The FastDay Forum

Hi all, I've just joined the forum but have been lurking a while and thought I would post how I'm finding this experience as I'm not having the best of days

I've been doing the 5:2 diet since the beginning of April, currently mid way through my 20th fast so pleased as for the first time I feel this is something I can stick to.

Anyway, earlier today someone asked me if I was pregnant mortified wasn't the word, especially as I've stuck to this diet for 10 weeks now and it's made me feel really low. I thought by now I would of seen a significant improvement ie. clothes getting looser, maybe people noticing I'd lost weight not looking pregnant!!etc. I admit, my belly does poke out and is the bit I am desperately wanting to get rid of but I don't know where/how I'm going wrong so was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to lose the love handles and wobbly sticking out tummy? Please?! I am now evermore determined to do my HIIT DVD (the Josie Gibons one) so hoping that will help, as so far I haven't excersised as I can't get motivated.

Also, I thought I would of had a better weight loss too, I know on average people lose 1lb per week but I seem to be different

Last weigh in on Sat I was 66.2kg (I believe that's 10st4) and BMI is 24 something so I know I've lost weight as at the beginning I weighed 68.8kgs (10st8) I know I should be grateful I'm 4lbs lighter but really shouldn't I be 10lbs lighter by now? Am I doing something wrong? I've gained 2lbs or so in between but at the moment I have lost 4lbs.

Sorry for the long post, I just needed somewhere to turn to. Look forward to hearing some of your thoughts!

[Moogie]

Hi mizzo & welcome - sorry to hear you're not having a great time of it at the moment

People in the healthy BMI range do tend to lose a bit more slowly as they've less weight to shift. Don't worry about what other people think, I've heard it said that takes a couple of months for family to notice when you've lost weight, 3-4 months for friends to notice and more than that for everyone else!

Think about the positives here, you've been able to eat as normal most of the time and yet you've lost weight while doing it How many other ways of eating let you eat all your favourite foods most of the time, do no exercise and lose weight? Not many!

Maybe if you can tell us a little more about your situation - age, height, how you do your fasts etc we might be able to help you give things a kick start.

Hi Moogie! Thanks so much for replying.

I am 28 years old, 5ft 4.5" and from the beginning of 5:2 I've gone all day with no food, just drinking water and lots of green and peppermint tea - I mean lots! Then I have my 500 calories for my evening meal. Normally I have grilled chicken with some seasoning and salad with a dressing, usually balsamic or pizza express house dressing (I have just discovered the lighter version so even better)but some weeks, like this one it will be beans on toast! I do make sure I don't go over 500 calories though and I use the my fitness pal app to add them up. I do have two large salt and vingegar snack a jacks after my tea as a treat but only if I have enough calories left.

I am a savoury person at heart, I love crisps, cheese, bread, potatoes etc but I do have a craving for chocolate too although anything savoury is first choice. I was thinking of cutting back on cheese and maybe having it just at the weekends if that would make any difference?

I think I should start excercising as I don't move around much in my new job so maybe I should get off my bum and start moving!

Thanks for helping!

Hi mizzo, my tummy is my problem area as well, I have been doing 5:2 since February. At the beginning I could see that my tummy was getting a bit flatter but then it stopped. I have been doing 30 day shred , I was toning up other areas but not my tummy. 3 weeks ago I started ripped in 30 by jillian michaels as well and I can see the difference, lost about 6 cm around the waist. Also I am not far from my target weight and as they say the problem area is where the fat go off from last so that is helping as well. I think adding exercise to your day will help you, I haven't done the josie Gibson DVD but read some good reveiws , maybe give it a try and see how you feel.

[Moogie]

Sounds like you're doing everything right - have you checked your TDEE at all and compared it against your actual intake? Perhaps you're slightly overeating the rest of the week - not enough to just maintain or to gain, but enough that the losses are less? As you lost weight you need to eat less too, and if you're now less active than you were that will have reduced your energy needs too.

