Countdown to EASTER!

[tiredwitless]

We’re almost half way through February so marching on through to Easter (5th of April) as we help each other to stay focused on our fasting goals.

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.
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.
So - how do you want the rest of February and March to look for you? Goals for Easter? And 2026? We'll look forward to hearing

I may well have missed someone so please @ people in to the thread but gathered up most I think/hope!

@loveyouradvice
@ProfessorIDareSay
@jadeVS72
@2barbieOrNot2Barbie
@NewYearNewYu
@BonBonDong
@Potterwatch89
@clearingaspace
@Diplop
@Talkinpeace
@2Early4Breakfast
@5humpedcamel

Thank you for tagging me. I needed to be brought back on focus! Been fasting fairly well sticking to a 6 hour eating window. But the food within the window is not great. Ivecalso got in to a bit of a habit of having a few drinks one day each weekend which not only means a longer window but also sometimes not fasting the next day. Will do better this coming weekend 💪

@5humpedcamel your blip sounds like mine. If I take alcohol out of the equation, I can do so much better. Had a few drinks on Sunday with dh, and yesterday was a write - off.
May I join ?
I, on a good day - of which I've been having a few recently, have brunch 11am, tea 4pm, then I stop.
No sweet tooth, but a bit of an issue with wine 😣
Water I drink a lot of, and exercise not bad but needs upping ( too much tennis and Netflix).
I want to lose a stone in 12 weeks.
Thanks @tiredwitless for the invitation ❤️

Oh, I was 13st 4 last Friday. Hoping for a 2, 3lb weight loss this week.

Thanks for the new thread @tiredwitless

I’m not going to set any weight goals just yet, will continue to monitor weight and not go over my red line of 63kg but until I can return to proper exercise my calorie expenditure is too low to tweak down too much and achieve any significant weight loss.

I am committing to building back up to a proper fasting window which does at least limit some of the damage.

Physio went well yesterday, though I still can’t confidently fully bear weight on my right leg but it is improving day by day and I am down to one crutch/stick. I am going to begin gentle walks tomorrow, probably on the treadmill to begin with.

Physio said my pelvis is pretty much back in alignment so as long as I walk ‘mindfully’ without tensing up I can start to build up my strength. Still no sign of my ortho appointment so I must chase that up this week.

Thanks for the tag. I'm still keeping up the 18/6. Hoping to lose a decent amount this week. School holidays here and I've already swerved breakfast pancakes cooked by ds!

Good luck this week everyone.

16/8 that should be. No way I could do 18/6!

Thanks @tiredwitless ... and great idea to run up to Easter!! I'll look forward to sharing Easter strategies nearer the time - having Christmas ones really helped me... and I adore chocolate in all its guises!! I normally buy far too much.... Hmm.

So, where do I want to be by Easter? Ideally 10.12 , consistently, for me, which is 2lbs down from today. So that's my March goal.....

And my bigger goal is EXERCISE: serious exercise, however short, EVERY day...and I'll plan each day around it, prioritising it over other things including work (that's the toughest!!). Including dancing in the kitchen (which I love) and some light weights and steps in front of the telly, as well as chunky walks and the occasional class.... just crafting my day around it.

Hello, can I join? I got into fasting at the start of last year through a great MN thread and the support helped so much. At that time I did a 36-40 hr fast once a week and IF or OMAD here and there. I lost some weight which I wanted but really got into the mental clarity and how good it made me feel. I fell away though during summer break with the kids with me all the time and weights crept back. Last few weeks have done 16:8 most days with a few longer fasts up to 20 so far, I’d like to build up to longer. Tonight I stopped eating at 5.30 so will see how long I can go tomorrow.

Would like to lose at least a stone. Thing I find hardest is not overeating during eating window. If I eat one or two meals without picking all goes well.

