5:2 diet

Seraphin

How hard do you find it lol? I'm a three meals a day girl so kinda dreading it
Any tips???

superpup

Hi

I've been following this thread since day 1 but am actually starting 5:2 on Tuesday. My fast days will be Tues and Thurs. I have constantly said to myself, I'll start next week once I have low cal food options planned, but then never planned anything!

So, after doing lots of cooking over the past few days I have soups and other low cal options all counted and ready in the freezer. I already use myfitnesspal so have gone back to logging on there. I don't have lots to lose but circumstances over the past 2 years have meant exercise has been difficult and I've eaten too much. About 15 - 20lbs will do it and I'm in no rush. It's part weight loss and part health benefits for me anyway.

I've been counting calories since Friday as I wanted to be a bit more mindful of how much I'm eating. I will probably carry on counting every day for a few weeks until I get into the swing of things, then just count the fast days.

I plan on having 3 meals to begin with as can't bear the thought of going for long periods without food just yet. I will probably cut it back to a late lunch and dinner, skipping breakfast, as time goes on.

Am happy to friend other 5:2-ers on myfitnesspal as I think it'd be good to look at the food diaries of other people to get ideas so the fast days don't get boring and samey.

Anyway, enough waffle and hello

Old_Socks_old_Stick

Good luck to Superpup and Seraphin tomorrow :beer: I have a fast day tomorrow too.

Seraphin, knowing you can't eat very much tomorrow, kinda stops the temptations or even thinking about what you fancy to eat. For me it works knowing that I can't have it, but I can have it the next day if that makes sense.

I know that about 1pm I will start to make my courgette stir fry. I will have a huge bowl for less than 100 cals. Then later on I will be preparing a meal for my hubby and kids, which I find really hard, so I tend to prepare and cook meals that they like that I don't. Like steak, they love steak, I hate it. Whilst they are eating I am exercising. Then I prepare my evening meal and eat it. It's taken me 3 weeks to find out what works for me. I quite like a cup of bovril during the day too.

jess444_2

Hi all,

I watched the Horizon program a while ago and thinking about trying it. For the last year or so I have lost quite a bit of weight by reducing carbs (not too drastically) and by just eating more sensibly.

Since Christmas, however, I have 'lost it'. Craving sugar and eating far too much. I am wondering whether this approach will help me gain some control back as I have read that lots of people have found this.

Also want to try it for health reasons as there is a family history of heart disease and strokes.

I have planned tomorrows meals - going for 3 meals to start - total of 525 cals. I think I will try to delay eating until lunchtime and then eat my evening meal quite late - as evenings are my worst time.

OH says there is no chance that I will make it through the day, here's hoping he is wrong.

Seraphin

Superpup you put me to shame!!! I have managed to make four portions of mushroom soup and that's it

Am happy to befriend - it can be a lonely journey on your own and sometimes you just want to rant at someone who doesn't take it personally. My husband is coming on board but if it anything like his previous diet attempts I shall be on my own quite soon

Thanks for all the good wishes, now I can't let you down so I have to do it! Don't know whether just to bite the bullet and try not to eat until tomorrow evening or not - see how I go I guess

Taken some previous advice on this thread and dug my knitting out, that should preoccupy me for a while especially as I'm off work tomorrow - a well earned day off but I think I would be better fasting at home rather than work, time will tell!

azureblue_2

I generally start my day with a full pot of Pukka chai green tea, fills me up for a couple of hours then it's time for a black coffee. Lunch is a sliced up apple so I eat it slowly, a pot of Liptons Moroccan tea mid p.m. And a satsuma. And so to dinner of veg or stir fry with steamed haddock or a small tin of pilchards, perhaps a few red grapes and four crackers. Water sipped throughout. About 500 cals. Brushing my teeth put off hunger pangs last fast too! Good luck everyone :-)

Daedalus

mto wrote: »

I'm fairly new to this 5:2 way of eating. I watched the program last year and was intrigued at the benefits, especially for Alzheimer's which is on both sides of my family.

I'm not counting calories exactly on my fast days, but having more of a guestimate, does this matter? I also work 3x12 hour shifts so tend to fast on 2 consecutive shift days as I find it easier as I'm occupied most of the time, I just have a meal around midday. However I've noticed that a lot of people say fast on non-consecutive days .. again, does this matter?

Thanks

It is better to do longer fasts, ie 1x2days rather than 2x1 day.

Likewise it is better to not eat anything on fast days.

However, most people wouldn't be able to stick to either of the above, which is why the diet is packaged in a more easier to stick too way. Better to get half the benefits of fasting than none at all.

silvasava

Managed 3 non consecutive fast days last week (to make up for the one I missed the week before.) I note that somewhere someone said about weighing yourself at the same time every day. I'm finding this a bit disheartening 'cos when I havn't fasted my weight goes back up again (although not quite so much!!) I'm going to go back to the same day & time once a week as I think that would be a more realistic approach.
Think I'll put where I'm at as part of my sig (that'll make me keep to it!!!)

Mado

silvasava wrote: »

. I'm finding this a bit disheartening 'cos when I havn't fasted my weight goes back up again (although not quite so much!!) I'm going to go back to the same day & time once a week as I think that would be a more realistic approach.

But it's fine as you will very soon note a pattern if you plot your weight down. It goes down after a fast and up again after a normal day; but each time it goes down a little lower and it doesn't go up as much as the previous times...
I tend to consider my true weight is at the beginning of the week (the morning of my first fast of the week).:cool:

Seraphin wrote: »

My big big problem is Maltesers! I'm addicted ��how I'm going to get through a fast day without them remains to be seen lol but going to have to!

I would definitely try the teeth brushing for that one. I find that toothpaste and chocolate don't go together. And your dentist will love you for it!:D

azureblue_2

I've just had a mug of Marigold Vegetable Bouillon and it was delicious and filling and 12 cals so many thanks to the folk who recommended this. Also found some melon slices for later but trying to last as long as I can without actually eating to max out the 'repair mode'. It's been 18 hours since I chewed anything. Did Dr Mosley say repairing worked from 16 to 48 hours into a fast?