Just started the 5:2 today. I think I'll manage?

[Juniperdewdropofbrandy]

I've decided I need to do the 500 cals days when not at work. My work can be quite demanding as I'm a support worker so can go from sitting around to walking 7 miles (some hilly). I can rest more at home ignore chores.

I've only started today and have had a very small breakfast of red berries special K, semi skimmed milk. For lunch I've had salad with mussels, no dressing just lemon and a pinch of salt. I've had black coffee with sweetener and water to drink.

I think I have 100 cals left so may have some homemade soup later? Only made from veg though. No fat.

I've had a good walk today with the dog but only a couple of miles. Some of it hilly. I haven't overdone it though.

I think I can cope with this lifestyle change. I love veg and salads. I can adapt the meals for dcs and dp wants to lose weight too so he may do the 5:2 but probably on different days. He has a sedentary job so said he'll do it on work days.

How's everyone else getting on? A few people I know have lost amazing amounts of weight but look great with it. Not lethargic like some do when trying to lose weight.

I've been on it for about 8 weeks, I've lost 1stone4lbs, (one week of that 8 was in Egypt where I binged at our all inclusive hotel) I love the diet, and will continue this now for ever.

It's not just the weight loss it's how great I feel in life, and I am fascinated about the possible reduction in chances of cancers, dementia, and heart related illness'. Having lost members of my family to all of those mentioned diseases, I would do anything heathy to ensure I don't suffer like they did!

So far so good! If you need any inspiration, you can get the book from most libraries, or watch this horizon documentary!

vimeo.com/54089463

Good luck x

Thanks AMI88, I also have those illnesses in my family. I didn't realise this could help with that? Well done with your weight loss and glad to hear you feel so good

I've just eaten a plum so need to check how many calories? I'll probably just stick to black coffee and water for the rest of the day?

Oh and I'll watch the documentary thanks. I looked on BBC but it isn't available on there now.

You can get a calorie counter app or there are a few websites too, I actually try to avoid fruit on fast days because some can be full of calories, but you will find what works for you, sometimes I just use the 500 calories as one meal and survive on water for the rest of the day, this works well for me as my OH isn't fasting, and this way we can generally eat the same, rather than doing two meals!

I just started today too. It hasn't gone too badly, but I've been out and about (am normally pinned at home by non-walking twins) which has kept me busy. That said, I cooked from scratch so can't be precisely certain of the calorie counts, but if I went over the 500 calorie limit, it wasn't by more than 20, which I can live with. I had two cups of tea with milk, a two-egg omelette with cherry tomatoes, basil and frozen spinach, then a miso sop mid-afternoon and just now a huge bowl of prawn and veg stir-fry with konjac noodles. I was that the bowlfuls of chopped veg I assembled equalled the single tablespoon of sesame oil I was planning to fry them in: I've only ever low-carbed before so this is the first time I've had to count calories. I think this diet sounds distinctly doable. Thanks for the vimeo link - I had looked on youtube but didn't find it so will watch that tomorrow. Now for a long hot bath and bed.

I watched the documentary and really enjoyed it. So interesting. And the old guy who does the marathons!! He's fantastic.

I downloaded the app to calorie count. So easy it just did it from the laptop.

Best of luck with it thereistheball. I feel thinner already

OP
Surprisingly, if you CAN work on fast days it will do you even more good.
Many of us are gym bunnies on fast days and cope.
Keep your fluids up but NO SNACKING while doing your errands and you'll get good results most likely

Thanks. My next fast day is tomorrow. I'm not at work until Saturday but would really miss eating whilst at work. We all sit down for a cooked lunch.

I've eaten too much today though I'll be good tomorrow though.

First fast day today! God, maybe I shouldn't have started while I have PMT, and didn't get a good night's sleep.....

2 poached eggs and a quorn sausage for breakfast cooked in a tsp of oil = 250 calories. Probably about 50 cals' worth of milk in 2 coffees. Have made a huge pot of beetroot soup- reckon the entire pot is about 400cals, so I can eat 2 or 3 bowlfuls for dinner.

I am feeling wobbly, light headed and uber grumpy. Poor DS, we're at home all day, and I don't think I can cope with going out much (it's raining anyway). God, I hope it gets better...

Ooo stubbornstains not sure I could do it with PMT, I need my carbs. Can you get some of those low fat crisps?

I'm on my second fast day. Had black coffee, water and an apple so far. Dp bought some ready meals with around 200 cals so am having one of those for dinner. Plus whatever else to make up the 500 cals. I don't want to eat less than that.

The ready meal was really lovely. I added some sliced carrots, from our allotment. Then for afters I had a low cal biscuit (55 cals) with my black coffee. A veritable feast

I had the mince and potato one from that link ^^.

Urrghh....three bowls of beetroot soup and I'm still starving, wobbly and generally crapola! Think I'll have something more solid for dinner next time- I made a great spinach & chickpea curry the other day that works out 250 cals for a generous portion...

Tell me it gets better!

It's only my second day but I feel quite full tbh. I don't think I'd enjoy 3 bowls of beetroot soup?

Anyone out there on this diet give us some ideas please?

The ready meal was really nice. I'm back at work tomorrow and we get a huge cooked meal for lunch so with a light supper that'll be enough for me.

high protein on fast days is your friend as you get used to it
eggs and fish in particular

Thanks Talkinpeace. I know protein gives you energy and keeps you full longer.

I just had some cabbage soup for supper so that's enough for me tonight. It's very low cal but quite tasty.

That's it then. 7 boiled eggs next time = 490 calories. What could possibly go wrong?

Make a nice omelette for breakfast and it you only use egg whites then even less cals!! Mushrooms, peppers, onion in it for small amount of cals.

Rump steak and salad not many cals either if it's only a small one. 200g steak is around 250 cals.

mouth watering

Egg and spinach omelette but it sounds to good to be true?? It has cheese in it??? Surely that cal count it wrong?

I'm going to bed before I start eating my clothing . Tomorrow is another day....

Just get a low cal ready meal and eat it about 4-5pm on the fast day. Water or tea the rest of the time. Work days are good as it keeps you busy. Remember that being hungry is ok and you can eat what you like the following day. I'm generally not hungry the following morning but really enjoy my scrambled eggs on toast when it comes.

Ahh but have you had all of your 500 cals?

Dp's so lucky being a man, that extra 100 is a low fat/cal bag of crisps. love crisps.

NZ I found I wasn't very hungry the morning after my last fast day. You'd think you would be??

I'm looking forward to my first bad thing. crisps

Juniper the hunger comes in waves so just try and distract yourself until it goes. I now recognise when I am going to feel hungry and just drink a load of water and do something else until it passes. Evenings are a bit harder but I just think 'its only until the morning'.

I can't say I've been hungry tbh?

Ate too much to day though. Will have Sunday lunch tomorrow and very light supper.