Has anyone else tried this or is trying it now?
I started today & it looks too easy to be true.
I missed all the hype last summer & only heard about it in Rado Times last week so i would love to hear from anyone who has tried it.
First day of fasting & to be honest I feel quite normal but then I often forget lunch anyway if I'm busy.
I cannot believe how much weight I have managed to put on in a year following some family problems- typical comfort eater! Now I need to get myself in hand quickly.

Quite a few of us have been trying this tyoe of diet, see this old thread. www.gransnet.com/forums/dieting/1193212-Horizon-intermittent-fasting-diet?msgid=24964973. There is also a Q&A on the home page if you click on the banner logo at the top of the page.
I think this type of regime really works for life.

I started the diet yesterday and it was fine. I made a gorgeous tomato soup for supper and my husband had bread with his. I managed to keep to 500 calories. Trick is to keep busy and not get the nibbles. I think I can do this!!
Tomorrow is my next Fast day and it will be veg soup this time. Luckily both my husband and I love soup. Will weigh myself next week and see if I am a bit lighter. I am being careful on my non Fast days as well - but that is my decision as I need to loose about 10kilos.
Keep in touch GrandmaH and lets see how we do.

Thank you- I'll have a look.
First day went very well,I wasn't hungry although I did feel light headed around 3.30.
Not extra hungry today either.
If it works it seems a really good habit to get into.

Oh I am very pleased to see this new thread on this diet. Thank you GrandmaH. I too have started it today and am doing ok so far. Am drinking hot water instead of tea or coffee. Don't like black tea/coffee or herbal but find the hot water quite pleasant. Have bought two packs of fresh sunshine vegetables from Waitrose for my supper which will only be 128 cals and means I can have an apple or blueberries as well. I also bought some Miso soup which was quite pleasant. It would be helpful for me if people added to this thread what low cal stuff they have found good. Lets keep this thread going and support each other. Good luck to those of you who have just started xx

I've been thinking about this for a while, so will watch this thread with interest.
Before Christmas I had some success with a low carb diet, but it isn't working too well now and it seems tricky to maintain.
From the bits I've read about the 5-2 diet there are other health benefits as well as weight loss.
Good luck to those starting out on 5-2!

Oh do join us Notso. I have just read the other thread and got the impression that you need to eat all the cals in one go but in the book I have it says the cals can be spread (which I have to do because of medication). What have you all read and feel please?

On 'fasting' days, your 500 calories can be spread over the day nanapug, that's what it says in all of the on-line articles.
I think I will give this a go...why wait?
Do your 2 'fasting' days have to be the same days each week I wonder, or can they change to fit in with what you're doing?
I shall go for Friday this week as first day of 500 calories. (Good job I like cabbage soup)
Can we post on here about how we make up our 500 calories? It will be helpful to swap ideas. I suppose the trick to it is to plan ahead.

I just read an article about this diet which highlighted its possible detrimental impact upon fertility. Any of us worried about that?

I'm on it, I'm on my second week, tomorrow will be a fasting day. I move my days around and make sure they don't interfere with anything I have arranged, I like that flexibility, I never do a day at week-ends too many temptations. I do a Monday and Thursday, or a Tuesday or Friday. I read somewhere that Michael Moseley said the psychological effect of knowing that you can have a day off the next day cannot be underestimated and I think that is very true, it really keeps me going knowing I can eat normally the next day. I have tried other diets such as the Atkins and found that I could not keep that going, I would have killed for an apple! I need a solution that I can stick to for forever really. I like the concept that the body repairs itself during the fasting days.

My husband and I have been using this 5:2 method for several months now and it is so successful, I am sure we will always use it to lose/or maintain our weight targets.

We vary the 2 days according to our social calendar!! So this week it is Monday and Wednesday and then another week we may do Tuesday and Thursday...just so long as it is not two consecutive days.

Today we had a fruit "Smoothie" for breakfast, i.e. one scoop of protein powder and some summer fruits (defrosted blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries). For lunch we had soup, and tonight I will have more soup (vegetable and chicken) and my husband will have a poached egg on wholemeal toast. We also have an apple and orange each in between plus usual tea and coffee. So, not strictly 500 and 600 calories each but pretty close and it doesn't seem to affect the results. Soup is our favourite filler on these days. We actually enjoy the fasting days now (well at least I do!!) because the next day we can eat pretty much what we like within reason and still lose weight each week (for my husband) and I maintain my weight very easily after many years of going up and down all the time depending on the food intake each week.

Hope this helps.

A useful filler if you are feeling deprived is half a butternut squash cut into chips and roasted with spray oil.The squash is 9 calories and the oil is 1 cal per squirt. This gives a huge plateful. I usually add a tablespoon of Hellman's Lighter than Light mayo as a dip, for 10 cals.
I have reached a bit of a plateau with my alternate day fasting, having lost over 2.5 st, but am persevering. It is now just a way of life. I feel so much better, my resting pulse rate is down, and I am sure my memory has improved a bit.

The squash snack sounds good. How long did it take to lose that amount shysal?

Notso it took about 4 months to lose the 2.5 stone. I have remained the same for about a month and still have a bit to lose, so I plan to increase the exercise and cut down a bit on eating days.

shysal - that's inspiring. I think I must try this diet.

Well, my first day went well yesterday. Yes, I was hungry but I didn't weaken and felt "good" at the end of the day. The strange bit was realising that I didn't have to do it today. I think that will definitely make it easier. Trouble is I have so much on over the next few days I am struggling to find a day I can do it again. Will have to sort it though. I would love to loose two stone as I am thinking I will need knee surgery at some time and know that they will tell me to loose weight so I may as well pre-empt it. Who else is going to do it? Its much better with support xx

I've just bought the book and am looking forward to starting. All your experiences have been very useful.

I started it yesterday, by default. Won't go into all the nasty details, but I was sick (most unusual for me) and haven't eaten yet. Does that count as one of my 2 days?

shysal, that's brilliant! I'm more determined than ever now.

Tomorrow is my first 500 calorie day, and I have everything lined up so no excuses!

I have been using a variety of fasting diets for many years (for weight control and also the spiritual side) ... it was interesting to see the Horizon programmme and the new Michael Mosley book ... MMs book seems to add little to the programme is is quite costly. I currently use The No Nonsense Guide to 5:2 Diets ebbook (avid Kindle reader too!) as a simple inexpensive guide [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Nonsense-Guide-Intermittent-ebook/dp/B00AZ8BZHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359648136&sr=8-1

Currently maintaining 5ft8in and 8.5 st !!

ooops - cant do links!

No Nonsense 5:2 diet ebook:

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Nonsense-Guide-Intermittent-ebook/dp/B00AZ8BZHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359648136&sr=8-1

The Michael Mosley ebook is:

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fast-Diet-intermittent-ebook/dp/B00AW8UK0K/ref=pd_sim_kinc_4

:-)

I have the M.M. book, which I think is more readable than most.

Well I have had an excellent start to day two of the fast this week. I slept so badly last night (bl**dy new mattress) that I decided to go back to bed after seeing GS off to school, and have a sleep. I have only just got up so it's lunch time now and I have saved my breakfast calories!!!
How did you get on Notso? Are you seriously going to do it Gally? I hope you are feeling better now.Have you started Janthea? How about you Anno? I really must measure my waist and hips today as I have dieted before and regretted not doing that.
We normally have drinks and nibbles on a Friday night, so will miss that, but I can have that tomorrow instead, which is something I find good about this diet.

I don't get this. So far today all I have had is one egg. It is now nearly seven pm and I have fed the GCs with stuff I would normally pick at and I have no desire to at all. Yes, I am hungry, and I am going to eat something soon, but my head is in a very different place to where it normally is when I diet. Both my DDs have said they want to try it too. What's more I can go out to lunch tomorrow with my DD and GD and not feel guilty. Love it......

I'm nearly at the end of my first 500 calorie day and it's been ok.

I haven't read the book yet but heard that for the maximum health benefits, a 16 hour break from food is recommended...includes being asleep of course. So I didn't have any food until after lunchtime today. That was ok too.

I can't honestly say that I'm hungry, but I would like something else to eat! It's just habit isn't it? You don't need the food, but you want the taste of it. So I'm going to have an early night with a new book and remove myself from the temptation.

I started the 5:2 diet last week and lost over a pound. I haven't found it difficult so far and have managed to avoid thinking about food too much. I'm vegetarian anyway so a good veggie soup has been very enjoyable and filling, without too many calories. I'm doing Mondays and Fridays, as that fits in with my voluntary work (in France, and throughout January we had 'galette' at each session!) It's a good job January is over - I never eat that much cake normally.

nanapug. Yes I am going to do it once I get home on Sunday. I had a good head start to get me in the mood - not that I would have particularly chosen to do it that way - but only have 3 weeks before leaving for Oz when everything will go haywire again . Good luck with your effort - sounds as if it will go well and, of course, to everyone one else

Gally stop it with the cupcake emoticon! I had a 'low calorie' day yesterday, didn't count them, but that's my way of easing into it. I had a headache at the end of the day. Have bought the book and will aim for twice a week, I wonder (must read the Q&A thread) - is there any benefit in doing it only once a week? Do you still lose but just more slowly?

I think a big boon for the low calorie days/diets is to drink caffeine free and tea without milk, there are so many smashing teas on the shelves now - Ginger and Lime, etc. Not that I think caffeine adds calories, but perhaps it stimulates appetite? Anyway I have a friend at work who has lost quite a bit of weight over time by simply stopping drinking milky tea (she was drinking lots of it).

