5:2 diet

Hi,

Has anyone done the above? At the moment my calories/intake is 1200 per day, I plan to stick to this 5 days a week and on 2 days a week cut down to 500 for a day (thinking Tuesday and Thursday).

It's not fasting as such, but I'm hoping it will give me a kick start, give my body a little chance to recover from the Christmas over load.

Has anyone else done this with success? Did you do any exercises on the days you were 'fasting'? I'm thinking as I won't have as much energy so will leave exercise out (although will still do general walking etc).

You'd be doing it wrong-for the 5 days you're supposed to eat at maintenance calories, or around 2,000 calories on those days.

I did a stricter version of IF for weight loss (JUDDD) and used 5:2 as a way to transition from weight loss to maintenance. Both plans worked great for me-you just have to make sure you follow the plan and eat enough calories

The 1200 daily is what myfitnesspal says I should be on, I'm only planning on doing the 500 cals twice a week for maybe January, to give my body a breather from over indulgence etc and see if it helps?

If you're doing 5:2 then you don't follow what MFP says, they're two totally different plans.

5:2IF-

5 days a week you eat at maintenance, or around 2,000 calories a day
2 days week (non-consecutive), you eat 500 calories for women/600 calories for men.

Have you read the book and watched the documentary yet? If not, that's where you need to start

Come on!. Eat a balanced diet and excersie and everything will fall into place. Diets like this will have you feeling deprived and listless.

Actually, there's quite a few people who love doing 5:2 IF (and JUDDD, which is a different version of same idea). I never felt deprived or listless while doing either plan and I was able to lose over 50lbs and transition into maintenance with no problem

Come on!. Eat a balanced diet and excersie and everything will fall into place. Diets like this will have you feeling deprived and listless.

Actually, there's quite a few people who love doing 5:2 IF (and JUDDD, which is a different version of same idea). I never felt deprived or listless while doing either plan and I was able to lose over 50lbs and transition into maintenance with no problem

agree with twix

The 1200 daily is what myfitnesspal says I should be on, I'm only planning on doing the 500 cals twice a week for maybe January, to give my body a breather from over indulgence etc and see if it helps?

Umm .....NO

MFP gave 1200 calories based upon "I want to lose XX pounds per week" ......that's not what you are "supposed" to eat .....that's as low as MFP will go.

5:2 is 500 calories on 2 Non-consecutive days ......then MAINTENANCE calories. This means your entire deficit for the week is completed while "dieting" for 2 days.

You're looking at a 1,000 calorie daily average (1200x5 + 500x2 / 7)....this is lower than your BMR. Your BMR (basal metabolic rate) are the calories your body would use if you're in a coma

Aggressive weight loss goals ......you are at risk for losing muscle mass (along with fat).

I am doing 4:3 and it's great but everyone else is right, you need to eat at TDEE on the "high" days and then 500 or so on the "fast" days.

Doing it the way you plan will result in muscle loss and permanent damage to your body. Not a good idea.

Google 5:2 and you will find a lot of good info!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8005-5-2-fasting

Here's a great 5:2 group on MFP, lots of advice and support.

Recommendation - never go on a specified diet. 9 times out of 10 they will probably frustrate you in the long run.

Not in this case!

Thousands of us are doing the 5:2 way of eating and it is sustainable. Google Michael Mosley. Read his book. Do it properly set MFP to maintain your weight then eat 500 calories on two days a week. It works and it is easy!