The FastDay Forum

Who is maintaining this month? And, how is it going for you?

Thinking I need somewhere to log-in and report that I am maintaining each month to assist in keeping my maintenance journey on track.

I find logging my fast days into the daily fast thread so very helpful, it's great to have companions to fast with.

It's my first month on maintenance. I started my maintenance above my goal (post Christmas excess) but decided to go ahead with maintenance as planned, as I felt that the Christmas weight gain was probably short term and I think that has been case. I'm still doing 5:2 but with flexibility when I need it - I don't think things will go too off track doing the odd 6:1. My weekly weigh in is tomorrow morning, so that should tell me where I'm at.

So far maintenance doesn't look a lot different to 5:2 apart from the fact I don't want to lose any more weight and I feel slightly more relaxed about fitting my fast days in.

Not quite the answer to your question, but give me a week (hopefully) and I will be joining maintenance ! 1 pound to loose

I'm 1.6 lbs away from goal and will join you when I reach it

@Minigill and @bssh - looking forward to the company! If not in this January thread, I'll put up one in February and see you there instead

Weigh in was this morning and I've dipped 1.3kg below my target weight - a bit of buffer , but I wouldn't want that trend to continue. It's a long weekend coming up in Australia and Iz've got a relaxing weekend camping planned - might be a good week to throwing a 6:1.

Hope other maintainers out there are going well this month and finding post Christmas recovery manageable!

I am staying within my weight range, mostly doing 16:8 a couple days a week, eating a late breakfast on three other days, then weyhey on the weekend. It is working very well for me so far!

I'm in also (and stable, see my own thread). However, I feel a new club coming up: The maintenance club Not the most exciting one perhaps, not the club with the most inspirational stories, but certainly the one that will last the longest! No end date (it will last for ever), more and more members joining as more of us will reach their goals. Who is the one that is bold enough to become the number one member of this club? I am facing a couple of busy month in my job, so I will not volunteer. Who does?

I will maintain!

@P-JK - a maintenance club would be an exciting place, I think, as it's the place I have aspired to and want to stay in so much! I hasten to add that I am not putting up my hand to lead a club. A great idea though!

You never know, one of the experienced maintainers may come along and launch such a thing I wonder who was the first on this forum to flick the switch in the progress tracker from "losing weight" to "maintaing weight"?

@Debbiejgb - your maintenance technique sounds very doable and it's great to know that that kind of routine may allow me to maintain down the track too! What range do you give yourself to comfortably maintain within?

I have seen my goal weight twice but am currently 1lb above it so I am just about in maintenance. I did toy with the idea of losing a bit more but I can feel my ribs now so maybe this is the best weight for me. I still have a pad of fat on my tummy and the tops of my arms are a bit porky. I think possibly exercise is the best thing now for toning. I hate exercise so will start walking once the weather gets better. I love walking and I often listen to audiobooks on the iPhone to keep me company (I look a bit strange when I start laughing though)
My plan is to carry on with 5:2, 16:8, daily weighing and the weekend wey heying but to add a few more calories on the 16:8 days. A jacket potato with cheese once a week ought to do the trick!
I thought I was a healthy eater before but I am so grateful for everything I have learned from you all on this forum because I eat a lot more healthily and mindfully now.
It will be so interesting to compare notes and see how we all get on. We can keep a check on each other.

@Wendy Darling - yes, I'm also really interested in how my fellow maintainers are going. Like you, I think I'll be bouncing around my target for awhile working out what works best for me. Your approach sounds great - esp the weekends I think I've come to the realisation that there are some parts of me that will always have a little more "padding" than others Finding we've got ribs is probably a good indication we've lost enough weight

@P-JK - I read your update thread today. Gosh, you're managing well without fasting at all. Do you think you're eating below your daily TDEE most days?

All the best maintainers. Might catch some of you in the fasting tent tomorrow.

On a maintenance for a month as well. I am still trying to find the right balance as I have a little weight to put on (2 kgs) and am still doing 4:3 most weeks. So I am trying different things as 19:5 for example with 5:2 or 6:1

I think it will take a few weeks more before really knowing what will be the right thing to do on a regular basis

Well this thread could be the Maintenance Club couldn't it? And be renewed each month. I know I don't necessarily want to do my own regular maintenance diary but would happily contribute regular posts to a thread like this.

Sure thing Bssh! - I'm happy to kick one off at the start of each month so we can all touch base and keep an eye on each other

@Manderley if you're trying to put on weight yet still want to do 4:3 could you not try Dr Varady's maintenance approach of 1000 calorie fast days?

That's what I do with the 19:5. I eat 1000 cal in a 5 hours windows, between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM but can't help to do at least one "real" fast during the week

I've been maintaining for a month too but weigh daily and can always add a second fast on Thursday if I get above 69.5kg that morning. I prefer 68.9 or 69kg but am satisfied with anything under 70kg. We had Lebanese pizzas tonight. Delicious but I feel very bloated now and wouldn't be surprised if I end up fasting tomorrow.

I don't think 16:8 works for me, unless it would be on top of one or two fast days a week. I would like to keep this as simple as possible.