5:2 diet

daska

Molly41 wrote: »

So against my better judgement I tried intermittent fasting. Great I originally lost 3 lbs but have now put back on 1.5 lbs after eating sensibly. I also fainted and blacked out so much so that my poor dog dives for cover under the table when I stand up. Im obviously not a suitable candidate. I drank loads whilst doing it and yes it was very easy but obviously there are side effects. Be very careful - IM BACK TO SENSIBLE EATING NOW :eek::eek::eek:

But what is "eating sensibly"? I function better if I eat when I'm hungry, which might be 1 or 3 times a day, and I consider that sensible i.e. relying on my sense of what my body is needing. I don't eat simply because cultural norms say I should have breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks - to me that seems daft.

Brighton_belle

Finding this thread facinating. Watched the original horizon programme last night: also very inspiring.

I recently had to stop all eating after 8pm, due to a problem with meds, which is something I never thought I would be able to do as I would graze right up to bed time and often get up for a banana in the middle of the night.
Having been forced to stop this, I have been amazed how quickly my body has adapted and I have lost my fear of being hungry at night and find I survive quite well,lol.

So, I am interested in taking this one step further as I would love to feel better than I do at present. I've done 2 days of 16/8 as for the last month I have naturally done 14/10 which was easy and done without thinking and I am keen to try 5:2, as per Michael Mosley, still eating but much less on fasting days.

Thanks for all the discussions and various view points.

Skymist

For those finding a lack of hunger during and after fasting, you do realise that humans have not changed physiologically for many hundreds of thousands of years, and what you are experiencing is just a basic survival mechanism being turned on!

Our ancestors didn't have a shop on every corner to get food from when they "fancied something to eat, they had to hunt or gather it!!! They ate to survive!!! They couldn't just lie back and say, " I'm feel too weak, dizzy, can't be bothered etc.", 'cos if they didn't put in any effort to obtain food, they went hungry....as they did if they weren't able to make a kill/find any roots/leaves etc. so as has been said, our bodies have hormones that come into play when food is scarce, so that we can live to fight another day!!!! They had to be able to survive until food was available, and had to be able to function even if they hadn't eaten for a few days, just like every other animal on this planet. No-one will drop dead without eating for a few days, let alone a few hours..Nature would have failed terribly if that was her template for survival!!!

They didn't worry...or know about...calorie content, amount of fat/carbs/protein something contained, but ate what they could pick, dig up or kill, and ate as much as they could while they had a supply.

I think people worry far too much about everything food-wise, except worrying about eating too much modern processed food, and not enough food in it's natural state. If eating the latter, calorie/macro/micro nutrients take care of themselves....it's eating all the pre-packaged, nutrient deficient, man-made garbage that fools our wonderful body mechanisms, which make our bodies think that they are starving....which they are...that increase our endless stuffing of these empty calories into ourselves in an attempt by our bodies to get the nutrients that they need to keep us fit and healthy.

I have been doing IF for a couple of years now, and after a lifetime of bulimia...I'm 62.....I now hardly think about food, have no weight/fat problems....107lbs, 19%BF @ 5' 4".....and have finally conquered my ED by eating this way. I have breakfast between 7-8 and dinner around 4-5, and for the first time in my adult life, am no longer food obsessed, have cut out all the crap and don't miss ANY of it any more.

I wish all of you following this path sucess....but remember, this is a way of life, not a short-cut to weight-loss, but a way of giving your body the nutrition it needs and deserves, so that it can serve you well, NOT what your mind fancies, which is often sugar orientated and counter-intuitive to health and wellbeing.

Sorry if this sounds like bit of a lecture...it's not meant to be, just my experience of a lifetime of NOT giving my poor body what IT wants/needs, so that it stays fit, strong and healthy as I head into my twilight years.

S

Prudent

Some really interesting reading here, thank you everyone Does anyone have a link to the Horizon programme please?

I tried a fast day yesterday. I had last eaten about 8pm the evening before. I last through to 4pm without feeling too desperately hungry. I then ate some sliced chicken breast, salad and a little couscous. I kept the portion small. About 8pm I was hungry again and ate an apple. Today I am not on a fast day and have eaten red berries special K for breakfast and the same salad plus a muller strawberry corner for lunch. Any advice welcome as I have poor knowledge of nutrion.