Cheese is a real calorie hog, it's amazing how many calories there are in just a small amount. I've now stopped having 'a pinch or two' from my grated pile when I cook with it, as I've realised that could be as much as 100 cals in some cases - just for a measly taster before dinner! I try not to have too much fatty stuff during the week and save it for indulging at the weekends - well, just remember I only said 'I try', lol. I mostly try to have larger portions of veg with my dinner now, not because I prefer it to the spuds/carbs etc but because I know I feel better for it - and it makes me appreciate the carbs all the more for having a little less of them, I savour them and make them last.

I'm not a big eater of crisps, but again these can be terrible for calories (much like when I reach for a wagon wheel or kitkat as a snack) which don't really fill you up. Maybe try something like a couple of crackerbreads or a piece of wholemeal toast with marmite to hit that savoury spot for less cals and more nutrition?

Hi Malteserr! Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a problem tummy area. It gets me down, a lot recently as I'm struggling with what to wear all the time and it's driving me crazy. I just don't feel comfortable in anything.

I've heard of the 30 day shred but not the other one. How often do you do your dvds? A friend suggested I forget the dvde and do two laps of the local (hilly) park. I just feel stuck in a rut at the moment. Really wish the first thing to disappear were my love handles!!

Thanks Moogie, not sure what TDEE is? Perhaps I do need to watch what I eat on normal days. I think after this week I will just have cheese on weekends and see how I go! I've been substituting snack a jacks for crisps lately to help but I do only buy the lower cal ones likes monster much etc! Nice to know I'm not going anything drastically wrong though!!

[Moogie]

TDEE is Total Daily Energy Expenditure - the amount of calories your body needs to function If you've not signed up for the progress tracker here please feel free to do so as it will calculate this for you!

Thanks Moogie I'm just adding some info to it now - how do I get it to show under my name like you guys?

[Moogie]

Go to the 'settings' page on your tracker screen and you should have the option to make it public (with or without graphs )

Finally done it!

I read somewhere this morning about 16:8 which sounded interesting. Is it worth me trying this for normal days and still fast for 2 days? Not sure if I could religiously stick to it on weekends but should be able to on weekdays. Wasn't sure if this was for those who have nearly reached their target weight though?

Feeling a bit more positive today after yesterday even though when I weighed this morning I'd put on 0.3kgs but my BMI has stayed in the healthy range!!

Thanks both for the pick me up I needed to know I'm not alone!

[Moogie]

There's certainly no harm in trying, though as you say perhaps not so much on weekends eh?
I've certainly found that after a fast I'm less inclined to have breakfast first thing anyway so sometimes unconsciously end up doing 16:8 on weekdays because I'll leave breakfast until nearer midday and tend not to snack after dinner anyway.

The beauty of 5:2 is the flexibility of not having to be extra good at weekends as I know I'd crumble!

I might just up the excercise now I've started, even if it's just a 20 minute walk it's better than sitting still and see how I go. If no improvement or much weight loss then maybe I will incorporate a 16:8. At the moment I want to focus on shifting my middle so think excercise is key for me now and I need to get focused!!

Hi mizzo , I do the DVD 5 / 6 days a week. I do it early morning before my kids wake up. I like doing this DVD because its only 30 mins long but it's effective, since I can do it at home I have no excuse about the weather, plus I am not good at running Find exercise that suits you and try to stick to it.

Hi Malteserr, I admire your dedication! Is this the ripped in 30 DVD you mentioned? I did have a look on amazon the other day. I've got a few things to try this weekend, my Josie DVD and I've downloaded a 'Couch to 5k' app so see if a few laps around the field in the sun will make me feel better. I want to get back into swimming too as I was good at it when I was younger. I think I've lost all confidence in excercise (and the way I look) and my partner isn't very active so doesn't help, I have to drag him to go on a walk! I'm thinking if I mix it up a little I won't get so bored of doing the same thing everyday and can take advantage of the weather when it's nice to do something outdoors.

I didn't do any excercise last night so I'll make sure I do my DVD tonight, even if I make myself after our Chinese!

I'm really fed up of not feeling comfortable in my clothes, really thought they'd be looser by now. My partners trousers are! Oh well, will stick at it...

Hi Mizzo
Although I am nowhere near to my target, there is a topic on here about NEAT i.e. getting moving every 20 mins or so. If you have a sedentary job / lifestyle, it certainly keeps you on the move. I have found it very effective.
It may help