Anyone try the 5:2 Fast Diet?

Sounds good. I might try it.

If you're eating 500 cal you're not fasting. Fasting is abstaining from food for a fixed period of time (it may be a day or two, it may be IF) What you're doing is a VLCD 2 days per week.

Weight loss comes down to a caloric deficit over time. If this method helps you achieve that deficit why not....... (I'd probably kill someone on my 500 cal day.....)

I am doing the IF 16/8 right now. Just started and LOVE IT!! I agree it is a mind over matter deal. My favorite part is not having to be overly concerned with food. I am more conscience of what I eat during my 8 hour feeding window. I am a sugar addict and so far I have not had a craving for anything sweet. I sleep sound, not bloated....I am sure I will think of other perks, but I will let that do for now.

Wishing you the best with the 5:2!!

There are various defnitions of "fasting" - water only, no water, restricted intake. But really, it's just used as a catchy name for this approach.

It is all in the mind - some people can't handle it, and that's fine, it's not for everyone.

I've lost around 7lb now which is a great start - however, a word of caution. My loss has been around 1/3 fat, 2/3 lean mass so far. I'm monitoring this carefully as it might stabilise, but according to my trainer this is fairly typical of diets that force the body to burn its own reserves.

And this is why I'm not even bothering with a silly fad. Fat loss rather than lean muscle mass should be the way forward for a healthy lifestyle. No purpose in doing two lots of work to build the muscle back up that you've lost through VLCDs when you can just maintain the muscle in the first place.
These 'drop 7lb in one week' diets don't promote healthy living at all, just perpetuate the myth that you have to eat next to nothing and burn off everything.
It's so much better, and healthier, to eat as much as your body needs to fuel everything it does.

Good luck to those who are doing it though.

I just started it and can honestly say I feel great. I was really worried about it the day before, but it turned out to be more psychological than anything. Eat whatever you want 5 days a week, then for two non-consecutive days eat: Men=600 calories; Women=500 calories. For the five days, I stick to my normal diet of 1400 +- for maximum weight loss.

If you've tried it, I'd like to hear some feedback.

Happy losing!
Rick

I'm doing the exact same as you. Some weeks I just do one fast day instead of two.

I have just finished my first 2 weeks on this and I have dropped 6lbs which seeing as I am now only 4lbs for goal is amazing. I have been sticking to 1200 - 1600 a day on my non fast days and 500 on fast days and not eating back exercise cals so really pushing it but thrilled with results.
I feel full of energy and intend to carry on for 2 more weeks until my hols then return to maintenance cals...
Good luck and hope it works for you, if you wish to add me please do I log daily and have done with a few days off for 18 months.
Jules xx

... then for two non-consecutive days eat: Men=600 calories; Women=500 calories.

I thought it was supposed to be "two consecutive days" Was I misinformed??

The days can be whenever you want - the recommendation is that they be non-consecutive as that's easier, but many people do a back-to-back set. There's a different diet (let's face it, there's loads of variaitons of Intermittent Fasting) which DOES require the days to be consecutive.

30 Day Shred - try it and find out. Some people take things easy on fast days, others find they have loads of energy. And it's recommended to have a rest day from the 30DS once a week or so anyway, rather than doing it 30 days on the trot.

Body fat is hard to measure - but most people find their losses on 5:2 ARE fat rather than muscle. My BF% has gone from 32+ to now usually under 30 - it still fluctutates a good bit, but the trend is down. Plus measuring inches reveals that much of the loss is fat.