The 5:2 diet.

gabrielleelliott90
gabrielleelliott90 Posts: 854 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
After hearing it can make you lose tummy fat, lower blood levels, all these good things, and weightloss, I have decided to try it. My 2nd fast day and it's really hard. What are people's opinions.

Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    I can't give you first hand experience...but there are several users on here that have used it (some successfully, others not so).

    Here's the thing though...it's not magical, it's not 'better' or 'worse' than any other diet plan that puts you into a calorie deficit.

    Calorie Deficit - that means eat less calories than you burn. And that's all that's required for weight loss.

    HOW you get that calorie deficit is up to personal preference. Some people low-carb; some do intermittent fasting (ie 5:2), some give up certain foods, some eat everything but in smaller/moderate portions. That's personal preference. If you try one of these methods, and find it's not working or it's too hard to sustain, you should try something else.
  • gabrielleelliott90
    gabrielleelliott90 Posts: 854 Member
    I mean what I could do is instead 500 cal this day and 500 cal that day and tdee the rest of the week, Have one day where I eat 1000 cal and then eat my tdee the rest of the week. It would be easier and hopefully still work. If not then my tdee every day like I did with MFP, and I'm still using MFP just not eating tdee every day, because 1 pound a month is not a good loss for me, I would hope about 2lb instead, but I'm a healthy weight.
  • janiep81
    janiep81 Posts: 248 Member
    If you're already at a healthy weight, then losing 2 lbs a week isn't realistic. If I recall correctly, one should be at least 50 lbs overweight to expect to lose 2 lb/week. It's slower when you're closer to your goal.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    gabrielleelliott90 wrote: »
    I mean what I could do is instead 500 cal this day and 500 cal that day and tdee the rest of the week, Have one day where I eat 1000 cal and then eat my tdee the rest of the week. It would be easier and hopefully still work. If not then my tdee every day like I did with MFP, and I'm still using MFP just not eating tdee every day, because 1 pound a month is not a good loss for me, I would hope about 2lb instead, but I'm a healthy weight.

    Or you could eat your TDEE - 250 every day.

    But like the above poster said, if you're at a healthy weight already, expecting to lose 2 lbs per week is not a good idea.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I use 5:2. What ever method of weight loss you choose, losing weight too quickly is never a good thing. Losing weight too quickly risks a higher percentage of lean muscle loss.

    I eat 500 - 2 days a week (no exercise) and TDEE the other 5. I struggle with maintenance so logging TDEE days is necessary for me.

    NO diet is about spot reduction. If you have tummy fat....any diet helps you lose it. If you have thigh fat (my biggest issue)....any diet helps you lose it. Choose a diet that you can adhere to, and a diet that you can perceive as a lifestyle change going forward.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100058-5-2-fasting

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/49-intermittent-fasting
  • sweetsarahj
    sweetsarahj Posts: 701 Member
    oohh interesting. I might try it.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    Tried it...hated it (starving and constantly thinking about eating). Why not try what other people have recommended and figure out your TDEE -20%. This was what finally helped me and also I could eat what I wanted.
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    edited June 2015
    It's effective as long as you keep the deficit. I think it's more a matter of preference.

    Some people feel refreshed after the fasting day. Some people experience massive energy drains (I have noticed that most people choose to put one of their fasting days on a weekend day to avoid this happening at work too often).

    Personally, I tried it and experienced the energy drain. I hated it. But I'm also one of those people that hates feeling hungry and therefore, I like to eat a little bit throughout the day, so it probably wasn't the best option for me to begin with.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    janiep81 wrote: »
    If you're already at a healthy weight, then losing 2 lbs a week isn't realistic. If I recall correctly, one should be at least 50 lbs overweight to expect to lose 2 lb/week. It's slower when you're closer to your goal.

    I think she is trying for 2 lbs per month, not per week. That threw me off a bit too and I had to go back and check.
  • rdevine43844
    rdevine43844 Posts: 1 Member
    What is TDEE etc, can you use words so newbee's like me know what you are talking about? thanks.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    Total daily energy expenditure. How many calories you burn on an average day
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    rdevine43844 wrote: »
    What is TDEE etc, can you use words so newbee's like me know what you are talking about? thanks.

    TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure - this maintenance (including exercise). So with 5:2 your entire weekly deficit comes in 2 days of dieting. But as others have pointed out it's not for everyone.
  • naxeea
    naxeea Posts: 138 Member
    Week 4,FD 2.Suits me and has worked for me before.First week is going to be hard but gets easier with every week.You can spread 500cal throughout the day or simply have one meal.Give it at least 3 weeks,if it works for you Fine,otherwise you can always look for something that's convenient for you.
    You can check your TDEE here:
    fitnessfrog.com
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