The FastDay Forum

Yes it's all interesting how different people feel about things - I don't get irritable at all on fast days tho I do feel hungry :>) I have tried variations on what I eat, but usually LOTS of vegies, LOTS of coffee, LOTS of water and not much else. I think I like this WOE because I'm a bit of an all or nothing person (well not a bit - a lot :>) That means I can eat like a porker if I want to LOL However after reading a post on what people eat on feed days, it has become obvious that my idea of bingeing is not the same as others. But add some fat and the cals mount up. I seem to have moved off my plateau too but official weigh day is Friday, hopefully closer to goal.

Just worked out I must have done about 50 fasts if not more.

I started end of august 2012 and lost 7 kg mainly in the first few months. I'm managing to maintain my weight though I didn't get to my goal of 58kg. I stuck at 60/61 for 4 months on 5:2 and then in May 2013 went onto an eating window between 10.30am and 6.30 pm. I like to eat and don't count calories (too many to count!) I don't feel inclined to fast now that I have stopped and I'm eating a very low carbohydrate, sugar and dairy free diet (for health reasons and this seems to enable me to eat more) I eat a lot of salad dressings and fatty things like the skin on roast chicken (Nando's chicken - yum!)
I regularly lurk on the forum so have been inspired here by many stories and ideas so thank you.
Maintaining, however is not easy and I have to constantly monitor myself as if I overdo things like crisps and chocolate the weight just piles on.

Definitely no regular fasting both because of the tedium and it seems absurd to me to every week over-eat on toxic trash such as crisps,chips, candy, chocolate, cake, etc and then fast for 2 days a week to compensate. Also I'm not convinced that the 5:2 type of semi-fasting provides significant specific health benefits.

Great comment and something I've been wondering. Maybe it is better to switch to a regular healthy eating diet once target has been reached rather than regular fasting.

I am not yet at maintenance but like many here I am very keen to read of maintainers' experiences! I am desperate not to have to continue fasting forever - I really don't like it (am I allowed to say that here?). I am really an ogre by the end of the day if there is any delay in me getting home and fed (and it's always on Tuesdays and Thursdays that there are train delays, or I'm stuck at the office, or dinner takes too long or whatever). That's why I am trying to get into a 16:8 habit now so the transition to maintenance will be easier. By the time I get to maintenance I won't be working anymore, so I can open and close my 8 hour window earlier than I can now, which will make it easier still (I hope!).

Franglaise I've tried the healthy diet route for maintenance before and I just can't do it. I think I've got it cracked only to find my weight going up again after a few weeks. I have gone past the weight I was aiming for originally and am now 10st 1lb - I quite fancy seeing 9st something even if I don't stay there. I don't like fasting although some days are easier than others but I am reluctant to stop as I don't think I can maintain my weight otherwise. My plan at the moment is to do 1 proper fast on Monday and a semi fast on Thursday, maybe a1000 cals and nothing before 3pm. Time will tell if it works - interesting to see how we are doing in another 6 months.

I've kind of decided to stop at a slightly heavier weight than target - a mix of friends and family telling me not to lose any more, thinking I'd started to look a bit gaunt, and also as I am running more - taking part in 10k events and training for a half marathon and just get soooo hungry some days.

But I am sticking with much healthier eating, much less alcohol, and some lower calorie days if not fasting....

currently about 5lb above my original target, but still a trim size 8 - with room in my trousers

The real test comes soon when I go on holiday for over 3 weeks... if I gain too much, then I'll be back fasting till its gone....

Hi. Good to see your still with us franglaise.
Well done on your maintainance.

I'm at goal, been nearly about 2 months now, wow is that possible!
Loving this summer and my new clothes and figure. We have had great weather in the uk so I'm making the most of it. Unlike last year, when I was hiding in cardis and baggy stuff.

I've been maintaining and even losing a tiny bit, few oz a week, not a lot but it all helps.
I've been fasting 20 hrs every Monday and so far all going well, as I said I've even been loosing a tiny bit.

Since I started using a weight tracker on my phone I've been a lot more relaxed about the scales going up a bit as it always comes down again.

On fast days I eat an apple and a homemade fruit smoothie in the afternoon and a huge bowl of soup in the evening

Non fast days I eat pretty much what I like but I often stick to two meals a day, either breakfast and dinner or lunch and dinner depending on my schedule and social calendar.

