When To Fast On The 5:2 Diet

hartk001

I’ve just started the 5:2 diet and I have a question

So on the new 5:2 diet plan on your fast day you can eat 800 calories and fast for 14 hours. It’s the fast bit I’d like advice about

I’ve earmarked Friday as one of my fast days. If my last meal on Thursday is at 7 pm that means I can have breakfast at 9 am on Friday; restricting what I eat on Friday to 800 calories. Right?

However, can I do it the other way around? Have breakfast at my normal time but my last meal at 7 pm on Friday night and have my next meal no earlier than 9 am on Saturday morning.

I suppose what I’m trying to figure out should the 14 hour fast come before your 800 calorie day, or can you have it after your 800calorie day? In effect does it matter?

Violet_Flux

I'm not familiar with the new 5:2 plan, sorry. When we used to do 5:2 we would put both fasting days in a row, basically Friday and Saturday were our fast days. So Thursday dinner would be the 'last meal' till Sunday breakfast.

On the two fasting days, our rule was maximum 500 cals or whatever we burned in workout, which ever was lower. So our 'net calorie' was negative for those two days.

In terms of where you put the 14 hours though, I don't think it should matter so much if it's before or after? As long as it's 14 hours uninterupted fasting, you should get the benefit?

baconslave

Right. It absolutely doesn't matter when your window is on your fasting days. It's just a matter of preference. When I'm losing, I do a 4:3. The 3 days at 500, maintenance the rest. I eat from 6pm to 11pm on the fasting days, with the exception of my coffees in the morning since I have a little creamer. I do it this way because it works best in my routine.
The best plan is the one you will stick to.