Unfortunately this has done nothing for my brain power and posted this in a section that doesn't allow replies, so deleted the wording and started a new thread - no hope 
So my journey takes on a new chapter “Maintenance”, which I reached today
My 5/2 story started June 13, aged 49. I was at my heaviest ever and enough was enough (sounds familiar eh !). I have not tried any other diet over the decades but attempted to cut back… only to fail 4 days later and then setting a target of 1st of the next month to start again. This thought process I have used for 20 years, and as you can imagine, no loss whatsoever.
I didn’t set a goal weight in mind back in June, would see how I felt as I went along. I did think to get back to size 16 clothes would be nice though…
For some reason it didn’t click in my mind as to how much I could loose and definitely not the changes in my body. There is as a lot of fresh air between the ears
It came as quite a shock to be getting into smaller clothes as the weight came off over the months. I carried on wearing the same ‘tent’ clothes until around 2 stone off (12.72 kg). No option, my clothes were falling off. Then and only then did people start to notice once I wore clothes that fitted! It also boosts the confidence wearing clothes to fit but very alien for me to buy smaller stuff after 2 decades of plus size. My head automatically went to 18/20 (XL) in the shops
I have been fortunate to have only put weight on for two weeks out of the 7 months (only by a pound) and no plateau, for which I am very thankful
. Some weeks I have seen a large loss and this seemed to strike at any point. For example, my biggest loss of 4.8 lbs (2.1 kg) came last week 
. I weigh weekly after the first fast. Only this week did I resort to daily weighing as the goal was soo close.
I have not done any calorie counting on the feast days. However, I am alot more aware of cals in the mouth on the feast days ! I do not wish to count calories on feasts days as this for me, is getting like a ‘diet’ and I will fail. I try to incorporate a minimum of 15 hours from last meal (dinner) to lunch next day, although this is a bit difficult at work as I can’t really start heating soup at 2pm). I eat dinner very late on feast days especially at weekends and enjoy a drink on non fasting days , my sin
85% of my fast lunches (soup for winter) and evening meals are all home made. 15% of M&S ‘Count on Us’ range for the emergencies or feeling rough with migraine.
I am very sedentary…
just incorporating the odd gentle walk. I have been told this week I have mild osteoarthritis in my left knee (everything is age related now), although at the moment its a lot better. I will carry on avoiding stairs as this is the biggest strain (apparently) and kneeling. The knee trouble did set me back a few months as I cannot take inflammatory pills and was just getting to walk faster and a take of stairs at work. All that had to stop whilst my knee rested for weeks. My doctor is thrilled with the loss and said your knee will thank you for it !
After the first few fasts (say a month), they slotted in pretty much second nature.. For several months fasts have just been another eating day (albeit a lot less cals!), but I didn’t worry about a one coming up and looked forward to the cleanse of the system they give me every time
This is turning into a VERY long post I see. I will forgive people for going to read another thread
Some stats for you. I am 5.6”, apple shaped.
10th June 2013
Clothing 18/20 (sometimes 22 in t shirts M&S)
BMI 31.18
Body fat – never measured at the start, but was 38.9% in September.
13.12 st / 194 lbs / 88 kgs
22nd Jan 2014
Clothing 12 all round (and 10’s in some tops depending on cut)
BMI 22.8
Body fat 27.3%
10.2 st / 142 lbs / 64.5 kgs
Total loss 3.7 st / 52 lbs / 23.6 kg
Waist/hips (not measured at the start, but I took the minimum I knew it could be as a starting point, most likely both would be higher !)
June 13
Waist 42” (106.6cm)
Hip 45” (114.3cm)
Bra 38E
Jan 14
Waist 33” (83.8cm)
Hip 37" (94cm)
Bra 34D
No other measurements taken, but the weight has come off EVERYWHERE! Feet are smaller, a half size down and slimmer. I can get knee high (or thigh high – ooo er ) over the once fat calves.
I started to think of ‘final’ goals towards the end of 2013 (once I joined the xmas club, thanks Julliana), Then it turned into numbers once xmas target was met, revised and acheived again. I wanted a round number for a loss, or a milestone. Settled on waist/bmi in the end. Its easy to get ‘too focused’ on the numbers game and end up comparing yourself with stats.
What you actually look like comes into play. Anymore weight off I will look thin, old & haggered (oh, you mean I am not 21) In my twenties I was another 2 stone off where I am today, but that was then and I am not getting there again.