I still enjoy a pudding, cake or chocolate on a regular basis.

In a sizeuk ten trouser now and a 12/14 top so happy days.

Hope to hear form you with more progress in the future

Take care.

I'm getting close to maintaining - maybe 1/2 stone or so to go. I'm hoping to carry on with the Monday liquid fast, I genuinely enjoy it, but then for the rest of the week eat normally, missing meals occasionally when I've got celebration meals planned. I'm doing that this week, will be interested to see if it works

The only problem that I'm having with maintaining is that I'm still losing weight, which isn't really a problem yet (BMI = 20.3). I stopped 2 day fasting in mid-May or so and went to (2) 1000-1200 calorie days and then to 6:1 (loosely, not strictly sticking to 500 cal) for maintenance and I've continued to lose nearly a pound a week. I've consistently lost a pound for every fast day since I started in March. I want to stay in practice with fasting, so I'll keep doing a fast day as it suits me (2-4 days/month), but I'm happy to be staying securely in the 125-129 lb. range without much effort. I think my metabolism has enjoyed a resetting and my mindfulness of what I'm eating is much improved. Also, somebody has to eat the vegetables in the garden I planted and the rest of my family is not helping much, so that leaves lots of salad for me! And it hasn't hurt that I am beginning to view sugar as toxic (except in the case of a bit of daily chocolate).

Yes there seems to be little evidence of 2 day fasting for health benefit except the Michelle Harvie study, but that is 2 consecutive days + Mediterranean diet (whatever the hell that is...Spanish? French? Greek?, Italian?). However I do like this WOE and I haven't eaten a crisp for years! I am a very healthy eater who adds wine and cakes some days. The thing I find most interesting is how many people are going 'off' fasting. I always thought it would have it's use-by date...especially as people get to goal weight, I will be interested to see how many still doing it by Xmas.

I am struggling with this decision to fast or not fast any more as well. As far as weight loss I am past where I expected to be. In fact, losing more would probably be bad, unless I am planning to wrestle or box (and I am not.) This diet has taken away the love handles I have had my whole life. I was a fat kid and even when I lost weight I always had some love handles. Today I feel as comfortable as I ever have not wearing a shirt (I am male). Amazingly to me, at 51 years old, I am as close to being ripped as I have ever been or imagined I would be. I am not as ripped as many people, but for me.. Still, I have always hated fasting, it is uncomfortable and mentally distracting for me. My maintenance plan is to not drink alcohol or eat anything I consider to be as junk food 3 days a week. Possibly reduce food consumption 70% normal that day. I plan to weigh myself weekly and keep myself on a short leash. I just bought new pants and shorts and I would be really disappointed in myself if these became too tight.

So good to hear from you all
I went on a short holiday and despite not fasting came back not having put on any weight but since I have been back,two weeks I just can't fast
I lost three kilos and put on about 500g and am stick there
Every day I start thinking I will fast and then end up doing a sort of mini fast around 600 to 700 cals,every day .so I am maintaining bmi around 20.4 but would so love to get under 20
On the one hand I want to lose that last 1.5 and on the other I just can't do the fast
I am doing 16/8 easily and eating very well,low carbs,healthy food but just can't seem to find the motivation to fast
Interestingly when I weigh myself before dinner I weigh less than in the morning ,probably eating too much at night
Sorry for long rambling post.

Sarahg, if you are doing 16/8 then you are fasting (I think!) I like breakfast so can't do 16/8 although I think it would be a lot easier than doing a 24 hour fast which is what I do one day a week.
My now eat when I'm hungry, which I think is a good thing. If I'm not, then skipping a meal is natural to do. That is where fasting has helped most, in the re-education of why we eat. If I do put on a couple of kilos I know I'll have the motivation do go back to 5:2 but in the meantime with my BMI it just isn't possible.

Hi Susan,

Not sure if the long term health benefits of fasting exist but I hope they do and if not, well, I still feel better, more energised, happier and a LOT slimmer so there is nothing negative for me except the cost of new clothes, hooray!!!!


Ballerina x

reminds me of the "I dont know if God exists but i guess going to Church can't hurt just in case"