The FastDay Forum

morning everyone!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

So sorry to hear about your back, @daydreamer21! I am a doctor, but I am also a pilates teacher, and that came about through having my very own case of severe sciatica some 10 years ago now (from throwing my hips around while dancing salsa, but that's another story!). I was very keen myself NOT to go down the surgical path with my back, because I've seen where that leads, and sometimes it's not pretty. In fact I think there is some research showing that if you have a laminectomy for back pain, after 10 years the results are the same as if you didn't have surgery. But having said that, if you have some symptoms of cauda equina compression (that's the main big bunch of nerves below the spinal cord, the name means "horse's tail"), that's much more serious, then surgery is really the only option. If, however, like most people you have only a little nerve root compression, then I'd really suggest pilates - I know that "Body Control" is one of the big schools in the UK, but in any case, just make sure your teacher is well-trained!

So in a nutshell, I'd be suggesting going to see the surgeon, but asking plenty of questions, and not taking what they say as gospel, as there is just about always more ways than one to skin a cat. And then get a pilates assessment as well! Have you had an MRI or a CT scan? That would be useful to do in any case I think. And have they given you a diagnosis?

Just to encourage you, here I am 10 years down the track with absolutely no symptoms of back problems at all (and no surgery!!), and able to dance, cycle, lift heavy weights and do pilates to my heart's content.

Good luck!

Fantastic work with the 5 stones lost, my goodness, what a wonderful effort!! Your mother must be completely horrified (which is a good thing) - she has lost a lot of her control over you! Good for you! And so happy about the clothes shopping too!

thanks for the tips for meals, @Sue.Q, I'll certainly try out some of those ideas. And I know what you mean about the washing up, @gillymary, I bet Jamie Oliver doesn't do his own! And he uses the food processor a lot, which is such a pain to wash properly! But I'll be doing some cooking later on today I think.

I'm fasting again today, just about to hop on my bike again!

enjoy, everyone!

@jools7What a fortuitous meeting! I have had 2 MRI's, the first one showing I had 5 bulging discs in the lower part of my spine which was aggravating the sciatic nerve and I had physio (which was too aggressive imo and made the symptoms worse) hydrotherapy which was great and I kept at it for awhile until they closed our pool down and Pilates which I didn't really feel like it was doing anything. It was about a week after I finished my Pilates classes at the hospital, I was lifting a bucket of water (safely like the physio told me to) and I hurt my back so badly I couldn't move for 3 weeks! The doctor send me for another MRI and this showed some nerve compression (not sure which nerves). I seem to be experiencing some bladder issues I think as a result of the back thing. It also seems to have an affect on my inner right hip, so much I can't walk more than 2 steps without the leg giving way at the hip.
I really don't want to have surgery but Jamie and I want to have a baby in the quite near future and I'm a little anxious about how my back will cope with pregnancy. Could you recommend any exercises I could do? How long does it normally take before you see an improvement? I noticed our local acupuncture place also has a Pilates for back pain class so I might pop in there and see what they can offer. How long did it take you to get better @jools7? I would love to be able to go to the gym, go running, cycle again without fear of injuring myself.

Yep almost 5 stone it's been about a year and a half since I started losing weight, so I think I've done well- I'm 3/4's of the woman I was 2 years ago!


Which days are we all fasting this week @Sue.Q@gillymary and @jools7? Today is my 1st of 3. I have a feeling it's going to be a long one, I didn't sleep well last night stupid brain keeping me up until all hours!!!

Happy Monday all xxx

I am going slow with the fasting at present but I will cheer you all on from the sidelines

@gillymary@jools7@daydreamer21
Hi fasting buddies Monday and yes I'm fasting today not sure if its 5:2 or a 4:3 week because I'm out mid week for a curry with ex work colleagues so I'm thinking back2back for today and tomorrow just in case Thursday goes wrong as I do want to put in 2 good "true" fasts this week starting with a small chicken and lots of veg meal tonight then I'm looking at some recipes for a mushroom stroganoff for Tues night and yes I'm thinking the courgette spaghetti or ribbons to go with it.
Hope you're all doing well and I think Sammy is well ahead on the fasting front, my body seems to be in limbo BUT yes gillymary the tape measure did move a little on the waist line a 2cm drop also something's happening on the bra front because all my new ones are "riding" up at the front which I assume means they're now to big does it??? not sure!!
Maybe a mistake to purchase 4 new ones when I had every intention of losing more weight I remember someone doing a taking in on her bras may have to follow her instructions and make do and mend for few months.
Sue

Good evening @Sue.Q@jools7and @gillymary I hope all you lovely ladies are well

How did Monday treat you? My first day back at work was super tiring, I think my body goes into shock when I return from a holiday lol. @Sue.Q how do you find doing back to back fasts? I think I would struggle with that. I admire you! Oooooh it sounds like you're going to have a fab time on Wednesday.

