Why I love the 5:2 diet

Its a great, liberating way of managing food! Having been a yoyo dieter for years and done all the diets in the world, its just great to add in a few days a week, when I don`t have to think about food..and just have a very minimal day eating a few choice things.
Its reminded me how delicious food is again.. getting my appetitie under control and also knowing how much good those fasting days are doing to my general metabolic health!
I read his book which was so helpful, and emphasised the good things that are going on during a fasting day!
Thank you Michael..I have got a lot to loose but I feel great already!

Not exactly the 5:2 diet because I can't get my head round the low calorie days yet, but I've started eating my main meal before 5pm [the S.O. tends to cook a meal quite late at weekends and it's since we've been together that I've piled the weight on]. I've also started eating breakfast; not very healthy stuff; those oat breakfast bars that are on offer at Sainsburys [they're just biscuits really but, because they're disgustigly overpackaged I only eat the contents of one packet] so, if I'm feeling realy hungry later in the evening I console myself with being able to eat at 7 the next morning. There is still no bread or cheese in the house [I love cheese] and I've been making a large salad with watercress, eggs, beetroot, grated carrots, cucumber, tomatoes etc with fish of some kind to finish it off. This takes ages to eat and involves lots of chewing so it's quite satisfying.

The article made me laugh out loud especially the bit about finding it hard to begin with and wanting to gnaw your arm off at the end of a fasting day. I'm about to try yet again as my step daughter and her partner have been very successful.

Still going strong, 3 pounds off goal weight! Then I'll set another half stone goal then that's it. I have just found Philadelphia light mini pots, each one is 50 cals. Had one for lunch with 3 ryvita crisp reads ( 19 cals each). Will try the cheese with veg sticks next. Keep it up everyone, good luck. Xx

I meant 'breads' of course!! X

I'm off it from now! Doesn't mix with cruising.
Normal service will resume on return ( will have to!)

I have used lemon juice with my tea. I use ordinary English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Lady Grey and Green Tea. The variety seems to work and I carry one of the small plastic lemons in my handbag so that I can always order tea and know I won't be tempted to use the milk. However, I can't face lemon in my tea first thing in the morning - it's just too tart.
The fasting has enabled DH to have all he things he can't usually eat like steak pies and puddings - he's been so supportive and deserves a reward. My new look is about 40% his effort and I feel great. Lots of energy and my skin is lovely and clear!!

I'm three weeks into the 5:2 diet and I'm feeling great. Is it easier, I wonder for me to stick to it because I am a widow and therefore on my own, than it is for all of you who have husbands and/or family to worry about?

So far I haven't felt hunger pangs at bedtime on my 500 calories days.

Really important long term benefit of doing the 5 2 to lose weight for my wedding was by having to ensure that I only did the 500 cals on the fast days made me a lot more conscious of my food choices generally. I used to love sugary milky tea until I began to substitute it on my fast days for herbal tea. I found that liqourice tea was particularly helpful on the fast days to give me a sweet flavour without the calories. My fav teas:

All Liquorice: www.yogiproducts.com/products/details/egyptian-licorice/

Really nice blend including liqourice: www.littlemeteacambridge.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/14-day-deetox

I know it sounds a bit strange but being able to enjoy something apparently as 'small' as tea has made a difference.

flowerfriend I think you're right, it's far easier to stick to it when on your own. I go completely off the rails when I stay with family or friends - which I do a lot, especially recently which is probably why I have been stuck at the same weight for the past 3 weeks

I'm off for a week to stay with my sister-in-law. My MiL has died. She was 102.

I've started wondering how easy it will be to get back into the routine when I return home. So far I could almost say that I have enjoyed the discipline of the diet.

If I've been away, eating to someone else's routine, I usually have my first day at home on a really strict 500 calories. It gets me back in the swing.x

After being shown a recent photo of myself resembling a hippo, I've decided I need to lose a lot of flab thus allowing the slim woman inside to escape. I begun the 5:2 diet yesterday, making it my 'fast day' - I feel thin already. Is anyone out there who's recently started this way of eating and would (like me) benefit from a mate (or 'buddy') to pal up with to encourage each other to stick to the path towards achieving our dream size/weight?

