Countdown to OCTOBER

[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 - I can't believe we're already into September: where did the summer go?
Hope some of you are more ready than me to plunge into the new academic year. Though I've a spring in my step as my weight is going down again at long last!

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

@furrysocks congrats on your commitment - my understanding about building muscle through strength training is 1. we all need for the future, if we are to enjoy aging and be able to move and 2. it helps keep the weight off, as it enables you to raise your base metabolic rate.

So huge congrats - and be wary along the way that exercise can make you hungrier. And you're going to look fab with more toned muscles

I'm starting mine next week... been meaning to for yonks, and Monday is the day!!

@loveyouradviceThank you. I think ripped is a way off but I agree weight bearing is important. I really like my personal trainer, I think now I’ve lost a bit of weight on the 5:2 it’s given me the confidence to try and improve things in other areas too. We’ll see. Good luck on Monday!

Hello

thank you for your reply @loveyouradvice ☺️ Yes I think doing 2 low calorie days feels much more achievable than a bigger deficit every day. Saying that I havnt managed to do a low calorie day this week so far so going to do 800 calories tomorrow.
il have to read about Gin Stephens.
Managed to do okay with food today and stay within 1700 bracket though, and heading to the gym tomorrow night and Saturday with my friend.
Well done with starting the personal training sessions both, let us know how you get on
Are you all having good weeks?
what things do you eat in your low calorie days?
I am trying to eat higher protein , lower carbs but I do love carbs and not a massive fan of meat x

@Herewegoagaintake3 i have struggled to do any low cal days this week. I think next week I might try not logging on up days and see if then I can focus for two days. I keep logging breakfast then not bothering the rest of the day.

Friday check in - too em
I had a slightly better week and managed to finish eating by 8 most days. My weight is down a little on the scale and apparently muscle is up - will take the stats other than weight with a pinch of salt as my scale cost £19.99 but pleased all the same!

@tiredwitless your calorie information was very precise and interesting! It does seem to work when I measure and count consistently - not sure why I can’t just do it properly!

@loveyouradvice how did your prolon round go

I am aiming for today to be a lower cal day as unlikely to do a workout as have stuff going on this evening.

have a lovely weekend all

Sorry ignore the random extra words my phone added 🙄

Still feeling more hungry than usual but looking back at my food diary it looks like the carbs have crept up quite a bit so I'll try and reduce those and see if that helps.

I finished my second round of 30 day shred yesterday so I'm hoping for the rumoured 'whoosh' downwards in weight in a few days. I'm slightly down this morning, about 100g so nothing to write home about yet! I won't be burning as many calories a day now so will have to be extra vigilant. I have very much changed shape though.

Fasting at least 16:8 every day, seems to be second nature now which is helpful. I'll consider doing a couple of 500 calorie days if my weight sticks towards the end of the month, but otherwise plodding on with my usual limits.

Good results @Clearingaspace I think as long as you are using the same scales every time then the results should be pretty reliable; more muscle is always good!

Good luck with your strength training @furrysocks I'm taking a few days break but will then go back to another programme. I do try and fit some things in at random times of day, like worktop push-ups when the kettle is boiling and squats when I clean my teeth.

I started my fasting journey back in the day on the 5:2 @Herewegoagaintake3 it's a good introduction and really easy to stick to once you are in the rhythm. My go to for higher protein lower carbs is anything with eggs, so omelettes with loads of veggies, crustless quiche, kedgeree with very little rice, just loads of fish and eggs, and protein pancakes with berries and yoghurt; don't be afraid of full fat yoghurt, it's much more filling and worth the extra calories I think.

Protein pancakes (2 portions, if DH doesn't want one I keep the remaining mix in the fridge for the next day.)
2 eggs
60g cream cheese
30g ground almonds
Drop of vanilla essence
Chuck it all in the blender then add a dab of butter to a small frying pan and cook each pancake for 4 or 5 minutes on a medium heat. (The vanilla essence makes them smell very dessert like)
Big handful of berries and a dollop of Greek yoghurt on top; delicious and filling.

Wow @IDareSay - I am in awe. You have completed TWO 30 days shreds - this is SO impressive. What happens next? A break and then another one? Or something else?? And thanks for protein pancakes recipe - I'm going to try these next week - sound seriously yum!!

Hey hey @Clearingaspace muscle up and finished eating by 8 each day - that sounds like a BIG step forward. Two low calorie days next week sounds like a great aim.

@Herewegoagaintake3 My typical low calorie days include lots of eggs too, and fish/prawns and big green salads with olive oil and half a tablespoon of chickpeas... and when I'm super low calorie, 500/600 days in an eating window of just one hour, which I'd like to get back to having twice a week, but Im not quite there yet: I typically have some of those zero calorie noodles with mussels and coriander mixed in, a big dressed green salad with a matchbox of roquefort, two squares of very dark chocolate and 5 almonds, and perhaps 6-10 raspberries.

