Any success stories using the 5:2 diet plan?
AlysonM
Posts: 21 Member
Just wondering if anyone has tried the 5:2 and what results they have seen so far.
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There are a few folks doing it. I started on 7th January and have lost 5lbs since then. The reason I started was because I spent Christmas with my suddenly sylph like brother and sister-in-law. They are not dieting people but they have been doing 5:2 since they saw Michael Mosley's Horizon program.
They look great - best advertisement for me. So I started as soon as I went back to work after the break. For the first couple of weeks it seemed difficult but now I'm finding it easy. I'm hoping it stays that way. I love that I am enjoying a guilt-free glass of wine tonight, I am going to entertain tomorrow night and not worry what I eat, and that's how it's been since I started. It makes sense, when you think about it0 -
Yeah, I started last week and lost 3 pounds, which was double what I've been seeing for the past 5 months - I've lost a total of 8 pounds since Jan 1, and would like to get to my goal weight by the end of May. Hopefully I'll see great results week after week until then.0
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What is this, exactly? Is it IF or something? I'm kind of interested in starting that, but I have a desk job that keeps me bored and hungry all day, and on weekends I like to go out. Sort of a rock-and-a-hard-place type thing.0
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I just googled it.. you fast for two days a week. no thanks. done with fad diets.0
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I just googled it.. you fast for two days a week. no thanks. done with fad diets.
^^ I agree. I can't even go 10 hours without eating let alone two days!0 -
I just googled it.. you fast for two days a week. no thanks. done with fad diets.
^^ I agree. I can't even go 10 hours without eating let alone two days!
10 hours? Haha more like 2. Maybe 3.0 -
I used ti fast every Sunday..now only when I have a specific reason to fast and only one day. Any longer thsn one day and I get migraines...so no I couldnt do it!0
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The last two questions I was ready to post..... someone posted the exact same question
Anyway, I had not really heard of this until I watched it on the News last night and then I looked up some information online and I thought about trying it. I did find though that it was noted that the 2 days (not in a row) of fasting could actually include up to 500 calories... I am currently trying to stick to 1200 calories a day, so I am thinking of doing a couple of days where I limit my caloric intake to about half of that. I am trying to be healthy this time though.... I have tried lots of fad diets and lost weight in not so healthy ways, so this time I am concentrating on getting the most nutritional value for the least amount of fat and calories. I would be interested to see if anyone is doing this or has done it in the past and the results. 0 -
Read this blog, it explains the diet well and discusses the health benefits also
http://www.squidoo.com/the-5-2-diet-in-action0 -
Next week im going to be doing 20/4 tried it last week just to see and it worked great for my schedule0
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I've been doing IF for i think 3 weeks... maybe just 2.. Idk. I do it every day, where i fast for like 16ish hours(it differs depending on my daily schedule) All i pretty much do is skip breakfast... Which after a few days is not hard at all. I think i've lost about 1 pound so far, but it might not even be from IF.
Doing 5:2 seems hard... I would want to try fasting for full days someday, but i'm not sure if i could make it habitual. Maybe you should start with about a 16 hour fast and 8 hour feeding window? Just to get used to it? But it's all up to you!
Either way, i like the IF lifestyle so far... it's very easy to do too! Also... IT IS NOT A FAD DIET, EVERYONE! Its a lifestyle choice... just as eating 6 small meals a day is... fasting just gives your body more time to digest foods and all that good stuffff.
Good luck with your fasting! 0 -
It sounds kinda like the JUDD diet... Eat whatever you want every other day (up days) and then on the other days (down days) only eat 500 cals. its doable, I did it for about a month. I dont remember how much I lost, but people knew to avoid my on the down days so I gave it up.0
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I'm doing JUDDD for the last month.
It fits me pretty well and the down days are no problem after the first one or two.
