The FastDay Forum

Hey Bruce

I look forward to the fasts as like the 'control' of not eating until the evening. Can't say I've had any noticeable mood swings throughout but I've never been heavily reliant on carbs & I think it's carb withdrawal that takes a toll in the early days.

"Gut Watch", like it. What I do find is that I notice the Gut more as weight drops (I lose from top of belly downwards) so rather than an all-over-ball, I get more noticeable gut wobble. Or maybe that's just my warped perception...

Sneak.... sneak.....sneak..... sneak.....

Couldn't resist a nose, that is all!

HOWEVER (and more importantly) there are clearly other benefits to Intermittent Fasting other than weight loss, which need some ongoing discussion. For me, at least, the psychology of WHY we eat so much, being one of them.

Absolutely agree. I was just pointing out that there has been very little research done into the long-term effects of the 5:2. From what I have read (thanks to this fantastic forum) it appears that there is nothing definitive and the rest is mainly anecdotal at this point. However, the principle reason for most people trying the 5:2 will be weight loss and collectively we have proven that it is an efficient way to do that. On its own this brings many health benefits and I am excited to see what other long-term effects there may be in the future.

Fascinating stereotypical stuff. Compare this guys' thread with for example, (choosing one at random), viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3934 .

Yes we guys can't be ar*ed about what dress size we fit into.

Frankly I think I look pretty good in any of them...

Good for you, Dominic! Any particular preference in short or long dresses?

Hi

Good to see a post for us men trying the 5.2.

I have lost 9 pounds in ten weeks and even on the weeks I have not lost anything I still feel motivated to carry on.

I have wondered for a while if it would be a good idea to split the progress section into men and women, but I was not sure if there were enough men here to make it worth while maybe that is something that could be looked in to.

Anyway good luck to everyone male or female.

Martin

Hello all,
I started 5:2, like many others not only to lose weight, but for the other health benefits. I've also started doing H.I.I.T training for the the same reasons. I think 5:2 appeals to me because there are somethings I just don't want to give up in order to live a healthier life, like beer and roast beef sandwiches. Although I have modified my eating habits for the healthier I still like eating the bad stuff.

I'm almost to the end of week three, tomorrow will be my sixth fast day. I haven't found the fast days to be very difficult I drink about 4L of water and spread 500 calories from 10-10. Usually 100 cals of fruit at 10 am, 300 cals of protein and vegetables at 6 pm, and then another 100 cals of fruit before 10 pm. I would like to start doing 36hrs no food fasts at some point, but my willpower just isn't there yet.

Six years ago I quit smoking after twenty-nine years. Since then I've been steadily packing on the pounds, at one point weighing over 300lbs. I was able to bring my weight down to around 255lbs by using portion control and trying to eat healthier but was unable to reduce it any further.

I look at 5:2 as a life style change not just a diet. I like the way fasting makes me feel, and I plan to continue fasting twice a week even after I reach my target weight.

Hi Redcam, I am so happy that you are joining us. Big hug, you have a lot of weight to lose, and I really hope you take all the advice and experience here on board. This is a really good place to come with all sorts of ??? and just to let off steam, so hopefully it is the start of something meaningful for yourself

<opens door, pulls up a chair, burps, cracks open a tinny, leans over and farts>

Hi guys, room for a little'un?

Been on this now since Mid March and at the end of the week I'm hoping to have lost a stone although the health benefits is the big reason for me, living longer, fending off nasty things happening inside and delaying any onset of Alzh.......where was I again?

My two repair days are nothing between consecutive evening meals other than drinks and certainly not 5L worth I'd probably drown!

Great to see us blokes sharing man hugs and here's to a healthier and longer life

Men motivational tip number 2.

You know that windy feeling after a curry and cobra? The better in than out bloated one??

I bet you could do without that beauty until Christmas.

Crack on lads, you'll be in budgie smugglers by August.