I'm back on it Tuesday after my very calorific holiday!

I only started this diet two weeks ago and already my jeans feel less tight!
And it's amazing how creative you can be with 500 calories.
The main problem for me is feeling hungry late at night, so I save some calories so I can have a cracker biscuit (28 calories) before bedtime.

Have found it very inspiring to read all your comments about this 5:2 diet. My DH & I both need to loose weight. Both retired, we seem to be getting bigger and bigger! Have dieted with WW in past & succeeded, but it's all gone back on again, plus! Exercise is a problem due to back & knee problems, so will order book & get started. DH is quite keen and I quite like the idea of 2 consecutive fasting days. Will keep reading your success stories and hope to join you soon. Thanks for inspiration

I love this diet, but I have been away for a month and am finding it difficult to get back into.but like Gilly70 I am inspired by all of you so am determined to carry on with it.

Just started this yesterday. Had lost 1.5 stone at slimming world for my daughters wedding in September last year but have gradually put it all back on since stopping SW. Just back from a cruise and had put on another 5 lb - so cross with myself that I undid all my hard work. DH and youngest daughter joining me on 5:2 and day 1 was quite effortless really. I am following SW programme on other 5 days as very flexible. Lets hope it works. I am approaching the fast days as a challenge to find filling low-cal meals that will suit all 3 of us (daughter hates veg and fish). Found lots of recipes online.

Good luck Iluvcruz. I shall be interested to hear how it goes.

Have started the 5:2 with my DH. I did buy the book first from Amazon to fully understand it and I found it very informative. Since 12 July we have both lost weight fairly quickly, which is quite amazing for me! I have lost 8lbs, my DH has lost 10lbs. ( I know it is probably water and that actual fat loss will be slower!) We both find the 'fast' days fairly easy to get through. I try to plan the days 500 & 600 calories meals in advance, sometimes using the 'Hairy Dieters' menus as the calories are all worked out for you. We always have breakfast, usually eggs, 2 eggs scrambled or omelette,in a non-stick pan, 1 apple/tangerine for lunch and tuna/salmon or chicken salad for dinner. Lots of water, herbal tea, black coffee/tea throughout day. I think evenings are the worst time if you are a 'snacker' and get the munchies, but, personally, I feel better already and my indigestion problem has gone! I would love to lose another stone though, fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone on 5:2 and thanks again for all the inspiration. ��xx

Yay - first week and we both lost 6lb! I know part of that will be the "extra" we put on during the cruise but it has motivated us to keep going. Today is a fast day but might be trickier as daughter is having her second baby today by Caesarian. Will try to avoid the champagne toast till tomorrow!

Congratulations on the weight loss and the new grandchild . I hope all went well. It is encouraging to make a good start on a diet isn't it? Hope it continues.

I tried this diet but it didn't suit me. I have joined a gym and have been going to Pilates classes a couple of times a week. Result is I have lost weight without dieting and have lost inches where I would usually struggle to. I feel so much better and have much more energy. Would really recommend Pilates for all ages. Just wish I had had the time to do it before.

Started a few weeks ago. generally ok, cut out sweets and biscuits/crisps on normal days and its started to show good results. Sometimes with tea and coffee just go over the 600 (620) but as the rest of the 5 days I tend to eat more healthily, decided not to beat myself up over that

Well I'm new to Gransnet and new to 5.2 diet. I had my first fast day yesterday and decided to wait and have my entire 500cal meal in the evening so I'd gone from 7pm on Tues to 7pm Wed without any solid food and apart from being a little light headed at just after lunch it was certainly doable. I think this regime is very personal and some folk will go for the 2pm until 2pm and others will find eating their fast day quota over the day as Mimi Spencer, the co-author of the Fast Diet does. The fact it isn't prescriptive is the bonus for me and of course the health aspect appeals even more than the weight loss. The brilliant news for me was that this morning I stood in the scales and had lost 4lb. Now I know that the majority of this is fluid but it gave me the boost I needed to continue. This is the first forum I have ever used and it has been so useful to see others experiences of the 5.2 diet.