5:2 I Don't understand!!!
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Ok at the risk of sounding stupid what is 5:2? From the post I'm guessing this is more of a UK thing? I'm in small town US & it hasn't reached me yet. Seems it has something to do with fasting?
The 5:2 diet (AKA The Fast Diet) stems from a documentary shown last year on BBC in the UK. The series is called "Horizon" and features a weekly scientific documentary. The particular one I'm referencing was called "Eat, Fast and Live Longer". It was made by a doctor turned reporter/ journalist - Dr Michael Mosley.
There is now a website and books about it.
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/
Basically, the idea is to eat very low calories on two non-consecutive days in the week (Mondays and Thursdays is a common pattern) and eat "normally" on the other five days. Men are supposed to eat 600 calories on "fast" days and women aim for 500. You can switch fast days around to accommodate your social life. People who do not want to lose more weight often do 6:1 to maintain.
The health benefits are supposedly linked to slower ageing and cancer prevention but are not copper-bottomed proven. Weight loss is a side effect.
I'm sure you'll be able to find the original TV program if you google. I had it bookmarked but it's been taken down from where I found it ages ago.0 -
I do not understand how this can possibly be a healthy way to loose weight! I am a firm believer in a total life style change. It needs to be something manageable for the rest of your life and I am sorry but I am not going to basically starve myself two days a week. Let's face it my family doesn't like me when I am hungry...I am miserable. Maybe I am missing something here but I am making the changes that I need to be healthy for the rest of my life, not some crazy diet that will make me loose weight and eventually gain it back.
If it takes me two years of eating right and getting my rear up and moving to drop the weight I am okay with that. I am doing to this in a way that I will only need to loose it once and be done. I am sure it works for certain people I am just not willing to do that to myself.
Congrats OP you are on your way.
If somebody had have said to me at the beginning that fasting was in my future I would have laughed.
It turns out that this process (5:2) actually fits my new lifestyle, not the other way around. MFP has taught me alot that helps me understand and embrace the fundamentals of the 5:2 strategy.
My suggestion to you...keep doing what you are doing, it's working. Research. Keep 5:2 up your sleeve as a possibility.
I miss 2 meals and 8 snacks per week...doesn't sound like starvation when you put it that way does it?0 -
I love it now that everyone is bashing the 5:2, perhaps they will not have time to bash the 1200 dieters anymore.
Sheesh. I picked the wrong week to switch! :grumble:0 -
5:2 is fantastic. Since starting 3 months ago, I have never felt better. I have lost just over 2 stone, my skin is better, my nails are strong and growing for the first time ever, I have more energy...need I go on.
My nails are super strong and long now as well- isn't it awesome!0 -
I also do 5:2 (sometimes 4:3). I think just looking at the tickers of all the other fasters here is proof that it works. Clearly they are doing something right...
For me, in three months I've managed to shift 9% of my starting weight, and I've never been so fit. Three months ago I could barely run 300 metres, now 5kms are a breeze.
My husband didn't understand it when i started either, but since he watched me transform he has started fasting too.0 -
I do not understand how this can possibly be a healthy way to loose weight! I am a firm believer in a total life style change. It needs to be something manageable for the rest of your life and I am sorry but I am not going to basically starve myself two days a week. Let's face it my family doesn't like me when I am hungry...I am miserable. Maybe I am missing something here but I am making the changes that I need to be healthy for the rest of my life, not some crazy diet that will make me loose weight and eventually gain it back.
If it takes me two years of eating right and getting my rear up and moving to drop the weight I am okay with that. I am doing to this in a way that I will only need to loose it once and be done. I am sure it works for certain people I am just not willing to do that to myself.
Great!
All you have to do is find something that works for you.
Good luck!0 -
I love the 5:2 diet too. Really easy to do a 200kcal brekkie and 300kcal dinner, plus I don't binge because I can still eat 'naughty' things if I really fancy them. Definitely possible for the rest of my life & lots of top chefs also now follow it.
The documentary can be seen on the net, I watched it on https://player.vimeo.com/video/54089463 (sorry not sure how to do a link)
Each to their own but worth a watch before you make any decisions. I was particularly interested in the possible reduction in dementia.
Good luck with doing it you're way. If it works for you that's all that matters.0 -
If you don't like it, don't do it. IF isn't for everyone. What's the point of bashing?0
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After losing 45 pounds in 9 months, my body has adjusted to my calorie level and the weight isn't coming off very easily. I was expecting that to happen at some point and here it is. I can either lower my cals even more, or try a different approach. I am looking into the different styles of Intermittent Fasting, so see which one will best suit me.
Eating 500 cals a couple of days a week will not kill anyone, much less someone with lots of extra weight to lose.
I still have 30 pounds to go, so I can live off the fat of the land for a while longer before I have to worry about 'starving'.
No one has a gun to your head, forcing you to the 5:2 plan. If they do, then call 911 and report them. :bigsmile:
@debbielyn63 I am at a plateau and going through the same with 20 more to go. Congrats on your achievement btw. If you want to friend me we can break it together. I have learned a few tricks from some other 5:2 friends and I am definitely not starving. :-)0 -
Wow. You don't understand why people do it? Or you don't understand it? Or both.
One thing for sure, you are totally misinformed about 5:2. It IS a lifestyle change. Not just for weight loss. There are many other benefits. And if you look at the weight loss tickers of some of the people who responded, you should be impressed.
