The FastDay Forum

On the home stretch now.
Dinner time always a bit tough but still amazes me how much easier it is to abstain than I ever would have believed possible before starting 5:2

I too am perusing recipe books looking forward to what I'll cook tomorrow.
I'm in the mood for cooking, not our usual Friday take out!

Redhead, I am in awe of your honesty.
Your willingness to discuss ,so frankly ,sensitive issues is inspiring.
I regularly question my own drinking habits.
The majority of my friends , I would say,drink too much but it's like you say, in Ireland it is the norm.
That said I have drastically cut down on my drinking since starting 5:2 and in the main it's usually just at weekends now, (last night being more the exception rather than the rule)
I'm sure you'll do whatever works best for you, you've obviously got tremendous willpower to have achieved what you have on 5:2.
Hope you really enjoy your bevies tomorrow night!

I won't see any of you on Monday as its a bank holiday here and I love myself way too much to do that.
So it'll be next Tuesday and Thursday for me.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Roll on Fabulous Friday

Well done all of you - you are truly amazing! If I don't have bfst on a fast day there are teeth marks on the car dashboard and by 5pm "I could eat the crutch out of a low flying duck'...and I'm a vego

Izzy I knew some boys who used to refer to a liquid lunch (@ the pub) as going out for brown sandwiches

Looks like I've done it. Off to bed soon. Will confirm in the morning

Well done everyone!! It was a cinch for me as I got caught up in work so am only getting home now! Proof that being busy with other things is the key to success!

Emerald17 - anonymity on here helps with the honesty! But it is very cathartic to record progress, thoughts, feelings by writing them down and sharing through this forum is much more fun than a personal diary!

I think I'll leave my next fast until Tuesday as it's a bank hol on Monday. Fingers crossed for everyone to see a good weight loss after the fast. I'll be weighing in tomorrow - here's hoping I've lost another pound!!

[Tracieknits]

I just want to repost this informative post from Carorees in response to one poster talking about extended fasting. The 5:2 diet does not endorse fasting for extended periods of time. Four days, under doctor's supervision, is the most Dr. Mosley recommends.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4325#p43438
Postby carorees » Thu May 02, 2013 6:02 pm
Prolonged fasts can have many potentially dangerous effects on the body, particularly the dangers of refeeding and lowered phosphate levels, oedema, acute heart failure and the precipitation of acute vitamin B1 deficiency that can be fatal. Then there is the problem of hyperphagia (excessive eating) which can result in more weight being piled on than was lost.

Up to 4 days should be ok for healthy people but even then if you have thyroid problems they can be worsened by fasting for as little as 3-4 days. Medical supervision is recommended for any longer fasts if you are to do it safely.

So this is where you all are!

Just marking my place - next fast will be Monday for me, when I shall try and beat my 87 calorie record.

In the meantime, well done to all the 36ers on here!

Mimi Spencer took part in a Webchat tonight, on Mumsnet - this is what she had to say about zero calories on a fasting day:

"Brad Pilon has written extensively and fascinatingly about zero-cal fast days - and advocates it as a brilliant weight loss method. The reason Michael developed the Fast Diet to allow 500/600 calls is that this appears to be more approachable and sustainable for most people. If you can manage a full fast, then by all means try (stay hydrated!) Your calorie deficit will of course be greater over the course of a week. But most people do need some calories going in."

Very sensible, IMO!

Here's the link to the Webchat:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/a1745013-TONIGHT-Live-webchat-with-Mimi-Spencer-author-of-bestselling-The-Fast-Diet-Recipe-Book-Thursday-2-May-9-10pm

Cheers, B&W

Well after going to bed at 9.30 after a difficult sleep week with my baby I have started the day at 5am! Put him in the bed between us and after 15mins of attempting to tweak my nose he fell back to sleep. I am wide awake! My daughter came in at 5.45 so given up on any more snoozing this morning. Not feeling hungry yet and pleased I've made it to the morning. Off to google brad pillion. Well done everyone and I think I'll fast tues too and enjoy my bank holiday weekend!

[carorees]

So this is where you all are!

Just marking my place - next fast will be Monday for me, when I shall try and beat my 87 calorie record.

In the meantime, well done to all the 36ers on here!

Mimi Spencer took part in a Webchat tonight, on Mumsnet - this is what she had to say about zero calories on a fasting day:

"Brad Pilon has written extensively and fascinatingly about zero-cal fast days - and advocates it as a brilliant weight loss method. The reason Michael developed the Fast Diet to allow 500/600 calls is that this appears to be more approachable and sustainable for most people. If you can manage a full fast, then by all means try (stay hydrated!) Your calorie deficit will of course be greater over the course of a week. But most people do need some calories going in."

Very sensible, IMO!

Here's the link to the Webchat:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/a1745013-TONIGHT-Live-webchat-with-Mimi-Spencer-author-of-bestselling-The-Fast-Diet-Recipe-Book-Thursday-2-May-9-10pm

Cheers, B&W

I'm surprised Mimi did not find out what Brad Pilon actually recommends! He advocates 24 hour fasting followed by eating normally, so that would actually be more than 500 cals in 36 hours. Here is am article from his blog about fasting durations: http://bradpilon.com/weight-loss/help-with-fasting/

Thanks Caroline - Dr M is under the same misapprehension I think.

It's a shame Brad Pilon's book is so darned expensive (and not available on Kindle), otherwise I would be interested to read it. Has anyone here done so?

Friday morning, 7.45am and finishing my 36hours at 9.00am, so not long to go now!Feel really good today, after having slept like a log, which I don't normally do on a fast day.
Am now at work so after 9am I will break my fast with some strawbs and grapes, (just a few, as I found last week eating fruit was very 'explosive' if you know what I mean!! ) TMI I know!!
Weigh day Sat am. Hopefully I've lost well this week as I had two 36 hour fasts. Next week, I'll probably only do Thursday but I wil see how I feel Tuesday.
Have a good weekend all

Woken up feeling great, but very hungry ! Just had a bacon and egg roll, off to the gym later (the early morning run didnt quite happen as planned ) Feeling a bit shaky, but sure this will pass with another few cups of tea. I've baked a dozen fairy cakes this morning, and sorted out the kitchen, so on a high.

Have lost over 1kg since last official weigh in on Tuesday, which is fab. But best of all I weigh 60-something now, for the first time in over a year - hurrah !!!

Will weigh myself again tomorrow for the monthly challenge on here, then on Sunday for our family biggest-loser contest, and again on Tuesday as its my official weigh day. I'm rather over-enjoying the monitoring !!

Well done to everyone who completed the 36 hour fast,
I quite enjoyed mine earlier in the week and may do another next Wednesday.

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend, it is supposed to be sunny here in the U.K. so fingers crossed for a good one,

Ballerina x

Morning all. It occurs to me we should probably have a weekly fasting thread like 'Liquid fasting during week beginning X'. What do you all think? Does someone else want to start it next week?

I've had my weigh in today and I've lost another pound!! My weight loss is slowing slightly now after 3 months (it was closer to 2lb per week at first) but I also have TOTM this week, so am definitely retaining more water than usual. Less than half a stone to my goal weight!!

[wildmissus]

Made it to the finish line without any problems. Weighted myself as normal and did my measurements for the monthly weigh in. Put 1lb on but it is TOTM. However in a month I've lost 1.5" off my waist and 2.3% off my body fat which is mega.

When I've got a bit more time I'll need to look into what the experts are saying on longer fasts. Thanks for the info everyone.

Well done everyone. I completed my 36er too. Very happy. Looks like this may be forever. I dropped another lb which considering I'm in maintenance is fine but something I need to keep an eye on.