Aibu to try the 5:2 diet?

[KylieKoKo]

I posted this on the diet forum but it seems quiet.

I've put on nearly a stone in lockdown and having been significantly overweight before I don't want to go back. I tried everyday calorie counting but life kept getting in the way and I thought it might be easier to be super strict two days a week than vigilant every day. As I'm working from home I can control exactly what I eat and there's not the temptations of biscuits in the office.

Had anyone here had any success or otherwise with it?

I've planned out my meagre 500 calories tomorrow. I'm eating a relatively large volume of food for the calories, focusing on veggies and protein and miso soup. I won't eat til as late as I can during the day. Does anyone have any other tips?

Eating nothing on those days is easier than sticking to 500 calories!
I prefer 16:8 (not eating for 16 hours each day, then eating over 8 hours), with occasional 18:6/20:4 days.
Lost over a stone since I started it, would recommend!

@WineAndTiramisu I have heard about 16:8 but I like wine in the evenings sometimes. Do you have days off 16:8?

Eating nothing sounds tough!

500 calories?!?!

There is a fast diet board with a long running thread on 5:2

How is eating 500 calories a day healthy?

@Bluemooninmyeyes1

It's only 2 days in a week. It reduces your weekly calorie by around 3000 calories which is like eating 428 less a day. You eat normally on the other 5 days.

Thank you @KetoPenguin I found it.

I like the 5:2. It's not really a weight loss diet though, more if a switch to a healthy eating lifestyle.
Same with 16:8.

My DH was interested in starting this diet, but I'm having to juggle meals to suit him, 6 yo DS and me, so wanted one meal where possible.

For now he's been following a more Mediterranean diet, has cut out all processed food and chocolate/biscuits/treats, no alcohol at all. Reduced his portion sizes too. I reckon he's got 1 1/2 stone to lose and has lost 10lb three weeks so far.

I'm not convinced a more extreme approach is needed TBH.

I started doing 5:2 in May but I quickly realised that just doing the fast days and inhaling food and wine (as I was doing at that time as a matter of course!) on the other days wasn't going to work. It's simple maths - the weekly calorie deficit wouldn't be enough to make much difference.

So I started to restrict calories a bit on the other days too (to 1200 by and large. I had days off if I fancied). And the easiest way to do this was to do a 16:8 fasting too.

I've lost a stone and am really close to my target. So, basically, a combination of 5:2, general calorie counting and a not very strict 16:8 (I still had evening wine) has worked well for me. After the initial shock of the 500 calorie days (I was miserable and shaking with hunger the first couple of fast days, I'm not going to lie) it's become easy and habitual and I really don't feel like I'm depriving myself at all. I've never dieted before so I've got nothing to compare it to but I really recommend it. Good luck

Go heavy on protein and veg, makes you fuller than carbs. Have lots of hot drinks (miso soup is good) as you can get cold and a bit dehydrated through not eating any liquid. Go as long as you can on drinks before you eat, the waves of hunger will come and then go, even if you don’t eat.

I found a 500 calorie ready meal easier than cooking (less time in the kitchen), M&S do nice high protein and veg ones.

And ask @BigChocFrenzy for advice, she’s the 5:2 guru on here and is amazingly knowledgeable.

Thanks all.

I'm a 5:2 supporter too.
I've lost 4 1/2 stone using this way of eating and have kept it off, because it's how I eat now (well, I don't actually. I do alternate day fasts).
As clevername suggests, it won't work if you fast for a day, then eat 3 days worth of food on your eating day!
I'm an all or nothing person anyway, so this type of eating regime suits me well.
I cut out all non nutritional rubbish - biscuits, cakes, etc etc.
I eat low carb - because carbs are my weakness.
If I have a holiday or an event coming up, I do extra fast days in advance, to compensate for the extra eating days.
Keep your brain busy - boredom, in my case, leads to eating.
Good luck.

I found the 5:2 amazing but didn't count calories, I did a makeshift version where I cut out rubbish and had smaller portions. Have also done the 16 8 and felt great. I think it is the evening/night time eating that gets me. The first few days were tough but then I got into the habit of not snacking watching tv or reading a book which was great!

There are 5:2 FB sites that are helpful. And most stuff can be found on google

I lost no weight on 5:2 but it made a big difference to my blood sugar levels. I think it was because I was making no effort to watch my intake on the 5 non-fast days a week.

I would eat a soft boiled egg with two rice cakes and a scrape of marmite for breakfast, two rice cakes for lunch with a slice of ham, a hard boiled egg and some salad. Dinner would be the zero calorie pasta with a sauce made of veg and tinned tomatoes. If I got starving late afternoon I would have a 40 calorie ice lolly.

I did 5:2 for a few months a year or so ago.
I found it very effective and surprisingly easy to follow.
Lots of veg, turkey steaks & mint tea were my staples.

I did 5:2 and lost 25lb. I really liked it as a lifestyle and might go back to it tbh. I kept the weight off as well when I went back to normal eating.

I tried it a few years ago but stopped as I was getting really irritable and moody on my fasting days. My mum agreed my personality just changed and was relieved when I stopped.

Each to their own though and some people find it useful. There's a book where you can get tips and recipes...Can't remember what it's called though. Got it on my kindle when I tried it.

I lost 30lbs doing it a couple of years ago. I did 500 twice a week, 1500 For the rest of the week except Saturday which was my day off. Pre Covid I kept most of it off, my maintenance diet is either one 500 per week or two 800 days, depending on what I’ve got going on. I’m about 10lbs heavier with lockdown though so I need to get back on it.

Be prepared for your fast days, know exactly what you’re going to have. Find what works best for you, some people recommend just one meal a day, but I couldn’t get past 9am without something.

Drink lots of water, or herbal tea.

Thank you for your responses everyone. I'm quite encouraged by most of them.

@gingerkittykat I once tried zero calorie noodles but I couldn't get over the smell! Maybe I'll try again.

@KeepSmiling89 dp is expecting me to be hangry tomorrow!

I’ve switched to this lifestyle change. I feel like I’ve got a better attitude towards food in general since starting .

Fast days usually are
2 cups tea with milk.
A fruit of some sort.
Steam pack cabbage and some kind of protein .
Or
Large salad and protein .

I used to do 5:2 but switched to 4:3 but with an allowance of 800 calories instead (although sometimes I still stick to 500). I was the lightest I had ever been since age of 18. Until lockdown hit. 🙁

@Verite1

I used to do 5:2 but switched to 4:3 but with an allowance of 800 calories instead (although sometimes I still stick to 500). I was the lightest I had ever been since age of 18. Until lockdown hit. 🙁

HI Verite1: What is the 4:3 - does that mean you eat for 4 days and fast for 3?? How many calories would you have on the 4 days please?