5:2 diet

shandyclover

Hi I'm fairly new to 5:2, just on third fast day today. I skimmed read the book very quickly, I hope I am not being dense by asking this, but my understand is as long as you consume no more than 500 calories in 24 hours you are still fasting? Reason is I find it much easier not to faf with meals and stuff, I have been finding it easier just to eat a normal dinner with family on day 1 for e.g, nothing else afterwards, then just drink tea semi skimmed milk but no sugar all the next day (day 2), then break the fast the next morning with breakfast (day 3) - hope that's clear.

tesuhoha

judpudding wrote: »

Week 2: Day 1 of fasting.

I was slightly disappointed by the fact I did not lose any weight in my first week but I know it's going to take time and, after a very indulgent weekend, I should be glad I didn't gain!

I am opting for no calories until early dinnertime so just a few black coffees until then. It helps working from home because I have nothing in the cupboards at the moment and no need to exert much energy!

Recipe tip: Eton mess (with 2tbsp of creme fraiche instead if cream). I have such a sweet tooth so miss having a dessert on fast day. This recipe saved me! In fact, I'm happy eating a 19 kcal mini meringue nest just to get a sugar kick!

On a fast day its probably best not to eat sugar in the daytime too often, the reason being is that every time you eat it then you get an insulin rush which results in weight gain and that would defeat the point of the fasting. Don't get me wrong, I am a sugar addict but if I want a snack on a fast day, I eat non salted nuts which are quite sweet. Sometimes I do indulge my sugar craving at the end of the day though by having a 40 cal hot chocolate which I don't think does too much harm.

This doesn't apply on non fast days though, you can can eat what you like.

tesuhoha

shandyclover wrote: »

Hi I'm fairly new to 5:2, just on third fast day today. I skimmed read the book very quickly, I hope I am not being dense by asking this, but my understand is as long as you consume no more than 500 calories in 24 hours you are still fasting? Reason is I find it much easier not to faf with meals and stuff, I have been finding it easier just to eat a normal dinner with family on day 1 for e.g, nothing else afterwards, then just drink tea semi skimmed milk but no sugar all the next day (day 2), then break the fast the next morning with breakfast (day 3) - hope that's clear.

That's exactly what I do. On a fast day I eat no breakfast or lunch. If I get hunger pains I might eat a couple of nuts but no more. I drink tea with semi skimmed milk and no sugar.

Then in the evening I eat a normal evening meal. I have lost loads of weight doing this.

tesuhoha

pink_petal wrote: »

Fasting today too and really needing it. I had a very bad weekend with 2 leaving nights and a hen night...over the course of the weekend I've gained 3lbs! How is that even possible?! Alcohol probably...!

Anyway, I suffer from sciatica and was feeling a wee twinge this morning. Can I take painkillers on a fast day? I wouldn't take any of my strong ones, it's not quite a full blown episode just yet, but can I take a couple of Ibuprofen or should I eat something before I take them?

Any help appreciated!
PP x

Ibuprofen are not very good for the stomach. I would take paracetamol instead. No need to eat really but make sure you drink plenty. Sounds to me like you are suffering from dehydration. Maybe you have put on weight through water retention. Try drinking lots of fluids today.

Fasting tends to get rid of aches and pains long term.

tesuhoha

Ruby_Ruby wrote: »

Well I've just finished my first week and I may have gone a little far. I actually did 4 fast days, more of an alternate day fast than 5:2.

I found the idea of several non-fast days in a row a little scary, so I just carried on fasting every other day.

It felt fine, very natural, but this was just my first week so we'll see how it goes, may or may not continue it.

I'm another one having issues with keeping my non-fast day calories up. The most I managed was 1500 on Saturday, after 2 other non-fast days under 1300 cals, my TDEE is 1840.

I've realised that my pre-fast diet was fine, lots of meat, salad, steamed veg and fruit but with quite a lot of junk on the form of chocolate, cream cakes%2

Don't count calories on fast days. Eat what you want. This is the secret of the diet and why it does not get boring. Its why people don't give it up as they do other diets. Counting calories every day is too restrictive. Just make sure you stick to 500 on the 2 fast days. You may have given yourself a kick start with the fasting every day but it would be advisable if you stuck to the rules to ensure long term success and sustainability.

pink_petal

tesuhoha wrote: »

Ibuprofen are not very good for the stomach. I would take paracetamol instead. No need to eat really but make sure you drink plenty. Sounds to me like you are suffering from dehydration. Maybe you have put on weight through water retention. Try drinking lots of fluids today.

Fasting tends to get rid of aches and pains long term.

Thank you for replying. Paracetamol don't tend to help my sciatic pain very much, but I'll give them a try first and if I need to go down the ibuprofen route I'll just have to eat something and then have a smaller dinner.

Good point about the dehydration. Three nights on the drink does not agree with me anymore and I spent all day yesterday on the couch drinking soft drinks which won't have helped much. Off to fill my water bottle now!

PPx

tesuhoha

Also, of course pink petal, alcohol is quite toxic when it comes to things like sciatica because it depletes the minerals in your body and dehydrates you. When I drink I find that I get nasty cramps in my legs and feet.

tesuhoha

pink_petal wrote: »

Thank you for replying. Paracetamol don't tend to help my sciatic pain very much, but I'll give them a try first and if I need to go down the ibuprofen route I'll just have to eat something and then have a smaller dinner.

Good point about the dehydration. Three nights on the drink does not agree with me anymore and I spent all day yesterday on the couch drinking soft drinks which won't have helped much. Off to fill my water bottle now!

PPx

Actually, if you could get hold of some Dioralyte that might be a great help to you because it replaces all the lost vitamins and minerals. My husband has actually taken it for a hangover and it has worked. If you have any milk thistle then that is very good for hangovers, it gives the liver a boost. Not saying you have a hangover but generally.

I read something about Ibuprofen a while ago, can't remember exactly what it said but the gist of it was that it was bad for the stomach.

pink_petal

Thank you again! I'll nip out to the chemist and see what they have. I definitely do have a hangover from a heavy three days so you can imagine how my head feels today! Feel really horrible and sluggish so the perfect day to fast and get it out of my system.

tesuhoha

I'd definitely go for the milk thistle as well then. Its a pretty good supplement.