5:2 Fasting Diet

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Replies

  • kiwidrop
    kiwidrop Posts: 222 Member
    Thanks dym. I will look that interview up.

    He was on the Diane Rehm show yesterday (3/13). I'm always a day late.

    Same here. Thank goodness for the Internet and On Demand.
  • kiwidrop
    kiwidrop Posts: 222 Member

    I'm really getting a negative vibe from some of these replies. I'm only interested in people's results and experiences, not opinions about how horrible of a choice I'm making and what I want to try.

    The reason you're getting negative responses is your thread topic is against the rules.

    In case you haven't seen them, here's the part of the rules that this thread violates.

    No Promotion of Unsafe Weight-Loss Techniques or Eating Disorders
    a) Posts intended to promote potentially unsafe or controversial weight loss products or procedures, including non-medically prescribed supplements or MLM products will be removed without warning.
    b) Profiles, groups, messages, posts, or wall comments that encourage anorexia, bulimia, or very low calorie diets of any kind will be removed, and may be grounds for account deletion. This includes positive references to ana/mia, purging, or self-starving. Our goal is to provide users with the tools to achieve their weight management goals at a steady, sustainable rate. Use of the site to promote or glamorize dangerously low levels of eating is not permitted.

    Sorry to tell you this but there is no promotion here. Just looking for info as I've stated in my initial post and responses Definitely not trying to sway any masses or sell a diet. Maybe you should go back and read what I wrote.
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    I disagree that intermittent fasting is dangerous or pro-ana, especially if you eat normally on your feast days. The average weekly calories come out to about the same daily amount as recommended on MFP, they're just spread out differently.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I've been doing 5:2 since August and plan on continuing with it even though I'm at maintenance for the health benefits.
    You are not supposed to be restricting on the "5" days let alone severely restricting.

    You probably don't want to hear this but I believe 5:2 is completely unsuitable for someone who has had WLS.
  • kiwidrop
    kiwidrop Posts: 222 Member
    Thanks for the info sij. I'm 8 years post-op, so I'm not in the same boat as a new WLS person.
  • x3na1401
    x3na1401 Posts: 277 Member
    I have been doing it 7 weeks with amazing results.

    It's so easy to follow. No special foods and more importantly no banned foods.

    I lost 12lbs and my partner 10 lbs. I'm at my goal weight now.

    However I do plan our meals carefully to make sure we get all the things we need. Also remember 5:2 is a way of life not a diet. Weight loss is secondary.
  • MsPudding
    MsPudding Posts: 562 Member
    The reason you're getting negative responses is your thread topic is against the rules.

    In case you haven't seen them, here's the part of the rules that this thread violates.

    Except that what your comments obviously come from a position of total ignorance about what the 5:2 is.

    You're eating 500 calories (600 for men) on two non-consecutive days and eating maintenance level for the last 5. The total effect of that is actually around a 3,500 deficit a week. So people doing 5:2 properly are eating no differently to people who set MFP to 'lose 1lb a week' and eating one hell of a lot more than people who've set their MFP to 'lose 2lbs a week' are working on 1,200 a day.

    Perhaps you may actually want to read up on what 5:2 is before jumping on a thread again to trumpet that it's promoting unhealthy eating habits.
    It's not the best diet out there is all I can say about it. It's really depriving yourself from what your body truly needs. You need carbs, although they can make you gain weight, you will still need them throughout the day.

    I would still prefer Paleo over 5:2 diet any day of the week. A much better option.

    5:2 doesn't restrict carbs. You eat what you want on fast days to 500 calories, you eat what you want on feed days to maintenance calories. You're obviously mixing it up with something completely different.
  • Baloostika
    Baloostika Posts: 203 Member
    Hi, I'm doing my version of it but am trying to average out my non fast days at 1400 which is 200 calories below maintenance calories for me. I also haven't been going as low on fast days but basically missing breakfast and cutting down on those days and have hit about 800-1000 calories. The reason I am not going any lower at the moment is I suffer from migraines which are triggered by not eating regularly so am taking it slowly.