I can't find the Q & A thread for this diet....anyone know where it's hiding?

See. You've got to do it now Notso. After Cari's done all that finding it work.

You still sticking to the fruit Cari?

!!!! (no I'm not )

Thanks Cari. I'm already doing it Jings, but just wanted to check that I'm doing it properly! I will look to see if Lindor are included.

I think it sounds great in theory and believe it will work but something is holding me back from starting it. I have dieted all my adult life, battled to either keep wt off as a younger woman then gained as I have grown older. Many of the diets I have done have been harsh with hunger and starvation type diets impacting on my body. I have done the lipotrim diet where I lost 2 stone in 8weeks then put it all and more back on. Now I am using relaxation and healthy eating to diet which is mostly about my state of mind. I am tempted by this 2day fasting process but perhaps I am resistant because of my earlier encounters with anorexia/bulemia?
I will give it a try today and see how I feel. It would be useful to know what people eat for their 500 calories in the 24 hours.

Cari. Is that advertising?

I bought this book back in the early '70's. Slimmed DH down using it.

#nothing newunderthesun

juneh I had cup o soup, herb teas, scrambled egg whites on a crumpet with a scrape of butter, a banana and that as enough!

Oh! And

juneh; I too have been on diets all my life and can't believe that, at 61 I'm still on one. My weight has gone up and down by up to 4 stones over the years and I'm heartily sick of it [although I did realise by my forties that I should be @ 9 1/2 stone and had been battling to be 8st or less for most of my life; lowest weight 7.3]. I think the swinging sixties have a lot to answer for [and Twiggy] although it's even worse for young women now. Had I known, in the sixties about the importance of good nutrition combined with exercise I think things would have been different. It was all 'eat less and be thin'.

Thanks tegan & jeni for your responses. I have just had a bowl of porridge with some strawberries &blackberries. Would normally have some fruit with yogurt for breakfast but saved it. Not sure how many cals will weigh it up.

Have you got the 'my fitness pal' app? It does it all for you.

What is the fitness ap please

Its an app for iPhone and iPads and I think other putters. You decide on your cal intake for the day, then input all your intake, it works out the cals and does the arithmetic.
If you do exercise eg ironing you put that in as well!
It's brill, lots of us are using it!

Thanks will look into it. Off to do my ironing, pack a bag am off with a friend to a spa tomorrow. Yippee, so excited 2 days of being looked after :-) :-)

The Fast Diet book by Michael Mosley is on Amazon Daily Deal today for 99p (today only)

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D341689031&field-keywords=fast+diet

Should have added that it's for Kindle owners

Thanks for the tip on the fast diet book on kindle.Only found this site yesterday and am enjoying reading your posts.

I have two good meals on my 500 cal days. I can make a substantial cottage pie using turkey breast mince, or a fish pie, for around 250 cals, I make 4 and freeze 3. For lunches I find mushrooms very useful at 2 cals each, I have loads, fried in spray oil, on 2 slices of toasted 50/50 crusts away bread (45 cal per slice), with marmite. Scrambled egg whites are good too at 20 cals each.
When I want to save time and have the counting done for me I buy M&S roast lamb meal for one, 170 cals, or their Count on Us filled Yorkshire puds at 210 cals.
Home made soups are easy at around 50 cals per serving, and so much more filling than cup-a-soups, which have about 90 cals.
I used to be a walking Weight Watchers point list, but now I am learning calorie values instead. Good luck to all who are embarking on this regime, I hope you will find it as easy as I have (I do alternate days).

This book might be useful. 5-2 recipes.

Purchased!

Just read it. Seems very good and sensible
Very helpful
Thanks.

Kindle edition is very cheap.

whow you have really thought this through, I think I have been OK today although did have my evening meal, did have porridge and fruit for lunch then had my dinner of meat and veg for tea. Didn't stick to the 500 but still have maintained my slimming world diet and more.
I am going away for a couple of days to a spa and will need to watch it but will do the fasting diet following your plan [Shysal]
Thanks for writing it out, it certainly doesn't seem like fasting does it.

I find it helps me to religiously write down the calories of everything I consume on fast days. Otherwise it would be so easy to cheat!
Good luck juneh, let us know how you get on. Hope you have a great spa break.

I use the fitness pal app!

Day three of fasting for me today. Did eat rather too much over the weekend so was looking forward to it today. Think I am going to do three days this week to kick start the weight loss. Thought that rice cakes may be a good thing as the big ones are only 30cals so will give them a go. How are the rest of you getting on?

Think you should stick to the two days, nanpug. I find that, with dieting and/or exercise it's when you push yourself too much you have problems. Put the weekend behind you and just start again .

nanaplug, I too have rice cakes, usually Snack a Jack cheese ones at 38 cals, a bit tastier than plain, with cottage cheese and slice of beefsteak tomato. Glad you are persevering, I look forward to hearing how you and others get on. As you can probably tell, I am hugely enthusiastic about intermittent fasting, it is the best thing that has happened to me and gives me hope for a healthy old age!

Wow, that gives me hope too, thanks shysal.
Yes, perhaps you are right Tegan, I do rather push myself too much. I crippled myself using the Wii a few years ago!! Two days it is. Just wish my old legs would let me exercise too x

Hi I'm new here - just finding my feet! Started the 5:2 diet today so I'm soaking up all the info I can - anything rather than eating!! don't feel just as hungry as I thought I would, but it's early days yet! Thanks for all the tips.

Me and Mr Marymore have been doing this diet for the last 4 weeks and we love it! I have lost a few pounds but quite honestly haven't been weighing myself because I feel so thin!!! I must say I only want to lose about 10lbs although I probably should lose more than that I'll be happy with 10lbs.

We have settled on doing the fast days on Monday & Thursday, we did do Tuesday & Thursday but found only having one day between fasts was a bit hard going. I love cooking and devising low calorie recipes and use My Fitness Pal for a calorie counter, you can also put recipes on there. My favourite things on fast days are Mushroom & Cauliflower soup (better than it sounds and really fills you up), Spinach Omelette with parmesan and a green salad, Ratatouille with fish and Bean & veg soup. They are all under 200 cals a portion. For breakfast I have half a tub of 0% Total greek yogurt and 75 grams of apple puree made with Bramley apples (no sugar), cinnamon and a few raisins. I leave my breakfast as long as I can. If I have some calories left at the end of the day I make a small cup of cocoa with skimmed milk, cocoa powder and a little tiny bit of sugar.

You have to keep busy on fast days and it's lovely when you wake up the next day and can eat what you like. I find I don't want to eat too much anyway. Good luck to all on the fasting diet, I think it's a winner

Can we have the recipe for the soup? Sounds nice!

No, its a silly idea,as are all faddy diets, and you can lose weight easily ( 5lbs in one week ) by following a healthy balanced diet, and cutting out fat.

I have been to a lovely spa hotel for 2 days. I did quite well because I didn't seem to want to finish a meal even though the food was lovely. I felt almost above it all, quite weird. Any way thought tomorrow would do the fast to clear my system. I have also started to meditate with Deepach Chopra's self healing tape.

I have been to a lovely spa hotel for 2 days. I did quite well because I didn't seem to want to finish a meal even though the food was lovely. I felt almost above it all, quite weird. Any way thought tomorrow would do the fast to clear my system. I have also started to meditate with Deepach Chopra's self healing tape.

I've been doing this diet now for several weeks, OH and I started it after the original programme on tv back in the autumn. He had a lot of weight to loose and I wanted to drop by about a stone. We've both done well, in fact I've managed to get under my original target weight and feel much, much better for it.

To answer susieb's earlier post - I don't agree that it's a silly idea. To me, the main attraction is that it's not a totally "all bad foods banned" diet. What you can't eat today - you can eat in moderation tomorrow. That's what's kept us going. Plus the fasting day seems to suit me and I often feel more energised that day than some of the in between days.

I can see that it will be a "way of life" change for me as I'm very happy with it.

Good luck to those who are giving it a try and to those who are still wondering - go on - do it and let us know how you get on

I am on my 2nd week now & to be honest I haven't really noticed it being a problem. I have lost 4lbs but I don't feel I am on a 'diet' as such. I don't understand why I don't feel hungry.In fact I was quite looking forward to fasting again this week. The only thing I miss is a cup of tea- it is not the same without milk but it's only for a day. I can drink my coffe black & herbal teas & I always drink a lot of water anyway.
I bought the book on Amazon for £3.99 free postage & so far have stuck to the meal plans. The tortilla with mushrooms, peppers & mozzarella last night was lovely & I am amazed that one egg & a slice of ham kept me from thinking about food all day.
I am doing Tuesdays & Thursdays to keep weekend free & I do a dance class on Mondays &Wednesdays evenings & I'm not sure if it would make a difference to energy levels.
I'll make & freeze some batches of soup at the weekend ready for next week.
So far I am very impressed.

I am sorry SuzieB but you say "you can loose 5lb in a week by...." You personally may be able to, but some of us struggle. As I said to my GP the other day "Don't you think at my age if I could loose weight I would. I would give any thing to be slimmer, and have been trying all my adult life" IMHO, if this way of life suits people, which it seems to, we must support each other to achieve it.
I too actually look forward to the fast days and feel absolutely fine and enjoy it.

Here is my Mushroom and cauli soup recipe for anyone who wants it.

