The FastDay Forum

Good morning everyone
New to this forum and new to this way of life. In my never ending quest for weight loss and growing older healthier, I've stumbled across the different fasting approaches and was intrigued - especially after reading up on some of the research reporting on the health benefits.
At the ripe age of 51, I've become acutely aware of the fact that I need to think about my health more serious than I have during my younger years, and I just loved what I read about the results of fasting.

So, January 3rd, I started with the idea of doing 16:8. That evolved in to doing a combination of 16:8 and 5:2 for the last two weeks. The results are great, but (at this point), I would love to see if I can accelerate fat loss a little bit - given that I have about 40 - 50 lbs to lose, and need that initial motivation. So, I've decided to do EOD fasting for a week or two and see how it suits me.

Posting on here for support and to keep track of progress.

Initial weight: 191.6
01/16 - 187.8

Welcome @Zesty!

There is lots of useful information on this site - both in the various discussion threads and the "LEARN" pages, so do have a good read through.

I know that it is wonderful and motivating to have a quick weight loss but sometimes slow and steady wins the race! Just be careful that you don't weary of EOD or find that you are eating more on the other days... But you do sound very enthusiastic, so that may well carry you through. And I do note that you say you will just trial EOD.

Btw I see you have already posted a number of times - that is great! So often new members post once and then we hear no more.

Best wishes and good luck.

Big welcome from me too @zesty!

Well, your age isn't as ripe as mine, ha ha, I've got a trio of years on you...but am right there with you on the need to pay attention to your health as you get older.

There's plenty of useful fasting information here on the forum, not to mention friendship and support - so throw yourself in and don't hesitate to ask us any questions!

Best of luck - you can do it! There are plenty of fasting options to try...often it's just a matter of finding what suits your lifestyle and what works for you. Keep us posted on how you're doing!

Thank you both!

Yeah, one of the reasons I'd like to become part of a community like this, is the support and reminders which I need to stay on track.

I think I'm just suffering from the initial excitement to see some results, hence my desire to try EOD for a week or so. I think as soon as I drop a pant size or see some significant change in my body, it will be easier to continue with one of the other options and be ok with the slow and steady.

It always helps to read other's stories and share thoughts and feelings and know that we're not alone.

Hi again Zesty.

Do join or start the "fasting today" threads on your fast days, and you can also make use of them on your 16:8 days too of course. I do find that participating in those threads does help me stick with it for the day!

I totally understand how quick results are motivating, and that is fine. But remember to reward yourself (in words, not with food!) for all your positive eating behaviours, whatever the short term outcome. Our bodies can be strange things, and there have been many people in this forum who report on little change for the better in weight or other indicators in the short term, despite adhering to whatever fasting regime they have decided on. But if you know you have been making good food choices and sticking with the IF plan, then that is success too. If you feel good in yourself with what you are doing, then that is the main thing.

You do sound in a good place to have IF work for you and I wish you all the best.

Forgot to say two other things:- firstly, I'm all for flying starts...because I know how motivating they are, so totally understand your reasoning to start with EOD. Getting some quick results initially, seems to seal me in to the concept of weight loss, so it's what I do. I think the watch words here are "know thyself". It really doesn't matter what other people do - you are the best person to know what you can cope with, be it 5:2, 6:1, 16:8 or whatever else.

The other thing I forgot to suggest was to get the old tape measure out and measure everywhere. Record it down and then repeat once a month. That's what I do...and it's really motivating to see the numbers going down. Also, it can be de-motivating to make the scales your master! Our body weight fluctuates naturally...whatever we do, but the tape measure never lies! I've lost count of the time forum members report inch loss but no decline in weight! It's the same with how your clothes fit - that's a very good indication of how you're doing. I am a pear shape, with chunky thighs. Virtually all my adult life, trousers have always been a snug fit around the thighs. When I'm losing weight, after a while I start to experience a pleasing relaxation of the fit - sometimes it even feels a little draughty, would you believe! That is such a novelty for me...and very motivating, I can tell you.

Have a good day, Zesty!

Welcome to the forums Zesty!! Best of luck to you.

I totally agree on the measurements part - I have measured and will be watching those numbers, but - as you have mentioned, Hazelnut - I mostly go by how my clothes fit. LOL, partly because I have 1/3 of a closet full of one size smaller clothes and I don't care what the scale says, if I can fit in those, that will be my first big milestone. In my years of dieting, I've learned how deceiving that scale can be!

So yesterday's fast day went pretty well. When I got home, my offspring (which just moved back home after graduating college) asked me to go kick soccer balls with her and a friend - she recently joined a league after not really playing for a couple of years, and just want to practice a little - so I played around with two 21 year olds and a ball for an hour or so. I also walked to the field and back (about 3.5 miles in total) since I'm 'supposed' to get back in to running, but it's hard to run when you're too heavy!

Just a little background -I've always been a runner, even during my 'fat' days, lol - for my 50th birthday celebration (in 2015) my brother and I went to Athens, Greece to run the original marathon there, it was quite an experience! I was a couple of pounds lighter then than I am now, though......

