5:2 diet

~Chameleon~

Any "diet" which causes you to deny food is set up to fail. Finding a healthy compromise will always win. But education is the key

littlerat

I don't personally consider it a fad diet as it can easily supply all necessary nutrients, it's not unreasonable to keep up in the long term and the fasting isn't for such a long time as to slow metabolism therefore causing issues if you came off it But some of my research has come across people /sites etc suggesting it is a fad.

Being good for even most of the time is difficult for me, hence just having to do it for 2 days a week makes life so much simpler. And yes I would hope it'd also help get me out of the emotional/comfort/boredom eating cycle too, that's half my weight problem, the rest is portion control and exercise - losing weight will ease some of my back pain etc if not cure the root, so help me be more active.

I have PCOS and so the insulin resistance that goes with it, some research seems to be suggesting that the fast days, especially if done low-carb, can help with it. Which would be good. So I'd be aiming for meat and veg only on those days, or minimal potato with it.

It has to have something to it, because even if your daily diet is high cal and you should lose 2lb a week based on calorie reduction (standard being about 1lb/week on it), many people seem to be having higher reductions, some on PCOS forums have had ridiculous losses on it! Presumable because of the interactions with insulin when you fast.



Thankfully I like a fair bit of veg so can do reasonable portions on a fast day to help hunger, without too many calories. Do fast days always have to stay the same? For instance if I did Wednesday and Saturday but grandma was coming on Sat for a meal, could I do my 2nd fast day on Friday or Sunday instead?

Will definitely be looking into this and talking to Dad (live at home so he'd need to know). Thanks guys, you rock

Chickvic

Fast days can change to suit you, I went on holiday for a week and didn't bother but started again when we got home. I should point out that I do 4:3 instead of 5:2. I fast on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, that doesn't suit everyone. I started on 5:2 and just upped it, I like fast days and you can eat loads of veg for 500 cal

System

So in answer to the questions about recipes etc., I've downloaded Jacqueline Whitehart's i-book 'The 5:2 diet recipe book' and it looks very useful, with suggested ways of tackling fasts (how to split up the calories over 2 or 3 meals) and lots of ideas for quick & easy meals all calorie counted. The suggestions are sensible with nothing too fancy, she even tells you how to do low-cal beans on toast! Plus healthy fry-ups, BLT, omelettes, soups, curries, salads, desserts, drinks.
So despite my aversion to following recipes I'll be using this as it looks easy to do.
And I've checked on the rainforest and it's available in paperback too

Shower-of-roses

Having a dreadful day. I prefer fast days to feast days. I can't seem to do moderation. Wondering if 4:3 would suit me better. Just made a meal plan for the week. Hoping that will help.

CharlotteMusha

Just started on the 5:2 again (as of midnight - currently on a night shift AND fast day at the mo too so counting down till breakfast!)
I'm planning to have some pineapple chunks at around about 5am then finish work at 8am, sleep until 3pm and then have a boiled egg or two before heading to the gym.

I would say I'm looking forward to tomorrow and having some nice food but I'm booked in for a colonic so can only have a very light brekkie - definitely making up for it on Wednesday LOL

adouglasmhor

Fast day frp me today! Hope everyone has a good day Fast or Feast.

1940sGal

Got on the scales this morning to see I've lost 2 of the 3lbs I put back on Having a fast today. I'm going to stick to 5:2 instead of trying 4:3 again as I think I pushed myself too far with that last time.

System

Fasting today, I think I've been eating too often so I'm going to change the way I do this.
I was having a normal feed day right up till bedtime, then small breakfast & lunch & dinner & cups of tea on fast day, then normal breakfast the next day, and sometimes I was getting up in the night for some milk too
So I don't think I was really fasting properly because there were no long gaps between food, I was just eating less iyswim.
So I've always functioned better if I have breakfast so today I'm having breakfast about 0745, lunch finished by 1300. Drink of milk now then nothing until 0745 breakfast tomorrow (barring herbal teas). That means I'll be fasting 12 hours, then food between 0745 and 1900, then another fast of 12 hours. Does that sound sensible?
Thanks
Rosy

tesuhoha

rosyq wrote: »

Fasting today, I think I've been eating too often so I'm going to change the way I do this.
I was having a normal feed day right up till bedtime, then small breakfast & lunch & dinner & cups of tea on fast day, then normal breakfast the next day, and sometimes I was getting up in the night for some milk too
So I don't think I was really fasting properly because there were no long gaps between food, I was just eating less iyswim.
So I've always functioned better if I have breakfast so today I'm having breakfast about 0745, lunch finished by 1300. Drink of milk now then nothing until 0745 breakfast tomorrow (barring herbal teas). That means I'll be fasting 12 hours, then food between 0745 and 1900, then another fast of 12 hours. Does that sound sensible?
Thanks
Rosy

If you think you can manage it then it sounds fine. I usually fast all day then eat dinner at 5ish.