Latest forum posts

  • posted by  Verano on SPRING EQUINOX: New beginnings?
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi s-g Yes…. happier and healthier, what more can we ask for.
    I’ve made my resolution which is to follow 5:2 for a few weeks until I can get back into a stricter routine.
    I don’t know about you, but, after nearly 7 years of low carbing life gets a bit dull.
    I won’t revert to ‘ junk food’, although I did have a ‘petite’ scone and eclair at afternoon tea yesterday which, as a one off, I don’t consider a tragedy.
    Anyway, I’m certainly not going back to high or ‘junk’ carb foods again. Just trying to ‘live’, ‘enjoy’ , ‘eat well to stay healthy’ and as a bonus ‘lose weight’!
    So let’s look forward to those ‘new beginnings’ and ENJOY!

  • posted by  Verano on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
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    Hello girls!
    Sorry I’ve been awol. Just got two messages in my inbox so thought “add to the thread NOW” or the moment will pass.
    S-g so glad your scar is improving and it will continue to improve for many, many more months to come.
    Surprise! Surprise! How nice. I’m sure you will be able to look surprised on the day. But anyway what a lovely thought and deed…. daughters can be so thoughtful …. and sons too of course!
    Sunny, you’re just getting your cases down to pack as we are packing up to move on for 5 days before we head home!
    Won’t bore you with the weather here ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️!!!
    I do have some positives, apart from the weather…..
    🫖🧁🍸 Had a lovely Mother’s Day afternoon tea yesterday although here in Portugal it was actually ‘Fathers Day’!
    🌹🌼🌺 Beautiful flowers (including orchids Sunny!) from my son.
    🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️Met a marvellous yoga teacher who alerted me to the Equinox today. It’s so liberating to know we can have another ‘new year’, we can make resolutions all over again!
    Just one more please in case I don’t get back here for a while …..
    📚📖📚 Have been re-reading the “Fast 5:2” revised addition from 2014. I’ve never tried the 5:2 but I think I might give it a go for a few weeks to ease me back into a more strict regime. Very impressed with the book.
    I hope you have a good week with lots of positives.

  • posted by  SunnyB on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
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    Well, even 15/16 degrees sounds tempting, SG. Glad your scar os proving day on day. Shame your party surprise has been ‘busted’ … our honeymoon destination was meant to a surprise for me …. until my FIL blabbed! It was no less special though and I’m sure that will be the case for your special event too, SG.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi SunnyB the 23 was for one day only but we are generally around 15/16 and will be in the low 20’s in a week or so. On that note.
    1. Looking forward to the temperatures warming the pool, I should be swimming earlier this year as we have never put the winter cover on so it is there for me to us. But the water was only 15 today.
    2. Scar improving every day.
    3, Looking forward to being a slimmer version for my for my surprise party in the UK (oops Im not supposed to know about it).

  • posted by  SunnyB on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
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    SG, sooo envious of thise 23 degrees. We had a warmish spring like day yesterday, but back to rain again today.
    My positives are …..
    💃 lovely date night on Friday with lots of dancing.
    ☀️ was warm enough for awhile yesterday, to have the top of the stable door in the kitchen open … first time this year.
    🧳 got the luggage out of the loft, ready to start packing for our trip.
    🤐 halfway through my latest fast … going well so far.
    Hope others will post their positives soon … come on you must have at least one to tell us about!

  • Well we have been focusing on our WHY , now we have to to keep it constantly in the forefront and stay motivated , whatever our reasons for choosing this way of eating .

    Hopefully our nw members have found some support and useful advice .Ask any questions you want !

    If health issues are hindering you , just do your best, one day at a time .

    Don’t be discouraged by ‘small losses’ , think long term

    We are approaching the end of March , everything is growing .My yoga teacher this morning said today is the Spring Equinox, the optimal time for cleansing and detox . We will be yearning for greens,salads and freshness !

    Here in France you often see fresh birch sap in the health food shops . It is supposed to be full of goodness and has detoxifying properties .It is also very expensive !!

    Have a good week everyone !

