Thanks everyone. I'm finding your posts encouraging! My first week of fasting was last week. A little loss at the beginning, but the week was a wash (I'll count that as a win, since it was Thanskgiving after all). No loss yet this week, but I'm see that while I'm within my TDEE cals, I'm not necessarily making wise food choices. On my next feast days, I'll focus on eating less junk food, even if I have the cals for it.

What are your thoughts on eating below TDEE on fast days? Right now mine's at 1995, which is a lot of food. I was thinking keeping it at 1600....good idea or not?

@cala- I think orlcam is the right guy for your fasting questions (though men are a bit different from ladies when it comes to metabolism and water retention [which can make the scale jump 10 pounds from just retaining more water and not actual fat/body mass change].

Look into intermittent fasting- there's lots of books, mfp groups, and other resources out there! When I did low carb, I wouldn't eat as much because I never got excited about the food so wouldn't eat as often. I started doing something similar to 16 hour fast/8 hour eat period which is considered intermittent fasting. It's simple. For me, it was just skipping breakfast and stopping eating 8 hours after lunch. Without meaning to my fast days are similar to that now just because I don't eat until lunch or later.

Bottom line though, I think similar to this diet, look to fasting for the additional health benefits but not extra magic weight loss because it still really comes down to how many calories you eat over the week, month, etc. Just like now, after fast days, weight will be lower, after TDEE, they will be up because your body is retaining more water, etc. related to processing more food. When fasting, you physically have less retained water (reads as weight loss on the scale) because you are processing less food (or no food in long fasting periods).

I feel like I can say that being under 300 is no longer a fluke after not seeing anything starting with 3-something for 3+ weeks woo. It made me want to track my journey in a different way.

Since I weigh-in several days a week, I notice my weight go up and down with normal fluctuations, depending on what type of eating day, etc so I like to track my highest and lowest of the week. For example, even if I didn't lose anything from my previous week's lowest weight, my highest weight of the week may have gone down and that is just as valuable to me! Because of that, my lowest weight of the week (even though I use that to track my losses on MFP) doesn't mean as much as that higher number. It's almost like a spectrum.

So instead of just seeing when I hit a new lowest number, I wanted to see the days I completely abandoned a new decade and never went back. So here they are!

For you peeps with less to lose, you can do it in smaller increments! It's kind of cool seeing how long it's been since I've abandoned those numbers

Under 330: 8/5/14
Under 320: 9/8/14
Under 310: 10/8/14
Under 300: 11/8/14

(It's a bit deceiving because it looks like I've lost 10 lbs a month, but it's been more like 6-8 pound change from my lowest weight per month. It's almost like tracking my last highest fluctuation to that number aka permanent evacuation.

(Can you tell I like to analyze numbers and trends lol? Luckily that's part of my job :P)

I'm ready to add that Under 290 haha!!!

thecarbmonster wrote: »

I feel like I can say that being under 300 is no longer a fluke after not seeing anything starting with 3-something for 3+ weeks woo.

Before you know it we will be seeing you post "I feel like I can say that being under 200 is no longer a fluke after not seeing anything starting with 2-something for 3+ weeks woo."

WOW - 40 hours? I have been doing 24 hours and I thought that was a lot! You must keep yourself really busy or has your body become used to it now?

Jo x

orlcam wrote: »

On hour 40 of my 3rd fast this week...waiting on a cleanse...hopefully it will push me below my pre-thanksgiving weight.

Wow. 40 hours, 3rd fast? I am concerned. IMHO, I think take care of your body so you can make it to the end of the marathon.

I've become used to it. Eating high fiber/protein for that "last" meal (before fasting) and for my 1 big fasting meal is key (in my opinion). I don't eat until after the 20 hour mark (usually 24...about 600 cal), then I shoot for 40 hours and assess what I can/should do at that time. I almost always get a cleanse (nice way of putting it), but it can be anywhere from 34 to 60+ hours after I start my fast. I haven't read anywhere that this is required or even suggested...I just see it as a trigger to greater weight loss and what I perceive as my body reacting the way it is supposed to. This "cleanse" is preceded by a thermogenic reaction (an increase in temperature) usually around my shoulders/neck/face area. There are no headaches, dizziness or anything like that...I feel fine, just warmer (but not feverish/ill). If it does get bad after the 40 hour mark then I will stop the fast or eat a couple hundred calories (depends on how bad)...this has happened maybe 3 times in 4 months and it was due to eating high carb foods before or during my fast (though sometimes I can get away with that). I take the thermogenic bump as a sign of my metabolism shifting...I have seen losses of ~5 lbs in a matter of hours (a very small %tage in my case)...mostly water weight. I never feel thirsty during, if I do I drink. I would say it was around week 7 that it really got easier and I started experimenting...I've done a few fasts over 50 hours (~66 at 1k cal is my longest), weeks with three 40+ hour fasts (like this week), and even a week of four 36 hour fasts (that's fasting a total of six 24 hour days) back to back with an hour in between where I ate my TDEE (yeah, 1 hour of total gluttony)...definitely difficult, but doable.

I'm not doing anything groundbreaking. I would suggest for anyone who has not yet watched Dr. Mosley's documentary to do so...it details the journey he took to arrive at the 5:2 way of eating...and it's entertaining. His 1st attempt at fasting was 4.5 days on 50 cal a day (if memory serves).

It should also be noted that he doesn't consider 24 hours a full fast...it should be: eat dinner (say ~8 pm) and then go to bed, wake up (this is your fast day), eat 500/600 cal during the day, go to bed, wake up and then eat normally (~8 am). This could be anywhere from 30 hours up.

