5:2 diet

KxMx

pineapple wrote: »

Happy wet (here anyway ) bank holiday weekend!
Just out of interest I wonder how many of us consulted our GPs as advised before embarking on any of the Horizon fast plans?
I think it is different if you have a known health problem but what if you haven't? I may be doing this for months or possibly forever :rotfl:and I can't imagine my own GP being very receptive to me asking to be monitored/supervised or dieticians (if it is referred on) being able to cope as so many people seem to be doing it.
Cheers

I have existing health problems, and did think long and hard as to whether I needed to consult a GP (i'm doing 8/16 daily).

But, because the problems are undiagnosed (no-one has a clue) and i've been sick for 6 years, I know the dos and donts of my illness inside out, better than any Dr. I did not see any reasosn to be GP monitored so I'm going it alone and doing fine so far.

Also I was already, for other reasons, doing long fasting periods so the 8/16 is just an extension of what I was doing without any problems.

As daska said, a bit of common sense goes a long way. I knew without even trying it that 5:2 would not work for me, would be dangerous in fact, and that the 8/16 was extending what I was already used to. I also know when a flare-up occurs, fasting will be stopped because in the aftermath I always need (genuine need here) to eat alot for a few days. I would only resume when I was 100% sure I was back to my normal level. Added to which anything that rests my guts can only benefit me shall we say!

weyayelass_2

Hi everyone
I too have been caught up in the 5:2 hype and several of my friends have already embarked on it.
I'm going to start next week and am quite excited about it - not dreading the thought of doing yet another faddy diet - because it really is simple.
I guess putting it simply, you're vastly reducing your weekly calorie intake (around 2000 calories) so less calories = weight loss in anyone's book.
I'm not particulary interested in the scientology of it to be honest, because, like many of us, I'm vain and in love with the idea of dropping a stone in 5 weeks.
Sounds too good to be true.... Hopefully it won't be!
Happy Bank Holiday weekend and here's to losing a stone on the 5:2 diet!!!!:j

lostinrates

I have spoken or am speaking to doctors (not gp but consultants) because i have quite a complicated health profile. Most obvious to be considered are my endocrine issues, but, i am not convinced this won't help rather than hinder.

Tbh, ultimately, its a personal decision in any case, and unless there is a comelling reason why my body chemistry is radically different to those that have shown a strong benefit in research then i would lile to give it a go. (in fact i have twice this week done under 500 calorie days) . Tbh, i have been on more restrictive (vlc) diets with doctors approval so i cannot see why this would be so objectionable. Because i have a very low basal metabolism i think i might need some experimentation, but my hope very much is that the 'metabolism' benefits might help me as much or possibly even more than most people, to try and reestablish some normality.

gettingready

Hi everyone - planning to start on this plan from the 1st Sep.

Previously lost 12kg (between Dec and April) counting calories and recording on My Fitness Pal website but now put 3kg back on sigh....

Just wondering what to plan for the 2 "low cal" days?

Will read the whole thread now that I have found it but if anyone got a good idea for a 500cal day - please share?

lostinrates

gettingready wrote: »

Hi everyone - planning to start on this plan from the 1st Sep.

Previously lost 12kg (between Dec and April) counting calories and recording on My Fitness Pal website but now put 3kg back on sigh....

Just wondering what to plan for the 2 "low cal" days?

Will read the whole thread now that I have found it but if anyone got a good idea for a 500cal day - please share?

The telegraph link has some lovely recipes.

More simply,

500 calories can be quite sizable. A fairly unedibly huge dressed salad for example, and a good sized dressed one with some lean meat, like chicken or fish.

I often have eggs ( because we always have them to use up) and Poached egg on spinach, two scrambled eggs ( i scarmble mine with no milk) make low calorific breakfasts or suppers.

gettingready

Thanks - I am a night time eater. Wake up in the middle of night, sometimes more than once and ... terrible things happen

Also - how to stop myself munching all the time while at work at my desk?



My boss (only 2 of us in a tiney office) has started 5:2 last week but he has got some self control - I have none... sigh....

pineapple

gettingready wrote: »

Thanks - I am a night time eater. Wake up in the middle of night, sometimes more than once and ... terrible things happen

Also - how to stop myself munching all the time while at work at my desk?



My boss (only 2 of us in a tiney office) has started 5:2 last week but he has got some self control - I have none... sigh....

If there are only two of you and he is doing 5:2 at least you shouldn't have the temptation of the office biscuit round!
You could maybe try for some low calory munchies. I suppose celery and a low calorie dip isn't that practical at a desk :rotfl: but for instance I have some little Japanese rice crackers from Morrisons which are only 8 cals each.
Also if weight loss is one of the goals - what we did at a previous job was put a chart (with graph paper) up on the office wall, have some scales in the office and have a weigh in every Monday morning (great for curbing weekend binges ). The dieters each had their own little graph line in different coloured biro. It was a superb motivator.
But what most people find on this eating plan is that it reduces cravings anyway.

Mojisola

gettingready wrote: »

Also - how to stop myself munching all the time while at work at my desk?

There's been some research on the amount eaten and how available snacks are. If you have snacks sitting on your desk, you will eat lots. If you have to get up and fetch the snack from the cupboard, you will eat less. If you have to go down to the car or walk to the nearest shop to get the snack, you will mostly not bother. These were the results even though people were given the same amount of calories in the meals so it's not down to hunger.

Make our innate laziness work in your favour!

daska

pineapple wrote: »

I know you are not following the 5:2 plan but one of the points made was that to improve health/lifespan we should aim to reduce our IGF-1 levels through fasting but epecially by reducing overall protein intake.
The 5:2 diet: can it help you lose weight and live longer? - Telegraph
Fortunately I was already halfway there due to the high cost of meat, fish and cheese! :rotfl:
Interesting for those on the Atkins diet

Not really, Atkins isn't a high protein diet in absolute terms, only in relation to carbs LOL. I've increased my protein intake by going low carb but still struggle to get up to the recommended daily amounts.

Edited to add that I've just checked my protein intake for today and I'm spot on the recommended amount for my age. That's including bacon and eggs for breakfast (I had visitors so didn't fast) and a burger (home made but no bun) for supper.

eclecticgal

I'm doing the 5:2 diet too...and blogging the recipes I'm using. If anyone wants to check some of them outThis is the recipe part of my blog. I'm rather enjoying testing some new recipes...