I F - 5:2 - 4:3 - Maintaining the healthy weight

[TalkinPeace2]

This thread is for those who have been doing IF for quite a while and are now at or nearing their target healthy weight.

How do we experience fasts and balance a stable food intake while having little or no weight to lose?

How to we ensure that this WOE does keep us at the healthy weight long term rather than revert to yoyo games?

I have now been at the same weight for a month. I'm happy with that. I'm also still enjoying the 24 hour fasts because of the clear mindedness I get during them.

How about you?

Thanks guys and good to be back. Laska talking of 'motivation' have posted a recent picture of myself in the lycra out on my bike on my profile....looks like I still need to lose a few pounds though.

Filly, thinking of you and your family at this difficult time, I hope things resolve themselves in a positive way

I am wheel chair bound at present and genuinely sedentary. I can't weigh myself but can see that I have put on a significant amount of fat despite using MFP and doing 5:2. I normally do 4:3, so it might be that. Or might be that because I am using MFP I am actually eating MORE than when just guessing. Or maybe it is because I have eaten far more starchy carbs than usual for a couple of weeks ( hospital vegetarian food followed by "convalescent" treats) and they have a lot of water attached when stored.... I will try to tease it out and find a solution.
The idea that I actually have the power to look at it objectively and try some solutions is quite new to me; prior to IF I would simply have abandoned all hope at this point and turned to continuous eating of junk for consolation........and within days have regained all the lost weight and lost all the gained self control!

filly sounds like a good plan,When i've had stressful stuff going on I've found that carrying on with fasting has given me a feeling of control of one small area of my life, where i've had little or none over others, so it was helpful to continue, but there did also come a point (over christmas and after a divorce court hearing) when I just went, ok, I'm giving myself a couple of weeks off, and that also felt good ....and stretched into 3 weeks!

I'm glad the biopsy went ok, I really hope for the best possible news for your Mum.

I've been off work with kids for half term, so been busy and not fasted since last Weds, today is the first day back on, and going well so far, just a white coffee and a chamomile tea, need to go in search of some more drinks and try and get through til a decent dinner tonight, also planning on another fast tomorrow, as I have a st tropez beach party themed party to attend on Saturday night.....what on earth can I wear? I am really not happy enough with my bod to be wearing a swimsuit! eeekkkkk!

and as to shred........eerrmmm............I have at least bought the weights and boy, carrying them home from argos, as well as the 4 bags of food shopping was a workout for my arms and shoulders in itself! tooe me 30 mins to walk what would normally take me 10 mins!

but the bf and his dd came for a long weekend, I've had house viewings and children to clean up after, I know, excuses, but I promise to get back on to shred this week!

well done to all of you who have been doing it! I'm very impressed, especially laska as after months of stating that she does nothing other than walking, you should be very impressed with adopting more exercise?

I think it was frenchfancy talking about being stuck at the normal weight for a few weeks, just wanted to say I'm in the same boat, although suspect I may not be working as hard as you seem to be at staying within TDEE on non fast days, so actually my few weeks has stretched into a few months, and your shredding is going better, but the new clothes has got to be an incentive? did you try on? what were they like? it is so frustrating not to see things continue, but I just keep reminding myself, that I now feel fairly confident at my new weight, any more off is just a bonus, and whatever happens, even if I stop for a while and gain, I can then get rid of it again fairly easily, I'm hoping once shredding starts regularly, that i will lose some more, but I don't really want to stop eating the (not so healthy) food that i do on non fast days, so can live with teh status quo for now! (and it's been winter, soon spring and summer will make things easier!)

as a non related ps I got my kids into a new holiday playscheme for today, and the woman emailed me on registration to ask their names, when i told her she then replied and said , " I don't mean to be rude, but are you serious?" and her daughter is called precious! lol

Ooh MOCNK did you ever tell us their names? Did I miss it on the old thread?dying to know what they are called. I came across a pair of sisters called Antique and Unique which I thought was , well............unique!

Cyclistist - wonderful to have you back again! BCL - more studies on set point. I read so much I don't which one has what now! jn.nutrition.org/content/127/9/1875S.full
Here's another: www.mirror-mirror.org/set.htm
And one more: voices.yahoo.com/lowering-bodys-set-point-permanent-weight-5734526.html

Why exercise won't make you thin: www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/19/exercise-dieting-public-health

Thanks for all the set point links. I am trying to unravel the science from the opinions and work out how to lower one's set point. The " instructions" so far seem ver complex and without scientific reference. Anyone found any straightforward ones that have a current scientific basis?

