The Fast Diet Challenge

BUMP :-)

Sounds pretty radical but modified fasting does give the body a great chance to complete internal chores which leads to healing and repair. I say just listen to your body carefully and let that be your guide. I'd like to hear how it's going on a periodic basis. I'm going to request you as a friend.

Hey Guys today I bought 'The fast diet' book by Dr Michael Mosley (guy off BBC) half way through and he reckons letting your body essentially starve by cutting your calorific intake by 75% for any 2 days of the week is apparently meant to be amazing for you and your body and states studies have shown things like less chance of cancer, diabetes etc etc..

I know some of you guys are probably thinking, ''Wow, no way! 500 calories a day as if''

But I'm giving it a go starting tomorrow and Monday of every week. I'm only allowed 1400 calories a day now on MFP but struggle to even hit this.

I'm not anorexic or anything far from it but am allowed as much black tea/coffee, water as well as 370 calories for 2 days of the week. Should be interesting.

Oh and of top of this me and my wife are doing the 30 day shred and 6 week 6 pack.

It's all about lifestyle change people not 'fad' diets.

Like to hear what you all reckon.

Chris

Re the bold. Then why are you considering something that is a fad? I'd want to stab someone (if I didn't pass out first) on 500 calories.

So totally agree.... this is one of those fad diets! I hope the least you do is NOT exercise at all on days you eat so little.

I am interested to know if the book cites any long term studies. I would give a lot of credit to someone who maintained that diet for a year or more and are not incarcerated.

Sounds like Intermittent Fasting. Not necessarily a bad thing, depending on how you draw your nutrients otherwise. I wouldn't attempt a huge burn on those low cal days. Not eating already stresses your body.

I am not sold on the body repair science that this diet claims to promote.

I am interested to know if the book cites any long term studies. I would give a lot of credit to someone who maintained that diet for a year or more and are not incarcerated.

The book is referring to intermittent fasting and there are a lot of studies that say it is healthy. Keep in mind that there are many ways to fast. There's alternate day fasting, 16 hour fasting, or the 5:2 day fast which is what Mosley does. Whichever you choose is up to you and your lifestyle. Link below is to the wiki article that has papers cited at the bottom if you want to learn more.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_fasting


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~is fascinated~
370 calories + 30 day shred + 6 week 6 pack + caffeine overload = ?

Do me a favour and let me know how you two feel after doing this?

Exactly, for the remaining days of the week you precede as normal with your usual calorie allowances.

Idea is that it slows the growth of new cells and prompts your body to repair its existing ones. It also encourages fat burning, so you lose weight.

All of which propose longer life span and reduce chances of Cardio Vascular disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes etc.

HUH? Just by NOT eating, the cells suddenly stop going through mitosis? REALLY? Does the cancer treating industry know this?

Yes they do. Fasting is use to help treat cancer patients just before they go into therapy.

Exactly, for the remaining days of the week you precede as normal with your usual calorie allowances.

Idea is that it slows the growth of new cells and prompts your body to repair its existing ones. It also encourages fat burning, so you lose weight.

All of which propose longer life span and reduce chances of Cardio Vascular disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes etc.

HUH? Just by NOT eating, the cells suddenly stop going through mitosis? REALLY? Does the cancer treating industry know this?

National Cancer Institute link below
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/071012/page5

Thanks for the feedback guys, obviously a controversial topic, none the less I'll give it a go.

I hope to train on the 500 calorie days also, but will listen to my body.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Not if you lose muscle from under feeding your body, lol. Large deficits lead to muscle loss. Why dont you look at a program like leangains, its a better form of IF.

At the risk of inviting ridicule... This is basically what I've been doing since the 1st, but I do it every other day. This same general idea is going by a bunch of names right now - JUDDD, IF, ADF, Modified alternate day fasting, etc.

The studies are interesting (and pretty numerous) - but as far as all of that goes - it's interesting, but probably still theory at this point - in my opinion. If it turns out that there are extra benefits - great. If not - that's ok too.

The thing about this that interests me most is the almost complete lack of willpower or obsession required to get a calorie deficit.

It's a series of 1 day diets - after the first one or two, it's no big deal.

I don't freak out because I can never again have pizza, burgers, etc - I'm not facing a lifetime of chicken and broccoli. If I want pizza - I have to wait at most 24 hours to have what I want (admittedly with a bit of moderation thrown in).

I totally have enough willpower for 1 day at a time.

I don't get ravenous. I don't get grumpy. I actually kind of look forward to my "down days" as much as my "up days" (It's kind of nice to have a day where there is no focus on food). I find I'm pretty energetic even on "down days".

If something happens and I "ruin my diet" - so what? It's a 1 day diet - I can start again tomorrow relatively guilt free.

So, for me - it's basically a different way of doing "calories in/calories out". Over any 2 day period I have a reasonable (if slightly low compared to the conventional wisdom of this site) calorie count.

For whatever it's worth - so far, my fasting glucose and weight have both been favorably responding - but that would probably be identically true for switching to a lifetime of nuts and berries too.

Now, of course, there is the question of, "Is it sustainable?"... I think it is for me, but time will tell.

Exactly, for the remaining days of the week you precede as normal with your usual calorie allowances.

Idea is that it slows the growth of new cells and prompts your body to repair its existing ones. It also encourages fat burning, so you lose weight.

All of which propose longer life span and reduce chances of Cardio Vascular disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes etc.

There's nothing wrong with intermittent fasting. A lot of people do it.

But be aware - you're going to lose weight because 2 days a week you will have an extreme calorie deficit. Not because there is anything magical about this plan.

And I also agree that if you are interested in fasting, check out a program like leangains or Eat Stop Eat.

I am interested to know if the book cites any long term studies. I would give a lot of credit to someone who maintained that diet for a year or more and are not incarcerated.

Challenge ACCEPTED! :happy:

I am interested to know if the book cites any long term studies. I would give a lot of credit to someone who maintained that diet for a year or more and are not incarcerated.

Challenge ACCEPTED! :happy:

Hey you have just found your challenge i have been fasting twice a week for the past 8 years, my medical tests are perfectly normal n no illness whatsoever, i have a pretty 2 year old that you can see in the pic and i have been negligent of macros lately but like others on this forum i pick up where i drop off. Also it is beneficial, highly so, please feel absolutely free to ask me any questions, i would love to help as long as i dont see rudeness/sarcasm

Exactly, for the remaining days of the week you precede as normal with your usual calorie allowances.

Idea is that it slows the growth of new cells and prompts your body to repair its existing ones. It also encourages fat burning, so you lose weight.

All of which propose longer life span and reduce chances of Cardio Vascular disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes etc.

New healthy cells or cancerous cell? I read the study but it doesn't mention anything about that for people who are "healthy".

Reducing the chances of any diseases is a healthy diet and life style. Not just by fasting.