Thoughts on the 5:2 Fast diet

paulbear75
paulbear75 Posts: 44 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey folks

After researching and talking to a few people about intermittent fasting I thought I would give it a try, Has anyone tried the 8:16 or the 5:2 fast and feed diet? I would love some feedback and if anyone is interested in starting this week please add me so we can share our thoughts. Thanks community
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Replies

  • Gracie1214
    Gracie1214 Posts: 120 Member
    I did the 5:2 for 2 weeks and lost 7lbs a lot of people don't agree with it but it's personal choice and it works for me. I just need to plan my fasting days better !
  • Tanana66
    Tanana66 Posts: 84 Member
    Hi
    I tried 5:2 for a month. It wasn't hard keeping calories at 500 but I have noticed I ended up binging at weekends - not good. I didn't like exercising on those days - not good.
    You know those days when you feel full of energy and can't wait to go to gym or do sprints? Well, on those 2 days you might feel oposite. I did. Cold and lethargic.
    But some people do quite well on it...
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    Hey Paul..its Kristian Rocco from NYC! go to Lean gains site...all the info is there..I have been doing fasting for 3 years and 16 hours fast and 8 meals is def the way to go! but please go to Leangains.com
    best from nyc:)
  • paulbear75
    paulbear75 Posts: 44 Member
    Wow thanks so much people and Kristian, I'm going to check it out thanks so much for the info
  • Too_Unfit_To_Quit
    Too_Unfit_To_Quit Posts: 7 Member
    I love 5:2 (the fast diet)! I started the Fast Diet and MFP on May 18th and I am down 17lbs in less than a month! Yes you read that right, 17! I am sticking to the MFP calorie allowance but find it very hard to reach the 1900 they give me! However, I don't eat any less than 1400 a day! I also started working out on the eliptical about 3x a week too! Personally I love this "diet" I think it has changed my life dramatically. I say "diet," because this is more of a lifestyle change. Once you reach your desired weight you maintain by fasting just once a week. I will say the first fast I hated it and thought this would never work but I am so glad I have stuck it out. I don't expect my weight loss to keep dropping so quickly as I'm sure the first few weeks BIG losses were due to me stopping soda and water weight, but either way it's 17lbs NOT on/in my body anymore :)
  • Rooooose
    Rooooose Posts: 149 Member
    Love 5:2, I've been doing for a month now and although I haven't lost much weight I do have the feeling I lost fat (I've been working out a lot at the same time so I probably gained some muscles). What I especially love about it, is that you can decide for yourself what you want to eat and when :). Good luck if you decide to do 5:2! There is a special group for 5:2 which will definitly support you!
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I've been doing 5:2 since January, and its just a way of life for me now.

    I've lost about half a pound a week on it - not much, and not fast, but I don't have a lot to lose.
    I feel great after a fast, really empowered and light.
    I haven't found light exercise to be a problem on or after fast days, but I'd hesitate to do a strenuous workout. But its only 2 days a week - very easy to switch that around to fit into whatever the week holds.

    There are 2 groups for those following 5:2 here on MFP - if you're interested you'll find lots of information and support on there. Also, this question has been asked a fair bit recently, so if you use the search function you'll be able to find more opinions.

    I feel its important to point out a few things: it's not strictly fasting, just 2 very low calorie days. It doesn't suit everyone - definitely a no-no if you're pregnant or aiming to be, diabetic, under 18, or with a tendency to disordered eating.
  • Fit_Natasha
    Fit_Natasha Posts: 83 Member
    Does it has to be the same days every week, or you can change them -- let say, first week you are fasting on Sunday and Wednesday, and next week you doing it on Monday and Thursday?
  • beattie1
    beattie1 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Does it has to be the same days every week, or you can change them -- let say, first week you are fasting on Sunday and Wednesday, and next week you doing it on Monday and Thursday?

