The FastDay Forum

Thank you all for your responses. I got through today better than I expected, eating breakfast helped, and then 23 calorie lentil soup, out of a packet, and apples. Then a light diner of chicken and carrots and beans. I feel ok now. And I will stick with it, even though I can't say I'm enjoying it. I think I need to try a range of different IF methods, because I have been very rigid about only doing 5:2. Since I have stopped losing weight, it makes sense to try out different methods. If i do lose weight as a DODO, and then I put it all back on, I still haven't lost, because I've had a new experience and will learn something.

I really feel for you @sallyo - this is so tough, isn't it? In fact, food, full stop, is tough.

My husband has just returned home from the supermarket....with 4 cream buns. I have eaten nothing all day. Soup is just warming through....& I am going to eat it most reverently & mindfully....not to mention slowly...with lots of chewing!

I will also ensure he is in another room when he mindlessly scoffs a bun....after eating his carb-loaded dinner accompanied by scrummy fresh bread & (knowing him) lashings of butter........

Don't worry @Hazlenut20 those buns are just poisonous and taste bitter...plus they're covered in hairs! The soup, however, is delish!
I think you're doing really well as a DODO. Keep up the good work
When this challenge is over I might try 4:3 one week and 5:2 the next so that weekends are free and each week the fast day is different. It's a Bean experiment to help control my tendency for overeating
Keep going everyone. Food day tomorrow. Are we half-way there yet?

I'm back x

I will be joining you all next week. What are the fasting days? I have totally lost track of the days. Have a couple of post holiday socials to get through, then I'm back on it, cos I'm a seasoned DODO pro!

Hello @minsmum!
The next DODO fast is this Sunday, then Tues, Thurs etc...

Hey @nursebean - thanks for your encouragement. I think your alternating 5:2 with 4:3 sounds like a very fine plan for the future. Should confuse our bodies no end....& give them no time whatsoever to consider putting us into famine mode! Might well join you after this challenge.....as I particularly like the idea of keeping weekends free, num num!

Right now feels a little hardcore, but as we know, it is only for a month! We can do it.......

I'm afraid I've given up the DODO thing - I'm finding it so hard even to do 5 2 at the moment and DODO just makes me think of food ALL the time so I have gone back to 5 2 and am trying to be more mindful of what I eat. I do generally eat healthily but then the chocolate monster kicks in. I am eating more carbs (though still quite low) than I did but my blood sugars are still normal and if I don't eat TOO low carb I don't seem to get the dreadful 7+ lbs water weight I gain if I fall off the wagon. Just lost my mojo a bit really. I am still weighing myself daily because I think if I didn't then I'd be seriously in trouble. I think it all stemmed from when I stopped really losing anything - I wanted to get to 60kg and today I was 63.8 BUT I have been 62 and I am just finding it all struggle to even last out the fast days. Today was meant to be a fast but I've eaten 750 instead so not too bad I know but I used to have iron willpower. No longer apparently

Hey! @Minsmum welcome home!! Hope you've had a lovely time. I guess you'll be rejoining us on Tuesday will you?
@Hazlenut20 I would love for you to join me on my new experiment (we'll have to think of a name of it!) I must admit I'm finding DODOing a bit of a challenge myself at the moment so please don't worry @loversghost. We all find our own ways of fasting. This Challenge was started just to give people a little taster into Bean's world! I've bean DODOing since January (off and on) and I'm ready for a change now (although I'll finish the challenge first!)
I hope everyone else is getting on ok. There's not that long to go now. Hold on! xx

Forgive me DODOers for I have sinned. Fasted all day at work yesterday then went out with two work friends and the pear martini blew my will power big time! Didn't eat badly but I was nowhere near 500. Oh well, tomorrow is another day! Off to the gym this morning for my usual Saturday step class then a domestic day followed by a pub night with friends tonight. I will drive so that I'm not tempted to overindulge on the rosé . Like the idea of 4:3 then 5:2 @nursebean. 5:14 challenge? Have a great Saturday and I'll see you all here tomorrow.