Thanks to everyone if you are still reading this 
I will get some pics up soon. Didn’t take any in June 13 (regret) so will dig around and find something ‘suitable’ for before and of course, some nice ‘after’ shots.. I hope !
For now I will continue with 2 fasts each week as I like the control, but maybe up the cals a bit or up the feast days. Will see how it goes and adjust so I don’t carry on loosing. Beauty of this 5/2 is flexibility, if weight goes on, strict fasts.
Its costing me a lot to re-furb the wardrobe as the clothes were only lasting a couple of months before they were too big. Trousers falling down and bra’s riding high up the back were a common theme! However its very dangerous now as I have so much choice available! I am still an elasticated waist person, so a bit more limited. I have no spring or summer clothes that remotely fit, inc footwear ! Damm…. Shopping (apologises to OH now)
The support of the forum has been a huge help and inspiration and will continue to participate and read everyone’s stories. I now have great portion control, eat more veg, salad & fruit and yes, you can leave something on the plate.
Thankyou to my gorgeous OH @fixedwheel who started his 5/2 journey at the same time. We have offered support for each other and encouragement. John has more to loose than myself so I will be keeping my eye on him and prodding him from 50 miles away
, but he as done so well so far (3 stone off), but hit a plateau, not gaining, so all is great. 6.1/2 stone loss between us is a scary thought though… 
To finally finish (thank goodness I hear you say) , I have achieved and learnt the following:
You won’t die of starvation in the day
Hungers pangs are your friend and you grow to enjoy them
Control of food instead of the other way round
Portion sizes, asking myself, do I really need all that
I don’t need breakfast (only had one breakfast in 7 months, excluding the jaffa cake ice cream I had at the weekend…..)
Eat WHEN proper hungry, not just head hunger
Eat much more fruit, veg & salad and some fish
Calorie awareness
No feeling over full/stuffed/bloated
Not so good:
I sure feel the cold now, no blubber layer
Headaches & migraines are no better, but no worse with fasting
Loose skin, its not drastic, I am no Baywatch babe, but need some toning !
Complete new wardrobe.. ok, that’s not a bad thing, but having to buy clothes that have only lasted a couple of months over the 7 months was hard.
Thankyou again for reading
Gill
So my journey takes on a new chapter “Maintenance”, which I reached today
My 5/2 story started June 13, aged 49. I was at my heaviest ever and enough was enough (sounds familiar eh !). I have not tried any other diet over the decades but attempted to cut back… only to fail 4 days later and then setting a target of 1st of the next month to start again. This thought process I have used for 20 years, and as you can imagine, no loss whatsoever.
I didn’t set a goal weight in mind back in June, would see how I felt as I went along. I did think to get back to size 16 clothes would be nice though…
For some reason it didn’t click in my mind as to how much I could loose and definitely not the changes in my body. There is as a lot of fresh air between the ears
It came as quite a shock to be getting into smaller clothes as the weight came off over the months. I carried on wearing the same ‘tent’ clothes until around 2 stone off (12.72 kg). No option, my clothes were falling off. Then and only then did people start to notice once I wore clothes that fitted! It also boosts the confidence wearing clothes to fit but very alien for me to buy smaller stuff after 2 decades of plus size. My head automatically went to 18/20 (XL) in the shops
I have been fortunate to have only put weight on for two weeks out of the 7 months (only by a pound) and no plateau, for which I am very thankful
. Some weeks I have seen a large loss and this seemed to strike at any point. For example, my biggest loss of 4.8 lbs (2.1 kg) came last week . I weigh weekly after the first fast. Only this week did I resort to daily weighing as the goal was soo close. I have not done any calorie counting on the feast days. However, I am alot more aware of cals in the mouth on the feast days ! I do not wish to count calories on feasts days as this for me, is getting like a ‘diet’ and I will fail. I try to incorporate a minimum of 15 hours from last meal (dinner) to lunch next day, although this is a bit difficult at work as I can’t really start heating soup at 2pm). I eat dinner very late on feast days especially at weekends and enjoy a drink on non fasting days , my sin
85% of my fast lunches (soup for winter) and evening meals are all home made. 15% of M&S ‘Count on Us’ range for the emergencies or feeling rough with migraine.
