The FastDay Forum

Just read the other post silver darling about the accident. That must have been awful. Glad to hear that a week off didn't effect things. Better news x

Lucy re your struggling to get in under 500 cals. Here is how I did it. I started out meticulously using MM 's calorie counter in the 5:2 fast book. The meals are midget if 3 across the day and counting all the cals with milk or sweeteners. So that is why people end up I think with a pattern of 2 or more likely 1 meal a day and then fluids which are low cal. I found it was a bit of work to figure it all out but there is such a lot you can pack into 500 cals. I went through the MM book and wrote down the lowest cal foods and only made my meals from them. Then I evolved to liquids only again with calories and that meant clear soups, herb teas, coffee, water,fresh hot lemon or ginger tea. Now switched to 5:2+16:8 still 2meals on 2x 500 days made from scratch and researched from web or my recipe books of very low cal meals and I found veggie meals gave me a bigger bang for the 500 cals . I now do soup and a comfort style pm meal and herb teas, might treat myself with coffee in the eating window. The rest of the 5 days are 16:8 I eat what I fancy usually healthy wholesome and with treats. I don't go crazy as I am a woman on a mission - to get to my goal healthy BMI . Have 5 kg to go. I am not messing around but my weight losses are slow and steady. I record in MFP just in case I need to review a rough estimate, but 5:2 days am more precise otherwise I am wasting my efforts ... I think

That was long winded but there you are, hope it might help

Thanks gillymary. You know, when I started the 5:2 I did find it all very easy - and I haven't really changed anything. I really load up the veggies, and include protein (usually eggs) in an attempt to keep me full, but recently it just hasn't been working for me. I end up thinking about food all day, which is an unwlecome distraction from my studies.

I don't know if maybe it's because I am basically at goal - I'd like to lose 2kg more, but all my skinny clothes fit again etc, and I am a lot more comfortable. Perhaps without that the motivation to fast is harder? But I am also motivated by the health benefits...

I wonder if perhaps fasting isn't one size fits all, and different people will do better under different approachs. I started 16:8 today, and if it works (i.e. maintain/lose the last few kg) I think I'll stick with it, as I am finding it a LOT easier.

I am 16:8ing today to try to make sure I lose at least 1/2 lb this week to get be below 14 stone before going on holiday. I stupidly weighed myself after Mondays fast & this morning & I have gone up in weight so feeling really fed up now. My second fast is Friday so hope with today it is going to do the trick. I seem to have developed a real mental hang up on this mini goal of getting to 13 stone something! I only need to lose 8 flipping ounces even though I know some weight will go back on when I am on holiday next week. Why do I beat myself up about a mini goal?

Hellooooo.!! I've had a TERRIBLE week, was going to knock 5;2/16:8 on the head and go to slimming world!!! Fortunately I've talked myself out of that!! Due to various factors I've not been able to fast or do 16:8 until today. Black coffee and water only thus far and will have something to eat at about 7.30 tonight. Tomorrow we're going out for the evening with friends so I'm planning 16:8 and will fast again Sunday so that I will have done 2 fasts this week.
I don't really know why I lost my mojo this week but hopefully it's back again now! According to my scales I've gained but I'm trying not to get stressed about and will weigh in again next Friday. Xxx

Hey Pumpkin, what is your diet like on non-fast days?

Sorry lucy1984 I've only just seen your reply. Non fast days have been a bit hit & miss lately... Too much sugar for a start. I'm now writing EVERYTHING down on fast & non fast days. It's making me more aware.
I fasted yesterday, not been as good as I'd like today but had a hideous day at work & fasting tomorrow. Xx

Hi everyone: Well, I reached my goal last week---hooray! I didn't have a lot to lose and it took me about 4 months to get here. Now, I'm ready for maintenance! Partly as a result of reading this terrific thread, I'm going to try a 16:8 strategy to maintain. I think I'll start with 3 days a week of 16:8....just eating normally. But I'm going to do a window that includes breakfast & lunch. I do an intense interval-training AM work-out several days a week and it's hard to skip breakfast on those days. Plus, I just love my morning cup of chai. That's been the hardest thing to cut out when I've done my 5:2 fasting so far! I think I can manage skipping dinner relatively well 3 days a week. And if I have special dinner plans, I can always rotate my 16:8 days or schedule.

