5:2 diet

Jei70

Alton_Towers wrote: »

Hi, I am looking to start this and wondered what you are eating on the fasting days? I get hungry quite quickly so need something filling or that I can break down maybe into two small meals.

On a fasting day I eat 400 cals in form of a huge salad (cuke, pepper, tomato, radishes, mushrooms, lettuce, spinach, rocket etc.) dressed with a little vinegar and EV olive oil. Well, that actually adds up to 100 cals at the most (would be even less without the oil, but that is necessary for absorbing the fat-soluble vitamins in the veggies) so I add some boiled/poached eggs, tin of sardines or half of tuna, piece of cheese, prawns/mussels/seafood... The calorific values of these are printed on the packaging, except for eggs which are just under 100 cals each (I use the large, organic ones).

My OH has had meal leftovers or a protein shake (I use fitday.com to look up nutritional values, but there are so many sites and apps to choose from) with a small apple or a piece of dark chocolate. His allowance is 500 cals.

In the Horizon programme, they showed a fast-day meal of pancake stuffed with fruit and some veggies on the side... So, basically, anything you want as long as it's limited to 400-500 cals.

~Chameleon~

Hughjass wrote: »

I did just eat a walnut whip and its knocked me out:rotfl:

Hey, just goes to prove we're human and don't live by a pre-programmed diet...I've just been down the shop and bought a tub of ice-cream...so shoot me down!!!

~Chameleon~

Jei70 wrote: »

In the Horizon programme, they showed a fast-day meal of pancake stuffed with fruit and some veggies on the side... So, basically, anything you want as long as it's limited to 400-500 cals.

This, for me, is where it falls down and relies on the viewer being adequately educated about nutrition, and lets face it, those living on take-aways and ready meals are, sadly, far from it

The fasting days need to be meaningful and only provide vital nutrients, hence miso soup, water, black tea/coffee etc.

Whilst I applaud that so many people wish to embrace this, I've seen some questions about what to drink/eat whilst fasting that quite frankly leave me reeling and wonder whether the true message/sentiment is actually getting through.

adelight

Oooh interesting thread, I loved the show :j I have considered fasting as a lifestyle choice in the past. I used to work with a girl who fasted one day every week and for one whole week a year and she said it helped her spiritually, mentally and stopped her from ever over eating.
Two days a week eating one meal really wouldn't bother me much. I'm quite a healthy eater, nothing processed and minimal sugar, so picking the right meal isn't an issue.

I also avoid sugar and eat grains in moderation for mild symptoms but justagirl yours sound like serious allergies no wonder you never went back :eek:

Gloomendoom

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

This, for me, is where it falls down and relies on the viewer being adequately educated about nutrition, and lets face it, those living on take-aways and ready meals are, sadly, far from it

The fasting days need to be meaningful and only provide vital nutrients, hence miso soup, water, black tea/coffee etc.

I wouldn't get hung up about the nutrients on the fasting days. Eating nothing at all for two days a week won't kill you or even make you ill. So, as long as you average sufficient nutrients, fibre, vitamin etc. over the course of a week you will be absolutely fine.

eclecticgal

I've done my first day - not too bad - my two days are also not concurrent, apparently michael mosley didn't do concurrent days. I'm also planning on exercising (weights/resistence) on the 'feast days' to try to stop muscle (!) loss

http://www.london-unattached.com/2012/08/5-2-diet-seared-scallops/ there's my first day, I'm planning on writing up the recipes I use as I go.

Hughjass

I gained 2lb yesterday/over the weekend so total first week weight loss is 4.5 lb, I started to fast again yesterday afternoon and woke up with a sinus headache this morning and feel like s**t, I'm going to rethink the weekend eating thing, it didn't seem to do me any favours at all, mind you that could of been the chocolate :wall:anyway hope to feel better later and just feel glad to be back on a fasting day - good luck everyone who is sticking with this:)

Molly41

You have to eat to survive. Fasting is not recommended for long term weight loss. It is great you lost so much in one week but you put back on very quickly when you started to eat more normally.

sammyjammy

I'm fascinated by this way of eating. Is eating 500 calories a day really fasting?

I don't profess to know anything about the technicalities of how it works so will follow this thread with interest. I did watch the Horizon programme and it was really interesting. I find it quite strange that its not recommended as part of the plan that those 500 calories are highly nutritious on the fasting day.

I'm sure the intention is that common sense would mean that people chose healthy nutritious food but we all know there will be those whose fasting day will consist of a couple of bars of chocolate and whose eating days will be takeaways and foods full of high sat fats.

euronorris

Just_a_Girl wrote: »

Yes, it works fine, it's what I do - minimum of 16 hour fast per day.

You know. I think I stumbled across your blog recently when looking up health and fitness blogs in general. Do you follow Paleo?

I started my own health and fitness journey about 2 months ago, and also started a blog (though I haven't shared it with everyone yet - too scared right now! lol) so I could track my own progress and have something to refer back to.

I didn't see this programe, but will check it out on youtube tonight as, incidentally, after a day of eating high protein, natural fats, low carb healthy foods on Friday, I wasn't hungry between 9pm that night and 12pm the next day. Even after having something small to eat at 12pm, I wasn't hungry again until 10pm in the evening! That's never happened before! lol