The FastDay Forum

I've been on this woe for 6 weeks now. I've lost 8lbs and 3in off my waist.

I counted calories for about a week or 2, just to see where I was at on hitting my TDEE. Found that I didn't even come close to reaching it. So, some days I make an effort to eat more and other days I just eat when I'm hungry. Seems to work ok for now, but I may have to make adjustments in the future.

I have RA and Hypothyroidism. Weight loss will always be a problem for me. I will always have to "work" at it and keep my eye on how I do.

I really enjoy this woe. It is something I can do for the long term. Nothing is really "off limits", you just have to watch how much of it you eat. Give it 2-3 months and see how it does. You may be presently surprised.

Well TML I wish that you'll overcome the hypo soon so you will be able to enjoy eating more and you'll probably feel better... more energetic etc.. Good luck

Thank you! Best of luck to you too!!!

Oh well, I've lost 1 3/4 lbs...not amazing but quite impressive cos I didn't think i would have lost anything.

I am certainly going to stick with this diet and just make sure that while I don't calorie count or be restrictive on non fast days, I am going to watch what I eat and not be silly. I am looking forward to being able to have chips when we go out for dinners etc without worrying and not having to choose the salad!

2 stone to lose but ideally 3 really to bring me down to what I used to be

Thanks for all your guidance

[janeg]

Still not totally convinced , eh?
A step in the right direction though. It's not a miracle but damn near close. Do let us know how you get on
...and enjoy your chips

I am finding this a real struggle...not doing diet days that is easy after 3 months, but dealing with the fact that I'm not losing anywhere near what I'd hoped. At 5'8" (52 yr old male) I need to be around 11 1/2 stone. I started at 12 9 and after some weeks got done to 12 2, but for the last month simply can't shift anymore. One week I even did three diet days....I must be over compensating on non diet days, which means for this really to work, I'll now have to start calorie counting on those days which sort of defeats the whole purpose of this plan. ....I usually do a couple of 4 - 6km runs each week, but have an injured knee so that option is out the window for weight loss..Or do you actually reach a weight (although not below 25 BMI) where your body automatically says this is what you should weigh and everything adjusts to maintain this weight.

Hello blurt, there's been quite a bit of discussion round here about the fabled 'plateau' - here is a recent topic. I am a sceptic - see my post here (in the same topic).

The main thing is not to consume over your TDEE on the 'normal' days - and allow for reducing TDEE as you lose weight.

[carorees]

Hi blurt and welcome to the forum.

Your body may try to defend a weight that is higher than you'd like. I think you would experience more hunger when you get to that point. That's what happened to my OH who was trying fasting for the health benefits and didn't need to lose weight. He found it no problem for a couple of months and then started feeling very very hungry. Checked his body fat and it was down to 17%. So, if you have got to this stage, you have to decide how hard you want to work to reduce further as you'll have to carry on eating that way for maintenance or the weight will go back on.

If you don't feel you've reached this point, though, it could just be a bit of a plateau where your body is adjusting. Also, when you have lost weight you need less energy to keep your body working so you have to adjust your eating days to account for your new weight. You don't necessarily have to count calories but be aware that you need less. It might be worth counting calories for a week just to see what you're having. You can then compare this with your predicted energy needs using a TDEE calculator (there are links to some calculators in the FAQ). You can decide what to do from there.

Or do you actually reach a weight (although not below 25 BMI) where your body automatically says this is what you should weigh and everything adjusts to maintain this weight.

In a word, no.

There is no scientific evidence that this happens to my knowledge. Think Biafra, Ethiopia, Belsen - calorie deficit takes fat away in the end.

At 12st2 = 77.2 kg you probably need to consider your body composition - a contact of mine is 83.3kg 8.6% body fat so he has 76kg of fat-free mass (FFM). You'll be less than that, but its worth getting your head round what your fat percent is and what's a reasonable target if you aren't going to live in the gym - 15 % perhaps ?

[carorees]

Saying that the body defends a certain weight is not the same as saying there is a limit below which your body won't go...of course if you don't eat enough it has to burn up it's fat reserves. However, there comes a point at which the body tries harder to conserve energy. My point is that as you lose more weight and your body requires less you have to adopt ever lower calorie intake and this won't suddenly increase when you hit your target...you have to carry on eating a lower amount for good. So the question to be asked when you reach a plateau is, how little are you happy eating?

I lost nothing this week...gutted...I've only done 2 weeks of the 5:2 and have lost ever so slightly over 1lb!

I think I too am overcompensating on a non-fast day but with only 8 weeks to my holiday, I am going up to 3 fasting days a week I've decided.

Good idea or no?

depends if 3 days on 500 calories is more achievable than controlling your eating better on the 5 days of 5:2. There isn't any "compensating" to do on the 5 days, you just eat what you need to eat for your energy demands.

0.6 lbs/week or 2100 calories suggests each fast day was a 1050 reduction if the other 5 were spot on, or if the 2 days were each a 1500 reduction then the 5 days were each 180 cals over so not too much to cut back ?

I struggle at weekends to be honest so I am thinking if I fast for 3 days during the week with 2 days being really good inbetween, then the weekends I can take it easier? I had chinese and pies and nibbles and wine and beer on Saturday alone although Sunday wasn't bad for me so I am surprised I didn't do better...i was SO good during the week

[Betsysgr8]

What is your TDEE and your bmi? Approx how many calories do you have on 'normal' days during the week? Approx how many calories on the weekend? Have you taken measurements? I find that my measurements change before the scales shift. I've lost 4 inches from just my waist but only 6 lbs.
Perhaps if we had a little more information we could help you find an area to target for change?

My BMI I think is 29 and my TDEE is 1900 calories so I think I should be looking at consuming no more than 1400 to lose weight? I took measurements,..no change there.

Mon - Thrs I was excellent. Friday I had a traybake and soup, some deep fried chinese prawns and a bottle of wine. Saturday as I say, I had chinese then went to a party and had beer and wine, some nibbles, some pie and some sausage roll! Sunday I had a couple of chili dogs and some beer (!)...not the best diet lol!.

i think I can see just by listing all this I have deffo been well over the 1400 but what I hate is this, fast for 2 days and eat normally on the other days,...it lulls you into a false sense of security!

I need to just get more sensible on my days off...i have summer clothes to fit into in 8 weeks.