The FastDay Forum

My vital stats: 5' 4". Starting weight 10 stones 5lbs. (I have been as low as 9 stones 1lb back in 2011). Bodyfat 33.83% Muscle 32.07%

I've always been unhappy with my stomach - basically it sticks out too much imo. I started on my weight loss journey in 2007 when I was 12 stones 11lbs and had taken a month to recover from a chest infection. My knees and back ached every so often, and I was starting to get acid reflux at night. I couldn't remember the last time I exercised. I gradually introduced exercise and eating more healthily. I was size 16 and I've managed to get in to size 8 at Next since changing my lifestyle.

I ate fairly healthily before 5:2 but a stone had crept on since September as I had to cut down on exercise due to a hip injury. I tend to do exercise dvds at home - Jillian Michaels and Davina McCall are my favourites. I like rebounding on a mini trampoline and using weights (not while using the trampoline). I mix it up as I get bored fairly easily. I also walk regularly in the summer months - often walking part of the way home from work.

I saw the Horizon programme last year and tried 5:2 on my own. I was doing back to back fasting days - Monday & Tuesday. I gave up after 3 weeks. I found it too tough and my bodyfat had gone up according to my scales. (Salter Maxview). When I saw Michael Moseley's posts on Twitter about the book I thought now was the time to start again. I'm more concerned about bodyfat as mine appears to be on the most dangerous part - the stomach. I'm also fascinated by the other long term benefits. And the plan has been backed up by science.

A month on the plan. My results: lost 5lbs, bodyfat down 1.98%age points, lost 1″ from stomach, 1/2″ from hips. Muscle is up by 1.03%age points.

Since the start of the year my chest has reduced by 1.5",thighs by 1" and calves by 1/2". Biceps are unchanged.


Since Lent started I have tried to avoid as much sugar as possible, so no biscuits, chocolate (used to eat dark chocolate every day - I mean EVERY day), sweets and no crisps. I’ve only done 4 exercise dvd routines since starting this plan, but I have continued to take the stairs and walk. I use public transport to commute to work so I am fairly active at the start and end of the working day although I have a desk job.

The last fast day I found the easiest yet. I have been having breakfast and lunch but I’m going to experiment this week and try breakfast and dinner, with an apple as a mid-day snack.

So, the plan is working.

Hi elliethepink and welcome!

Well done on your results so far.

Ellie,

I don't want to hijack your thread but I too have just completed my first month and so it seems logical to follow your lead with a report.

The headline is that I have lost 9 pounds in weight and 2.75 inches around my belly (for the life of me I couldn't describe it as a waist).

The detail though is quite interesting. The first week saw a loss of 2 pounds and the second a further loss of 7. 9 pounds in two weeks and I definitely do not count calories on feast days.

Week three though saw an increase in weight of 4.75 pounds (no increase in belly size) and that increase has been mirrored exactly by this week's loss. So, after 4 weeks I am back to where I was at the end of week 2 in terms of weight, my belly has lost a little since week 2 though.

Obviously I felt a little disappointed at the end of week 3 but I and others could see that I was a little slimmer. I changed nothing and am delighted that the weight seems to be dropping again - patience and perseverance is the key.

In truth, I would have been a little concerned if I had continued to loose weight at the rate of 9 pounds per two weeks (it would have been too excessive) but 9 pounds in 4 weeks is very satisfying.

My message is simply, be patient, observe the simple rules and it does seem to work.

My wife is also following this style of eating and our method is to eat normally the day before fasting and then eat nothing until the evening of our fast day when we eat a 500 calorie meal. Next day we have a late breakfast around 11am and so get one 24 hour fast and one 16ish hour fast.

In keeping with many others we fast on Monday and Thursday.