The FastDay Forum

Ok, Well I have been doing 5:2 since May 2013 and things were looking good. Then in August my appendix went bang so I couldn't fast until I was better, but for 3 weeks I only ate pretty much watermelon all day (I craved it like mad) so I didn't go mental and overeat. Since about mid September I have been back to 2 days fasting. On my normal days I restrict my calories with the help of an 'app' (not sure if I was allowed to mention the name). Since then my weight has not moved 1 lb. I have tried eating less, eating more (in line with TDEE), cut out alcohol dramatically, stopped drinking diet coke/pepsi or anything with aspartame in it but still nothing. I drink over 2 litres of sparkling water every day and whilst I am no saint on my normal days I have tried to cut out as much rubbish as I can.
I have ordered a cross trainer to try to increase exercise in case that's it (I walk the dog regularly but maybe it's not enough?). I guess I am posting this as I have been stuck and just thought maybe someone else has an idea of something else I can try. My stomach has gone from being nice after the initial loss to a bit squidgy which is disappointing. Who knows, maybe in a few weeks I'll wake up a size 10? well, maybe not. I just compare myself to others and see they have lost a lot more in that time that I have and now I want to know what I am doing wrong, I've stuck with it this far and it would be criminal to stop now I feel. I have lost about 1 stone but bear in mind that's approx. 35 weeks now and 14lbs loss- is that super slow or is it just me being impatient? Thanks for listening guys, even typing this has made me feel better. Hope you're all doing well and a Happy New Year to all of you.

Hi Flab2fab,
If you want to compare to the results of others, the publication discussed below will contain some useful information. You will see that you are not the only one with slower weight loss.
the-5-2-lab-f10/5-2-questionnaire-results-stats-and-everything-must-read-t10065.html

Thank you P-JK, I had missed that post but have just read it now and it is good to know!

There are many reasons for plateau's. One is the reset pause. Your body is used to a certain weight, it likes being at that weight and tolerates increases or decreases in weight of 10 to 15% of your body weight. Any more or less and your body will try and get back to its comfort zone. If you can stay at the new weight for long enough, the body resets at that new weight, and you can continue to lose weight again. If you have lots of weight to lose it become a fact of life that you will hit plateau's regularly as your body resets.

Other reasons can be water weight from a high carb diet.
Fluid build up from sore muscles (this usually only lasts about 2 weeks).
Increased muscle mass of the same weight as the fat you have lost. This can be corroberated by measuring yourself with a tape measure, as muscle is more dense it will show as thinner body parts.
Your TDEE may actually be lower than the average. Knock a 100 or 200kcals off the TDEE and see what happens then.

There are other reasons, but these are the usual culprits.

Set point theory thread.
the-5-2-lab-f10/topic395.html

I've stuck with it this far and it would be criminal to stop now I feel.

Ooh it certainly would be a shame to stop now, please don't. And thanks @Julieathome for the link, quite a few of us today have been a bit down in the dumps today.
I think this thread 5-2-diet-chat-f6/topic3750.html, which is where Caroline's link is, might be of interest to you.

[carorees]

The thing is, if you stop you'll almost certainly put on weight, but if you carry on think almost certainly break the plateau and lose more! Keep an eye on how you're eating on non-fast days and keep doing your fast days and I'm sure it'll all come right in the end.

Thanks everyone for your replies and I've looked at the set point theory and Caroline's link and I feel so much better! I will carry on, have just fasted today actually, and we will see how I go this year! Thanks again, you have all helped loads by being there!

Hi:

Here is more than you think you want to know about plateaus: 5-2-diet-chat-f6/on-plateaus-t7102.html

If you do your fast days correctly and eat your TDEE or below on feast days, you will (have to) lose weight.

Good Luck!

Thank you Simcoeluv for that link, I am devouring any and all information on plateaus and will report back on what finally gets it moving!

Keep going. It happens, I stopped losing at the begining of October, may have even been mid september, then nothing, fasted twice a week, nothing, fasted three times a week, nothing, fasted once a week, nothing, back to twice a week, just kept going. Then Christmas came and my body finally went oh okay then and the pounds are coming off again.really infuriating when others appears to be streaking ahead, but remember........it's not a race, it's your journey

Keep going. It happens, I stopped losing at the begining of October, may have even been mid september, then nothing, fasted twice a week, nothing, fasted three times a week, nothing, fasted once a week, nothing, back to twice a week, just kept going. Then Christmas came and my body finally went oh okay then and the pounds are coming off again.really infuriating when others appears to be streaking ahead, but remember........it's not a race, it's your journey

Now that's what I call perseverance.....there should be a medal for that!

It s taken me two months to get uner 13 stone.

This morning hit 12 stone for the frst time in a long time.

Try to walk, drink lemon water instead of eating, fast as and when you can.

Well done David ! Always good to see the next number down!

Well done David ! Always good to see the next number down!

My sister has just told me her oh is 11 stone.