The FastDay Forum

So I've done 4 fast days and today is day 5. Today I have done my first weigh in and measure and I've lost 1kg exactly which I was a bit unexcited about, my fat % hasn't changed, but then I measured my waist and I've lost 4cm, which has excited me.

I know 1 kg is pretty much on target for 1lb a week, I guess I had hoped it would be a bit more to start with.

From reading Dr Mosley's book I took that you could more or less eat what you want on your feast days, am I right? I only count calories on fast days. I generally eat a healthy diet the rest of the week but I do eat cheese and I have the occasional treat (a piece of hubby's fathers day toblerone last night). Should I be ditching the cheese, treats, full fat milk etc.... or would it not really make any difference?

Thanks

Hello Scubelle,
My opinion and understanding of how this WOE works is that you fast for two days (500cals or less) and for five days you eat the way you normally would.
There are a lot of people on the forum who worry about how much to eat for the other 5 days.
I think if you eat a healthy diet with the occasional indulgence then you are ok. Make it easy and stress free and I bet you will win. Good luck.

I agree. I follow my calories, not to torture myself, but to get an idea of what I am putting in my mouth! Just continue on the way you have and read some of the threads on here. There is soooo much information, and, really, so many ways each of us are approaching this WOE.

It really depends on what "normal" eating is for you and how quickly you want to lose weight. Weight loss is still basic math of calories in versus calories out. If you were gaining let's say, half a pound a week before you started 5:2. And you are eating the exact same things as before on your "feast days", then you really are only going to lose maybe 1/2 a pound to a pound a week. It depends on your TDEE and all, but it still boils down to basic math.

For example, without exercise, I burn about 2300 calories a day. Before 5:2 I was gaining almost a pound a week! That means I had a daily surplus of 500 calories a day and was, therefor, eating about 2800 calories a day. That was my "normal". If I fasted 2 days a week and did nothing else to increase my weekly calorie deficit, I would merely maintain my weight. Because I would only be getting a 3600 calorie deficit from my fasts (2300-500 times 2).

In order to actually LOSE weight, I need to increase my exercise and restrict calories on the other 5 days of the week.

If you are eating healthy and you were maintaining your weight before, then 5:2 should allow you to lose about 1 pound per week.