Anyone try The Every-Other-Day Diet

IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt

I’ve done the 5:2 diet at times with success. As mentioned above, for me it was a tool to create a calorie deficit. I counted my calories on maintenance days and on the 500 calorie days. I’m a bit skeptical of all the health benefits of fasting, but if they exist that’s a bonus I suppose.

I’ve wanted to try the every other day diet, but the math creates too steep of a deficit for me. My maintenance calories are around 2000 calories and the ‘every other day diet’ would average out to 1250 calories per day over the course of two weeks. Contrast that with 1571 on the 5:2. That’s a cut of 37.5% of my TDEE vs a more reasonable 21% of my TDEE. Perhaps if I didn’t count calories on the maintenance calorie days it wouldn’t be as steep of a deficit and it would feel more reasonable, but then I figure what’s the point. What I liked about 5:2 is that on the maintenance days, I was ‘training’ myself for what maintenance should be, an aspect I really enjoyed.

I could also see the upside of not counting calories on the up days/high days/5 days, but it would drive me nuts not knowing where my weight loss should be in terms of numbers. To each their own.

My advice if to try anything! Within two weeks you’ll know whether it’s right for you or not. If you decide not to count calories on the days you get to eat more, your bathroom scale will let you know if it’s working for weight loss.

HelenWater

I started counting calories on two days each week. I’ve opted for 800 calories and I’m finding it doable so far. I’ve read more widely than the two authors mentioned so far, and the science does seem to stack up on the positive side for this pattern of eating for weight loss that is sustained, and it has other metabolic benefits too. I’ve known a couple of people who have had success with two days of calorie restriction each week.

bekahlou75

I've been doing my own version of One Meal a Day. I put sugar free cream in my coffee so I'm technically not fasting. But I really hate black coffee. I've been losing kind of slowly but it's consistent. This is something that is actually do-able forever....for me. I'm at a calorie deficit but it allows me to eat a good meal and drink my wine. You have to find what will work for you. I know I'm not going to stop drinking wine, I will never drink black coffee, and I don't want to feel guilty if I eat 2-3 slices of pizza. People tend to eliminate everything, lose weight, and then wonder why they gained it back when they re-introduce those items to their diet.