Brighton_belle

Prudent wrote: »

Some really interesting reading here, thank you everyone Does anyone have a link to the Horizon programme please?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfna7nV7WaM

~Chameleon~

Skymist wrote: »

For those finding a lack of hunger during and after fasting, you do realise that humans have not changed physiologically for many hundreds of thousands of years, and what you are experiencing is just a basic survival mechanism being turned on!

Our ancestors didn't have a shop on every corner to get food from when they "fancied something to eat, they had to hunt or gather it!!! They ate to survive!!! They couldn't just lie back and say, " I'm feel too weak, dizzy, can't be bothered etc.", 'cos if they didn't put in any effort to obtain food, they went hungry....as they did if they weren't able to make a kill/find any roots/leaves etc. so as has been said, our bodies have hormones that come into play when food is scarce, so that we can live to fight another day!!!! They had to be able to survive until food was available, and had to be able to function even if they hadn't eaten for a few days, just like every other animal on this planet. No-one will drop dead without eating for a few days, let alone a few hours..Nature would have failed terribly if that was her template for survival!!!

They didn't worry...or know about...calorie content, amount of fat/carbs/protein something contained, but ate what they could pick, dig up or kill, and ate as much as they could while they had a supply.

I think people worry far too much about everything food-wise, except worrying about eating too much modern processed food, and not enough food in it's natural state. If eating the latter, calorie/macro/micro nutrients take care of themselves....it's eating all the pre-packaged, nutrient deficient, man-made garbage that fools our wonderful body mechanisms, which make our bodies think that they are starving....which they are...that increase our endless stuffing of these empty calories into ourselves in an attempt by our bodies to get the nutrients that they need to keep us fit and healthy.

I have been doing IF for a couple of years now, and after a lifetime of bulimia...I'm 62.....I now hardly think about food, have no weight/fat problems....107lbs, 19%BF @ 5' 4".....and have finally conquered my ED by eating this way. I have breakfast between 7-8 and dinner around 4-5, and for the first time in my adult life, am no longer food obsessed, have cut out all the crap and don't miss ANY of it any more.

I wish all of you following this path sucess....but remember, this is a way of life, not a short-cut to weight-loss, but a way of giving your body the nutrition it needs and deserves, so that it can serve you well, NOT what your mind fancies, which is often sugar orientated and counter-intuitive to health and wellbeing.

Sorry if this sounds like bit of a lecture...it's not meant to be, just my experience of a lifetime of NOT giving my poor body what IT wants/needs, so that it stays fit, strong and healthy as I head into my twilight years.

S

Another post I'd like to "thank" a thousand times!!! :T :T :T

~Chameleon~

Prudent wrote: »

Today I am not on a fast day and have eaten red berries special K for breakfast and the same salad plus a muller strawberry corner for lunch. Any advice welcome as I have poor knowledge of nutrion.

Both of these are incredibly high in sugar and will send your blood glucose levels soaring! I bet you're hungry and craving sweet/starchy foods again in an hour or so

Try switching to a protein based breakfast such as eggs or if you must have cereal then choose porridge or weetabix. Again with the yoghurt, switch to regular Greek yoghurt (no need for fat free, it's higher in sugar content) and add fresh or frozen berries and a drizzle of acacia honey (optional) to sweeten

Daffodilsarecool

I'm intrigued by the whole idea, and fascinated by all the posts so far. I haven't done anything yet - I think I need a bit more information first . Today's Telegraph has an article by the guy who did the Horizon programme and some recipes

Edit - sorry not to link - apparently as a new user I'm not allowed to... So if you go on the Telegraph website and scroll down there is a link in the food section, or click on the Life menu at the top of the home page.

~Chameleon~

Daffodilsarecool wrote: »

I'm intrigued by the whole idea, and fascinated by all the posts so far. I haven't done anything yet - I think I need a bit more information first . Today's Telegraph has an article by the guy who did the Horizon programme and some recipes

Edit - sorry not to link - apparently as a new user I'm not allowed to... So if you go on the Telegraph website and scroll down there is a link in the food section, or click on the Life menu at the top of the home page.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9480451/The-52-diet-can-it-help-you-lose-weight-and-live-longer.html

daska

Here's a link to and list of the recipes
They vary from 202 to 250 calories

1. Scallops with pancetta and leeks
2. Green beans, spring onions and chicken liver with a soy dressing
3. Griddled courgettes with feta, lemon, mint, puy lentils
4. Roasted shallot, aubergine and cumin filo tart
5. Ramen soup
6. Spiced tomato dal
7. Slip sole with lemongrass dipping sauce