5:2

gabbyo23
gabbyo23 Posts: 100 Member
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
5ft 4, 26, female

Start weight: 192
Current weight: 156
Goal 1: 146
Goal 2: 132

So I've already lost 3 stone and I'm 10lbs away from my first goal...that will get me to a healthy bmi, within the normal range and then I want to work on losing another stone and a half so I'm well into the normal range.

Until now I've just counted calories sticking with a 1lb -2lb per week deficit. I don't excersise but I will be starting a bit of cardio (30 min cardio dvd) and aiming to do that 3 times a week.

Following a 10 day diet break over Xmas I'm feeling pretty bored and I was thinking of changing it up a bit...I've always thought 5:2 sounded interesting but I w1ant to know if this will still work when I'm already 3 stone into my weight loss? Can I start it now?


So from my understanding I'd eat 500 cals on 2 days a week and maintenance on the other 5?

Any experiences of long term weight loss with 5:2 greatly appreciated especially if you switched from regular deficit to 5:2.

Thanks!

Replies

  • jelleigh
    jelleigh Posts: 743 Member
    I have a friend who has been doing 5:2 for two years to lose/maintain. She's in great shape now and really enjoys it. I've started this month doing, what I consider to be a version of 5:2 (I've been told on these forums that I'm definitely NOT realky doing 5:2 because I don't always eat all my maintenance calories on my feed days because I just fins it too much food). Nonetheless , since I've started I've lost more then 7 lbs this month. Granted I'm more at the beginning od my weight loss but since the diet is really juat creating a calorie deficiency in a different way, then I can't see it mattering when you begin. Personally I really like it because I have a short attention span and i feel like it's easier being super strict two days a week , and just 'careful' the other 5.

    I think there is a 5:2 group on here that might have some more experienced members though.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hi Gabby, if it's not broken then there is no reason to fix it. You are doing such an excellent job, and what you're doing now works.

    Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
  • MagBird1103
    MagBird1103 Posts: 12 Member
    Hi, I'm almost exact same height/start & current weight stats as you. I tried 5:2 a few times and it never worked for me, mostly because I'd go overboard on my non-fasting days and was miserable on fasting days. I think you'll have best results by incorporating the exercise, and maybe just switch up the type of food you are eating (If you are like me you may just be bored of the same foods you've been eating).
  • WatchJoshLift
    WatchJoshLift Posts: 520 Member
    I think, if you're bored with what you're doing now, switching it up is a good idea. When you get bored with something, it makes it harder to stick to. Better to switch up and continue your journey than to get bored and quit altogether.
  • lulalacroix
    lulalacroix Posts: 1,082 Member
    I did it for a bit. Although the 500 calorie days were difficult in the beginning, they became easier after the first week. I would be careful about exercise on the low calorie days as it could really increase hunger for some. I quit doing this form of IF because it just wasn't sustainable for me. Instead I use a 16:8 daily IF that works for me.
  • gabbyo23
    gabbyo23 Posts: 100 Member
    Thanks all! I think the appeal for me is the fact I could do maintenance calories 5 days a week and that would be much easier...I just have to knuckle down two days. I could do the fast days when I have help with the kids for example and do maintenence on the 5 days I'm alone with kids. Also I wouldn't excersise on fast days...I know for a fact I'd feel rotten if I did.

    Xx
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Here are links to a couple of groups for more information

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

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/8628-5-2-diet
  • Karen_can_do_this
    Karen_can_do_this Posts: 1,150 Member
    I follow the 5:2. It does get easier. My best advice I have and which was given to me by a 5:2 veteran was "planning is the key to a successful fast day" ooh and also "drink a f*#ktonne of water as it helps with the hunger"
    5:2 taught me the difference between thinking I was hungry and actually being hungry.
    Plan your exercise days around it. Here's my week for example
    Monday, Wednesday and Friday I do my weight lifting (StrongLifts) and eat at about 1800 calories
    Tuesday and Thursday I fast eating approximately 500 calories I usually have coffee for breakfast, a cup of soup for lunch and a small serving of dinner
    Saturday and Sunday I eat at maintenance.
    Good luck op :smiley:
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