Mushroom & Cauliflower soup

Serves 2 - 155 cals per portion

270g Cauliflower
400g Mushrooms
1 stock cube (I used Knorr chicken)
About 1 pint boiling water
2 tsps olive oil
Thyme
Seasoning

Break mushrooms up and put in a bowl with thyme leaves, olive oil and seasoning and toss to coat. Put them into a large tin so that they are in a single layer and bake in a fairly hot oven for around 20 mins until they are cooked but not dried out. Put stock cube into a jug and make up with hot water. cut up cauliflower into florets and steam until soft.

When cauli is cooked let it cool and put into food processor with a bit of the stock and whizz adding more stock until you get a puree. . Add most of cooked mushrooms leaving a few for garnish and whizz again adding stock until you get the consistency you like. Add more water if necessary. Reheat and pour into bowls, scatter chopped up saved mushrooms on the top.

susie
'Cutting out fat' is dangerous advice.
Fats form part of a balanced diet and provide the body with essential vitamibns, as well as making food palatable.

Thanks Marymore for that recipe, it sounds yummy and I will try it x

Right! Need to get cauliflower and mushrooms tomorrows,

How does one get motivated to start a diet this weather? I need comfort food when its cold.

Is there a vegetarian version of that book?

However I am never going to be motivated to diet if I can't get off my backside to even Google the right book.

Oh! Heck!

It covers vegetarianism in the book Nellie. As long as you stick to the 500 cals on fast days you can eat what you like; so no excuse eh?! I like having soup on fast days as it is comforting. You could have 500 cals worth of chocolate if you wanted (not that any one would ;)).

Hi Jane -true, I should have said cutting down on fat ! ( mind you I did have to cut it completely until I had my gall bladder removed ! )

susie well that's different, agreed

I've been doing the 5:2 now for 4 months, and it suits me. I don't find the fast days difficult at all, in fact I always feel quite virtuous at the end of the day (must be the Puritan in me!). And of course I always know that the next day I can have whatever I want. Such a treat after any other diet I've tried, as they've all spoilt my fun at some time - having a meal out with family or friends and silently calorie counting your way through it, and making dismal choices (second glass of wine or pudding?) isn't much fun.

The 5:2 has made me appreciate my food much more too, and though it sounds really pompous, it has also made me thankful for the fact that I can eat more or less what I want when I want, not a luxury afforded to most people in this world.

I'm not doing this one primarily to lose weight - though I have lost over half a stone while eating more than usual for 5 days each week. I was convinced by the health argument, and wanted to try something natural that promised to reduce my cholesterol levels, blood pressure and risk of developing Alzheimer's.

And I honestly think it is good for you. The last three times I've had my BP measured over the past 3 years, it's been a constant at around 134/85, which I haven't been happy with. I had my second Biobank check up at the weekend and it was measured at 118/74. For reasons I won't bore you with, I'm doing much less exercise now than I was at the time of the earlier checks, and I've now allowed more treats like cakes/chocolate into 5 days of my week. My job is particularly stressful at the moment too. I feel my BP should be higher now, and can't think of anything but the 5:2 that could have prompted the dramatic drop (apart from a bungling health professional doing the check, but I've discounted that - my man looked very competent!).

I found The 5:2 Diet Book: Feast for 5 Days a Week and Fast for 2 to Lose Weight, Boost Your Brain and Transform Your Health by Kate Harrison helpful - another Kindle download that's as cheap as the chips I now dare eat.

That's really positive Maggiemaybe. I'm on my second fast day tomorrow and reading your post confirms my intentions!

I hope it goes well for you, Forzanonna. I feel like a bit of a 5:2 zealot right now, so I want everyone to like it!

This is my first week on the 5:2 diet. I thought it might help to hear others experiences and keep me going! 3 years ago I lost over 5st - half of it has taken up residence once again and it is not welcome! Let's see how it goes .....

Tried the diet lost 4 lbls the first week second week nothing so have started back on Weight watchers will see how this goes - tacking food intake seems to help!

So good to read all the positive stories here, I too have read the book and felt this was something that could become a way of life. Unlike others i haven't done other diets, just lived with being a good stone overweight for years, but now in my early 60s I feel I really should do something to ensure I stay healthy.
I work full time in our family business, we work from home & neither my DH or DS are interested in cutting down so I'm trying to work out how I could stick to so few calories whilst cooking for them, any ideas &/or experience please? I enjoy cooking but don't finish work until about 7pm and then prepare our meal and when I leave them to fend for themselves their choices are not usually very healthy. I also do quite a bit of voluntary work so, as ever, time is tight.
I wish I had more time to spend on these forums, you sound such a great bunch of women. Thanks

I cook normally for my OH Cagsy and eat what I want on my fasting days, but what I do is make sure that I cook things that are freezable, such as a casserole or chilli or curry or something quite often. I make enough for three or four portions and freeze the rest. Then on my fast days I have something for him that I just heat up and don't have to slave over the cooker making something I cant eat.

For those of you who like to have something at lunch time on the fast days I have discovered Miso soup (in packets). Only 29 cals per packet and really quite tasty. I had it with two rice cakes and feel perfectly fine for a mere 89 calories!!

I agree Maggiemaybe it is the psychology of the diet that appeals to me. Me and Mr Marymore spend a lot of time on fast days planning the food we are going to eat the next day. I also love the fact that you can fit the days around your life. A lot of people have said to me 'but aren't you hungry' and I say yes I do feel hungry sometimes but it doesn't hurt any of us to be a bit hungry.

I do like to keep busy on fast days and get out of the house (not so good at this time of year)

I weighed myself the other day and I am the lightest I have been for years and years. It is such a good feeling....and yesterday I had a (small) bit of cake!

Thanks for the recipe Marymore. Sounds lovely.
I'll give that a go next week.
I am just adaptng a recipe for Roasted Leek & Yellow pepper soup that I got on Lakeland site. The trouble is home made stock -which i suspect is much higher in calories than using a cube. I have gallons of the stuff cluttering up the freezer after Christmas so would like to use it up. Hopefully if I defrost it & take off the top where any fat should have risen to the top it will be OK.
Amazingly I have just made a 5th birthday cake for my DGD & I wasn't tempted to eat the offcuts. Now that is a first & I really do NOT understand why I don't want to eat on fast days- it must be physcological.

This will be the first Easter for years that I will not feel guilty having a bit of Easter egg!! It dawned on me today when I was looking at them in John Lewis, and I though if I have my fasting day the day before Easter I can enjoy some guilt free choc on the Sunday. That's what I like about this way of life

Yes GrandmaH I've wondered about home made stock, I have some in the freezer as well. It's difficult to judge how many calories are in it. Hope you like the mushroom soup, we love it (but then I love any food on the fast day)

I agree with those who have said that the psychological benefit is knowing that you will be 'eating' again the next day ...no more feeling that you're stuck on a regime that is inflexible. I've tried many different ways of trying to keep my weight under control, but this seems to me to be much more workable than anything else. Also, no-one is being prescriptive about what you eat and when .. you can do your own thing. Have now bought a recipe book for when my imagination (always limited when it comes to cooking!!) needs a helping hand.

Woo hoo, four fasting days done and four lbs lost. I am aware that a lot of that is fluid, but it feels good. At least it is going in the right direction and I am definitely not struggling.
How are the rest of you doing?

I'm on my ninth and it's starting to feel like a normal pattern.Have only lost about the same as you nanap but I'm judging it more by the lack of bulge over the top of my jeans

I'm just starting today, nothing but water so far, and it is strange as I normally graze constantly - hence my weight problem.

I have some butternut squash soup in freezer for later, and may also try the Marigold bouillon powder to make a thin cup of soup if I get desperate. I have terrible will power, so fingers crossed as this is unlike any regime I've tried before, and I am very hopeful.

Make sure you do actually have your 500 cals sunflower, otherwise you will be too hungry and not succeed. I learnt this the hard way xx

Hi! I started it this week - the book is so good and he writes so well and sensibly - v realistic. Yep I've made a lovely jar of granola and have small bowl of that with no fat yoghurt for breakfast 8am and nothing till dinner time 8pm and then have something from the book - v good recipes ideas - tonight having tuna and canellini bean salad - so looking forward to it. Been drinking plenty of liquids during the day - hot water with wedge of lime in is particularly good... Good luck everyone - seems like a v good lifestyle choice.

I have recently joined slimming world and have lost 9 pounds in 3 weeks, but I really like the idea of 5-2 .i think it would do me good to have fasting days because I don't really know what it's like to be hungry has anyone managed to do both slimming world and 5-2

2nd week & lost 6lbs.I know it is just because it is the start & I know it will steady off now but even so, it really makes me feel good about this way of eating.
Funnily enough I find I am not very hungry the day after fasting which is odd but I'm not complaining.
I saw a 5:2 recipe book on Amazon for £1.99 Kindle version which I think I'll get. Also a newspaper is doing something on it this weekend but I forget which one- might have been the Mail. I'll pick it up later if I see it.
I would rather keep to set recipes than work out my own as i know I would probably get it wrong & I do a lot of cooking on the other days anyway so it saves having to think about food.
Now if I could just get DH to join in but he has an aversion to anything that is good for him- I'm not joking I really do mean ANYTHING that is good for him!!

Well done GrandmaH I haven't lost much actual weight on the scales (it seems to go up and down) but I have got noticably thinner and all my clothes are loser, I have some things that were tight before and are loose now. I find that I don't feel very hungry the day after fast day. I wonder if it's because your stomach shrinks? I have got a hard week coming up as we are staying with our grandkids next week to be with our DIL while our son is away so will be harder to do the fasting. Still I will be running around like a mad thing so that'll help.

