The FastDay Forum

[Moogie]

Haha, that reminds me of a site I thought about setting up years ago

I really like all your suggestions, thanks for taking the time to do this. I think I'll get on with implementing it later today and start shifting some topics around as needed.

Not sure about the Health Benefits forum just yet, don't know if we'd have that many posts in there. Then again I could probably search for anything related to health improvements folks have experienced on 5:2.

I wonder if that forum might serve a dual purpose of covering positive & negative side effects. Perhaps a rename to "5:2 Health Benefits & Side Effects"?

I like Ken's ideas and also your idea of merging the positive and negative effects bit under a generally more positive banner, Moogie

Personally I don't think there is a need for a feed day recipe bit. Fasting recipes and cookery tips (useful for those who aren't clued up about healthy cooking methods) I think are worthwhile, but there's the whole of the Internet for 'normal' recipes. If someone mentions a yummy meal that they have, they can always post it in the thread where its mentioned.

Hi Moogie,
you have lots to consider and I love the site but I'm just not that good at these things, I'd seen the FAQ page but I meant more the "Take a tour" aspect so people that are new to the website know where to look to find what they need, quite literally pointers and directions. If you want to record your weight, click here. If you want to see how others are doing click here. etc. very basic for those that don't have time to work out what and where things are.
Keep up the good work, so far I think it's amazing!

Just a housekeeping thought Moogie, have you planned an automatic clear-out of the 'fasting today' threads after a certain period? I can't imagine people actually look back through them. They could be auto-pruned after say a month at most.

[Moogie]

Being a bit of a hoarder, I don't tend to prune forums unless it becomes necessary in terms of server/db space. I don't imagine many people look back through them, but they're doing no harm and may help lead people to us through Google Thanks though!

Can I pretend to be a newbie for a moment and ask what is the difference between 'View new posts' and 'View active topics'? No, I really don't know.

New posts - things posted since the last time you logged out. Only works if you're logged in.

Active topics - works regardless of whether you're logged in or not and shows the topics with the latest postings

Thanks Phil. I never log out explicitly so maybe that is why I see the same listings for both? Or maybe it is because of the scripts I am running that the server considers me permanently logged in? If the distinction is useful for others that's the main thing.

yes, if you stay logged in the lists will be the same, whereas by logging in and out I get a shorter list on new topics.

[Moogie]

Maybe "5:2 Progress Diaries & Journals", and the other one could be something like "Celebrate or Commiserate" for folks to make their one-off celebratory posts or to express disappointment. Or maybe call it "Delighted or Disappointed?"

Now that Wildmissus and co are doing the 36 hour water fast, brave souls!! I think the 'rules' might be more confusing for Newbies. When I started, that was my uppermost question....... 24 hours (1 sleep) or 36 hours (2 sleeps)? I thought it made sense to do the latter because for 16 hours or so you are asleep, no hardship in not eating after a meal then going to bed, so really I do a 24 hour fluid only fast.

I have written 36 hours on my signature, but now I am thinking of changing it because I do have a meal in the evening on my fast day unlike Wildmissus and co. Just thinking it would stop a lot of that same question and newbies being confused regarding the two different types of 36hr fasting. I also think I remember Ballerina posting when she did 24 hours with only fluids which is what I do naturally on the 36hr 500 calorie fast. Perhaps there needs to be a clear indication of these categories because really, they are all 'right' just different.

Thanks, hope that makes sense

[carorees]

Re the rules: I think we should differentiate between the 'vanilla' version of 5:2 (i.e., wake up consume 500/600 cal, sleep, eat normally) and all the other variations of IF. I don't mean differentiate in terms of forum arrangement but when discussing the rules of 5:2 we should give the vanilla version and then say 'other forms of IF are available'. As people get further along the road they start to think about how to use fasting to fit best with their lives and then can consider all the many and wonderful variations!

Re Delighted or Disappointed, I think it's an excellent name and makes the forum seem more vibrant rather than the contents list of a 5:2 book!

Agree with Caroline on both matters, can we get such snappy names for all the forums, as long as they have a byline to make clearer what is meant?

I would try to think of some but I have lost track of what forums are now intended!

[Moogie]

Will compile a list in a mo

[Moogie]

New to the 5:2 Fast Diet Forum
Introduce Yourself
Forum & Progress Tracker Help
Inspirational Stories
Resources & Links

Questions & Discussion
5:2 Diet 'Rules' & Guidelines
Not losing weight?
Getting Sweaty! Exercise & Fitness
5:2 Health Benefits & Side Effects
General 5:2 and Fasting Chat
Weight Maintenance
Delighted or Disappointed?
Fasting Today?

5:2 Food
Fast Day Recipes
5:2 Cookery Discussion, Tips & Ideas
(Recommend a Ready Meal! - maybe a good place for folks to review/suggest calorie counted meals from different shops around the world?)

5:2 In Depth
Nerdy Stuff (possible sub-forum: "Nerdy News" for the posting of relevant new research)
Progress Diaries & Journals

Off Topic Discussion
Non-Diet Chat
Suggestion Box

[Moogie]

I thought about something like that for Maintenance, but thought something a bit more obvious might be helpful in that case. Will go with whatever everyone else thinks on that though.

I agree that 'Rules' or 'Guidelines' is still an important word to jump out at people (maybe guidelines is a bit less strict sounding?) and perhaps "Variations"?

maybe
5:2 Diet Guidelines & Variations
or
Guidelines: The Many Methods of 5:2
The 'ultimate flexible diet', its basic methods and how to make it fit around your lifestyle.