    Wendy, sunshine-girl and SunnyB

  • Evening all !

    My experience : as far as fasting is concerned , if it is safe for you , it is advised to build up slowly .No extended fasts early on ! I set out doing a lot of OMAD ( one meal a day ) then naturally moved into a 24 hour fast if I had a particularly busy day with a late meeeting etc .From there I tried 36 hours , sometimes 48 . I drank loads on fast days , took salt in warm water and magnesium taablets . If I awoke feeling unwell, light headed , a bit woozy I would decide whether to stop, eat something or to up the electrolytes . It’s OK to end a fast when it doesn’t feel right .I know that some days are easy for me and I can go all day without being hungry but other days I decide to have an OMAD day .

    Fasting gets easier but I don’t think it should be undertaken lightly .Jason Fung recommends 3x 36 hours as being the best protocol for weight loss but just a 24h fast is beneficial . There is no point in pushing through an extended fast if you are struggling .

    Happysnap you will soon find this way of eating second nature . It must be difficult with kids in the house so well done for not giving in and scoffing the whole pack of cookies . Think healthy foods rather than processed of course .Fear sugar rather than fat .Eat lots of green veg and salad greens rather than starchy veg grown underground. NO white carbage, potatoes, rice, pasta , bread
    Healthy fats, avocado , nuts and cheese in moderation . Drinks lots , water, herbal teas, coffee with some cream if you wish, no fizzy pop , no artificial sweetners . Keep it simple to start with it gets boring you can become more adventurous with recipes

    I find if I give in to the carbage then it really is a struggle to resist BUTwhen you eliminate them all together the cravings actually stop.

    I hope that’s helpful anyway . Also don’t panic if the scales are not always giving the results you wish.Weight loss fluctuates . It will balance out in time .

  • Can I just add to Wendlegs fantastic advice and say that if you are diabetic you should be very careful about fasting. You need to be very aware of your own body and know the signs and symptoms of an approaching hypo. I say approaching as mostly we can feel it coming – numb lips, sweating, feeling shaky, blurred vision and confusion. The confusion is often the last but most dangerous, once you get confusion you wont be able to help yourself i.e. a hit from pure glucose is the way to reverse it in an emergency. Should you feel at all unwell please eat something. You can stick to the diet by having something carb free like meat, tuna, eggs, cheese, chicken until you feel better. I personally like a plain Greek yoghurt with some chopped prunes or apricots although not in an emergency, then you need something you can get to quickly and easily.

    Stay safe.

  • posted by  Verano on SPRING EQUINOX: New beginnings?
    on in Fast 800
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    Well tomorrow, March 20th, is the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere.
    We have a ‘New Year,’ all be it an astrological one, so it’s time for new resolutions??
    It makes so much more sense to make resolutions when the days are getting longer, the sun is shining and spring is almost ‘sprung’.
    Resolutions will be so much easier to make and keep now than in those dark January days.
    New year, new start, new beginnings.
    We have a second chance at ‘New Year’ so we can put the last few months behind us and start afresh tomorrow with new resolve.
    2023 can still be the year you really want it to be!

  • My experience : as far as fasting is concerned , if it is safe for you , it is advised to build up slowly .No extended fasts early on ! I set out doing a lot of OMAD ( one meal a day ) then naturally moved into a 24 hour fast if I had a particularly busy day with a late meeeting etc .From there I tried 36 hours , sometimes 48 . I drank loads on fast days , took salt in warm water and magnesium taablets . If I awoke feeling unwell, light headed , a bit woozy I would decide whether to stop, eat something or to up the electrolytes . It’s OK to end a fast when it doesn’t feel right .I know that some days are easy for me and I can go all day without being hungry but other days I decide to have an OMAD day .

    Fasting gets easier but I don’t think it should be undertaken lightly .Jason Fung recommends 3x 36 hours as being the best protocol for weight loss but just a 24h fast is beneficial . There is no point in pushing through an extended fast if you are struggling .

