5:2 diet

pink_petal

When I was counting cals my daily target was 1250 cals. I can't knock it to be honest as I lost 2 stone doing it...but I much prefer being able to eat what I like most of the time!

Thanks for the advice! I see a personal trainer so have fitness goals for the year. I do a mix of running and kettlebells along with other 'functional' training but not for the last couple of months due to a back injury. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to it soon and I can sort my pins out!

darrensurrey

pink_petal wrote: »

When I was counting cals my daily target was 1250 cals. I can't knock it to be honest as I lost 2 stone doing it...but I much prefer being able to eat what I like most of the time!

Thanks for the advice! I see a personal trainer so have fitness goals for the year. I do a mix of running and kettlebells along with other 'functional' training but not for the last couple of months due to a back injury. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to it soon and I can sort my pins out!

No worries. Ask your PTer about compound lifting. He/she will be impressed. And you will look amazing... and feel amazing.

I suspected it was that low. You will lose but many people on MFP find that a plateau follows.

Arrietty

Hey everyone,

so glad I joined this thread; not only is there loads of support and encouragement which is EXACTLY what I need to stay motivated, but some really inspirational and informative posts too

Well done pink-petal on your acheivements really inspirational to hear your succes.

Size 8-10 is where I'm aiming to get back to ... am more of a close-fitting 12 at the moment !

I like that you've done this over 3 months as I'm hoping to get to my goal in that time frame.

I decided to start in September so that I'd have 3 months to see what I could achieve in that time, as opposed to giving myself 3 months to lose a specific amount.


Hi Darren - I read in the book about doing the 24 hours that way, but couldn't really get my head round it, you've made it sound a bit more clear.

I'm also interested to read what you said about sticking to 1200 calories on the feast days ...

That's what I've been doing, and then feeling bad when I go over, such as yesterday with a total of about 1600 calories

Obviously I don't intend to gorge myself on feast days, but are you saying that the 5:2 will probably show better weight loss if I don't try to stay under 1200 calories ?

Thanks

darrensurrey

From a longevity and ease of sticking to the "plan" perspective, I understand you're supposed to eat "normally". That doesn't mean trying to beat records for intake. Just eating at around TDEE. The problem with VLCDs is that (apart from the health risks listed above) you will more likely to binge eat at some point down the line. When done properly, IF is great because you know that you can eat what you want outside of the fasting window.

Search for the video on YouTube as you'll get an idea of what Mosley does.

Ruby_Ruby

Arrietty, the idea is to eat normally on your non-fast days. 1200 calories sounds incredibly low, how tall are you? Have you been losing any weight eating that little?

Have you checked what your TDEE is? It might be an idea to have a look if you haven't already done so.http://thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-calories-on-a-non-fast-day/

You might find it quite difficult to keep losing if the difference between your fast and non-fast calories is so low, and I can't imagine it'll be that great for your mood either.

darrensurrey

Ruby_Ruby wrote: »

I can't imagine it'll be that great for your mood either.

You'll be pleased to hear that term is known as "hangry". When you're hungry and easily get angry. :rotfl:

Ruby_Ruby

That's the beauty of this way of eating, you're really only supposed to feel like that on two days of the week, not every day.

The other days we should be able to enjoy a proper dinner, a chocolate bar, or a drink. All within reason of course :D:D

pink_petal

Arrietty wrote: »

Hey everyone,

so glad I joined this thread; not only is there loads of support and encouragement which is EXACTLY what I need to stay motivated, but some really inspirational and informative posts too

Well done pink-petal on your acheivements really inspirational to hear your succes.

Size 8-10 is where I'm aiming to get back to ... am more of a close-fitting 12 at the moment !

I like that you've done this over 3 months as I'm hoping to get to my goal in that time frame.

I decided to start in September so that I'd have 3 months to see what I could achieve in that time, as opposed to giving myself 3 months to lose a specific amount.


Hi Darren - I read in the book about doing the 24 hours that way, but couldn't really get my head round it, you've made it sound a bit more clear.

I'm also interested to read what you said about sticking to 1200 calories on the feast days ...

That's what I've been doing, and then feeling bad when I go over, such as yesterday with a total of about 1600 calories

Obviously I don't intend to gorge myself on feast days, but are you saying that the 5:2 will probably show better weight loss if I don't try to stay under 1200 calories ?

Thanks

Thank you Arriety! I stared 5:2 somewhere between a 12 and 14 and I'm now very comfortably into size 12 bottoms (my bottom half is my issue) and 8-10 on top. You can do it!

I agree, 1200 seems very low for feed days. I don't count cals religiously on those days but I do keep a note on the odd day just to make sure I'm not going overboard and I find I generally eat between 1600 and 1700...sometimes more at the weekend if I'm out!

AbbieCadabra

darrensurrey wrote: »

From a longevity and ease of sticking to the "plan" perspective, I understand you're supposed to eat "normally". That doesn't mean trying to beat records for intake. Just eating at around TDEE. The problem with VLCDs is that (apart from the health risks listed above) you will more likely to binge eat at some point down the line. When done properly, IF is great because you know that you can eat what you want outside of the fasting window.

Search for the video on YouTube as you'll get an idea of what Mosley does.

can i ask what might be some pretty stupid questions?

i've got a lot of weight to lose, does this change the rules at all? would i be ok going over 600 cals on fast days, providing it's no more than 25% of TDEE? on non-fast days, should i be aiming for 500 cals less per day than TDEE?

i don't have anything to eat until after exercise & am finding eating in the 8 hour window suits me. i did 2 fast days together for the 1st time this week & that was ok too.

i really want this to be a new way of eating for the rest of my life! i'm sick of diets, deprivation & then stuffing myself when the scales aren't my friend.

i'm trying really hard only to weigh myself once a week & go more on how i know my shape is changing (there IS a slim woman in here, somewhere! ).

darrensurrey

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

can i ask what might be some pretty stupid questions?

i've got a lot of weight to lose, does this change the rules at all? would i be ok going over 600 cals on fast days, providing it's no more than 25% of TDEE? on non-fast days, should i be aiming for 500 cals less per day than TDEE?

i don't have anything to eat until after exercise & am finding eating in the 8 hour window suits me. i did 2 fast days together for the 1st time this week & that was ok too.

i really want this to be a new way of eating for the rest of my life! i'm sick of diets, deprivation & then stuffing myself when the scales aren't my friend.

i'm trying really hard only to weigh myself once a week & go more on how i know my shape is changing (there IS a slim woman in here, somewhere! ).

I'm not an expert.

It does sound like you're mixing 16/8 and 5:2, though, seeing as you mention the 8 hour window. This doesn't apply and is being extra restrictive if you're doing 5:2 as well as 16/8. I used to do 16/8 everyday, however, without problems.

I would stick to the rules. 500 for women; I've seen people of all sizes benefit from it on MFP.

Whether you do 16/8 or 5:2, pick one and stick to it for at least a month to let your body get used to it.