How do I pull it back?

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

5:2 was brilliant for me and I have lost nearly 2 stone; I would quite like to lose another stone but am also pretty happy at the size I am now after more than 10 years of being overweight.

I would love to stick with 5:2 as a lifestyle as I feel it really works/worked for me, but unfortunately I seem to have lost the plot a bit. Fasting itself is ok and I can go until about 5 before I eat, save for a tiny bit of skimmed milk in coffee. However, once I get the kids home and give them tea the floodgates open and I start picking at their tea, eating blocks of cheese, it's basically a bit of a binge until after we have our tea at 8ish. Not counting calls but I reckon I'm getting to 800-1000. The issue is that it's mindless eating that I can't quite see to control and it feels a long way from the way of eating I was managing before.

Then on my eating days I find that I'm trying to make up for the fact that I haven't fasted properly the day before, so I heavily restrict my calories for most of the day, then basically binge a bit again in the evening!

Does anyone have any tips on how I can 're-set' a bit and get back on track? Anyone experienced similar? I'm staying at the same weight, but it feels like I'm struggling, and right on the edge of losing the plot completely and getting fat again....

Help!

[Fatknacker]

This is exactly how I've been behaving, but I don't know why. You've explained it beautifully! As soon as I put something in my mouth that I shouldn't, The day is lost and I can't pull it back! What to do??

[LikeaHurricane]

Just a suggestion. First of all give yourself a great big hug on losing 2stone because that is a fantastic achievement. Let yourself glow in that feeling for a moment or two because you have done an amazing job
You say you are happy with how you are now so why not think about maintaining for a little while instead of losing? Do two fast days a week, just eat one meal in the evening and make it something healthy but delicious. Basically a treat to look forward to for about 800/900 calories. Then on nfd's try doing 16 to 8, wait a full 16 hours since you last ate before eating again. Doesn't matter if you can't manage this on all nfd's but try it on some. This way you are allowing your body to burn fat. Then just eat normally and as close to your TDEE as you can.
Lastly if you don't already, then try and exercise, especially on fast days in a fasted state, it literally torches fat.
You are living proof that this woe works, so well blimmin done mrs!

[GatoradeMeBitch]

Could you change your mealtime and eat when the kids eat, with plenty of salad to fill you up?

[TheArticFunky]

If you have gone all day without eating I'm not surprised you are chomping at the bit when you cook tea for your children.

I am fasting 2 days a week and I have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Can you not spread the calories out a bit?

[postmanpatscat]

Try repeating the 5:2 mantra 'I can have it tomorrw'?

[BsshBossh]

After six weeks off fasting during the school summer holidays I needed to get back on track. So I was gentle with myself - spreading my 500 cals through the day instead of eating it all at 8pm, eating my tea with DD around 5, not being hard on myself if I failed a fast. Now I'm back to a single 500 cal meal in the evening and (so far) no failed fasts. Ease your way back in.

[peplum41]

Hello woahthere, I second what hurricane says. Well done. Take stock, deep breath.

Try 16:8 Monday to Friday, weekend off don't worry about losing for a week or two. Your body will really appreciate the break. Then when you return to 5:2, it should feel much easier. I do this periodically, when the fasts seem hard and it all gets a bit much, or if I've been ill, life is stressful. It's only 2 weeks, much better than dropping out all together. Let us know how you get on. Do you still look at the main thread? It'sl kept me on the straight and narrow many, many times.

[wrigglebum]

What about preparing yourself a little meal to eat with the children- a big plate of veg and a bowl of miso soup or bovril. Keeps you busy eating for minimal calories. Or a soft boiled egg with veg to dip.

[BeattieBow]

I do this too. i do really well all day and then kind of lose it in the evening. I'm rubbish at the weekends too, so by the end of the week, I'm the same weight as I was at the beginning. Not a v healthy way to be.

the 16.8 thing sounds interesting too - so if you eat your tea at 7pm, you don't eat again until lunchtime the next day?

[LikeaHurricane]

Yep that's it Beattie, full 16 hrs so that would be nothing til just after 11am the next day. Easy! Even better if you can fit some exercise in, I do it before work which means I get up about 6.15 am

[LikeaHurricane]

PS, waves to Peplum, great NSV on the other thread girl, you make me laugh you're so funny

[IDismyname]

Woah - Well done on losing the 2 stone! I've only lost about half a stone and have been 5:2-ing since Feb, so give yourself a large pat on the back.

I struggle around that time, too. I usually stave it off by having a bowl of miso soup - or a few olives. I really crave something salty. I've found a small glass of tomato juice works well, too. Sit and 'eat' with the kids.

I'd also prep as much of the kids supper the day before - or do something that requires minimal effort that day.

Good Luck

[TheArticFunky]

I don't know how you lot do it. I look forward to my breakfast in the morning. I find it much easier to spread the calories out over 3 meals.

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

Thanks for all the tips!!!

I'm considering a couple of weeks off, didn't know about 16:8 but will consider that too. For today though I've decided to hit it hard and try and get my willpower back, no milk in coffee, running at lunchtime and will eat some carrot sticks and maybe a couple of bits of ham with the kids but NO CHEESE!!!

Need to remind myself that I can have it tomorrow!!!

Really appreciate the help and advice from you all :)

[notwoo]

Why don't you just eat with the kids on your fasting days?

[plecofjustice]

Part of the problem is likely to be the restricting on non-fast days too, out of guilt.

I'd suggest as a start, stop doing that, just eat normally on your NF days regardless of how you do with your fasting days. Break the cycle of food/guilt. Then work on your fast days, you know what you need to do, you just need to do it - it really is that straightforward (and hard!)

If you break any more fasts, don't try to compensate the next day, just eat for an NF day, then try again. You won't put 2 stone back on from missing a couple of fasts.

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

plecofjustice that's what I want to tackle - obviously along with the binging on fast days!!!!

Anyway you have all helped me loads and I'm very grateful - I had a carrot with the kids, I did give into a couple of spoonfuls of their pasta, but nothing else until about 400 cals of tea.

I'm happy with today!! (And still hungry which is an indicator that all has gone well!)

Roll on tomorrow's NFD and sensible eating.

:)

[plecofjustice]

Perfect! :)

The thing I love about this WoE is that it breaks the link between food and guilt. Food is nice, it's fun and you get a whole 4-5 days to celebrate that per week. So if you don't complete a fast, no worries. If you do, brilliant, and tomorrow you can go out and indulge in whatever food makes you genuinely happy (indulgent juicy peaches and mangoes, coconut, chorizo sausage for me!!)