    You can swap your fast days around to suit your social life or workout schedule, or whatever. It's very flexible. The book recommends not doing your fast days back to back, but some people do & if that suits them, it's up to them.
    As it happens, fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a very popular pattern.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Change them to suit whatever you have on each week. My default is Mondays (feels good fasting after a weekend), and Thursdays (longest distance between fasts, and a good prep for the weekend!) But I switch those all the time. Once or twice I've just had one fast day in the week.
  • nixism
    nixism Posts: 258 Member
    Hi there, just started the 5:2 today. How do I find the groups on here???
  • kae_blah
    kae_blah Posts: 180 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/7953-5-2-fasting

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/8576-5-2-diet
  • chatogal
    chatogal Posts: 436 Member
    bump
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    I've recently tried the 8 hours on, 16 hours fast diet. I feel like this would work very well if my work schedule was normal. But I work 3rd shift and work out during the day, so it was just too much of a hassle to plan. I still sort of follow some of what I learned: at work, I stop eating at midnight. If I go home and sleep, then I don't eat about until 4pm when I wake up. But, if I work out after work before bed, I eat a high-protein meal. I'm a binge eater, so this helps keep me on track.
  • cheesyrunner
    cheesyrunner Posts: 84 Member
    Bump. I'm going to try this after my final exams.
  • FarAway02
    FarAway02 Posts: 211
    Whilst I don't necessarily believe that it's damaging I just think... why? I did trial it...then I remembered that I can lose the same amount of weight by eating healthy and exercising. Why would I eat 500 calories a day and feel irritable, tired, unable to focus properly and do my job etc etc when I can eat 1600 calories, have epic workouts, swims and runs, sleep well, wake up feeling motivated and fresh??

    The key word in 5:2 is DIET. If you're considering something a 'diet' you will forever yoyo. You need to find a LIFESTYLE. Something you can sustain for the rest of your life. That's when you'll really keep the weight off and feel AWESOME about yourself.

    I wouldn't recommend diets full stop...but I definitely wouldn't recommended feeling as irritable and naff as the 5:2 so often makes people feel.
  • jamielynas
    jamielynas Posts: 366 Member
    it's a great way for some people to justify binge eating
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    it's a great way for some people to justify binge eating

    and a great way for a lot of people to lose a pound a week
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    i've been doing 18/6 for a month, maybe 5 weeks. it has a lot of positive implications on my understanding of hunger, also helped me get self control nailed down big time. all of that is good stuff.

    It also jumpstarted my weekly loss back up to 1lb a week consistently, im down 5lb from being stuck for a a few months between 73-74kg.


    I think ill be doing IF forever really. once I get to maintenance ill do 14/10.


    id go for 16/8
    i wouldn't to not eat / hardly eat for 2 days a week. but thats just me.
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    Not for me, Jamie. My binge danger zone is right after work. So, having my fast time during the after work hours helps A LOT. If I don't take the first bite, I'm usually able to resist. If I work out, I'm less likely to binge also. But I did the 8 hour diet, not the 5-2 diet. That just sounds painful...
  • Fit_Natasha
    Fit_Natasha Posts: 83 Member
    Whilst I don't necessarily believe that it's damaging I just think... why? I did trial it...then I remembered that I can lose the same amount of weight by eating healthy and exercising. Why would I eat 500 calories a day and feel irritable, tired, unable to focus properly and do my job etc etc when I can eat 1600 calories, have epic workouts, swims and runs, sleep well, wake up feeling motivated and fresh??

    The answer to your why is that a lot of people don't have a luxury of been able to do their workouts, runs, swims every day due to the nature of work (travel) or family obligations (kids and their homework and after school activities). I see how it can work for people who can exercise only three times a week and have a seating job. While I am not necessary following this diet (and just heard about it recently), I always had fasting days (I probably consumed even less than 500 cal) just because I felt like my body needs a break from food.
  • jamielynas
    jamielynas Posts: 366 Member
    it's a great way for some people to justify binge eating

    and a great way for a lot of people to lose a pound a week

    So is eating the 7:0 diet, where you show moderation and self control
  • rainrain83
    rainrain83 Posts: 82 Member
    i started the 5:2 diet a week ago and its great i have lost 3kgs and is the reason i joined
    this website and started counting calories. now that i am counting calories
    i wonder if its better to just do the 1200 a day rather than the 5:2 diet
    which is just distributing the calories differently but the same result
    at the end of the week.
  • kae_blah
    kae_blah Posts: 180 Member
    I wouldn't recommend diets full stop...but I definitely wouldn't recommended feeling as irritable and naff as the 5:2 so often makes people feel.