Oh don't worry @pilchards your step class will negate those few extra calories you had today. Just wait for the next fast. All is good!
5:14? Hmm I'll have to think of a name with a bit more perzazz! Hmm I like the idea of changing each week though. Should keep me on my toes. Variety is the spice of life after all

Whoa there @loversghost....lets just take a little stock of exactly how far you've come! Oh yes, I've just looked at your tracker....

Goodness me, but you've been consistent! Not to mention successful...with a current BMI that many of us dream about. Is it not the case that the closer you get to a healthy BMI, the tougher it is to shift the last lot of weight? That could easily explain why you are experiencing a wobble.

For someone who is finding it tough at the moment, you have some brilliant strategies up your sleeve. Daily weighing, mindful eating, doing your best to keep it as low as possible on fast days.....this is all winning stuff. I am certain of it. You have such a handle on what's going on - I totally applaud you and am full of admiration.

Soooo....cut yourself a bit of slack, would be my advice. Keep doing what you're doing, ride the storm, so to speak...and above all, keep talking to us on here....

Sending hugs x

I'm out of synch with everyone as I have been travelling all week and not fasted. So I am fasting today, Monday (as I'm out tomorrow) and maybe Tuesday too which gets me back onto the same schedule as everyone else.

[carieoates]

It does get harder the closer we get to goal/healthy BMI.
Just take a look at my tracker.
My body has been retaliating like a moody teenager. Put 5lb on whilst on holiday, lost it very fast upon return now back to bobbing around the same 2 lb. I may need to DODO a bit longer at this rate as I'm not able or willing (wedding in a very nice cliff side hotel in Plymouth) to do Thursday and Saturday next week. Will have to apply my mindfull head instead.

Weekly weigh in 12.5 still. So no loss this week but maintained. Happy with that.

I've had a bit of a pogo dodo week too I'm afraid but knew I would so I did the best I could.
I had no lunch any day this week. Strict fast on Monday. Fab brekkie, bar of galaxy, < 500 cal ready meal on Wednesday because we were out for the day and let me tell you, it could have been a lot worse!! Salmon curry with coconut rice, 2 glasses of red and some chocolate and wine gums last night. Salmon was horrid. That will teach me to try something different. This was because I had been invited out for a special occasion. The upshot is that I am 1lb down on last Saturday's weigh in. Hope to do better next week and maybe lose another 1lb.

Beano, I really like the mixing it up over 14 days idea too and will definitely be up for it after this challenge ends. As you know, I am maintaining but am at the top end of my happy weight range so don't need to lose too much but I really like experimenting with different ideas.

@skinnyli sounds odd but on fast days I have black chai in the mornings then the same but with a splash of coconut milk in the afternoons and evenings. It's a bit like a treat! I always have coconut milk now and prefer it to dairy. It's the one that you find in the supermarket chiller cabinet, not the high calorie one in a tin.

Botheration up 1lb this week, yes I know, it's only one but I'm now above my maintaining range for the first time so obviously need to take some action to stop it unravelling. To be honest the gain is just through mindlessness so I should not be complaining. The plan is I'm going to be aware, determined and prepared. I'm pledging to lose 3lbs to get back to goal. Till now I have been doing my normal 52 in sync with some of your DODO days. This week I'll step in and do a mini DODO on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, might even extend to Saturday if need be. Blimey, that's my first ever 4:3! With no social engagements I have absolutely no excuses. I'm returning to planning the weeks' menu too, that was a really successful strategy for me. Phew, given myself a good talking too and feeling much better already.
I hope you are all enjoying your day off, see you tomorrow
@Tracieknits are you going to give DODO a whirl?

[Tracieknits]

I think I'm going to attempt MWF fast days. I just downloaded Krista Varaday's book. I think weekends would be too difficult for fasting, especially with the teenager around who is constantly hungry. But I'm going to give this a whirl.