Why I love the 5:2 diet

shysal I think you have raised an interesting point about how dieting has changed over the years. Anyone remember Slimming Magazine? It was all about calories(and not many of those.). You could starve all day and eat sausage and chips as long as you were within your calorie limit. Healthy eating just didn't figure. Then we've had Conley, Atkins, F Plan, and now the 5:2.

After years of insisting upon breakfast, fasting is now the thing!

Wonder what the next fad will be?

Reddevil, you could cut DH's calories by removing the yolk from one of the eggs you scramble, still tastes the same.

Tegan, isn't it strange that 'they' are no longer saying that we should always eat breakfast. It is said that it can be beneficial to eat all our calories within an 8 hour or less time slot each day, therefore lengthening the 'fasting ' period.

I hope you all have continuing success.

Hi, just came back to the thread. The fruit day went very well, didn't feel hungry at all. Now just doing maintenance days, one a week. Not put on weight and clothes still fit, if anything appear a little loose. X

That's how I am [and one reason why I've never ate breakfast even though they say we should]. I can go without food but not a cup of tea [with milk in].

D.H and I have been doing this for nearly 6 months now and I have lost just over 16 pounds. It gets easier as you go- things like turkey breast mince is very low in calories, Quorn etc. to make chilli with one tin kidney beans and 2 tins chopped tomatoes. Works out at less than 275 cals per portion including steamed veggies to go with it or salad. I make 4 portions at a time, we eat 2 and I freeze 2 so I have a nice no- cook day every week. I make DH scrambled egg (2) with 50g smoked salmon for breakfast.
Personally,I have found that I can survive on cups of tea until about 5pm because as soon as I have even a crispbread at lunchtime, I get immediately very hungry.
Hope this helps anybody just starting this.

This diet is going really well. Today I weighed less than I have for about a year and I'm still finding it quite easy. Wish I'd known about it earlier!

J52 was doing the fruit day. That wouldn't work for me cause eating fruit just makes me hungry and apples make my teeth sensitive. I'm not sure what day I'm on today cause I got up late and been out most of the day so have eaten 2 bananas, 2 Ryvita, some cottage cheese and half a pint of milk with Ribena in [I rushed to the cinema tonight and wanted something to drink while I was there]. Will try to do a proper 500 cal day tomorrow.

Tegan, how did the fruit day go? That sounds appealing to me.

Starting 2nd fast day today. I think I overate yesterday in anticipation!

I did 5:2 last year and lost half a stone - I'm not really over weight but my weight has crept up over past year or so. It's v good if you just want to get back on track - especially after Christmas.
First day today so I find that for me if you keep busy and don't have 'breakfast' till about 11 much easier. Had porridge and blueberries then just herbal tea and water all day till chicken and veg stir fry (from the book) about 8pm. Looking forward to a normal day tomorrow!

I'm going to bed now so I can't eat anything else [I had a banana earlier]. I've gone way over the 500cals now and don't feel that I've ate much at all.

Had a successful first fast day! It was so much easier than I had imagined. I didn't eat until about 1:30 pm and kept myself busy with 3 or so hours of heavy gardening and then some quilting. I didn't get really hungry until about 5 pm. Ate a large salad with feta cheese and an apple. Had a healthy snack with my remaining 100 calories a bit later. I ended up eating 503 calories. I must admit that the evening hours I was a bit hungry and should have gone to bed earlier. But when I awoke this morning, I wasn't even hungry! I am so optimistic about this.....it's great to read all your comments of your experiences. Even though I had a good experience yesterday, I am still anxious about Wednesday(my second fast day). Is that stupid or what?!

I agree Tegan. I also like to have 'fun' 500 cal days, when DH is out for dinner. Tomorrow I'm doing a 500cal fruit day and have bought lovely different fruits. X

I lost weight on the Rosemary Conley diet but my skin, hair and nails really suffered from the lack of fat in my diet. I do think the 5:2 diet is very clever phsychologically in that you don't get the 'damn, I've ate something to ruin my diet therefore I'll pig out for the rest of the day/week/month' feeling and your stomach gets smaller so the longer you stick to the diet the less you eat etc. I think I've stuck to @500cals today; see how I feel tomorrow.

Many years ago, I too did Rosemary Conely and WW. I also put on weight when I started eating 'normally'. What I think is good about 5:2 , is that you are eating everyday food, just less of it on 2 days. I have now found that my whole way of eating and choices of food has changed. I still like cake etc: but much less of it! Also, I prefer to make meals from scratch rather than eat any pre prepared food. The weight I lost has stayed off and if I feel I've over eaten, just a couple of fasting days soon puts things back on the right track.x

I know people who have lost a lot of weight on this diet but when they say how little they are eating, I am not surprised! 20 years ago I lost 2 st in 5 months doing Rosemary Conley plus extra exercise and OK I was 20 years younger but it became a way of life. Since then it has crept up and each time I despair I reassure myself that "I did it once and I can do it again" - but you know what? I can't

I find now that on non fasting days, I make better choices in what I eat. It has become a healthy way of eating for life. X

I've been doing it now for over a week so am on my third fasting day. Can't say it's difficult at all. I even did five days at a hotel and managed to stay sensible. I realise I have been eating because it was time to eat and not because I was hungry. Now that my mind is away from chocolate, mince pies, etc. I feel quite confident that I can do this. I've already lost the Christmas bloat and haven't had heartburn once. I wish I had tried this a year ago when it first came out. Better late than never.

If you're doing your first day tomorrow perhaps it would be an idea to plan a really early night so you're not tempted to eat anything later in the evening [that's when I get tempted by things I shouldn't eat]. I've only really done one 'proper' day since I started but even so it shrunk my bloated post Christmas tummy and stopped me wanting to eat constantly.

There can be a slight lightheaded ness or head ache for the first few fast days. It is a bit like de-tox. Once you start losing weight you will feel better and it is great motivation. Slowly and surely is a great mantra. Many Gnetters
have achieved their goal and are here for support, which is great to have on difficult days! Many of us maintaining our new weight will be still having fast days, especially after Christmas. X

Jinglbellrocks, I have the same worries, except not the depressed part because I feel hopeful that this strategy will work. Tomorrow will be my first fast day. Yikes! Are you thinking of starting?

This is the first time I have ever posted to a blog or a stream! I am doing so in hopes that I can receive some support/ input as I embark on my first fast day (tomorrow) of the 5:2 program. I am quite anxious about it. I have done many, many diets in my lifetime which have all worked until I stopped and gained all the weight back and more. My doctor wants to put me on medication for high cholesterol ( even though I have brought it down by 65 points!). He has given me until April to get some more weight off which will hopefully have a positive impact on the high cholesterol.

5:2 appeals to me because for five days I don't have to stress about food! I don't think that I will end up gorging on those days. It will just be such a relief not to have to worry about it. I am quite worried that I will be light-headed and starving and not get through the first fast day without giving in. I really want this to work! For the weight and the health benefits. My hubby is going to do one day per week, just for the health benefits.....he doesn't have any extra weight!

Is anyone out there just beginning also?

I think I would get dizzy on the fasting day. And get depressed. And hungry.

Me too, rockgran! Full of good intentions!

Seriously, though, I think noting down everything you eat is the only way to do it, particularly in the long term. A bit of junk is ok as long as it's accounted for, in my opinion.