The FastDay Forum

Hi everyone,

I think I just need to vent for a minute. OK with everyone?

I have been doing this WOE now since 15 August, making it exactly 22 weeks today since I started. I have done 2 fasts a week (I started out the first two or so weeks splitting calories; since then, I go 23 or 24 hours without consuming calories and then having about 400 calories) every week except one, when I ran into a bit of difficulty and only did one fast. Every other week, I've fasted two times a week. In addition, I started tacking on either 16- or 18-hour fasts (skipping breakfast) one, two, or three additional days a week.

On my non-fast days, I hardly ever totally splurge (I can only think of a couple of times where I ate too much). Alcohol consumption is minimal. I do occasionally treat myself with a couple of small pieces of chocolate or 1/2 cup of ice cream--but that's rare. I never figured out my TDEE, but I eat so well and so healthily that I figure I'm doing OK. And yes, I am definitely 100% getting enough calories on my non-fast days. And one more thing to mention: I have also cut back on simple carbs like breads and pastas and rice.

All sounds great and very virtuous, doesn't it? Well, since November, when I weighed myself and had lost a total of just under 15 pounds, I have actually put on a couple of pounds! That's right--I gained weight. All of this despite doing everything so well.



The only thing I can think of that is different this last 5-6 weeks is that I am not exercising as regularly as I was before.

Please buck me up, everyone. I feel discouraged. And oh, before you suggest that I measure myself (because that might show good results despite having put on two pounds): I did that, as well. And I actually gained a tiny bit here and there. Nothing horrible, but STILL!!!

I kind of feel like the whole month of December was a washout. Not only did I not lose weight, but I actually gained. Grrr.

Anyway, off my venting soapbox.

Thanks.

Melinda

Commiserations - but a 2lb gain in December and over Christmas isn't bad you know.

It is possible you are on a plateau and your body is adjusting ready for the next downward plunge. There are folk on the forum that have been on plateaus for far longer than a month - hopefully you won't experience that.

As you have lost a good bit now it is also possible that you may need to lower your calorie intake to allow for the smaller you. You say you are being really good and eating healthily but haven't used the tracker to work out your TDEE, perhaps it would be a good idea to do that now to give you some idea as to what your intake should be. Don't forget that eating healthily is not the same as eating healthily within the needs of your body and lifestyle.

With luck your next weigh in will show a drop.

Yes agree there with AnnieW - I'd also add that you now have a healthy BMI and not much weight to lose - and folk often find that things slow down once they reach say the 22s.

And actually to lose 15lb in under 3 months is doing really well Melinda

Why not start the new year as if you were starting again from scratch - ie reassess your eating on fast and non-fast days, work out your TDEE properly, watch the carbs etc etc - also look around the forum at the various threads for info - could be a plateau, but maybe something as simple as the TDEE thing


Actually Melinda just looked at your tracker - and we started at around the same weight - and you've lost more than me, but in half the time! So no reason to feel down at all - you are doing really well, just keep going!

Hi:

I'm convinced most plateaus are simply results of water weight variations combined with timing of weigh ins. The average body can vary four or more pounds just in water weight. If you weigh in when your water retention is at a low point, you might continue to lose fat weight but have that weight loss masked by a higher water weight the next time you weigh in. When you are only losing a half a pound to a pound a week, it is very possible to go for several weeks, lose fat weight, but not see any reduction in scale weight.

Here are some thoughts on plateaus: 5-2-diet-chat-f6/on-plateaus-t7102.html

I also agree you may be consuming more calories than you think you are. Research has shown the average person underestimates their caloric intake by about 50%. And exercise does very little to encourage weight loss, so not exercising would have little impact on your results.

Good Luck!

Have you read the thread on NEAT? Just keeping active - a pedometer like a fitbit makes it much easier - can just bump you off that plateau. Make 10,000 steps a day your goal, plus add in a couple of HIIT sessions a week, and it could make the difference.

(I've found that incidental exercise doesn't increase my appetite like vigorous cardio does)

[carieoates]

I also believe that your loss is steady and a fair amount. I weigh daily then I can see an increase creeping up on me. And. I agree that you need to establish what your TDEE is as when you lose weight it should go down. A 2lb gain over Christmas is not a great deal. And I am living proof that dropping exercise does not necessarily mean an increase on the scale, as I have not been allowed to exercise since the end of November and haven't done many full fasts since then either, just doing 16.8 has maintained my lose. Are you nearly at target. As I have read here that some folk experience a stall just before target.
Keep at it and it should come right.

Thanks to all who answered my plea for help! I think you are right; it's time to start tracking what's going in my mouth on the non-fast days, as well. Even though I think I'm doing well, I could be sabotaging myself without even realizing it! A week or two of tracking could be all that I need to see the reality of the situation.

With that in mind, I have started using My Fitness Pal, and I hope that will give me a good idea of where I stand.

What an awesome group!

Happy New Year, and may all of your trips to the scale be pleasant.

Melinda

If you look at my tracker I think we're very similar. I have hit a plateau too lately, lowest weight was 59.3k two days ago, but I have noticed that I am swinging between that and 60.2k ish. It's very hard when like me you've been losing weight at a steady pace and then it seems to stall...but nearly EVERYONE on here suffers from the dreaded plateau eventually it would seem! And some poor souls plateau for just ages and ages, but they don't give up and eventually start to lose again.
I don't think anyone knows the real reason why that happens either. However, I got out my tape measure and I had lost a tiny smidgen from around my hips...half an inch to be precise. Try the tape measure Melinda. Judging from today's posts it would seem that we're not alone in plateau land either.

You are right! Let's just keep plugging along. It looks as though this fasting (or even just the reduced-calorie life) does GREAT things for one's health, even if you don't lose a ton of weight. So there's always that to keep us going.

Let me know how you get on. I plan on weighing again on the 23rd.

Consider another viewpoint?

Take a look at the following web site (entering your original starting weight):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18770328

Then re-enter the numbers with your current weight.

After considering your placement on a national and world-wide basis, do you still feel a compelling healthful reason to lose even more? No need to answer here. It's purely a food-for-thought question to consider.

[carorees]

Interesting link @ADFnFuel! Apparently I'm most like someone from Sweden, which pleases me due to our family connection with Sweden!

[carieoates]

That was fun, I was United. States, Uruguay now, then I'm off to Cameroon, all going well.

I'm Indonesia! Great cos before I was somewhere in Europe, Spain I think!

You have a BMI of 22. Your body doesn't want you to loose any more weight and various mechanism are working to keep you at a healthy weight. Relax and enjoy it.

My goodness I am way below average for my age, a lower BMI than 85% of females my age! Wow!! If everyone my age had my BMI in the world it would remove 7 million tonnes of weight in the world. Wow ! I don't think of myself THAT skinny either! Thank you @ADFnFuel...that cheered me up today!