Keep working on your DH, mine was a bit like that, he was bit of a pie and chip man really, but he's so pleased with his weight loss in fact he's more keen than I am sometimes!! There is hope

I meant that my clothes are looser (not loser) Duh!

Ah, you've got a husband like mine, GrandmaH! I'm trying to persuade him to join me on the 5:2 as I feel it would lower his cholesterol much more effectively than his statins do. It would also make life easier on fast days. We share the cooking week on, week off normally but on fast days we each fend for ourself. My problem is that my DH - like your pie and chip man, Marymore - likes his food. He's been lucky till recently though, and hasn't ever had a weight problem. I'm now working up the courage to put it to him that he's now getting...well, how shall I put it? A little portly perhaps?

Hmm- portly doesn't really do DH justice- morbidly obese is more like it!
The sad fact is he is 13 years younger than me & should be in really good health but has diabetes type 2, high blood pressure & cholesterol & is vastly over weight. Apparently this is all down to my good cooking & nothing to do with total lack of any exercise & smoking. I might add I only cook him good healthy food but his car is always full of crisp packets & chocolate wrappers.
He is not the sort of man to respond to nagging. Every now & then he does decide to lose weight & manages it easily but then slides back into old habits.
I will never give up trying though!
i'm hoping he will be inspired if I succeed on this plan as it so easy to keep to & he very often skips breakfast & lunch anyway- but then fills up on junk on the way home from work.
This may be the one to get him going too! I am an internal optimist!

... and dont forget ... its not JUST weight loss/control, its also the health benefits outlined in many of the publications on Amazon (MM's book, reviewed on GN, No Nonsense Guide on A etc) ... eg decreased risk of cancer, cardiovascular etc ... and also the prospect of a longer, healthier life!!

I also started the 5:2 diet last week. However, I lost under a pound! I didn't find the fasting days difficult but I think I took the 'eat normally' for the other 5 days too literally!! Which is probably why I need to diet in the first place! I will do better this week.

Jillyfish- you may fnd that this week you are not very hungry on 'normal' days. I certainly find that to be the case.

jillyfish, I have quite a large appetite when eating normally, so I chose to fast on alternate days, with great success - lost 2.5 stone in about 4 months. If you are after quicker results why not give it a try?

I have made two amazing discoveries!! A big bag of stir fry vegetables from Waitrose is only about 110 cals and I just add fresh ginger, a little chilli and some balsamic vinegar. I then add my other amazing find, Slim Pasta. It is a vegetable pasta that has only 14 cals per bag (I got it from Holland & Barrett). It isn't cheap but I figure it is cheaper than paying to go to a slimming club and is excellent for a really low calorie filling meal. Makes this fasting really easy and it is very healthy too. That's got to be good...

I thought H&B had closed?

Not down here Galen. Where are you?

Bristol area.

Just ordered Slim Pasta from Amazon, there was some on Ebay too. Both with free postage, comes in packs of 5 bags - hope I like it! I am not sure whether the Cowley/Oxford Holland and Barrett is still there, can't be bothered to go and look.

It tastes of absolutely nothing Cari, but if it is in with a stir fry or something that has flavour it is excellent, as not only does it fill you, but it also makes the meal appear "normal". I have also put it in a soup to bulk it out which is also excellent and very satisfying too. Go on, give it a go!!!

A couple of the reviews I read mentioned an unpleasant smell which can be rinsed off with hot water after cooking. I shall let you know how I get on when mine arrives (Wed).

I rinse mine before cooking shy, but I must say I haven't really noticed the smell. Think I will send off for some from Amazon too, as it is cheaper than H&B.

nanapug thank you so much - I feel I have found the Holy Grail No cals, carbs and it's healthy. Wow. Thanks too shysal for all the info on this diet, day one for me today - it just seems so easy to fit into a normal life. Ordered £50s of this miracle stuff from Ebay so hopes are high.

Started this beginning of January - lost 10lb so far and treated by self to a new dress as a reward.

It was Julian Graves that closed last year, Holland and Barrett are still going strong

I've lost a stone since I started this 5:2 diet when the original programme was shown in August last year. Feel so much better for it and will continue with one day a week now that I have got down to my target weight.

Sounds as though everyone is progressing well! I lost 5lbs in my first week and my daughter lost 7lbs. Can't complain at that! Have been reading all about the philosophy and science and can't see anything to worry about at all with this regime. 4th fast day tomorrow - scales Friday - will let you know!!

Interestingly, I am really struggling today. Am absolutely STARVING. The only thing different that I can think of is that I normally have an egg fro breakfast on fast days but, as the gannets had eaten them all in their pancakes on Tuesday, I had porridge instead. They say protein is better for staving off the hunger so I have learnt my lesson. I will stick it out though and on another note I am p**ing for England so must be losing ;)

I started properly last week - had a fluey type cold this week so thought I would just do one day - didn't feel like eating much anyway but did go a bit mad on the pancakes. So back to fasting today - and I am just about hanging on till dinner at 7 - between 4 and 5 in the afternoon does seem to be the hardest time - I shifted all the furniture round then had a cup of black coffeee - seems to be working though and I do feel better !

nanaplug, my slim pasta arrived today, so I had some with a huge stir-fry for lunch, it was great, so have gone onto Amazon and ordered 25 more bags! I look forward to experimenting with it in things like 'macaroni cheese' with WW cheese, and bolognese using turkey breast.
Thanks for the tip.

My supper consisted of a pack of carrot batons and a small pot of hummus. I really enjoyed it as it took an age to chomp on and so was quite satisfying. (Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow ;))

I have just done some maths and my flabber was gasted! On this new way of eating, if we only consume 500 calories on two days a week, that means we save about 1500 calories each day (assuming we have about 2000 calories a day and if I am honest I probably have more than that) so therefore 3000 calories a week. That's quite a lot, but if you multiply that by 52 weeks, it means that we are eating 156,000 calories a year less. Now that's a lot of calories. No wonder it works.....

My slim pasta has arrived, so I'll try it next week

I've GOT to get some of that pasta - its sounds great! What about sharing ideas for staving off hunger pangs that happen about 4-5pm. eg:
Change the furniture round (like I did the other day)
Make a pot of coffee and savour
Go for a walk with a bottle of water ???!!

I always go to bed earlier on fast days, as for some reason I don't feel hungry once I am in bed. I too struggle mid afternoon but have a drink and watch some telly and tell myself that it's not long 'till supper. We do eat an hour earlier too.

I started last week and did quite well, however have time off work this week and I'm not doing too well, have only managed today as a fast day - however, I suppose one day is better than none. Back to work next week so will be more organised, I pick at things when I'm in the house - no willpower, did manage to go swimming yesterday though.

I am following this thread with interest but does the book or any other info say if it is suitable for "older" people? I am probably one of the more mature Grans and don't know if an upper age limit is stated as on some diets. While my G.P. would say I need to lose some weight his only and constant advice is "portion control".

I'm 60 and GP was fine with it. Can't remember if there's anything in the book aobut age.

Thank youFORZANONNA but I have to admit to "over 75" and wonder if I would be wise to miss this one

I started last week and just finished my 4th fasting day yesterday - I agree the trick is to be busy - I have eaten the same thing on all 4 days though this may change in the future - this is what i have fancied - I had 2 eggs (only 1 yoke) plus a little milk for brecky and veg soup at about 7.30 pm. I have lost 4lb - I feel really well and at the moment i am not suffering at all & loving the fact you can have what you fancy the next day within reason of course

annsixty I seem to remember that the Horizon programme stressed that this regime was particularly suitable for older people, as that is the age at which we are more at risk from high cholesterol and blood pressure and diabetis. Some people do it simply for the health benefits, and not necessarily weight loss.
The TV programme can be found on Youtube under 'Horizon. Eat, fast and live longer'.
Good luck if you decide to have a go.

Hi - just joined gransnet today but I have been doing the 5:2 diet since 2nd January and have lost a stone. I find it really easy and always do Monday and Wednesday as that fits in best with my life. I am boring as I always eat the same which is sachet of porridge with golden syrup made with water for breakfast and then for dinner a salmon fillet cooked on a bed of half a pepper and 6 cherry tomatoes halved just baked in the oven. The hard part is still cooking hubby a proper dinner. I think it is sustainable for life or at least until I get to my ideal weight then perhaps drop to 1 day a week fasting.

Mamalinda hi! Be wellcome to this merry band of ladies (and the odd man.+a couple of delightful ones)

I tend to eat more or less the same things too. I like an egg & slice of ham for breakfast ( but I will try the sachet of porridge) & then I either have Dhal with fat free yoghurt or a Fajita with mushrooms, peppers & half fat mozzarella & passata for an early dinner. I stick to water & black coffee & always make proper coffee- if I am not havng a lovely cup of tea then at least I can have decent coffee.
I do eat my dinner earlier than usual but that also helps as I am not eating at same time as DH & when I do his meal I have already had mine so not so tempted- plus I make him things I am not so keen on those days.
It really does not feel like being on a diet.
Weight loss slowed this week but it was a bit of a heavy weekend with providing meals for grandchildren staying so I expect I overdid the calories.. They do love Grandma's cakes & biscuits & I love cooking them! I'll do better this week.

BTW have you seen the 2.5:4.5 verion of this eating plan in book by Jacqueline White? I got her book from Amazon on Kindle as it was only 1.99 & had a lot of recipes.
She maintains that most of us prefer to have our fast days away from weekend so she does Monday & Wednesday & then from Thursday evening to 6pm on Friday thereby getting an extra half day in but still able to have some wine & a nice meal on Friday evening. This is only if you need a quicker loss or to lose some more for a special event. This makes sense to me so will give it a go this week & see how I feel. I have been doing Tuesdays & Thursdays but this week I have done Mon & Wed so if it feels OK for me.

