5:2 diet with only a stone to lose, any success?

[mystifiedinbrighton]

I'm about a stone overweight, but it's a stone i'm determined to lose.

I've done two days this week and managed it OK, almost looking forward to same next week! I feel refreshed and alert, and my clothes are certainly no tighter than this time last week.

I know it's easier to lose weight the more you have to lose, but this should still work, right?

[Excusemyfrench]

Im in the same situation. Id like to loose a stone. Im not eating much at the moment and only good things but my weight is not budging!
As Im not eating a lot I started thinking that dieting might not the way, but I should do exercise instead. Im going to start running now its warmer.

Id love to hear how you and other got on. Best of luck !

[mystifiedinbrighton]

Running will get your metabolism up but may also make you very hungry! I used to run a lot but have 4 dogs now which is too many ro tun with so I walk a LOT instead lol.

Good luck to you too.

[LFPBee]

I'd suggest doing a mix of both. We stick to 500/650 kcal days on Mondays and Wednesdays (as typically find have evenings out later in the week, plus on Mondays have eaten quite well over the weekend, so start to look forward to the break!). I then do HiiT/running on Tuesdays and Fridays/Saturdays, and go for a long walk or Yoga on either Weds or Sundays - so it works quite nicely, as I can manage my hungry days around the 5:2...

...Although somedays I'll only eat about 200kcal, but then end up eating a healthy (i.e. no carbs/fats/fairly low cal) dinner, but that is definitely in excess of the remaining 300kcal..... I blame lack of planning!

[Aprilflangebucket]

How many calories is now recommended for the fasting days for a woman? 500 or 600

[LFPBee]

I just work to 500 kcal for a women - 600ish for men.

It sometimes helps to start at a bit of a higher amount in the first month (like 800kcal for women), as you get used to restricting your diet so much.

Best things for me are:
Lentils / puy lentils
Veg, veg and more veg
Oil is a calorie bomb, the 1kcal sprays or spray rapeseed oil work / you can just cook stuff in a small bit of water
Turkey mince
Using a griddle to cook veg - the flavours are amazing!

When we do it, we’ve realised that our typical day-to-day meals were actually pretty boring, so quite enjoy hunting for low calorie meals!

[Aprilflangebucket]

My biggest issue is the milk in my tea 😂

[LFPBee]

Haha! I actually ignore those calories...🤫 😅

I reckon as I consistently have about 5/6 teas a day, everyday, that actually they no longer count as calories...

[Aprilflangebucket]

I like it! I will do the same, I’m consistently on around the same amount as you, so agree by now my system probably metabolises these as base level null calories.

Have you found it still effective when you ignore them?

[LFPBee]

Yes - i’ve pretty much always excluded them from my calcs and have always lost weight! It helps as well, as means I’ve reduced my alcohol intake quite a lot!

This time round I’ve been doing a lot of exercise, so have lost a bit of weight, but not as much as other years, as I’ve gained muscle, but i’m back in size 10/12 tops and dresses, size 12 jeans, when before Christmas I was actually needing size 14 all round. I’m really happy with it!

If you hadn’t have guessed it, I love 5:2!

Obviously on the actual days I do it, I really, really hate it! My best days to do it are when I’m so rushed or know I have a lot to get through, as I don’t tend to come home in the evening so hungry....

Other quieter days mean I spend c. 2 hours looking at bbc good food recipes before going home and either continue to feel hungry or completely ruin my day by having spoonfuls of lemon curd/Nutella 😅

I think doing it really strictly for the first month or 2 is really good, then you get used to changing your habits, because you quickly work out which foods you like, which are low calories and super tasty, so we now have 5:2 meals dotted through the rest of the week!