The FastDay Forum

You did good fasting one day and then it sounds like you were so proud of your good work, you tried to go a second day in a row of fasting.

Here is what I do: I set a schedule. I fast Monday and Thursday. I stick with those days no matter what.

If you screw up on a fast day, say Thursday, don't fast on Friday. Just wait and start the next week over again.

If you do a stellar job on Thursday, don't fast again on Friday. Wait until Monday to fast again. Stick to the schedule.

When you are fasting and you get hungry, you tell yourself, I can do this for one day. I'll eat that pizza tomorrow, and so on.

Otherwise what happens is you end up setting yourself up for failure. In this case, you set yourself up for failure even when you did really well on one day!

Schedule. Stick to the schedule. Very important.

Let me add -- in addition to sticking to a schedule, stick to one or two meals. Do not allow yourself to snack. When you snack, you switch out of fast mode.

Is is like a switch. On/off eat/don't eat hunger/no hunger

When you snack, you open up the flood gates, and in comes the flood.

Hi JackDaniels, really sorry to hear the bingeing is continuing. I went on one yesterday too (it was a feed day) but am fasting today and feeling so much better. I've also today thrown out some 'trigger' foods that make me start a binge (although once I get going I can binge on anything at all). I think eliminating these triggers is going to help a lot. Is there a particular foodstuff that leads to a binge for you? I really hope you're having a good day.

Thought you might be interested to read the following from an article on sugar addiction:

"There’s another aspect of sugar addiction to be aware of. Which of these statements applies to you when it comes to eating sugar-containing foods and other refined carbohydrates?
1. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
2. Eating large amounts when not physically hungry.
3. Eating much more rapidly than normal.
4. Often eat alone because you’re embarrassed by how much you’re consuming.
5. Feeling guilty, depressed, or disgusted after overeating.
6. Marked distress or anxiety regarding binge eating.

Binge-eating episodes are associated with 3 or more of these."

Sugar addiction is possibly a component of the question you originally asked JackDaniels: "Why am I doing this to myself?". As with any addiction, it's vital you recognise the signs and acknowledge the possibility, then you can begin to deal with it.

It's shocking to discover just how many foods contain sugar and it's no wonder that so many of us are unwittingly addicted. The fact that you are turning the spotlight on your eating habits and trying to change them is a major step in the right direction. Good for you - just keep going.

[wildmissus]

marlathome. Thank you for that. I can associate myself with all six. Just working my through a box of chocs at the moment. Of the above -

1. my belly is bulging,
2. not hungry when I started eating them,
3. better eat them before the kids get home,
4. no one is in so eating more than I would if anyone was in and could see me,
5. feel fed up, done it again.

Any chance that you have a six pointer on how to break the addiction.

Hi wildmissus

Have you tried Paul McKenna's book and dvd/cd "I can make you slim"? Its been a while since I read teh book but I still listen to the cd when I need a bit of support. He has techniques (that I'm not going to mess up by trying to remember) to help when you get into the start of your compulsive eating.

In the mean time don't beat yourself up, it would be a dull world if we were all perfect

Oh and its called "I can make you Thin", Duh

marlathome. Thank you for that. I can associate myself with all six. Just working my through a box of chocs at the moment. Of the above -

1. my belly is bulging,
2. not hungry when I started eating them,
3. better eat them before the kids get home,
4. no one is in so eating more than I would if anyone was in and could see me,
5. feel fed up, done it again.

Any chance that you have a six pointer on how to break the addiction.

No different to any other addiction, I'm afraid. Think what advice you'd give to an alcoholic, drug addict, cigarette smoker and apply it to sugar addiction - it's no different and it's definitely no easier. At least with the other addictions you can choose to avoid alcohol, drugs and fags but there are so many hidden sugars in our foods that it makes avoidance very difficult. I suppose just try and eat fresh, natural foods as much as possible and always read the labels on other foods carefully. Trouble is, as soon as you eat sugar it sets off the craving for more. Hellish, really - wish there was an easy answer but there isn't, and it's a battle I've not yet won.

[wildmissus]

Sian, thank you. I actually have the book and CD at home...I'll dig it out.

marlathome, thank you too. It always helps knowing I'm not alone.

Along side starting 5:2ing in the new year I also made a huge effort to cook from scratch which I'm still doing (and involving the kids).

I bought a bread maker recently which is fantastic. I have found the bread thing really interesting as I whenever I had shop bought wholemeal bread for breakfast I'd be ready for something else to eat at teabreak time. Now when I have my home baked wholemeal bread I am still full at lunch time. I personally believe this is to do with the amount of sugar/additives in shop bought bread.

I have absolutely no problems on fast days eating one meal a day but on feed days one sweet thing leads to another and another and another. I have also downloaded the book Beyond Temptation as recommended by another forum member. So hopefully if I keep focused and remember what I'm trying to achieve I will one day be like my naturally slim friends and keep a box of chocs for months on end.

I gave up smoking many years ago and it took several attempts and a lot of focus and a lot of years to actually call myself a non-smoker1! It would have been so easy to pick up a cigarette in the same way as it is easy to eat a chocolate. Your comparison between cigarettes and sugar has really made me think!

Hi JackDanies, Bobshouse,wildmissus, Marla et al. I've been doing really well but went on a binge last night. Ate two large tins of beans, a can of red kidney beans with balsamic vinegar, 750mls skimmed milk and two bowls of porride with milk and sweetener. Really annoyed with myself! I track my calories on MyFitnessPal and had almost 1800 in one sitting. Trying not to beat up on myself too much though. The trend has been good so hopefully it's just a blip. I really need this WOE to work for me as I have no idea what I'll do otherwise. Anyway, how are you all?