That sounds really interesting GrandmaH especially if the loss slows down. I need to lose at least another half stone to get back to where I was before my thyroid started misbehaving. Although I am now on the medication it left me with the extra 1.5 stones which is why I wanted to diet in the first place. That would take me down to the 11 I have been stuck at since my early 30's when I had a full hysterectomy - now I am thinking perhaps I could get down to 10 then I would be jumping for joy. I am aware to go below that to the 8.5 stone I was before then would be a stupid aim and show too many wrinkles. Anyway 1 day at a time and I did give myself a year to achieve it to be realistic.

I find fasting from about 10 pm until about 9 the next day the only sort I can manage - and then only if I actually stay asleep

I got up a bit late this morning so just had a coffee with milk before I came to work. Normally I would say I 'needed' breakfast but it's now nearly 1pm & i am off home for lunch & I feel fine. I really think this way of eating shrinks the stomach as I rarely feel hungry at all- & I can't eat so much on feast days either.

Am into my third week or so with this diet, today is a fasting day. I am not experiencing a rapid weight loss, but that' fine I want something I can sustain, just wondering if this is other GNs experience. Also I take my dieting day from say 8pm the night before fasting day to around 9 am to 10 am the day after the fasting day so roughly that is 37 hours. I was with a friend the other day who diets from 7 pm to 7 pm the next day, thus managing to get a proper evening meal in both days. Anyone else do it like this? and if so are you still losing weight?

I am starting 5:2 diet today and will do Monday's and Wednesday's or Thursday's. I cleared out my baking cupboard last week so I'm not tempted to bake and eat cakes for a few weeks!

I hope all goes well frida . Let us know how you get on.

Help ladies please. I fell off the wagon big time last week. It was half term and I was so involved with the children all week that I chose to stop for a week. I am having my first fast day back on it today and am really struggling. I put on all the weight I had lost before half term, over half term, and I feel really yuk today. I am so fed up with this wretched weight thing. Have struggled all my life and am questioning if I will ever achieve it after all these years. Really fed up

What am I missing??
Just come back from the barber's , hairdresser's, unisex hair salon and everyone there was on a fasting day bar me.

Orca Short back and sides or granny perm?

Keep at it, nanapug - I’m sure you’ll soon get back on track. Too late for this advice, I know, and I hate sounding holier than thou, but I find it’s best to keep to the 2 days fasting a week, even when it’s a holiday week, or you’ve got a lot on. I just think the fast days get easier as time goes by, and you get into a simple routine that might be disrupted if you miss a couple in a row. That’s my experience anyway. I do hope you feel a bit better now – just think of all the good things you can enjoy tomorrow. I’ve got a huge white chocolate cookie squirreled away in my desk drawer at work from a birthday celebration today – I’ll have polished that off by 8 am tomorrow!

Been on the 5:2 for a month now. Starting losing weight immediately, and saw knock on effects with reduced BMI, Viseral etc etc. I'm battling fibroids at the moment as well, but had a normal cycle of 7 days....can this be the result of changing from the inside that this eating lifestyle purports to do?

You may be right Walletmilkers (love the name by the way). The hot sweats which I had been suffering for 15 years, way beyond the menopause, are subsiding at last. I have even added a light cellular blanket to my bed which has had sheet only for all those years. I might even have to buy a duvet and warm clothes one day!
It would be interesting to hear of health benefits noticed by others.

Don't worry Nanpug- in the book I had he said he doesn't fast during holidays or over Christmas & it still works OK. If you put it back on quickly- it will come off quickly too. Maybe try the fasting on Thursday am until 6pm Friday as detailed earlier in this thread which I read about in another book which is for when you want a one off quick loss. It may make you feel better to get straight back to pre half term weight.
It is working for you which is the main thing.

Anyone here still keeping an eye on what they eat on the five non fasting days? I have had a couple of celebratory occasions last week and ate more than I would have normally and now I think they may have cancelled out my last two fasting days.

Working well for me and find I have reduced appetite following fast days.This is a real benefit as I was worried I would want to binge a little after fasting. Think my stomach is shrinking! Hooray. Sparkling water seems to help me feel fuller on fasting days. Have lost half a stone and feel very positive at the moment.

I agree about not feeling so hungry the day after fast. I have lost 10lbs without really noticing I am dieting. I haven't really watched what I eat the other days apart from the fact I am not very hungry the day after fasting. I had chocolate & wine at the weekend & thoroughly enjoyed it without feeling guilty.
Just had Miso soup for lunch - I preferred the wine!

We have been on the Fast Diet now for 3 weeks and although the 500 days are quite hard sometimes on others they are OK. My husband has lost lots of weight but not me! I'm really fed up, every time I lose a 1lb on a fast day I promptly put it back! my husband thinks I don't eat enough on 'eating' days. Is this the case? If so is my body going into starvation mode and conserving fat?? Does anyone know?

Which a Amenhotep are you? Wasn't no 3 Ankaten's father?

Amenhotep 1V married to Nefertiti who always looked so slim, thought it might rub off! Don' t really know why I picked him, perhaps I should have been Nefertiti instead! Too late now!

AmenhotepIV changed his name to Ankhaten I thought. He married Nefertiti and a secondary wife who was the mother of Tutankhamen who was originally Tutankhaten.
Fascinating people. He then married his sister, daughter of Nefertiti
Just to confuse there is another earlier queen called nefertiri..

Sorry should be Ankhnaten. Thought it didn't look right.
iPad not too hot on the old hieroglyphs, prefers the demotic script

Amenhotep 1V married to Nefertiti who always looked so slim, thought it might rub off! Don' t really know why I picked him, perhaps I should have been Nefertiti instead! Too late now!

With all this talk of dieting I thought you might enjoy an email that I received from a friend today:

Yesterday I was at my local Tesco store buying a large bag of Chum dog food for my loyal pet and was in the checkout queue when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had, an elephant? So, since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Chum Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't because I ended up in hospital last time, but I'd lost 2 stone before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with Chum nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in queue was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked me if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off the kerb to sniff an Irish Setter's arse and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. I'm now banned from Tesco.
Better watch what you ask retired people.
They have all the time in the world to think of daft things to say.

Yoga

Hi Amenhotep. Dr Mosley et al say the 5:2 plan proves the exact opposite of the starvation mode, and claims to bust this theory. I put on 200lbs on week and then lost 1.1 kg the following. Despite this what is always staying constant or going down is my BMI, which is the important thing. Try and use other measures to help you though.

200 lbs! Eeeeek

Ouch- I don't think it suits you walletmilkers!!

Gally, are you still doing the 5:2 diet?

I too started last Sunday, along with my husband. We kept busy by emptying and sorting through a cupboard and bookshelves, prior to re- decorating a bedroom! It was okay, except for a very rumbly tummy by late evening. I succumbed to half a Jaffa cake, which did the trick. I had been 8 stone 9 pounds every morning of the previous week, but was down by 2 pounds yesterday and today. Will do it again on Thursday. We had breakfast and evening meal at the usual times. I added half a teaspoon of vegetable stock to hot water at lunch time. Good luck to everyone.

Marelli It's been a little difficult this past week having spent 27 hours flying and then trying to sort out my time clock! However, Georgie is on a get fit kick so evening meals are no more than 250 cals so after an oaty brekkie I go to the local cafe and pick up a large veggie juice at mid day and try to make that last all afternoon. Running round after 4 wild children all day should help shift a pound or two - if it doesn't kill me first

grannybuy, I am surprised you want to lose weight at 8t 9lb. Unless you are extremely short I would have thought your BMI would be at the lower end of healthy. I would be happy to get below 10st! As regards weighing myself I have found that doing this once a week, always after a fast day gives a good indication of the way it is going, which is nowhere at the moment! I think my body has adjusted to the alternate day regime I have followed since last August, so I am content to just maintain my current weight.

I have stopped weighing myself and just look at the roll of fat at the bottom of my stomach gradually disappearing - that is all the inspiration I need to carry on. I am also eating less on my non-fasting days. I think it just makes you think about the calories you just ate without realising before plus I agree that your stomach must shrink. I too am surprised anyone would want to lose weight when weighing less than 9 stone.

I have managed to loose 4 kilos in six weeks. I am thrilled. No more tummy hanging over my waistband. Lots more to go yet but I am finding the fast days no problem at all. Started to get a bit slack and have a glass of wine and chocs but now back on the straight and narrow and 500 calories the limit. I make a small fruit smoothie for first thing in the morning. Then plain crispbread at lunch with small salad and tomato soup for the evening meal. I tried the cauliflower and mushroom soup but my husband wasn't keen so back to homemade tomato. This diet is the BEST.

Aie Karumba! That would be grams not pounds.

Just started the 5:2 yesterday. Yes, first fasting day was a bit challenging, but doable. Today I am doing the 500 cal fast again, eating my small meals at 7a and 7p. Then I will go to tues and saturday. Started at 136#. I am 5feet 6 inches tall. At end of day 1, 134#...yes even though not much is going in...previously eaten items are still...well, you know. This a.m. I am 132.6#. I am excited about this new way of eating, great in so many aspects, both health wise and spirit wise. Really encourages thankfulness for and enjoyment of our food. I have enjoyed all of the posts. Very nice to have encouragement on the journey! I did take measurements as well, so we will see how those improve over time. I have fasting blood work tomorrow morning, which has historically been very good, but I will have it redone in 3 months to see any improvements and keep you posted.
Best wishes to all who are partnering in the journey at this time!!

