The FastDay Forum

Hi folks I'm hoping for some advice.
I'm back on 5:2 properly having had a disappointing start a while back followed by trying 16:8 and then a bit of a non diet period.
I'm finding my fasts quite easy now that I only eat in the evenings and am being very good on those days.
I really, really don't want to count calories on my feed days as this was a major reason for me being attracted to the diet in the first place.
Clearly I must be over eating (and drinking) as I am still seeing no weight loss, although at least despite crisps, chocolate, ice cream and wine, I'm now not putting weight on!
I've read so many conflicting things about 4:3 I'm not sure whether to try it. Some say that 4:3 means that they don't need to watch what they eat on feed days. Others say that 4:3 made them binge more on feed days.
I'm not bothered about the fact that 4:3 doesn't lead to greater weight loss than 5:2, it might be the difference between no weight loss and some for me. Or it may make me go crazy on feed days!
Should I just be patient and stick to 5:2 in the hopes that I will gradually and naturally eat and drink less? Or should I give 4:3 a try? Or something else. Anything except calorie counting!

Hi Catalena. I am sorry that you are not losing weight. I think we need more information from you in order to give you a better advice. How long are you on 5;2 and not losing( at all?). How much do you néed to lose? What is you TDEE and what do you typically eat/ drink in a non- fast day? Even though you don't want to count calories, perhaps you should do that for a week just to get an idea of how much you are eating now and what can be eliminated easily ( drinks???) Are you active or would you increase your activity level?

Hi Catalena. I understand you not wanting to count calories, I'm also very much over doing that. I think you know what's going wrong. Why not try cutting out or cutting down the crisps, chocolates etc during the week and adding in more veggies and fruit. Less calories and more nutrition.
If your not putting on weight then that's a start and it's probably just a few tweaks to get things going down.

I don't think you know how 4:3 will work for you until you try it. I think it's worth giving it a go. I do 4:3 and I really like the rhythm of it.

Hi Catalena.
I know how you feel.
I had a decent weight loss in the first three months of 5:2, then it slowed right down to only 6lbs in the next three months. I tried 4:3 for one week after Easer and gained. I was gutted however I lost 2 lbs the week after so it might just take longer to show on the scales.

My weight loss had slowed down so much that I was quite far off my pre-holiday weight loss target so I decided to give ADF/4:3 (it varied depending on what I was doing socially) another go for a month before my hols. So far it has given me the shake up I need and my weight loss has resumed nicely. I am eating literally what I want on feed days (I am a pastry chef so that includes cakes, pastries, quiche etc, all kinds and that's why I also refuse to count calories!) but I have not felt the need to binge at all. Actually I would say that my appetite on feed days has decreased a lot since starting ADF/4:3 (it had come back with a vengeance on 5:2)
In summary I'd say yes, give it a go, but don't look for results until you've given it a month and just see how it goes

[wildmissus]

Yes, I agree with the others - give it a go. Three weeks ago I went on to 4:3 to shift some more weight. I lost 2lb, 1lb, 1lb, so I'm very pleased with that but I do find 4:3 a lot harder and do nibble a bit on fast days.

I did 5:2 for 4 months and dropped a dress size (not a weigher), but after a week of bingeing I did 4:3 for a week instead of 5:2 to repair the bingeing damage , and gotta say I enjoyed it so much I did it again last week!! My stomach is noticeably smaller after the second week, and the eating days this past 2 weeks were much easier somehow than on 5:2, not sure why, it's just my appetite is greatly reduced and I physically cannot overeat on non-fasting days.

For example today I was going to allow myself to eat whatever, whenever. I managed 2 iced coffees, 1 home made biscuit, a small bowl of Greek yoghurt with some Muslie sprinkled on top, 2 hot coffees (1 with cream), about 5 squares of dark choc & just now for dinner was unable to finish a vege stir fry with slim noodles. Now I don't count calories & have never bothered to work out my TDEE, but I reakon I'd have stayed pretty close to it. That was after a 7km power walk too. I've decided I'll do 4:3 again this week as I just love the control it gives me on non fast days.

I switched to 4:3 about a month ago and the results have been really good (though this week not so much). I found the weight loss on 5:2 to be steady but quite small and wanted to speed things up a bit. Lost 3kg in last month. Hope it will continue...will see I guess

Thanks everybody. I think I'm going to give it a go. If I find I'm not coping I will need to go back to 5:2 and try to stick to my TDEE. I want to be able to do 5:2 eventually and am hoping that 4:3 will kick start my weight loss and reduce my appetite so that I can switch and continue to lose weight. I wouldn't be able to contemplate 3 fast days a few weeks ago but I do find them so much easier now.

Just make sure that you don't eat more on non-fasting days. This is the most important aspect of 4:3, in my opinion.

Yes that's my main concern. Time will tell.

Hi Catelena I would say you'll never know until you've tried it
I've been doing 4:3 since day one and I'm very pleased with my success personally I find it easy but it doesn't suit everyone, But if you give it a try give it 4 weeks or so because just doing one week here and there won't give you the results you're looking for Good luck Sue
Edit coz forgot to say I don't count calories at all but I am very careful on my feed days, & truly believe that this has made my 2st loss easy