5:2 "Diet" - non fast days

Schann7

I've just completed my second fast day of the 5:2 eating plan, and I am wondering what anyone else eats on "normal" food days? Do you eat what you want, and just count calories to stay under 2,000? Or eat as if you're on a diet, with salads and such?

I've come straight onto the 5:2 diet from doing Body trim, and I have found that I have put 1kg on since I started the 5:2 - even after my two fasting days. I am thinking it's because I had been eating so strict on Body trim and may have gone a little crazy this week with a bit more freedom, and therefore put on weight.

How do you suceed with this way of eating to lose weight?

Schann7

Bump!

Schann7

Anyone?

Mokey41

The 5:2 isn't a "diet", the idea isn't for weight loss, it's supposed to be for better health. You have to be eating at a calorie deficit to lose weight regardless of whether you do it on certain days or just at a deficit evenly across every day.

lts42uk

I have been doing this since the beginning of December. I try to eat around TDEE on my non-fast days, which is about 2000 calories. I have lost about 7 lbs, although I was almost at goal anyway. The scale hadn't moved for ages before I started this but now I am under my goal weight. I find it really easy as it's only 2 days and I can have a treat on my eat days!

bsmith404

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8005-5-2-fasting

Probably get more answers here. I eat at my TDEE - 20%.

boroko

I've been doing 5:2 since the New Year (with an indulgent week off for a ski trip) and have lost 14 lbs so far. I don't restrict calories on the non-fasting days, but do eat a generally healthy balanced diet and try to ensure that I get lots of good nutrition. You need to have enough of a difference in calories between fast and non-fast days for the weight loss benefits so the idea is to try and eat at your maintenance level on those days. I logged all my food for the first month to get an idea of what a 'normal' day was for me as I have never counted calories before. Eat salads if you enjoy them, but add lots of avocados, seeds, etc to up the calories and nutrients. You will probably find that your appetite is reduced after fasting, so it is important to ensure that what you do eat is good for you.

Basically you can be more relaxed about food and enjoy things that would not normally be allowed on a low-calorie diet, but I don't think it's a licence to pig out on junk food 5 days a week! I guess like so much in life, moderation is the key.

If you haven't already read it I recommend the Fast Diet book by Dr Michael Moseley as it explains it all and gives lots of advice.

Good luck! Once you get into the swing of it I'm sure you'll find it easy and effective.

Schann7

Thank you everyone I am hoping it will work for me! Once Easter is out of the way I should be right. It's great to see it's working for other people, it gives me hope!