The FastDay Forum

If only people having very easy times post, all the silent lurkers who are struggling will just slink away, feeling like failures. Dieting is tough, and many people will stall despite how easy the books make it seem.

I trust people who report on setbacks and difficulties far more than the cheerleaders.

I started this thread and haven't been on the forum for a week
Thanks everyone for making this thread a good one. It doesn't really matter how much weight any of us have or haven't lost, it's all about supporting each other to live healthier lives, now that we are great at. Sometimes I have a bad day, sometimes I have a bad week but without this forum and all you fasting forum friends this WOE would be a distant memory for me. I haven't lost much weight over the (almost) 11 months since I started fasting but I have more control, I can't eat as much, I actually like going without food (sometimes) and I would have carried on gaining if I hadn't started this WOE. I can't thank @moogie enough, this forum has changed my life and I will be forever grateful.

I agree justdee
I look forward to my regular check ins here
I love to see posts from those who have stuck to it and succeeded .i find that motivates me to go on. But it is also good to hear about the set backs and realise one is not alone.i see familiar names and it feels like I am among friends
I don't talk about this WOE to anyone besides my husband. I think I feel of I tell people they will all be watching to see my progress and I do t like the pressure.so it's great to have this forum.

Phew! Just finished reading all the pages of this fantastic, thought provoking thread. I'm still here and loving the forum. I think my favoutite threads are when someone just asks a question or has something to celebrate then everyone can chip in with their support, advice or opinion. Its great seeing some familiar names.
Xxx love you guys.
Xxx julianna

Well I am definitely one of the AWOLers. Hmm the reasons? Well things change I guess. Initially it was discovering 5:2. Then reading, watching and thinking the science backed EOD fasting, so to 4:3 (Friday I NEED a drink , then marvelling at losing weight while eating and drinking carbs etc. Closing weight pretty consistently. Then as I had gone from 5:2 to 4:3, lots of people discovered other methods. To be frank this is what did my head in. I was trying all sorts of things, I was getting confused and the path became rocky. For me it's way easier to have my plan mapped out and follow it, when I get overwhelmed by choices it all goes to pot. I went below goal, wasn't really sure if a maintenance method (no clear plan!), I knew 6:1 wasn't going to work as I didn't lose weight, but maintained on 5:2. The thought of 2 days of restrictive 500 cals eating forever was just too much. So whilst hearing 'my god u r so skinny' from everyone, I slowly but surely gained 7 of the 9kg I had lost. I fasted intermittently, unsuccessfully, would pop onto forum to add stats, but didn't want to get confusing messages so rarely stayed. Add to that all these tents...Well I've never been a group person, just like to amble in and out...I do miss the mad, funny posts of bandage dresses (u know who u r etc and the laughter at the posts of the Scottish fish LOL to name but a few. I shall endeavour to look in more often. Glad you are all here enjoying life, fasting and having fun.

Morning all, thanks justdee for the prod! I have been seriously distracted by life. Have a sort of plan in place for my dad but nothing from social services yet, still waiting to know if he will get an assessment.
Weight is going up, I do not need scales to see that. I am still just in size 12 but not for much longer if I keep going like this. I have just cut out a skirt in size 14 which can be altered I know but part of me feels..oh well! It is not that I found fasting difficult, it was just another thing to think about. I need to flick the switch again. I am making no promises but possibly tomorrow I will fast and aim for 5:2.

Good to get a post from you Bobshouse. I have been thinking of you and wondering how you are. Very difficult situation with your dad, especially when you live so far from him. I think all of us who have looked after ageing parents can identify with the pain.

Size 12 is still a very small size, if a French size 12 is the same as an Australian one. I aspire to size 12 and am only too pleased to have made it to 14. Just keep it simple, Bobshouse, and stay in touch. I worry about you when I don't hear from you.

