Horizon - intermittent fasting diet.

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

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)

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

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

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

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 ).

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

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?

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 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....

Yes, it is still on iplayer. The programme, on BBC2, was Horizon - Eat, fast and live longer
I have now decided that I will do the Alternate Day Fasting method. I am well into my non-fasting day, but haven't thought about eating much, which is great. I am normally a bit of a grazer but not doing it today.
The programme mentioned that most over 65 year olds take 8 types of medicine. I am very lucky to be on none, and wish to stay that way.

What was the programme called? Is it still on iplayer? I saw the last minute or so by accident but assumed it was a repeat. I'm a great believer in ayurvedic medicine which advocates fasting, and think that home made organic chicken soup with lots of vegetables and garlic, along with black pepper, ginger and turmeric is the thing to eat on fasting days, Having said that I've completely gone to pot this year, finding myself eating rubbish food and too much of it which is a downward spiral because eating badly makes you feel tired and when you feel tired you eat. Years ago I did a sponsored fast and by about the third day I wasn't all that bothered about food at all. When I used to get my 'once every couple of months' migraines [always on a Saturday, never a work day] I always felt better the day afterwards, as if my whole body had been cleansed. [Must point out that they weren't the awful migraines that some people suffer; I wouldn't wish them on anyone, but more a build up of tension over a period of time]. At the moment I'm just trying to eat soup because I'm getting close to needing to take omeprazole of something and I want to give my tummy a bit of a holiday. And I'm drinking far too much tea and coffee and not enough water.

I can't quite remember albertine, you would have to check on the iplayer. I vaguely recollect a mention of green tea and possibly black coffee, but the emphasis was on lots of water. I am not a tea or coffee drinker so stuck to my usual water throughout the day.
I found an on-line interview with Dr Krista Varady, who featured in the TV programme.
www.healthyfellow.com/511/alternate-day-fasting-interview-part-1/

Are you allowed coffee on fast days ?

That's good news anyway - I expect your stomach has shrunk a bit and feels full quicker!

Anagram, That was my worry, which is why I decided to go from part way through the day. I really felt no hunger pangs at all and slept really well, it was more a question of it feeling odd not preparing my evening meal, so I went for a walk instead. I expected to feel greedy today, but I have only had a couple of small ham salad sandwiches and a pear a few minutes ago,and that was enough. I was 3lb lighter this morning, what a pity it is not a true weight loss at this stage!

Did you sleep OK shysal? I would worry about that - it doesn't take much to knock my sleep pattern off track.

I was fascinated by the programme and the evidence for the intermittent fasting. My only anxiety about doing it myself is on the grounds of age. Michael Mosley is 51 and I am 65. Does jeni perhaps have a view on the age issue?

I have not eaten since having 500 calories at 11am yesterday, and I can honestly say I don't feel at all hungry. I will probably have an early lunch. In an odd way it was easier to eat nothing, I did not once stand and look into the fridge as is my normal practice.
I haven't decided when to do it again, twice a week probably, but alternate days seems possible. I wish my book would arrive so that I can make an informed choice. Unfortunately Amazon's estimated date is August 28th.

shysal Go for it. I think doing the fasting diet would be a good idea and is the way forward for me too. I fear chronic ill health in my third age but I also don't want to die before my time ! Like you I found the evidence compelling so will do it. Good luck.

albertine - I too am a serial dieter. We know any diet works if you stick to it, but as soon as we stop the weight gradually piles back on. I was impressed with the health benefits of the fasting diets, which is why I am giving it a go. I dread the thought of developing type 2 diabetes or heart disease.