this week everyone.

@IDareSay That's magnificent given the wonderful scone indulgence - congrats! And wow, all power to you doing a SECOND 30 day shred.

@Bottl think of it as doing well - those days preperiod are always the toughest. And waterwise, I'm finding it I drink lots in day and stop at 6pm I'm not usually woken in the night... worth a thought??

@furrysocks totally get the challenge of not working and fasting while temptation is near and time is on your hands. 3pm-3pm is a 24 hour fast, the full day ones are usually 36h or so as you've two nights included ... both are great and the first is much easier so a great way to gently get used to longer fasts if that is your goal.

Those tight clothes will soon get looser again @2Early4Breakfast

Nuts were my downfall @tiredwitless - I did Zoe a couple of years ago and took their word for it that you just eat as many as you want ... and put on lots of weight!!! Congrats on the windows, very similar to mine and good luck with cutting back bread and sugar - would it help saying I'm just going to do it for one week and see what happens?

I'm at the Edinburgh Fringe festival so having a ball, and delightfully little time to eat between rushing from one show to the next. With lots of steps and short eating windows without masses in them, my weight is coming down. No idea if scales here are accurate so will check in once home again mid week.

Hello everyone. Sorry for being awol.

@loveyouradvice Edinburgh festival sounds amazing fun - very jealous!

@tiredwitless well done on your consistent fasting.

@IDareSay very impressed by your shredding! Not sure I ever made it to level 3 😅 I was a bit traumatised by the jumping jacks effect and n my pelvic floor.

Hope your fast went ok yesterday @2Early4Breakfast

so I have been experimenting with exercising and trying to eat more protein, unfortunately my weight has continued to go up. I am thinking a little bit of fasting is needed as it seems to help me to lose weight. Will aim to stop eating before 8 tonight and see how that goes as step 1.

Hi everyone,

Just popping in to say that I haven't disappeared. I'm on holiday, so I couldn't weigh in on Friday. I have not been very strict at all (and had to contend with a second course of antibiotics), so I'm expecting an increase next week. Back to proper Fast 800 on Monday 1st, but back to being very mindful from Saturday. I still have my Christmas target in mind!

Great to hear how everyone is doing. I'm very impressed with the long fasts - about 18 hours is my limit.

Yesterday evening I dragged my feet a bit and didn’t close the kitchen until about half-seven. This morning went well until I forgot about only redbush tea until ten, and ate around 9.45am.

Had my evening meal around 6.30om today and will trust my phone to tell me when to eat tomorrow morning. Otherwise my own impulses will totally sabotage my efforts.

Hello everyone

Today went better. I was busy with moving some small pieces of furniture up and down stairs, and felt much better for the exercise. Finished fast around 1030. Will aim for a similar pattern each morning.

This evening went well with kitchen closing at 6.30pm. Just like this morning I was busy for a while. I often eat while watching tv, and aim to cut back on both screens and mindless eating.

Looking forward to hearing how those steps go @Clearingaspace. I definitely find it almost impossible to lose weight if I regularly eat beyond 8

Hope you're having a great holiday @Saltedporridge - are you somewhere nice?

Sounds like a great pattern @2Early4Breakfast I've this wonderful image of you moving small pieces of furniture up and down stairs just for the exercise - a home made form of weight training!

Well, now back from the Edinburgh Fringe, with lots of great memories and a humdinger of a cold. Delighted to see that my weight has come down 3lbs, and planning to eat in an 8 hour window until my health recovers - then back to the occasional 20-23h fast. Hoping to keep the weight off now Im now walking 16,000 steps a day....

16k steps average is fantastic @loveyouradvice how are you fitting it in

Oops posted too soon!

moving furniture upstairs for a workout would definitely be hardcore - CrossFit types would love that 😂 hope your eating window worked out @2Early4Breakfast

i nearly had a snack yesterday evening at 8:30 pm until I remembered my goal! Definitely 8 is a doable time to stop eating and effective if it stops thr late night carb munching. So I guess I am doing time restricted eating right now raher than fasting. Might aim for a lower cal day tomorrow but still aiming for high protein

Weighed in at 12st 0 today which I’m happy with. Someday I’ll break the 12st barrier..
@ClearingaspaceI also find the 8pm stop is very doable and so beneficial - it’s a habit I’m going to stick to. Also continuing with fasting either 16:8 or up to 22:2 each day depending on how I’m feeling.
I’ve been doing a walk in the evening.. and work on my sleep is actually paying off. Less 3am waking and more REM and deep sleep .. and less dementia in the future I hope.. sorry but that’s how I think about it..
so a good week overall
great to hear how everyone is doing. 16k steps per day is super @loveyouradvice

