The FastDay Forum

This seems to happen to me. Well, it has happened twice now with the 5:2 Fast Diet...

I go really well for a few weeks, then when the hormones start fluctuating (as they do) I (A) either use that as an excuse to go off the 5:2 program or (B) it really does affect me and I can't seem to maintain the program and I go off the rails and just eat....

Then... after a few days I should be able to get back on the wagon, but it's extremely hard, and can't seem to get back into the swing of things.

What is the deal???

Having said that, today is my first fast day in three weeks and I do feel better. Surprising how great it feels not to eat so much... But I also feel disappointed and down when I think of all the kilos/pounds I could have lost by now if I had just kept on the program.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Dana I feel exactly the same. I've been 'dieting' from March (when I really started to watch what I was eating, cut out fast food etc etc) and 5:2 for 7 weeks so I could have been at my target weight already! It's just so difficult at the time to NOT EAT THE BAD STUFF.
Lil

Sometimes it's hard being a girl!!! I can only suggest you say "stuff the hormones I'm going to make this work for me". It's only two days a week to put up with.
Having said that, the only thing that fixed my horror hormones was going on Depoprovera injections (progesterone based contraception). Going to have to give it up soon as menopause looms.
Also on a fast day when you feel like quitting get on here and whinge about it, that helps.

My trouble is the feast days rather the fasts.. how does that work?!
Lil

Hormones I don't get them any more Lol. Age comes in handy now and again, I had a little blip a few weeks ago and I took stock of my feed days
Yes I had sneaked a few extra treats back into my life so did the next weeks fast as if it was my first and being very careful on my feed days.
My amazing weight Los is my motivation to carry on each week and if I've got meals out ( sometimes 2 per week ) I then really behave myself.
On those occasions this works for me personally, I'm doing 4:3
So 3 fast days and day after my fasts I get up not feeling hungry so 2/3breakfasts skipped (depends on mood ) then the weekend Fri-Sun basically eat what I want small breakfast (if taken ) lunch is always a large salad everything goes on here peppers celery + all the usual, with small amount of ham/chicken/beef or feta cheese low calorie salad cream + balsamic vinegar. Evening meals, I usually do 2/3 courses but choose carefully for the lower Cal versions. Main meals with either fish or meat with lots of vegetables/salad, if doing dessert I do myself a small portion to keep OH company. I walk on each of my 3 f/days, I also have a small chocky treat 3 or 4 nights per week as I don't intend to give anything up. Good Luck. Sue

Oh I SO head you & can sympathise I do fine for 3 weeks of the month but then have a terrible week just before/after my period starts. Last month was terrible, saw me a sobbing mess on the couch. I was feeling so depressed I was going to see my dr, then my period came and my mood changed instantly. It's tough & I choose to be kind & nurture myself rather than stress about fasting.

For you OP it seems like you need a way to stop yourself going off course for weeks at a time? Maybe if need be you give yourself a week of just skipping breakfast (16/8) rather than true fasting?

I agree with you Waratah! I have those hormone dumps too (apparently we generally do when our period first starts). To me the key is saying 'hello hormones- back again?' and riding the wave. When it stops, I get back to normal. Missing a single fast day doesn't matter in the scheme of things. To my mind, it is the self blame and guilt that really wrecks things. My advice is 'don't worry if you screw up a fast, just keep on keeping on'. We are SOOOOOOOOOO hard on our selves!! this fast thing cant work if we judge ourselves on single days, it has to be a big picture thing and we need to do a good job MOST of the time. No one can do it all the time. I think everyone on here has their difficulties whether it is hormones, addictive tendencies, toddlers, marriages....... basically LIFE. We just need to keep going and not fall in a heap and be so hard on ourselves. There. That is my two cents!

I also know about the depressed hormone syndrome! It's horrible.

How about not fasting for your period week and just sticking to 1800 cals a day or something so you don't ruin your hard work and just maintain on that week

excellently put Claire23- I totally agree. We need to all play the long game here!