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?

Interesting natter with my Yoga teacher today.
She has stopped doing 500 calories.
She does 800 calories Monday to Thursday - in two meals so she gets regular 16-20 hour breaks
And then relaxes as the weekend.
She's 50 and uber fit so I may switch to that in time.

Glad the Baozi recipe was helpful B&W. I think I'll have a go at it myself soon now that I have access to a kitchen again. (Plane landed back in the UK this morning)

I bought some Size 8 skinny jeans (M&S) ( Not to look at - they fit!)

I've never had size 8s before..... Ever.

Size 8 skinny jeans !!

Oh, come on .... that's Size 8.....

Yes, I do know size 8 now isn't the same as the old size 8, and I know M&S can be on the generous side.....

But size 8!!!!!! .....

(Scales were down 2lb this morning, which considering I only really had one really successful fast this week and only one Shred..is great , I think it was no wine and mostly veggies wot did it , but I'm not counting it until after the weekend because I'm having tonight and tomorrow ..)

Ooh, we have a size 8 skinny jeans club WHOOP WHOOP
and yeah, they are a 1970's size 12
but I'm 47 and have had two kids so blaahhhh
well done Laska
tonight

Laska WHOOOOOOOOP!

I also read the 'bra' thread on mumsnet and took their advice on measuring for new bras as i wasn't having much luck with even being fitted .. I'm glad I did.. as I've now finally discovered a bra size that actually fits now i've lost weight .. It seems that often you will need a smaller band size and a larger cup than you think..

Definately recommended..
First thread
Continued thread with good explanation on first page

Ohh.. TIP? please can I pretend they are an old 10 .. (..just for this evening?)

Laska
Yeah, go on then

Cheers TIP Enjoy yours too.

Interesting point about your Yoga teacher .. Definately something to consider I think.. I've found my veggie days (plus a couple of squares of v dark choc) - three days this week -i've been coming in at about 800 cals ....

Welcome Home Ezza!

Ezzza did you bring some sunshine back with you ?

Oh laska that's amazing - and ezza is on home ground - brill!

Amazing Laska! You and TiP have inspired me to keep going on my goal for size 8 too, it's 28degrees today so bikini season is upon us! March is my goal attainment month - bring it on!!

Here's a silly thing.
Its my 20th wedding anniversary this summer.
Got my wedding dress out of the cupboard. I was a size 14/16 then (modern sizes) - too much to adjust. Thinking of having the whole thing unpicked and made into a dress that fits me - uber fit size 8/10 !!! - and maybe a waistcoat for DH out of the spare fabric

That's a great idea TiP - make sure you have lots of photos around to show the before and after!

Posted this in main thread but thought i should put here also - am hoping the shame will stop me doing this kind if thing again :o I have not stopped eating today. & it's all greed I really blame laska her delicious aubergine & chickpea curry was do divine that I've eaten it all up plus the gluten free spaghetti & pesto I had actually made for dinner.

The curry was being batch cooked to be frozen for the next couple of fast days! Well now it's in my rather large stomach. Along with a chana sag recipe I was given on another thread which has come in at around 500 calories but it included butter & sunflower oil. I really have gone back to my bad old ways! Going to chalk it up to experience & not cook things in advance as that clearly doesn't work for me.

It wouldn't be so bad but I've had breakfast & lunch on top of all that today (& I've been eating marmalade out of the jar). How disgusting is that . I've become a secret eater again. Well tomorrow is another day, can't fast till Monday because of medication. Ill just try to be more restrained....

laska sorry meant to add that it's all tongue in cheek! Not your fault obviously curry was just to yum to resist!

Welcome back ezzza

laska a size 8, congratulations! I dream of being an 8, clearly won't be happening any time soon if I carry on like today

laska thanks for the link about bras will check that out, it does work thats basically what bravissimo do so I went from 36 c to 32 e when I first went there (8 or 9 years ago!) Well done on size 8!!!!!!!!!!!!

