The FastDay Forum

I love the balloon analogy RawKaren, that's just a wonderful idea.

Manderley, I'm so glad you're back with everyone. You sound a bit more positive now. I must confess I'm in a similar position to you in that whenever I leave the parental home I live on my own and am used to having my own little world I suppose. Sadly, when I contracted ME last year I had to sell my house and move back in with my folks. Over a year on and I'm starting to feel a bit more human and wondering what on earth I'm going to do with my life. Like you, I have animals for company...but mine come in the form of two beautiful Italian Greyhounds!

I've found that the best way to go about things is to take a day at a time...to think beyond that is a bit scary! A few years ago my sister gave me some "worry people". These are tiny little people who live in a bag and you tell them your worries before you go to bed...and then tuck them under your pillow...and they take your worries away for you. Wouldn't it be great if that really worked...well, maybe it does

By the way, I'm very impressed with your English. I wish my French was as good as that!

Thanks nursebean. I must admit that the fact that I practise again almost everyday have really helped me for my English, which I haven't done in years......

Right now I think I must lose my mind as I was sure I answered here days ago and I didn't...

I think I am ready to begin the next phase, the maintenance phase. It seems that doing some exercises on a regular basis changed a lot of things, my body changed a lot apparently. I don't see it myself but never was really good at it anyway so.... It's funny, I am seeing muscles I didn't realise I had ! I saw my adductor, how cool is that !

My TDEE has gone wild. Did you know you could go from 1300 something to nearly 2000 ??????? Since I now do 1h to 1h30 exercises every day, my TDEE is now 1958 which is a lot

The big "problem" now is how tired I am. Sometimes I have to take a 2 hours nap in the afternoon (after my ride) which I am not used to. The fasts are more difficult as well. Today, for example, should have been one but I don't see myself going cycling with nothing in my stomach so I had a breakfast. The rest of the day should be around 300 cal so it won't be too bad, 600 to 700 cal max.

I didn't write here for quite a while... I realized this morning I came here for the first time 6 months ago. It's a miracle I stayed this long as I can't seem to focus long enough to stay at one place.

Today is the first anniversary of my relationship with my OH. It may be silly but it's a big milestone for me as I never went that far with somebody. Always broke up a few weeks before. OK I am a big commitment freak and intimacy is difficult for me. I am not talking about what happens in the bedroom but the little things in a couple's life like, after a while, I can't seem to find something to say to my partner, I can't seem to know how to act on a daily basis with him. Him, he is different. I still struggle with the intimacy, still can't find something to say to him but I want our relationship to work. I really do. I am even ready to go for 20 something years with him which is a big thing for me, believe me. Last night we talked about how much one year can change one's life and it couldn't be more true.

I must admit, one of the reason I went on a diet was him. Not because he asked me anything, he found me attractive even as I was before, but I wanted him to be proud when we walk hand in hand on the street. I wanted him to think "hey, this woman is with me, she's 16 years younger than me and damn she's gorgeous and she chose me instead of a young 20 something". Pride ? Vanity ? Sure.... But let's not kid ourselves, we all want to be beautiful for our man....

As I already said several times I find comfort in fasting. A sense of control, balance. They give me strength and you wouldn't believe how to discover you have some real will power can be exhilarating. I may go on maintenance at the beginning of next year but I won't change how I fast, I need this routine. In fact, it's my body which will decide when I lost enough weight, not me. I guess that's one of the reason I don't go on a scale, to not put any pressure on my body

Does that make any sense ?

It all makes perfect sense. You sound happy and content. Remember it's when you are content to be with your partner even if there's nothing to say that you have found something special.

Well done @Manderley you have found your own way of doing things and stuck to it, and that's brilliant. You are a true original! Wishing you much continued happiness with your OH, and your family over xmas and the coming year.

Great post Manderley. Makes perfect sense what you say.

