5:2 and NHS diet

I may give this a try, littleflo, if sticking to 1200 calories a day begins to pall a bit.
I'm doing my weight loss via myfitnesspal, which is working ok, but is very slow - but as you say, it's taken a long time for the weight to build up, so it's not realistic to expect it to disappear fast!
Remember, there's the Diet Thread Weigh-in that glassortwo puts up every week? It's a really supportive thread for us all and it doesn't matter which methods of weight-loss that you use?

My thoughts and understanding are that the 5:2 benefits also cell renewal and dispersal of old cells and that is why it is recommended for helping to prevent or minimise the occurrence of breast cancer. Also so help lose inches and weight. Correct me if I am wrong. Just trying to remember and am starting on the 5:2 again on Thursday after 2 years of being off the wagon.

The other advantage I found doing this was just as I was about to be put on statins my cholesterol went right down - and at that point I hadn't even lost much.

Just a quick update.

When I went to visit our Daughter and weighed myself after 6 months of doing 5:2 I was absolutely amazed to find I had lost just over 2 stones. I was hoping to have lost 1 1/2 stones and would have been really happy with that so I was ecstatic with the 2 stones 2 pounds.

Also, when I had my blood pressure checked last week it had gone down by 10 points.

I'm aiming to lose another stone and then I'll start maintaining.

I really couldn't recommend this way of eating enough, it has certainly worked for me.

wow Kalexi - what an achievement - for you. Your bp going down is also amazing and has inspired me to have a go at this now. Will have to do some googling this afternoon to look it up.

I have lost 21 lbs and, although now on maintenance, hope to loose 7 lbs more. The fast day pattern of eating is also meant to be protective against Alzheimers.

Blood pressure rise is associated with weight gain and DH, who has lost more than me, has already had to discontinue one BP medication and thinks that his diabetic state, which is marginal, has also coming under control and his GP may be able to suspend medication.

Same with us on low-carb and small portions Flickety. I have lost two stone, OH has lost three, he is out of pre-diabetes and his cholesterol is right down. We have been losing roughly a pound a week and now ready to go on maintenance. I guess on 5:2 you may just be looking at dropping to 5:1, but I am not sure how to tackle it with low-carb. Don't really want to eat more carbs as we feel so well on this diet. Maybe just increase portion size?

I am maintaining at about 8.5st that is a loss of about stone over a year which I am happy with. I was told by a friend I would look gaunt if I lost much more.

I agree completely with the observation that you realise you do not need to eat so much and if you do your feel overfull. That is probably one of the big advantages. It has clearly done well for a lot of GNrs. I am impressed.

I have found this last week that one way of losing weight is to have your kitchen refitted, but that is rather traumatic, expensive and not to be recommended.

Mamie we are keeping up the low-carb because DH seems to react very strongly to significant portions of carbohydrates. He will put three or four pounds on overnight if he relaxes when we are out and has steak and chips rather than steak and salad, even a relatively high calorie salad. The weight gain is wildly disproportionate to any extra calories consumed and it can take up to a week to lose again.

Fortunately, for minor health reasons of my own, we have always had an eating pattern that includes a lot of fruit and veg, particularly veg, I love them, so we have been eating even more veg, although after the tv programme 'Trust me I am a Doctor' last week (see separate thread) I am now cooking, cooling and reheating the carbohydrate part of any meal to reduce its GI value.

Some people have expressed health and safety concerns about this, but so far everything I have cooked, cooled and reheated has gone through the whole process in less than 2 hours, so I am unworried.

Hello, I am also on the 5:2 way of life. I have lost well over a stone since I started in June this year and feel great! I don't know what effect this has had on my cholesterol or blood pressure but I know my blood results are perfectly good. I have reduced carbohydrates quite a bit. I was a 16 but went and bought a top from Fat Face the other day and came out with a 10 . I was expecting a 12 as I know their tops come out on the large side, but I feel like wearing it inside out! I also feel much better in myself, I have more energy - and its soooo easy, I recommend it to anyone .