Breadandwine enjoy baby toy planning

Minty I am pretty similar to be honest but I have probably lost a bit more than you so not sure a gp would have much time for me.

ahhhhhh TIP you have a smooshy side

ooh Americas Betsy laska and other fellow shredders the jillian buns dvd has arrived at my house this afternoon and app it is great for saddlebags and bikinis! hmmm a new challenge in a month {{{evil grin maniachal laugh }}}

Well I thought it was amazing that I've gotten into size 10's but 8!8!8! Wow!
Well done laska
Good to hear from Ezzza again - this is a lovely possitive thread

I'm not sure i can fathom size 8 skinnies at the moment - I am resolutely pear shape so am celebrating my size 12s feeling a little on the loose side! However, on that theme giraffes I've just bought Jillian's Killer Buns and Thighs too (only £6 on amazon) as my legs aren't feeling especially worked out on Shred (not even lvl 2). I'm imagining my legs toned, appearing all butterfly-like from their fatty, cellulitely cocoon in the summer (imagery courtesy of TiP!), but that's not gonna come for free (tm evilJillian!).

Thanks for the bra thread link Laska, I'm definitely going to try some alternative sizes as I'm very slim on top now so absolutely need a refit :).

Yay, welcome home Ezzza.

aftereights so glad you liked the curry! (though if you ate the lot I'm also glad I wasn't sharing a bedroom with you ) - it was probably only about 700/ 800 the whole recipe.. I was generous in counting the calories) .. Next time just remember it really does taste nicer the next day!!

I think re becoming a 'secret eater' again .. dont beat yourself up too much ...we all do it sometimes but this WOE means that we really dont have to do that anymore because it is not a diet! . So chalk it up as being an eating day and jump back in . . But i suppose the way I'm now finally looking at it , is " if I can have it tomorrow , why am I thinking of cheating myself out of today's fasting benefits? Of course as I'm human that doesn't always work, but I also feel that not only am I self sabotaging and for what? , so I can just feel cr*p about myself? but also (sorry if this sounds a bit soppy) because its not just about me - you lot are now my community , and so I'm not just cheating myself .. Does that make sense?

Hi all. Glad to hear going well for most of you! I have had a rubbish 2 weeks - had visitors at work so lots of lunches and evening meals. Hard to fit in 2 full fasts - how anyone does 4:3 I'll never know! Went for the 'mini fast' option which is OK but feel more on starve-binge cycle then so a bit weird for me. Still weight ok and I have 2 hours to kill at the Trafford Centre whilst daughter is at a party so shopping here I come!
No where near size 8s but like BVB loose size 12s is a victory!
Hello ezzzza hope you are not too jet-lagged!

Ok Killer Buns and Thighs it is. I do need toning , and ill go look it up ..

Re the sz 8s .. Thanks , but I am aware they really aren't sz8s in the old sense but they still look satisfyingly small and the swing label is up on my notice board here in front of the computer as yet another reminder not to sneak chocolate in as I'm writing my 'next great novel' (one day ill get published, but i need to keep off being here so much !).

I still do have an inch to pinch though around the middle so also need to work on the abs (bleugh! I hate ab exercises, but as ATB bikini season is coming up and I want to wear one on holiday this year! )

TIP great idea about the dress.. I've been looking at mine also , which is a size 18! (we've only been married 7 yrs this summer, though together for 20 now - but didn't want to rush into anything! ). I had a couple of lovely dresses made smaller before Christmas and its great to be able to wear them again).

Mintyy keep thinking health benefits .. we do focus on weight loss a lot here its true,and it must be frustrating when you are not losing as you want to , but I also know that I'm feeling so great on this WOE , less tired , better skin hair and nails growing faster and stronger - better digestive pattens i think also and (ahem) bowel function -, and although i've not had my blood work done I'm pretty sure that must have improved also.

Eating day for me (and tomorrow) so I'm going to try Laska's aubergine and chick pea curry - yum.
Just treated DH and myself to my homemade ice cream and it was lovely. My vitamix blender makes it in literally 5 minutes (it's worth the cost of the blender just for the wonderful ice cream it makes!) and as I only use unprocessed ingredients (bar the double cream I suppose) I know it has no sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives etc etc.
I love this WOE

Have you all seem B&W's post on the other thread (page 8) re Fast-5 and the link to TEDx talk. Very interesting for us soon to be maintainers.

hmm.. is interesting .. but I wonder if could I actually could a manage only 5 hrs eating window everyday? .. I have always split my meals into two.. ill have to experiment