    Happysnap you will soon find this way of eating second nature . It must be difficult with kids in the house so well done for not giving in and scoffing the whole pack of cookies . Think healthy foods rather than processed of course .Fear sugar rather than fat .Eat lots of green veg and salad greens rather than starchy veg grown underground. NO white carbage, potatoes, rice, pasta or bread
    Healthy fats, avocado , nuts and cheese in moderation . Drink lots , water, herbal teas, coffee with some cream if you wish, no fizzy pop , no artificial sweetners . Keep it simple to start with.If it gets boring you can become more adventurous with recipes

    I find if I give in to the carbage then it really is a struggle to resist BUT when you eliminate them all together the cravings actually stop.

    I hope that’s helpful anyway . Also don’t panic if the scales are not always giving the results you wish.Weight loss fluctuates . It will balance out in time .

  • Hi everyone,
    A quick check-in for me as spring has finally arrived all of a sudden – it was 12 C yesterday! – and I have to get on with the yard work now that most of the snow has disappeared.
    I had to travel for work for a couple of days this week and was eating higher carb. Not worth it because some of my pain came back. I am back on track now though and the pain is subsiding. Definitely shows how well low carb med was working for me though.
    Anyway, off to tackle the front garden now that it has thawed out for the day (still getting down to -8 C at night), so that mum will stop saying that all the weeds in the drive and garden beds make it look like I live in a crack house. Well, who am I kidding, she will probably still find something to criticize even after I tidy it up, but at least I’ll feel better about it!

  • posted by  ClarinetCathy on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Hello everyone
    My last 36 hour fast before my holiday on Thursday. My husband thinks we might be able to go as his back is easing! I’m going to do a 24 hour fast Tuesday tea time to Wednesday and then will be sensible whilst on holiday and re-evaluate things on my return .
    Mariet- it’s impressive that you’ve stayed the same weight- what a great bonus that is.
    Keep strong everyone and keep trying!

  • Hi again

    Thanks for all the helpful responses!! I think I just need to be aware that it’ll take time to reverse the brainwashing and to “know” what to be eating.
    I’m attempting my first 24 hour fast, which started at 8pm last night. so far, so good!! Hoping I will manage to keep going. i have a very busy day today with lots on so hoping i’ll manage to keep myself distracted.

    I did have a bit of a wobble this weekend, there was too much junk in the house and I was tempted! I did have a couple of cookies but thankfully I stopped there and went right back to my “new normal”. I’m trying to keep the house diet-friendly but my kids are quite fussy eaters and can’t overhaul their eating overnight- gotta do it gradually!

    So for now I am cooking separate for myself and the kids meals, but I am slowly setting up a stash in the freezer so that is convenient.

    Forgot to weigh myself this morning so hopefully will remember to post a loss tomorrow!!

    Happy Mother’s Day to all!!

  • Well. Happy mothers day to you all.
    Hope ur getting spoilt rotten.
    I was gifted a spa day from my crotch goblins so that s motivation… some stranger seeing me nearly naked…😳🙈…

    Lost 1.5lbs this week. Bit disappointed but after the pain killer induced snack attacks I guess thats ok.
    On plan yesterday and hoping to move on next week.

    Have a happy Sunday all xx

  • Hi everyone
    I have caught up with the thread , especially JGwen’s message about her cardiac issues .Wow Jillie, so much to absorb and navigate but I am sure your research will be invaluble in managing this with your team .

    Hello happysnap and FuzzyJammmies and welcome to our thread !

    I have to go out again today but will try to pop back in later and say something useful !!!

    Have a good Sunday everyone xx

  • Margaret.. I love keto porridge.
    I add raspberries and it tastes like bakewell tart 😋..
    Elle mae I love window shopping.
    I then go home and find a similar fabric pattern and fabric and make myself.
    I made a dress for my hols last year “inspired” by a £3k dress… cost me about £6 and lots of swear words lmao….