    I am not sure how long you could keep at it only having that many calories on your feast days. If you search in groups there are a couple of 5 2 groups which may be more helpful.
    Hi, how long have u been doing this? I started yesterday though am on it to lose weight. How much weight have u lost? Am thinking of upping mine to about 800cals on d fasting days, I did well yesterday on like 550cals.
  • Iluvcheezits
    Iluvcheezits Posts: 27 Member
    I love 5:2. I finally have something that I feel might work for me. I don't have to think so much, the amount of stress I put myself through just trying to eat appropriately with a family who doesn't want the same foods is enough to drive me bonkers. I'm only in week 1 but I'm liking it so far. 500/fast 2000/regular (and I'm actually trying 4:3 per the 5:2 book)

    I love this site but sometimes feel that people are a little too aggressive with their unsolicited opinions - often times without full knowledge of the subject; as it is in this case. These forums are supposed to be a place of support and positive encouragement not snarky comments. If you don't agree with 5:2 then please, why take time to come into this thread and bark about it. Move on, go to a thread that has a lifestyle choice that you agree with. This is a thread for people who want to find out more about 5:2 not others opinions. :tongue:
  • I love this diet (lifestyle)! It's been easy to stick to. The feast days should be around 2000 calories a days though. Don't be so resticitve on the feast days and it will also be easier to stick to because you always look foward to the next day's eating on fast days.

    Stick with it!
  • x3na1401
    x3na1401 Posts: 277 Member
    We have been doing it for two months and we both feel less sluggish and better for it. It's an easy regime to follow with no expensive equipment / meal plans required.

    I make everything from scratch and mfp is a godsend for counting cals. Before I used to write it all down and use the calculator to work out what was in the food we ate. Now I can monitor macros easily too.

    We had headaches for the first week but no headaches now.

    Mondays are our toughest day but we know that Tuesday will be better. Wednesday and Friday are rarely a problem.

    I was hungry at lunchtime today so did some weights and a quick 15 on elliptical. No hunger and got a small burn too !

    I have only lost 12lbs but they were my last 12lbs and I had been finding it tough to even lose 4lbs before ADF. My body has changed shape and I have more endurance and definition. I no longer eat foods I consider to be unhealthy (white bread) but do still have 100cal treats. Usually 1 a day.

    This helps me feel normal and not like I'm on a diet.

    Good luck to all who are on this plan. It is definitely working for us
  • fatsnacker
    fatsnacker Posts: 209 Member
    Hi Kiwidrop,

    I am eating 1900-2000 calories each day Sun to Thurs and eating 1000 calories on Fri and Sat - I have lost 18lbs in 10 weeks.

    I get the occasional headache on a Saturday but you get over that. I went out last Thursday evening with my colleagues and found
    I wasn't hungry - I did eat the main course but didn't have a starter or dessert. Today I finished work at 5:15pm with only 220 calories left - I had soup at 6pm and two coffees and I still don't feel hungry now at 22:15pm.

    I like that I am losing weight and only restricting myself on two days. I lie in on a Saturday so that it is a shorter day to cover the few calories. I may try 500 calories in the future if I plateau but only on non-consecutive days.

    Give it a try, you may like the results
  • sha4sure
    sha4sure Posts: 9
    Wel I am on my 3rd week of the 5:2 Fast diet and I need some help from the people who have had success doing it. Here are my results so far.
    1st week I lost .04 pound
    2nd week I gained 1 pound
    3rd week I gained 1 pound

    On my off days I eat 1200 calories PLUS my exercise calories which is another 300-400 calories. I exercise 5-6 days a week cardio and strength training. So I guess I'd like to know what I am doing wrong that I am not losing. I am almost 50yr old and didn't realize how hard it is to lose weight when you reach menopause. I do have some positives about this fast though. I no longer have my huge carb/sugar cravings and I am not as hungry on my off days which I thought would help that scale. Also my sleep in better on my fast nights. no insomnia. So any help from the veterans who have had success with this, please e-mail me and let me know what I am doing wrong. Thanks for the help.
  • Keiras_Mom
    Keiras_Mom Posts: 844 Member
    Wel I am on my 3rd week of the 5:2 Fast diet and I need some help from the people who have had success doing it. Here are my results so far.
    1st week I lost .04 pound
    2nd week I gained 1 pound
    3rd week I gained 1 pound

    On my off days I eat 1200 calories PLUS my exercise calories which is another 300-400 calories. I exercise 5-6 days a week cardio and strength training. So I guess I'd like to know what I am doing wrong that I am not losing. I am almost 50yr old and didn't realize how hard it is to lose weight when you reach menopause. I do have some positives about this fast though. I no longer have my huge carb/sugar cravings and I am not as hungry on my off days which I thought would help that scale. Also my sleep in better on my fast nights. no insomnia. So any help from the veterans who have had success with this, please e-mail me and let me know what I am doing wrong. Thanks for the help.