Hi everyone
Am really struggling with the 5:2 so tried 4:3 but just put back what I lose on fast days. Have lost 4lbs since Feb 2nd am I expecting miracles???

I don't think I would have had much success with 5:2, because I eat well on my non-fasting days. That is why I do alternate days. I had great success, losing every week, although months down the line I have now ground to a halt. Stick with it amenthotep, you are at least losing weight, albeit slowly.

Him and me went on the 5:2 after Christmas, him for weight control and me for blood sugar control. It worked well for both of us, and I suspectmthis could me a big help for type 2 diabetics. But we both fell off the wagon during the cold weather snap. This thread has given me the will to start again now that the daffs are coming out.

And now we are ankle deep in snow again!

Hot miso soup for lunch- not sure if I like it or not but it is very low in calories & it is hot!

I have now lost 1st 2lb in just a few weeks (is it 4 weeks?)so I am very happy. I did overeat at the weekend with Mothering Sunday etc but I NEVER weigh myself on feast days- just after 2nd fast day of week so maybe I am putting it all on again on feast days but it is still coming off. I would get fed up too if I saw it had come back on again but I don't look- I think weighing once a week on the day when you should be at your lowest weight is the best idea.
I have put the Mother's Day chocs on a very high shelf today- by the time I get the steps out I will have thought twice about them!

I fell off the ladder over the last couple of weeks and gained weight again. Have restarted today.

GrandmaH, that is fantastic! Well done.

I had a fasting day yesterday, went to the gym today and weighed myself after swimming and it seems that I have lost over a kg since I weighed myself this Monday! I can only conclude that these scales are rubbish because on Monday I weighed well over a kg more than what I was last Friday another fasting day. I think overall my weight is reducing slowly, albeit in a one step forward one step back sort of way. The regime seems a bit harder since this really cold weather has begun.

Hi I have been doing the 2 Day Diet by Dr Michelle Harvie and Prof Tony Howell. I find it hard on the 2 fasting days as they suggest back to back and no carbs at all for those two days. I am not familiar with the 5:2 Diet but have sent for the book. I have lost 4lb over the past 2 weeks but find it extremely hard and am miserable for the 2 fasting days. I eat a lot of protein those days and do not feel it does me much good. I need to lose weight and get healthier and reduce my risk of breast cancer. This book was written with this in mind. Is the 5:2 Diet by Mosely of the same mind as regards health.

are these home made soups or bought, I have send for a 5:2 diet book but for the 2 Day diet

I really hate vegetables unless in soups or casseroles just not on the side of the plate, don't like salad either I love tinned tomatoes so that helps. Any advice for a fussy non vege person

Ok, having fallen off the wagon well and truly I am starting again today. Needs must. Am going away for a long weekend with friends in a couple of weeks and tried clothes on in preparation and nothing went over my fat arse!! Really fed up and realised I needed to try this again. There is no denying that too much food in the gob equals a fat bum. Why can't I get it? I am so weak, and stupid. I would so love to be slim. My cousin, who is always slim says "Its simple, you just eat slightly less" Yeah right, don't you think I would if I could? People who don't have a problem don't seem to get it. Hey ho, here I go again, wish me luck xx

Just had book delivered from Amazon, will tuck in on sofa now and have a read

am doing first fasting day of the 5:2 so far grapefruit and mug of tea, am counting on my Nutracheck counter online

Hope it goes well flower. I find counting the calories accurately prevents cheating! Keep us posted with your progress.

Yes shy I agree. I have a little book that I write what I eat in and total my calories. It also helps to look back and see what calories things that I commonly eat are. I love my lists ;)

had 66 cals left this evening, starving so had ryvita - 44 , teaspoon jam 20 and mint tea 4 I use Nutracheck to record my cals. Its fanastic have been with them for a while

am so sympathetic! We have been staying with firends for a week and been served pudings each day, seeme so rude to refuse so tried to eat small portions, failed miserably and have put on 2lbs. What a disappointment, have started again although Sundays are v. difficult. Will try in earnest tomorrow. Good luck with your efforts, let us know how you get on, will do the same.

What is Nutracheck?? I stopped adding up cals & I think that was a mistake as it is too easy to under estimate what I've eaten. I'll do it from now on again though. Just one egg & 4 cups of tea with splash of milk so far but I bet those splashes add up!

I have been doing the 5.2 since January. I am not sure that I have lost weight as I don't have any scales but I really like how it makes me feel and my clothes still seem to fit!
We have lots of visitors at this time of year so have lots of eating out to deal with. I find I can easily go from dinner out one night to dinner the next with only fruit for breakfast and a salad lunch. But it is more difficult to go from lunch through to lunch as it is antisocial not to have a glass of something in the evening and that usually makes you feel like eating too.

Nutracheck is an online fitness and calorie counter. The idea is you enter your chosen food, this comes up in cals and fat content. it takes away each time you enter food eaten from 1400 cals normally each day. It also takes off your 5 a day and water consumed plus alcohol units. Exercise can be entered and you are encouraged to enter this with lists of different type of exercise from housework to running, sports, gym classes etc. There are forums and loads of encouragement. You can find it google and have a free trial for, I think, 5 days. It is only around £15 for 3 months and money taken out each month. You can stop whenever you want and money is not taken the following month.

I find the diary very easy to fill in and its second nature to me now. Give it a try

Fasting day today, woke up late so I missed breakfast, don't normally, but thought I would wait til lunch. Had 2 Ryvita with hard boiled egg and 30% salad cream - 10ml - banana - 4 cups of tea throughout the day and 8 glasses of water - one champagne truffle (my daughter swapped it for carrot cake) wasted cals really as was about 60. grapefruit, 200 ml NuMe Tomato and three bean soup. Its wonderful, don't normally like soups but this is amazing and very filling.

At the moment I am lusting for a piece of toast but will resist.

I'll have a look at Nutracheck site.
Hit a snag this week as feeling rotten- got bug DH had last week & all you want is comfort food when you feel low. I have put fast day off from today to tomorrow as I may feel more like it then. All I want is Beechams cold & flu remedy & BISCUITS today- maybe a fish finger sandwich later which is my comfort food of choice. I did make some nice bread yesterday so that sounds like dinner today!
I bought some of that vegetable spaghetti so will give that a go if I feel better tomorrow- it looks horrible but I suppose with a nice sauce (which I made yesterday ready for today) it should be OK. It was nearly £5 for 2 portions which sounds expensive but £2.50 for a mail meal is OK & sauce didn't cost much to make. I see they do noodles too. If I like it then I'll try those for a stir fry with a bit more substance.

Fasting Day today: no breakfast, must save most of my cals for this evening as I have a toddler sleeping over!

almost bedtime, fasting went well, lots of water consumed. Hard boiled egg on Rye Crispbread with tspn Salad cream. Chicken for supper and half banana. 25 g bag of snack a jack. tea. Seems a little and it is but I do feel well on these days. Its a challenge. Oh and 1/4 pot low fat yoghurt. Baby asleep so relaxing evening. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow and anniversary lunch in pub.

I keep a few M&S meals - for - one in my freezer for lazy days. I found a different one last night, a beef hotpot, which contained 215 calories. I thought it was a substantial portion as I was eating it, then discovered that it was to feed two! Fortunately I had only had roasted veg. for lunch, so reached 505 cals.

I have done similar before, good idea though!

Out for anniversary lunch with DDH, stuffed, will redeem myself over 2 days in the week.

Been on the alternate day since August 2012. Start of retirement lost at least 2 st and dropped 2 dress sizes. Easiest diet out! If you have a special occasion then just adjust the next day. Christmas and birthdays caused no problems. The eating days do not result in overeating. The appetite and stomach shrink! But it all depends on getting your head around the low calorie day 600 per day. It is hard at first, activity helps and varied low meals. It is all worth it to be back in the 20 year olds body!! Good luck.

You started alternate day fasting at the same time as I did J52, after the Horizon TV programme. Are you still losing weight? I lost 2.5 stone but have stayed the same since Christmas, although I wouldn't mind dropping a few more pounds. I still eat 500 calories on fast days, but eat well on the others. Perhaps I need to be a bit more careful all the time. I am happy to stick to this regime for life for the health benefits if nothing else.

Hi shysal, I did plateau after Christmas. But I have stuck with it, mostly because I have changed my eating habits in general. Seemed to have started losing again by 1. Having all fruit days, still around 500 cals 2. Playing table tennis on the Wii
3. Being very careful about what I eat on the other days. Progress is slow, but as long as it is in a downward trend.
DH has joined this with me and been very supportive, despite not being overweight and being very active anyway. It has been beneficial to his blood pressure and closeteral.

Good luck, I'm with you on the lifetime thought! J

I commenced the 5:2 diet five weeks ago & have lost 9lbs so! I find it easy to do & very flexible.....usual do it on a Monday/Wednesday when I am busy,, but this week I am doing it on Friday as well, as I want to lose the 3lbs to round it up to ? stone!
I have tried every other diet going,but find that this one suits me. Perhaps knowing that there is a feast day the next day helps to encourage you!
My goal is to lose another 7lbs.