    I’m hoping I ll be able to wear stuff this year.. im now at plus 2lb… but haven’t popped for 4 days.
    So currently making green veg and lentil soup which ll hopefully work if not its meds… constipation is new to me…

    I did cheat again last night I went over my calories by about 300 but back is better so no drug induced picnics tonight.
    Plus I ve been shopping qnd stocked up on stuff so if I have to snack I have cashews qnd cheese..
    Have a lovely Sat guys!!
    SJ x

  • Fiance away to watch a football match, so I took myself off to the designer shops and window shopped pretending I was one of the rich people. OMG the prices and the labels still said made in China. I bought some reusable stretchy covers to use instead of cling film from the market.🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • posted by  Mariet on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi everyone, I’m back! I had a great month camping around Victoria and South Australia, flew in a tiny plane over Lake Eyre and saw so many interesting places and things. It was hard to eat clean in any way, it’s not easy to get fresh food in the outback. But lots of physical activity and I’m happy to report that I have not gained anything while I was away.
    I haven’t read all the posts but I’ve seen that some are dealing with difficult circumstances at the moment. I hope things improve for you all.
    Keeping on keeping on 😁

  • Well it’s the end of week 9 for me & it’s required a lot of focus but I have now lost a total of 1stone 3lbs. I’ve just weighed & after my weight gain last weekend family gathering & lunch my scales now show that I’m one pound less than last week so phew I’m so pleased to show a loss so I guess my 24 hour & 38 hour fast really helped😀 I’m going to choose my food wisely tomorrow at my Mothers Day lunch in a Turkish restaurant but will probably have a cocktail before & wine to drink with my meal. Having completed one long fast I feel confident now that I can always do another one next week but I do have another competitive short mat bowls match on Monday afternoon. During fasting I’ve acquired a liking for a tablespoonful of Organic raw apple cider vinegar added to my water which makes it more interesting to drink 😀
    Margaret

  • My husband, just have to love him, if not I would have to kill him. Bless. He has just read a message to me, from our daughter. Can you confirm you will be leaving here late on the Sunday (to go back to France). I am planning to have all our family and lots of mums friends for her 70th….. At which point he realised it was a secret. I now have to pretend I dont know anything and I too have a big gob.

    I guess that is my WHY right now. 4 weeks to lose 3 stone 🙂

  • posted by  ClarinetCathy on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Welcome to Norma- good luck with your weight loss journey. Nice to have you on board with us
    Nice to see you back on board with us SueBlue. Sorry to hear about your medical issues- I suffered with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (stills disease) aged 13 and it does bring a lot of other problems along with it. Glad your mother in law is settling into her new home.
    We all seem to be dealing with difficult issues and it’s amazing that we still keep doing our very best for our health and well-being despite being challenged.
    My fasting regime doesn’t seem to have had any affect on my weight which is very very disappointing. I go away next Thursday (hopefully- my husband has damaged his back lifting his bike up the train station steps and can’t sit down due to sciatic pain) I hoped that I would lose at least 7 lb but it looks like I’ve lost 1 lb! I did three 36 hour fasts, one 18 hour fast and one 24 hour fast over the course of a week and lost one measly pound! I’m going to fast again from tomorrow evening until Monday lunchtime and then I’m not doing any extended fasting until I come back from Sharm. My clothes are tight. My face does look thinner so I think I lost the pound from my face! I won’t give up- I need to know how to be able to lose weight again and I haven’t found the answer yet!
    I want to lose about one stone- not a huge ask but it seems to be a huge challenge!
    Hope you’re doing ok JGwen- I know you have a lot going on with your heart issue- thinking about you and hoping you’re getting some good advice and guidance.

  • Well done articfox . So glad you are seeing results to ease your lipedema.That must be so encouraging for you.I admire you for pushing though and remaining so active despite the difficulties .

    Sorry too to hear about your arthritic knees , Margaret . .My hubby has his second knee op in April . Yes you are absolutely right to focus on staying healthy after your history of breast cancer . Eliminating sugar is definitely the way to go .

    I have had a few full days being out of the house so that fell into natural fasting . I avOided any nasty headaches this time by making sure I had half a teaspoon of sea salt in warm water .It works for me .Also just putting it on my tongue.

    I am not a daily weigher .I have never weighed more than once a week and can leave it for much longer.Measurements and the fit of my clothes tend to be my markers . I will be weighing more regularly now as when I stopped checking the numbers complacency set in !

