The new 5:2 diet thread

[GreenEggsAndNichts]

The continuing thread for those of us following either the 5:2 diet or the alternate-day fasting diet. Both are two versions of Intermittent Fasting, which you can read more about here.

The 5:2 diet was featured on Horizon recently, and essentially requires you to fast for 2 non-consecutive days per week. The other 5 days, you can eat what you like. Alternate-day fasting is just how it sounds; you fast every other day. By "fasting", we mean that we keep our calorie consumption very low, around 500 calories on average, on those days.

Come join us, and tell us about your experiences with this diet! :)

Hmmm..I havent lost that much weight since starting 5:2 but I seem to be losing inches...my bra is gaping at the top!!
My swimsuit is def too big me :)
Maybe I won't lose lots of weight but will lose the inches?

Think I must be losing inches too, just been out for a walk with the DC and my jeans are getting too big. Don't know if I've lost any more weight as I don't own any scales.

Thanks pigeonpie I'll give apricots a go. Plan to build exercise levels up this week, have hand weights, will be doing 15 mins before bath time. Determined to make changes to lifestyle alongside eating plan, mid 40's and shockingly unfit, noticed on holiday how much I got out of breath climbing small hill every day to our accommodation when rest of family. Not good. Positive thinking from now on - I will be a fit fabulous 40 something in not too distant future!

Oops forgot to add too will get tape measure out and keep record of boob, waist and hip areas as others have noted changes even if weight stays same

My normal eating day today and it's the First day in two weeks that I know I have got far over my normal base rate of calorie requirements. Had a large Sunday lunch, then been to one of my mums notorious bbq parties and ate until I was stuffed, rather than until I was satisfied. Got to say that I didn't even really enjoy eating it as much as I have in the past as I knew how I would feel after. Hope I haven't undone all my previous two weeks adf. Will only know next Saturday on weigh in day, also the day of the wedding that I have been trying to lose weight for. I'm sure it's really not that bad, but I know I would have been much more satisfied eating a little less. Back on track tomorrow and should have plenty of energy to carry me through, built up on reserve today, lol :)

Hey everyone. Been busy this weekend I see!

I was meant to fast today but Went out for lunch so didn't. Plan to fast Monday, Wednesday and Friday although we are away from tomorrow till Friday. Just me and kids in a caravan so shouldn't really be a problem as such.

Haven't been eating overtly badly I don't think. Have become fuller quicker and find I don't eat as much junk as I usually do. :) All things can only be a bonus.

Yes DP and I are both a bit thinner but haven't lost any weight, glad others are experiencing the same thing. Fast day tomorrow, not really dreading it.

Fast day tomorrow, but psychilogically felling different about itnow back in my own home with all the old temptations / habits...

Hi all,
fast day for me, almost over!! Hooray!
It actually hasn't been too bad, although that is hindsight. There were some hungry moments in the afternoon.
Strangely, kind of crossed a barrier after a period of feeling quite weak and a feeble then, after sitting on a bench in the sun whilst ds ran around a park, felt more energised and walked home quite briskly.
So today was weigh-in as well and have definitely lost weight, but weighed without trousers then remembered that last week I had trousers on for weighing! Never mind, probably better without trousers. So I have gone down to 10st 3 or 4 - hard to read the scales properly, and last time was bang on 10st 7lbs (with trousers). I'm not even sure what my ideal weight is, but I will keep going and see if the weight continues to go, would be great to be under 10st for the first time in years.
Today had a coffee with milk, 2 egg omelette with slice of ham 3 small carrots and half an apple, lots of water then around 7pm had a stir-fry with more carrots, onions, peas and prawns with soy sauce and a tiny bit of sweet chilli sauce, but shared it with DP (who had noodles with his).
That's it and I think it is the closest to 600 cals I have been so far.
Normal day tomorrow and saving a bit of DP's chocolate, birthday cake for lunchtime or even breakfast if very hungry ala Wilself.

Glad to hear all are doing well on this - almost into my 3rd week now. Had a feed day yesterday which went a bit crazy as today is DHs only day off with me this week, so 'dined in for £10' and drank far too much. Today we're off out to lunch with family, so I'm going to skip breakfast as I know I won't calorie count today. Actually looking forward to the restraint of a fast day on Tues!

Third week of fasting today and my weight has remained static. What seems to happen is I lose 3-4lbs on fast days and it goes back on during feed days so instead of doing consecutive fast days I'm going to split them to a Mon & wed.

I am losing weight though, it just doesn't seem to be showing on the scales. I've gone from a 32in waist to 30in so obviously something is happening.