    I don't know all your stats, so I can't say for sure, but it sounds like you may be restricting too far on your eating days. I find if I don't eat enough, I stall. I usually end up around 1800 calories on my eating days, and under 300 on my fasting days. Have you figured out your TDEE?
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Has anyone tried the 5:2 Fasting Diet, where you eat only 500 calories for 2 days a week and up to 2000 calories for the other 5 days? I'm trying this diet but using 1210 calories for my other 5 days instead. I'm just curious if anyone else has tried the diet and how well (or not) it worked for them.


    No no and no.

    1 - that's a total of 11,000 calories a week which averages out to 7 days at 1571. Why not just eat the 1571 calories a day?

    2 - if you're still dead set on doing it, then at least stick to their guidelines of 2000 calories and DO NOT lower it to 1210

    3 - no
  • sha4sure
    sha4sure Posts: 9
    My TDEE is at 1770. I will try to eat around the 2000 calories this week and see if that changes anything. I do that the positive thing about the fasting and will probably stick to it just because it has taken my cravings away and my appetite on my non fast days. I know its not for everyone but I know that it does work, I just need to figure out the calorie area that I need to be in for the losing part. Thanks for the help!
  • Sunshine2plus2
    Sunshine2plus2 Posts: 1,492 Member
    No and I have no desire to do anything like that! Eat right and exercise is the best, Ill still to what I know works!!
  • imacountess
    imacountess Posts: 3 Member
    I saw a tv show on PBS about this. The fellow (not sure if he is the author) followed basically 5:2 but I think he actually fasted. The point was to lower his IGF1 marker and other markers for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc., which he did. This was based on some people somewhere in the world who despite what they eat don't get these diseases because they have genetically lower IGF1 whatever that is. I think I read that even with 500-600 calories on the fast day you still get the health benefit. You also are calorie cycling so you are not lowering your metabolism. It did not seem to matter what people ate on the feast day in terms of fat. This guy was on a 3-4 day fast at first to lower markers but then returned to the 5:2 diet (I believe with eating low calorie on the fast days). I think he overall lost weight. Anyone else who saw the show could correct my mistakes on this, but basically it was about how healthy this way of eating can be. There have not been enough studies on people to get the optimum information on this, despite all the books written. You have to find the actual studies. There have been more studies on mice. It's great to hear people's stories. I tried to do 500 calories yesterday but ended up at 1000. Oh well.
  • sha4sure
    sha4sure Posts: 9
    Just an update, I lost 2 pounds this week as I figured out that I needed to eat over 2000 calories, I actually ate more than that but I am happy to finally see the scale move. I like how I feel after the fasts, no cravings and less of an appetite. Easy to follow. I feel better doing this than eating my calories at 1200-1500 each day.
  • rmtuesley
    rmtuesley Posts: 39 Member
    I have been fasting for about 9 months. I did it more for the health benefits, but needed weight loss as well. I started out doing alternate day (Johnson's up day down day diet) until I got about 15 pounds from goal. Now I do three down days. When I am a little closer to goal I am going to switch to 5:2. For me, it is SLOW steady weight loss. I now average maybe two pounds a month, but that is fine with me. I don't think that you should do this expecting fast results. It is not meant for that. My blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels are now normal ( were high when I started). I don't know if that is from weight loss or fasting or both.

    This is the ONLY thing I have been able to do long term. I can have a crazy calorie night out and it doesn't matter because I can just make the next day a fast day. I do around 600 on fast days and between 2000-2400 on normal days. I work out pretty heavy though for an hour 6 days a week. It fits my life. I can arrange around birthdays and holidays and never feel deprived. I no longer have "cravings" that I have to ignore, because I can have it the next day. I am at the point that I actually enjoy the fast days ( the first couple of weeks were rough). They are calm, I get a lot done. My husband did it with me and, of course, lost twice as much :grumble:
  • lavaughan69
    lavaughan69 Posts: 459 Member
    I've been doing the 5:2 for four weeks and use the recommended daily calorie suggestion for my 5 days and 500 calories on my two days. I'm down 13 pounds. I'm losing 1-2 pounds a week. I watched the BBC special on this diet and then bought the book as well. I know I should probably increase the calories on my 5 days but quite honestly I'm not hungry. If I find I'm stalling I'll increase it.
  • Personally, I wouldn't do it. Fasting and too low calories leads to binging! x
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    In case someone didn't already say this: Because you said you had weight loss surgery you might want to ask your doctor first before starting this, especially if you had one of the more major surgeries that reroute everything.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    Has anyone tried the 5:2 Fasting Diet, where you eat only 500 calories for 2 days a week and up to 2000 calories for the other 5 days? I'm trying this diet but using 1210 calories for my other 5 days instead. I'm just curious if anyone else has tried the diet and how well (or not) it worked for them.

