The FastDay Forum

Hello everyone. I'm new here and currently deliberating whether or not to embark on the 5:2 diet...

I posted a topic up a while ago asking some questions and i think my rambling confused everyone so i am going to try again, 1 last time and see if i can get your opinions.

Basically, i'm within the 'normal' weight for my height, but i want to lose around 4lbs more, preferably from my stomach area. I have always desired a flat stomach and seeing as i'm 25, no children and pretty fit and healthy i think i should be able to achieve this.

Background: I used to have an absolutely terrible diet, ate literally what i wanted and none of the right stuff. Weight crept on (i was never fat but terribly bloated) and one day i decided to try the 'Herbalife' diet. It had a great effect, pretty quickly. I lost about 10 lbs and a clothes size aswell. However, pretty soon I found that i was getting 'bored' of the lack of food and replacing two meals a day with shakes and have now decided to give the herbalife a bit or a rest. I am kind of on/off doing it. I have now begun to reintroduce food that i wasn't having before i.e some treats and have noticed that the lbs have crept back on

(For those of you that are unfamiliar with Herbalife, it's a meal replacement diet of around 1300 cals a day. You have two shakes a day (breakfast and lunch maybe) two healthy snacks and a healthy dinner.)


Now, i'm debating whether to start the 5:2 diet this week but as i mentioned in my previous post, because i was on a low calorie diet before (around 1300 a day) i'm scared that going back to eating 'normal' food 5 days of a week will meaN i go backwards even further and put more weight on. OR will this not happen as i am eating only 500 on other 2 days?

I've worked this out:

Herbalife diet - 7 days x 1300 calories = 9100 calories a week. (Minimum)

5:2 - 5 days x 1500 calories = 7500 + 2 fasting days of 1000 = 8500 total calories.

So to eat less calories than i was eating on herbalife i will have to keep my 'feast days' at 1500. Now, this doesn't sound much better than being on herbalife BUT it's the higher variety of foods that appeals to me. Yes, i'm still counting calories and restricting myself (I have to, because i was on a low cal diet before!) but surely within those 1500 i can have 'normal' foods? I'm just so worried that eating normally again i'll regain!

Perhaps i should combine both? I.e 5:2 but on normal feast days have a herbalife shake so as to keep calories within the 1500 range. Hmmm...

Is it WHAT you're eating as well as the calories? So sorry if i'm being confusing. Thanks for any help - i'm losing my mind here!

Have you tried putting your current stats into the tracker to see what your TDEE comes out as?

Otherwise it looks like you would lose with 5:2 as you will be eating less calories than you are now, but the only way to find out is to try it! I would say go for it as meal replacement shakes can't be the solution long term...

Your weight may fluctuate as you try a different diet but I don't think the diet you are following sounds sustainable long-term and certainly doesn't fit in with "normal" life. The other thing to keep in mind is that you can't choose where you lose weight from and if your main aim is to tone your stomach I think exercise is the answer not necessarily trying to lose weight. I'd say give this diet a go, it's got to be better than drinking meal replacement shakes but don't expect immediate results and be prepared for some weight fluctuations - weight lose is not the only thing to judge the diet on and you should take body measurements as well. I must admit that I've found that my main weight loss has been from my waist/stomach but I'm sure it's not the same for everyone. Sure you've noticed the people on the boards are very helpful and supportive.

[Moogie]

Hi again and thanks for the extra info about your calorie intake

Looking at those figures it looks like you shouldn't gain weight from 5:2 compared with your previous diet, however do remember that in the early weeks your weight may yo yo a little as your body adjusts to the new way of eating and your body fat/water rebalances.

I'd actually suggest you start on 1600 cals a day and your two days of 500 to more closely match what you were eating previously, and see how the reduced calorie days affect your metabolism. That may be enough to kick start your weight loss, while also making you feel less restricted on your feed days - you can always cut back to 1500 on your feed days if you need to. It can also help to mix up your feed day cals a bit, so maybe allow yourself a bit more at the weekends but cut back a bit in the week. This way you can feel like you're having some real indulgences without affecting your calorie intake.

I don't think it really matters what foods you eat, although of course cutting certain foods back can help - carbs, sugar etc. Personally I don't cut anything out - although I've cut back on carbs on fast days now.

