The FastDay Forum

HI there

I have been doing the fast diet on and off since November, but 5 weeks ago I decided to have a proper go at it at the same time as doing the Couch to 5k running programme. Since then, as well as running 3 times a week, I've been tracking all my food and drinks on myfitnesspal. On fast days I eat 500 calories (sometimes 450, sometimes 550, but it evens out) and don't go over my recommended calorie level (1900) on the other 5 days.

Last week the scales twitched downwards by a couple of pounds after 4 weeks of no movement, but I've just weighed myself this morning, the morning after my 2nd fast day of the week when I'm supposed to be at my lightest, and it's back up to where I started. I've also measured my waist and there's been no change there either.

I don't understand how I can be cutting calories like this and not losing any weight. I am slightly hungrier the day after a fast but I don't go mad and still stay within the 1900 cals.

I know this doesn't work for some people and I guess I am just one of those people - it's very disappointing but I'm not going to go on starving myself for no benefit! I was wondering if anyone else knows what sort of diet I might respond to better given that this is no good?

Sorry for a rant, i'm just gutted - was really looking forward to being slimmer for the summer

oh and for the record, I'm a 31 year old female, currently weigh about 10.5 stone, want to get down to 9.5 (what I weighed until about 2 years ago)

Hi charliemmm, sorry to hear you are disappointed. Maybe this will help: http://www.52fastdiet.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5207.
Just hang in there a bit longer.

I count my calories even on "feast days." While my TDEE is at something like 1700 calories, to lose weight - I have to eat less than even that. It's taken me a few weeks to figure that out.

Definitely check out that link that Eep posted. I didn't lose weight the first 5 weeks or so. I actually bounced up and down a lot...varying up to 6 pounds day to day. I tried using Libra app. to help me sort out if my weight was going up or down and to my horror it was going up!! So I stopped using the app and the scales for a few weeks, and continued on with the diet. I'm at the end of 9 weeks now and down 8 pounds and feeling great.

The scales can be maddening so please please measure also!! My weight loss was great at the start but slowed down a lot, however I have had weekends away and a fantastic week in New York and I am at my lowest weight in years...so although slow I can feel a real difference in my shape so that keeps me motivated...hang in there..!!

When I started running I gained weight but lost a dress size; you're replacing fat with muscle.

Also, you're not very overweight, so of course your weight is going to be much slower to go down. For example - my mom has lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks, and I've lost 2. We've eaten the same, but she has more weight to lose than I do.

Don't worry too much. Stick at it because if nothing else, it's making you healthier.

I don't think that the rate at which we lose weight depends on how much we have to lose.

I have lost nearly five pounds in the last 3 weeks, and my BMI is 19.6.

I don't really have a target weight, but I wouldn't want to shave off much more!!

I don't think that the rate at which we lose weight depends on how much we have to lose.

I have lost nearly five pounds in the last 3 weeks, and my BMI is 19.6.

I don't really have a target weight, but I wouldn't want to shave off much more!!

I agree - I only had 6kgs to lose and lost it in 8 weeks. It is just a question of how much you want to lose the weight and not over eating on non fast days.

You've said, you started running (by the way, I started the "Couch to 5k" running programme as well. It's great!), so it's quit normal even to GAIN weight! Your body tries to protect and repair your muscles by retaining water. You can read more here:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.as ... rkout_plan

Don't worry!

thanks all! AM going to stick with it for the 9 weeks i said I would and see where I am at the end of that. Have also just bought a digital scale so I can track smaller changes more accurately. Thanks for the support!

Hi Charliemmmm I also had the same problem as you. However, what I think the problem was was the type of food I am eating. Carb heavy and at the weekends plenty of takeaway and alcohol. Have you looked at the type of food your eating as calories are not always the issue.

Also, in relation to your muscle gain, you should see inches come off so it is probably not correct to say you're gaining muscle. I am a triathlete and marathon runner - you would need to be training a good bit more than couch to 5k to see the muscles outweigh fat loss at your stage.

I find that carbs can be low in cals but quite bloating. Why don't you list a common fast day and a common feast day and see if we can't help

jmousey - not that many people seem to realise that it isn't necessarily the amount of calories we are ingesting, but where they come from!

Good to see you agree!

Calories from low-carb foods are much less likely to make us gain weight than those from foods with a high-carb content.