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5:2 Disappointment

16 replies

BlahBlahBlahhh · 13/05/2013 07:36

Hi, In need of some insight !
Started 5:2 last Monday. Fast days are going to be Mondays and Wednesdays as this is what fits relatively easily into my life. Last Monday split my 500 cal allowance into lunch and dinner, on the Wednesday consumed them in one meal. Hadn't read the book but have gained most of the info I needed from the website. Have eaten as I normally would the rest of the time. I know it's best to just weigh in weekly at the same time but couldn't help a peak at the scales on Thursday morning after my fast day to see if I was going in the right direction. Was chuffed...had dropped 3 lb. Now for this morning...The official weigh in...Im exactly the same bloody weight as when I started Angry.
I bought the Mimi Spencer/ Michael Mosely book on Thursday and have read a third of it so far. I haven't yet got to a bit where it says anything about restricting yourself on your non fast days, in fact it sounds as though calorie counting should not even be thought of when not fasting....why then have I lost no weight ?
Help ! I was so excited and raring to go last week, didn't find the fast days too traumatic but a tad despondent this morning.

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snoworneahva · 13/05/2013 08:22

I don't lose anything on 5:2 either unless I calorie count on non fast days which i dont wish to do and I have been doing it for 8 months. Other people seem to move to 4:3 to obtain loses or closely monitor their intake on non fast days and then there are the people who lose without any further restriction - have a read of the threads, you'll see lots of people restrict their intake more than just 5:2.

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BlahBlahBlahhh · 13/05/2013 08:53

Thanks, will do. Had thought about upping to 4:3 this week but not sure I would be able to stick to it. I really thought the whole idea was simplicity...not having to think too much. Maybe Zi will give it one more week and see what happens.

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Mintyy · 13/05/2013 09:00

I don't lose on 5:2 and I can't face the idea of 4:3. But I would gently suggest you give it longer than a week!

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BlahBlahBlahhh · 13/05/2013 09:04

Thanks Mintyy, Im an instant gratification kind of gal unfortunately...want results now [stamps feet] !

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gingerpinz · 13/05/2013 11:20

Fasting, however you do it-5:2/4:3/daily, is not a magic weight loss tool, it just helps some people to eat a bit less and regulate their blood sugar, among other things. You still have to eat less calories over the week than you are expending (generally around a 3500 cal deficit to lose 1lb) so if you are stuffing your face with junk (not saying you are btw) and not exercising you won't lose just because you are fasting.
Also, fasting doesn't suit everyone and some research shows it can actually have a negative effect for some women.

Like others have said though, you probably need to give it a bit more time before deciding if it works for you or not.

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claudedebussy · 13/05/2013 11:23

eat normally on your feast days and stick rigidly to 500 on fast days.

it's very easy to make up those calories on feast days so you may undo all your hard work.

don't give up after just one week! i've been on it for 11 months! lost 9 kgs.

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GiraffesEatPineapples · 13/05/2013 12:26

I didn't really lose much either, maybe 7lbs in 8 months, I do think it has been helpful for me to realise that I can skip breakfast and nothing terrible happens, in fact from a blood sugar point of view, for me its better than eating white toast for brekkie. I am now looking for quick results so going to give low carb another try and maybe include/go back to 5:2 for maintenance/health benefits if I lose weight ... please please!

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plecofjustice · 13/05/2013 12:35

I have been 5:2'ing since last September and my total weightloss is around 16 pounds. Like all weightloss strategies, if you are very overweight, you will see changes quickly, if you are near your ideal weight, you will not lose as fast. Also, your body isn't a simple in-out machine. There are plenty of other factors that will affect your body's weight - water retention, hormones, muscle gain/wastage, for example.

I would say give it a month, and don't weigh yourself during that time. Just allow your body to adjust to fasting, to the feeling of being hungry and to the chemistry changes that it needs to undertake to accommodate the change. You may well find yourself being much more thirsty and needing to drink more water - until your body adjusts, it wil hold water and make you feel heavier, for example.

Also, you do need to have a bit of a think about what you're eating, I'm afraid....

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postmanpatscat · 13/05/2013 12:52

I have lost 21lbs in 12 weeks on 5:2, which takes my BMI from 24 to 20.4, so it is not always true that it doesn't work so well for those with less to lose. I did count calories on non-fast days but only with the intention of making sure I had a weekly deficit.

You are very welcome to join us on the latest 5:2 thread (no 19) where you will find lots of support and brains to pick!

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claudedebussy · 13/05/2013 12:53

one other thing - i find if i fast 1 day, normal 1 day, fast 1 day i just can't manage the 2nd fast day. i feel hungry too early in the day.

so i personally think monday and thursday works better.

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claudedebussy · 13/05/2013 12:54

true, postmanpatscat.

i've gone from a bmi of 22 - 23 to 20.

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BlahBlahBlahhh · 13/05/2013 13:09

Thanks for the responses Smile
My BMI is 24.5 so Im not technically overweight, just at the top end of the healthy spectrum. I know what suits my body and a BMI closer to 20 would be preferable. I am quite a healthy eater anyway and have a very active job and also exercise regularly. On my fast days last week I had a small salmon fillet (cooked in foil in oven) with a green salad for lunch and dinner (Monday) and the same on Wednesday but had it all in one go at dinner time. I work nights on Mondays and Tuesdays so am sleeping on Tuesday and Wednesdays for part of the day which is why the start of the week is good for me to fast. It's a bit complicated but it goes like this... Fast days are Mondays and Wednesdays.
Eat dinner on Sunday evening then nothing to eat until Monday tea time (before work)
After midnight on Monday (so now Tuesday) eat a packed lunch during break at work. Have breakfast when I get home, sleep until 3 pm when kids home from school, eat a normal dinner with family then back to work in the evening. Have a quick snack before midnight then nothing after midnight (now Wednesday).
Eat all my 500 cals for evening meal on Wednesday then when I wake up on Thursday it's all non fast days until Monday again.
I only take in diet or calorie free drinks on fast days.
Does it sound like Im doing it right or have I missed something crucial ?
I have been eating healthy, high protein meals on my non fast days but did consume alcohol on thurs, fri and sat night last week (when the norm for me is generally only a couple of boozy nights).

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BlahBlahBlahhh · 13/05/2013 13:12

Wow postmanpatscat...you've done so well ! I obviously need to try MFP to track what Im taking in on NFD's this week, maybe I'll get a shock...

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frenchfancy · 13/05/2013 19:44

Give yourself a few weeks to get used to it. It isn't a miracle cure, just a good way to get slow steady weight loss.

Just a thought, your packed lunch you have after midnight early tuesday morning is a meal most of us don't have as we are asleep, so you are effectively having one normal meal during the 36 hour period of a fast "day".

I know it is complicated when you are working nights, so I do think you need to log your food intake for the whole week just to see what your deficit is. That doesn't mean you have to restrict your calories on non-fast days, just count them then see what your weekly total is.

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Toofattooold · 14/05/2013 06:34

I've been doing 5-2 for 5 weeks. Didn't lose anything for 2 weeks but in the last 3 weeks I've lost 6lb. Not quick or a lot to lose but it came off and I was able to drink wine/eat chocolate/enjoy a takeaway on the weekends! Not been able to do that on any other diet without feeling really guilty!

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BlahBlahBlahhh · 14/05/2013 21:40

I think you may have hit the nail on the head frenchfancy....I am eating when others would be sleeping. Will start afresh and try to take a low calorie snack to get me through work.

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