Why I love the 5:2 diet

Yes I,ve tried a couple of the apps, gettingonabit, but I usually revert to a notebook for calorie counting. I could take an exam in calorie values - then still eat rubbish!

rockgran there are many calorie-counting and fitness-tracking apps free to download to your device or smartphone.

I'm having a go at this - second day! I'm sure if I just cut out the junk I'd be fine but always think - tomorrow! I need something a bit more (but not too) demanding and this seems as if it gives you a bit of structure to eat sensibly. I'm always better if I can keep a notebook or something to make it more official. Wish me luck. (That's herbal tea!)

I'm going to start it tomorrow but can't be bothered with the calorie counting so I'm just going to work out how many calories I have left over when I've had milk for my drinks and then just have a bowl of soup or something like that.

I just don't get this diet. It doesn't take account of exercise and I bet it's not sustainable for long periods, as 500 cals for two days is too punitive, imo, for most.

I'd much prefer Myfitnesspal, which allows some flexibility and stops mindless eating, which is where most people go wrong when trying to lose weight. I'm sure there are health benefits to fasting, though, but personally I can't stick to 500 cals, which is basically one small meal.

I think it's far better to eat sensibly all the time. As long as you don't snack on fatty stuff and get lots of exercise you should be fine.

And a diet and fitness regime is for life, not just for the duration of 5:2.

Hats off to those who can do it, though.

A friend of mine is also doing this diet. She had her company medical on Friday and told the doctor that she was following this diet. The doctor said it was not a good diet as it makes your blood sugar rise and fall too quickly. Does anyone know if this is true? I hope know as I have lost almost a stone since Easter and dropped a dress size.

Well done Ruth!

Its great earlier this year I lost 14lbs and its stayed off-its only 2 days a week!

Thank you Shysal, am ordering books. Will report progress.

calorie counter
This one is simply laid out, listing all foods alphabetically.
I hope you have success, I can thoroughly recommend the diet. Let us know how you get on.

this book
Loads of others are available.

I am keen to try this diet. My daughter thinks it would suit me, she doesn't think I need to use any weight (being the kind daughter she is), but I feel a bit lard like and could do with losing a stone or so. I do Pilates several times a week, go to a dance fit session, as well as sequence and ballroom dancing sessions twice a week! I am on medication for HBP, raised cholesterol and gastritis and read somewhere taking meds and doing the 5:2 could be a bit problematical? Can someone tell me the title of 'the book' and a calorie counting book? I'll report back how I get on.

This all sounds good but I am a diabetic and have to eat three times a day, plus two snacks. Any help out there.

Thanks MrsJamJam I shall endeavour to shift the surplus weight using the 5:2 approach. I guess that I need to lose a stone.

Breakfast - grapefruit
Lunch - poached egg on a big pile of steamed spinach
That leaves enough calories for a reasonable supper.
I drink fruit tea often throughout the day, and then fizzy water with lime squeezed into it I the evening. The most difficult is resisting the glass of wine when getting supper, but once over that I just dream of the toast anc butter for tomorrow's breakfast!
I bought a calorie counter book, and that helps a lot to work things out.

My skirt is straining at the zip. Far too many "treats" of late and not enough exercise. More partying planned for tomorrow. I am going to try the 5:2 diet starting Monday. Can anyone give me examples of satisfying meals for the days when I'm supposed to fast?

janthea I did what Shysal advised. To hurry things up, she advised alternate days fasting for a few weeks. It works! Another 2 kilos gone!

I'm still doing it. But I seem to lose a couple of pounds and by the time it's the next diet day, I've put it back on!! I seem to have reached a plateau and can't get past it.

That's what I am doing today! a boiled egg sand three cracker breads with sandwich spread. I will think about dinner later. The recipes in the book don't have many ideas for a vege but I am getting used to adapting them.

I will reward myself tomorrow and make a bread and butter pudding.

I find I use black pepper more in order to keep the salt down. Herbs and spices help in making things more tasty. The two Hairy Dieters cookery books have really tasty recipes and all calorie counted so I use them a lot. A little bit of grated parmesan adds very few calories for a really good cheesy taste hit. Much better than reduced fat cheese which tastesnof nothing!

I have just got this book so will be starting this week. I have been told not to have any salt by the doc. Has anyone any snippets on how to make food more tasty. I found a recipe on here today but it calls for oxo cubes which have salt in. Since I hardly eat red meat now I have recently been introduced to turkey breasts (no fat content) which I am finding more tender than chicken.

Any help would be appreciated.

I can only manage to stick to my "starve" days when I'm at work and very busy - I've tried at home and it's a complete disaster! On nights when I am so hungry it start planning what I'm going to eat for breakfast the next day and a treat to look forward to - it really helps especially when you can still see the weight coming off

I have found that I find it easier to not have breakfast or lunch. Just the meal at about 5pm. I felt hungrier when I had a small breakfast and or lunch. I do carry a sipper water bottle around all day and drink water whenever the pangs hit. Also herbal tea, I like licorice tea, or black coffee with a sweetener. I would add that I am retired. Not sure I could have stuck with this if working full time. I started it in Feb and lost about 6kgs by May. Have had our daugters family living with us since then and I have been eating a lot more c..p with having children around. Im still fasting during two days a week but my evening meal has been creeping up in the calorie department with eating with the family. When we are two again, I will get back into this properly as I am convinced it is the best way to lose weight for me. You do need to be distracted though during the day so keeping busy is good.

Welcome to Gransnet, suegale , I hope you continue to acheive good results. I can thoroughly recommend intermittent fasting. I was /am delighted with the weight loss and sense of wellbeing from doing alternate days. I shall be interested in hearing of your progress.

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.