The FastDay Forum

I don't know when everyone else weighs themselves and why, but I choose the day between fasts usually. That way if I haven't lost weight, I can try really hard again the next (fast) day, and if I have then the I feel like I'm on track for the coming week.

Now luckily I haven't gained this week, but I think the reason I'm frustrated is that I am exactly (and I mean exactly!) the same weight I was when I got on the scales yesterday morning, despite fasting yesterday and exercising (as I do nearly every day now). The shred has seemed to be helping the process along but it's Day 8 of Level 2 now, so I didn't think it would be possible to still be maintaining/gaining from a 'new' exercise?

Anyway, rant over. I have no inspiration for the 30 Day Shred today but I'll have to do it at some point. Day 10 Level 2 (or really Day 20)is on Saturday when I'll be taking another 'During' picture and weighing/measuring. I really want to see some kind of positive changes.

Just wish I'd lose weight a little faster! Just one more pound would take me to my first goal of 1/2 a stone

I weigh everyday and I usually lose weight on the second day after a fast day, not the day after. This is the best motivation to "behave" on day after the fast, so that I will definitely see results on the scales.
Having said that, my "official" weigh in day (the one that goes in the tracker) is Wednesday, which is either a fast day or a day after a fast, because I want to be as realistic as possible.

[janeg]

Keep going Beth- the shredding is working for you and I'm sure you'll see the difference in your pictures. The scales are sometimes not kind - have you done the tape measure?
It's all part of a bigger picture remember.
I've just done day 19 so at a similar place to you shred wise. It was easier today believe it or not!
C'mon you badass- you want to look like Natalie
(I do too but I need to grow 6" up the way, lose too much weight and change my hair and skin colour- not much really )

My advice is to read up on Brad Pilon. He was quoted in the book. His fast is different from DrM's but he has been doing it for sometime. He advocates weight training as a form of exercise and John Barban ( he fast even shorter then DrM and Brad) has females in mind with their venus index where they tackle it from our point of view and body composition.

I used to weigh every day TML13, but I found it too disheartening, so I started weighing once a week. But then in the run-up to the Wednesday weigh I got so nervous! So this week I've tried to stop making the scales into such an 'enemy' and have weighed myself whenever I feel like it. I just had such high hopes that a good fast would blitz that next pound.

Thank you for the words of encouragement, janeg. I managed to make myself do it but it really was my worst day. So much of exercise is in the head and I just wasn't there today. Will have to try much, much harder tomorrow. (You're right though, I would love to look like Natalie too, but I have all the same changes to make as you do! but oh, to have that tummy )

Thanks for the advice Aina, I'll re-read the book and look those men up. It seems like such exact science until you realise that everyone is different! But it's good to have someone to research.

Hi there,

I weigh myself twice a week, and this week i weighed myself after a non fast day, and had put on weight (A non fast day that Id been very good).

The first week and a half on the diet, i lost about 3lbs and for the last week and a half I haven't lost anything. And actually gained today.

I think i may have went a little overboard on my eating days last week, but I really didn't think it was that much. This is only reason that I can think off that i haven't lost weight.

On my fast today, and am feeling disheartened!

@fionamcgin: Maybe its hormones. PMS is a killer and I know which weeks I am retaining water and which weeks I'll magically loose the 'weight gained' without even trying.

But you're doing 2 conflicting things (for the best of motives) so sometimes the fat weight goes down and sometimes the muscle weight goes up.

If you want a "pure decline", don't exercise but you'll end up a less-toned shape. I've just not lost for a month after several months of losing 2 kgs a month. However, I was doing a lot of high-intensity exercise, sum total loss was 200g but my clothes started to fall off...this month, resumed losing but am now very strong!

BBT053, thank you for that reassurance! I am in much the same boat as BethP - fasting faithfully and Shredding (plus other exercise) and feeling frustrated that the scales are staying the same.

