The FastDay Forum

Hi there

I'm on week 6 (i think) of 5:2, lost 3.5lbs in the first 2 weeks, then nothing for the last 4 weeks....

I'm looking thinner, and my BF has come down 1% and lost a few inches.

I've been looking at some people's progress trackers and it seems common to not lose between weeks 2-5ish for a while, i'm assuming your body is just adjusting?

I keep waiting for the scale to drop again, and i'm sure it's going to happen! I just wanted to know if this is a common thing? I'm doing everything right, between 1300-2000 cals on my normal days, 500 2 days a week. Not doing any heavy exercise, just walking/pilates type stuff as normal.

I think the scales are just recalculating losing fat etc.... but I just wondered if anyone had similar stories from near the start of this WOE.

Thanks
Sue

I stalled at week 5 and didn't lose anything. As a result I decided not to weigh myself in week 6 to avoid disappointment. Weighed myself at the end of week 7 and I'd lost 6lbs in a fortnight! Still can't quite believe it! I've decided to weigh myself fortnightly from now on.

I stalled very briefly in week 5, but I put that down to an unusual week of moving around etc.

After 4 weeks of being stalled, I'd cautiously suggest that you've gone past any possible 'adjustment' period though. If you don't lose again this week, I think you need to think about changing how much you eat on your non-fast days.

You may be eating too much, or you may be eating too little. You say you eat "between 1300-2000", but that's a big old range. Is it more often near 1300, or more often near 2000?

For reference, I'm a 5'11" bloke and, on non-fast days I eat 1550 plus 2/3rds of my exercise calories, with a maximum of 2000. And I average a 2lb a week loss...

hi, thanks for the replies

I'm more often around 1300-1500 on feed days, and actually looking at the high dayss it's more like 1800-1900 which is 1 maybe 2 times a week depending, as i know it's not good to stay at the same level every day.

I can't see how i could be doing anything wrong except undereating, i'm definately not overeating, I cant eat wheat so I rarely eat carbs at all, problem is that I have a healthy diet anyway so I don't eat crisps, chocolate or anything "bad" really, and I don't drink.

On my feed days I eat when i'm hungry and I eat healthy stuff. I'm pretty sure my body is just adjusting, i've never been someone who loses a lot all at one time... and i've definately heard of this happening to others ( who dont seem to be posting here).

I lost 5.5 kg during the first 5 weeks and I've stayed on a plateau for the past seven (7!) weeks. I kind of stayed on track-ish and I trust that my scales will show a loss shortly. Perhaps this weight loss shows a sort of general pattern? Maybe one of our Learned Mods has something to say about this phenomenon. I try to console myself by saying that even if I don't lose weight, I will still have the health benefits from the calory restriction. Best of luck to all of you, maybe we should start a little party out there on our plateau

Thanks Josie, i'm pretty sure it's common, i've asked on another forum and i've had a few people say the same thing! I know people on here who've had 3-6 wk plateaus as well... I'm sure that the loss will come, i've read a lot about people losing big numbers after that...

Also like you i feel better, am thinner, lost inches and fat, so i'm definately doing something right!

Thanks

Hi

I have found that I have put on weight these past few weeks. Lost steadily for 1st five and was 12 ounces off my first stone when I put on a pound. this week I put on two. Am writing calories down this week as I don't know what has happened. I have been under a lot of stress these past few weeks so not sure whether this has had an effect. I recorded calorie intake today and was struggling to reach 1000 so had to deliberately add extra and have managed to reach 1400. If you eat too little on feast days does this have an effect on weight? Not sure what to do and feeling extremely deflated. Would really appreciate some advice.

Thanks

Robina

Hi there. I am loosing very slowly too, and the last few weeks its been a bit of a standstill, or up a pound, then down a pound. But I feel much better for the fasting, so am not going to stop. If nothing else I am more stable now. Don't give up. I am sure slowly you will see the benefits x

After I recently hit a plateau, I decided to start doing a 12 hour fast EVERY day. So after my evening meal I make a conscious note to not eat again until 12 hours later. I've been doing the 12 hour fast for about a week, and today I broke the plateau -- and I'm at my lowest weight in many many years. Also, I just want to note for anyone interested in starting the 5:2 diet, that actually I do 6:1 rather than 5:2 and it works.

[Betsysgr8]

Welcome to the forum tarheel! That's wonderful that you have found an IF method that is working for you, that's what makes this WoE so wonderful, it's flexible.

Hi, have been doing 5-2 plan for 3 weeks, lost 3lb the first 2 weeks and nothing this week, not happy about it, but reading on the forum know I will need to tweak my plan if this happens again next week. Have increased my exercise routine, and also noticed my muffin top decreasing, and that feels good. Its just good knowing you are not alone.

Please search 'Delighted:Yipee.Finally off plateau' and you will see that this same thing had happened to me adnd lots of other people. Best wishes.

I am also,struggling.lost a few kilos after about 7 weeks and this week for no reason have put on 600 g which despite two fasts won't go.
One thing I do want to say,re healthy eating,rebelsue
I ,too consider myself a healthy eater but have realised that you can eat a lot of calories despite following a healthy diet.i was eating lots of seeds,nuts,grainy bread and healthy crackers .drinking soy lattes
All can be quite fattening
Good luck
I think we just have to hang in there
Some people lose weight consistently and for others it seems to be a little harder

hi everyone, thanks for the replies.

I've decided to increase my cals a bit on the non-fast days, as i'm not eating my TDEE... i'll see if that helps. Going to moniotor and see how that goes, and I may just have a 6:1 week and see if that means it'll kick start next week....

Sarah - thanks for your comment about healthy eating, i know what you mean, but I can't eat wheat, so no crackers or breads, and I don't snack on nuts - if i do i count them 9-10 at a time maybe once a week. I've been tracking everything that I eat since Jan and the only thing i can see is that i'm maybe not eating enough, will wait and see if this week helps at all...

Additionally - the reason i put on weight was tablets from the doctor which i know people struggle to lose when they come off and can take up to a year to see loss, it's only been 6 months for me, and only now am i starting to see that maybe i can lose again, so this could also be a factor for me....

Also - if it makes any difference i've got a diploma in nutrition and i've also got a degree in Genetics and Immunology so it's interesting to see how it all works for different people...

Just got to try different things i guess

Sorry.ypu probably know more about calories than I do
For me it was quite a light bulb moment when I counted all the extra calories I was eating from seeds and nuts
I was adding them to salads and stir fry veg and not even counting them
Also I was using much too much olive oil in my cooking
For me it's snacking all the time that adds extra cals.