considering 5:2 but confused about calories?

[flopsyandjim]

Is it 500 calories or 800 calories? I see differing opinions. Can you be a little bit flexible with the calories?

I'm v busy and don't have much time for meal prep, but I like eggs, satsumas, berries, yoghurt, fruit, soups....

I think evenings will be the hardest time for me, and also avoiding chocolate.

Advice on how it works would be really appreciated!

Originally 5:2 was 2 days of 500cals. Then Michael Mosely brought out the Fast diet which is 800 cals everyday for 8 weeks. Some people find 500 cals too restrictive even for 2 days. 800 cals 2 days a week would still give you a good calorie restriction.

If you can go without breakfast you will find your 500\800 cals will go further when split between 2 meals rather than 3.

I do 500 calories in one meal in the evening, less a bit for milk in my coffee. I find I can spend all day looking forward to one nice meal and then its over and the next day I can eat OK. Somehow "not eating" feels less depriving than "less eating".

From what I've read your fasting day should be a quarter of your usual calorie burn (can't remember the technical name), so a woman would use 2000 calories a day so fasting day would be 500 calories. Obviously that would change depending on how active you are. I have a very physical job so I have up to 650 calories on fast days.

Lara

If you look at the long post at the top of the main 5:2 thread you’ll find lots of useful links and info. You can use the calculators to work out your daily calorie allowance based on height, current weight and activity level. You can also use MFP or similar to record your food for a week and identify any ‘calorie bombs’. (Booze, puddings, junk, snacking)

Your fast day allowance is somewhat dependent on how much you are eating on non fast days. You will lose weight if you don’t eat back your deficit (I.e by having blowout weekends). I have been doing this since July have lost 5kg so far. It doesn’t feel like a diet and the main thread is very supportive. If you like veg and eggs you have a definite advantage. (Prawns are also good!)

Best of luck.