First day fatigue

jojeba

Did my first day yesterday, and was doing ok - spread my 500 cals over three meals, the smallest being dinner. And I made sure I stayed hydrated. But I had also cycled to and from work, and done a spin class in the morning. I calculated that I'd worked off my entire day of calories! I ended up giving in and adding an extra 100 cals to my dinner because I was so terribly ravenous. Then I was exhausted by 8pm and slept for 10 hours. Have woken up feeling a bit woozy and out of it. I know it's fine to exercise on fast days but at the beginning maybe it's too much? Surely burning of so many of your calories on a fast day isn't a good idea, until your body is used to it.

yvonneangelgoh

take it slow and steady. 500 calories is ridiculous. Your body is in starvation mode and you will not be able to endure for prolong period. At least maintain around 1000 calories to make things sustainable.

mazdauk

Even on a fast day you need at least 900 calories - and you need to eat back your exercise calories. Otherwise you're going to feel really ill AND you'll end up emptying the fridge!

be sensible - if you're doing 5:2 eat at least 900 + exercise calories on your two days fasting, and at least 2000 + exercise calories on the others.

beautifulwarrior18

Of course you were ravenous! You're starving yourself! I eat 2000 calories a day and I still lose weight. You're going to destroy your metabolism.

jojeba

Sorry, should have said: am trying te 5:2 diet, partly to lose a couple of pounds but also because I work in food and want to retrain my appetite! I eat far too regularly. And the 5:2 calls for 500 cals on the two fast days, and you're not supposed to eat back your exercise cals. I've never ever done diets because I believe in eating well and in moderation - but I've picked up bad habits and since I feel fasting is a good thing for reminding the body not to expect food all the time (we weren't made to eat so much food constantly), I thought this would be worth a try.