I had a good fast today, water, fruit tea, one cup of chai tea with a splash of milk and then I was so ready for my evening meal- seasoned chicken breast, bulgar wheat and quinoa mix with roasted veggies and a huge salad. I just had a few strawberries too, I have a happy tummy right now. I really hope to see movement on the scales this week, I hate not having a true picture of what my weight was when I was away. I did weigh myself at Jamie's but he has horrible bathroom scales and I couldn't tell most the time anyway! Although it did look like I had lost a KG.
@Sue.Q I'm having the same trouble with my bras! The back has become too big and the cups have lots of left over material, but I buy my bras from Bravissimo and they are so expensive that I don't really want to spend £30 per bra for it to become too big again soon. I'll probably try holding off until the summer. So, what are everyone's plans for the week ahead? I finally took the plunge and booked my hairdresser for Saturday afternoon!! I'm feeling nervous and excited. He is my friends hairdresser so she's going to come round to mine while he cuts my hair and then we're going to go out for Thai food afterwards

P.S @Sue.Q I just noticed, you and I have exactly the same target for Easter!! I wish you lots of luck hun

Hi @gillymary@jools7@daydreamer21
Hi Sammy yes I actually said we had same Easter goal in my first pm to you Lol although I've achieved nothing this year, sounds very exciting news on the haircut at the weekend then a meal out brilliant, as for bra's checkout
Yours Clothing good quality and far cheaper than bravissimo also quite sexy!!!!
they do charge p+p but have also got an ebay site that are cheaper and also half the price for p+p not much choice on eBay site but worth a good look.
Yes I've put in a really good fast today despite feeling bit off colour/sniffles lol did soup starter and chicken with veggies this has been the best fast I've done in ages so feeling good and will do tomorrow yes funnily enough I've done back2back since my start with no problems at all but they're not for everyone I realise that you have to find what you're capable of.
Hope the Australian duo are well today (Tuesday?) I can't get my head around the times at all especially tonight as its been a long busy day with the same planned for tomorrow which is why I've decided on back2back and the mushroom stroganoff as evening meal.

haha you know Sue, I probably read it but didn't actually read it if you get me. I was away at Jamie's then so I probably just skimmed without actually taking in what I was reading. Well hopefully you'll achieve this goal! We'll all be cheering you on. I hope I reach it too lol. I have bought bra's from yours clothing before but they always come up massive on me, when I go to Bravissimo I have a proper bra fitting so I know I'm wearing the right size. I hope you're feeling better tomorrow!

Hi everyone! Hope things are going well for everyone!

I've been feeling a bit out of it for the last 24 hours, I've got a bit of a cold I think. I've had quite a quiet day, just a little bit of gardening, which is good for my mood.

@Daydreamer21, that's a sad tale of woe with your back! Bladder symptoms would be a warning sign of a serious nerve compression, I guess that's why they referred you to see the surgeon!

It's hard for me to be of much help from so far away, but even if you do need surgery, you can still get benefit out of doing Pilates, for before, during & after any surgery - if you were my client, I would be training you up to use your core muscles - deep abdominals, pelvic floor and multifidus over the back of the sacrum, to support your back in Neutral Spine - as you may know, the back has four curves in it - convex frontwards in the neck, convex backwards in the chest, then forwards again in the lower back (lumbar spine), then finally backwards in the sacrum. With a back like yours, it's really important to maintain that normal curve especially in the lumbar spine and make sure you don't flatten out the curve ( by tucking your tail under) or twist it out of shape (by picking up buckets of water!). It's a fairly specialized thing to teach you the awareness of those particular muscles, then strengthen them. But a well-trained Pilates teacher should be able to help you. Above all you shouldn't be bending over to pick things up, or sitting with your tail slouched under on the couch. A lumbar support cushion may be of help when you're sitting.

