Horizon - intermittent fasting diet.

I watched the programme yesterday and was so impressed that I've started on my 2 day diet today. I couldn't work out exactly what to eat, or when, from the programme, so I'm following the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention 2 day diet, which also showed good health benefits in their trial group. Before my marriage I used to fast on a regular basis and always felt more energetic afterwards, so I hope it won't be a problem for me now. Unfortunately, my lifestyle has become much more sedentary over the past 13 years (too much good living) and I'm now around 3 stone overweight and have been told by my GP that, unless I change my diet and lose the excess pounds, I'll have to take statins. As my mother suffered from dementia before her death, I'm also interested in reducing my risk of getting this horrible condition. As this diet appears to have some benefits in building new neural pathways, I'm hoping it may keep my little grey cells working properly that much longer. If I can stick to it, an added benefit could be that when my younger daughter gets married next September, I should feel much fitter and (hopefully) slimmer by then. So here goes....

Good luck Midge, keep me posted, we can compare notes. I am on my second 500 cal lunch day, not feeling hungry yet - not at all like me! The Genesis diet seems to be along the same lines. I am doing alternate days at the moment, but will cut down to 2 days a week if it gets too difficult

I have been doing the Alternate Day Fasting Diet for a week now, and have lost 6lb. I am enjoying the freedom it gives me on non-fasting days, although I haven't felt the urge to binge. I seem to have more energy and haven't felt like dozing in the evenings. The hunger pangs on down (500cal lunch) days only last for about 30 minutes at a time and I haven't been tempted to cheat. I have 3st to go before my BMI is in the normal range, but I feel I shall be able to stick with it, eventually only needing to 'fast' once a week or so to maintain the health benefits.
How are others getting on with their various attempts along the same lines?

There is another version where you fast for two non-consecutive days a week, and eat normally for five.

www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9480451/The-52-diet-can-it-help-you-lose-weight-and-live-longer.html

what is all this about ?, I am eager to loose some weight please tell me what tv program this is and when it is on , i have got quite a lot to loose around the middle, and i like my food and i am not in to exercising .

( help ).

freddie1 - look on the new threads that are posted on Monday - glassortwo is an amazing person who starts a new thread every week for all us losers - usually called 'Monday (date) weigh-in' or similar.
You could check out this week's posts to see how we all post our successes or 'not so good times' and how we all encourage each other. (Look under 'Diet' in the forum list.
A lot of us are also on My Fitness Pal which is a free on-line calories counting service and are getting good results on the whole.
You will be made very welcome on our weekly thread and it keeps us focussed and supported. You reveal as much or as little as you wish - some actually their current weight, others just that they have lost or gained - there is no set way. Glass is amazing support and always there with an encouraging words when we feel like chucking it all in. Good luck

Yes freddie! join us 'losers' you will be very welcome.

I don't understand why this programme isn't clickable on i-player. you can only get clips

freddie1 if you click on the link Elegran put on (just before your post) this article tells you all about it. (click on the words in blue)

Large article in Telegraph today on this - still works out to 1500 calories a day which works for me without having two days of feeling faint with hunger.

The programme is no longer viewable on iplayer, but is on You Tube (Horizon - Eat, Fast and Live Longer). The best description is on the link given by Elegran , as stated above. susiecb - amazingly I have not felt faint from hunger, I really feel great! It is only a day to wait until eating what I want, which soon comes around.I had home made turkey burger with chips yesterday, with no feeling of guilt!

If you look up the Horizon programmes on BBC website, you can access the blurb about this programme. Down one side there is a list of blogs all about the 5/2 system, they are really enlightening and you can also see just how confused people are about how it all works. We recorded the original programme and have watched it twice, just to make sure we have the gist of it. You can "fast" on two days, not necessarily consecutive ones, taking in 400 - 500 calories for women, 600 calories for men. I thought you had to take them in all in one go and then not eat anything else for 24 hours, but it seems that you can divide the calories as you want - the presenter had a breakfast and then dinner each evening, confining his intake to 600 calories each day.
Today, a very wet and gloomy bank holiday, we decided in our wisdom (?) to start on day one. Had all our calories for breakfast, and now hubbie talking about just a little piece of cheese and crackers. Looking over I see he has gone to sleep, so perhaps he can last a bit longer! Can't get out to garden, very difficult to distract ourselves from our usual routine of three meals a day plus mid-morning and mid-pm snacks, too muddy for walking out, but we shall get through. We are more interested in this method for its health properties, as DH is on statins for high cholesterol and my levels are going up, too, so anything to help. It does help to concentrate the mind on calorie content, too, not a bad thing - I think we will try to eat less on the days off, too.
Good luck everyone!

