The FastDay Forum

Ok – here is my four week story!

Four weeks ago my friend and I decided to compete in a weight loss mission to shift our extra Christmas pounds! Whoever lost the most weight in four weeks won and the loser has to take the winner out for an afternoon tea!!

Before our little wager I was already looking into the 5:2 WOL so had this up my sleeve as we shook hands.

14th January 2013
We weighed in on our wii fit boards, this would be the only weigh in until the 11th February. I am not overweight but ideally I wanted to lose 9lb just to get down to the lower end of my weight bracket so my clothes felt comfortable again.

For two weeks I did 5:2 – I knew I’d lost something within this time as my trousers became more comfortable! Due to events (which meant lots of eating out), I went down to 4:3 for the final two weeks to get back on track.

My fast days were between 500 – 600 calories, although as I got used to it I was managing 500 calories better. On my feast days I was averaging 1600-1800 calories per day (TDEE was 1800)!

I use my wii to keep fit as I have a toddler and a husband who works evenings and weekends, so don’t have the freedom that others have to go to the gym…. So, with the help of Just Dance, wii fit, arm weights, a couple of fitness classes, family walks and a little swimming…. I managed to keep fairly active.

SO… after four weeks my total weight loss was: 4lb

I am gutted! After 10 fast days and LOTS of healthy eating I can’t believe this was all I managed to lose. In a month I probably had about four days where I really exceeded 2000 calories – which is why I added another fast day that week!!

I am feeling very disheartened today – all that hard work doesn’t seem to have paid off as I know I could have lost that doing a low calorie diet anyway. I suppose I just have to think about the health benefits rather than the weightloss!

Things I have learnt:
4-5 times a week I enjoyed every mouthful of food that passed my lips with no restrictions and no guilt!
It is ok to feel hungry and how to manage hunger better
How to enjoy my food again and not take it for granted
How to make delicious low calorie meals and how to use my calories wisely

Going forward
I don’t know whether to carry on with this – I’m definitely in two minds now. Maybe I will carry on and once I have reached my target I will up my calories on my feast days by 200 calories or go to a 6:1 regime. I really don’t know at the moment – I’m too busy feeling sorry for myself!!

Oh, my friend only lost 3lb so I did win – that’s something I guess….

Are you more toned? Do you feel better?

Does a random number on a scales really define you and how you feel about yourself?

I've just been thinking about this and people set targets in their heads as to their ideal weight and set their hearts on attaining it, often to the detriment of how they feel about themselves with consequent adverse affects.

[carorees]

BBT053 is right! I think you did well really and should not be disappointed. Because you don't have much weight to lose, even doing 4:3 you should probably not expect to lose 1 lb per week and yet you did! and at the same time you were able to eat what you liked on most days. And you won the competition by a 25% margin...a big win!

If you carry on with 5:2 you will lose the other 5 lb plus you will reduce your chances of putting the weight back on and may reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia in later life!

Chickpea, I can understand that it might be dissapointing when we hear the stories of people losing up to 8Ibs a week and so on...however- you lost 4 pounds! You lost a pound a week, which is healthy and more importantly sustainable-I've read many times that a smaller loss means you will keep it off rather than yo-yoing. And, as you mention, you didn't have much to lose so what you do have will be more stubborn to go. Congratulations, and I hope you won't stay dissapointed

4lb is great weight loss for a slim person!

Girl Done Good!

Plus I've not lost much more than that doing ADF since Dec 31. None of this 8lb gone in a day round here.

Well done!

I had a bigger loss in my first week but I have about 40lbs to lose! 1 lb a week seems to be a good average, and even if it takes me the best part of a year to get this 40lb off I know that I can do it using 5:2, I can still eat the things I like (on certain days!) and there are all the other possible health benefits to consider too. I think you had great results x

Chickpea. Welldone you ,you should be pleased. When a person gets to not being v ery over weight as you are /were it is difficult to lose the last bit.What is the last bit ? Who decides what weight you should be ? maybe you were already at your ideal body weight before you started .
Maybe people shbould consider that they are doing TOO MUCH excercise.There is considerable evidence that too much excecising slows down weight loss. Lots of slow movement from walking and the occasional sprint seem to be the way to go.I'll see if I can find some links.
Barbara

Thanks everyone - you have made me feel a lot better about it

I will carry on and i guess when i reach my goal i'll feel even happier. I'm just throwing my toys out of my pram as it is hard to see such dramatic weight loss from others compared to my own. I guess as i don't have a lot to lose i shouldn't feel so bad!!

I did get into my skinny jeans which i haven't been able to do for a while so that's a success in itself!

5lb more to go - onwards and upwards....

Thanks everyone - you have made me feel a lot better about it

I will carry on and i guess when i reach my goal i'll feel even happier. I'm just throwing my toys out of my pram as it is hard to see such dramatic weight loss from others compared to my own. I guess as i don't have a lot to lose i shouldn't feel so bad!!

I did get into my skinny jeans which i haven't been able to do for a while so that's a success in itself!

5lb more to go - onwards and upwards....

Hi Chickpea ,I have a pair of jeans I'm GOING to get back in again AND do up the zip. !
Barbara