Had a bit ofa blow out on Sat night so got a feeling this week is not going to be a good weight loss week!

Badvoc and Aboutlastnight...seems you're experiencing the same thing as me. Clothes are getting looser but it's not showing on the scales. Anyone know why that may be?

fast day for me today...
my clothes are def looser but I am not losing loads of weight...down 0.4 kgs from last week.

Has anyone else noticed fast days muck with their sleep?

I don't sleep very well after a fast day. Waking several times in the night and unable to get back to sleep.

I think I need less sleep because my body isnt wasting so much energy digesting food.

I haven't lost much weight - but my jeans are def a bit looser.

No, I'm sleeping like a baby but do make sure I eat an evening meal, even if it's much smaller than my usual one and have a and a piece of fruit before bedtime.

Freaking Nora I have gained 8 lb after a weekend away camping ! My fast days are mon & weds and have been fluctuating about 2 1/2 lb over the course of a week (I know I know I should only weigh once a week but seem to be unable to stop weight myself three times once every day ) I did pig out but was only expecting 4 lb gain tops - especially as have recently been on a 12 day all inclusive holiday and despite pigging out for 12 days only gained 6 1/2 lb so how on earth have I gained 8 in 3 days !!! I am sipping my green tea with jasmine (delicious, Asda) wondering if anyone else has noticed blinking humongous weight fluctuations ??

It's not possible to put on 8lbs of fat in a weekend. Literally not possible.

So a large part of it must be water retention.

Agree with Indigo. Perhaps you just need a big poo .

Btw I was down to my goal weight (9st 8.5 -i'm a pear shaped 5ft4) on thurs morning before I headed off camping so don't feel too sorry for me! I'm just annoyed I have gone from goal to a whole different zone in one weekend. And if anyone was wondering - yes I did visit the loo quite satisfactorily before I weighed myself. Will be interesting to see what I weigh this Thursday . I suspect the fast days will be hard this week (easy last week didn't feel hungry really) as my body is used to 3000 cals and 2 bottles of wine a day after this weekend. serves me right !!!!!!

Maybe some of it is water ? On day 5 of period so maybe it's a big wee I need rather than poo....

Planning boiled egg carrot n celery for lunch, cod in butter with chipped courgette (rice substitute) for tea , ww sweeties in cinema.

About to watch GB bake-off on Iplayer (hurrah lazy teenager still asleep dh visiting mil) might not be the best viewing at start of a fast day!!

I think lots of woman have complained about fasting mucking around with their sleep, it is said to make woman more alert. Personally I find sugar disrupts my sleep.

Fast day today and Wednesday this week. Weighed this morning, no movement on the scales. Am on the bench, atm due to knee injury, so I can't even run , hoping it will only take a few days to sort.

Today's menu - coffee for breakfast, boiled egg with veg for lunch, fish curry with cauliflower rice for dinner accompanied with lots and lots of water and herbal teas.

For all those fasting today - enjoy the feeling of slimness!

Hi all. Really going to try to keep up with the thread.
Fast day for me today and hoping to stick to the 500 calories.
I have good news though, my mil made a salad to go with dinner on Saturday, I ate some out of politeness but it was quite nice. Going to mix some up for lunch and then again dinner but adding some chicken I think.

HI all , fasting today after rather a blow-out weekend (especially on the wine,) and Ive actually been looking forward to it ! Iseem to maintained my loss from last week, and yes ,I too have noticed a waist measurement decrease by 1 inch in a week, and can now fit back into a skirt (full price Boden!! moment of madness ..eek!) that i bought last autumn when it briefly fitted and then couldnt wear all winter becasue it didnt... So im going to be using that as my guideline skirt for weight loss.. I want to still be able to get into it (or even have it too big !) in January !

So far ive had a ham rocket and tomato omlette (250 cals) and black coffee.. then lots of water and green tea planned ,then tonight i think it will be some white fish and veggies ,, probably with a little spice of some sort..

A tip for those who 'arent going'. (not me, luckily) , one zero calorie and really quite nice way ive found in the past (esp during my disasterous Atkins diet days where i just couldnt go at all) is to buy some whole senna pods . and make a pot of tea with them.. They taste fine as tea, -a bit like herby green tea - but dont put more than a 2 or 3 in at once! . I get them at my local Easy Weigh.. so try a health food shop (have not seen them at H&B though , best try to find an independant who stocks loose herbs and spices.. oer i expect you could buy on ebay or soemthing like that )

Infected wisdom tooth do other than feeling like crap and low energy, EASY fast day
On liquids only, coffee so far and soup later

So far I've had some water, just starting to feel a bit 'peckish' now but think thats boredom