The FastDay Forum

I love the way I feel after a fast. I also have about a stone I'd like to lose, so it's about 50/50 weightloss and health benefits for me.

I was doing ok on a low carb diet in terms of weight loss. I still take that approach but have combined it with 5:2. I can't say that weight is falling off me, I'm not far above what my ideal weight should be but I do feel quite well on this WOE.

I've found that everything I eat needs to earn its place in my diet from a nutritional point of view. Fasting, I think, teaches you what being really hungry is rather than being just 'peckish' and satisfying it with any old convenience food that is to hand.

As has been mentioned, for those who are overweight and obese, health benefits and weight loss go hand in hand. This is very well established science.

The problem I see personally is that the other "live longer" benefits of fasting in particular are extrapolations from interesting but quite preliminary science, which may prove not to pan out. If they do, then that's brilliant, but I prefer not to concentrate on them.

As someone who is over weight I'm in it for both, the way I see it they go hand in hand. Surely shifting some of the excess weight has got to have health benefits? As to whether it prevents mental decline & let's me live to a healthy old age we'll just have to wait & see!

I needed to shed weight, by fate I saw the Horizon programme with OH and we were both convinced to give it a go (not that OH needed to shed anywhere near as much as I did). I was in the 'obese' range, now 'overweight' and heading towards 'recommended'. I'm now converted!!! Of course, as others have said on this thread, with shedding the weight comes lots of other benefits - so it's a win, win, win situation Having lost 3.5 stone my body must be thanking me (big time) - mentally I feel better about myself, physically have more energy, stamina and generally feel much healthier. Wohoooo... I this WOL

I agree with dominic

I understand the frustration often expressed here in various topics that 99% of what is posted here is about weight loss, but the other benefits are uncertain and unmeasurable (or at least for most of us unmeasured), although in the long run they may be very considerable.

so on the basis that some of the potential benefits are unknown and will be for some time - I'm happy to be a guineapig for my own benefit and who knows, maybe for others too in years to come

Hi Sophie. I'm very much in it for the health benefits and improving my relationship with food as I wasn't overweight when I started 5:2. As it happens, I've just started a similar thread under the Progress Reports section where I track some health improvements that I've observed. All has been very positive so far (blood samples etc). Details in the "Progress other than weight loss" thread if you are feeling particularly bored or nosey!
Hope all goes well for you too.

I'm in it for the health benefits, but they are mainly preventative. So there really is no good way for me to measure if it's working other than weight loss. I don't have high chol. or BP or anything of that sort, but my family history has me at risk for high BP and stroke. I'd like to avoid that if I can.

I do have problems with back pain and have been told to keep my weight down to help with that, so in that way losing excess weight more directly impacts my health. In a weird way my back has given me more problems on 5:2 because I've felt better and been more active and thus given my back more of a work out than it normally gets.

I cannot speak for everyone, but the simple answer is ---originally yes, but now, I am convinced otherwise. Losing weight through 5:2 is an enabler to turn components of ones life into something else. For example. Pre 5:2 I was lethargic, disinterested in energetic undertakings. Now the situation has almost reversed. I am so happy to get into exercise it has triggered a sea change in my mind and approach. The reduced cal days make me feel alive adding to the drive to do more.

So in effect I have a catch 5:2. One has triggered the other which now supports One. I hope that makes sense.

So in effect I have a catch 5:2

I like it! Catchy!

I confess, I'm totally in it for the weight loss.

I confess, I'm totally in it for the weight loss.

Me too plus the thought that the weight might actually stay off

[wildmissus]

I have got to lose weight to get the health benefits. My father in law passed away last week - he died a horrible unnecessary death, in my opinion. At his heaviest he was 26 stone and he was not tall = BMI 53 approx. About 15 years ago he was diagnosed Type 2 diabetes which he never accepted and from then on lost all interest in himself. Type 2 runs in my family as does dementia. I am going to do everything I can to have a healthy, mobile and hopefully long life. I have had 45 years of my life and there is no reason why I can't have another 45.

I am doing this to avoid diabetes, most of my family members have it. Unfortunately my uncle lost part of his vision due to it as well.

The first step towards reducing risk of diabetes is being in a healthy weight range, that's why for now my priority is weight loss

What a great question with thoughtful answers. I am in primarily for the health benefits. Diabetes 2, breast cancer, and alzheimers run in my family and I have the fat tummy that also runs in the family. So by reducing the waist, I hope to avoid the diseases. I am within normal BMI, but am close to the edge and wouldn't be disappointed if I lost a few pounds as well!

I'm in it just for the weight loss. It would be good if it has some beneficial health effects as has been conjectured but those are not my primary concern. Superficial - much!