5:2 Diet question..

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Hi all (oh and I DID use the search function and couldn't find the answer to my question sooo...)

I've recently started taking the 5:2 diet approach to my food/diet I normally eat 1500 a day...since im now essentially fasting 2 days a week should I raise my non fast day calorie allowance to a higher amount (say 1800-2000? I read that on the days your not fasting you should be eating a normal healthy calorie amount??) and also on the days where im suppose to be eating the restricted amount of 500cals should I be exercising on those days? Like if my allowance is 500 and I exercise and burn 300cals then my total daily intake would then only be 200cals? that doesn't seem healthy, but should I just approach the fast days the same way as I do the other days and go about my routine as normal?

thanks in advance!!

Replies

  • OllyJ_79
    OllyJ_79 Posts: 126 Member
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    What are your stats?
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
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    inadequate data :-)

    As a general principle the 5:2 diet is 500 cals / day two days a week and 5 days at maintenance, if 1500 is your maintenance then 5 * 1500 and 2 * 500 = 8500 per week or 1214 per day average.

    On the two days you'll use in excess of 1200 calories the deficit is taken from your fat reserves - calories don't have to be eaten.
  • OllyJ_79
    OllyJ_79 Posts: 126 Member
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    There is a site that attempts to lay out the IF routine, I've not really checked it out thoroughly but it might be useful

    http://www.1percentedge.com/ifcalc/
  • zenner22
    zenner22 Posts: 33 Member
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    Hi, I know you posted this a while back. I hope you've had success on your plan. What I've been doing for he last few weeks is 2 fast days and then eating 200 calories more than MFP tell my to on non-fast days. I eat back half my exercise calories on regular days and none on fast days. Seems to be working pretty well for me so far. I definitely still track though. Otherwise I gain weight.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
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    You don't have to eat 500 calories on your fast days. It's UP TO 500. It can be 0 to 500 cals. I hover around 300 calories on fast days and my tdee of 1700 on up days.
  • geojeepgirl
    geojeepgirl Posts: 243 Member
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    There is a 5:2 group also...feel free to check out. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100058-5-2-fasting

    I eat around 400 on my fast days, whatever breakfast turns out to be. Then up to my tdee on non-fast days. I will sometimes eat some of my calories back on fast days...typically about a third or so back from what my fitbit says I burned. I dont eat back on non-fast days unless I feel wonky after my dreadmill run.