The FastDay Forum

So I started a few weeks ago and felt great- with nice numbers on the scale after a fast and then gradually back to normal as the week progressed. And then it struck me that going back to 'normal eating' is nigh on impossible if you don't know what normal eating is in the first place - how can i possibly because imoverweight ??? If I did I'd be a normal weight. Doh!! So I'm going to try again and the program that kicked this all off is on SBS tonight which might motivate and remind me why I'm doing this. Anyone else stuck on the ' normal' eating thing?

I totally know what u mean I think by normal they mean your recommended cal intake whereas normal for me is prob a 1000 more than that otherwise I wouldn't be 17 stone. My plan is to have around 1200 cals mon weds and fri then 500 cals tues thurs (fast days) then 2000 cals weekends giving a total of around 8600 a week when to maintain I should have 14000 a week so I should lose weight this way!!!!

[Betsysgr8]

When I started, I too, wondered what is "normal" eating. So, I went to My Fitness Pal and calculated what calories are needed daily to maintain my current weight (TDEE). Then I started logging every little thing that I consumed to find out if what I was eating was near TDEE. Having that questioned answered, I was then able to adjust portions on my feed days to be 'normal'. Hopefully, soon, I will lose enough to be able to readjust my TDEE to lower level.

I have done 'normal' eating since the start in January, it's more food than I should eat, but before fasting I wasn't gaining weight and hasn't for years (apart from when pregnant when I certainly was eating too much), so I guess I had my tdee thingy sorted and therefore have lost weight (17lbs so far). I assume when I lose more weight this amount will reduce, but I wanted to adapt slowly so I didn't feel on a diet and as time has gone on (14 weeks/15 weeks in) I can see my eating habits slowly adjusting. I went through a period of the munchies which still didn't completely stall my progress and have learnt about hunger and am adapting how I manage my meals such as delaying breakfast to prevent mid morning snacking and having a cut off time after dinner too. I think my portion sizes have decreased over time and have learnt that just because its lunchtime I don't need to eat if I'm not feeling hungry yet. So far, so good and if I plateau I will address things then. That's how it's working for me, no quick fix and I guess as I have lots to lose it would be different than someone with less. Either way, make a start and then tweak to suit you I would suggest, it's very flexible

First of all, not all people gain weight because they eat. There many things besides food that can increase one;s weight.
Now, if you feel that you don't know what "normal" is, don't stress over it. Work out your TDEE and eat around it.
Keep notes, it helps to remember and calculate everything you eat!

Its all a learning curve isn't it? I've been the opposite in than continuous dieting has left me not really eating enough on feed days. I'm careful now on fast days but try not to get too hung up on carbs and calories on other days. Its very liberating and its a lot easier on the budget than low carb!

Luliepoolie u will be remotivated once u watch it on SBS tonight. Get back on the wagon and you will just need to tweak it so it works. I have been pondering the 'normal' eating as well, since I have been losing weight and eating what I consider to be'porker foods' but I keep losing weight, so I wonder if perhaps I eat rather healthily for my meals (yes I do) but just add cakes/wine etc outside of that, so my TDEE may not be being exceeded by much on the feed days. I haven't calculated it because I haven't got a clue as to what is in the food I buy from cafes/bakeries and besides that is what attracted me to this WOE....not having to worry about the feed days. I won't worry about them unless I start to put on weight, however I often do 4:3 and find this largely easy...on the 3rd fast I often go over cals by 100-200 tho. Anyway good luck with motivation and remember it's way easier to do 2/3 days of low cal than 7 days of low cal!

Thanks for all your helpful messages and today's fast was a breeze- good to know your out there with the same niggles, here's to discovering 'normal'

I fell off the wagon too, for about 2 months and gained half a stone along with it!
I am fasting today though, this is my first day back on it.

[janeg]

Good for you Louie and best of luck for today

Thanks Jane, same to you!

You will find quite a few of us getting to grips with what "normal" eating actually is. Aim for approx 2ooo cals on feed days and in time it will seem like second nature...(I hope)

Back on for a week and not too hung up on feed days and happily fasting. I feel there is a net loss and look good in my clothes. Nest is a cholesterol check.....

Really interesting reading all these posts as with all the other diets I've been on I always fall off the wagon (obviously, otherwise I wouldn't still be here...) I wish there were some way for those of us who self-sabotage to break the habit but maybe just being on the forum will help. I'm here for a chat if you ever need to do something other than eat!

Good luck and hope you manage to stay on the straight and narrow

One of the things I love about this diet is not having to worry on "feast" days. But of course, that isn't entirely true. I haven't needed to count calories yet, but I do keep a food diary just so that I'm keeping an eye on what I'm taking in. I was getting bad about afternoon snacking, and I felt it was good to monitor it.

What I'm finding after being on this diet awhile, is that I eat differently. Some of it is that there are vegetables in the house that will go off if I don't eat them on "feast" days, too. But some of it is an improvement in my control of hunger/appetite. If I get peckish in the afternoon now, I just ignore it, as I would on a fast day. I get a glass of water. If I'm really hungry, I try to find something healthy to eat. Usually, it just passes though.