Good morning all ! Refeed day today! Woo hoo. Not sure I’ll ever get over the excitement of eating, it’s just so enjoyable. I’m a little stressed though as tomorrow is my birthday and my family wants to take me to dinner. I have made a commitment to myself of 6 day fasts with one day eating (Sunday’s). Tomorrow is Monday and I have plans today to eat with friends celebrating. This is where my black and white thinking rears it’s ugly head. My brain says, “oh if you eat two days in a row then you’ll never get back on track”… I’m learning that life requires grey areas and this is one of them. I was actually thinking, fasting days are easier for me than eating days because I question everything when I’m eating and it causes me some frenzied anxiety. I am working so hard to learn as much as I can about myself on eating days as much as fasting days. Trying to be mindful and grow in these rigid beliefs I’ve had for a long time that has got me no where but fat and trying to control everything more and more. Working on deep breathing, relaxing and trying to go with the flow with borders ((6/1’s))… this is eye opening and life changing and I’ve only just begun all this new lifestyle !! I need you guys so much so thank you for being there !!
Stacias Journal
Your birthday is tomorrow?? How exciting! Happy Birthday Stacia!!! I think you should enjoy your birthday as it only comes one time a year but I do understand the struggle. So, did you find the second fast easier than the first?
Hi Kyle ! Definitely 100% easier … I didn’t feel as ill like my body got some of the toxins out on the 9 day fast? Thinking there really is something to the fasting muscle? 
. Ps. Thank you for the birthday wishes !!
I ate way too much today on my eating day … I don’t know what it is but I know a lot of it is anxiety. I’m not too social, borderline introvert and with my birthday I can’t really hide out on my couch all day. One of my friends reminded me how lucky we are to have birthdays as so many people don’t make it past a certain age so I have had waves of gratefulness today thinking about that. I’m planning to quit sugar and had what I hope to be my last piece of cake today… pumpkin cheesecake! Omg, I’ve never had it and it was amazing ! Kinda nice to quit sugar after something new I’d never had and sooo delicious! 
Hope everyone’s day is well… looking forward to fasting again !
Happy birthday week! You get a week you know. Not just one day.
There’s probably a keto recipe version of that cheesecake.
I’m pretty occasional on the cakes as very few are up to my standards and usually need to be homemade.
I have 2 flavors of talenti gelato in the freezer - been there for over 2 months. 
I used Splenda for years in my coffee, but finally kicked over to xylitol and happy with it.
I kicked into the fasting lifestyle partly because if something has sugar in it it’s not a deal breaker. It just can’t be a daily occurrence.
Brave steps to give up sugar! It’s difficult to completely obstane as it’s so prevalent today.
So tell me your plans for birthday week. 
Thank you Miramar! I had plans all weekend with different friends (very fun but exhausted today with multiple days of socializing)… tonight I’ll have dinner with my family (whom I love and am so grateful for!) but between you and I 
I can’t wait for tomorrow to get back to some quiet and a fasting day. I’ve had PMS all weekend and today too and with eating I just feel bloated and ugh. I’ve started so heavy and it’s like someone took my denial blinders off because since fasting and connecting with myself I see how much weight I’ve put on, I mean not a quick glance in the mirror, I’m talking staring and actually taking it all in. I just want to go have full body liposuction for my birthday and wake up tomorrow 125 lbs … how nice would that be?! Thank you for connection with us newbys on this forum, your success is inspiring for sure! Good luck buying new shorts !!
Somebody stole mine too about a month or so ago 
.
I don’t really look at myself. I’ll weigh now, and still don’t look in the full length mirror unless I’m sending someone a progress pic.
I’ve lost considerably in my legs arms and face now and the belly is very prominent to me. I’m thinking there’s lots of visceral fat tucked in there because when I pinch skin on the outside it’s not so bad.
I was just reading a few days ago on the different kinds of fat as my stomach is bloated but hard feeling kinda, even after fasting a few days and they say that can be the bad fat around your organs ! Oh how awful … my dedication now is so much about health (and feeling good in my own skin of course )… it’s amazing what a few years of eating crap can do to our beautiful temple that we live in !! Let’s keep going “to health” !!
My September fasting goal: to be under 200 pounds by the end of the month. I see so many of you closer to 150 and I feel so huge 
… I know I shouldn’t compare but I’m seriously ready to reach my first milestone. I have 25 pounds to go to be under 200… I can do this right?! Average a pound a day loss on fasting days and I’ll only have 4 eating days (Sundays) and if I keep it ketoish that’ll be good. I know at the end of the month it will be a bunch of water weight lost but to see under 200 will be so awesome and motivating! Thanks for any feedback and well wishes for this adventure and hurdle ! 