I had a large prolapsed disc, but Pilates took about 4-6 months for me to be able to hold my spine neutral enough in all situations for nature to do the healing.

Good luck with all of that! Do let is know how you go!!

I fell out of a fast last night, but I'll be fasting again tomorrow and then on Friday. Saturday is my birthday, so I certainly won't be fasting then! My dear friend is making me a raw vegan chocolate cake, so I will feel very spoilt!

Happy fasting, foursomers!

Going to attempt to write this on my iphone. Thanks @gillymaryfor the ideas and the reminder that we buddy across the forum. And thanks for the warm invite to visit. I'm also going to be super busy soon as my uni work starts up so a bigger group means I can come and go. I will take this discussion to the buddy thread.
Best wishes to you xxxxx Jo

Wrote a long post and lost it, don't ya just hate that

Here @daydreamer21& @Sue.Q how to measure yourself for your bra band and cup sizes it is handy formula as we change band, back and cup size and now we definitely know we have changed . Oh for the days when I used to have an armful to choose from. Can't stand the current crop of bras, all seem to be padded where as I have enough of my own

Bra band measurement = measure snugly under the breast when exhaling, add 2 inches to even numbers and 3 inches to odd. Result is your Bra Band size
Cup size = with a bra on measure your apex eg around your chest at nipple level. The difference between this measurement and your bra band measurement is your cup size
3 inches = C cup
4 inches = D cup
5 inches = DD cup
6 inches = E cup
7 inches = F cup and so on and so forth

@jools7 thanks for Pilates info as well as back care , totally agree one can really strengthen ones back. I have but under supervision and from excellent support and guidance as initially I was apprehensive. But much more confident at gym about what I can do and the difference is wonderful. Head off to the gym now first time since my hip played up. So and steady today no HIT the back to lots of work at PC. Thinking fasting day will see how it pans out for me.

@Jo05 am sure another great group will surface and will be fun and supportive

Oh, so annoying when you lose a post - I lost one just now too, it just times out!

@Gillymary, thanks so much for the measurement instructions! I am due for some more bras shortly - I love the online Berlei store - heaps in my size, no severe women in black looking at your boobs critically from over the top of their half- lunettes!


Oh, meant to say, @daydreamer21, I think with your back, you should make sure your Pilates teacher has done a proper course of at least a year in length! And also make sure you get individually taught in a class of no more than 4 people - trying to do anything in a class of more than that isn't Pilates anyway, and would just be too dangerous for your back. Good luck!

I am fasting today, going well so far. Ocean trout with veges for dinner, only 6 hours away! Feeling better about myself today, and I'm just about to jump on Squeaky for a dose of HIIT.

go @jools7 hope squeaky is kind. Ah ha I did think Pilates was meant to be small classes

I have missed gym so far today. I didn't get further than the kitchen, am fasting too and always like to cook up a storm on a fasting day so DH is getting the benefit of my energy spurt with cauliflower au gratin, a vegie lasagna of mushroom eggplant pine nuts fresh basil and spinach in a bechamel sauce. Had a tiny taste to check. It will go with cauliflower and he has a smashing salad to boot. The veggies needed to have something done to them so I was just being creative, fingers crossed

See how I hold out. If not a small serve of cauliflower and salad will do me when i come back in.

@jools7Thank you so much for all your advice hun. I'm definitely going to look into a piliates for back pain class
@gillymaryThanks for the bra measurement instructions, I usually just go to Bravissimo and they look at how your current bra is fitting and kind of guess your size and then try you with a bunch of various sizes to see which one is right. They are usually spot on, it's been about a year since I last went to them, so maybe I am due some new ones lol.

I'm fasting today for number 2 of the week. I saw 98.9kg for the first time on my scales yesterday! So I'm hopeful of reaching my Easter target
@gillymary your meal sounds delish! You'll have to post some recipes. I think I'm going to make chorizo and butter bean stew tonight. I find once I find something I like on fast days I stick with it, I'm a little odd that way lol.

@jools7 How are you feeling now? I hope you recover quickly from your bug. I have noticed since starting this WOL I haven't had 1 single full blown cold (which is a miracle considering I work with 90 3 foot tall petri dishes!) and I have a really weak immune system so I normally catch every bug going!

I hope you all have a great day and *waves* @Sue.Q hope you're well hun