Intermittent Fasting- 2 Week Report Card

Two weeks ago I embarked on Michael Mosley’s intermittent fasting program, eating normally (around 2000 calories) most of the time with a few fasting days (800 calories) thrown in. Typically it’s 5 “feast” days and 2 fasting days, but succumbing to my innate tendency to ‘go hard or go home’ I have made it 4 normal days and 3 fasting days both weeks. I also met my 5 30 minute workouts a week goal, both weeks (7 runs, 1 swim, 2 walks). In my mind I should be half my size by now but of course it doesn’t work that way. (I feel like my whole life is an exercise in patience).

When I started, I wrote that I was over 70 kg. I didn’t own scales (I have since rectified this but keep it hidden under the chest of drawers) but knew I was up there. I weighed myself on the Tuesday on my parents’ scales and was aghast to see 74.6kg facing me. I haven’t been that heavy since I was pregnant with Reina 7 years ago! That also makes my BMI an overweight 28.2, not far from 30 where I officially tick over into obesity. I know there are a myriad of problems with the BMI measure, especially for a vertically-challenged dense-boned frame like mine. To be perfectly honest, though, I don’t need a BMI calculation to know I’m carrying too much weight. We always know when we get honest with ourselves in a quiet moment. It was definitely time to take action, and I’m glad I did.

Measurements Day 1:

Chest- 94cm Waist- 84cm (OMFG) Hips:106cm Thigh: 67cm

So it’s a damn good idea to take measurements, because muscle weighs more than fat and our weight varies far too easily depending on menstrual cycle if we’re dealing with that, whether we’ve recently emptied our bowels or not, and the gravitational pull of the moon. It seems to depend on the exact tile the scales are placed on. Sure.

I am glad I took measurements, because after all my efforts at the end of week 1, I weighed 74.2kg.

What the f*ck! 400 measly grams? Yes I had new scales that were different from my parents’, but STILL!

Measurements however, were as followed:

Chest- 95cm (period related no doubt) Waist- 81cm (better) Hips:103.5cm Thigh: 67cm (this will budge very slowly, I know).

This was more encouraging.

Week 2 measurements are even better.

Chest- 95cm (Still?? Fine by me!) Waist: 77cm Hips: 99.5cm Thigh: 65.5cm

And the scales say 73.5kg.

So all in all we have a 1.1kg weight loss and 14cm loss. Now we’re making some progress.

I should also mention I’m enjoying this program, and absolutely love the 12 hour fasting overnight. I don’t eat after 8pm and don’t eat until at least 8 in the morning. I drink heaps of water and herbal tea. Cravings are drastically reduced and the 8pm cut off has eliminated my late night comfort snacking on ice cream, occasionally wine, or most often, some chocolate. Before bed! What the hell does my body need that for??? Honestly I think that even if that was the only change I made, over a year I’d probably lose the weight anyway. But I’m not patient enough for that. I’m ready to persevere, reap the rewards and teach the girls about the science behind these healthy habits.

Have an awesome week everybody!

PS- I even got my darling husband to take some very unflattering front back and side pictures. That took some courage! I will share those one day. I will share them when they are actually before pics rather than ‘this is me, right now, at my heaviest’ pics. When I have some after pics that don’t make me cringe I will share. For better or worse, girl’s got some pride, and I know my limits.