The FastDay Forum

I'm really pleased with this diet, and had an initial quick-ish loss of 7lb, which has now slowed (but still going the right way!)

I have quite a lot to lose - is this initial quick drop in weight typical of larger people?

It's somewhat normal, as some of it is water weight. When you start using up your carbs in your bloodstream(glucose), and burning fat, it also starts pulling water from your muscles as well which are mainly made up of water. Not on the 5:2 fast, but I lost 16lbs in January when I started dieting, with about 12 of it in the first 2 week, and now its leveled out to 8-10 lbs a month.

Average weight loss on 5:2 is 1-2 lbs a week, but closer to 1 lb.

Stay the course.

Your results are not unusual.

Another reason why people lose a lot of water weight initially is that normally you get over 20% of your fluid needs from food. When you eat less food, you get less water. If you don't drink more to compensate, you have high initial water (weight) loss. As your body slowly regains its lost water, the actual fat losses are masked (lose a pound of fat but gain a pound of water).

Over time, stats indicate you should lose about a pound a week (I'm right on after 8 weeks). Along the way, you might gain weight, or lose more than a pound, depending on water retention.

Bottom line is this WOE really works - just not quickly.

Patience and perseverance wins!

Thank you both, I'm still losing and I feel really well !

Hi
So im in a similar situation. my first week (march) went really well as i lost about 4lb and ever since then ive lost about 1lb a week. But the last 2 fasts ive done ive put on 1lb each fast. So im not sure where i am going wrong. im sticking to my 500 calories and on top i am going to the gym. is my body getting used to me fasting and isnt working so well? ive still got over 2 stone to lose so i need advice!
Also on another note before i started the 5:2 diet i could put 2-3 lbs on through out the day, whereas now im only putting on 0.2lb on feasting days! just wondered if anyone knew why this is.

I found I lost, then plateaued, then lost, then plateaued again. I don't count calories on non fast days. I stuck to the fast days without too much pain & got used to fasting. However, fortnight ago I got a really bad cold so decided not to fast. I fasted on the Tues as normal when cold started, then got really bad so ate normally on the Thurs & following Tues then fasted last Thurs, Tues & today, so back in the routine again, but boy it's been tough. I've been so hungry like at the start. Have found fizzy water to help though. Haven't weighed myself for a while either so will do so tomorrow, but clothes actually felt even looser so I'm wondering if the couple of fast days I skipped actually speeded up my metabolism again. I'm hoping this may have stopped the plateau.

I began fasting in January and I've averaged about a 1lb a week (just over), I also have a lot to lose. But I've lost one and a half stone now and have slightly increased weight loss over the last month by doing 36hr fasts with no 500 calorie meal, I did go through plateaus and even some gains but despite fluctuations the progress is steadily downwards. To be honest I don't mind as I'm worried about excess skin and so don't want to lose to quickly! I'm expecting to hit my target next year, but plan to fast long term (possibly life term) as I can feel the benefits and it works for me. Keep going as those lbs add up!

I found I lost, then plateaued, then lost, then plateaued again.

this is similar to my pattern: two weeks i lose more, next week I lose not so much (or gain) over and over. (well I'm at 9 weeks, so it's happened 3x) I think it's just the nature of this WOE.

Thank you all for your encouraging replies!

I'm the same. I am now on my third period of weight staying the same but I am not overly worried as it has happened before and it was followed by a week of losing a pound or two.

Have you looked at other people's progress trackers? Not sure if it is more prevalent in people who have more weight to lose though.