The FastDay Forum

Hi,
I'm about to start tomorrow with the second fast on Thursday. I'm working till late on Thursday which means there won't be too much temptation during the day but I commute and I find that my weakest point snacking wise is waiting for a train and buying something from a vending machine. What are other people's weaker moments and what do you do to combat them?

[carorees]

I find that not eating anything until the evening meal is easiest. If I have anything to eat before then it makes me hungrier. Strangely, I feel divorced from food during the day and am not tempted at all. After the evening meal is harder but it is such a short time until the fast is over that I just think of the delicious breakfast I will have.

[Tracieknits]

I was shocked by what they had in vending machines at Gare du Nord in Paris. I saw some soda, a few candy bars - and then I saw bags of radishes and bags of fresh carrots! I've never seen anything like it in my life. Then, I saw fresh fruit stands in at least two subway stations! If we had these things too, it would certainly make it easier to wait for a train.

I hope this doesn't sound wrong but I am a pretty determined person once I have made my mind up about something so fast days are kinda straight forward for me. The only thing I really miss is my cuppa when i get in from work!
Its early days for me so i don't want to assume ill always be head strong. I guess I would come here for inspiration if temptation got the better of me.

Why not have your cuppa then? I go 24 hours without food, but I still have coffee and tea when I want. I have recently gone on to black coffee with no sugar, and surprisingly find I like it. I also drink a lot of mint tea on fast days, but if I wanted a cup of tea with milk I would have it. I'm in this for the long haul so I figure I need to make it sustainable.

Anytime I have a weak moment, I just think, oooh I will have that tomorrow... It works everytime...

My weakest moment is usually at night, before 5:2 I would often eat a sandwich about 9:00-10:00pm, It’s a hard habit to break.
If I'm really struggling I watch Eat, fast and live longer on the net and think tomorrow I can have a sandwich late if I wish. Strangely I rarely if ever do eat late now even on non fast days.

I'm fine all day til my one meal at dinner. Sometimes after dinner I get that feeling that I need something more or something to 'finish it off'. If I have a nice strong decaff espresso which seems to switch it off!

Anytime I have a weak moment, I just think, oooh I will have that tomorrow... It works everytime...

This is the key for me. I know that I'll be able to have whatever I fancy the next day. It helps so much.

I am still new to this and trying different strategies.

I find that I will feel hungry several times during the day. Grazing is more difficult to give up than big meals

Keeping as busy as possible helps

On an evening, if time is starting to get on and my willpower is slipping I sometimes go to bed early

[carorees]

I think that feeling hungry on fast days is unlikely to go away, but knowing that the feeling soon passes will mean it gets easier and easier to ignore.

[Moogie]

You soon learn to ignore the hunger and override it manually
I don't get tempted to cheat really, but if I'm in dire straights I'll have a half cup of Cadbury highlights hot choc (20 cal for a small cup), a couple of dried apricots or a sugar free jelly pot (less than 10 cals and quite filling!)

If I'm desperate for savouries, I'll have marmite on a crackerbread.

Slurp Liquorice & Peppermint tea if I'm at work - or go on a walk around the school to change my scenery and focus for 5 mins. If I'm at home I go online and look at caribbean holidays - which is where I've promised myself I'll end up at Christmas if I can shift years worth baggage from around myself! (Bikini at 38?....if I can, you can bet your bum I'm wearing one!)

Oooh, liking the idea of a sugar free jelly pot. It's all these little hints and tips that will make this forum so worthwhile. Thank you!

I think for me the secret is choosing a fast day when I don't have to do anything stressful. I "override" hunger by catching up on all the TV programmes I missed during the week but make sure I don't watch any foodie programmes. I try clothes on and notice them fitting better. I keep back a nice piece of fruit till the end of the day and spend ages peeling and eating it. I will often go to bed at ten with a good book to distract me from eating. If I had to travel or work late as I know many must then I think I would always take some celery/carrot sticks to munch and a bottle of water and perhaps some sugar free gum. I am never tempted by fast food outlets - the smells emanating from them actually make me feel nauseous. I just keep telling myself that all the burgers are made from eyelids and sphincters and that does it for me.