I seem to be losing pretty well and have a lot of energy - even on down days.0 -
I wished it worked for me. I'm just one of those people that if I'm hungry and I cant eat, I get really bi*chy and mean.0
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Yeah, my wife's kind of like that. She gets headaches and grumpy when she doesn't eat with some regularity.
I'm totally not - on down days I get a couple hunger pangs that go away after like 10 mins and I'm fine.
On my own, I tend to eat once a day. I split it up now only to accommodate some medicine that requires food.0 -
Oh my God! Fasting for two whole days! I remember one time I had a long work day and went 5 hours without eating and felt dizzy, hot and cold chills and I don't even have diabetes. I don't think I could survive two days plus I'd probably get heartburn. =\0
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It's one day, twice a week on 5:20
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Oh my God! Fasting for two whole days! I remember one time I had a long work day and went 5 hours without eating and felt dizzy, hot and cold chills and I don't even have diabetes. I don't think I could survive two days plus I'd probably get heartburn. =\
They're not consecutive days and on the fast days you do eat something (500cals for women, 600cals for men)0 -
There's a few threads on this already if you do a search, and there's a group under "groups" as well with lots of information.
I've been doing it for over 3 weeks, so here's my story.
Yes, it's a form of intermittent fasting, but "fasting" is not a good name because you are allowed to eat something ( about a quarter of your maintenance cals, so around 500 for women, 600 for men)
It has similarities to JUDD, but it's only 2 Down days per week, ideally non-consecutive.
You can eat what you like on the other 5 days, though best to keep it under 2000 for women.
Some people have just one meal that day, I like to spread my cals throughout the day, which takes a bit of planning, but is feasible.
I've lost a few pounds already, and in addition I feel really upbeat and positive.
The science is that our bodies weren't meant to be fed all the time. The analogy is of driving a car full speed constantly. Having a Down day is like checking your car into the garage for oil changes, checking the tyre pressure etc. It lets your body repair its existing cells rather than make new ones.
It's not for everyone, men seem to find it works for them more than women, Don't do it if your diabetic, pregnant, still growing, or have any tendency to eating disorder. Or if you find it makes you grumpy or ill.0 -
Hi everyone
I started intermitant fasting last week and had a great weight loss of 6lb. I have another stone to go so not bad seen as I don't have masses to lose. I am fasting Monday, Wednesday and Friday and weigh day is Saturday morning so I can weigh and then enjoying weekend feast.
I would love some fellow intermitant tasters to add me as a friend as support is a massive plus.
I save my calories up until the evening as I find that works best for me.
Nicky
nicolacollard
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Hi Nicola, I am on my first week, week my plan is to fast Mon and Wed but I had an extra fast yesterday as i'm away for the weekend and as well as food included I just. Know alcohol will be involved! You had.a great 1st week, I hope I do too. too Will fast again on Monday and weigh myself Tuesday morning, fingers crossed!! I have about 22 lbs to lose to enable me to get back into my clothes so about the same as you. Keep in touch. Jane0
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Hi how are you all doing on the fast diet. Im starting Monday and hope to lose 21 pounds. What is the typical loss I can hope for?0
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I just googled it.. you fast for two days a week. no thanks. done with fad diets.
^^ I agree. I can't even go 10 hours without eating let alone two days!
10 hours? Haha more like 2. Maybe 3.
haha, but you do still eat 0 -
I quite like this idea. Might try it, just do a apple fast a couple of days a week, will be a nice detox. haven't done stuff like that for ages but used to when i was young and it felt great.0
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It seems to be different for everyone. I'm 49, have an underactive thyroid (not on medication). In one year on MFP, I lost 5 pounds. In two months on the 5:2, I lost 7 pounds. I've started it again - usually on Mondays and Thursdays and I eat breakfast, a reasonable lunch and light dinner - pints of water, orange squash or herbal tea in between with an apple or prunes - or a cuppa and a biscuit! I was eating any old 500 cals but am now trying to focus on protein, including Quorn and eggs.
