Countdown to DECEMBER - approaching Christmas powerfully and compassionately together

[loveyouradvice]

Welcome - come and join us!

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.... pirates and dachshunds will pop their heads up, we're in awe of those shredding with Jillian and lifting significant weights (beyond our own!) and impressed when we get our steps in.

Christmas really is just around the corner! Let's share our goals for this month and plan together how we can have the best Christmas ever, enjoying the festivities AND looking after our bodies - in whatever way we decide is best for 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

@2Early4Breakfast
@Bottl
@Herewegoagaintake3
@IDareSay
@JadeVS72
@StealthSightHound
@thenewaveragebear1983
@tiredwitless
@Rockfordpeach

Signing in with this month's starting weight of 62.4kg

I really must do my measurements this weekend as I can clearly see and feel (by my clothes) I have lost a few cm since I last did them.

Goal for end of November is mid 61's, which will give me a fighting chance to hit 60.something by Christmas.

I'm still going for 16:8 or better, counting calories via Nutracheck, and daily meetings with Jillian and a walk with the dogs 😎

Please scroll by if not interested in some maths musings!

Just been crunching the numbers for October. I started at 63.2kg, so lost 0.8kg which would suggest I had a calorie deficit of approximately 6160 calories.
(If we believe the calories in/calories out theory of 7700 deficit to lose a kg)
My October stats aren't complete as I didn't track for a few days and only started tracking really accurately a third of the way through October, but that would seem to be about right.

I'll be interested to see November's results as I plan to track accurately every day.
October's stats (from my Apple watch) showed my average calorie needs were 1915 per day (1380 baseline, 535 from movement/exercise) and my average intake for the month has been 1715, for a deficit of 200 calories per day.

I would like to improve those numbers this month by creating a bigger deficit; a deficit of 250 a day should see me lose around a kg. So I need to eat an average of 1665 calories or less a day. We shall see!

P.S. Seeing I still need less that 2000 calories a day, even with a lot of exercise, has made it even more clear to me how easily I put the weight on. When I was pretty inactive I was probably only burning 1500 a day and I was definitely eating more than that!

Good morning, and thanks for the seasonal new thread @loveyouradvice
Well done @IDaresaywith the 62s!
Onward to December!

Thank you for the new thread @loveyouradvice

I’m totally in for a super strict NOvember- no alcohol, or sugar and no excuses! I’m starting my official fast800 today although I did dabble a bit last week.
I’m actually starting November a whole 5lbs lighter than I started October which is a miracle and quite a surprise, but I think it’s more to do with my oct1 weigh in being hugely skewed by end of September birthdays and celebrations. My actual official Monday weigh in results give me a 1lb loss overall in October.

current weight is 11.2.5 and I would very much like to see a 1lb a week loss for November. But I also know that if I stick properly to fast800 I could see more than that. I have no Christmas things at all until December so I can get a good clear month under my belt. I started the month well with a bootcamp session in the park in the autumn sunshine and now I’m prepping my brunch- bacon, egg, Avocado, mushrooms and tomatoes 😋

Hey all! Thanks for tagging.
I’m weighing the same, no loss this week. Baby been unwell and I’m run down too so been eating lots of carbs /snacks and steps have been lower.
Started the day with a long walk though and had salad for lunch so better day today. Will attempt a 20 hour fast & low cal day on Monday when kids back to school.
Happy weekend to everyone 😊

Good thinking on the measurements @IDareSay , hoping to take mine again soon and really hope to see some progress too.
I will say I am starting the week at 72.9kg as I was yesterday morning (minimal pyjamas) the day before I was weighed at my bone density scan at 73.6 with clothes on which seemed fair considering clothes. Weekly weigh ins suit me much better than daily as I do seem to fluctuate a lot which stresses me out but at the moment I am seeing progress. Although what did upset me at my bone scan was my height. I was always always 170cm/5 foot 7 and they measured me at 167cm and said at my last scan in 2021 I was 168.5. I haven't got the results yet but was osteopenic in 2021, really hope it hasn't progressed more!! Also the height thing affects my bmi as I always use 170cm for the calculation!! Baah.
Fasting today, have a slight headache but trying to stave off with miso soup and have planned a nice dinner on myfitnesspal which should fill me up after sweet potato and bell pepper for lunch and rice cakes with miso (and a soy milk coffee) for breakfast!

