UK Cathy

No I wasn't flooded thank goodness, that was Swizzly who I believe is in temporary accommodation while her house/flat is fixed, she must be under a lot of stress. No for me husbands company has gone into administration, so no job for him. Also we had an investment in the Co which was supposed to be our pension so that has gone. We have a mortgage on our house so if he does not get something in the New Year we will have to consider downsizing and buying something outright. I'm a bit concerned but not too worried at the moment, we have decided to have a normal Christmas and New Year and will consider our options then. It has been stressful so I'm happy to keep my weight constant at the moment.

Fast day yesterday and came in at 575 so not too bad. I was also able to exercise for the first time in over a week (back problems). Sat here quietly awaiting the personal trainer, it's nice to sit quietly during this busy period. Like Coops I finish work on Friday for the Christmas break and this week at work is usually bedlam, students excited, staff stressed and in there somewhere we try to remember the message of Christmas. Having hubby home all the time (unemployed!) has it's pros and cons, it's lovely to have him here but as he has worked away in the week for at least 5 years he does not know my normal routine and we are still dancing around each other. He has done all the Christmas cards and the accompanying letter and they have been sent, and delivered, more timely than in the past. I'm going to have to find him more jobs to do. Unfortunately he is hopeless in the kitchen, the only thing he can find is the beer fridge! Maybe I should get him a cooking course for Christmas. He has no interest in cooking though as he says I can't understand spending all that time preparing when the meal might take only 30 mins to eat. I must admit though I quite like the kitchen being my area and I think if he wanted to muscle in I would be miffed. Hoping to have a good clean eating day today. PS scale is the same but I'm OK with that

You look fab, congratulations on the weightloss and your graduation. You must feel more confident now as you start on your career.

I'm on my ipad and don't seem to be able to copy, amend and repost the list. If someone could do it for me pls I would appreciate it. UK Cathy= Cathy, Cheltenham, England, UK

Thanks FYE I will watch it, book still not available in UK but they are taking pre- orders so it must be soon. Kindle edition available so might consider getting that.

FYE is there a tv documentary on the exercise plan or just the book?

Dee you look amazing, such a huge difference, the body is smaller but that beautiful smile seems bigger. LV sorry you are having a crap time with your daughter. Venting seems to have helped except for the overeating. When is your next fast day? Would it help to bring it forward? Brown well done in keeping up those steps, that is real exercise and you say you don't do any. I'm still hanging on in there, not up or down at the moment and I will accept that. As I said last week my size has changed and I am in a UK 14 now and today I could put on some new jeans, I had 'fitted' into them before but they left me with a muffin top - no more! They fit nicely and I wore a fitted jumper over them. Off to see my mum tomorrow and to drop off Christmas presents for the family, she is 3 hrs north of me so I will stay over and spend a little time with her and head back late Monday just in time for work Tuesday. The back is still painful I hope 6 hours in the car won't lead to a relapse. We have a party planned for Saturday and I am enjoying sorting out the food. I am a feeder. As I am in charge I am making sure there is plenty protein.

Georgia, congratulations, you are really an inspiration to us all. Your example shows us that if we follow the 5:2 guidelines as laid down we will lose. Albeit at differing rates but we will lose. I think your constraints of eating in a time frame and eating clean on no fast days show us the way it should be done. I think I need to look at these two things again, I know I eat too many carbs on non fast days, need to get the book out again.

Coops, love the dress, yes ditch the slippers! Personally I like it better without the denim jacket but I am the last person to give fashion advice. Fast day turned into a non fast day but calories are under control. Mentally I thought I would turn it into a non fast day rather than have it turn into a 'failed' fast day. That is the good thing about the 5:2 it is fluid. On top of everything else I 'pulled' my back yesterday so I have just finished a 9 hour shift (10 min break) and I am shattered. I would have phoned in sick but I know that we are so short staffed at the moment. I did say that I could not do any heavy moving and handling though. I think it is just all the stress coming to the surface, I will have to take more care of myself. Listening to you ladies talking about the dating scene I'm glad I'm not out there (married 30 years), I would not have a clue. It seems very complicated: tall/short? Young/old? Large/skinny? Rich/poor? Etc. trying to think all those years back did the same Qs come up then I suppose they did it is just that communication these days is so much faster and things seem to move at a faster pace. My hubby and I met at a party in my home town (he was visiting) and we went to different universities and we had to communicate by letter or pre-arranged calls at a pay phone. It seems unbelievable now. In my college today I had 2 students living in the same residence skyping each other on their iPads - they only had to put their heads out of their rooms and they could have spoken to each other in person! Hang on in there Brown, even the little bit you do will help in the long term. Even if you cannot commit to the 5:2 at the moment stay around because you always have lots of wisdom to offer. I think I had best plan my day for tomorrow so that I can fast if possible.

Globe, you seem to have a good positive plan, well done and good luck.