A friend has been doing the 5:2 for a few months and she looks amazing - she's turning 60 next year but has the figure of a 20-something. She does her :2 days on Mondays and Tuesdays, eats hard-boiled eggs, chicken and salad. She eats most of her meals at work so can control what she eats. I haven't asked her if she's counting the calories but she looks great on it and is enjoying it.
So............ success? Yes. No two stories are the same. Some people lose pounds every week, it may take a while to kick in for others. I lost one pound per week and am going to stick with it until September if I can. Do what suits you and your lifestyle, sometimes I change the days around. Plan, plan, plan.
Best of luck!:flowerforyou:0 -
I've been doing it since November and I've lost 35lbs so far. It's working for me. However there are a few things I've come to realise/learn:
- it's slower than other methods. I used to do a simple reduced calorie+exercise regime and I lost 1-2lbs a week but it got harder to maintain and I eventually gave up and put a lot of it back on.
- a lot of people hear "fast" and think's it's a fad so I'm careful who I tell and how I explain it.
- the simple way to explain it - fast for two days, eat what you like/eat normally the other five - can be misleading. I still have to watch what I eat on non-fast days. Maybe it's not true for other people but I will overcompensate if I'm not careful.
- some of the health benefits may be overstated. I can't give cites for this because it was part of a radio discussion I listened to but it seems that the "extra" benefits from fasting versus the equivalent calorie reduction are disputed.
In the end I see it as a way of reducing calories in a more sustainable way. I know I'm never more than a day away from being able to indulge myself if I need to and that helps me keep going.
In terms of MFP what I've done is set my goals to 1lb a week and I use the daily calorie limit as a guide on non-fast days. I'll also eat back any exercise calories on non-fast days. I will allow myself to go over but I keep an eye on my average to make sure that's below the line (which is on the phone app but not the main site for some reason).0 -
It just seems like a different way of creating a calorie deficit. Theres nothing special about it really is there? As long as that deficit is there you will lose fat. If it works better for you than cool but theres no pretending it is just another way of restricting calories. It's not a magic solution.0
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I've seen it work for some, not for others. It is based on an average TDEE of 2000 cals for women, 2500 for men and it is calculated that you eat 1/4 of TDEE (I.e. 500 for women, 600 for men) twice a week and eat at maintenance the other 5 days.
Some people I know are doing well and consistently losing around 1 to 2 lbs per week.
Others found that they overcompensate and are extra hungry on non-fasting days and thus undo any benefits of the fasting days.
Michael Mosely did say that it is not recommended for people who are highly active or suffer with chronic migraines (as regular food intake can help control migraine).
As someone that exercises nearly everyday I could not get through the day and my workouts on just 500 cals. 1/4 of my TDEE would be around 800 but that would still be a struggle for me.
I think all in all it depends on you lifestyle etc as to whether it would work for you or not.0 -
The weight loss is probably because of the calorie reduction, but the restriction to a very low level 2 days a week is supposed to make your body repair its existing cells rather than constantly making new ones. THAT'S what makes it different, that's why it has such an impact on cholesterol levels and other health benefits, not all of which are easy to measure at least in the short term.0
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I have been doing the Alternate day fasting version of this 5:2 diet, I started on 6th January and to date I have lost 30Kg or 66lbs...I started at 143kg and have just been weighed in at 113...I have lost 10 inches from my waist and 12 inches from my chest....
I have combined the diet with regular cardio exercise - 1 hour per day for 3 days a week...
I have tried many diets over the years and have never been able to stick to any more than a week or two and never have i seen such good results..My BP has lowered to normnal levels and my GP has taken me off one of my BP tablets, my blood sugars are back in the normal non diabetic range and again i have had one diabetes med withdrawn and another reduced....
as i say I do the 600 calories every other day and though i occasionally go over 600 calories the results are still there..I even abandoned it altogether for 11 days when i went on holiday and though i put on 4kg in that time it only took a week and a half to be back to where i was again...
I will try and dig out some before and after pics and let you see...0
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