The FastDay Forum

Finding the 5:2 quite easy to do. Last meal 7 in the evening, my 500 calories the next day about 6 in the evening, sometimes taking a 100 or so out of my total as veg soup about 3 in the afternnon if I feel hungry. Coping well with hunger generally. I drink plenty of fluids. Now done 9 fast days.

But on the fast days, I feel generally grotty! The day starts well but by afternoon I feel lethargic, thick headed, irritable. A short walk by the canal yesterday evening was a chore not pleasure.

Normal??

I am 3 months in and am fine now but I do remember for the first few weeks I felt like a little nap around 5 in the afternoon. Fortunately I was on holidays then so I could manage it. It might be worth going over your calorie limit if necessary and having a piece of fruit or something in the mid-afternoon to see if that helps. From memory, I kept a small packet of sultanas on hand and that improved it

When I hit that point you describe very well I have 1/2 a beef (organic stock cube) and a teaspoon of marmite in hot water and boosts me til dinner at 7pm ish.

Yep, I think "general malaise" is the perfect way to describe how I feel on fast days. It's horrible. I'm hoping it will get better because I'm FINE until around 2 pm and then I tank big-time. Even after I eat my dinner I just feel terrible and want to go right to bed. I've done 7 fasts so far...for anyone else who has had this happen...does it EVER go away???

I've being doing 5:2 since early Feb 2013 (23 fasts). I feel cold, tired and generally lethargic on fast days. I eat one meal at about 7:00pm and go to bed not long after - about 9pm. I feel great the next day.

Yes, I feel pretty much the same way. Thank God I work from home and I plan my fasts on the days that I don't have to go out. I do a bit of housework but not much...

I'm fasting today and have been 'at it' since mid January and have always slumped in energy, concentration and feel generally sleepy from about 2pm. I have changed from having breakfast and an evening meal to just an evening meal and don't feel hungry until I start making my meal about 6pm. Today I really needed something to pick me up and had a coffee with a little milk, it really worked. So I'm wondering if it's actually the lack of caffine on fast days in my case that is making me slump? I can usually knock back a good half dozen cups a day. On fast days I have a coffee first thing then it's herbal tea a and water for the rest of the day.

I could never spend a day without coffee. I tried it twice in my life and I still remember both times!!!

Hmm...this is not what I wanted to hear! I was hoping you'd all say it went away. I see people on these forums saying how it's no big deal for them to fast now. I just hope I get to that point too...maybe it's just mind over matter but I still really really struggle with the physical component of hunger.

[carorees]

I've been 5:2ing since November (nearly 6 months). I feel pretty hungry at around 3.30pm but no tanking or lethargy. I find a burst of high intensity interval training seems to squash the hunger pangs. I don't feel tired until quite late at night. I think I did feel a malaise at first but it's been gone for a long time now and I can't quite remember when that happened...

It's not a big deal if you know what to expect, IMO...

I had the usual headache and general malaise for first couple of weeks. Now on week 4 I feel great on fast days except on those nights, like right now, I can't sleep, I'm full of energy..lol ..I'm sure that will pass too

I definitely felt this way the first 3-4 weeks, but then all of a sudden the fast days got easy. At first I was tired, irritable, very lethargic, and as you say, general malaise. I also struggled with exercise and gave it up on fast days. Then all of a sudden, at about the 4 week mark, the fast days got easier, I didn't get the tiredness and lethargy any more, and yesterday I even exercised in the morning and afternoon and didn't get the 'hit by a truck' feeeling I did when I first started!

So I'd say just stick with it and the fasts will get better. perhaps it justs takes that long for the body to learn how to properly burn fat for energy on fast days?

Thank you everyone! THIS is what I wanted to hear

I know some days will be harder than others and that the "pain" is temporary. I don't expect it to be easy but I was hoping it would at least get a BIT easier and sounds like it might.

Thanks again for the support!

I have been doing 5:2 for almost two months now (wow.. has it been that long?). The fast days are gradually getting easier. I still slow down at the end of the day, but I don't get so hungry. I'm hoping the fasts continue to get easier. I believe they will.