Fasting!?

meg_thom
meg_thom Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
So everyone is talking about that new 5:2 fasting idea, where you eat less then 500 cals on 2 non-consecutive days a week.
Has anyone tried it? What do you think?

Replies

  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    What would you be trying to achieve with it? Are you having problems managing to your calorie target?
  • Ph4lanx
    Ph4lanx Posts: 213 Member
    I do 5:2 fasting. I have no problems managing it. I eat breakfast, then stick to water until the next morning. No problems, but then I'm coupling it with a reduced calorie diet for the rest of the week and I also train weights 3 times a week, circuit training twice a week and street dance twice a week. Kind of busy.

    I always fast on the circuit training days though, as those are the least calorific deficit when training fasted for me.

    It does work for me, though. I'm losing around 3kg a week at the moment, and this week is right on track for the same.
  • Person192
    Person192 Posts: 13 Member
    On the BBC program that people were discussing, I think he actually did it on 2 consecutive days, but I don't see why it should matter that much. Anyway, if you're already eating healthily, then maybe you don't need to do it.
  • HunterKiller_wechange
    HunterKiller_wechange Posts: 369 Member
    I have tried this too with fantastic results. Do it now and again if i have been eating too much crap just to bring my body back to more natural balance. Well it works for me anyway. :)
  • Ph4lanx
    Ph4lanx Posts: 213 Member
    On the BBC program that people were discussing, I think he actually did it on 2 consecutive days, but I don't see why it should matter that much. Anyway, if you're already eating healthily, then maybe you don't need to do it.

    No, the reporter did one fast of three consecutive days to prove something, then did the 5:2 (non-consecutive days) fast for 5 weeks, as he said himself that he struggled to stick to consecutive day fasting.

    But yes, if you're doing OK without it, it might not be worth your time. It does have benefits past losing weight too though.
  • IrishDaveRed
    IrishDaveRed Posts: 36 Member
    The BBC show suggested the benefits included a reduced risk of age related diseases and also suggested that the sensation of feeling hungry triggered the brain to repair itself - again reducing the risk of age related deterioration in brain function.

    BBC Horizon: "Eat, Fast and Live Longer"
  • Susidals
    Susidals Posts: 1 Member
    Apparently 5:2 also makes you live longer. Here is a link to the Telegraph article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9480451/The-52-diet-can-it-help-you-lose-weight-and-live-longer.html

    I only joined yesterday, but once I get into the swing of things, I will certainly be trying it. I think he said Tuesday and Thursday are the best overall days to do the 500 calories.
  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    I do it and love it. Its not about calorie goals its about getting your body in to 'repair mode' so when it grows again its in a healthier state at a cellular level. People on here are talking about 500 cals - but the documentary siad the levels were 200-300 cals for women and 400-600 cals for men, to get in to repair mode.

    I actually have more energy on fast days- somebody told me that its because the body is taking the energy out of existing fat cells and not from the process of digesting food- whatever , my energy is through the roof and I am able to train harder and for longer.
  • KarinFit4Life
    KarinFit4Life Posts: 424 Member
    Wow...just Wow...

    I'd go straight into "hangry" mode...
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    This is still just a fad.
    Intermittent fasting is not something that you will find many doctors recommending because, while there is plenty of animal data, so far there is limited evidence of its efficacy in long-term human trials. It will not suit everyone, nor is it safe for everyone.
  • Ph4lanx
    Ph4lanx Posts: 213 Member
    This is still just a fad.
    Intermittent fasting is not something that you will find many doctors recommending because, while there is plenty of animal data, so far there is limited evidence of its efficacy in long-term human trials. It will not suit everyone, nor is it safe for everyone.

    I'm afraid it's well past "fad" status. Most people who train hard have been doing this for a long, long time. Years, in fact. The results are there for all to see. A doctor won't recommend it because fasting doesn't tend to work for people who just want to lose weight. It's a compound thing. Fasting works alongside other things, and has been shown to work amazingly well for people who are heavily into training.

