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

Agree .... 120g is excessive unless you're doing lots of weightlifting and aiming to build muscle fast...

I'm 5.8 and 11stone and 90-100g is a healthy target for me... I realised before I started counting that I probably was only having 60 or so g a day.... anything over 85g Im cheering and definitely find that I don't get hungry and feel wonderfully satisfied with how I eat...

There are calculations you can do... is it 1.2-1.4g per kg of the weight you expect to be (a bit higher if obese)?? Yes, that works... 70kg for me ....

But if you are eating in a calorie deficit it will presumably be lower.

Oh great! I don’t know why the app told me that. I’m 5”5!! And was 11st 11 when I started using it. I’ll look at another online calculator. I tend to be managing about 50-60g a day.

I’ve had a look at the macros in my food diary and I am averaging 70 grams. Much less this week as it’s half term. Looking forward to enjoying pancake day.

Today I ate 3 meals including a substantial breakfast and hit 85g. But overall calories higher than usual, not too fussed about this since half term, but looks like I have more to learn about how to up protein in less meals!

Hi everyone. OK if I join,?
I am on the verge of trying WLI but something seems to have clicked in me now, so trying to stick with the fasting and healthy eating. And because I have been successful i probably only borderline qualify for WLI.. so I'll save my money for other treats (not wine, it's what got me into this mess)

5'1"
January start weight 11.1
Now 10.6

Lost around 9lbs on fasting, healthy eating and much less wine!

January was pretty much my heaviest ever. Been gaining over last two years due to injury and lifestyle. Just finished cancer treatment so need to think about health generally and get fit again (not possible yet)

Half term is tricky, but been quite good apart from pancake day. Today an indulgennt meal out so trying to push a light breakfast until later. Still pretty full of pancakes

Goal weight in 9.7 - although I used to hover around 8.10. Need to be realistic though. I'm very short and curvy and late 40s

@Ilovefoodandwine welcome to our thread. It doesn’t sound like you are overweight enough for WLI. I am similar age and you are right about being realistic. It sounds like you have been through a lot and need to be kind to yourself. That includes healthy eating, lowering stress and finding an exercise that you can do. Good luck and keep us posted.

Have not had a great week last week as was travelling with work and then had my mum up for the weekend and a big celebration on Friday. So was not particularly good but thought I would enjoy it and get back on the wagon this week. Put in on about 500g when I weighed myself.

Getting back on the wagon went moderately well - it does mess up your eating habits and you start craving food, don’t you! But had a disciplined day today and yesterday and hopefully will get back in the groove.

Still going slowly....

Another 400 g off. Able to fit in to some clothes that had been mothballed for the last year. Small wins! Keep going everyone one - you can do it!

SW 70 kg 12 Jan
CW 67 kg
TW 60 kg

I've never done fasting before, but I'm finding it weirdly easy. I think my routine helps as by the time I start to feel hungry around 10ish I have to take the dog out for his long walk. 2 hours later I come back and then it's lunch time. Evening meal is some time between 6 and 8 depending on teens' activities and mine and Dh's hobbies and then it's all over bar the shouting! Previously my tummy would start to tell me after about 3 and a half hours that it was time for a refill. Weird!!!

The big challenge will be a holiday I have coming up. AI with teens means there will be constant temptation. I'm not sure if I could sit there while everyone tucks into breakfast and not have anything at all. I might do a high protein breakfast and not fast that week. Anyone survived an AI holiday without too much damage?

Routine is the key for me. When I lost lots of weight fasting I kept it up on holiday but enjoyed eating treats and local cuisine during my normal eating window.

Hello all, a lot to catch up on.

The good news is, I am allowed to exercise again (within very strict limits; lots of rest days and build up slowly) and I am still bumping along in the 62s.
No idea how, I am way over my calories most days due to my expenditure being so low.

The bad news is I have not been able to continue with my usual painkillers for my arthritis but GP has prescribed different ones which so far seem to be ok. Unfortunately they have to be taken twice a day with or after food, so I need to eat something when I get up so 16:8 is out for the time being. I’ll see how I get along, there may be a way to tweak things but I’m obeying Dr’s orders for now (quite unlike me 😁).

The only thing that will properly fix me is replacing my knackered hip, so I have bitten the bullet and booked a private appointment with my surgeon.
GP told me current NHS wait here is 24 months; "2 years you mean!” I said. I’m sure they use months to make it sound less...
It could of course be shorter, so I’ll continue on the NHS pathway too and play it by ear.

I hope nobody will mind me hanging out here even though I currently can’t do any type of fasting really. It’s such a supportive thread for me 💜

I’m not really fasting at the moment either, just easing into healthy eating for now.

Hi all,
good to see you back @DameProfessorIDareSay- it’s great that you can exercise again albeit building up slowly. You’ll get back to the fasting in time I’m sure.
I agree about routine @NewYearNewYews and I’ve been out of mine all week, so much so that I haven’t weighed myself today because I know I’ve gained and there’s no point in confirming it and feeling worse! I have done a good bit of exercise - mainly walking and some long walks - but not enough fasting.
I will get back to it properly when back at work next week. Really have to knock sugar on the head too. Planning meals is crucial for me also. Not doing that either!

my last weigh in was on Wednesday at 11st 11.6

Probably time to think about why I want to do this again. For me it’s about staying healthy primarily, and reducing my chances of dementia and other chronic illnesses as I get older. But also … I have loved fitting into my clothes again this last 6 months or so - and really want to keep feeling good now as well as in the future , hopefully.
Anyone got any tips for getting motivated?