Friday check-in .... Im on the road, driving down to Provence... so will do a proper check in tomorrow when I've got scales to hand

Thanks for asking about Prolon @Clearingaspace - it went fine, mellow, very tired several days, had nice clarity at end BUT annoyingly did not lose my usual 3-5lbs. I lost 2 and put them back on within 3 days of "normal losing-weight eating". So I have to keep reminding myself I'm in it for the long haul, for better health and hopefully recovering from auto-immune disease, and longevity... though yes, bit darn annoyed that my easy 2-3lbs off has vanished!!! I'm doing it every 3 months now, so next round early December, a nice rebalance before Xmas festivities.

Looking forward to checking in tomorrow... See you then!!

My Friday check-in on Saturday...

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 11.6... same as last week....

Hmm, I dont think I can eat much less and still feel good. Fingers crossed increasing exercise while in Provence will help nudge it on its way.

Hi all
quick check in
Im getting into a pattern of 22 or 16 hours fasting alternate days - have done 2 weeks of it now. Particularly on work days, 22 is easy and doesn’t affect my energy levels at all. Weekends are harder - didn’t make 22 yesterday.
I still don’t calorie count but I stay away from sweets the majority of the time and finding this is getting easier or at least habitual. Also avoiding carbs generally but not religiously. Lots of green veg.
Since the weather has been terrible here I have not been walking after my evening meal the last couple of weeks but am going to get back into it. Starting this evening. A quick 30 minutes whatever the weather. I know this will help my sleep too.
weight was 12 11 on Saturday,
very slow progress but I’m fine with that.

@IDareSay I am also into random exercise ‘snacks’ like worktop press ups and squats while kettle boiling. I wish I had your dedication to the 30 day shred.. maybe someday.

Great to hear all the good progress and jealous @loveyouradvice of you driving down to Provence!

good luck everyone this week!

Hello

Just checking in .. 2 pounds down yay
Thank you @loveyouradvice for the ideas on what to eat, that’s helpful. I’ve never tried the zero cal noodles will get some next time in Tesco to pair with some meat/veg for low cal day.
My steps have been really good, getting around 10,000-15,000 a day pushing the pram and been to gym yesterday, so this has helped.
Hope You’re all having good weeks :-)

Hey,, hey @Herewegoagaintake3 that's great! I look forward to hearing how you get on with the noodles... they are definitely different but great for your gut too

@tiredwitless how's the daily evening walk going? I've adopted that as a habit too and think it's really helping. I'm very impressed by the alternate days 22/16 ... sounds great

Friday check-in: feeling very chuffed: despite thinking I couldn't, I have reduced what I eat and am eating in a 4 hour window most days: doing this intensely for 2 weeks, and will then be a bit more relaxed. Also lots of swimming and walking.

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 11.3... a three pound loss this week

Hi all
I'm still here, still going with 16 or 22 hour fasts alternate days.
A bit of a wobble with a stressful incident early this week which led to a planned 22 becoming a 16. Its interesting when you start to observe yourself eating purely due to stress. And binge watching Netflix..
I weighed myself last Friday 11 9 , although it felt like a fluke..not sure it can last and havent weighed yet this week.
I'm not doing well with the walks @loveyouradvice. Just not managing them.. Will have to keep trying.
Have done squats while waiting for kettle to boil on 4 or 5 occasions this week ... got to look for the positives!
How's everyone else doing?
Has someone started a new thread? Only occurring to me now..

Welcome back @StealthSightHound - that sounds like an AMAZING summer, especially with your strong and slimmer body. Great proactive approach coming on here to fortify you for the winter - I'm already thinking about how i'll address the Christmas season! And just wondering about the shrinking at 56 - if it's more than half an inch, do check you're getting enough calcium etc -an inch or more in 50s and 60s seems to be potential indicator for osteoporosis.

Love the squats while waiting for the kettle to boil @tiredwitless that's a great habit to develop. And well done on 11.9 - It may not be a fluke, come and let us know. alternating 22 and 16 hour fasts is quite hardcover so your body may be responding.

I'll start a new thread now - very remiss of me!!

Thread started... going to tag people now....

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/fasting_diet/5421069-countdown-to-november-and-beginning-to-think-about-christmas-goals

Congrats on the personal trainer @furrysocks . My GP is clear that if we want to maintain weight once we've lost it, we need to build up strength which enables us to eat more calories as our metabolism is running a bit faster

Hello all! Will join you on the new thread, thanks as always @loveyouradvice

Been a hectic couple of weeks so haven't been around much but things quieter now so will catch up properly.