    This morning I broke my fast with a keto porridge made with hemp hearts, shredded coconut , flax seed and almond milk with a pinch of cinnamon.I haven’t had porridge oats for years but this was a nice substitute . Lunch was 2 boiled eggs with asparagus ‘ soldiers ‘

    Have a good weekend everyone xx

  • Hello,

    hi to scojos, wow cuba, plenty of motivation there.

    elle-mae enjoy the holiday – are those your legs and feet?

    Had another good day. Did 30 mins aerobics so managed 3 sessions this week. Food choices are good and after logging in myfitnesspal yesterday (I dont log every day) I came out with 830 cals and 27g carbs. Will log today but had half an avocado and bacon grilled to a crip at lunch so that might up the calories. However, I did do scrambled egg with eggs from the farm. The first one looked big so I cracked it and there again, double yolker, so only used the one. My only downfall there is I have some cheese in the egg, which is okay if I am not having cheese again like in a Ploughmans.

    Shopping again. Been decorating what we call our grandsons bedroom even if it only gets used once or twice a year. Got rid of the teddy bears frieze around the wall. Well they are 17 and 14 now. It is very grown up now. Bought a new bedside table today as the old one has some cup stains and was too high for the new single beds. I will paint the top and give it to the charity shop. I am enjoying spending some money. After a life-threatening event you realise you cant take it with you. Not just that, but as pensioners, we have just had a 10% rise – not a lot in money terms but enough for a few more treats.

    It is hubbys birthday on Thursday and we have a table booked at our new favourite restaurant. So I just want to get through the weekend with no cheats (wine) and then it doesn’t bother me during the week. Hoping for a bit more weight off to catch up with the small gain of last week. Of my 7lb goal still got 5lbs to do, in 4 weeks. I can do it.

    Enjoy the weekend, we have some lovely weather, and keep on keeping on…

  • posted by  Derma on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Thank you dreamscometrue. I’ve got 4lbs to lose before mid April but once I’m there I will give the 5:2 a go as you have suggested and fingers crossed!
    xx

  • Thank you Elle-Mae & SunnyB. I know I just have to be patient & stick with it but it’s frustrating & I am going out to lunch on Sunday with our son coming for the weekend when many more tempting things emerge to share! I’m still trying to have lost at least 1.5 stone at the end of my 12 weeks.
    Scojos I’m sorry to hear you have Fibromyalgia having had clients suffering with it & how unpredictable the pain can be. Just take it one day at a time & it’s very impressive you are in Ketosis which must be helping you🤞👍
    Elle-Mae have a wonderfully relaxing holiday 😀🌞🌞
    Margaret

  • Margaret, half a pound increase is really not here or there, it’s just one of those daily anomies that happen. Yes, they are frustrating and disheartening, but in the scheme of things it’s not indicative of anything significant. That half pound and more will soon be history again, so chin up and soldier on … you’re on the right path!

  • Have fun on holiday! Thats my motivation (we re off to celebrate our 50th birthdays in Cuba…
    ))
    Margaret wow… 38hrs thats amazing!
    I’m sorry u ve gained (me too..) but it ll come off just have faith in the process.
    I came to confess a sin.
    After last night’s drug frenzy (painkillers for q dodgy back not illegal ones..) I ended up having a late night snack which buggered my fast.
    Now… I did “want” the haribos that are my adult daughters easter treat.. but instead I had cheese cubes ham and pickled beetroot.
    It could have been alot worse…..

    I’m still in K this morning (that horrid mouth taste is back) I’m just carrying on chalking it down to experience and ignoring the fast cheat.
    Cant do much else I need the pain relief for my fibromyalgia..
    So easy day.. trying to avoid re hurting back by gently doing everything.
    Everyone have q nice day esp those on a beach xx

  • Margaret sometimes for some unknown reason weight lose just plateaus there will be a sudden whoosh effect when a larger amount just disappears in one go. 🤷‍♀️ I think it’s your body trying to trip you up and get you to give up. We all work better when we are seeing positive results.
    I am on holiday in Tenerife so won’t be good but will try to limit carbs rather than just going for it in holiday mode 🤣. I will deal with the aftermath on my return.

