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! :)

Sorry on my phone so bit stilted

rowing The scales might be more accurate, but since the previous ones might not have been, you really can't be sure if you've lost or not. Once you've had a few weigh-ins with the new one, you'll have a better idea if you're still losing. Am probably stating the obvious, though. :)

Does anyone know whether Dr Mosley has had his bloods analysed since he reduced the frequency of his fasting to 1 day a week?

That's a shame moomoo. I haven't felt weak or dizzy or had heightened senses, just a bit hungry. Also, like green says I eat with DS and DD at lunchtime (they're in bed by the time I eat in the evenings) and on fast days I have most of my calories then and eat a very large portion of veg and a little of the protein they're having, so it doesn't look like I'm not eating.
Also, I don't massively analyse what I'm eating actually, (that sounds snarky, but I do't mean it like that). I just eat a little protein and loads of veg on fast days and no brreakfast and then I eat what I feel lie (but don't go crazy..try to follow hunger etc) on normal days.

Weigh in this morning - down 1kg in 1 week. I am very pleased.

However DH has managed to loose 2kg in the same time - not fair!!

Another fast day today, and I am yet again catering this afternoon, bad planning or what?

Fast day number 2 of this week. (Wk 5)

Pondered about fasting tomorrow, but have to go to Italy on Monday / Tuesday for work and will be taken out for a meal Monday night. So my plan now is to fast today, eat Friday and Saturday, then fast Sunday / Tuesday / Thursday next week.

Then the following week I will fast Sunday / Tuesday. Have to go to Germany Thursday / Friday of that week, so will make Saturday third day.

Blimmin real life getting in the way of my plans.

Happy What you describe there doesn't sound like real life getting in the way of your plans...sounds more like this way of eating is completely flexible enough to work around whatever it is you need to do for work!

french Your experience sounds pretty typical - men usually respond to any weight loss regime quicker/better than females.

I am

After a weekend away and some work related lunches I've not had a lot of fasting days this week - this will be my second in my 7 day cycle (I'm counting Friday to Friday as I started on a Friday). The scales show I'm up 1lb on last week - but proper weigh in should be tomorrow - anyway - last week I got into some smart trousers for an interview (got the job) today I tried on one of my old pretty bras - I've been wearing 38ff and this is 36ff - woo hoo - it fits, as do all the others that size.

I'm wearing one today (black lacy number) to remind me how good it feels to be able to get into some of my nice stuff again

moomoo I really haven't felt weak or dizzy either, hunger seems to vary a lot, some days I've hardly felt it, others I have. Today I'm feeling hungry as I had a big meal last night, will try and avoid doing that again! Usually I'm not hungry at all in the morning.
As for calorie counting after a while I'm getting a feel for what I can and can't eat without adding it all up, I'll probably be sticking to the same basic meals: salads, soups, veg, egg etc.

TellMeLater I don't know. I've put in a request to see if MNHQ will get him in for a webchat, though, as I think we've all got a lot of questions about this way of eating.

Have put on my newly-washed jeans and they are properly loose, which is a great feeling. I'd love to lose at least 3 kilo this month, and at the rate I'm going, I really think I will. yay :)

Tis a fast day for me today, btw. Am having a coffee. Later this morning, I have a meeting with an estate agent about a house we'd like to buy. This afternoon will feature (outside of the preschool run) a lot of cleaning and organising of the current house, which will ofc mean the odd MN break in between. :)

Fast day today
I have an Innocent Veg Pot for lunch as that's the calorie counting done for me (316). That leaves me enough for some supper tonight.

I bought new better scales and weighed nearly a kilo heavier compared to my old ones. However, I have lost some of that now. So I am going to use my weight on the new scales as my starting point and count from there.

Anyone not very hungry following a fast day? I had to make a bit of an effort to eat after my first fast day as I didn't have much of an appetite the next day.

Chaz yep, the day after a fast day I often find myself having my usual fast day breakfast of coffee. I think it works well; it means I have two of the fast periods discussed upthread, especially if my fastday dinner has been later than usual.

er should add, I do make up for it over the course of the day. I'm not eating low calorie on my eating days, I just don't eat breakfast first thing in the morning. Just in case anyone is wondering. :)

Hello! I've been quite intrigued by this diet so think I will give it a go for a month.