This might surprise you, but I found it interesting - I know a fitness instructor (she's also a hairdresser!) who swears by full fat products. No low fat, no diet products. Just good, natural fats. She helps folks get in shape and has advised quite a few people who don't want to exercise yet that just swapping from low fat to full fat can actually help you lose weight. She's found it to work wonders for folks. Our bodies just can't work with all the synthetic stuff they put in to substitute the natural fats & sugars - we cope better with the good stuff! If a change to full fat can make folks lose weight without any other changes in their diet, just think what eating normally and cutting back just 2 days a week could do for you

One other thing to bear in mind though is that with only 4lbs to lose it may come off slowly. You're already a healthy weight and your body is probably quite happy to stick around that weight. It may be more a case of needing to tone your tummy than to lose weight, to get the flatness you desire.

That said, 5:2 or 6:1 could be a good way for you to maintain your figure without feeling so restricted every day as you do on your current diet.

The 5:2 diet isn't primarily about weight loss [although that is a very nice side effect] its about genral health and well-being, so my advice [for what its worth] would be to stop your existing diet and try 5:2 mainly becasue it is so much *easier* than any other method...
My fast days are ususally monday and thursday and I have no trouble limiting myself to 500 calories on those days, partly because the rest of the time I eat what I want [which is not to say that I pig out hugley or anything like that, but if I happen to fancy a chocolate brownie, I'll have one] so I would suggest that counting calories on your feed days may be counter-productive.
It may take a while for your body to adjust to your new pattern but please give it time.

Herbalife diet - 7 days x 1300 calories = 9100 calories a week. (Minimum)

5 days on 5:2 = 9100 subtract 1000 (for the 2 days) = 8100 for the 5.

Divide by 5 = 1620 per day on feed day, 500 per day on 2 fast days.

Herbalife diet - 7 days x 1300 calories = 9100 calories a week. (Minimum)

5 days on 5:2 = 9100 subtract 1000 (for the 2 days) = 8100 for the 5.

Divide by 5 = 1620 per day on feed day, 500 per day on 2 fast days.

Hello

Why has this confused me?

I don't want to eat the same amount of calories (9100) as i was eating before, i want to eat less calories to lose the weight... That's the thing, i don't feel as though i'm actually losing weight anymore, i'm either at a plateau or eating way more than i have realised...

I had been at a stalled phase on 5:2 and I believe it was because I was not actually eating enough on my non fast days. Eating quality food eg vegs, salad, fruit, some protein source and carbs for energy and dairy while 2 days where I do 5:2 very carefully counting my calories has enabled me to lose 9 kg in 3 months. The greatest loss has been in measurements around my waist which is 4.5 inches off my waist and most people on the forum are all commenting on their own loose clothes.
This way of eating allows you to enjoy your food 5 days a week and then you have to discipline yourself 2 days. You will also find those days also become enjoyable. There are some things which seem weird if you like many of us have tried a few diets. Relax give this a go prepare to be amazed.

Thanks to all for your help and advice.

Basically.... I think i'm worrying far too much. The long and short of it is that i'm falling off the wagon a bit anyway, with my herbalife diet.
Fasting 2 days a week won't harm and i can see if it has any negative or positive effects (alertness, weight loss...)

What was worrying me the most is putting ON weight. However, if i'm reasonably careful (but not silly) on feed/feast days then i don't see how weight gain will occur. I will make sure i'm eating sensible foods (not stuffing my face all day with chocolate and bread) as doing that was what made me bloated the first time.

I will probably count calories on feed days the first 2 weeks and incorporate it with herbalife if i want to and basically just see what happens.
The thing is, as everyone has always said, a diet should be something you can sustain for a long period of time... Healthy eating i think i can do.

Worst case scenario is that i put on weight but at the end of the day, if i'm being careful then hopefully that won't happen.

Now it's just getting through a 'fast' day at work! Eeeek...

[Betsysgr8]

Basically.... I think i'm worrying far too much.

Yep! This has to be the simplest WoE ever! Glad you are now armed with enough information to take the first step.

Some people gain weight from simply not eating enough, because there bodies are constantly in the "starve" mode which says HEY TURN ALL FOOD YOU CAN GRAB INTO FAT CELLS YOU WILL NEED IT TO SURVIVE!! So like another poster said earlier check your TDEE recommendation before making any other changes.