The FastDay Forum

Good morning fasters. Today is 21 Sept and I started on 21 August. I decided to give it a whole month to see whether I could adapt to a new WOE. I would like to say a HUGE thanks to all of you. You have no idea how much you have helped me. This site has been an absolute mine of information and I have been an avid study of all of your tips and stories. Without your inspirations, I'm certain I would not have been able to do this alone.

I'm now back in the healthy BMI range
I have lost 2.5 inches off my waist. Now 43.66% W:H ratio.
My fat percentage is improving, (now 33.8%) although I don't know by how much because I forgot to measure it on day one.
6.81lbs down so far
Blood pressure this morning ranging between 106/78 to 118/78.

What I did and what I learned from you all (Writing it down so I don't forget when I lapse):

*I did 5:2. I don't have set days as I like to fit it around my schedule.
*I also did 16:8 mostly by giving up breakfast (except weekends).
*The only 'diet' adaptation I made food wise was to give up all refined sugar. This has killed my cravings stone dead.
*I am moving towards a more primal way of eating but I'm not paleo. I have eaten rice and the occasional piece of soughdough when I wanted it. Certainly I'm lower GL than I was.
*I'm eating more good fat and weirdly I do like the coffee/butter/coconut oil thing - Gets my day off to a great start.
*I was a fruit bat and I swapped my fruit for veggies, especially green ones. I try to eat lower GL fruits like berries etc, but do still eat fruits like bananas and mangoes a couple of times a week.
*I did 10 fasts in total, and this week I did two 36 hour liquid fasts with coffee/oil. I liked it.
*Now I have found a grass fed beef supplier I'm eating more beef.
*Cut down on my alcohol, but this seems to have happened naturally. Very odd for me.
*I did not stay within my TDEE. I found monitoring it felt like I was on a diet, although I think I have been broadly in line as I have felt less hungry.

Things I still need to try:
*A bit more exercise. I'm fairly fit, but I'm bone idle. Need to build some muscle!
*Ways of getting better sleep. I have been taking Ho Shou Wu as a tea. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.
*Get some bloods done.

Thank you thank you. Really looking forward to my breakfast this morning!

Sian and I would of course prescribe parkrun for Saturday mornings!

Well done getting where you have, and good luck going forward. Love to see the blood results when you get them done...

Well done for your success, rawkaren! You are very sensible and take it in your stride so that this WOE is becoming natural. (I can say that my husband and I have got there too.) You are so right, this forum has helpful steady people sharing their experiences and it's great to have their advice, help and humour! We'll be interested to hear more of your news.

Thank you @creakypete. As you seem to be all things expert in running, any advice for gluteus medius pain on the illiac crest? It always gets me on my right hip and I have a come to the conclusion that my running days might be over despite stretching and yoga. If I try to run through it (v bad)' it refers down the inside of my leg and gets really tight. So maddening as I love running. I have never been a marathon runner. 5k is about my limit.

Rawkaren that's a great result for the first month - all good wishes for the next stage you are right about the forum, all knowledge and experience is here, which means that none of us is truly on our own onwards and downwards!

Rawkaren - I wish I could help with your pain but am in a similar situation myself. If rest does not fix it, maybe a proper massage or physio visit but after that I am out our suggestions. I have a mate who has just had an MRI scan for a back problem that has dogged him over the years, awaiting consultant's diagnosis. He gets sciatic pain that stiffens his legs out of the blue, like a switch being thrown.
My own hips are just osteoarthritic, one complains when I go climbing, the other does not like jogging but accepts fast running OK. I too seem limited to 5k nowadays so make up the rest of my training with walking and biking.
I had hoped the near-removal of grains and the reduction of carbs generally might have made an improvement but I can't tell - other than I am not apparently getting much worse!
Good luck in finding the answer to your problem...

Thanks creakypete. I must say that a reduction in grains has made me less stiff too but alas this stupid thing always presents itself as soon as I get back to running. I thought exercise helped osteo but I suppose your own body reacts in different ways depending on the type of activity you undertake. Now I understand why you call yourself creakypete! thanks for responding. BTW I was born in Leicester. Where do you live?

Well done, that is indeed splendid x

Splendid indeed Well done rawkaren
This forum is a truly a brilliant source of information and as you said
support. Congratulations on meeting so many of your goals
Sue.

I'll join the otheres too Rawkaren in congratulating you!!

big well done, what an achievement!!!

xx

[janeg]

well done you!

@janeg. I had read about your wet fish and was scared you might deploy it.

Rawkaren - Wigston, nowadays, 4 miles south of the city - before that just off the Narborough road in Braunstone (as a kid), Bitteswell as a young man and Hinckley until I got married. Actually born in Nottingham, though!

Where did you live?

Born Groby Road (nr New Parks....). First flat in Stoneygate. Then lived in Glenfield and Mkt Harborough until we moved south. Rellies live in Great Glen. So not too far from you and father in law in Thurnby. Small world!

Oh and I used to work at Meridian Business Park years ago!