What to do when 5:2 stops working

[Helgathehairy]

I loved 5:2. Found it pretty easy and lost 12 pounds in 14 weeks. I only stopped because I was pregnant.

That was 2 years ago. I have another stone to lose, so as 5:2 worked so well last time, I tried it again. It was a disaster, the fast days themselves were ok, but the next morning I felt like I was going to throw up I felt so sick. I tried 3 fast days and I had to stop because I felt so bad I couldn't look after DD properly.

So what now? Has anyone else had this happen them and find a way around it?

Hi Helga Some folk have had problems with fasting the first few weeks, but IIRC noone has reported this after having successfully done 5:2 before.

Some ideas:

1. Your hormone balance may have changed after pregnancy and giving birth, e.g. your insulin metabolism may be out of whack, or you have a thyroid condition

2. Increased stress levels, lack of sleep:
   IF (intermittent fasting) works on the basis of "stressing" the body 2 days per week, to build up resilience, analagous to HIIT exercise.
   If you are lacking sleep and / or feeling stressed due to job / carer / family / general health .... the added stress of IF may exceed your personal limit and hence not be beneficial.

3. FD content: maybe not drinking enough on FDs. Or too high GI

4. Have you changed your type of nutrition, e.g. gone vegan or low carb or eating more junk ?

5. Even with an unchanged diet, 2 years on with a DC, you may be low in something like iron, hence less able to tolerate fasting
   Or you may need to change your FD content, to boost some nutrients.

Suggestions:
. If you are still BFing, start at 1000-cal FDs, until you are used to fasting
. The NFD before an FD, don't eat any junk or added sugar after 3 pm, or drink alcohol or fruit juice after then. Include complex carbs and try to make the day low GI
. For the FD, concentrate on protein and lots of veg. For now, cut out starches and fruit on FDs
. On FDs, don't snack or graze. Try eating just lunch and supper, with black coffee or tea for breakfast
. Drink lots of water on FDs (start the day with a glass) and have 1-2 teasp of Marmite (10 cals each) from the jar, to replenish lost minerals
. Have an early night on FDs, to get more sleep
. For breakfast on the NFD after an FD, don't have juice or cereal. Have a moderate-sized meal with protein, carbs and fat, e.g. scrambled eggs, grilled toms & wholegrain toast, or whole oat porridge with nuts, or pnut butter & banana on wholegrain toast.

Good luck

Even if not BFing, you could try starting at 1000-cal FDs and gradually reducing down to 500 as you get used to fasting again.

bigchoc thank you so much. I need to go back and read it all again but it all makes sense.

I'm not sleeping properly. Or rather DD isn't sleeping properly. She'll have a good week (sleeping through the night) then she'll have bad weeks (several wake ups ending up with her in bed with us).

I didn't start doing fast days again until DD was down to two breastfeed a day but she's finished now

I used to not eat anything until dinner and have 400 calories, then later I'd have a 100 calories soup so I wasn't going to bed hungry.

I like the starting at 1000 calorie idea and low GI before a fast day. (Low GI was the other WOE that actually seemed to work for me)