I am very sedentary…
just incorporating the odd gentle walk. I have been told this week I have mild osteoarthritis in my left knee (everything is age related now), although at the moment its a lot better. I will carry on avoiding stairs as this is the biggest strain (apparently) and kneeling. The knee trouble did set me back a few months as I cannot take inflammatory pills and was just getting to walk faster and a take of stairs at work. All that had to stop whilst my knee rested for weeks. My doctor is thrilled with the loss and said your knee will thank you for it !After the first few fasts (say a month), they slotted in pretty much second nature.. For several months fasts have just been another eating day (albeit a lot less cals!), but I didn’t worry about a one coming up and looked forward to the cleanse of the system they give me every time
This is turning into a VERY long post I see. I will forgive people for going to read another thread
Some stats for you. I am 5.6”, apple shaped.
10th June 2013
Clothing 18/20 (sometimes 22 in t shirts M&S)
BMI 31.18
Body fat – never measured at the start, but was 38.9% in September.
13.12 st / 194 lbs / 88 kgs
22nd Jan 2014
Clothing 12 all round (and 10’s in some tops depending on cut)
BMI 22.8
Body fat 27.3%
10.2 st / 142 lbs / 64.5 kgs
Total loss 3.7 st / 52 lbs / 23.6 kg
Waist/hips (not measured at the start, but I took the minimum I knew it could be as a starting point, most likely both would be higher !)
June 13
Waist 42” (106.6cm)
Hip 45” (114.3cm)
Bra 38E
Jan 14
Waist 33” (83.8cm)
Hip 37" (94cm)
Bra 34D
No other measurements taken, but the weight has come off EVERYWHERE! Feet are smaller, a half size down and slimmer. I can get knee high (or thigh high – ooo er
) over the once fat calves. I started to think of ‘final’ goals towards the end of 2013 (once I joined the xmas club, thanks Julliana), Then it turned into numbers once xmas target was met, revised and acheived again. I wanted a round number for a loss, or a milestone. Settled on waist/bmi in the end. Its easy to get ‘too focused’ on the numbers game and end up comparing yourself with stats.
What you actually look like comes into play. Anymore weight off I will look thin, old & haggered (oh, you mean I am not 21) In my twenties I was another 2 stone off where I am today, but that was then and I am not getting there again.
Thanks to everyone if you are still reading this
I will get some pics up soon. Didn’t take any in June 13 (regret) so will dig around and find something ‘suitable’ for before and of course, some nice ‘after’ shots.. I hope !
For now I will continue with 2 fasts each week as I like the control, but maybe up the cals a bit or up the feast days. Will see how it goes and adjust so I don’t carry on loosing. Beauty of this 5/2 is flexibility, if weight goes on, strict fasts.
Its costing me a lot to re-furb the wardrobe as the clothes were only lasting a couple of months before they were too big. Trousers falling down and bra’s riding high up the back were a common theme! However its very dangerous now as I have so much choice available! I am still an elasticated waist person, so a bit more limited. I have no spring or summer clothes that remotely fit, inc footwear ! Damm…. Shopping (apologises to OH now)
The support of the forum has been a huge help and inspiration and will continue to participate and read everyone’s stories. I now have great portion control, eat more veg, salad & fruit and yes, you can leave something on the plate.
Thankyou to my gorgeous OH @fixedwheel who started his 5/2 journey at the same time. We have offered support for each other and encouragement. John has more to loose than myself so I will be keeping my eye on him and prodding him from 50 miles away
, but he as done so well so far (3 stone off), but hit a plateau, not gaining, so all is great. 6.1/2 stone loss between us is a scary thought though… To finally finish (thank goodness I hear you say)
, I have achieved and learnt the following:You won’t die of starvation in the day
Hungers pangs are your friend and you grow to enjoy them
Control of food instead of the other way round
Portion sizes, asking myself, do I really need all that
I don’t need breakfast (only had one breakfast in 7 months, excluding the jaffa cake ice cream I had at the weekend…..)
Eat WHEN proper hungry, not just head hunger
Eat much more fruit, veg & salad and some fish
Calorie awareness
No feeling over full/stuffed/bloated
Not so good:
I sure feel the cold now, no blubber layer
Headaches & migraines are no better, but no worse with fasting
Loose skin, its not drastic, I am no Baywatch babe, but need some toning !
Complete new wardrobe.. ok, that’s not a bad thing, but having to buy clothes that have only lasted a couple of months over the 7 months was hard.
Thankyou again for reading
Gill