That was meant to read "now I'm not walking 16,000 steps a day" @Clearingaspace !! So yes, while in Edinburgh for the fringe, it just added up walking from venue to venue, so 6 days of that ... now back home, and aiming for 10,000....Though you have set my mind a-wondering.... how would 16,000 a day feel as the norm? Is it possible?? That's a couple of hours of walking through the day, as well as normal just getting things done stuff.... Hmm. I think it's my holiday goal and not a normal life one

I definitely find that hard 8pm cut off very helpful @Clearingaspace in stopping the evening munchies....

So good to hear about your better sleeping @tiredwitless , that's a real step forward. And good too to hear you're 12.0.... under 12 is so tantalisingly close and will happen soon

So, with eating relatively little in 4-8 hour windows while in Edinburgh - actually having to remember to eat midst the joy of lots of theatre and walking - I've lost 4lbs which feels great, and LONG overdue...slowly slowly getting back to 11.3 which I was so enjoying in the spring

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 11.9

Good morning all, checking in as we hurtle towards September 😱

Last week I said: "If I can hit 64kg bang on by next Friday I'll be delighted as I can see and feel I am building muscle so not expecting my weight to shoot down."

I was 66kg on 1st July, 64.6kg on 1st August, and 63.8kg this morning. Not a huge loss this month so far, but 2.2kg (5lb) since 1st July and I have had a holiday and built muscle with my shredding

It's a huge relief to have sneaked into the 63s as I was really stuck around the 66s for some time. My minimum of 16:8 and 1300 cals x 5 days and 1800 x 2 days is working for me so far and gives me flexibility on days when I feel like eating everything in sight.

I'm a third of the way through my second 30 day shred now, and when I finish that I'll take a break and do something else but I can see changes in my body quite clearly now so it's definitely been worth doing.

I'll weigh and measure on Monday morning for a baseline for September. I'm not worried by losing slowly as I was 72.5kg in January; if you had told me I would be almost 9kg (over 19lb!) lighter by September I would have been astonished!

Took me so long to type my post @loveyouradvice that you posted in the meantime!

That's a fantastic loss

Forgot to say, apparently my BMI of 24.9 means I am no longer overweight!

Bit fed up as it’s been minus one add one in Aug so no net change. I normally aim for Fitbit saying 2500 calories every day and this month it’s been 2400 so that maybe hasn’t helped. Onward and upward (well not upward but you know what I mean!) for sept. Oh apart from a week in France leaving this weekend what could possibly go wrong with croissants, nice bread, cheese ….. good luck everyone else x

Woo-hoo! Weighing in one day late after returning from a fabulous holiday in the Highlands. I was expecting a gain, but I've actually lost a little.

SW - 155.4lbs
CW - 143.2lbs
Weight loss after 7 weeks - 12.2lbs

Bearing in mind holidays, antibiotics etc. I'm over the moon with that.

Aim for this week - back to proper Fast 800 principles: lots of water, green veg etc. Maybe reach 14lbs off?

Longer term aim - another stone off before Christmas? I've just googled; it's only 16 weeks to go...

Hi @Bottl - I am finding being able to post here is definitely helping me stay on track.

Well done @loveyouradvice, @IDareSay, @Saltedporridgefab losses! Great to see success happening. Well done to everyone else keeping on keeping on with fasting in various ways, it’s definitely a slow but steady thing. Some days it’s harder to make it @furrysocks- clawing my way to 12 o’clock here rn :) other days much easier. Hope you’re getting on ok @Bottl
Good to hear about how others do it. I agree @2Early4BreakfastCoffee/tea makes a big difference in the morning I have at least 3or 4 cups most days. I have decaf after 12 midday for sleep reasons but it’s still good on longer fasts or in the evening and more comforting than plain water. I add a pinch of salt if I’m fasting longer than 16 hours.
Thanks for the reminder about Christmas @IDareSay! Fruit cake, mince pies, are my nemesis and definitely contributed to needing to do something about my weight in March this year. My strategy this year will be good solid habits of TRE and… do I avoid all of that stuff?? I need to work on my strategy… at least there’s 16 weeks to figure it out!

Good luck with fasting goals this week everyone