5:2, discuss.

The first couple of weeks were rough. I got headaches. I think a little pre-planning goes a long way in those weeks - have a simple chicken and vegetable broth ready in 500ml containers in the freezer so you can have that when you're hungry. Keep the water up, especially on fast days.

Yeah the "I'll have it tomorrow" thing really knocks the long-term deprivation problem out of existence, and surely that's the number one reason stop sticking to their diets. It works for me too. Almost lost as much as you now - I'm 1.3 stone down so far.

Hi...I have just started this week and had my first fast day yesterday. I have friends doing it who have so far had success so fingers crossed!

herrspoons wrote: »

Not a fan, as it doesn't address the main point of dietary control, and is difficult to do long term.

Please explain your point?

I've found it helps with dietary control. The 2 days fasting encourages you to control yourself, and if you had read any information or looked into it, you would know the other 5 days aren't just a binge fest. Just because you can have what you want, doesn't mean you have it. I find it easier to restrict myself on 2 days than having to restrict myself every day. There are also other health benefits to fasting.

I've been doing it for 5 months, and know people who have lost their weight and are still doing 6:1 to maintain, and have been doing it for a couple of years. I would think that is classed as long term.

I think if it works for you then do it. You have to find something that works for you and that you can stick with.

fluffyasacat wrote: »

Yeah the "I'll have it tomorrow" thing really knocks the long-term deprivation problem out of existence, and surely that's the number one reason stop sticking to their diets. It works for me too. Almost lost as much as you now - I'm 1.3 stone down so far.

Hi fluffy

That's a great loss! How much and what exercise are you doing? Cheers

It works well for a lot of people, to which I say good for them!


For anyone with an eating disordered past however, it can be very triggering and is best avoided.


For now, I prefer to achieve a deficit through a daily small reduction in calories, which I find much easier to sustain and moderate.

wannabeskinnycat wrote: »

Hi fluffy

That's a great loss! How much and what exercise are you doing? Cheers

Thank you! In June I started a new job which is at a large university campus so I spend a lot of the day walking (briskly) between buildings. 10,000 steps a day is an absolute minimum. I also lift and carry a lot of stuff on the job - heavy stuff like wall panels and tables - so I feel like that's really it for my exercise. I might take up boxing or kettlebells over the summer (southern hemisphere) as the students leave the campus and the workload calms down.

herrspoons wrote: »

I'm sure some people will thrive on it. To me it's too regimented in what it does, and doesn't teach good eating habits, which would be to understand why you put weight on in the first place - by overeating every day. Getting in the habit of being consistent across the week, rather than going from crash to maintenance, seems a better means of developing good dietary habits to me. I don't honestly think it'll work for most people, and they'll just yo-yo over the years.

That's just a personal opinion, mind, but the OP did ask for discussion.

I see where you're coming from, but IF is not strictly feast and famine. A lot of planning goes into making the 500 (or so) calories you have work out so that you can still function and go to work for the day and be civil to everyone around you! Having said that, I've never personally had trouble with binge eating. My weight came on because I'm getting older, I've had kids, and my (generous) portions served up by my (chef) husband have stayed the same as when I was in my 20s.

The list of people who shouldn't do IF (listed below for those who didn't find it on the posted link) is an important distinction. If you have an unhealthy relationship with food then IF is not for you. Not all overweight people have an unhealthy relationship with food.

Who is advised not to do IF?
People who are underweight
Children
Type 1 diabetics and diabetics on insulin
pregnant or breast feeding mothers,
if you have an eating disorder,
If you are recovering from surgery,
If you are taking prescribed medications we would advise you to see your doctor first, as you would before embarking on any weight-loss regime.
If you are feeling unwell or have a fever
If you are taking Warfarin consult your doctor first as it may increase your INR

amusedmonkey wrote: »

It's a misconception that a person would go over the top on eating days. I actually found myself eating more balanced meals just because I did not have that "you can't eat this much" feeling. Knowing I have the freedom to eat whatever I want in whatever quantity I want makes me less likely to binge out of "hoarding" and more likely to just eat normally. This has been my personal experience, I'm sure mileage may vary,

^ This!

Also, I do eat a lot 2000-2500 calories on feed days but it balances out in the end. That is the beauty of it.

I've read the article and her studies and her book. What do you see in it that supports your assertion that it doesn't work for most people and they'll just yoyo?

I do leangains, so 16/8 daily

I think it's like any other plan-- it works as long as you remain on it. People don't like being on a plan and they stop. If you have it in you to stick to a plan and this is the plan that appeals to you most, I don't think 6 years would be any different from the 6 month study results.

I think the NHS is just concluding it hasn't been around as long as other plans so it doesn't have the long term research. If you want the plans with the longest research, I guess that'd be very low fat diets, since they were popular the longest. I'd rather try new things.

I'm reading about this diet now. Seriously thinking I'll give it a try!