The FastDay Forum

Have been doing this for 10 weeks now and lost just over two kilos ....this week I put on almost a kilo and can't seem to,work put why
Would love to Hear from people who are trying to lose those last few kilos
I fast twice a week but have been doing 16:8 on the other days and Iam really not eating much on nonfast days
I don't count calories but am restricting carbs and fats so I would say my calories are low
I am still confused about TDEE and think maybe I should work it out and count
I looked up my TDEE and its low....around 1300
Does that mean I should eat less than that on nonfast days?
I am a bit despondent and feel like giving up and just starving to lose the last kilo

You shouldn't need to eat less than your TDEE on non-fast days. I don't really have any advice, but it does seem to be common around here for weight loss to slow at lower BMIs. Hang in there!

Thanks maryann
Just feeling a bit down
Woke up hungry and irritable so just had breakfast for the first time in weeks
Feeling a bit better

hi Sarahg- I have been doing 5:2 for about 3 months now and have lost 'only' about 2-3kg but my BMI is about 21 so I guess that is ok. I am not an expert but I can tell you what I have learned. Counting calories is the main thing here- it is about energy going in. when I started I did my research on the calorie content of my favourite foods- I wrote a list for the fridge door for easy reference. I planned a couple menus for my fast days and stick to them. Nothing fancy. I eat 3 meals on my feast days, I don't restrict my intake. Otherwise I would be despairing too, feeling crap and quitting. This diet is not about going without and feeling horrible- it is meant to be sustainable because you have to alternate between normal eating and restricted eating. It sounds like you are restricting yourself all the time (not eating breakfast) and that is why most diets don't last. My advice is that you get really clear on how to do this properly and stick to it. Don't muck around with it and think that more is better. It isn't. I suggest you count calories and eat well. Good luck and see what that gets you.

I agree with Toad, Sarah. The reason why 5:2 works long-term unlike 'regular' diets is because you only need to restrict yourself on two days a week. It does seem though that you need to be patient when you're already within your normal BMI range. Good luck to you.

Thanks guys
Today feel,so much better,ate breakfast ...not a lot,just two wheat bix and an apple for morning tea
Lunch a nice big salad and cottage cheese and plan to have a good dinners of fish and veg and maybe even a treat of dark choc
At least I don't feel tired and irritable

That sounds good Sarahg. Feeling tired and irritable is just the pits and I think makes any diet completely unsustainable. I battle with this too and I find that if I don't eat all day, no matter what I eat I kind of lose it for about 4 hours. Not great! I can go until about 3pm without eating but am not really fit for work or being around. So I am learning to eat something worthwhile earlier and not try and be a fasting hero!

Hi Sarahg
If you are feeling miserable just eat what you want as there are many stories of where people here did just that and broke through a stall. I like toad's advise for you, get to know what calories are in the food on your restricted day and come in to your TDEE under 500 relax for a bit on the other days as airi says too.

You are not meant to feel so miserable. I would add make your 500 cals very healthy and ensure your foods consumed other days are nutritious and varied and are meeting your body 's nutritional needs. Be instinctive too about when your body is asking for particular foods as might be just what you need. Hope that makes sense and best of luck

Thanks gillymary
That's my new plan
To relax a bit.i will always be a healthy eater because that is who I am.i don't even like junk food.i can over eat ,though on healthy food and I think that is how I gained these few kilos to start with and despite thinking I was eating well,I could lose weight
Until now ,that is.