5/2 when not overweight

[GreenestValley]

I've used the 5/2 diet in the past to manage my weight rather than actively lose any - particularly after christmas or before a holiday, any time i want to feel more trim. I'm starting again because I've been eating / drinking too much during lockdown but I'm wondering what effect it'll actually have if i don't really have weight to lose - i'm 5" 5 and probably 56kg.

Will I just stay the same or would you expect I'd still lose some weight by doing? Anyone with a similar BMI had the same experience? Wouldn't mind losing a little but probably wouldn't want to lose loads.

I should be able to remember from when I did it before, but it was a few years back!

I have been doing 16:8 since late April and have lost 10lb so far, but I was not overweight in BMI terms (started at 9st13 and I'm 5'4). I think you would still lose weight if you incorporate fasting. If I was trying to maintain an ideal weight I think I would eat normally but cut out snacking/excessive amounts of sugar/drinking alcohol, rather than fasting.

I have to do 3 days a week at just over 500 in order to stand a fighting chance of losing anything...but then I do eat like a porker and swill myself silly in ale the rest of the time. Thrice weekly with nowt in the snout is doing me right right now ...it's stopped me from gaining a lockdown lardarse without being pious like I've got a stick up me arse.

Yes I do 5:2 to maintain weight now. I don't lose now that I'm at a healthy weight.

I lost nearly 2st on 5:2 about 5 years ago, and did two fast days and 1400 cals on other days. I started at 10st 1 so was not technically overweight, but didn't look good as it all sits around my tummy and bum. When I wanted to stop losing I switched to 6:1.

@annabell22 Can I ask - do you manage to maintain on 6:1? I’m starting to put weight back on now, but it may be the lockdown effect. Sorry to hijack op!

@ihaveoflate sorry, missed this. When I eased off to 6:1 I continued to lose, hence reaching 8st which I didnt need to do. Then it settled around 8st 4 and stayed there for ages until I slipped back into bad habits. Currently 8st 13 and back on 5:2 for last three weeks, already proving effective. I just think it is something that really works for me.