josephinabonetto Member

As an aside, I follow 5:2 and 4:3 and it does seem to shift weight in a different way to other methods I have tried. I am not a qualified medical practitioner so I cannot explain the why and the wherefore, just that it is an interesting process to try, if done sensibly.

I might write a disclaimer on my MFP profile that says everything I say will be unsupported, without scientific evidence and totally devoid of any studies to back it up. It may even be unintelligible.

A viable UK ready meal option (in case of a fast day emergency): Kirstys Moroccan Vegetables with Quinoa = 276 Cals. http://www.kirstys.co.uk/product-range/item/moroccan-vegetables?category_id=19

The UK heatwave has definitely helped me fast this week too.

I've been doing 5:2 for 7 weeks, am doing my first 4:3 this week. Feel free to add me.

Ipswich here.

Alright. I've lost 5 lb in 3 weeks and it is easy to stick to. It is true that your stomach does shrink, I find. I don't get hungry on fast days, other than an occasional tummy rumble and I can fast at work without too much difficulty (my main concern). I like eating at TDEE 5 days a week.

You are right to cut down on salt, being the freak of nature that I am I have to add more salt to my food and olive oil, it depends on how your body works. My body happens to have slightly lower good cholesterol so I am eating olive oil in my food every day and I have fainting level low blood pressure so I add a pinch of…

You could also try this site http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/ to check you are definitely on the right calorie intake. I am currently doing a 20% calorie reduction after over indulging at Christmas using the body fat percentage as a means of calculating what I eat but they do a variety of models in a…

B Complex high strength vitamins bother my stomach. I no longer buy high potency vitamins, just normal ones. It could just be you need a normal, not a super.

Around 1500 I'd say, which is above BMR and 10% under TDEE.

I celebrated by eating a whole Blueberry Muffin today (not clean eating, I know). And just FYI - It was a whopping 330 calories.

Your friend is probably miserable from starvation so you can pretty much discount everything she says. I am eating at 15% cut and gained 1.5 lb in week 1, lost 1.5 lb in week 2 and lost 0.5 lb in week 3. I have just adjusted my calories as I think I underestimated my activity levels and changed my method to take into…

I follow the 80/20 rule where possible, good 80% of the time. 20% of the time is for the less innocent snacking/drinking, though it is rarely fast food.

I only do between 30 and 60 minutes a day. It sounds to me like you do enough to maintain health and burn a bit too.

I have my exercise levels set at 1-3 hrs/wk light, if I do more than that I'll log it and eat those calories back personally. I use http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/ I am in week 2 (week runs Wed to Wed) and am eating at my 15% cut (15% less than TDEE). I have not done a full metabolism reset although…

Welcome, I am nearing the end of my 2nd week :)

An FYI some people call BMR, RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate). I think they are the same thing, but I may be wrong. I second trying the Eat More to Weigh Less group if you wish to experiment eating above the 1200 calorie mark. I have links in my profile.

I think starvation mode is really an unhelpful term they should abandon. My interpretation of what it really means is your metabolism has adjusted to the lower calorie intake and you won't lose, you will also likely lose muscle mass because there is no fat to lose. That is my unscientific interpretation. I personally eat…

Realistically, going by MFP, I am eating too much based on my activity level and size. But, I am eating at 15% less than my TDEE so there is a calorie deficit. I am eating at least 200 extra cals a day more than I was eating but in reality it is closer to 300 cals a day more. Based on the built in calculator MFP uses, most…

Not even close. They are set but I am not hitting every one. It's a goal, but I am not beating myself up over it right now because I am only on my second week. Once I feel more confident I have my calories set at the right level and the weight loss is back on track I'll do better.

I have runs on foods. Currently I take chickpea salad into work most days. When I get sick of it I'll find something else. Breakfast is the same every day. I only really tend to vary stuff at weekends when I am not working and feel less fatigued, but currently I am using up food cupboard stuff because I am cash poor in the…

Sure. Feel free to add me.

I think the advice about scrapping the scales has merit. I have not done a full metabolism reset (I might) but I ate my 15% cut for the first time last week (a calorie increase for me) and gained 1.5 lb. I continued eating at my cut and this week I lost 1.5 lb. I didn't need to step on the scales to know I had lost weight…

You could try eating more to break the plateau, some find it helps a lot, I use this group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

I make crockpot refried beans and have them cold as a dip with wholwheat tortilla chips that I baked in the oven from wraps, and sprinkled with a bit of Maldon sea salt (I have low blood pressure). I make a variant of tabouleh with bulgar wheat, lemon juice, fresh chilli, fresh parsley, cucumber, fresh mint (I skip the…

I think some healthy things are expensive (I am in the UK), like fresh herbs (no garden), but I still manage to do all my meals for £100 per month. Mostly beans, wholewheat couscous, bulgar wheat. I have some unhealthy foods but not from fast food joints very often. I am vegetarian, which might make it easier though as…

I gained 1.5 lb in my first week (my week runs Wed to Wed) but I am still eating my cut. In fact I think I might even be eating more than that some days hahaha. We shall see, I know I haven't eaten enough (3500) to gain a 1 lb let alone 1.5 lb so I am not freaking out over it.

I am doing week 1 at my cut -15% then will make a decision.

I am in my first week of the plan and do no weight training at all currently. That is not to say I never will, but currently I am not. I get my exercise quota from other things and that is enough for me right now. I think the principles apply with or without exercise providing you use the right activity level in making…