The FastDay Forum

Been doing this now for 2 months and after an initial 4 lb loss in the first couple of weeks I'm back to where I started from!

I don't mind fasting - but it is just not working for me in terms of weight loss!

Afraid to say that I'm giving up (for now!) and going on Dukan Diet again.
I followed this successfully before - lost 3 stone and kept it off for over 18months - but 1.5 stone has crept back on because I never followed the DD rules!

SO - going to do DD to get the quick weight loss and then I think I will come back to fasting as a way of keeping the weight off!

Anyone done both diets?!

Thanks for the support - but I think DD works best for me!
Allie

I thinkTML is also trying a mix and match with Dukan and is doing well on it,

Ballerina x

Allieg - I have just written a post on the diabetes2 thread, but I don't think that gets many hits, unless people are interested in that subject.

What I wrote was that I'm not entirely convinced that many people actually do lose weight when they eat freely on non-fast days.

I may be wrong, but I'm always curious as to why so many people on this forum are trying all kinds of variations of eating plans, in order to lose weight.

If 5:2 worked that well, why would they need to experiment with all these different methods?

I agree with you Tomtank! I tried weight watchers "full and healthy" plan for while as you are supposed to be able to eat until full so long as its the healthy stuff- and this didn't work for long. Liked the idea of 5:2 if it truly meant that you didn't have to change your normal eating habits for 5 days of the week - which either it doesn't work if you have to go on a less strict diet for those 5 days too!!
Thanks Ballerina!

Hi Tomtank,

5:2 in my opinion is a spectacularly successful way to lose weight and I have been thrilled to regain my pre-menopausal weight but I now wish to reap, if they exist, the alleged long term health benefits of fasting so that is why I have gone onto a daily 'window' for my consumption. I didn't want to do the 6:1 option where you do a 500 calorie fast once a week as I hated that element of the original 5:2 concept. This way, I get a daily fast of between 18 and 20 hours and I can also eat whatever I wish. For me, this is a fabulous way to live and I feel quite strongly that one of the strengths of this system is the fact that people can 'tweak' it to suit their own requirements without drifting away from it's core principle of fasting for health. You could compare this diversity to a bunch of people studying for the same exam, they will all do it in slightly different ways but will all have the same goal, i.e. pass the exam.

I hope this all made sense to you,

Ballerina x

From my experience I really enjoyed 5:2 but stalled for a month and wanted to up the ante, I was just curious as to what I could tolerate in regard to longer fasting. We are all just making decisions and choices here. I think all the options are wonderful and flexible until you find what works for you

I have never been as successful as with 5:2. I have tried most diets over 20 years and usually they failed with me getting the flu or extremely fatigued. So I would give up.No so with this WOE.

Hi Ballerina,

I really take on board what you're saying, that it's good to tweak 5:2 to get the best results.

I am doing it for the health benefits, rather than to lose weight.

What puzzles me most, though, is when people put things like the Dukan diet in to the mix.

I follow Atkins on my non-fast days, and know that if I didn't, the weight would come back on!

What I'm really asking is how many people eat exactly what they want to, on non-fast days, and still lose weight?

Are you one of those lucky people?!

Does all this tweaking take place because what it says in the book isn't quite right?

Hi Tomtank,

I think the book is very good but the reality is that it reflects one man's experience of this regime and I am a different person with slightly different needs and wants and I feel that this is where the tweaking comes from. Dr M also tweaked the fasting regime to suit him and his lifestyle so, if it was good enough for the good doctor, then it s good enough for me.

You say you are puzzled as to why people include Dukan but you include Atkins in your regime. Personally, I see nothing wrong with either but I don't understand why you find one acceptable but not the other? It is all about choice.

Ballerina x

I forgot to say that I eat whatever I want every day and do not put on weight due to my 'window' method. I have lost weight doing this so I need to keep my calorie intake up.

Ballerina x

I eat exactly what I want to- but in sensible quantities. I also eat what I want to on fast days- but only 500 calories worth. There is no way filling up on salads and veg would work for me. I think you have to work out what is sustainable long term for YOU and go with that.

Hi Ballerina,

I do 5:2 for the health benefits, rather than weight loss, and do Atkins because I know that if I eat whatever I like on non-fast days, I would put weight on.

That is my point. How many people do actually eat what they like and still lose?

Hi Merlin,

I agree whole heartedly with you, it has to suit YOU, no one else, just YOU. The fact that it is so versatile is, for me, the true beauty of this system. The basis is the same however any individual chooses to apply it, it is not a ' one size fits all' .

Ballerina x

Hi Tomtank,

Perhaps everyone's definition of 'eating what they like' varies. I have made an effort to reduce (not eliminate) bread, potatoes and sugar from my diet but if I really want to eat any of these things then I just go ahead and eat them.

In answer to your question, I don't know! I only know that I am more than happy with what I eat,

Ballerina x

I don't know about eating everything I want, but I sure eat a lot of things I wouldn't be able to on other diets. I've been lucky so far: I don't count cals or follow another diet on non-fast days.

I have counted calories on my feed days because I had never done so before and wanted to know what I ate counted. Having said that, my TDEE is between 1600 and 2000 (I figure I'm middle of that activity wise). On feed days my count varies from 1400 to 2200 (including a 2300 day - had a milkshake), eating what I like, and I have been mostly losing.

On the program, Dr. Mosely said to eat normally. If you are prone to overeating, constant snacking (me!), binging - these are not normal and will hinder weight loss. Just my 2 cents.