Welcome back Cyclistist, very nice picture.

Agree with your post... I was on holiday last week, and this week hasn't been ideal, eating-wise. DS's birthday was yesterday so it feels as if it's been non-stop cake. I did fast on Monday and I will again tomorrow, but my eating days haven't been great so the fasting is more out of habit than anything else. And I don't want to go completely unhinged here. I'll fast tomorrow and possibly Sunday.

I have no doubt eating will go back to normal once the cakes are gone. To be fair, I've given some to the builders at the new house, and I'll be bringing some to a friend tomorrow morning. DH is doing his part, too, trooper that he is. :)

Hi border their names are Gypsy Snow and Pirate Jack, which I kind of thought in this day and age was ok, but found an online rant on some kids naming thread the other day about how irresponsible it was to even think of calling your child Pirate, (not aimed at me, but some other imaginitive soul!) kind of wishing I'd called him Pirate Black, would have been a good contrast with his white blonde hair smile

hopefully they'll forgive me one day, that or change their names!

cyclistist the photo I'm sure doesn't do you justice! Good to have you back.

MOCNK they are fantastic names, good for you!
Actually I have always thought it would be sensible for children to have a temporary name of parental choice until they are, say 16, when they can then choose.

Border nice idea, I think me having a boring name was partly what inspired the unusual choice, maybe if I had changed my own at 16, I might think differently? but I wouldn't be at all offended if they wanted to change them, currently aged 6 and 4 they love them, but many people tell me it won't last....and the most ridiculous is "they'll never be a doctor or a lawyer"

anyway totally off topic, so apologies!

my friend who recently started fasting just texted to say she forgot it was a fast day and ate loads of biscuits and lunch, and asked if I had ever done that, my reply was i've sometimes put food in my mouth and promptly removed it when remembering, but I've never actually forgotten and eaten a whole meal, you guys?

Poor Filly, I'd love to send you a nice portion of my curry, you certaily sound you need it. Sending instead positive vibes and virtual hugs. Whatever happens you can't fail on 5:2, merely have a break when and if it's needed. x

mumof I haven't forgotten I'm fasting and eaten a meal but did once have a chocolate in my mouth before realising and removing. DP on the other only remembered we were fasting after eating lunch on Tuesday

Pretty certain I've gone over on my calories today, but the curries were so good it was absolutely worth it! No more than 700 - not going to worry about that at all. Loads left so will have a more indulgent portion tomorrow

filly I wrote you a huge reply at lunch time on the carp IT system at work ( public sector you see!) and lost it THREE times just as I was about to send it (I know I should have used Word ) . so gave up in the end ..But here is the big (((hug)) I was trying to send you along with many of the same sentiments others have posted to you since.

Cyclisist ,, do tell us if you are married or have a DP.. because after seeing that new photo of you in lycra I'm now thinking you may be the man of my dreams.. ... But sadly I think there could be a few small probs that might stand in the way of our Happiness.. 1. I'm your sis, 2. it would be a definite Cougar situation and 3. oh yes ,.. I'm married!! Oh well...looks like its a total non-starter....

MONCK (great names I esp like Pirate Jack) thanks for your citation.. but I dont think ill be be shredding tonight now as just got in and I have to go make a start on DH birthday meal for when he arrives from over the sea tomorrow.. (oh... and start the long process of regaining my 'natural' blond colour after a visit to the hairdresser ) Ooh but I went for the facial and eyelash tint again.. Expensive madness but bliss..

The 2nd all - veggie day is going well, i went a bit over the 500 yesterday as had a few too many nuts.. and I am really hungry today (hungrier than i would usually be on a fast ).. but feeling like its doing me good ..feeling really bright and full of vim!.

BCL I hope you are healing well after your op.. perhaps you should try a couple of all veg days (plain steamed , soups or stir fried with just a little sauce) to offset the carbs? though I bet its pretty boring being in a wheelchair and tempting to eat ..