OOOPS! Easter tookk it's tol I'm afraid. I haven't gone near the scales but I can well imagine!
I am actually very glad to get back to a fast day today.
There was a very good report on this diet & fasting in general on The Food Programme on Radio 4 at the weekend. It inspired me & now I am sure this way of eating is affecting my general feeling of well being & I am not just imagining it. Very interesting.
Mind you I am glad it is only 2 or 2.5 days a week. I don't fancy 36 hours with no food.

I'm going to pick up on that programme on i-Player, GrandmaH. I'm well and truly stuck after having lost about 2.5 stone over the last year or so. However, it doesn't seem to matter how much I cut back now, the weight just isn't shifting. I've got the book, but didn't do the diet. I'll listen to it now!

Ryvita do another type of crisp read called Crackerbread. In a long yellow packet 19 cals per slice. Less than traditional Ryvita. With Marmite(love or hate!) and low cal soup makes a great lunch on low cal days.

Have just listened to it, GrandmaH, and think I may give it a go. How many days do you have between the fasting days?

It doesn't matter Marelli, as long as the fasting days are not consecutive. Just fit them in around your life.

Have you managed it ok, shysal? Don't you get really hungry and then overeat the next day?

Marelli, I fast on alternate days with no problem, but think I am gradually eating more in between, hence my weight is at a standstill. I am not too concerned though because I have lost all of the 2.5 stone I put on when on medication for an overactive thyroid. I think I am now at the weight that my body likes to be, although still in the overweight range rather than obese.

Thank you, shysal. My weight seems to have stuck after having lost 2.5 stones as well, and it just won't go any lower! I wonder if our bodies do just settle at the weight they 'like' to be?

Am trying 2pm to 2pm, it was mentioned on the 5:2 Facebook site. fingers crossed, has anyone else tried these times for fasting?

Just debunking it on radio4

It is odd but I actually look forward to the fast days now. I'm sure I feel more 'alive' if that makes sense. I was eating too much on feast days for a week or so & weight loss slowed but it was soooo cold! I'm certainly going to give those Crackerbread things a go. I like something to munch when having soup. I'm trying to have my fish on fast days as it is lower calories than most meat so you can have a bit more & I do find I drink a lot of water those days too.
I just think we all find different diets effective. Dukan works for me but it is too restrictive- this fits into my life without me really noticing I'm doing it.

Hartley's Low Sugar jelly. 10 cals a pot. Great for a sweet taste on low cal days. Xx Keep going!

I have decided to do it. Today is Day 1. For almost two years I have been on steroids for Polymyalgia Rheumatica and it's easy to blame them for the weight gain. I am sure they are responsible for around half of it but the rest is just my own lack of control. Now I am down to a very low dose - reducing today to 2.5 mg. I would like to lose at least three stone though two before the end of July would be good. I will be contributing to the weight loss thread from next week onwards. Wish me luck, please.

J52 , I use the sachets of Hartleys sugar free jelly, usually make 2 pints at a time, sometimes with some added fruit. Then if I find myself looking into the fridge for a snack I can have a bowl full, with some squirty low fat cream if the calorie count allows.
Good luck anno, I look forward to hearing how you get on. To be realistic, I think you will need to do alternate days to achieve 3 stone by the end of July.

I agree shysal I have also used the sachets they are good and make economic sense. Sometimes I'm lazy!!

anno, 3 stone by the end of July sounds a big task. The 5:2 & alternate day are quite slow, 2-3 lbs a week at best, but it does stay off. Good luck I hope you achieve your goal. Xx

I took my courage in both hands this morning and weighed myself. I am half a stone lighter than I had feared, so that's a good start. Just had a cup of bouillon made with Marigold stock powder - 12 calories. Now for a and I am lucky there in that I never take tea with milk.

I began it today. I was really hungry during the morning, but have had 2 mugs of Oxo at 13 cals each and an orange (about 100 cal) so far. The Oxo is tasty! I'd bought the book last month and then decided the diet wasn't for me, however, having read others' posts and re-read the book, I think it will be ok. I'll fast on a Tuesday and a Friday. Going to have a look on the Facebook site now. I'd like to get about half-a-stone off.

I am intending to start this but I need to organize myself a list of low calorie vegetarian menus for the fast days.

I hope that getting a variety of tasty recipes in mind will make it easy to stick to on a fasting day. Its not as if I haven't got a vegetarian slimming book to hand. Any tips gratefully received.

I would be interested to know what sort of times of the day others have their 500calories. A longer time between is supposed to be better which to me would been say breakfast and lunch only. I really do need my breakfast.

Nellie, I eat lunch and dinner on fasting days, then don't eat breakfast the next morning. However I don't think it matters much, but as you say a long time between is good.
I would suggest homemade soups, roasted vegetables or salads to fill you up, something that looks like a good plate full, so you don't feel deprived.
Let us know how you get on.

How do you work out how many calories your bowl of home-made soup would have, shysal?

this book , which lists foods alphabetically, so quick to use.

I've just installed My Fitness Pal on my phone. DS swears by it and he has lost a lot of weight in the past year or so.

Thank you, shysal. Just what I was looking for - ordered it a minute ago!

Am still struggling with this. Have not lost any more weight apart from the few pounds when I started. It seems that each time I have a feast day, although not gorging myself, I just put on what I lost! I have shingles at the moment so am not feeling special bu am persevering.

Amenhotep : Sorry that you have shingles, hope you recover soon.
I have adopted the alternate day version, fat and thin days and this seems to work better for me. Changing the regime may work better for you. It evens out the calories over the week. I have also noticed that on 'fat' days my taste has changed and I no longer want crisps or chocolate.
The weight loss is slow, but every little makes a difference. I like the freedom to eat anything, no forbidden food! I am looking it as an eating style which I shall maintain. Good luck, hope the weight soon goes. X

I've read a lot of good reports about this and it makes sense to me so I've ordered the MM's book and I'll give it a go... fingers crossed!
I did the 'Atkins diet' - zilch carbos, 14 years ago and that was amazing.
Annoyingly, and with an, in retrospect unlikely, link, I was diagnosed with MS during this time - the brain is made of fat (lipids) so it should have helped!
The 5/2 diet seems to be a realistic balance between bonkers Buddhist fasting and a kitchen reeking of fatty frying smells - sorry about the lazy alliteration... we'll see
We are going on a cruise in six weeks' time and I'd like to wear a lot of my body-con clothes - I'll report back along the way there!

Another 'fast' day. Decent breakfast: yoghurt, canned pear (in juice) with a little oat cereal. Lunch, 12 cals-worth of bouillon and a Benecol drink, 36 cals. I am trying to halve my dosage of statins by supplementing with Benecol. The yoghurts are full of sugar, so not for fast days. Evening meal will be low fat cottage cheese and salad. I walked through M&S this morning. The aroma of bread baking was pervasive which is intended to make one's mouth water. I managed to control myself.

annodomini, I've just popped into the Tesco across the road and the place reeked of sugar! They were stacking the shelves so goodness knows what it was... getting ready for end of school time? ...even though they're on hols
I just bought some blueberries (anthrocyanins and other good-sounding stuff ) and some full-fat milk! I make my own yoghurt and full-fat milk makes all the difference.
The yoghurt is for my five up-coming non-fat days
Sapph

I had a blip last week- did not lose any weight but thinking back I may have overdone the normal days. Chocolate left over from Easter!
I find I can miss breakfast with no problem- I had lunch today at 1ish- a can of Wonton soup which was gorgeous- filling & well worth the 100 cals.
I tried those cracker breads- not bad - a bit like crispy cardboard but they do give a variation n texture

I have made a big pan of Dhal with spinach that will do me for dinner today (about 6pm usually which is an hour earlier than I would normally eat dinner)& the next fast day too -maybe more when I weigh it out.
For the first time I am going to have to fast 2 days in a row due to having to go out on Thursday & Friday. Not sure how it will go but I'm sure I'll manage.
Really sending you Good Luck Annodomini!!

Thanks GrandmaH the soup sounds inviting, but I don't think it would be suitable for a veggie. I have been making carrot and coriander without using oil. Today I'm going to make a pot of spicy butternut squash soup which is tasty but low calorie.

This is my second 'fasting' day. I really do need to have breakfast, so had 2 Ryvitas with half a mashed banana and a cup of black tea. Went to visit elderly sister-in-law, who 'took the huff' (*anno*, you will recognise the expression!) because I was having a fasting day when I was visiting her, as she was preparing a black pudding roll for me (my one weakness ). I ate the roll, all the while being so annoyed that she was annoyed! Tonight dinner will be a large salad with 100gm chicken.
Having read of others' successes with this diet, I want it to work....but as for looking forward to fasting day, as some have reported - I can't see that happening for me .

Yes, I know all about taking the huff, Marelli. My mother used to do it frequently! By the way, it isn't a good idea to watch cookery programmes on a fasting day.

, anno!

* Marelli* I did the Fasting Diet for a bit last year and it definitely worked for a while, and I went back to it, but during the miserable weather I found I just wanted to eat and of course, the weight piled back on. However I am starting again tomorrow and am determined to make it work. I think you have to be in the right frame of mind for these things to work.So good luck, and who knows we might become these people who look forward to fasting day,I'm a long way off from that at the moment

Fasting day tomorrow for me: grapefruit to start, ryvita with half banana for lunch and 1/2 tin Morrisons 3 bean soup for dinner. Then bed I think

Grannyeggs, I think I keep thinking of this diet as only a way to lose weight, when it's also supposed to become a way of life leading to a healthier life in the future. I've stuck rigidly to it on both fasting days, and must admit today wasn't as bad as the first one!