Dinner last night was an avocado and tuna, with tomato and bacon. Quite delicious after a day of not eating!

Second fast day yesterday was a success, and I'm quite happy with the scale this morning. However, I'm only 'recording' weight once a week, as to not get discouraged with normal fluctuations. As long as there's an overall downward trend, I'll be happy.

Funny story - the other day I texted my daughter to 'check on the stuff in the crockpot', auto-correct decided to help and told her to 'check the stuff in the crackpot'.
She was confused for a second about this new 'diet' her mom is on.

Haha! The joys of autocorrect! I think I should rename myself "macaroon" because that is what autocorrect does when I type my name after a comma (I tend to accidentally touch "m" rather than the space bar on the iPad)

Things seem to be going well for you Zesty. Long may that continue!

NB I only weighed weekly when I was initially on 5:2, and that worked well for me. I was fortunate to have a pretty steady loss. However, at some stage I started weighing daily - don't know why - might have been once I was maintaining? I found I got obsessive and also reacted badly whatever the reading (i.e., if it went down, I felt I could eat more, if it went up, I was depressed and ate more. Hmm.). I decided to stop weighing and concentrate on my eating habits, rather than what the numbers were doing, I let clothes be my guide, though admit these are not as sensitive a measurement tool as the scales. But perhaps that is just as well. I read a great article by Kate Horwood - I started a thread with it - about why not to weigh, and I am now a firm supporter of that approach. But I understand totally how seeing the numbers go down can be motivating!

Sounds like you are doing really well @Zesty!! Glad you have a daughter that helps motivate you to be active

I think everyone has to find their own relationship with the scale -- and there is no wrong or right answer to this.

I weigh daily because I do better when I weigh daily. I don't obsess and I think about whether the scale seems to reflect reality or not, fully understanding that a low calorie meal of sushi may show a "gain" because of the salt, or hormones may play a role. It's a piece of information and I can choose how to use it. My fitbit keeps track of the weight automatically because I have their aria scale and it auto records my weight and body fat. I aim to look for trends and patterns. Seeing a low number on the scale often inspires me to stay on track (as it did this morning). Seeing a higher number doesn't have to be upsetting. If I know I behaved, then it's likely water weight. I use it as motivation to stay on track and force the number down.

But I get that there are people who are stressed by the number on the scale and those people shouldn't weigh daily. It's just like diet plans. Some people can't handle fasting. Some can't handle low carb. Some hate the idea of meetings or weighing in front of people, or tracking calories or points. Some can't exercise, or simply hate it. Meh. You have to find what works for you and don't worry about what other people say is the "best" way.

Totally agree with Tracie that we each have to find what is best for us.

But it is good to be aware of the full range of options and very useful to read the wide range of experiences of others, both those with qualifications, and those with "just" life experience, to find out what resonates best with ourselves, Which is what happened when I read the Kate H article about weighing. I have read (fairly) widely as a result of joining this forum, and have made decisions about what is best for me based on these. But I totally acknowledge that that may not be best for others. The vast majority of people who are concerned about their weight do use scales, and research has also shown that one factor that people who keep their weight off have in common, is regular weighing.

But I still think Kate H's article is worth reading!!!

Best wishes and good luck

Hi zesty, welcome to the group from me too. So how's it going with your new way of eating? I get lost if I don't get my exercise fix, usually jazzercise which is always a great laugh and I have been known to run a bit. So was your Athens run a full marathon ? Kudos to you, I can only manage a half. When I say only, I'm very proud of myself but it did do lasting damage, so no more long distances for me.

@TracieKnits - I totally agree - there are no hard and fast rules that will work for everyone. Part of the journey is to share in others' journeys and find some inspiration there.
I like to weigh every day, for me it's a constant reminder. I don't get upset by a higher number (which happened this morning after a full meal and couple of glasses of wine last night at a work function), but it certainly is a reality check and a reminder for me not to slack today.
I'm also very motivated by some of the stories I've read on this forum - I realize that it could be a slow process, and that's fine - I know it's been working for others. I'm so happy with the other changes health-wise (sleep better, less heartburn, feel mentally more alert, etc), that the weight loss expectation is not the most important thing anymore.

@carieoates - Athens was a full marathon, I used to run a lot when I was younger - but it kinda slowed down as I got older, and I wanted to do something significant for my 50th birthday, so I did that one. I ran very slow - finished in just under 6 hrs, but I was very proud of the fact that I did it. I bet you know that feeling of accomplishment after finishing a race (whether it's half or full marathon, I think the satisfaction is just about the same)
I find that I don't enjoy running as much as I used to - I'm thinking now of maybe doing a triathlon at some point. We'll see. At this point it's just a thought.

3rd day of fasting this week for me. I'm still getting used to the ups and downs on the scale during the week, but it helps to know a fast day is coming when the number is slightly up. It doesn't upset me... but I have to admit, I have to take a moment and remind myself that it's a long term process. I do, however, want to get used to it - because it's reality - , so putting the scale away for a week is not an option right now.

In other good news, I've convinced two of my friends to start introducing fasting in to their normal eating patterns. Feels like a win to me. Dr Mosley's video helped.