5:2 diet - looking for a group to join me

[yoyo24]

I live in the UK and the 5:2 diet is getting a lot of good rep and I was wondering - has anyone tried it or are thinking of doing so? 

I'm starting this diet and would love to have a couple of fitbitters join me to chat and support each other so if you're interested in trying it out, it would be great.

Happy holidays everone and get them steps in!

[Kymmyjoy]

Yay. 13th it is. I'll be weighing in on a Friday. Can anybody who has read the book tell me if there's any recommendation whether it's better to fast on split up days or consecutive etc. 🙂 I'm excited!

[asics]

Personally I found it better to split them up. I originally did Monday and Wednesday and that worked really well to start. However I have discovered the best days for me are those when I am really busy. I work full time and am on my feet most of day but Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are sitting down meetings. So I found Wednesday became more difficult. Going to start with Mondays and Fridays this time. I found consecutive tough when I first did it. However once you into it it may be easier. Mondays always feel great cos feel am 'resting' my body after the weekend!

[asics]

PS From memory the book tends to suggest an idea but then suggests to go with what works for you. I cannot remember the specifics of consecutive or spaced days.

[yoyo24]

I remember the book mentioning that by doing consecutive days you might slow up your metabolism on the second day so splitting them by at least a day is recommended. But then again, whatever works for you is best so just see what fits with your schedule.

[StefK]

I have been doing a combination of 5:2 ( fasting two days), 4:3 (fasting three days) and ADF (alternate day fasting) plus 16:8 (eating all your food within 8 hours a day and giving your body a rest for 16) for the last 7 weeks and I lost 6kg. It is very easy to do.

The best forum for tips is
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums

In the long run I will do 6:1. I don't have that many kg to lose so I have nearly reached my goal of 58kg @ a height of 170cm, age 48.

Stef.

[angiek45]

So when are you going to start this diet, I am interested....Don't need a huge amount off but would like to shed last 10-15?  Please let me know!

[Jacque]

I am still reading the book.  Once I have completed it, I will decide if and when I am going to start.  It am definitely interested in this, though!

[kitsmoss]

hi everyone

i would also like to start the 5:2, seems pretty easy enough to do i hope. On the fast days do you really have to be strict and count your calories to make sure your not over or under?

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@Jacque wrote:

I am still reading the book.  Once I have completed it, I will decide if and when I am going to start.  It am definitely interested in this, though!

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[NigelK]

Hi Kitsmoss

Yes you do need to be strict on the fast days. you need to keep under the calorie target of 500 for women or 600 for men and the timing of when you eat is important too.

The aim is to give you body as long a fast as possible on each fast day. The suggestion in the book is have 300 cal breakfast at 7:30am and 300 cal evening meal at 7:30pm this way your body will get two periods of 12 hours of fasting

[Kymmyjoy]

So helpful having people who have read the book in here! My first fast day will be jan 6th I think. Though does the book say anything about exercise on fast days? So glad to have people to do this with 🙂

[StefK]

Nigel is spot on. You need to stay under 500 cal, actually ideally under 25% of your TDE. The non-fast days you can eat up to your TDE.

I really suggest to check out this website/ forum as it contains all the info and support you need:
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/

Here is how to calculte your TDE:
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-calories-on-a-non-fast-day/
Stef.

[asics]

Hello! Haven't been on for a while so thought would add my thoughts on some of the comments I have missed!
Exercise on fast days. my friend runs on fast days at end of day. She says her performance is always great feels fantastic too. I haven't managed it but as part of my overhaul I must increase my exercise!
I like to go 16hours without food on my fast day too, I have done 4:3 but found 5:2 so much easier to fit in.as for being strict with calories on fast days, because I don't have time to count up I had a few good meals which I knew the calories of. As I sometimes only had one meal per day on the fast days this made it very easy to stay on track.
I seem to remember from the book that eating absolutely nothing for 3 consecutive days would affect metabolism. On fast days of course we are still having calories so 2 consecutive shouldn't in theory affect our metabolism...but if I am remembering this incorrectly do shout!

I am going to start the 5:2 on Monday 13 th. I will weigh in on saturday 11th. I will start being more careful with my food intake from 6th but wait a week to fast.
From 20th January I also intend to have a dry month and not drink alcohol, just to give my body and liver a rest!

[asics]

Right at the start of this thread I told you that I had started 5:2 in September and had some success (I lost 7lbs with ease.) Then I hit some personal challenges which meant everything else took a backseat. I struggled initially to be sensible on non fast days. I need the changes this year to be sustainable and I do need to track calories, I feel, to do this. I have just downloaded 'my fitness pal' calorie counting app. (Recommended by Steff on another post, thanks Steff!) I will use it from 6th and let you know if it is easy or not for someone like me!

However you can also join up with others on the app. If anyone would like to join me let me know and we can try to set that up...every little helps?!

[mccmarc]

So what exactly is the 5.2 diet

[asics]

Hello mccmarc! Have a read back through the pages if this and have a look at www.thefastdiet.com for all the info! The book ( same people as the site) is quite an eye opener.
Basically you eat normally for 5 days per week and limit your calories on 2 fast days. NigelK and others have given the detail above. Your body loves you for it because it gets a 'rest' to do other things, you feel great, you eat more consciously on the other 5 days (when I was doing well I naturally found myself making better choices and eating smaller portions) and you lose weight without feeling awful!
Do read the other stuff above and the site though as this is a very potted summary!

[yoyo24]

Hi everyone! 

Just checking in. Same as asics I'm starting the diet on monday the 13th and my first weigh in will be on the 11th. After that it's saturday weigh-ins ever Saturday so that we can keep my results accounted for. Before the 13th I'm doing a detox sort of diet - mainly adjusting to smaller portions, weaning myself of sugar, eating healthy etc. 

Hope we get some of you joining in on the Saturday weigh-in crew!

[Cyndia]

For anyone who feels the 5:2 diet would be difficult to follow there are alternatives....

http://www.drsarasolomon.com/stop-overcomplicating-fat-loss/

[Kymmyjoy]

Hi! I have myfitnesspal too. Been on there a long time an I love it! Really makes a difference to me. Would be great to have some 5:2ers on there so my current MFP friends don't tell me off on low days 😉 my name is kymmyjoy on there too.
First weigh in Friday 3rd.
First fast Monday 6th.
Friday weigh ins. (I don't go to the gym on day and those are the scales I use)

I'll be posting SW and CW each Friday and probably a bit about how the week has gone.

[midget70]

I am looking in to the Fast Diet.  Some relatives have done it and say it works for them.  Plus, with my new fit bit, I'm more motivated.  Thanks.

[123sanbo]

i started my 5:2 diet today. this is  my first fasting day and its going great. I have eaten my 300 calories already at this stage and just have a lentil soup for a late lunch early dinner whenever I feel really really hungry. I hope you are all set and ready to go. I have 5 kilos to loose. I am using calorie trackers to ensure I am well within my 500 calories for the day. For breakfast(late) I had 2 slices of brown bed and a poached egg and half and apple. The other half is a back up for a late snack should I get rather hungry late evening.