Hi @GMH nice to hear from you. You have been missed - please do keep posting. Maintaining is quite hard, I am about to start doing this, and I know staying on here will be part of my strategy! I am not really a group person either, but have found the forum so helpful that I have overcome my natural reluctance and joined in ... Don't regret that for a moment. Please do keep posting, as lots of us have been wondering how things were with you

@Bobshouse know exactly where you are coming from with your dad ... Did you know you could ask for an assessment, you don't have to wait until they decide to do one. The best strategy we have found in our family over the last 4 years, is to be very firm and state what you want to happen, and keep on at them until they do it. Very wearying and infuriating but necessary. Very good luck, and please come on here and let us know how things are going.

I requested an assessment last year and it was agreed as necessary as the last one was 7 years ago. With Alzheimers that is way too long. When I emailed the social worker meant to be organising it I had an out of office with no alternative contact. One of our problems is we have always looked after him between us and my daughter and son in law. We pay for all the services. Last year was a nightmare as the facility he was in was closed and he was one of the last three to be re housed. The new place is called extra sheltered but there is no standard as yet to measure against. To my mind it should at least mean staff being aware of where my dad is at any given time. I cannot get social services to take him on as he did not meet their criteria being able to dress and feed himself! This is why I want a mental assessment. SS will do all they can to not pay for anything. My concern is that dad is cared for in right environment that will keep him safe. His old place did that well which is why we were happy to move over here. In October we are taking him on a little holiday so that I can do my own assessment. I am a retired nurse so know a few things!
In the coming week I will fire off some more emails in an attempt to get someone to respond.

@bobshouse so sorry about yr Dad..all you want is for him to be safe and happy,so worrying a situation for many people...there should be so much more available,..funds are limited yet there always seems to be enough to pay MPs and bankers massive salaries and bonuses x
@GMH i am like you,was doing great with basic 5:2 then started to get v confused by lots of variations,didnt know what to do for best,went off track...its not the full story..my own lack of focus,greediness,stress etc is why ive lost very little this year too..
Top and bottom of it is, for all of us losing and keeping weight off isnt easy unless youre one of those who are blessed with a fat metabolism xx ps fast metabolism!

We have just found out that dad can no longer operate his DVD player so daughter has removed it. Sad as he loves watching the old stuff as TV is his only entertainment. He has six personal CD players with different music in each as he cannot change the disc. These are just a couple of problems yet SS say he can manage!
On the fast front am going back to basic 5:2 as feel like others it has become too complicated with all the variations and not eating this or that. I will do a couple of weeks like this before I start cutting down on feed days too. I had said I would not do anything other than this but was sucked in again. It has to be basic and simple for me to stay with it. Currently Friday is our day off renovations and we often eat out so 4:3 has not been good. So, back to Mondays and Thursdays and keep it simple.

My heart goes out to you and your dad @bobshouse, I can't imagine how frustrating and worrying it all must be. Good plan regarding 5:2 back to basics, just try for the 2 fast a week and what will be will be. Good luck

Hi@Bobshouse,
Does your dad have a decent GP? Sometimes they can push for more social services involvement. I work in a GP practice in Kilburn and there is a really good person attached to the practice (not a nurse or a social worker) but she acts as a liaison for people like your dad, needing more complicated care and she is brilliant at gettng care packages in place for people so maybe there is someone like that where he is. We often (alas) find social services a bit useless in getting things done so hopefully he has a good GP to help out. Also how about something like the Alzheimer's Society? Do they offer any practical help?

Can understand too about not fasting - sometimes life and worries get in the way.

PS GPs can do mental health assessments f you think his has deteriorated (as I'm sure you know). I think it's rubbish that sometimes people have to be really stroppy to get things done but sometimes you have to.

Good luck.

Already asked GP as knew they could arrange it, also funding is with them now. He told me no as he doesn't agree with the original diagnosis, done by the psycho geriatrician of vascular dementia. Thought about complaining to the practice manager but she is his wife. Tried to change GP but have to physically take him to new GP and get new one to agree to take him on. Might do that if I fail with SS. It will mean another trip to the UK though.