i always forget to do measurements but I think I might this time. I also have used the Me360 app (it’s free and it takes a whole body ‘scan’ type picture of you, then when you add further pics it shows you the two pics merged, hard to explain but I think would be very motivating eg after a stone loss or after starting a workout regime)

my dh is starting his diet today, which meant yesterday he went to Sainsbury’s and bought loads of goodies, which I found very hard - however luckily he didn’t check the gluten content so everything was off limits for me (even the ice cream!) which I was annoyed about at the time but this morning was quite grateful for!

i’m doing a roast ham today with loads of veg sides so I can portion some up for the freezer. I’ve got a few nice things planned for this week, I’m going to do a big stew with mushrooms, swede and carrots, and also a bolognese/ cottage pie batch cook. Getting used to the smaller portions on fast800 is the tricky bit for me so I think if I portion it out in advance I can just defrost my one portion and add veg.

I did a tough bootcamp yesterday and ran 6km this morning, about halfway round my legs hit the wall, I always forget how much bootcamp takes it out of me. The rest of the day I am watching trashy tv and cooking!

Hey hey - it sounds as if November is getting off to a great start...

How about sharing the things you are enjoying most about having lost some of the weight... or that you're looking forward to...

The more ridiculous the better!!

The one that made me laugh was that I discovered I could twizzle on my bum in the bath to end up facing the other way... yup, cleaner water up that end ...dont think Ive done that for decades, made me feel like a kid!!

The one that give me most pleasure... wearing clothes from my 20s and a some new trousers and a top
I've treated myself to

The one I know is most important... I've given myself better health and a stronger chance of a long health span (but yup, I enjoy the first two more!!)

Haha love your bath revelation @loveyouradvice ! I was a weight I was happy with from 2016-2020 so have loads of clothes from that period mostly size 10, a few 8s. Would be nice to fit into those again! I also suffer from arthritis and can't get up and down from the floor because various joints (ankles, knees, wrists, elbows) just don't work well any more. I am working on this side with my PT but when I was more like 60kg or less my husband could quite easily lift me. Since I have been in the 70s I think this would be harder for him so I am hoping that if I get to be lighter again I will have more confidence that he can get me up (pre Covid times if I sat on the beach for example he would just drag me up to standing and it wasn't an issue)
Will keep thinking about things to celebrate 😄

I’d just like to be able to get dressed and look in the mirror and feel like I look nice. I don’t have any clothes at all that I think I look slim in anymore. My shape has changed a lot and I’m really bottom heavy. So that’s my motivation really. It’s probably vanity but I don’t care 🤷‍♀️

good day today, I stuck to my two meal plan and had a can of Sprite Zero and a couple of pieces of fruit as well. Finishing up on 850 calories and 80g carbs.

Great job on your calories today @thenewaveragebear1983 you will see the difference soon I am sure! I do hate my dependence on coke zero on fast days when I am in the office but I tell myself anything to get through on 500kcal and once I am at a better weight I can start actually trying to do it healthily! Fruit and veggies are great though- had a yellow bell pepper with miso soup for lunch and a load of broccoli with my konjac noodles for dinner and they are so low in calories!

How is everyone getting along?

I hit a lowest weight earlier this year but it's back up again this morning so nothing earth-shattering to report.

On the positive side, I am really enjoying using Nutracheck and my tracking is really easy to do now. Starting to fill it with my recipes so no need for the pen, notebook, and calculator when I am cooking!

On the negative side, I'm finding since the clock change I am hungrier in the morning and champing at the bit to break my fast. I hope this will ease as we head into winter and it has prompted me to start taking my VitD spray every day again, even though we are outdoors with the dogs for at least an hour a day.

Anyone else struggling with the darker days? Think my body has decoded to identify as a bear and eat lots and hibernate!

Sounds good @IDareSay ... I'll look forward to hearing more about Nutracheck and you!

