Am I the only person 5:2 hasn't worked for?

[rubyroux]

Okay so I only did it for 4 weeks before sacking it off but on my fast days I felt really weak and headachey. And just tired. I have low blood pressure so not sure if this contributes? In the book it said I'd feel amazing and really on the ball but I felt the complete opposite! I'd usually have homemade soup for lunch and then a low calorie meal from the 5:2 book I have, my favourite one was baked aubergine with bulgur wheat. I lost weight for the first few weeks but then started putting it on?! Granted, I did eat like an absolute pig on the 5 days that I could.

So I'd just like some tips because I really want to give it another go as I really want to lose weight. How do I stop feeling so shit on my fast days? And should I try curb my eating on the other 5 days? Thanks!

This is my second time giving it a go, I don't have the amazing clarity people talk about at all, 3rd fast this week and I feel headachy but will pop a pill and it will go, I can live with it. You do need to reign in the other five days, do not think of them as days off, you have more freedom yes but you have to stick to your TDEE or under but its enough to sort cravings or have a meal out etc.

I don't track calories on Sat or Sun, fast Mon, Wed, Fri and Tues, Thurs stick to 1000 cals avoid carbs on fast days.

Good luck ??

Hi Ruby Lots of friendly support & advice on the main 52 52Thread52 to keep you on track. Also loads of info in the OP. Come join us

Some tips:

NFDs
. As explained in the OP, many overweight folk have got used to overeating, so their "normal" eating is too much on NFDs, once you have lost the initial weight.
. Use the TDEE calculator their to find how much your body burns daily and aim for this on NFDs.
. Use mfp to train yourself until you can properly judge how much to eat.
. Do NOT snack or graze, because this keeps insulin permanently raised, so you are hungrier.
Eat 2-4 proper meals. If you want a sweet treat or crisps, nuts etc have this after your main course, as your pud.

FDs
. Eat 1 teasp Marmite (10 cals) from the jar, mid-morning & mid-afternoon to avoid headaches. It replenishes salt & minerals. Also has B vits.

. Try just lean protein and veg, without any starches or fruit. This lowers insulin and can help hunger & weakness.
e.g. salmon & salad with lemon / vinegar
baked fish or grilled steak with baked or stir-fried veg

. If you like coffee & tea, keep them, just include any milk or sugar cals (I have black with sweetener, 0-cal)
Some folk have Coke Zero

. Some folk take a long time to get down to 500 cals. If you still feel weak, aim for say 700 cals first, then ease your way down.

oh and drink more water than usual on FDs, because you are obtaining less water from food.

It didn't work for me, though admittedly I was like a bull out of a gate on my non-dieting days.

No, I didn't get on with it. I never got used to the feelings of enormous irritation and hunger to the point of nausea on my fast days.

I did it for 9 months, lost about 4lb.

As with any weight loss method, it requires you to have a substantial calorie deficit over the week, which takes a while to get used to.
The most common reason for not losing is eating way over TDEE on NFDs, hence eating back the deficit.

Again like any diet, it is much more difficult to lose if you have a low TDEE (sedentary, short and / or middle-aged). However, some of our middle-aged maintainers reached goal weight despite sedentary TDEE of 1350 - 1500.

If 5:2 still doesn't work, then maybe see if another diet suits you better.

Didn't work for me - but DUKAN did - amazingly well

Thank you for all the replies!! I'll check out that thread, looks very helpful . Lol Gatorade that's exactly what I'm like, I have a massive appetite but will give it another go and rein the beast in!

Me and 5:2 don't get on either. I also felt headachy, nauseous, and my acid reflux went crazy. I switched to 16:8 and do much better with that. Still have to maneuver a bit to deal with the acid reflux but other than that, I feel great.