Does 5:2 work for weight loss?

[Miladymilord]

I think I could do it but only if it actually works. I tried no carbs and that worked but was unsustainable long term.

[Freshprincess]

I lost 2 and half stone with it 3 years ago and kept most of it off. Fasting twice a week was a bit unsustainable for me. I was training for a half marathon and found working training around fasting was too much to juggle.
I’m about 10lbs heavier than I would like to be now, so I’m going to get back on it

[eurochick]

By making you eat fewer calories, like all diets.

[Miladymilord]

By making you eat fewer calories, like all diets yup that's fine. I'd rather just think about it for two days not seven!

[Haworthia]

It does. I found fast days very difficult though. Some people can power through the hunger but with two young children I couldn’t. I much preferred low carbing, funnily enough.

Any “diet” is fundamentally unsustainable, I suppose, because we all love junk/treat food (well, most of us) and don’t like depriving ourselves of it. But personally, what I also found unsustainable was being overweight and feeling crap about myself. I make low carbing sustainable but allowing myself weekend treats but still avoiding starchy carbs like bread, potatoes, pasta, rice etc.

But I digress! By all means try 5:2 for a while. Different approaches work for different people.

[Miladymilord]

Thanks. I might set myself a challenge of doing it for a fortnight then think about it. I love a slice of homemade wholemeal bread and butter! If I can have that a few times a week I don't care what else I have to give up!

[eurochick]

Sorry I read the question as "how does...".

[nooddsocksforme]

I found the 1st 2 weeks the most difficult and then got used to it so maybe give it a month? I lost over a stone in 6 months but that was all I needed to lose and I’ve kept it off .
Be careful about what you eat the other days - there is a calculator for this . I was on 1300 calories the rest of the time .
I wasn’t rigid about it tho. If I ate nearer 600 calories on 1 of my fast days I didn’t worry , and if I wanted a takeaway now and again I had it . I still lost weight .

[jellycat]

Yes, it worked for me - I lost about a stone. As nooddsocksforme says, you have to be careful on the other days too. I’m short and it’s quite easy to undo all the hard work by overeating on the other days. I’ve just re-started in earnest having relaxed too much and put it all back on 😳. I find fast days easy as long as I don’t eat anything at all (no milk in coffee even). I drink water and black coffee during the day and eat a fairly normal albeit lowish cal meal early evening.

[Miladymilord]

Yeah I think I need to eat nothing. I had lunch today and just had a light supper. I'm not hungry but think I might have eaten more than. 500 cals. Oh well its a start

[Zazu44]

I'll join you Miladymilord, if you need a buddy

[Miladymilord]

2 eggs and a few cherry tomatoes

Tuna salad, few spoonfuls natural yogurt

[Miladymilord]

Yes please zazu!

[Ruffian]

I personally find that fasting just makes me obsessed with food. Like Haworthia, low carbing is better for me and the weight loss is the same.

Going into winter fasting is pretty awful as I used to be freezing all day on fast days.

[Miladymilord]

Oh god I was obsessed with food when I was low carbing.i agree it does work though

[jellycat]

I’m not strict about it being 500 cals. Just as long as I have a big deficit on fast days and eat carefully on most of the other days. I’m usually a bit less strict at weekends but still loose if I stick to it properly.

[jellycat]

I find I obsess less with fasting. You only have to do it 2 days a week and I just find eating nothing for 2 days/week is easier than eating less every day.

[EthelThePiratesDaughter]

I find it helps if you can find an easy recipe (or even a healthy-ish ready meal) that comes to about 500 calories. I find it easier just powering through and not eating until dinner time. If I try and divide 500 calories between two meals I don't feel like I've eaten anything. I'm no less hungry at dinner time. If I save my calories for the evening I can have a meal which fills me up and doesn't leave me hungry before I go to bed.

It does work.

[StrumpersPlunkett]

Miladymilord did you go for it?
I am on week2
Fasting day 4
I am having a cup of coffee in an insulated mug to sip through to when I finish work at 1.30.
I then am not going home, I am swimming for 45 mins then steam room
School run then when the family have dinner I am having a ready meal it is my way of knowing what calories I am having.
Tonight I have had Katsu chicken curry 360 calories and another cup of coffee.
Because I am swimming on fast days I am tired so falling asleep easily at 10.
Gone from 15st 4 to 14st 12 in 2 weeks.
However I have heaps to lose 😳

[Ta1kinpeace]

I started 5:2 in August 2012
I've used it to varying degrees to stay at a happy healthy weight since then.
I will continue doing so for the rest of my life.

[StrumpersPlunkett]

I think that is exactly it. I am not seeing it as just a diet but a sea change.
Having days where very little is eaten on a regular basis is good for the system.