5:2 diet

tesuhoha

paulineb wrote: »

There are diets such as cambridge and lighter life where people eat that every day

Also, its not 500kcals as far as Im aware, its 25 per cent of your TDE which will vary from person to person.

I'm just catching up with the last few pages of the thread but I have to query this. The diet that was worked out by scientists stated 500 calories for women and 600 for men irrespective of size. I suppose you would still lose weight on 600 but Michael Mosley was quite strict about it saying that you could not exceed the calories on fast days even if you exercised more to compensate.

What do other people think? I think it should be 500 calories no more.

~Chameleon~

paulineb wrote: »

1. Don't fast on back to back days - unless you have religious reasons there is no need to. Instead have at least a couple of days in between each fast.


2. Intermittent fasting isn't a performance diet - while you might lose body fat you certainly won't see any big improvements in the gym or in your running pace/times whilst fasting.


3. Do some form of resistance training 2-3 x week (body weight or gym) - it's unlikely you'll lose any muscle unless you're obese whilst fasting, but to maintain your muscle mass and generally improve your metabolism hit the weights.


4. Fast from anywhere between 18-24 hours - this means no food from the start to the finish. Water and the odd cup of tea (ideally herbal) are okay. This will improve your hormonal balance and favour fat loss.


5. Don't spread your calories out throughout the fasting day - you won't be truly fasting, but instead following a low calorie diet without the hormonal benefits which aid fat loss.


6. Don't jump into the deep end - start with a 16 hour fast first to make sure your life doesn't fall apart. Most people will experience headaches and sugar cravings the first time. If you're feeling completely drained stop the fast and eat something!


7. Workout the timing that suits you best - most people prefer to start after their last evening meal through to the following afternoon. This method means you'll be asleep for a big chunk of the fast and you can also meant with friends for dinner and not have to sit there like a lemon.


8. Don't eat junk food - Micheal Mosley and Horizons TV program sent out the wrong message if you ask me. Eating a pile of crap and then fasting the next day is completely wrong. That's a really bad habit to get into and encourages binge eating. I repeat: this is wrong.


9. If you've got any medical issues don't jump on the fasting bandwagon without seeing your doctor first - seems like common sense, but you'd be surprised by some of the stories I've heard.

This is what Gavin Walsh said about 5:2, I get his emails as I did a home fitness programme with him, just wondered what peoples thoughts on it were.

Excellent advice :T

Would it be possible for this to be inserted into the first post of the thread for everyone to refer to?

tesuhoha

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Excellent advice :T

Would it be possible for this to be inserted into the first post of the thread for everyone to refer to?

I'm not sure that is a good idea because it criticises Michael Mosley and his recommended way of eating is responsible for our many successes on here.

If you look at Michael Mosley himself, at how fit and well he looks now, its evidence that his diet works.

~Chameleon~

tesuhoha wrote: »

I'm not sure that is a good idea because it criticises Michael Mosley and his recommended way of eating is responsible for our many successes on here.

If you look at Michael Mosley himself, at how fit and well he looks now, its evidence that his diet works.

The only criticism I can see is the eating of junk food on non-fast days. If I recall from the programme this was in reference to stuffing down burgers & chips on non-fast days and generally giving the message people can eat whatever they like. There are some who take this advice literally and their non-fast days almost become a binge-fest.

pink_petal

Well my third weigh in since starting 5:2 and I am now living proof that you can't binge on normal days! After losing 4.5lbs the last two weeks, I had a 0.5lb gain today.

This week was just full of birthdays and a wedding and two days away with work. I knew myself I'd gone a bit mad!

Not worth worrying about...back to normal next week and I should get that back off no probs!

PP x

tesuhoha

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

The only criticism I can see is the eating of junk food on non-fast days. If I recall from the programme this was in reference to stuffing down burgers & chips on non-fast days and generally giving the message people can eat whatever they like. There are some who take this advice literally and their non-fast days almost become a binge-fest.

As far as I am concerned you can eat what you like on non fast days. I feel that if someone wants a burger then that is not a problem. You don't need to binge. Bingeing is more likely if you try to restrict certain foods.

I have lost the weight and become healthier on the 5:2. I eat healthily. However, I am no angel and do like to indulge at times. Because I can't eat wheat I make gluten free cakes and that is a treat.

What I think about any modifications to this diet is - if it ain't broke, then don't try to fix it.

System

I'm also fasting today, so far I've had 2 boiled eggs, 1/2 a grapefruit and a pear, and lots of water. I'm finding fasting very easy at the moment with salads etc, and I'm eating better on feed days too cos I need to use up all the healthy stuff I've bought for fast days and it's yummy!
I find a couple of cherry tomatoes really helps when I get the munchies

Does anyone know if 5:2 is helpful for sufferers with fibromyalgia? A friend was saying yesterday how hard he's finding life with it and I wanted to recommend 5:2 as I'm getting on so well with it, but I don't know if it would help him?
Trolls need not reply.

Cheers

Rx

Ps tesuhoha has it spot on in the post above

RichardD1970

cashbag wrote: »

I feel thinner, I look thinner so today I made the rash decision to part with £5 for a pair of ASDA jeans in the next size down! I can get into them, I can fasten them up - but I bulge horribly over the waistband & doubt I could sit down in them & certainly could not eat so much as a lettuce leaf whilst wearing them! But I'm on the way & they will hang on display in the bedroom as an incentive to keep going. I am already holding up my old trousers with a belt. Has anyone else found a "carrot" like this keeps them motivated?

Trolls? Boooooooooooooring!!! Shove them off the rickety bridge & keep clippety clopping on the road to success!

:rotfl:

That is exactly what my wife did, one of her initial goals was to be able to buy cheap Asda jeans instead of expensive "Fat Lady Shop" jeans. She reached that goal and is now aiming for a pair 2 sizes smaller, she can just about squeeze into them at the moment. :T

trf1960

Oh okay now I am confused. After reading Chameleon's post (which was excellent by the way, thanks) I see that I am not doing it correctly. Having only just started this week (Tuesday & Thursday's will be my fast days), I have been spreading my calories so that I still have a breakfast - lunch - dinner albeit totalling 500 calories. Is this not the right way?

RichardD1970

trf1960 wrote: »

Oh okay now I am confused. After reading Chameleon's post (which was excellent by the way, thanks) I see that I am not doing it correctly. Having only just started this week (Tuesday & Thursday's will be my fast days), I have been spreading my calories so that I still have a breakfast - lunch - dinner albeit totalling 500 calories. Is this not the right way?

As far as I know you can do it either way.

I prefer to save my calories for 1 evening meal but lots of people have 3 meals a day.

As long as you stick to 500 cals I don't think it matters.

Everyone is different so find what works for you and your lifestyle.