    About the only reason it's not safe is if someone doesn't understand how to do it properly, in which case they can put themselves in danger. The doctor won't recommend it because they can't monitor it as closely as they'd like, that's all. And if something went wrong, the first thing our generation does is point the finger at someone else. Knowledge is power, as they say.
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    I do it and I love it. I'm doing it for the overall health benefits more than the potential weight loss. I'm generally trying to train myself to eat better and actually do some exercise for the weight loss and health factors, the fasting is just a little bonus.

    Personally, I tend to eat most/all my calories as my evening meal and sustain on a lot of herbal tea during the day on fast days. If I eat in the morning I find myself really struggling during the day.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    This is still just a fad.
    Intermittent fasting is not something that you will find many doctors recommending because, while there is plenty of animal data, so far there is limited evidence of its efficacy in long-term human trials. It will not suit everyone, nor is it safe for everyone.

    I'm afraid it's well past "fad" status. Most people who train hard have been doing this for a long, long time. Years, in fact. The results are there for all to see. A doctor won't recommend it because fasting doesn't tend to work for people who just want to lose weight. It's a compound thing. Fasting works alongside other things, and has been shown to work amazingly well for people who are heavily into training.

    About the only reason it's not safe is if someone doesn't understand how to do it properly, in which case they can put themselves in danger. The doctor won't recommend it because they can't monitor it as closely as they'd like, that's all. And if something went wrong, the first thing our generation does is point the finger at someone else. Knowledge is power, as they say.

    My mistake for placing my comment next to the quote.

    I do not consider IF to be a fad, the quote is from the article referring to the 5:2 diet. Which is a fad, IMHO - as described in that article.

    Apologies for the confusion - my intent is not to lessen sense of utility of fasting but these "miracle results" are anything but.
    Diet yo-yoing is a well known result of many of them - "it's safe if you do it right" is pretty much true about any behaviour and is completely nonsensical.

    ETA: A lot of the talk around the 5:2 seems to stem from a show aired by the BBC in August.
  • KarinFit4Life
    KarinFit4Life Posts: 424 Member
    OP: I do IF.... but 16/8.... (fast 16 hours, eat in the 8 hour window) and then I eat proper cals to feed my body and my workouts. No use in losing muscle mass cause you want to lose "weight" quick.
  • K_Train450
    K_Train450 Posts: 122 Member
    Personally I do a customized Warrior Diet type IF with a 22/2 Ratio(2 hours of eating). I like it because I essentially eat like a king in my eating window, and I can still maintain a deficit
    Not recommended if you have low self control.
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    OP: I do IF.... but 16/8.... (fast 16 hours, eat in the 8 hour window) and then I eat proper cals to feed my body and my workouts. No use in losing muscle mass cause you want to lose "weight" quick.

    You only lose muscle mass if you don't exercise your muscles when doing 5:2..
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    OP: I do IF.... but 16/8.... (fast 16 hours, eat in the 8 hour window) and then I eat proper cals to feed my body and my workouts. No use in losing muscle mass cause you want to lose "weight" quick.

    You only lose muscle mass if you don't exercise your muscles when doing 5:2..

    There are a substantial number of factors that go into LBM retention during hypocaloric periods. Training experience, the individual's current level of leanness, training protocol, protein intake, etc.
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    OP: I do IF.... but 16/8.... (fast 16 hours, eat in the 8 hour window) and then I eat proper cals to feed my body and my workouts. No use in losing muscle mass cause you want to lose "weight" quick.

    You only lose muscle mass if you don't exercise your muscles when doing 5:2..

    There are a substantial number of factors that go into LBM retention during hypocaloric periods. Training experience, the individual's current level of leanness, training protocol, protein intake, etc.

    Yes I agree that it can be more complicated and technical then what I said earlier but for the most part, people here just want to cut weight without looking frail. The simplest answer to that is to train your muscles to retain your muscles, no matter what diet.

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