to think this 'diet' is an eating disorder

[BlackMaryJanes]

I'm dieting the old fashioned way - exercise and reducing calories to about 1800.

My friend recently told me about a diet she's thinking about doing called "The Alternative Day Diet". In this diet, you eat 400 cals one day, then you're allowed to eat whatever you like the next day, then back to 400 cals the next day, then eat whatever you like for a day, etc.

I've done some research on this seemingly popular diet. Apparently it switches on a 'skinny gene' which keeps your metabolism in top condition, burning calories. It also has other claimed health benefits such as - making you live longer (there was a Horizon documentary on the BBC backing this up). The internet is full of gleeming reviews.

But surely this pattern of eating is unsustainable and encourages disordered thinking? I feel a bit concerned for my friend. When she latches onto an idea she tends to go hardcore.

Well, I say we let the OP do exactly as she likes. Good like with that daily 1800 calorie restriction!

5:2 is eat what you want on the 5 days (not dieting but not shovelling back buckets of KFC either) and cut back on 2.

This is very different to continued energy restriction which is what your 1800kcal per day diet would be.

Well if you're enjoying the way you eat, and it's working for you, why bother thinking about something else? Why bother slagging something else off?

my diet is better than your diet boohoo

MadBusLady thank you for the book review. I found that useful. Have you read any other books on the topic? Does anyone know if the 5:2 book is worth a read?

BMR

Harris-benedict equation

is how you work out how many calories you need.

Although it's not totally accurate outside a laboratory setting.

Op the 1800 a day diet you are on - are you sure that will work at all. My basic metabolic rate to maintain weight is about 1900 cals, have you worked yours out? 1800 isn't much of a deficit really.

I'm breastfeeding and I work out regularly. I lose about 2lbs a week.

Here's a thing, BMJ - why don't you buy it and see?

Or do some Googling and read up about it, as you obviously don't believe anyone here who is telling you about it!

Ahh I see re breastfeeding.

Fair enough then. That mnakes sense (and god knows of alternate day would be a good idea when you're feeding a baby)

FYI OP, eating 1800 a day as your diet isn't great. You'll be fat for ages unless you're topping that up with plenty of exercise.

Why not read the book first before you jump to conclusions?

Which one would you recommend?

You are losing two pounds a week on an 1800kcal diet because you are breast feeding which is a very energy intensive process, not because you are on a diet!

competitive dieting, could turn into a bun fight [pun intended]

OP, if you are reducing you kcal per day to 1800, how many were you consuming before?

5:2 is eat what you want on the 5 days (not dieting but not shovelling back buckets of KFC either)

What if I like eating buckets of KFC? I fear that if I was allowed to eat 'anything I want', I'd just eat crap :(

Ah, I'm pretty sure Mosley said on his chat thread that he didn't recommend fasting while breastfeeding. And the book definitely says don't fast while pregnant.

Which sounds most enjoyable and sustainable?

Having done both

The 5:2 is more sustainable and more enjoyable

Firstly it is easier to work out 500 calories for the two days
The other 5 days as my eating has already being restricted I rarely eat over 1800, eating less has a habit of restricting what you eat at other times, meaning I don't over eat on the other 5 days and enjoy my food more so than other eating regimes

OP seriously.

Sort yourself out.

This is feckin' ridiculous and surely a wind up

For the 54th time, who said you can eat what you want outside normal non-calorie counting. If you are dumb enough to think that eating a bucket of KFC is a good idea whislt on diet, or indeed any other time, good luck to you

And no, you wouldn't think a bucket of KFC was ok but if you actually read the booK it quite nicely, explains the principles behind this.

I don't know which one to recommend because 5:2 isn't a diet I'm interested in following - I'm a long-term low carber, which works for me.

And as it's a relatively new diet there probably aren't many books to choose from.

Personally I'd go with the Dr Moseley one, as he was behind the Horizon programme that discussed the science behind the idea of fasting.

That said, there's loads on the internet to read about fasting - and there are different approaches to fasting - so why not just spend some time Googling before you spend money on a book?

You'll be fat for ages unless you're topping that up with plenty of exercise

Yes I am - step aerobics, bootcamp and spinning, every week. Plus breastfeeding (3 feeds a day).

You are losing two pounds a week on an 1800kcal diet because you are breast feeding which is a very energy intensive process, not because you are on a diet!

So if I didn't restrict my diet intake to 1800 I would still be loosing weight? Nope. Because BFing makes me hungry so if I ate what I'd like I'd just be consuming all the calories back.