Welcome back Sarsar. Well the scale is down! First time in weeks and it says 171lb, I've also gone down in size I was a UK 16/14 but I a now a definite 14. Stress levels are still the same, hubby now officially out of work. The company went into administration and has been brought up cheaply by someone else. We have lost our investment (meant to be our pension) and a few months wages plus if some money does not come in the New Year we will seriously have yo consider downsizing as the house had a mortgage on it. What we have decided to do is to have the Christmas we would normally have and to hit it all head on in the New Year. My hubby certainly needs the rest which in turn will be good for his blood pressure which has been sky high these past months. Taking everything in context we are doing well and we are better off than many, we have food and shelter and each other. Some good news with MIL too, we have moved her to a new room today and it is in part of the care home where they can take more care of her, previously she was in the independent bit. We have spent most of the day trying to make the new room look as much like the old one as possible because she needs the continuity, change is not good for her as she becomes very anxious. I am with everyone in saying that if I can stay level this holiday I will be pleased but to be really honest there is a little voice in my head saying if you set your mind to it you could be in the 160s at Christmas with a push. So long as the scales don't go up I think I will be happy. Daisy, the man you just met is not treating you right if he is not returning your calls -you deserve better. Globe your situation sounds really stressful, do you have any say in whether you stay or go? Plus if your company releases you on medical grounds is there any compulsion for them to help you find something else? You are certainly in my thoughts. Brown thank you for asking how I was. LV you feeling better and back on track yet? I need to go and get some things ready for work tomorrow, sorry to everyone I have missed especially if they are needing any support.

I'm claiming it cos the scales have been the same for 2 days (weigh in day officially tomorrow) 171lb, the first time the scale has moved in many weeks.

Coops I love your new pic, shows off your lovely slim face.

All I can offer is a big {{hug}}. I sometimes get down but have not had full blown depression so I don't know you are feeling. I have been through depression with my son so I do know how it affects the sufferers life. Your husband sounds like a wonderful man who knows when to step in, let him. You have been through so much and it appears that you have had to spend so much time getting physically well that maybe your mental health has been neglected and it is now time to catch up. Best wishes

Coops that is great. Feel proud, you have the right, as it is under your influence she has turned out to be the person she is.

Amazon UK says it has not been released yet and no release date given.

Hi just reading an article in the times announcing that Michael Mosley has a new book Fast Exercise which he says complements the 5:2 diet. Off to Amazon now.

Hi everyone, still here but just sitting quietly at the back of the room just listening. I just don't feel that I have anything to add just now, I'm finding the 5:2 hard to stick to at the moment, I seem to be hitting about 700 on fast days and the carbs are too high. I just need to give myself a good talking to. LV I just loved your pictures of the beach where you took your thanksgiving sandwiches. Coops your new low is fantastic, you too OD Globe I greatly admire your resolve, to be in a foreign country with a diagnosis and all it's uncertainties, yet you are exercising and eating right - I would just dissolve I think. I can't say that I know what you are going through, cos I don't - I have never been ill. I do think about you though when I pray (hope you don't mind) and I ask that you are given peace of mind as I know that you are concerned for the future. Georgia you are certainly our poster girl for the 5:2 and you are so right in that we have to be just as accountable on feast days as we are on fast days. Everyone seems to be doing fine so keep up the good work girls.

Am 18 months out, religiously take a Multivitamin, Biotin and vit b12 every day but often forget the Calcium citrate as it cannot be taken with the others. I am suffering with a really dry scalp ( feels bumpy in places) and dry splitting nails that are splitting vertically. I know I must be missing something but what. Any ideas people.

Sarsar, yes coops and I are both in the UK and we live approx 1 hr away from each other. We hope to meet up sooner or later. I think I will have to take her shopping with me when I get to my personal goal (8lb to go) as I need a personal shopper. I think she could sort out my wardrobe. M2G I will explain 'hen' night - it is when the forthcoming bride goes out with her lady friends for her last night of freedom before the wedding, the equivalent for the males is 'stag' night. They are usually quite boozy, can involve dressing up the bride to be and at times a stripper can be involved ( latter is dependent on friends). The male equivalent has been known for the groom to be tied to lamp post naked or even a night in the cells. I'm sure that Coops though is going to a tasteful party as she is a classy lady. Feed day today and too many carbs! I have to get this under control again, feel like I am on a runaway train. Hubby's birthday on Friday so took MIL out to get a card today, she has dementia, and it took a lot of convincing her in the shop that he was her son. A card wad eventually chosen and in the queue to pay she said "do you have a husband?" "Err yes it's your son!" - at least she was laughing. She is a lovely later but it is a horrible disease, another little bit of her disappears each day. I'm sure all you ladies are busy getting ready for your meals with your families tomorrow . I hope you all have a lovely day no matter what you are doing.

Yes only sleeve posts showing now - I'm using ipad.

Go Coops that goal is within touching distance. Love pumpkin soup - it certainly is turning to soup weather here isn't it? CGJ - I don't have much fashion sense but I loved that red top you was wearing also the skinny jeans. Fast day today and have come in at about 600, I was at 500 but looked at my protein count and decided I needed more so had a protein shake. Scale not moving but I think I need to re look at my carbs. My next fast day is Thursday so while you ladies (and Alex) are tucking into Turkey and trimmings I will have my Greek yoghurt.

People have been known to gain during the first couple of weeks as their body recovers from the op, some have an immediate stall but I don't think anyone has reported a gain more than a month out. Everyone is different and as it has been suggested before we should report our loss as a % of the weight we want to loose as this is a better measurement than just reporting lbs.

Rev, when you put out food put hers on a normal plate and yours on a side plate, the difference in portion size looks much less. I do this all the time at home and visitors have never made a comment.

Soup for starter , eAt a couple of mouthfuls and say you don't like it. Pick a main you like eat he protein and push me veg around saying that the soup put you off!