I am half way through week 3, and have lost 8lb so far and feel great. I am doing alternate days as I have a lot to lose. Like you dahlia I find it feels odd when you are used to the routine of preparing meals through the day - I tend to go for a brisk walk instead of the evening meal,which is easy as I have only myself to worry about. This is also the only diet I have been on that cuts the weekly shopping bill drastically!

Well done shysal that's an amazing loss. I have been following this diet too, mainly because my DH thought it would be a diet that would suit him and he drastically needs to loose weight. I have found it reasonably easy, it's nice to know that you can eat fairly normally "tomorrow" and I just LOVE the lack of cooking and clearing up

All diets are rubbish, you lose weight and then put even more on when you stop, the best is to eat what you like and stay even in weight.

Rather easier said than done, Ian...

Ian - I suspect you speak as someone who does not have the tendency to put on weight. Some of us have it, some don't. I find that eating what I like is what piles on the pounds!

All types of exercise helps.

I think we know that, Ian. Nice of you to show an interest, though...

I've just got the Hairy Dieters book and the recipes seem soooo sensible. They're just the sort of food DH and I enjoy too without anything faddy. I'm going shopping on Sat in the market for fresh veg and see what happens. It's just learning what's best with what is available and adapting to eating less fat by using alternatives yet still being able to eat the things we love like stews and roasts. Herbs and spices seems to be a prominent feature.

Just an update on the "diet" so far. After our miserable bank holiday Monday, we were able to eat normally for three days and today once again we are on the "fast". It is much easier today, as we have been busy all day and enjoying rare sunshine, so it is easier to ignore occasional pangs of hunger. DH weighed today and has lost 5lbs, I have lost 4lbs. Having been on all sorts of dieting programmes in the past, I realise this is normal when cutting back, but we both felt fine on the "fast" days and I must admit we did think more carefully about what we ate on the "normal" days. We just want to give ourselves a chance before we become too heavy/unhealthy, so we are doing exercise as well e.g. walking, Wii fit. Ian, I realise diets do lead to weight gain when you come off them, but having tried everything I believe husband and I can maintain this way of eating quite happily, and not crave "forbidden foods" as happens with other diet programmes. Feel very positive and will let you know how we get on. Certainly enjoying the little food we have had today!

dahlia - I am impressed by your weight loss! You will probably find it slows down a bit after a week or two, as mine has. I only weigh the morning after a fast day so the results are comparable. The great thing is that in the future it will be easy to maintain by fasting perhaps once a week. I am still actually enjoying the experience and have loads more energy.
How are others getting on? There were a few others wanting to give it a try. My DD and SIL are starting tomorrow for health benefits rather than weight loss.

I've been doing the 5/2 diet for just a week and have lost 4 and a half pounds. Yes I know it's probably water but it's still weight! I love cooking and I always ended up being frustrated on other diets because they all seemed so restrictive. But now for most of the week I can still cook and have fun trying out new recipes and just be spartan for two days. It's also good because I feel in control. We're away on what looks like being a boozy weekend with family this week so I'm going to have 2 or maybe 3 days early in the week when I stick to the low calorie regime, go careful for a few days and then relax at the weekend. On previous diets I'd have worried about undoing all the hard work and not really enjoyed the time away. I'm also going to start logging my weight on Gransnet. I know it's only been a week, but I've at last got a good feeling about a diet. I think this will work for me.

i've been on myfitnesspal for months & months and keep losing / gaining the same 3-4 pounds. came across the 5/2 diet earlier this afternoon and will be starting it tomorrow and I am planning 600 cals max for fast days spread over breakfast 150 / lunch 150 /dinner 300. has to be more cals at dinner as hubby is the cook in our house. will be keeping everything crossed that it will work for me as I have at least 1.5 stone to shift ...

I don't know if I'm correct, but I believe you gain the health benefits by eating most of your calories at one sitting - though I could be wrong! We have most of our calories at breakfast time, then top up with a poached egg at about 6 p.m. If we absolutely must eat, we have a dry cracker once or twice during the day, counting in the calories.
Begin day three of the fasting days tomorrow, and have a lot of activities planned to distract me! It's certainly a big help having DH trying the regime with me. In the past it has been so hard providing big meals for him while staying on a lettuce leaf myself.