The FastDay Forum

Oh I am so gutted.. Just completed my first week and have been really accurate (using mfp and weighing everything) and I haven't lost anything at all, although I've stuck to the 500 on fast days and on feed days somewhere between 1200-1600 cals.....

I'm 5'7" and weigh 65kg and want to get to 60kg.....

Did this happen to anyone else?

I'm sure it has, and I'm sure they'll tell you! Losing small amounts does seem to be harder. Also, are you sure you ate enough during feed days? Sounds quite low to me, but then I'm a pig.

Stick with it, it has to be worth trying for a month I would have thought.

YES IT DOES!

Don't panic, just take your waist measurement and keep going. This has been a spectacularly successful programme for me but I must have had one of the slowest starts EVER! I thought I would never lose on this, week in, week out, no change and then it started. It was very slow but consistent and I lost 21 lbs in about 6 months and have since lost another 7 lbs without trying, so PLEASE don't give up and keep posting to let us know how it goes.

Ballerina x

I didn't lose any weight my first week; just finished my second week and have lost 2lbs. Weight is weird, I wouldn't worry too much.

I didn't lose anything for the first three weeks so don't worry just yet. You say you're eating 500 cals on your fast days. This suggests you should be eating 2000 cals on your feed days - perhaps you're just not eating enough. Have you checked your TDEE?
Your weight is also very much in the healthy BMI zone, as mine is and as such I think that makes the weight loss much slower. It's taken me 4 months to lose 8lbs but this diet suits me better than calorie restricted diets such as WW and SW so I don't mind the slower loss.
Stick with it, I'm sure you'll get there in the end!

I'm sure it has, and I'm sure they'll tell you! Losing small amounts does seem to be harder. Also, are you sure you ate enough during feed days? Sounds quite low to me, but then I'm a pig.

Stick with it, it has to be worth trying for a month I would have thought.

Ah thanks girls. I really appreciate the encouragement!
Swedey, do you think eating under the 2000 would be slowing me down?

I will definitely stick to it for a month to give it a fair shot, as i do think this is one of those diets that really could become a way of life

M xx

Check out this link: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1006

It could be water retention or something like that - don't be too disheartened and definitely stick with it.
Weight loss isn't necessarily slower because you don't have much to lose or because you already have a healthy BMI. I had a BMI of just under 21 when I started and still lost 6kgs in 8 weeks.
Good luck!

Check out this link: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1006

Thanks O'Dell - illuminating!

Would be great to know if eating below tdee on feed days slows weight loss...?

Thanks again everyone for being so encouraging!

I don't think that particular study has been done together with 5:2, so the following is theoretical. If you eat less than your TDEE on feed days, you might think that would give you a bigger calorie deficit and greater weight loss, but it may also slow your metabolism, making wright loss more difficult. One of the advantages of eating your TDEE 5 days out of 7, again theoretical at this point, is that your metabolism won't change making maintenance easier. Anecdotally, there is evidence here that eating more on feed days allows you to lose faster (though obviously not crazily overdoing it).

I feel your pain, but stick with it!
I lost first 3kilos really quickly, and in the last 2 weeks have only gained (small amounts) despite my best efforts. have given up weighing myself now!
don't rely on the scales alone - do you have a pair of jeans you'd like to get back into?
I'm measuring my progress by how I feel/look in my dreadful size 14 work trousers which I'm looking forward to ceremoniously binning when I eventually get back into my size 12s.
good luck!

I am in week 4 and am only just starting to lose weight now by doing 36 hour liquids only fasts instead of 24 hour 500cal fasts. 36 hours aren't for everyone and can be difficult but it works for me. Don't despair! Everyone's bodies are different and yours may just take to adjust.

you need to eat enough on the non fast days for your metabolism to kick back in after fast days. If you restrict on non fast days, then your body will not burn the fat but store it to use. This is one diet where you can eat normally 5 days a week and only count for the 2 days.

Thanks again everyone - I weighed myself again this am and magically 0.5 kilo had disappeared. I think I'm going to weigh myself every day bearing in mind all the reasons for no weight loss... And will definitely eat up to my cals on non-fast days

Will keep you posted !