I am sorry it makes you angry. It shouldn't.0 -
I do not understand how this can possibly be a healthy way to loose weight! I am a firm believer in a total life style change. It needs to be something manageable for the rest of your life and I am sorry but I am not going to basically starve myself two days a week. Let's face it my family doesn't like me when I am hungry...I am miserable. Maybe I am missing something here but I am making the changes that I need to be healthy for the rest of my life, not some crazy diet that will make me loose weight and eventually gain it back.
If it takes me two years of eating right and getting my rear up and moving to drop the weight I am okay with that. I am doing to this in a way that I will only need to loose it once and be done. I am sure it works for certain people I am just not willing to do that to myself.
You're so misinformed, it's insulting.
Don't be insulted, I think the point of the post was to get someone to explain it better to her. As the title says, she doesn't understand it.0 -
Hi
I was very sceptical, still it's
Only on my first week, finished day 2 of fasting and I am shocked at a few things:
Firstly how little I need to eat to fill me up.
Secondly the mentality - my out look on food has changed dramatically in 4 days! After 5 years of obsessing about points and calories I'm tired of planning and analysis on food daily. This is do refreshing and I feel strangely so in control. Fast days are easier than I thought-not easy but easier. I think do I want to ruin my fast day with cake in the office?? Nah I will have it tomorrow. I have things I think oh il have it on my treat day then I wake up and choose things I never dreamed of. Eg fruit, low fat yog and 2table spoons of granola.... I was planning a bagel....
Salad, noodles and chicken from
Salad bar at work.... Was planning ham x cheese panini....
Taste and mentality so changes! I never would have believed people before experiencing it because I love my food and having been on other well known diets, I eat because I have points left or "its within calories" so eat because I can instead of actually listening to my body.
It's re educating and totally changing my relationship with food in a good way.
Sorry to ramble but what I'm
Trying to
Say is the posts where people are struggling, stick with it. I'm new too and I do think it will click. Listen to your body and don't be afraid to leave food on your plate. A big learning for me this week too!0 -
What's a stone? Did you lose lose it whilst driving on the wrong side of the road? What colour was this stone?
;-)5:2 is fantastic. Since starting 3 months ago, I have never felt better. I have lost just over 2 stone, my skin is better, my nails are strong and growing for the first time ever, I have more energy...need I go on. The fast days are not difficult, I still eat well lots of salad, veggies and protein and I rarely feel hungry. It may not be for everyone, may not be for you, but please dont make negative comments about something you dont understand. There is plenty of scientific evidence to back up the health benefits just google 5:2. Good luck with your weight loss journey, however you wish to go about it0 -
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In order to begin to "starve" you would have to stop eating for more than 24 hours. Anything before that is all in your head.
There are lots of health benefits that fasting can provide. Putting something down just because you don't like it is very ignorant.0 -
In order to begin to "starve" you would have to stop eating for more than 24 hours. Anything before that is all in your head.
There are lots of health benefits that fasting can provide. Putting something down just because you don't like it is very ignorant.
I believe starvation wont settle in until about 72 hours with no food. I don;t believe for a minute that we're *supposed* to eat every day ..0 -
Well!! that put the cat amongst the pigeons!! :laugh:0
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It makes perfect sense to me. I'm sure it's far more 'natural' to our species than having a consistent number of calories each day, so a couple of low calorie days a week shouldn't hurt too much.
Sustainability is another huge plus, IMHO. Maintenance can turn out to be an adapted 5:2 or a 6:1. The 'lifestyle change' made is that of learning to fast. I have watched a colleague really succeed with it, and a little part of me dares to hope this might be the long term solution for a great many people.
Will I ever do it? Probably not. Were I male? Almost certainly, yes. The health benefits for men seem well-proven, but for women it seems less clear.0 -
What's a stone? Did you lose lose it whilst driving on the wrong side of the road? What colour was this stone?
;-)5:2 is fantastic. Since starting 3 months ago, I have never felt better. I have lost just over 2 stone, my skin is better, my nails are strong and growing for the first time ever, I have more energy...need I go on. The fast days are not difficult, I still eat well lots of salad, veggies and protein and I rarely feel hungry. It may not be for everyone, may not be for you, but please dont make negative comments about something you dont understand. There is plenty of scientific evidence to back up the health benefits just google 5:2. Good luck with your weight loss journey, however you wish to go about it
the stone can be any colour you want it to be :P0 -
To each his own, and again it comes to choice and will.0
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I have been doing the 5:2 since April of this year. I have never felt better in my life. I love the fact that I easily lost all the weight I needed to and am now at maintenance but the main thing is I have suffered with pain all my life and am now pain free. No more pain killers required just to get though the day. Crazy? Maybe but I say, welcome to the loonie bin. I am never going to change this way of eating.0
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I have been doing the 5:2 since April of this year. I have never felt better in my life. I love the fact that I easily lost all the weight I needed to and am now at maintenance but the main thing is I have suffered with pain all my life and am now pain free. No more pain killers required just to get though the day. Crazy? Maybe but I say, welcome to the loonie bin. I am never going to change this way of eating.
That's such good news, Perrinjoshua! I wish you could have found fasting as a tool to make you pain free earlier. I'm so glad it worked and still does work for you.0
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