Right I'm off to make my veggie stir fry and then Ottolenghi turkey and courgette meatballs and aubergine parmigiana (his favourite).. Going to be difficult not to taste as I go along .. but ill l only shape the meatballs and cook them tomorrow so that will be OK

No shred for me today either. Today's fast has been hard. I've been cold all day despite wearing several layers. I'm now really tired and everyone is getting stressed as we are packing (Muuum I can't find my cardi etc).

I've no idea how much fasting or exercising I'm going to get in over the next 10 days. But at least my new clothes should be waiting for me when I get to the UK.

The scales have finally moved Not a lot granted but eniugh for me to reach two milestones. I am now under 70kg (well 69.9kg but I'm counting it) which when you weigh in kg is a BIG deal. And on top of that I have now lost 10kg a very nice way to start my holiday.

ff well done! I agree every blooming blessed milestone should be counted.

greeneggs glad I found you here was getting a little concerned that hadn't seen you on main thread for a couple of days. Now I know was being daft....

FF Woohoo! Fantastic start to the hole - have a wonderful time!

Rather optimistically posted on the other thread how great I was feeling despite waking up at silly o'clock this morning... definitely coffee time now and grateful it's not a fast day! Had a brilliant fast day yesterday though, was bursting with energy all day and no caffeine either. And it's Friday .

ahem hols - bit of undetected auto correct there methinks

Just seen the cyclists photo snort all becomes clear was beginning to think we needed to call in Jeremy Kyle!

Feeling a bit fed up, have app gained half a stone in one day! Went out with dp last night and Had tapas Sangria and chocolate cake, yum. beginning to think this wow might not be for me though our maybe I should lose weight with another type of diet then start this for maintenance? Will give it another month so officially 6 months then reassess...

aftereights that's kind of you I think I just haven't been checking there as much because I've been ridiculously busy with new house stuff (they've been taking down a supporting wall, so it's a proper worksite!) DS's birthday and just trying to get this current house in order after our holiday (always more laundry). I fasted Monday and I am again today, but I can tell my jeans are tighter than they were pre-holiday so I know I don't have any success stories to tell here just for now.

I had been losing again, pre-holiday, though, so I have hope for this 5:2 + half-fast day thing I've been doing.

I've not even caught up with this thread much less the other one. Have to run and answer some questions the plumber has at the new house, now. I'll be back in the afternoon when DS is at pre-school and I'm filling time on a fast day. :)

giraffes is it near your TOTM? i can gain pounds around then, what is your overall progress and what are your aims?

for me it was never solely about weight loss, but the health benefits, and the weight loss was a bonus, I'd realised weight was slowly slowly creeping back on after a large 3 stone loss a few years ago doing Paul McKenna. I'd worked out that I must be slightly over eating all the time, as I love food, but didn't want to have to do any kind of formal diet, paul mckenna worked for a while, but I was finding it difficult to get my head back into that zone. This WOE seemed to offer me the chance to reduce calories overall and hopefully then turn the tide to being a slow long term weightloss rather than gain. This is definitely working, with a 12 pound loss in 6 months, that averages 2 pounds per month, hopefullky over a year that will be 24 pounds, but even if it was only another 6 pounds in the next 6 months, those stats would still work for me.

saying all that it is quite hard not to feel disapointed not to see losses on teh scales sometimes when we feel like there should be, and I do sometimes get caught up in wondering why I'm not losing more, but then I point out how easy I actually find it and that it really is working to give me what I want -long term weight loss and health improvement, just wish the health indicators could be more obvious as that would be a real boost!

non fast day for me, was going to do 2 days back to back, but have remembered I have work drinks tonight, and to be frank, it's bloody freezing and by the time I got to work I needed some nutty cereal with fresh berries and a milky coffee!

FrenchFancy great news on the milestones!

thinkican thanks for the link to the exercise article, highlighting what I've long seen in my own experience, I never lose weight when I increase exercise, I enjoy doing it for the health benefits, and for generally feeling fitter and getting an adrenaline rush, or toning up, but I have never noticed weight loss attached to it, it definitely increases my appetite! but i do think it's important for us to exercise for toning up after we've lost weight.

have a good friday all!

Thanks mocnk, I do agree with ask that you say, but the flip side is I am at the top end of overweight bmi, so actually I need to lose weight to be heathy, at a stone lost yesterday I was happy with the weight loss but if in reality its just water and more like 7lbs lost in 5 months, that's not so great!