5:2 diet

Mojisola

This - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9480451/The-52-diet-can-it-help-you-lose-weight-and-live-longer.html - answers some of your questions.

Gloomendoom

My thoughts in blue...

rugby7170 wrote: »

1. 600 cals in one meal only or three meals?

Whatever suits you.

2. Why 600. Would 500 be better, or 400?

The less you eat the faster you will lose weight.

3. What exactly to eat on fast days? Low fat, low protein?

Whatever suits you.

4. On non fast days is it better to eat healthily?

With respect, that is a bit of a silly question as it is always best to eat healthily. However, the odd splurge won't do you any harm and will probably stop you getting fed up with the routine.

5. Should I have 16 hrs of non eating? In my case I would not eat until lunch on the fast day.

Whatever suits you.

6. Is 4:3 better?

It will certainly give you faster results. From my observations, the less you eat, the faster you will lose weight. It isn't rocket science. More fast days and eating less on fast days will give you a bigger deficit. Eating normally on the intervening non-fast days will stop your body switching to starvation mode as it would on a traditional calorie controlled diet.

rugby7170

Thanks for your comments.
My point really was to ask questions about the "repair the body" aspect of this diet. As you know the whole point of the Michael Mosley programme was to research ways to live longer and his 5:2 diet was set up as such. He did it for 3 months and his IgF-1, cholesterol and other stuff showed vast improvement. There is also the possibility of improving brain power as well. All this is fantastic from what is a fairly easy programme to follow. The losing weight aspect is a bonus; but what a bonus. And one thing he failed to mention is the huge benefit that losing weight has on one's joints, particularly for older people.
We all know that by eating less one will lose weight. And this has certainly happened in my case.
But what I don't know is if what I am doing is the best way to "repair the body". I suspect that sufficient research has not been completed yet.
I am happy to continue with my 3 small meal a day programme which is almost the same as MM (I think he did two 300 cal meals on his fasting day). But if there is any knowledge out there that answers some of the question I posed I would be grateful for any answers.

Mamjak

Well first FAST day today. Plan to normally do tuesday and thursday's but as out tomorrow for new year decided to do today. Also had bg splurge yesterday on takeaway pizza so felt really bloated and full today.

Day started well and was happy with just cuppa tea. Started to get shakes after having unpacked food shop delivery so made myself a raspberry, banana & yoghurt smoothie at about half 12 which kept me going. Still felt slightly shaky but had more energy than have done for a while so cleaned house. Finally made some Potato & Leek soup and some Cheesy bread (see recipe on old style moneysaving forum) which was really lovely but has slightly put me over my calories. Had 620 when should be 500. BUT I think I have done well for first day and am feeling quite satisfied at the moment. Off to make a herbal tea as reward

Hope everyone else has a good start to their new year!!

rugby7170

Well done. The smoothie may be a bit high in calories but don't worry. It's a great start. I cut out a latte (140 cals !! ) on my fast day and drink green tea instead. Or any herbal tea is good.

MrsTinks

First fast day today - have gone slightly over (30 sneaky little calories LOL) but was definitely hampered by not planning well enough what I was going to eat and then only having in half of what I needed for a proper meal etc lol... had a bowl of cereal (carefully weighed) and skimmed milk (measured) at lunch which saw me through till around 6pm when I had a Mug Shot... felt peckish at 9 so had 2 boiled eggs. Still hungry but not unbearable so not a bad start! And I have my eye on a piece of tarte de limone for lunch tomorrow I did install an app to track my calories - intend to use it every day, fasting or not, to see what I'm scoffing... maybe logging it will help me consume less...
Also drinking a lot of tea which I can't normally as it gives me migraines (tannins) but have found a green earl grey at Whittards so loving having cuppa's which takes my mind off the eating habit... and irony is that when I stopped drinking tea many years ago I realised what I did was swap it for hot chocolate, chocolate bars and crisps... I was trying to think of how much junk i ate before when I had tea and realised I didn't... but I did drink between 5 and 8 cups a day! lol

Also going to the gym - aim for 2 times a week - will be chuffed if I manage 3! Went Sunday and going tomorrow, would have gone today but so inconsiderable they were closed pfffft
Will try to make sure my fast days don't fall on a gym day though as I really doubt I'd cope with that!

Oh well - need to start a diary somewhere so I can track thoughts and such

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Just thought everyone might like to know, it appears that BBC News are doing a piece on dieting, particularly intermittent fasting....

https://www.facebook.com/bbcbreakfast/posts/575232892490853

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Apologies if this has already been posted....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/9483381/52-diet-healthy-recipes-250-calories-or-less.html

Irony

Been 5:2 for 3 weeks (mon/weds). Plan meal as least 1 day ahead. Keep it very simple no fussing to tart-up a basic plain day-it's only 1 day after all-.

My reason for posting today is that I'm shocked at something that I thought was 0 calories is in fact, 5CAL, may not sound much but how many pellets or sticks of sugarfree chewing gum do we nibble on fast days to help us through. I've had about 10 Wrigley Extra sugarfree gum pellet things today, that's 50cals on top of my ration, not happy. 1 piece,just 1 teeny bit =5cals

silvasava

Right - fully intended to start the 5:2 diet this year. Went shopping with a friend yesterday & tried a top on in the sales. HORRIFIED at my rear view so first fast day today. Weighed myself first thing & up to now I've had nothing but a few cups of tea. I really thought I'd be starving or light heeaded but I'm not. I am going to have something light for my tea & not be stupid & have nothing at all (Oooh - tummy's just rumbled so maybe I'll have a snack )
I'm intending to do Tuesday's & Thursdays & see how I get on