5:2 diet

Hi!

I just started it this week. Found my fast days okay, whenever I got hungry I just drank water, worked well! I keep to under 1300 calories generally anyway, so 500 isn't too difficult. I just plan my fast days for days I don't plan on going to the gym or exercising because that can be tricky!

I saw something that said "If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple, you're just bored" and that's how I've been looking at it!

You can lose a reasonable amount in 4 and a half months, but you have to want it!

Thanks, that's reassuring. Right, I'm starting on Monday! I've got my first 2 fast days planned out, so that should help. And I'm sure I can get my mum to send me some of the recipes she used when she was on the diet. Will also use MFP to keep track of my non-fasting days, and try to stick to 1200(ish) cals on those days. I got a lovely blender for Xmas so will start stocking up on tasty soups I need to get my fitness levels up before I start hitting the gym though, so will start off cycling to work - it's 5 miles round trip 2 days per week, and 8 miles round trip the other 2 days a week, so that should help.

I've done this diet in the past and it did work for me, and I will defernetly try it again. However I agree with what some others have said, on your fasting days plan them on the days you don't plan on working out because it can be draining.

However, on your fasting days do try to keep busy so that your not tempted to cheat and eat.

My boss lost loads of weight really fast doing this diet and he's managed to keep it off.

I know some others have said it, but if your really craving something, drink water instead.

Thanks Tams. I did the 5:2 for 4 weeks from Jan-Feb and lost half a stone, then I fell "off the wagon" for 2 weeks (only one fast day per week instead of 2), as it was my birthday/we were on holiday. I'm back on it now, and didn't gain anything, but I've gone from losing 2 lb/week to 0.5 lb/week, so I definitely need to find some other way of kickstarting the weight loss again. I do find the 5:2 quite easy now that I'm in a rhythm with it and have found the combination of cals/meals that works for me. Loving Aldi venison steaks for filling fast-day meals!

In 10 days I've lost 7lbs

OH and I plan to start the 5:2 this week - we'll do one day of fasting this week, then ramp it up to the 2 days next week.

Any tips on good, calorie-light meals to have. I'm thinking lots of vegetables, but would like to get a bit of protein in there too!

It depends how you split your calories over the day - I tend to have a hard boiled egg in the morning (78 cals), then an apple (70 cals) and a large salad with lemon juice for lunch (40-60 cals). This leaves enough left over for a substantialish meal in the eve. I'm not very adventurous with my evening meal - prawn stir fry with 30g rice or 60g noodles, or my favourite is vension steak from Aldi (119 cals) with 3 small boiled potatoes (74 cals), gravy and lots of steamed savoy cabbage or kale. I tend to "cheat" with 2 cups of tea over the day and a Hartley no added sugar jelly pot for dessert, which takes care of sweet cravings.

The biggest thing I've found is not to wait too long between meals - after 5 hours of not eating I get really hungry! what works for me is breakfast at 745, apple at 1130, salad between 12 and 1230, and dinner between 5 and 6. then go to bed by 10pm. sad but true.

ETA:i've lost 12 lb so far and ive not found it hard to stick to, so it does work! but you have to power through the first couple of weeks til you find a balance that works for you.

Thanks Sambarine - great ideas.

I tried the diet a couple of years ago, and found it quite hard. Hoping with OH doing it too it will be a bit easier. I don't have a lot to lose (only a couple of lbs really), but I do like all the other health benefits that come with it. That said, I might have to give it a miss after my dress fitting in mid-April, as I don't want the dress to be too big!

And congratulations on your 12lb! Great work!

The 5:2 definitely works and is much more enjoyable than most diets. Plus it has more health benefits. It all comes down to planning though. Tip: If you're like me and don't like to plan or don't have time to, LighterLife have released a 5:2 meal replacement bar. Each bar is less than 250 calories and packed full of protein, fibre and vitamins/minerals. I stay away from the kitchen on my fast days now and drink lots of water and herbal tea plus two really tasty bars, one for lunch, one for dinner. Chocolate Raisin flavour is awesome! And they're 3 for 2 in Superdrug at the moment (normally £2.99 each). Just an idea for the ladies like me who can't be bothered with the prep. P.s. I'm not working for LighterLife - though I probably should be

Starting it tomorrow! Have had success with it in the past as it suits my lifestyle. Did slimming world a few years ago which worked great but the planning etc was so restrictive I felt like I could never eat out without doing research on menus and syns first! 5:2 works well but beware as the calories rack up fast, I tend to have some fat free natural yoghurt and a black coffee at breakfast and drinks lots of water, black coffee and diet coke and a piece of fruit if I am desperate before dinner time. Have chicken/salmon/steak strips with veg. The main thing on fast days is not to bother with carbs like bread etc as they just waste your calories