    5:2 is a lifestyle choice for me. My interest is in the potential neurological and health benefits not weight loss (reducing calories and exercising more took care of that for me).

    There seems to be a large psychological/habit aspect when it comes to eating. After a couple of fasts days it wasn't all that hard. I used to get migraines and irritable with low blood sugar - but 500 calories is enough to counter those issues.

    Over time I have even been able to do my usual gym sessions on a fasting day.
  • FarAway02
    FarAway02 Posts: 211
    Whilst I don't necessarily believe that it's damaging I just think... why? I did trial it...then I remembered that I can lose the same amount of weight by eating healthy and exercising. Why would I eat 500 calories a day and feel irritable, tired, unable to focus properly and do my job etc etc when I can eat 1600 calories, have epic workouts, swims and runs, sleep well, wake up feeling motivated and fresh??

    The answer to your why is that a lot of people don't have a luxury of been able to do their workouts, runs, swims every day due to the nature of work (travel) or family obligations (kids and their homework and after school activities). I see how it can work for people who can exercise only three times a week and have a seating job. While I am not necessary following this diet (and just heard about it recently), I always had fasting days (I probably consumed even less than 500 cal) just because I felt like my body needs a break from food.

    Please don't give me that. I WORK with kids, and I work 10.5 - 17 hour days.

    If you're looking for excuses chances are you'll find them. There are people on here, people in my friends list, who get up at FOUR AM in order to fit a workout in before they go off to the daily grind or before their little darlings wake up.

    If you're serious about it you'll find a way. I once lost 20 pounds in a month (and I only weighed around 170 to start with) with a crash diet. I've now lost 10 pounds in three months with 172 being my start weight. I could so easily have crash dieted again and be at 140 by now.... but my body DESERVES better. It deserves a good nights sleep, a work out, it deserves FOOD. All 1600 calories of it.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    So is eating the 7:0 diet, where you show moderation and self control

    yep, that works too. But if some people find it easier to restrict on two days rather than seven it suits them well.

    Often the "self control" required for 7:0 or 31:0 breaks down into a binge that erases the deficit. If they only own 2 days self control then using it on 5:2 makes sense.
  • FarAway02
    FarAway02 Posts: 211

    Over time I have even been able to do my usual gym sessions on a fasting day.

    ....you're aware that if you exercise without enough food in your system your body starts breaking down your lean muscle mass in order to fuel itself...right? Not good.
  • latepaul
    latepaul Posts: 49 Member
    I've been doing it since November and lost 43lbs so far.

    I get quite annoyed when people tell me it's a fad. I had one bloke in my office shake his head and suck his teeth at me and tell me he thought it wasn't healthy. Then I found out he was doing Paleo which is dubious at best.

    I used to do a regime based on 1800 calories a day with a few more at the weekend and occasioan cheat days. However the longer I was on it the harder it was to maintain.

    The thing about 5:2 is that it's not magic. It's just a way of restricting calories overall - so on a weekly basis I eat at a deficit. However because of the way it's structured I find it a lot easier to maintain. Now I understand that for some people this isn't easy but it really works for me.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    fasted exercise has demonstrably better fat loss in published studies.

    http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/11/13/study-suggests-that-for-optimal-fat-loss-the-best-thing-to-eat-before-exercise-is-nothing-at-all/
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member

    Over time I have even been able to do my usual gym sessions on a fasting day.

    ....you're aware that if you exercise without enough food in your system your body starts breaking down your lean muscle mass in order to fuel itself...right? Not good.

    I was thinking that too. Do you save your 500 calories for that? Like 250 calories of a protein and carb heavy snack pre and post-workout?

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