Beth, we have similar BMIs and I'm finding it slow going too. My milestone is only 2 kg away, but it seems so far. I'm fasting today (2nd of the week) and thinking I'll try to do it all liquid (as long as I can manage it) and see if that kick starts anything. If not, I might have to add a third day this week (Saturday).

Don't stress, you're pretty much on track. 2kg is probably a reasonable % of your bodyweight, it would be the equivalent of maybe 4 kgs for me and that's going to take me a couple of months to lose.

More isn't always better with this way of eating...

If you've not read the FAQ on being good and the scales not moving, it's a good read. So many variables.

When I was looking at IF last year, Brad Pilon's pages had a link to a paper that suggested that the results of IF for women are very different to those for men *grump* This makes sense when you consider that most live lab experiments avoid the female of the species like the plague because of all those extra variables: monthly cycle, menopause etc. (I think it was a decade after they started trials on AIDS medications that they bothered to include women in them!)

TL:DR - we're women - we're going to get 'blips'

By the way, the shred is done in 10-say increments, yea? (trying to remember) when i did it several years ago, i remember gaining muscle tone the whole time. my friend and i did before and after pictures, and we could see it all the way to day 30. so, gaining muscle/retaining water?

also, let us know what the scale looks like tomorrow. maybe there is a delayed effect?

But you're doing 2 conflicting things (for the best of motives) so sometimes the fat weight goes down and sometimes the muscle weight goes up.

If you want a "pure decline", don't exercise but you'll end up a less-toned shape. I've just not lost for a month after several months of losing 2 kgs a month. However, I was doing a lot of high-intensity exercise, sum total loss was 200g but my clothes started to fall off...this month, resumed losing but am now very strong!

I do feel better, but the lack of inch loss is why I'm still frustrated. Just got to hope that continuing will eventually show good results. I want to be where you are now! Hopefully I'm just getting more toned and once I do that the 'fat' weight will start to come off again.

Beth, we have similar BMIs and I'm finding it slow going too. My milestone is only 2 kg away, but it seems so far. I'm fasting today (2nd of the week) and thinking I'll try to do it all liquid (as long as I can manage it) and see if that kick starts anything. If not, I might have to add a third day this week (Saturday).

I did an all-liquid fast accidentally at one point and it really didn't seem to agree with me! I felt fine but my body just felt so slow, I felt like I could actually feel my metabolism slowing down! Sounds bizarre, I know, but I think the 500cal meal actually helps my body when fasting. Still, good luck! I hope we both start seeing the scales going downwards soon

TL:DR - we're women - we're going to get 'blips'

Very tired of being a woman! Always with the blips... I'll try to keep in mind that my body will not follow a pattern, and not get frustrated with it.

By the way, the shred is done in 10-say increments, yea? (trying to remember) when i did it several years ago, i remember gaining muscle tone the whole time. my friend and i did before and after pictures, and we could see it all the way to day 30. so, gaining muscle/retaining water?

also, let us know what the scale looks like tomorrow. maybe there is a delayed effect?

I'm hoping that's what's happening, I suppose it's just because I no longer felt like my muscles were aching that I can't get my head around them still 'repairing' themselves. Perhaps when I take my Day 20 picture on Saturday I'll be able to see an actual difference and I won't be so bothered about the scales...

I will definitely be letting you all know if the scales have shifted by then! I am fasting tomorrow and weighing/measuring/taking a picture on Saturday so fingers crossed I come back on here less moody.

Exam stress is giving me major mood swings. Thank you all for making me feel better!

Oh Beth,

You know I have been Shredding just behind you ( done 2 days of level 2, did I mention "Ow!"). I haven't lost any weight over all, either. My weight has gone up and down and most definitely stayed the same after a fast day - so I stopped weighing myself!

But ..... I have been hitching up my small jeans all day, so I don't much care what I weigh. Keep going, especially with the pressure of exams. You have come so far