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! :)

I am about to have a miso soup and then tonight will have smoked salmon skinny omelette with lots of salad.

Back from the playground! It's a fast day so suspect I'll be around here a bit. :)

I think one of the problems is that one person's sensible portion (without weighing or counting or all these things) will vary from another person's sensible portion. And unfortunately, there are certain foods I just can't have in my house because once the package is open, I will eat the entire thing gradually over the course of a day or two. Nuts are one of those things. Crisps as well. Biscuits and sweets are generally safe, if I have a biscuit or whatever I can limit myself to one. We all have our weaknesses.

I find limiting myself to veg and other plain foods on fast days to be much easier than having a very small portion of something I will just want to eat a whole lot more of.

I've never followed a fad diet or even an eating plan like WW etc. I have struggled with my weight but was able to lose a lot in my early 20s and keep it off. I ate sensibly for myself, usually watching fat, portions, etc and worked out regularly. However, since having my son (put on 30lbs during pregnancy, then a bit more after. Hadn't gone crazy with eating but well, it's a long story really!) I've found my previous ways of keeping track of my weight haven't worked as well.

So I'm happy to try this. The health benefits are a good bonus. I also don't want to end up needing knee replacement surgery etc, things my larger friends have all needed, some in their 40s. :( I'm aware that I'm not getting any younger, and continuing to walk around being overweight isn't doing my body any favours.

Anyway, it's a fast day. I'm having my first cup of coffee, with a bit of milk. Have just had water before now. :)

thinkfast That sounds good to me. :) I have some vegetable soup I will have later. I'm trying to limit even more than usual because I've got to go to a friend's house this evening, and it will be quite odd if I don't have a drink. So I need to have 2-300 calories left for the evening. No dinner, I think. Should be interesting.

I just want to be thin

I want to be thin and healthy.

For me, its both as well really. My BMI is 28/29 so in the overweight category. Im only 29 so I fear if I don't take care of this issue now it will only get worse.
My family has a history of health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and my grandmother recently died of stage 4 cancer. So i figure by sorting out issues of weight first, I will hopefully be sorting out any other health issues before they arise.

With regards to my period, I'm glad its an eating day today as my stomach is in knots, and I feel like crap!

Have fun everybody!

Fasting today, decided to skip breakfast again, since it didn't kill me last time.
Found myself really productive, cleaning up, doing laundry etc.
Even solved a big financial annoyance (DH being sloppy at paying his bills), took charge and paid them, if he jumps at me, I'll blame it on fasting!

Saw this and thought of you ladies. A recipe we can all indulge in. Tis funny on its own, but the brilliance comes in the review section. :) Especially if you're familiar with typical online reviews of recipes...

Haha! Love it!

Love it GreenEggs... I'm a terrible cook so a recipe like that is always useful to have around :o

ha ha! greeneggs

Well had a fast day today. was a bit naughty and had a burger in McDonald's after taking the dds to buy school uniform. It was only 250 cals though.

Still fasting. Have just had the coffee earlier, otherwise just water. I've kept busy with other things and honestly haven't felt hungry. This is a big change from my first fast day; it's gotten easier with every one. (Today is my 4th fast day, btw)

I'm going to have a cup of soup or something in a little while. I'm saving my calories for this evening. As I mentioned above, a friend is having people over, so I want to make sure I can have a glass of wine with everyone else. :)

Anyone else had trouble eating much on a food day?
I've just found i cant finish my dinner . turkey and stirfry .. its just too much .. I had a snack planned for later also but dont think ill be eating it
Didnt eat much lunch either ...just some lettuce cottage cheese and ham.. This is not like me ....
I've decided to do a sort of 5: 2.5 this week as its bank hol and theres bound to be more food and drink around than usual .. will fast from bedtime until dinner tomorrow if i can ..

Laska42, Same here, decided to treat myself to some chocolate raisins yesterday evening, but my heart wasn't really in eating them. Ate them all, but with not as much enjoyment as before...

I wish Laska, I spent the last couple of days absolutely ravenous. Completely unable to fill myself up! Mind you, I was busy busy busy all day yesterday and on my feet for about 10 hours, so that might have had something to do with it.

could be.. ive been stuck in front of the computer all day writing a report ( or not as it turns out - more timewasting than i should be hence being here again ) and will most of the evening and all day tomorrow the rate im going.. , but was out on my bike this morning.. ..

just not hungry though .. but have only had about 1000 calories today

I'm definitely less hungry on my second fast day today, don't know if that's because I had all my calories in one meal. I went a tad over; 577. Oops! Still, no headache today which is a huge bonus.

Is sugar free chewing gum allowed on this diet? Or sugar free sweets (I'm completely addicted to Lemon and Mint Ricola!)?

I have failed again.
By lunch time I was starving so had a chicken wrap and some fruit. Used up most of my calories.
Got home from the park at 5 and was drawn straight to the cupboard where there was a big pack of malteasers.
A big pack. Gone. That's over 2000 calories.
All I have to do is one day at a time. One day of not eating. Why can't I do it?

I think I need to look into lower calorie food so I can split it up better. One meal will not work for me

For my fast day today (7th) I had a small salmon filett, rice and some broccoli in garlic sauce. God it was gorgeous. I found the recipe for the broccoli on skinny chef, definitely worth making, although not skimpy on the calories with using different oils etc. maybe one to try on an eating day, then you can eat all of it to yourself, it really is nice! A full portion is about 450 calls and supposed to feed 2-4 as an accompaniment. So not BAD but not as good as plain broccoli. Had that about 2pm and that's going to last until breakfast.I definitely find one decent meal a day works best for me.

I, picked up my dress today from the seamstress that was altering the style for me. I didn't zip together at the back by at least an inch when I took it in a few weeks ago. Fit like a glove today, so pleased I'll be able to wear out for the wedding next weekend.

Think I'm due on my period any day (not regular) as I've had a few spots appear today. It will be interesting to see how this affects how my body feels on fast days. So far each day just gets easier.

Super Green Soup from M&S is great - 1/2 carton is 110 cals and mini sub rolls are only 60 cals which makes for a good lunch if you're splitting cals on a fast day.

I've just had a seafood selection from M&S too - a pack is 105 cals and I had some salad with it.

You can tell I work near an M&S!

Is everyone splitting their cals up on a fast day? Sorry if I'm being lazy and not reading back on the thread, but I thought the idea was to have one meal between 12 and 2pm?

I think they majority of us seem to split our calories up