The FastDay Forum

Happy Fastiversary to Windsinger123

Wow who'd have thought that so many of us would still be here, so many but so much less of us one year on.

When you're done celebrating, pull up a blanket & we'll settle down to hear your story


(wonders to self if one has a celebratory fast or feast on a fastiversary ...?)

Its my fastiversay today. I remember the first fast really well, sitting at the same chair I'm at now, and really wondering if I would survive the day! A year on, I feel a million times better, best health I've had for years, and over 8kg lighter. I really wanted to get to my goal weight by now, but I've been slowly gaining since my summer hols last year, which I am trying to sort out, by every variation under the sun.

I have learnt so much by fasting, self-control, deferred gratification, and a rediscovered joy in extremes - I love a liquid fast one day, and a lush night out no holes-barred the next day. I have also paradoxically learnt moderation, I have a smaller appetite now, and don't force myself to eat things I don't want due to social pressure, convention etc.

So all in all, a jolly positive year ! I'm quite sure some variation of fasting will be my WOL forever.

Thank you to you all for the support, information and fun on this forum, which has made the journey so much more fulfilling than it would have been if I'd gone alone

[Debs]

I feel a bit of a fake sneaking in here under the canvas, but just realised that I missed my festive rosary, according to predictive text!!!!!
2013 was semi successful but I had a major hiatus in the middle. 2014 is the year I get it right!!

Congratulations to both @Debs and @Minumumonline for coming so far and doing so well on this WOL!

[Debs]

Blast and dammit, just realised it isn't until the 12th of Feb. I'll get me coat.....!!

Congrats to minimumonline too

@Debs, get your coat back off girl, I'm behind you but still settling down in here - lovely KNOWING we're going to make it

@Chris P (24/1)

@BruceE (8/1)

@coffeetime (14/1)

@PennyForthem (19/1)

And any others I've missed, & all of those coming up soon ...... Come on in & join us

Thanks @AnnieD for putting up this tent

My fastiversary has passed on the 18th January. I've missed it because it was Saturday and also my Birthday weekend so was very busy stuffing myself with some really nice burger and lots of cake

I have found out about 5:2 (and IF for that matter) from my OH, who was telling me a story of his co-workers trying on fasting as their way for weight loss. I think his colleagues were also fascinated by other health benefits they might gain through fasting. They actually had a challenge (that didn't last very long) for the whole office (about 5-6 people) to fast on Wednesdays. OH forwarded me a link to the Telegraph article and the rest is history as they say.

In the first days of January 2013 I have made a New Year's resolution to lose weight (and that wasn't the first time I did that). I decided to cut on portion sizes. Between 4th and 18th January I lost 2kg (about 4lbs). I'm telling you all this to stress that I was already determined to lose weight but didn't have a "plan" to do it. I didn't want to follow any silly fad diets, cutting out whole food groups, eating 6 times a day, living on salads or fruit juice and so on. I just wanted to lose weight through healthy and satisfying eating, so I figured out that I just need to eat less. Having this mind set already it was quite easy for me to grasp the whole idea of fasting and how it can effectively bring me to my goal without compromising my need for good, wholesome food (and I love food, home-made yummy stuff).

So, after having watched the BBC documentary I decided to fast the following day. It was Friday and it happened that we got snowed in and the whole transport got stuck. I had to walk to work (about 1hr 15min each way). Getting to work wasn't as hard. For that day I took some soup for lunch and nothing else, where usually I would have had porridge before going out to work, soup at 10am with some sandwich, lunch, something after lunch and small dinner. So, I ate my soup and.... was feeling very hungry. Walking back home through snow was tough, I felt weak, but I survived. I had a small dinner that day and nothing else. The next day there was 0.8kg less of me which was a revelation. Since then I was totally converted to fasting. I know I can do it forever, and whenever I want or need to. It's such a useful tool.

Some time in March I came across this Forum. I love it here, although I don't contribute too much - I'm not a confident writer. The advice here is excellent and I have learnt so much about our bodies, dieting, exercising and life... Thank you all!

Brilliant post @gorba! you should post more often as this was so inspiring and well expressed, thank you for sharing your story

Great idea @AnnieD
Congratulations to @Windsinger And also @Minumonline on all that you've achieved in your first year
will get back to you @Deb in a few weeks lol

Hi @Gorba or Gorbachev as my predictive text was determined to call you.....
You wrote.......

" I didn't want to follow any silly fad diets, cutting out whole food groups, eating 6 times a day, living on salads or fruit juice and so on. I just wanted to lose weight through healthy and satisfying eating, so I figured out that I just need to eat less."

This is EXACTLY how I started out, you get diet tired after a while and just want to find a way that is sustainable and do-able.....and here we are.

I agree with Callyanna, you write so well, so let's hear more from you

Ballerina x

[Tracieknits]

Thanks for the tent @AnnieD! Great idea

And I agree, @Gorba, your writing skills are nothing to worry about at all! Your post was great

My fastiversary found me rededicated to this way of eating, after a few weeks off for the holidays. It also found me much healthier, with a healed thyroid and completely off all thyroid suppressing medications, as well as 11 pounds lighter than last year. I'm also so much more in control food - I no longer feel helpless! I understand what true hunger is for the first time in my life. I'm able to eat until I'm barely, properly satisfied instead of stuffed to the gills. And I find I'm enjoying my food more, without guilt. I'm also no longer morbidly obese. Finally, I am exercising so much more thanks in part to Fitbit making good use of my OCD tendencies I'm getting in 10K steps a day, unless I have an excellent excuse, like gastroenteritis.

As can be expected now that the meds are out of my system, my thyroid hormones are at a good level and my weight loss is starting to plug along at a much better pace. All in all, I think it's been one of the best years ever for my health

A most inspirational tent, if I may say so!
I cannot believe what I have achieved in the past year; not only weight loss, but a much better 'handle' on what I eat/what's successful for me.
In total, I have lost almost 5 stones since the beginning of 2011 - 2 stones in 2011, put a stone back in 2012 and discovered this WOE in January 2013.
Today, I have spent a pleasurable few moments trying on size 10 NYDJ jeans (sadly, the stock was very low, but I know what I want now!).
I now exercise - only a recent addition, but built in to stay and alcohol has been given the old heave ho.

I, too, love it here and have found a lasting way to keep myself trim and healthy - and would willingly stand up at any conference and say that very publically!

[carorees]

Congrats to minimumonline too

@Debs, get your coat back off girl, I'm behind you but still settling down in here - lovely KNOWING we're going to make it

@Chris P (24/1)

@BruceE (8/1)

@coffeetime (14/1)

@PennyForthem (19/1)

And any others I've missed, & all of those coming up soon ...... Come on in & join us

If you're compiling a list, my fastiversary was October 23rd. The first one is paper isn't it? Would be nice to think I'll make a silver anniversary (25 years...I'll be 78 then!)

Please add mine to the list as well. 7th January.

Happy fastiversary to all who have reached it so far.

Lesley

@callyanna, @tracieknits and @Ballerina Thank you for your encouraging words! I'll try to write more often