    I believe the max on fasting days is 500 for women and 600 for men. I haven't tried it, but have considered it. Have you watched the video Eat, Fast and Live Longer by Michael Mosley, a BBC television presenter who has a medical degree? He discusses the diet and wrote a book describing it.

    http://video.pbs.org/video/2363162206/

    In response to some comments, I don't believe that you're supposed to eat 2000 calories no matter who you are. It depends on your sex, height, and weight. 1210 may be fine for you.

    I do various forms of IF from time to time. The problem I and some others have, if we're doing it for weight loss, is eating too much. You have to create a calorie deficit if you want to lose weight.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    The reason I am not going any lower at the moment is I suffer from migraines which are triggered by not eating regularly so am taking it slowly....

    This suggests the 5:2 diet is probably not for you.

    ... and by not actually following any of the guidelines bascially you are doing a very low calorie cycle, not 5:2 at all. :huh:

    Thats like me saying that I'm doing Adkins, except I like to do it every other day and I also eat a huge bowl of oats in the morning because low-carb diets make me nauseous.

    A very low calorie diet is defined as a diet of 800 or less every day. Even so, people who follow medically supervised diets lose weight safely on that amount. 1200 calories is not very low calorie.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_calorie_diet
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    Personally, I wouldn't do it. Fasting and too low calories leads to binging! x

    Not for everyone. Some people find that constantly having to make choices about food is what causes them to overeat. Personally, I only lost weight while doing Fast Five, another form of Intermittent Fasting. I was, and still am only trying to lose vanity pounds, but those are the hardest because there's little room for error.

    The simplicity of fasting is very attractive to many and it is not unhealthy. In fact, researchers have found health benefits. Watch the video Eat, Fast and Live Longer by Michael Mosley, a BBC TV presenter with a medical degree. He discusses various kinds of fasting with researchers. He personally found 5:2 to be the easiest for him. He readily admits that fasting is not for everyone. Nothing is.
  • Heather032190
    Heather032190 Posts: 138 Member
    In case someone didn't already say this: Because you said you had weight loss surgery you might want to ask your doctor first before starting this, especially if you had one of the more major surgeries that reroute everything.

    ^ I agree with this. I am not knocking or trying to be against your decision but my mother went thru the bariatric surgery and her doctor has her on a strict diet plan for each week it changes a little but he has her following this to make sure she gets all the nutrients that is needed. So depending on what type of surgery you had and how long ago you had it can determine if this is even something you should do.

    So has said above me in the quote just check with your doctor.
  • suewestcountry
    suewestcountry Posts: 35 Member
    How judgmental some of you people are on here, you really do need to stop spoiling it for people who have never done these weight loss programmes before and are only asking. YOU are the reason people give up. Others are very helpful and remember what it was like to be the new girl/boy and be forever asking questions. Its a forum for goodness sake.
  • Miiimii
    Miiimii Posts: 279 Member
    I'm doing the 5:2 fasting too since a half year and feel good with it. I'm just wonderung about one thing - when I exercise on my fasting days - do/should I eat my exercise calories back?

    For example today I'm fasting, means I normally eats only 500cal. But I also went to work by bike and to the gym, so I burned 825cal by exercising. Should I still stuck to my 500cal fasting calories or should I eat my (or at least some) of the exercise calories back? I'm realy confused about that.

    Thanks for your help.
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    I'm doing the 5:2 fasting too since a half year and feel good with it. I'm just wonderung about one thing - when I exercise on my fasting days - do/should I eat my exercise calories back?

    For example today I'm fasting, means I normally eats only 500cal. But I also went to work by bike and to the gym, so I burned 825cal by exercising. Should I still stuck to my 500cal fasting calories or should I eat my (or at least some) of the exercise calories back? I'm realy confused about that.

    Thanks for your help.

    What does the book say? Common sense would tell me that you shouldn't really go out of your way to exercise on your fasting days, and if exercise can't be avoided then to bump your fasting day to different, more sedentary day. Other than that, I think you should stay with the 500 calories. I've never heard anyone mention "net" calories when talking about intermittent fasting. I think you're either fasting or feasting; not much gray area.