My motivations are much the same as yours @tiredwitless
Mum has Alzheimers and if I can do anything to avoid any form of dementia, or immobility, by changing my lifestyle I’m willing to do it.

I had an interesting discussion with my physio about avoiding illness; it’s often the first trip, injury, or fall that triggers a descent into chronic illness, as the immobility afterwards exacerbates so many health conditions. She agreed with me that staying at a sensible weight, maintaining as much muscle as possible, and working on balance and stability are crucial.

Without breaking any medical confidences, she made it clear that she sees patients my age who have lost full mobility, and consequently gained weight, lost strength, developed type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, you name it, they have it. She also has people in their 80’s and upwards who stay mobile, eat sensibly, and continue to exercise regularly and have no chronic issues.

I know whatever I do, I cannot guarantee dementia or injury/immobility won’t get me, but I’m damned if I will go quietly into that abyss! Being on crutches/sticks for almost 5 weeks now has really brought home to me how much harder life is in those circumstances and how much I missed just not thinking about running upstairs or yomping up hills.

I admit to vanity too, so in terms of visual motivation I have a new pair of jeans and a sleeveless top hanging on the back of my bedroom door; they fit me now but will look even better if I can get back to my lowest weight and continue to tone up my muscles.

We will get there if we keep cheering each other on, as we do on this thread.

Weighing day yesterday:

SW - 80kg
CW - 76.7kg
TW - 64kg

Not much progress but basically got back to where I was before I fell off the wagon, but not too unhappy with that really.

Onwards and upwards!

.

Well done @2BarbieOrNot2Barbie- sounds like good progress.
I know what you mean about the cravings starting when you start fasting again. I found I had very few cravings once in an established pattern but it’s hard to get back there.. good food choices help I think. Got to plan my meals today!

@DameProfessorIDareSay my mum also has Alzheimer’s and like you Im not going to go there without putting up a fight!

Out for a walk now to make the most of the fact it isn’t raining at the moment, for a change!

It is trickier - but what I love about the fasting approach is how simple and binary it is. You don’t have to think about what, or how many calories. You just check to see whether it’s your eating window. If it’s not - then you don’t eat.

Can I join ? My meds have made me put on 6 stone ! I get breathless bending down to feed my cats. I feel like I've been eating less and still gaining weight every month it's crazy. I'm going to get my thyroid gland checked. At the moment I'm eating a breakfast of 2 eggs, lots of spinach, and half a mashed and seasoned avocado.

Then a yogurt around lunchtime, and perhaps another yogurt or buttered rice for dinner- I do think there's something in eating fats to stay full rather than carbs. I used to fast when I was unwell as it helped speed up recovery.

I once went 4 days eating only a spoon of peanut butter and lettuce here and there. I was euphoric. Went for a run and felt such a sense of peace

Hi All - I’ve posted on the main 5:2 thread (103) but this one seems to be active as well so, for double accountability, may I join you all as well?

I lost over 3 stone (from 12st down to 9st) with 5:2 anbout 8 years ago and happily maintained for a while. Then covid came along….and I’ve slowly put it back on over the past few years. I’ve muddled through losing and gaining the same stone doing calorie counting only in the past, but it’s time to get smart and in control again. First FD will be Monday. I haven’t been on the scales for a while, but will join the Friday weigh in gang. I’m guessing I’m back up at 12st again, if not more.

You’re very welcome @HLBug and @ThatFairy
best of luck with re-starting fasting and do let us know how it’s going.

@2BarbieOrNot2Barbie I love the simplicity of it also. My baseline is to do 16:8 everyday which is now pretty much a habit - and then to work in a few 22s - which I find harder. I do eat healthily and try to avoid sugar ( often unsuccessfully at the moment) but that’s it.
Some do calorie count also which is a choice, but I know I can lose weight this way without it and makes day to day much simpler for me. Planning my fasts and meals - just main elements, not calories - really helps.

@tiredwitless

My current motivation is

1 a holiday in a couple of weeks time (I couldn't fit into my swim costume after Christmas!)

2 A friends get together in May where people who don't get together very often are all meeting up and I'd like to look my best for it.

3 A milestone birthday later in the year. I want to look good in the photos. I don't want to be thinking people are looking at me and saying 'Christ, she hasn't ages well!'.

So a lot of motivation at the moment!!! Have you got anything coming up that you want to look your best for?

Checking back in. I've done OK at sticking yl my fast for the most part but on a plateau because I'm still eating way too much in my window.
Need to start prepping a healthy lunch the night before ratherbthan relyingbo myself to make healthy decisions on a very empty stomach.
Due my period so hoping fir a bit of a drop once that is out the way.

Sw 76kg
Cw 71.8
Gw 64

I've had a 'whoosh'. Hopped on the scales this morning (usually weigh on a Friday) and I'm 66.4 kg. Not quite sure how that happened as Friday I was 67 kg...

SW 70 kg 12 Jan
CW 66.4 kg
TW 60 kg