So agree re dark and cold and clock changes... I definitely top up my Vit D and am not quite so keen to bounce out of doors... need to persuade myself, or have a good podcast or mate to walk with.

Definiltey got a wee inner bear inside me... mine's brown, small and cuddley and a bit like Pooh would adore to have his mitt stuck in a jar of honey. Im about to try Tim Spector's fermented garlic in honey as a winter boost... will report back how it goes. Meanwhile, going to embrace my inner bear with long baths and early night - and hopefully not more food!!!

Here goes - Friday check-in.
Very happy to feel stable at 11.0 with 4 days at 10.13 this week... beginning to feel like I might be a woman in her 10s again, most bizarre and rather inspiring that that is my goal for next year.

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 11.0.... very happy with this!! same as last week.

I definitely hate the dark and cold (although hasn't been too cold yet!)
Friday weigh in. I sometimes weigh myself in the week but I fluctuate wildly so better for my mind if I stick to first thing on a Friday morning.
Down slightly this week- to 72.3kg from 72.9 but I have been doing this about 6 weeks now so should expect a slow down. Hopefully can keep up half a kilo a week and hit my Christmas goal.
Sw 77.4
Tw 63
Tw xmas 70
Cw 72.3

@loveyouradvice deffo something to celebrate being in the 10 stone bracket! Woohoo.

Looking at my stats, I am eating the calories I allow myself every day and my exercise calories. This is not good as it means I am not running a deficit so no chance of any loss if I continue on like this.

On the bright side, I'm not overeating so there shouldn't be a gain, but I really do want to be 60.something kg before Christmas so I must try harder.

The weather has been so dark, wet, and miserable apart from yesterday when we had a lovely sunny walk on the beach but I must learn to deal with it in a way that doesn't involve food! 19 days left in November so still time to turn things around. Perhaps a couple of 500 cal days as per the original 5:2 will give me a reset?

Hi fasters! I’ve been doing….okay. Not had a single day where I hit 800, however by aiming for 800 I’m ending up on 1000-1200 which is still a good deficit for me. I’ve lost a couple of pounds each week so I’m now very near to the next stone bracket and will hopefully be there next weigh in.

Also not having a great week . Sticking to my fasting windows but chocolate and rubbish protein bars creeeping in. Weight gone up to 11.10 earlier in the week but afraid to weigh now. Little or no exercise most days - weather not helping either..
Tiredness and stress playing a part but I feel I’ve lost motivation.
Current weight 11.10 on 11/11/25
Was 11. 7 on 4/11/25
highest was in March 2025 at 13. 5
Goal 11 st

revisiting why I’m doing this

I don’t want to get dementia. Anything I can do to avoid it I will. Obesity is a risk factor. I already have mild hearing loss and early heart disease and high Cholesterol - controlled on meds.
Obesity is also a risk factor for further hearing loss.
I want to live and enjoy my later years as healthy and as independent as possible.

To do this I need to continue on the fasting journey - I’ve done well just need to stick with it.
To help at this point I need to lower carbs to control appetite.
It would help a lot to exercise a bit.
I need to manage work. It takes too much of my time and energy. But also takes my mind off food.
For today im going to go back to basics - 16:8 , protein and green veg low cabs ..
hope everyone else is ok.
I have these blips - I will get past it.. it helps to post about it.

Hi! Posting to join. I’m starting 5:2 this week. I’ve tried fast 800 lots of times before because I love the science but I can’t stick to it. I’m sitting at 163lbs from a high of 170 last year - but was stable at 155, then 158…and it just crept back up. I’d need to lose 30 pounds to be healthy. Even staying 145-150 would be great. I maintained there for years before kids.

I think today will be around 800cal instead of 500, because I chose poorly at breakfast. Next fasting day I think I’ll leave my protein powder in my spot at the table the night before.

