The FastDay Forum

I am so much less buoyant now. I first noticed it when snorkeling: I can dive down to see things more clearly so much more easily now. Yesterday I went scuba diving for the first time since last summer. I had to take so much weight off my weight belt! (3.5kg)

For anyone confused, fat is less dense than water, therefore buoyant. Skinny people are less buoyant than fat people.

My dentist says I have exemplary gum health, even better than his!

Hello all.

I've been doing 5:2 since 15 April, so with slightly less than four months, I'm not as seasoned as many of you.

My fast days are Mondays and Thursdays. I usually have 2C of black coffee throughout the morning, an egg with a low-cal piece of toast around noon, and then a 300-400 cal dinner. I tried 4:3 for a few weeks but found the weight loss no different than 5:2. As of late, my fasting day caloric intake does not exceed 500 kcals.

I exercise M-F on the elliptical machine, traveling over 7km in 40 minutes. In June, I added strength training, which follow my cardio routine. I just turned 50.

Wardrobe:One positive side effect has been the need to buy new pants, as my old ones have become too baggy and may fall off, despite adding an extra hole in my belt.
Also, all of the shirts in my wardrobe now fit without being obscenely stretched across my tummy.

Control:For the first time in my life I feel that I have some sort of restraint over what is being stuffed into my mouth. If I've been 'bad' on a feed day, I know that a fast day is coming soon, along with some semblance of self-control.

Money:Our monthly food bill has decreased, I am eating slower, drinking more water, eating healthier foods and losing weight. Thus far, these are the positive side effects of the 5:2 diet.

I've stopped snoring, great!

I've stopped snoring, great!

Even greater for your partner!

My hubby has mostly stopped snoring too, and it's such a blessing!

not sure if this has been mentioned, it has taken me a while to read through all of this, but being on 5:2 (well 4:3 now) got me to this forum, nicest most helpful members of any forum ever, and the amazing progress tracker..love both.

also, I slipped recently, for about 5 weeks, gained 6 pounds. Got back on the wagon, very easily, and quickly lost the 6 and then some in short order (maybe 3 weeks, certainly less than it took to gain it, yeah!)

I love that I no longer wonder what I will do if I get hungry when I am out and about, such that I no longer either pack a snack or eat when I am not hungry because I don't want to get hungry when I can't get to food. Not sure why I was so afraid of getting hungry, but I am not anymore.

[carorees]

I love that I no longer wonder what I will do if I get hungry when I am out and about, such that I no longer either pack a snack or eat when I am not hungry because I don't want to get hungry when I can't get to food. Not sure why I was so afraid of getting hungry, but I am not anymore.

I agree that this is a huge benefit. It makes travelling so much easier now...no need to plan trips around where/when/how we will eat.

I'm new, second week completed, and lost a couple of pounds so far. I agree with the last few posts, I'm far less worried about being hungry and not having access to food. It's freeing. OK, feeling hungry isn't wonderful, but it's actually not that hard to deal with either.
I'm already not craving the quantity of chocs and savoury snacks I always felt dependent on.

I sleep really badly, but already I seem to be getting up 2-3 times a night, rather than 3-4!

All good so far.

Sue

Hello! This is my first post and I am only two weeks into the lifestyle changes.
I find fast days very easy, as I am lazy I have a 123cal prawn and avocado salad from 7/11 for lunch and a larger 230 cal chicken salad for dinner - followed by a by a big handful of frozen blueberries. I drink black coffee and green tea during the day, sometimes a lemon infused soda.

The problem I am having is feast day guilts - which leads to grumps. because i find fast days so easy, its really difficult to turn around the next day and eat so much more. this weekend i went on a trip and had a full cream coffee and other unusual treats for me, and i felt so bad i ended up getting really grumpy.

How can i learn to treat myself without guilt?

Matilda

I've stopped snoring, great!

Even greater for your partner!

My hubby has mostly stopped snoring too, and it's such a blessing!

Even better, since I've stopped snoring, the quality of my sleep has improved drastically. I now get by with just 5-6 hours instead of 7-8, and still feel less tired. Which gives me time for getting up early and get to the gym or out running. I still can't believe it, I was never a morning person, I was a constantly tired couch potato.

By far the best side effect has been that my appetite is shrinking. It's also made me more aware of when my body is telling me I'm full.

I've also found I get indigestion less but that could be because I'm not over eating and the things I am eating aren't triggering it so much.

Hello! This is my first post and I am only two weeks into the lifestyle changes.
I find fast days very easy, as I am lazy I have a 123cal prawn and avocado salad from 7/11 for lunch and a larger 230 cal chicken salad for dinner - followed by a by a big handful of frozen blueberries. I drink black coffee and green tea during the day, sometimes a lemon infused soda.

The problem I am having is feast day guilts - which leads to grumps. because i find fast days so easy, its really difficult to turn around the next day and eat so much more. this weekend i went on a trip and had a full cream coffee and other unusual treats for me, and i felt so bad i ended up getting really grumpy.

How can i learn to treat myself without guilt?

Matilda

Hi Matilda,
your feast days ..you mention full cream coffee and other treats..maybe youre eating goodies you dont really want,coz they make you feel bad physically ( too full,unhealthy etc) and mentally unhappy coz you know this isnt how to nourish yrself?
I do understand what you mean tho..lots of people feel surprisingly unhungry the day after fast and find it hard to eat enough calories,but just coz its a feed day doesnt mean you HAVE to eat high fat/carby stuff..
You can continue to eat as healthily as on your fast days but just bigger portions and more often...if this feels too much,dont worry about having a lowish cal day post fast day..mix things up and on other days take in more cals concentrating on the good stuff but adding in a few treats that you fancy. Tell yourself you deserve treats - coz you do!we all do!
Over a week you can keep a note and your cal count should then work out ok.
its good you have yr fast and repair days sussed with a good nutritious combo of protein,salad and berries! X

An amazing side effect for me: I wake up in the early hours ever so HAPPY. All my problems seem solved etc etc, What's going on?? Oh Yea, I fasted yesterday. My husband says now that I ought to fast continuously!!!
Margotsylvia

Discovering that treats don't have to be food. eg at the supermarket recently on one of my very low calorie days I was feeling entitled to something so I bought some nice comfy socks that were on special.

I bought daffodils today on a similar basis Stephen.

My big thrill today was doing my stretches before my run, and finding I could balance on one leg. I remember MM demonstrating this on the original TV program .