That is interesting, Flickety. We limit carbs to 150g a day and have low GI ones. We have no sugar, one small slice of bread a day, which is half wholemeal and half spelt flour, pearl barley or pearled spelt as a rice substitute or in salads and new potatoes a couple of times a week. Basmati is a rare treat and we make chickpea flour fritters, which are brilliant. We have chickpeas and beans of all sorts. We have been doing a lot of Middle Eastern and Indian food, which makes it easier. We haven't limited fruit at all.
I thought about 5:2 as our daughter and SiL have done really well on it (I have inherited a lot of DD's clothes as she has gone from size 12 to size 10), but OH wasn't keen and low GI has suited the way we eat. It has obviously worked really well for lots of people though and I know my DD just does the odd fast day now to maintain her normal weight.
I find the diet threads on Mumsnet good as they have so much more traffic and there are some interesting low-carb recipes.
It would be nice to see more focus on healthy food on here instead of the endless stuff about cake.

Mamie do you have a good recipe for chick pea flour fritters . Years ago my mum used to but a product called Frizzets which I think were made of that. From what I can remember they were lovely, probably
loads of salt though.

This is the one I use.

1 cup chickpea flour
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
pinch cayenne and salt
1 cup water
1/2 small onion or 1 shallot, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped

Mix together the flour, cumin, cayenne, and salt. Stir in the water until smooth. Stir in the ginger and onion. Let the batter sit for a bit. Heat a heavy frying pan with a tablespoon of oil. Add about a small ladleful at a time, turning when it is lightly brown.
The first one never seems to be as good, no matter how much I heat the pan!

Thanks Mamie

That soundo tasty Mamie. When would you eat these? I mean is it a breakfast perhaps?

No, we eat them as an accompaniment to curry. We have had a vegetable glut this year and made lots of veg jalfrezi (sp?). They work well with that. We also cut them up cold in a salad the next day.

I am sure they would work well for breakfast too!

Love vegetable curries especially in the cold winter months. Thanks for that Mamie

You don't have to count calories on low-carb, but I would be interested to know how many calories they contain.
I am going to try shepherd's pie with celeriac mash and fish pie with cauliflower mash at some point.

I've been doing the 5:2 diet for a couple of months now. I am really enjoying the challenge of planning my two meals of 250 calories each. OH is doing it with me.
I have a problem this week though. I have to make lunch for my Dad three days this week so will have to forego one of my diet days. I want to stick to Tuesday and Saturday for the diet.
A 5:2 diet club would be a fabulous idea. I'm only 5' 3" and was 10 st. 2lbs. When I got married I was 8st. 3lbs. I was skinny then though. If I could lose a stone I would be happy.

I don't know how many of you are on Facebook but here is the link to a brilliant support group (of which I am a member) for those doing/would like to do 5:2.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/187492001383720/?fref=nf

Very supportive and full of inspiring experiences, before and after pics and very good information.

I hope no one even thinks about driving a car on these "fasting" days. Concentration is bound to be down. And anyone over the age of 65 should get their doctor's advice before starting on this diet. It is not sensible for older people.

I can only speak from my own experience but I can say that my concentration is definitely not affected for the worse on a fast day and so I do everything that I normally would do on a non fast day including driving.

jingl there is an awful lot of fear over being hungry. For myself I have never had a problem on fast days. It is possible to still eat, some tuna say and salad for lunch and then a piece of fish for dinner and still be within the recommended 500 calories. Today I am fasting and went to an exercise class this morning with no ill effects. Sometimes I feel like I have more energy on fast days. The main thing is to drink lots of water. I completely agree that anyone with major health issues or who is concerned should consult their doctor first, but if you are fit and well there is nothing to lose but weight - and all to gain by way of good health. The Michael Moseley Horizon documentary makes very interesting watching.

kalexie completely agree with you