I’m ticking along but I don’t think I’m technically fasting, I suppose it’s TRE as I am waiting til lunchtime to eat, but some days I don’t get there. I was really hungry today and we had no food in so I just muddled through but as a result I had a really low cal day (for me) although still not 800. It’s just too low for me. I did a tough bootcamp yesterday and ran today, and I really noticed it in my legs today, I just had no power.

the weekend sort of looms ahead, I usually do a Friday weigh in and that motivates me over the weekend. I would very much like a glass of wine tomorrow, I’ve had a busy week! I’m booked on to a bootcamp after work tomorrow after work.

foodwise I have planned a few new things from a new recipe book, a sausage casserole, a chicken curry and a lamb tagine. This week my frozen portions have been a lifesaver as I have had a few times where I have just grabbed them and it takes the thought completely out.

I’m steadily losing, only 1-2 a week but I am very close to being under 11 stone which is a big milestone for me as I got there for my birthday and then put it all back on 🤣

Welcome @diplop - good to have you with us - hope your first week of 5:2 goes well. Yes I love those visual reminders too - they really work for me.

@JadeVS72 It so sounds as if you're on track for your Christmas goal!! Congrats.

@IDareSay I can hear the frustration - but also wonder whether it is time to embrace a few weeks of "maintenance"? A lot of nutritional pros seem to advise this- lose a chunk, then stay there for a bit (teaching your body a new set point, and your mind that you can maintain) and then lose the next chunk. I've consciously done this a few times in the past and it's really helped me in so many ways - and interestingly made the second chunk easier to lose. But if you decide to restart again now, we'll be cheering you on - 5:2 always a good way to go!!

@tiredwitless It always helps to post about it! Back to basics is such a great approach: it really helps me. And we all have blips - we can keep moving past them!

@thenewaveragebear1983 you're doing so great with the steady weightloss - I think we're hovering around the same point, 11 stone. You'll be back under soon.

Here goes - Friday check-in.
Somewhat amazed - I have made target. WOW!!!!!!!

I've been at 10.12 for three days now so it is starting to feel real... I'm very happy at this weight, but already beginning to wonder if I'd like to be at 10.7...interesting thought.

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 10.12

Woohoo congrats @loveyouradvice amazing work.
I had a bad week with zero fasting.
Have put on a little bit and back to 72.9kg, but it's fine, should be able to fit in 2 days next week. I do an exercise class on a Tuesday and felt really fat looking at myself in the mirror this week, so definitely motivated (just been out for a delicious dinner though, socialising is what will ruin this for me!)

Huge congratulations on making target @loveyouradvice !

You make a good point on having a maintenance break and it seems I am having one without actually planning to 😁

I do want to get a little lower before Christmas though, so I am giving myself a 'relaxed' weekend food-wise and then buckling down on Monday to see if I can just shift down a little bit more. I did weigh yesterday and it was a STS so the calories in/out equation does seem to work for me, even though there are quite big fluctuations depending on what type of food I have eaten the day before (rice, potatoes and bread the main culprits). Weight always seems to reflect calories in the long run though, whatever I have eaten.

Onwards and (hopefully) downwards!

I'd love to know your story of weight over the decades - I've been reflecting on my own, while wondering what is a healthy weight for me to aim for now. How did you each choose your TW??.

I'm 5.7 with an hourglass figure and broad shoulders so have always found being a bit heavier than my mates works for me... but a lot heavier has NOT been good for me and all too frequent over the years.

Chubby child.... despite not eating much
Lost weight consciously at about 13 - hard work!
Teens - weighed 9 stone -9.7
Twenties - weighed 10 stone - 10.5.... thought started becoming a yo-yo dieter
Thirties - 11-12.7 stone: definitely a yoyo dieter.
Forties - post baby: fluctuated 11-16 stone....
Fifties - a couple of big chunks of time I was happily at 11 stone post Dukan diet - but equally often up at 12-14 stone
Early sixties - NOW - fluctuated 11-14 stone...

and wondering now I am at 10.12 whether to aim for 10.7: the weight I think of as my 20s weight. It would feel amazing - and I've still a few clothes from that era sitting in the attic that I would love to wear again. There's the added incentive that my cholesterol levels seem to respond fast to weight loss and that would probably get me back in the firmly healthy range... but vanity (yes even in my 60s, who'd have thunk it!!) has always been a more powerful motivator for me than health.