So I'm going to try this for a month or so and see how things go. I'm so glad to have had access to the wisdom and experience of the people on this board!

Well I've been trying 16:8 alone for a few weeks and have got really used to not having breakfast so the routine works well for me, but I haven't lost any weight. I am now going to reintroduce 5:2 and combine it with 16:8.
I hate counting calories and I love my wine so neither 5:2 or 16:8 works on its own for me. Maybe I can do the two.
I just want to find a rhythm of eating/drinking which I can stick to without much thought, which allows for slow weight loss, so I can get on with the rest of my life without obsessing about my body!

Holiday disaster at least where weight is concerned! We have just returned from Orkney & Shetland where there was lots of walking on an archaeological holiday exploring remote prehistoric sites where it was windy coolish & mainly cloudy & then three days in a hot Edinburgh. My scales say I have gained 8 1/2 lbs in weight but I can still wear the clothes I had already slimmed into so I am confused but suspect it may also be some fluid retention with the diet change & being slightly dehydrated? Well I am 16:8ing today & we will fast tomorrow so I will wait & see & try not to be downhearted. Watch this space!!

[janeg]

Hello Isis
hope you waved to everywhere is Shetland for me!
Sounds as though you've had a good time and I'm sure the extra will drop off when you settle back into the routine

Hello Janeg
We certainly had a warm welcome from the Shetlanders & very much enjoyed the hospitalality with lovely food. Our visit to the Tomb of the Eagles was especially memorable where my knees allowed me to crawl into the interior & I felt a great sense of achievement because my dodgy knees cooperated with the longish 2 mile walk & crawling!
I am optimistic about losing weight again 5:2ing & 16:8ing unlike when on other diets where it seemed so much more unmanageable. So nothing to eat today until 13-00 then chilled carrot soup, French bread & a chilled glass of Chardonnay to open my eating window, then chicken & asparagus with a panna cotta for supper & then nothing until supper tomorrow evening of 500 calories because of fasting. So back on the bandwagon & hopefully there will soon be less of me!

[carorees]

Well, in preparation for my long holiday, I decided to have a go at 16:8 this last week in a controlled situation and with scales to hand so as to get an idea of what I'll should be aiming for while on holiday.

I have been waiting until after 1pm to eat and not eating after 9pm, generally having just two meals, some days with some wine and dessert in the evening, others not. I have lost some weight over the week but noticed a small increase on the most indulgent days so I think I have some idea as to what I can 'get away with' whilst on holiday! I hope that combining 16:8 with the occasional low calorie day (perhaps not 500 cals but not more than 1000 cals) might give me the chance to enjoy my holiday without gaining loads of weight.

I'm off tomorrow so wish me luck!

Good luck Caroline! More importantly enjoy your holiday!

[janeg]

I'm off tomorrow as well Caroline
Sounds as though you have a plan. I did 16:8 on my last bit of work/holiday for most of it. Haven't weighed or measured since I came back but saw a friend yesterday who said I was looking slimmer - upgraded to good friend!
We can but give it a go and see if it works for us. I think that having a plan and feeling as though we have still got a bit of control can only be a good thing.
Enjoy your holidays and we'll hear about everything when you get back

Well I am back from my trip where I only managed 16:8 a couple of days and nil 5:2 a way hey holiday where generally enjoyed myself and didn't think about fasting. Scales on return indicate a 1kg gain. I am baaaaacccckkkk onto 5:2+ 16:8 for 2 days now.

All the best Caroline and Janet have a lovely holiday most of all because the rest you can fix on your return