Hi quick post to say hi, I’ve been looking at IF and the fast 800 recently, have started by just cutting out the junk and reducing sugar, haven’t had a can of Diet Coke for three days now! Have at least 2 stone to lose, which is like to do by May. Another one on top by August would be fab and then I’ll be at my wedding weight 23 years ago 😆
can I ask what (free) apps you recommend for recording fasts and also if anyone has any fast800 resources? I did slimming world years ago and there was so much out there but I can find much for low carb type stuff as much

Slowly does it

SW 70 kg 12 Jan
CW 67.4 kg
TW 60 kg

Hey hey slow is good @BonBonDong , congrats on such a positive month... onwards and downwards...

Welcome @JoelDommettsTux and @stickydough ... I don't use a fasting app, but LOVE Fast800: It's how I started my fasting journey, losing 22lbs in the first 12 weeks...Reducing sugar is such a great way to go, it's really helped me and most of the time I really don't miss it at all. Wow you are hard core @stickydough - I remember doing those 36/40h fasts but am now much happier just doing the odd 24h one, and eating in a 6-10hour window. Did you feel you got the extra mental clarity from those longer fasts?? What are your strategies for not overeating in your eating window? what does a really great day look like to you?

And good morning Friday check-in! Unlike the last few weeks, I'm so on it and enjoying it again.

SW: 14.2
CW: 10.13 - so down another pound
GW: 10.12 by end of Feb .... and then would be very happy to maintain that until Easter before deciding whether to aim for 10.7 or not... my original GW was 11.2, which I've been very happy at in the past... but I'm so enjoying being able to wear most of the clothes I kept from my 20s, rather fancy being able to wear them all again!!

Can I join? You lot are inspiring!

My body doesn't deal with holding fat at all, I have a medical condition (genetic!) that means I have to carry as little fat as possible. Have been told I should have a BMI of 19 or even a bit lower 😭. Currently BMI 23 but the health effects are getting really serious now and I need to lose. Struggling with thinking this is unfair as I eat really well and exercise.

Dr advises fasting to help me quickly and pretty much the only way I can reach a low BMI at my age (menopause!).

Nervous of telling those around me what I'm doing. They'll all tell me it is dangerous, I'm already healthy, but it is so unhelpful as this is the thinking I have in my own head and I need to change it. Like it or not, a BMI of 23 makes my body react as if I am obese.

So, that's me. I've done 3 days so far, this is day 4 but half term starts today and lots of family and friends will be over this week.

Has anyone faced friends and family thinking this is a really bad idea and being very vocal about it? Any tips to deal with it?? What do you tell your DC? Dont want them to notice to much....

Welcome to everyone new!

CW 11st 10 - going the right direction thankfully. Down one from last week. Only managed 16s this week and still have a chocolate problem since Christmas. Doing well with lots of green vegetables seeds nuts etc.
@JoelDommettsTuxI use Zero - free app which helps me keep track of fasts. It does the job!
Great you are back on it @loveyouradvice

Thanks all - I’ll have a look at Zero. Will
update later

Welcome @onlyonsunday , it really isn’t anyone else’s business what/when you eat. Just get on with doing what is best for you.
I’m just concentrating on low upf atm, will bring in fasting in time. I find high protein, low upf and fasting control my appetite naturally.

Delayed check in, although did weigh on Friday! Pound lost.
sw 11st 11
cw 11st 8
gw 10st 6

I started using zero a few weeks ago too, finding it helpful. I really enjoy clicking the ‘start fast’ button to mentally decide there’s no way I’ll eat again this evening.

@loveyouradvicei did feel mental clarity came with the long fasts, plus good sleep and it all just felt so wholesome in my body somehow. Like really giving my body a break. But like you say, doing TRE works and is fine for me just now. It’s a good question on the strategies as I have none! Planning I suppose. Today is another day I’ve eaten more than I need having done a decent fast of 18hr, I think I just feel a bit deprived as if I need it. But prior to get back on the fasting wagon, I’d developed a little (large) snacking in the evening habit, and simply cutting that out is probably the main source of recent weight loss!

The thing I don’t like on zero is the protein target. Theres no way I even get close, I think I hit it once!

I meant to reply to the friends query @onlyonsunday, I didn’t tend to tell loads of people, or not the extent of how long I was doing it for. And because I only did long fasts once per week, there was only one eve I didn’t eat so the kids didn’t really notice. The rest of the week if I do omad I make my meal dinner to eat with them. Although being around them all the time during long school hols was when I fell off the wagon. Are your kids wee?