I'm not a faddy dieter, as I exercise quite a lot. (Saying that I tried Atkins brieflywith good results but I just wasn't happy about the health aspects). I do need to lose a bit of weight. I lost a fair bit after putting on two stone after DC3, just through exercise and bfing but am stuck just at the top end of a healthy bmi. I would like to lose half a stone. Apart from that though it's the health benefits that intrigue me, particularly the cholesterol benefits.

So it's my first fast today. So far I have had one weetabix and a cup of tea. But I'm starving!! I didn't eat enough yesterday according to mfp, and I went for a 4 mile run. So probably not the best preparation! Also I am at home with a child with chicken pox so there is lots of temptation. Wish me luck!

Out of interest, I know on fast days I am meant to have 500 cals, if I exercise can I earn a few more and still be considered as fasting? I log my exercise on mfp and last nights run burned 400 cals. Or would this be cheating

Apologies if this has been answered before I haven't read the whole thread.

I think the aim is to have 500 kcals only, no matter what exercise you do, Lemoncurd

thought as much, it was worth a try!

Sadly lemon curd is quite calorific might have to name change to celery!

Sadly no, I don't think we get to add calories to our fast days. :) Well, perhaps in very small amounts. Here's my best attempt at an explanation as to why:

The fast days aren't actually a hard-and-fast 500 calories. 500 just happens to be 25% of the average female's recommended 2000 calorie allotment for a day. And Mosley (or the researchers) defined the fast day calories as being 25% of a person's daily calorie allotment for maintaining their current weight.

Some of us have done the maths or had this do it for us and figured out that we need more, or less, than the "average" woman on a daily basis. This daily average does take into consideration how active you are.

So that's what I mean by, it depends. If you figure out what your daily consumption would ideally be, factoring in your high level of exercise, then take 25% of that, you might very well be slightly over 500 calories for a day.

I hope I didn't put everyone to sleep with that.

FWIW: I "could" eat up to 600 calories on fast days, but I haven't done so (outside of that first fast day when I thought I'd barely make it through the day!) I am typically ending a fast day at about 400, 450 calories.

oops sorry, was rambling so much I xposted with you. :)

Oh thanks Greeneggs, that's really interesting.

Does this fasting get easier then? I am a terrible grazer normally but even though I am quite hungry I am enjoying the self imposed self control IYSWIM!

oh I totally SWYM re: power control. I actually quite enjoy my fast days now. I realise that sounds a but crazy! The first fast day was very tough for me, and I clearly recall breaking down and having a small piece of the focaccia I'd made the day before, just because I needed something to chew on and swallow. (oh that sounds so weird!) They've become progressively easier, and honestly now it feels very natural to limit my food following a day when I've been eating a normal amount of calories.

I will say, your mileage may vary, because we've all had different reactions to fasting on this thread.

Thanks for the info I'll see how I get on. I am just trying it for a month to see how I feel.

PS I can have an extra 66 cals according to that calculator, whoopee!

Catsrus, well done on getting the job and fitting into your pretty bras!

I'm fasting today (first week, second day) - eaten nothing so far and not too hungry. I know what you mean Greeneggs about enjoying the fast days in a weird way! Early days for me though, so may lose the novelty value soon.

signing in my first fast day tomorrow have tried to start this a few times in previous weeks but am hoping it will be easier with kids back at school.

2nd fast day today- have lost 2lbs already which is great - first fast day was really tough - today so far isn't so bad, making sure i drink lots of water.
to which i have added a slice of lemon and lime (how exotic)
will keep you all posted on my progress.

Tristan

Second fast day of week for me. Weighed last night and stayed the same but on reflection the past week involved:- a chinese takeaway, fish & chips,an 80th birthday with lots of food and some alcohol so not bad going really!
On my second cup of tea and not really hungry. Have salad with small bit of feta cheese for lunch & some melon so prob have fish & veg for tea