Stacia! You are doing so good!! Also regarding what you said about many people being close to 150; you know there may be lots of silent people who might be upwards of 250 or even 300 lbs and have so much more to lose. Stand tall and strong at wherever you are in the journey and continue to push forward as you have been doing so that those who have a longer way to go can have amazing examples of strength and determination such as you. Remember, there are always more people silently reading than commenting or posting. You are a fasting hero and before you know it, you will be under the 200 mark. Stop and smell the rose and find enjoyment in the journey so that you are not living in parentheses or in the waiting (of better days to love yourself and love your life). You have inspired me and today is my Day 1!!
Sarah, your reply to my post made me teary! … that was so heartfelt and sweet … thank you. I bet you are right about the secret readers … i was one before I joined. I wish so much others would join even if 300 plus pounds because I’ve never felt a kindred support team before joining here … I’m so new at this but feel I’ve learned and grown so much in such a short period of time. Journaling publicly about embarrassing things that normally just roll around in my own head has been so freeing and brings me the ability to move forward from the thoughts … I’m sending you a hug for being so kind in your reply Thank you. Ps. Great job on day 1, you can do it!! I made it 9 days a few weeks back which I never thought I could do !
Lol you’re very welcome. You were the first to comment on my first post on this platform. Thank YOU for your kindness. I also see you posting kind replies to so many people’s journey. That you would take the time to read and encourage is very kind and altruistic of you. 
I definitely agree with being able to share own silly thoughts without fear of judgment of being mocked.
I hope I can make it 7 or 10 or 14 days sometime soon. But i’ll be proud of myself if I can stick to 5 days every week for the entire month. That kind of consistency would help me be more confident for bigger challenges.
So you’re now doing 6/1 with feasting on Sundays right?
So Day 2 for you today for this week right?
Thank you Sarah for your message! I love love the encouragement from this group and reading others stories … I get something out of most posts people make. I know you can do what you put your mind to because I havnt been able to string a few days of fasting together for years of trying and this forum helps so much ! If I can, anyone can. … yesterday was my birthday and I just didn’t feel like dealing with the fasting questions so my fast starts back up today! Day 1 again, here we go!! 
Good luck today too !!!
Great Job! Day 1 here we go! <3
I just read it was your birthday a few days ago! Happy Happy Happy belated birthday fellow virgo! Best gift we can give to ourselves is working towards bettering our health! Hugs!
Thank you Faina! You are so right ! Health is the best thing we can give ourselves for us and the people we love. Today is day 1 of my fasting all but Sundays. I ate a few days in a row (birthday celebrations), I am majorly PMSing (finally started my period today, thankfully! Gotta get this over with), it’s a full moon (I always get emotional that day or two) and all the carb eating I did (which this sounds crazy but I believe it causes me inflammation and changes my mood)… what I’m getting at is I feel kinda depressed today … there is nothing wrong today so I think it’s just a storm of all that. Hormonal hell … I’m now looking forward to getting a few fasting days behind me … right now I feel like fasting everyday in September but I think I’m being emotional and dramatic and not thinking it through and preparing for it … Need prayers today’s friends. Thank you!! This too shall pass, that I know for sure. Hugs to you all 
I love this new weekly approach you’re tackling. I’m spiritual myself, so Sundays have always been special in my family. Will certainly say a prayer for you to power you through your journey.
PS. Happy Belated Birthday <3 Pumpkin cheesecake would’ve been my EXACT choice.
Thank you Reemy! Man, I was a mess yesterday I ended up eating dinner, I wasn’t even hungry, I know I just ate to try and numb out with all the PMS, etc. feelings. I don’t remember the last time I felt so “beside myself” … still don’t feel 100% today but better! Yaaa for that. . I had this thought yesterday that making a plan to do 6/1’s has me feeling like I’m just going to white nuckle it til Sundays … I seemed to really get into the fast more when I didn’t set a date?! I think Reemy mentioned the same thing? I think I want to fast for as long as I can (being mindful of safety of course!) and learn from my fasting experience and try to go until hunger comes. I feel so wishy washy with my mind shifts, is this normal??! I did a 9 day fast and then a 5 day fast … this time I’ll at least try to get past 9 days … I started today at noon so I’m a Whole 3 hours in ! Ha… rooting for all of us on our fasting journeys!! thank you for being there all!!
Hey Stacia!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday. Don’t worry about eating more than you expected or more days than you expected. It’s gonna be a lifestyle switch that will take time to mentally reset. I remember after I had my kids, people would say “it took nine months to put on the weight, so give yourself that long to get it off”… Well, if if took us a year, five years, ten years to put on the weight… it’s reasonable to give ourselves more than several months to take it off.