The FastDay Forum

I've been doing the 5:2 for 4 weeks now and been losing a small amount each week, on fast days I always come in under 500 cals and on non fast days I am sticking around 1200-1250 a day.

This week I've lost nothing and am feeling disheartened, I don't know why nothing has changed with my WOE so why no loss not even an ounce? I think I feel even worse because this week everything was great no struggles on fast days, exercised and loved it and sleeping good.

[janeg]

Hello daisykitten, it's frustrating isn't it. However, this seems to happen to quite a few folk after about a month especially if your BMI is within the normal range. I would say stick with it for another month as it will probably pick up again. You haven't changed anything and it has been working steadily up til now, so keep at it. If, after another month it's stuck, then it might be time for a shake up. Stick with it- you're doing well:)

Yes its frustrating! I had a goal but if I maintain I'll not reach it which is really disapoiinting, it is what it is though I guess.

I'll keep at it and see what happens, I have another 2 weeks until my honeymoon fingers crossed for a miracle!

Hi Daisykitten,
I'm fairly new to 5:2, but a seasoned dieter ( Weight Watchers, calorie counting etc) and there have always been fluctuations on a weekly weigh in. You lose , lose ,lose and then don't, or even worse put on a pound. You know you've done the right things, so you've probably lost fat, but may have a little water retention or similar this week. You'll probably find you catch up next week. Don't lose heart.

I think I may have gained/get stuck this week though my official weigh in is on Saturday. That is where I get my officialy confirmation. Its frustrating for sure but I know I have been doing well. We just need to bite it and ride this off I guess. In the meantime we seek solance in the forum and learn that we are not the first and not be the last to be in this position......

Hi Daisykitten

Take your measurements.... I have been doing 5:2 since the end of January and although my weight loss is not that great, about 8lbs, I have lost inches especially off my waist and boobs.
Try something on that was a little tight around your middle and I bet you will notice a difference!

Yeah I know I am not the first and I just need to plough on!

I have lost 2 inches off my waist since starting so I am hoping this is just a blip and things will pick up again soon!

Just dont give up as tempting as it may feel at times. Lord knows I've recycled the same amount of weightloss for weeks. I'm losing very very slowly and its frustrating but I'm in it for the longhaul. I'm the first to admit on feed days I will eat and eat, and eat what I like, I dont calorie count - maybe thats my downfall but if I cant eat what I want then this wont work for me. I weigh about 6lb less than when I first started 5:2 so I must be doing something half right!

Hi.

Not losing weight for one or more weeks is typical. This may explain it for you:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1006
If you want to know how much weight you might reasonably expect to lose on an ongoing basis (and how to change that number if you don't like it):
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6600

It may seem odd, but your body may have adjusted to the reduced calories you are having on normal days and now thinks that you are starving. Carorees may be able to advise a bit more on this as she has posted some really good stuff on how the body responds during diets. One of the things that 5:2 tries to do is minimise these effects by eating normally on the feed days.

I would agree with Alymoosh. You may be eating too little on your normal days, especially if you're exercising as well. Your body may start to think very little food is coming so will hold on to the weight you've got.

Check your TDEE on the tracker, and don't be afraid to eat more some days, less other days. Also, just trust that one week of staying the same won't mean you'll never lose any more weight.

Thanks everyone - I was on a work day out yesterday so my body definitely got more than 1200 calories!

You might be right I might up what I am eating on non fast days, although saying that my hubbie lost very little this week too compared to other weeks so maybe we're both doing something wrong? I'll monitor it and see how I go for a couple more weeks.

Think of it as an average calorie intake per day averaged over the week. Unless you're very small, the calorie restriction for the week should mainly come from the fast days.

People seem to double-count calorie restrictions. Less food doesn't always equate to more weight-loss.

I think because I have been using MFP fo so long now I am just used to only having the 1200 it specifies for me to have, its a hard habit to break as I still log everything I eat on there.

But that's expecting you to have 1200 cals every day, you're 1400 down on that so you can add 280 cals to each feed day and still be within the calorie limit set by it for the week.

It's my opinion that it's not enough to function properly in the long-run, check your BMR ??, if you both fast and calorie restrict but it's up to you what you do...