5:2 diet

ShariTho1
ShariTho1 Posts: 85 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Can anyone tell me what the 5:2 diet is?

Replies

  • cllmetatrsld
    cllmetatrsld Posts: 58 Member
    You eat "normal" for 5 days and fast for 2 days. Fast days you eat only 500 calories. What you don't hear is you can't actually eat "normal" if you normally eat like 2500 calories. Think of it this way....let's say your body usually burns 2000 calories in a day just from your normal activity. This is why you hear "based on a 2000 calorie a day diet) with all food labels. You need to burn 3500 calories above your normal in order to lose a pound. So if you eat 2000 calories all week but only 1000 in two days on the weekend....you will burn 1 pound in 3.5 weeks.

    Short version: Be wary, you still have to cut your calories a tad during the week.
  • cllmetatrsld
    cllmetatrsld Posts: 58 Member
    Thinking on it further...no matter what diet you think of...it ALWAYS comes down to calories burned.What you need to figure out is what works for you. Maybe that's 1200 calories a day, maybe it's 1000 calories one day and 1400 the next. Some people have a WEEKLY goal of a 3500 deficit, not caring about daily calories. You essentially just need to set a goal and meet it. Don't go under, don't go over.
  • AnnaChanges
    AnnaChanges Posts: 109 Member
    NO you don't eat normal( like you always eat)...you set your mfp on "maintain your weight " and eat that on the 5 days and on the 2 fasting days you eat up to 500 calories females/600 males or 1/4 of your maintenance calories
  • thegeorges11202004
    thegeorges11202004 Posts: 26 Member
    I have been following this way of eating and it is great, BUT I was pretty much overeating EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. before I started 5:2 so I have to count calories on my "normal" days too - at least for a while until I have an idea what "normal" looks like. I have been very happy with this way of eating, my cravings have gone way down and I understand true hunger versus mindless eating a LOT more. there is a group on MFP that has 5:2 discussions - you should have a look around and see what others are saying about it.

    I have lost almost 20 pounds (starting at 223) since mid december. also working out 5 days a week.

    Supposedly 5:2 helps with insulin resistance, look around the web to see the research on it.

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