Also I don't worry about burning muscle (yet)...there is an article on the 5:2 website which references a small study that showed metabolic rates continuing to increase through 3 days of fasting (water only). Based on what I've read/experienced I would put the muscle burning/metabolism lock-down phases somewhere out past the 96 hour mark. If you have an extremely low body fat % (bodybuilder?) or burn an extreme # of calories a day then this goes out the window, and I would suggest looking into a BCAA (branched chain amino acids) supplement to help combat the affects of losing muscle mass while fasting.

Remember, I'm only ~4 months in myself (52 lbs lost from 505+) and these are just my opinions. Take from them what you will.

Have a good weekend everyone.

orlcam wrote: »

jknight001 wrote: »

Wow. 40 hours, 3rd fast? I am concerned. IMHO, I think take care of your body so you can make it to the end of the marathon.

For me to be concerned (thank you for caring...sis) I would need to be of the frame of mind that I'm harming myself; in my opinion I'm improving/repairing myself. I feel more in tune with my body than I have in years...I feel fine...great even. Even at the 41 hour mark (on ~625 calories total) I feel energetic, as many have stated in this group...you become adjusted, even to the point of doing full workouts on fast days (bodybuilders do this all the time).

I am in this for the long haul and if you've been following me in this group then you know that this week doesn't remotely approach what I would consider extreme. Trust me, if there was even a hint of risk/doubt I would shut it down.

Greatest group ever...

Orlcam - please accept my deepest apology for my comments. I have the kind of personality that leans towards thinking I know what is best for everyone. You are grown and capable of making your own decisions and you hadn't ask for my advice. Thank you for being gracious with me.

jknight001 wrote: »

Orlcam - please accept my deepest apology for my comments. I have the kind of personality that leans towards thinking I know what is best for everyone. You are grown and capable of making your own decisions and you hadn't ask for my advice. Thank you for being gracious with me.

I know where your heart is...I've been a part of this group long enough to know you're just looking out for me. Advice is always welcomed and encouraged, at least you care enough to read my long winded posts. I hold no contempt for anyone in this group, especially you...one of the most active and positive members on MFP (in my opinion). You'd have to do some serious carnage to make it on my list...only 2 doomed souls serving time there at the moment, not too bad for half a century.

No worries...

I wasn't being facetious when I said "greatest group ever", I just thought it would sound corny if I said "I love you guys" Yep, it definitely sounded corny.

47 hours and counting...and the cleanse is on! ...like a sauteed prawn...

...with lots of garlic butter and lemon.

Edit: I just realized how disgusting that must sound. oops

chiccam wrote: »

My hardest hour is the 3:00-4:00pm hour. If I'm working it's not a problem but if I'm home it can be quite challenging. If I can make it past that time I'm normally good until dinner. I try to drink a big glass of water and so far that helps.

Don't remember how long you have been doing 5:2. My experience has been that as time went on the fast day got easier once I got into a rhythm.

orlcam wrote: »

47 hours and counting...and the cleanse is on! ...like a sauteed prawn...

...with lots of garlic butter and lemon.

Edit: I just realized how disgusting that must sound. oops

Ha ha,

Well I lost 0.8lbs this week after my two fasts - I'm pretty happy with that and finally feel like I'm getting the ball rolling and settling into it. I want to do a 3rd fast today and I have done so far - the only thing is is that I have to go to an anniversary party tonight which means alcohol.... I guess it's not a good idea to fast and then drink booze and also it defeats the object as alcohol has many calories in it! I should rethink today I think!

I'd love to know how you all deal with alcohol - I don't drink that much but I do usually enjoy a few glasses of wine on a Friday evening (Sat eve this week due to party). I have recently started drinking gin and slimline tonic as a substitute to cut the cals! Do you all log the booze or hide it with shame

Happy weekend 5:2 pals!
Jo x

Calahonda, I have only been at this for about 6 weeks but have lost 3 kilos. I have a wine every night except fast days, and occasionally 2. I guess I would lose faster if I cut back but I enjoy it and it seems to be fine. I don't count calories on my non fast days, I just eat what I want which generally speaking is fairly healthy. I did have fish and chips on Friday night though. I think that is the beauty of this lifestyle. You don't need to feel guilty about other things in moderation. It all sorts itself out. A g and t is a good drink for summer which is what it is where I am.

jknight001 wrote: »

And as far as cleanse and prawn - seems like a non-sequitur to me. But if it isn't, no need to explain.

It was a play on the phrase "it's on like donkey kong"...sounded funny at the time

As to alcohol...it really depends on your goal. Let's be honest...if we really wanted to just socialize then we could walk around all night with diet soda in our glass.

If you are looking to get hammered then sit down with a bottle of Everclear and a shot glass (95% alcohol @ 226 cal per 1.5 fl oz). The moderate version of this is to drink unflavored vodkas/tequila/whiskey/dry gins (80 proof...40% alcohol, most are about 96 cal per shot) neat, over ice, or with soda water/diet drinks (stay away from the tonic water...it adds 120+ cal per 12 fl oz).

The lowest cal beer containing alcohol (in the US) is currently Bud Select 55 (with 55 cal per 12 oz @ 2.4% alcohol). As for the best "buzz" per fluid oz, try King Cobra or Bud Natural Ice (they have ~130 cal per 12 fl oz @ ~6% alcohol )...good alternatives are Michelob Ultra, Molson Canadian 67, Bud Natural Light and Miller Light.

Oooh, I feel like an enabler now.