The FastDay Forum

So, after 5:2ing since the end of March, losing no weight and actually putting on weight(!), and all the mental anguish that comes with that, I've finally figured out that I'm eating too much (and going mad at weekends).

So I recalculated my TDEE/fasting calories, started the 30 Day Shred, and am setting off with this new plan. I was close to giving up, but now I have a spreadsheet and everything, plus some renewed vigour.

25% of my TDEE actually puts me at 416 calories or so - I've heard mixed advice about whether we should go below 500 calories at all, so I'm going to continue at 416 and see how I go.

Wish me luck!

Good Luck Beeswax! You can do it!!!! I know you can!!!!!

[Tracieknits]

Wishing you lots of luck!!!!

I've been stuck in a two-month rut with pretty much no weight loss -- only to discover my thyroid levels are still low. If your new plan doesn't work, it might be worth getting your bloodwork done.

Thanks both! Freezing here (and hungry) but determined. Tracie - I may well get my thyroid checked as I have some of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism, but to be honest I suspect it's partially due to my habit of eating too many Magnums (Magni?) at the weekend... ahem.

Everyone is a bit different, but I know for myself, I don't lose weight if I overindulge on feed days. I've learned to try and not exceed my general suggested TDEE amounts on top of two strict fast days a week, in order to lose my 1 and a half pounds a week on average.

I have a problem with some of the claims made for this program, which suggest you can eat whatever you want on feed days and still lose weight steadily. For myself, at least, and many others [given what I read here on the forums] that just doesn't seem to be true. While some may lose doing that, many don't. We have to be sensible and not believe in magic.

Having said that, if one isn't losing at all, even with fasting days, it's a good idea to see a physician and have some blood work done.

[janeg]

Good luck Beeswax- that sounds like a plan. I've just done day 1 of the 30 day shred and survived. I'm not losing much weight and have a plan of action similar to yours. Giving it a month and then re-evaluate. We'll see how we get on eh?

I have a problem with some of the claims made for this program, which suggest you can eat whatever you want on feed days and still lose weight steadily. For myself, at least, and many others [given what I read here on the forums] that just doesn't seem to be true. While some may lose doing that, many don't. We have to be sensible and not believe in magic.

Eating normally on feed days, means sticking to guidelined calorific intake and not over indulging. If you over indulge, you will not loose weight and possibly gain. It's pretty much common sense - no disrespect intended on your statement

What I did was wiiiiildly overestmate my TDEE, then seriously underestimate what I was eating every day, then went a bit nuts at the weekend. So the new plan (with adjusted TDEE) is to eat slightly under my TDEE on non-fast days to allow me to go a *little* mad (although not mad-mad, if that makes sense) at the weekend. Plus starting up the old exercise again.

I do think "eat whatever you like" is a bit misleading though. What I'd *like* to do is take up residence in a stack of pizzas - that's why I'm in this mess in the first place. "Eat whatever you like within your TDEE" might be a bit more helpful for those of us whose common sense is well-intended but squiffy.

Beeswax, I have been doing 400cal on fast days as my TDEE is around 1650. There are times when I do go up to 500 but generally speaking I stick to around 400. Wishing you well on your new plan, I do hope it works well for you.

As for the statement that you can eat whatever you want on your feed days. I think it needs the little addition of - you can eat whatever you want on your feed days up to your TDEE.

So there is no reason why someone may not have pizza, or in my case chocolate and even better chocolate cake, or any cake really or now that I am thinking about it farinaceous food in general be it savoury or sweet but if I go and eat 1000 cals of cake then I have about 650cals left for my other meals.

So I think that especially for those who are new to this WOL the eat to your TDEE point needs to be made more strongly.

Good to hear you can survive on 400cal, TheFrog! Thanks

JaneG, well done on day 1 of the Shred! We're in this together, I think.

Good luck, Beeswax!
I'm sticking to 500 even if the 25% of my TDEE is 460 but I try to not eat more than my TDEE with the exception of 2-3 times per month or if it's a holiday.

Sounds like you have an excellent approach TML. Thanks for the good wishes - sending them back to you!

I haven't lost any weight and as of today, I'm up a few pounds. It's good to know I"m not the only one. I, too, might be having too much fun on weekends. I just did two fast days in a row.

A week ago, I got a Fitbit Flex - http://www.fitbit.com/ I walk about 5000 steps at work but I try not think about them. I get an email when I hit my goals and that's really nice. I did 15,000 steps yesterday.

Hi Beeswax,

I consider that 5:2 has been spectacularly successful for me but it hasn't always been that way. I almost gave up more than once due to no weight loss AT ALL FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS AT THE BEGINNING! I can remember how disheartening it was, to say nothing of depressing but for some obscure reason I kept going, something I have NEVER done with a failing diet before. I Just felt so good and I was hoping to get the long term health benefits even if I couldn't lose weight. Then it started, very slowly then it stopped very suddenly, more depression, then it started again and as I've adapted to it it just got easier and easier and I am now 7 lbs below my target weight.

So, the moral of the story is, DON'T GIVE UP!!!!! You WILL get there, honest

Ballerina x

I have been lucky with 5:2, by deciding to leave all my allowance of calories for my evening meal I quickly learned to cope with being empty/hungry and that lesson seemed to kill my requirement to snack or eat crap stone dead within a week. I have had a week of eating chocolate cake when our son came home at Easter and made a huge sugary dense monster thing that dragged on for ages but apart from that - no crisps, no biscuits, nothing between meals. I just do not get hungry for junk, despite upping exercise levels considerably.
I agree that the "eat anything you like" message is misleading - the requirement should be to eat a sensible balanced diet with sufficient nutrients, and not sugar/flour confections that can only be bad news for health generally - researching nutrition online has opened my eyes to the latest thoughts on the modern diet and the national recommendations from UK and US governments and hopefully it is not too late for changes in my diet to be effective...