5:2 vs VCLD - opinions please?

[alwaysthepessimist]

I need lose a LOT of weight - I weighed in at 99.4 kgs this am - I can't bear to convert to stones....I am trying my first 5:2 fasting day but I am seriously struggling and now wondering if maybe I stuck to 800 cals a day for the first month would that be easier? So far today I have eaten 246 cals so have 254 left for tea only. It doesn't help that I have just recently been put on citalopram and am sat at my desk with sweet FA to do thinking all I want to do is have a snooze!

I am no expert but I think it is really hard to go from unrestricted eating to 500 or even 800 cals.

I would allow yourself a week of eating low carb to get over the worst of the sugar withdrawel and maybe get into ketosis. This will really curb your appetite and make sticking to any plan so much easier.

Keep drinking plenty of water and stay away from diet drinks, artificial sweetener and alcohol if you can.

I would also try and not eat breakfast first thing. See how you feel and maybe start eating at noon then have another meal at 6. I find if I eat breakfast in the morning I am hungry all day.

Personally I find 5:2 easier. I have been following 5:2 since April and have lost roughly 1 pound a week. I got frustrated with the slow loss so decided to try a vcld diet (exante) hoping for a quicker loss. I followed it for two weeks but found it really hard to follow in the end. I really missed eating certain foods. I had my first nfd since changing back yesterday and it was heaven. Today is my second fast and while it is tough, knowing I can eat fairly normally tomorrow is great. I did lose slightly more but it wasn't worth it. I think 5:2 is much better at encouraging both healthy and realistic eating habits.