Wonton soup was veggie, Annodomini- a clear soup with little parcels of chinese veg floating in it -I wasn't clever enough to make it though so it came in a tin from Sainsburys. With that & the dhal I had a veggie day yesterday- to be honest I often do when I'm on a fast day. I was veggie for 25 years so it comes quite naturally to me even if I do eat meat & fish now. When DH is away I usually go back to veggie food as i really like it. I used to teach veggie cookery so I have lots of favourite recipes although a lot involve cheese so no good for fasting.

I will be on my second day tomorrow., I started on Monday.

Boiled egg and 1 slice toast and marmite. Dinner was some Quorn (good protein very low in calories) with a simple veg "stirfry" adapted from the Fast diet book it was really tasty .
I had plenty of non calorie hot drinks which helped. Stomach was rumbling badly about 3pm but it was easier than I thought.

My best advice is to avoid going near retail food outlets. I went to to our local shopping centre where there are many of them. I found the smell of food put a great deal of temptation my way.

Day 2 done and dusted.

I have found weighing out the food a very interesting exercise. I am begining to realise just how inflated my usual food portion size has become.
I made Feta Nicoise from the "Fast Diet" book, closely measuring the recipe amounts with slightly less feta and 10mls of Tamari on the salad thats only 8cals.

It was plenty and much tastier than I imagined it might be.

I've now done three 'fast' days without any difficulty. Luckily today was not one of them - I went out to lunch with friends in an Italian restaurant which we like very much. I had rigatoni with smoked salmon - please note I opted for the smaller portion - and my favourite, tiramisu. So now I am hanging fire on what to eat as an evening meal - probably something on very light crispbreads. I was going to swim this afternoon but would probably have sunk, so tomorrow it is.

Strange isn't it? Yesterday was my fast day and I was absolutely starving all day; today, I can eat what I want but I'm not that hungry and had a very late brunch of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and I too am trying to decide what to eat this evening - but I will own up to a quite large glass of while I am on GN

Today is my third fasting day. It's definitely getting easier, I think (hope). Have had plenty of fluids today and didn't eat anything until lunchtime, when I just had a low-calorie soup. Looking forward to lunch tomorrow (Indian buffet ).

I like to mash up a can of tuna with some philly light and a spoonful of mayo which makes a good spread on toast or crispbreads. Just had that for a light supper. It's also a good topping for a jacket potato.

Very pleased with the results so far. Have lost 7 lbs in 6 weeks. I'm finding that the fast days get easier. Going on holiday next Friday though, so I expect to put a few pounds back on.

Went to docs yesterday for blood test and had PUT on weight! I can't believe it!
All the fasting etc just is not working, wonder if I am eating enough on 'feast days' would that make a difference? Does anyone know?

I think if you eat too little every day the body hangs on to its fat , which is not supposed to happen with intermittent fasting. Try eating well on non-fast days and see what happens. I look forward to hearing if it works!

Thanks shysal trouble is now I am used to eating less i find I don't want so much, I' m sure my stomach has shrunk! Have an eating day tomorrow so will have a proper Sunday lunch. Will let you know how things go.

I have been doing this diet for a few weeks now and have lost 5lbs and think its great . I became a grandma of twin boys in December and am hoping this diet will keep me healthy to enjoy my boys as long as possible.

It is not too difficult as you know that you can eat the next day, I do drink lots of water and herb teas and try to keep busy on fast days .

I have now begun to eat more healthy food on non fast days as the weeks have gone on .

I enjoy walking and try too make sure I walk about 30 mins each day.
I can see me keeping to this permanently . Good luck to all on this diet !

I think I am going to have to start this diet, it sounds good. I presume I need to get the books, which ones are most useful? or what do I have to do?

This book is probably the most popular of many. Fast Diet

A simple calorie counter book is useful too. Pocket calorie counter

If you want to find out more about the scientific trials of this diet,
this book is by Michael Mosley who presented the Panorama programme that launched it in Britain. There are loads of recipe books on Amazon.

Plateau broken! Another kilo gone. Worth persevering through 3 weeks of plateau. Good luck everyone! X

Thanks everyone will have a go.

I found a really good fasting cook book on Book People but all the recipes are for 4 people. I do wish they would do these with all single portions. It is much easier to round up for more than round down for one- inevitably you cook it all & probably eat more than 1/4 of it!
I need to 'up' my exercise now too as we lost our beloved 15 year old dog a few weeks ago so I am no longer dog walking twice a day- I haven't got the heart to walk without her.
Can't stand gyms- so boring & I'm not a great swimmer.
The other problem is she is no longer there to clean up leftovers so I have to resist anything DH leaves!!

Fasting can be helpful- but it needs to be done carefully! Especially for hypoglycemics and diabetics- they need to be very careful doing this. A really great article on fasting and weight loss is healthdivas.blogspot.com/2012/10/fasting-growth-hormone-hgh-and-fat-loss.html It has some great tips for how to fast properly and safely for weight loss. I recommend anyone doing the fasting method or thinking about it to check it out!

I'm trying it again, but trying to focus on the reported health benefits rather than the weight loss, as I think this will stop me rebelling down the line!

I've had to give up. I think I've perhaps been overly greedy on non-fasting days and when I've weighed myself after a fasting day, it's not been as encouraging as it was to start with.
I will now go back to what I did before - eating sensibly and not flinging myself into the biscuit tin whenever I wandered into the kitchen - as I was allowing myself to do on non-fasting days .

Fasting today: wish me luck, So far slice seeded toast, spread with laughing cow light cheese triangle and slice lean off the bone ham. Cup of tea and three glasses of water. I plan to have !/2 grapefruit (red) 2 crispbread with sliced boiled egg for lunch and a bowl of Morrisons 2 bean and spicy tomato soup for supper.

I am on fast today as well . I usually do Monday and Thursday but shifted them around to suit me this week.
I have decided I am not feeling hungry as such, but probably just bored and want some tasty savoury flavours.

Lots of hot drinks, ginger & lemon tea and peppermint teas.

For breakfast I had quorn slices 3 x29cals on Ryvita crackerbreads 3x19cals. about 160 cals total. I needed some marmite undeneath though, the crispbreads are too bland for my hyped up taste buds.

I am trying to decide what to do for dinner tonight. Which of course, is why I am browsing GN and not looking in cookery books.

Started 5.2 diet beginning of March. Lost about 8 pound. I am not in a rush to lose loads of weight. On my fast days only eat once a day in the evening. Have so much energy when I am not eating. I am a bit of a foodaholic and on my feast days knowing I can eat more or less what I like, I can cope with not having it.

I am a member of the LDS church and we fast once a month for 24 hours and I have been doing this for about 34 years with no ill affect.

I have done about three different diets during my life and find 5.2 diet is the best one for me.

I thought of what to cook and I am now stuffed full!

I made a two egg omelet. With 1tsp rapeseed oil brushed on the pan. Full of pre-steamed veg. Half an onion, a red pepper, mushrooms. Brocoli and fresh Swiss chard which is negligible calories and bulk. The veg was portioned to come out at about 85cals. I reckoned the meal as as about 305cals.
I could do with charting the cals in different foods by raw weight more easily or it makes getting meal a bit of a fiddle with weighing it.

Very tasty though.

I have just bought the Fast Diet book and am a bit disappointed in that the recipes tend to be either for women or men (500 or 600 cals)
Anybody else doing it with OH/DH? Please could you post a couple or more of typical fast day menus that work for you?
Otherwise, if I do it the book's way, it will become totally impractical and I will have to prepare 2 separate meals each time which sort of defeats the object if you are trying to do it together. Thanks.

redevil Just increase the quantities in the woman's portion by about 100 calories worth of the same food or reduce the mans menu by the same number. Get used to doing the ideas in the book and you can soon get the hang of adapting them. I am having to do it to make the food vegetarian.

You could both eat the same meals, but slightly adjust the quantities to reach the required calorie count. I find this book useful, it lists all foods in alphabetical order. pocket calorie counter

Thankyou nellie and shysal. What an idiot I am- should have thought of that! Next job is to go through the 11 pages of messages on this diet and copy down some of the excellent menu plans and ideas.
My DH won't read the book and wants to leave it to me. (Easy option, eh?)
He has an enormous appetite so I am frightened that he is going to overeat on the non- fasting days, because even though he will eat everything I put in front of him, he tends to 'snack' at 11pm or any other time he feels hunger pangs. Is it possible that his 'full' switch doesn't work?

After a week with Greatnan in the French Alps, I now need to get back on track, though I am pleased (relieved) to find that I haven't put on weight. Two nights in a small hotel in the Aosta Valley in North Italy should have been disastrous in view of the excellence of the food - we couldn't resist the tiramisu on both evenings! Today, however, is a fasting day and now I need to go out for some salad ingredients.

Today is first fasting day- just had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon @ 256 calories- seems a lot, but there you go. Having roast veg. later (courtesy of Mr Tesco) @ 150 cals each. Leaving me a satsuma perhaps?
Must go and buy a squash- any tips about peeling btw? (Aren't they b....ers?) And do those amazing chip things for 9 cals. DH says he is happy to live on black coffee till 6pm.
If we get on OK with this today, I am tempted just to repeat the formula for the second fasting day- anybody else doing that?

I find it easy to peel butternut squash with my swivel peeler. The shavings can then be roasted with a little spray oil, makes a crisp-like snack (thank you Nigel Slater!).The seeds can also be done in the same way. For roasting pieces of squash though, there is no need to remove skin. I have a huge plate full sometimes for dinner, adding a sliced onion and mushrooms for the final 15 minutes.
Good luck!