  • Oh well I’m going to be a moaning Minnie this morning! Although my 38 hour fast went very well with keeping hydrated & not feeling hungry, as did my earlier in the week 24 hour one, I stood on my scales this morning & have gone up 1/2 lb in weight🙁I’m quite confused as to what my body is doing apart from re-arranging my flab which is noticeably more pitted & flabbier & looks awful 😳 but I will plod on today & keep to 800 calories. Lunch will be Prawn & Courgette soup & supper Teriyaki salmon with ratatouille & possibly 50g of cooked quinoa & or a pear. I will weigh tomorrow & post my result.🤔
    I hope everyone has had a better week than it looks like I have had! Sorry about the moaning.
    Margaret

  • posted by  SueBlue on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Thanks DCT – just read your posts about your mum and your new job – hope all goes well for both x
    My MIL is ok, she’s had some difficulty settling into her new home but is now on a new medication and seems to be more settled – we’d had complaints from the staff and her doctor at the facility that she was aggressive and refusing to deal with them and the new meds seem to be helping with that, but the whole situation is very difficult to deal with to be honest We’re still busy clearing and cleaning up her house. In the meantime I’ve been neglecting my own health.
    I saw one of my specialists at the hospital today and was upset to find out that recent tests and X-rays I’ve had have shown joint erosion and deformity (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and now also possible Macular degeneration in my eyes (caused by the meds I’m on for RA). I’m still trying to get my head around it all!
    On the plus side though, on the way back from the hospital, where the specialist was running very late, I was really hungry and thought I’d treat myself to a coffee and cake, after the depressing news. But instead I ordered coffee and scrambled eggs with a piece of sourdough toast – so that’s a minor win in my book 🙂

  • posted by  robbythomas on Remove the add to Cart WooCommerce button
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    You may want to Remove the add to Cart WooCommerce button for a variety of reasons or situations. It is one of the most effective strategies to deter customers from purchasing the goods and encourage them to do alternative actions, such as sending a price estimate. There are several advantages to eliminating the Add to Cart button from your WooCommerce site. For example, you might need purchasers to register an account on your eCommerce site in order to add things to their shopping basket.

  • posted by  Dreamscometrue on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi SueBlue, good to see you back snd your good sounds as wonderful as always. It’s so weird being here in the UK and hearing the high temperatures you’re having. We’re just coming out of a very cold snowy spell, so hoping that spring is finally on its way.

    Welcome FuzzieJammies and Derma. Always good to meet new friends 😊 Like you FuzzieJammies, I found JGwens post really helpful. Doing the 5:2 was the way I initially got into all this , and I see ADF a natural extension of that, and something I will definitely try once life calms down a bit (3 weeks and counting!!)

    Derma maybe 5:2 could be a way forward for you too? It sounds like you get to your target weight and then need to find a way to maintain that without necessarily losing any more. Perhaps 5:2 might work? But others on here could have other ideas too. Good luck! X

    Hope everyone else is ok? Do check in to let us know how you’re getting on X

  • posted by  Derma on Healthy New Me – Part 2
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi I’m another person who has been following you all for years. I have had a lot of success with the fast 800 and now fasting BUT I have a problem. As every year I have to get my weight to a certain level in readiness for my yearly health check where I am weighed, as I have a non alcholic fatty liver, high cholesterol and a tendency to DVT’s all related of course. My problem is I get to the weight I have to be at and I always put it back on during the year. I don’t eat starchy carbs generally as they upset my stomach but as soon as I up my calories to maintain I put on weight. I love the fasting it works well for me but what next. Does anyone else have this problem. Norma

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
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    Not normal for me to post positives as I have been pretty miserable for the past year. After a near death experience I am looking for the best in life and trying to live every day as if it was my last, it nearly was.

    1. sunny day today (23 degrees)
    2. washing hung on the line
    3. bought garden accessories so it feels like summer is nearly here.