@stickydough @NewYearNewYews Thank you. My DC are 9 and 11 so I could try to explain but I don't want them to think mum is sick. Also dont want them to start thinking about their eating habits too much as they both eat really well and don't want to interfere with that! Stopped today as friends came over and surprised us by bringing supper for all of us, along with all sorts of treats and snacks. I tried to eat moderately but couldn't offend them when they'd been so kind!

18hrs is great. I will do a 800 day on Monday as DC are not here and I should be alone! Thinking 2:5 could be the answer for half term!

My goals and aspirations never change.

Darn... a very unbalanced day yesterday... overate at lovely buffet, overstimulated with fascinating conversations late into evening, ended up eating nuts and dark choc in LARGE quantities at 2 am....

Interesting I can still do this... it is clearly such a core part of my coping strategy over decades.... but of course the big difference is that I gorged but it was all healthy stuff so I don't feel horrendous the next day just surprised and a bit annoyed.

Coming on here for accountability - today will be a clean rebalancing day, eating less, eating consciously... and then seeing where I am tomorrow. Will do two "tough days" Mon/Tues if needed to get back to weight I was on Friday

And hello new people - lovely to have you on board! This is such a great and friendly group of people, cheering each other on - commiserating when it's rough - and lots of great learning as we all move forward together.

@onlyonsunday That's really tough. But I wonder if you are making it more complicated than it is? Yes, tell people, tell them what you've said here - tell them it's the medical advice and you're a bit pissed off because you've been eating so healthily but you're going to go with it because it's important. People don't tend to argue with "doctors orders". And if they do, just say you've lots of respect for your doctor so you are going to give it a go. I so get that at 9 and 11 you don't want to influence their great food habits - perhaps just keep it light and say that you're needing to eat a bit differently for a while to look after your health, and that its totally fine and sometimes people have to do that. It's great role modelling for them to see you're looking after yourself. But also it sounds like 5:2 might be best over half-term, and it's easier once they're back at school. I love that my DD now in her 20s says that DH and I are such great role models for living healthily and she finds it inspiring... I had no idea, especially as she is going through a tough overeating phase at the mo... it makes me SO happy. Come back in a couple of days and tell us how it's going?? And if you've found the words that work for you??

@NewYearNewYews I SO agree... lots of protein and veg and little upf has been a life changer for me!!

Interesting @stickydough ... yes, cutting out evening snacks makes such a difference!! I remember 10 years ago my BIL was told not to eat after 8 pm and just following that simple rule he lost a shedload - eye opening for me at the time, as long before I discovered IF and then it all made sense. Are you tempted to up the protein and see how you feel? I'm not sure how old you are but getting enough protein is so important, especially after 40, and its naturally satiating so helps with cutting out other stuff... perhaps give it a go??

One thing helping me on the protein front has swapping my carby breakfast for full fat Greek yogurt. I started with honey stirred in and slowly cut it down until I could eat it plain.
I like the 80:20 rule. If you eat well 80% of the time and have treats 20% of the time you are fine. Reverse it and it’s not so good.

Argh I wrote a long message that the app deleted!

Re the protein, maybe it’s the zero app as I find how it logs the meals isn’t accurate, and I really can’t get into counting macros beyond that. But I’m often only having 2 meals a day and I’m mostly veggie, I do now eat fish 2/3 times a week. But even a meal with fish or high pulses, seeds etc, seems to be 20-30g protein so I don’t know how to get near the target the app has given me of 120! I like Greek yogurt and kefir drinks, have them or nuts as a snack, but I feel I can’t make it work without loads of meals and snacks which seems beside the point?!! I’ve hit the target once in the last few weeks I think. I do find it satiating so get that benefit but I’m a bit skeptical about how important it is. Happy to be convinced if others know more, I haven’t looked into it much. I tend to focus on it more on a gym day. I am 40s.

I had said some stuff about how it’s good to just get back on track after an unbalanced day…but I’m sure those of you dealing with that today know that!!

120g of protein seems like too much to me, unless you’re 6’6”?