5:2 Diet (part II)

lilmissreading

I did it for 3-4 months pre falling pg. I like it because I can cope with being strict for 2 days but not all the time. I made DH join me because I am weak. He struggled more than me so we started upping his fast days to 600-700. I think I lost about 5cm around waist and thighs (no scales in our house).

Lots of soup. Also ramen - bowl of stock really with fish, veg and a bit of rice noodles. I drink all my drinks black which helps. Found it odd weighing things out.

Good luck!

skintchick

I did it before TTC, and while you can't "eat what you want" on the other days, you do still have to eat sensibly, I thought it was brilliant.

I lost weight and my cellulite disappeared. I was back to a size 8 within a few months (from a 12) and felt great.

I used to save my 500 calories for one meal in the evening, which can include a chicken breast and veg, so I didn;t feel deprived at all (and I am a big eater).

The hairy bikers chicken and chorizo recipe also comes in at 500 cals a person, just don;t have any accompaniment. 500 cals is quite easy actually and there are loads of recipe books for the 5:2 diet now.

Tink2

I did it for 5 weeks

First few fasts were fine, then I started becoming ill doing them (bad stomach, head ache, moody etc)

The weight loss wasn't great either (7.8lbs in those 5 weeks)

onlyroz

BigAunty wrote: »

I'm experiencing great resistance in the 'eat the same as me but less' approach. Basically, I get told to eat their meal (quite often a lentil or bean soup which I am now heartily sick of) or make my own dinner....

Well do whatever works for you - but I prefer a solution which at least enables everyone to sit down together, even if that does mean preparing different things.

Angry_Bear

Tink2 wrote: »

The weight loss wasn't great either (7.8lbs in those 5 weeks)

Just to point out that 7.8lbs in 5 weeks is about the ideal rate to lose weight, and fits in with most medical recommendations. Any quicker and you're more likely to pile it back on and have complications like gallstones and loose skin.

Any

We've been on it for 5ish mths last year with OH and it is thumbs up for me.
Well, definitely for him. He wanted to diet (not me especially) so I had to change the menu for him, so we both went on it. He only eat when and what I told him so he got away easy.
For me it was harder, because I had to plan it all, shop, find interesting recipes.. that was hard. Constantly thinking about food and calories made my cravings worse:-)
One very important word of advice:

- if you like good food like I do (not necessarily lots, but good taste and quality is more important) then you cannot be unprepared for the day. Thinking - I will pick up something later is not on - firstly you will pick up anything, your taste buds when seeing things on shelf will betray you and you will generally find it lot harder to fit into the amount of calories

I don't know anyone (although I am sure I will get now loads of people here to say how easy it is and how they've done it lol) who managed to "wing it" without preparation. I found it hard, and I was feeling under more pressure, as to "where to get 200 cals filling meal now??" "hmm, what is that, I am so hungry, I like it, so it has few (hundred) more calories so what.. It's not a big deal...once"

One thing 5:2 did for us... my OH accepts more vegetables. Since 5:2, he will rather have a grilled steak with roasted veggies then chips!! He actually doesn't ever want chips since.. not even few.
Also accepts more fish, and salads with meat on it.. but no need for bread on the side.
And portion sizes. He certainly eats smaller portions, and snacks less. Because it made him aware of the calories in the snacks.

He lost stone and a half (and he wasn't big before, just had little beer belly) and kept it off till this day.

I only weight 9 stone, but went down to 8.5 stone (with eating 600 cals, because I had the same as OH and men can have more) and now is back again.. :-( Change of jobs does that to you :-( So I think we might need to do it again. OH is ready to go - I am not though, it is me who did all the hard work!! :-)

weeze210

Angry_Bear wrote: »

I've been doing it for the best part of a year now and it's a diet that really suits me.

As with all diets (or "lifestyle changes" if you prefer) it's important that you have one that suits you and you can stick to without feeling deprived.

I find with the 5:2 that when I get cravings I think "I'll have it tomorrow" then on the next day the craving has gone and I don't bother having the chocolate/crisps/pizza I'd wanted!

How much have you lost?

Weeze x

spender

I have found this diet the best, I work so tend to take a Warburtons thin for lunch (100 calories without filling) or have a tin of Heinz soup (most under 200 calories) and then I must confess I use ready meals in the evenings normally M & S Feel fuller for longer or Sainsburys Goodness range. On the other days naturally I do not use ready meals etc so justify the cost and convenience for the days I fast. Surprisingly after the first few fasts you do not wake up hungry on the morning following the fast day!

I did however struggle with insomnia for the first few fasts but this did pass. What I find the beauty of this fast is that the day does pass quickly and you can mentally say well I will have that tomorrow - but when tomorrow comes the craving has past

weeze210

I had a fast day yesterday and I found it a lot easier than I thought I would.
I skipped breakfast, had homemade chicken and mushroom soup for lunch and fish, salad and a couple of potato wedges for tea. I am a proper tea a holic but managed to limit my intake to 4 'big' mugs with the smallest amount of milk I could stomach. I also sipped water all day.
Today I've had a 2 duck egg omelette with mushrooms and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. Lunch has been a tuna salad and an apple. Tea is going to be a pasta bake followed by a couple of Bacardi and Cokes!
I am using My Fitness Pal to keep track of calories which is brilliant for concentrating the mind.
I have 3 springer spaniels so my exercise is romping through the woods with them twice a day for an hour at a time.
I don't want to loose lots of weight I just want to fit back into last years summer clothes. So about a stone will be ok.

Weeze x

Angry_Bear

weeze210 wrote: »

How much have you lost?

Weeze x

I've lost 85lbs total (I only update my sig every 10 lbs), but "only" about 60 lbs of that has been since I was on 5:2.

On fasting days I tend to skip breakfast, have a late "lunch" of soup and have some salad with a little dressing at about 8pm. I always save about 50 cals for coffee