My wife and I started 5:2 on the 8th of April having seen the Horizon show on the 4th (when it screened in the USA). I had a couple of observations from my first 5 fasts:-

1. The only times I have had any difficulty is in the evenings when I usually would eat more than needed and have a couple of glasses of red.

2. I have found it easier on a Monday when I do a vigorous yoga class at 5:30pm - on the 3 Monday evenings so far I have been less hungry than on the two Thursdays so I am wondering if the exercise has anything to do with it?

3. On fast days I feel colder at night and need an extra blanket on the bed (normally I am never cold in bed). Does anyone else have this symptom?

4. I am not sleeping well the night of a fast - I feel strangely wired like I have a caffeine overload (but that is not the reason). Does anyone else get this feeling?

5. While I am going to bed a little hungry and not sleeping well on fast days when I wake up I do not feel hungry and have a lot energy - on Tuesdays I do a morning yoga class and have lots of energy and don't eat b'fast until after yoga which ends up being about 10am.

Thanks

Hi all, this is my first week of 5:2 and I'm on day 3. Early days yet but I did 2 consecutive fasts to kick it off.

Next week I'm going to do Monday and Weds, not because I found 2 days difficult with hunger but I'm trying to see what fit's in naturally.

Anyhow's first post and all that .. been slowly losing weight by eating less over the last 18 months and shed about 2 stone. Hoping the 5:2 will make it easier for the final 3 to my target !

Cheers
Si

Great to see the new posts here and a special welcome to forum for newcomers Martin (mealmond40), Radcam, allanr54 and Simmer!

Martin, re men having a section here to themselves, I think the view here has been that everything is open to everyone and we don't create ghettoes, though arguably the maintenance section is a slight exception. Let's see how it goes, I think for the moment this topic is our 'section'. Not much privacy though, as you may have noticed...

I look at 5:2 as a life style change not just a diet. I like the way fasting makes me feel, and I plan to continue fasting twice a week even after I reach my target weight.

Yes I think that's key and I plan the same, whether as a modified 5:2 or as 6:1 or a mixture. No point just yo-yoing, we all know we will put on weight if we just go back to the 'old days'. Some people here are already on maintenance, I am looking forward to joining them soon (I hope) but also a bit apprehensive because with weight loss it is just a matter of the direction of travel but with maintenance you have to 'ride the tiger'. We shall see...

been slowly losing weight by eating less over the last 18 months and shed about 2 stone. Hoping the 5:2 will make it easier for the final 3 to my target

Good work, Si! 5:2 should definitely help not least because eating normally on the 5 days helps to keep your metabolism up. Still our TDEE falls as our weight falls, so we have to adjust to eating somewhat less, period, as I'm sure you already know.

I had a couple of observations from my first 5 fasts

allanr54, I echo most of what you said. However I'm sorry to say that having two glasses of red on a fast day is a bit of a luxury. I'm guessing they must be at least 250 calories and could be more. Technically okay if within the 600 but most of us find it better to save the booze for the feed days! Also alcohol impacts on compliance (translation: when you are pi**ed you do bad stuff such as eating more) - as you found!

However I agree with you about exercise making us less hungry, about being colder on fast days (exercise helps with this in the short term) - it's a sign of lowered metabolism IMO, and about not being hungry on the morning after a fast day - all of these are common (but not universal) among 5:2ers.

I haven't noticed that I sleep worse on a fast night, though I have seen this mentioned. I have a tendency to wake early anyway and set off a topic on this subject, but don't think in my case that it is connected with fasting per se. Might be affected by when you are consuming your 600 calories - I have all mine in the evening, if you spread them over the day then maybe you don't get the 'post-prandial nap' effect at bedtime.


Interesting that all(?) the men here (including me, originally) started 5:2 before posting here, many women post here as or before they start. Perhaps they are just a bit less shy than us, or we just get on with stuff and talk about it less!? Or is this just more stereotyping?

Or is this just more stereotyping?

Yes.

LOL!