@Silverdarling Thanks. It's real hard work to be a true original
Merry Christmas and the all the best for next year to you and your family too

I guess my transformation comes in part from being in a healthy relationship and having someone to kick my but from time to time. If I had a job, however, and a tiny bit of money, it would be perfect but it will be next year subject

Stress makes me put on the weight, not because I eat more but because my body hate it. I need to feel confident as a woman to let go and shred the pounds. It's the first time I realise that people were right, you have to learn to love yourself just as you are before being able to change what you don't love. I still don't love my body but I am at peace with it. We worked hard together and, even if we're not friends yet, we are now allies which is a big step.

I am just wondering when I will notice the details other people notice. Like my face, for example, everybody tells me how much it changed, how I don't have a double chin anymore and how much prettier and younger I look. I don't see eat. And as I am not ready to let anybody take a picture of me as camera doesn't love me at all....

I just hope I will be able to see this changes soon

[carieoates]

I would like to add to your comment about "not knowing what to talk about" with your man. I find that when you are comfortable with a person, make, female, lover, friend, you do not have to fill the air with conversation. It is only when you are happy with someone that words are not always needed.
I on the other hand can chatter for England to anybody and everybody. but I do have my quiet times. My mum says I wasn't a naughty child.....just noisy. Still am.

You're right but on the phone, when you have big silent moments, it can be awkward

It's the first time I want to share the everyday life with somebody, even if it's boring, I just don't have a clue on why and how you keep things interesting. At my age, I am learning the relationships ropes, how pathetic

I really believe that all that is bond together, relationship, the image we have of ourselves, and our relationship with food. For better or worse

I'm new to this thread Manderley, I think the secret of a relationship is to just be yourself. Your partner loves you for the way you are, not how you could be if you try to change to your idea of what he wants. Why talk for the sake of it? When you try to fill in the silence then it is not spontaneous, it's not 'you'. Take each moment as it comes and enjoy.

I wish you great happiness together for many years to come

Thanks, coffeetime,you're so sweet

OK, something huge happened. For me anyway. I was getting dressed and put my makeup on before going for lunch and I said to myself "I am becoming pretty"

WTF happened ?????????

I don't see myself as pretty, nor ugly, just transparent. It's the first time ever I have this thought and is was while wearing a way too big pair of jeans (3 sizes too big). It's just that I can see how I changed, even my face, and look more.... warm, if that makes any sense

All that because of my lovely OH, 5:2 and our strong and lovely community

For me, knowing you've found 'the one' is not having to pretend to be someone or something you're not, being totally accepted for who you are, warts and all! And as the song says, 'You do it best when you say nothing at all'! So pleased you are so happy in your relationship @Manderleyand also with your self!

I cheated. I went on the scale a week early. Why ? Because I had a sense that something was off and because my OH keeps repeating I am melting away. I did it yesterday but I wanted a confirmation before telling you about it.

A bit of a background, first. I was a tiny child, not chubby at all and only put on weight after I was raped. A bit of a self defense mechanism I suppose. That weight stayed and, to my heaviest I was 94kgs.

When I began dieting in February, I was just shy of 90 kgs. After a bit more than 10 months, I am 40 kgs lighter.

I just tried to enter my weight on the tracker but it asked me if I entered the correct weight as I am now a tiny bit underweight. I am 48,669 kgs with a BMI of 18.32 which is low but I feel great, better than in years..... However, do not worry, I plan on gaining back the 1.400 kgs to have a round number. You know I love round numbers......And with just 1.400kgs I wouldn't be underweight anymore and would have a beautiful 18.82 BMI

I am now in maintenance, however I won't stop fasting. One of the many things I discovered is that I have a bit of an addict personality and to fast 2 days a week has become a need. I will just have to eat a bit more the other days as I am still eating what I did before I began doing some sports everyday so around 1200 cal

I think that, the daily practice of a sport boosted my weight loss big time. Maybe because I didn't do anything for 20 years, I don't know. It's a bit overwhelming. All the stress I had these past few weeks surely helped with the loss as well.

Manderley. I don't know what I'm more in shock about. Your story, (thank you for sharing) or your weight loss. I'm stunned, truly on all levels. Such fortitude on your part. Losing more than half your body weight in less than a year is incredible.

You are my Christmas inspiration. Well done to you. You have earned this and deserve this most amazing result. Now enjoy your new body.