The FastDay Forum

Totally new gal here. My Old Man and i are starting the diet tomorrow--at least that's our first fast day. But i've been researching and gathering info all weekend, including reading the book (except for the meal plans--which i plan to read today) anyway, question: i've been trolling about looking for info about the 2pm to 2pm fast day--does anyone do it? it sounds more appealing to me as i am NOT a big breakfast eater and think i would have a better chance of "being good" going from dinner to lunch for a fast. Thoughts?

[Moogie]

Hi & welcome

There has been a lot of debate about the 2pm-2pm method and I think it depends somewhat on whether you are doing this for the weight loss or health benefits. Weight loss wise you will probably not lose as much weight doing this method as the calorie deficit is greatly reduced.

The problem with the '1 sleep' version (eg 2pm-2pm) is that you're only really missing out on a dinner and a breakfast (since most people would take to having a late lunch after 2pm the next day), and if you consume your 500 cals during that period you're not really missing out much food at all - maybe half a dinner?!

On the other hand if you were to do a total fast for those 24 hours, ie no calories at all from 2pm to 2pm you should notice a better effect.

Most of us here are doing the 2 sleeps version, as was originally described in the documentary and are having great success with it. Indeed many of us actually fast for 24 hours with 0 cals from dinner the night before until dinner on the fast day, when we then consume all our cals as one good sized meal.

The keystone to 5:2 however is its flexibility, which in turn is the root of its sustainability in the long term. If you can do the 1 sleep version, achieve your weight loss/health goals and find that it's a method you feel you can stick to in the long term then that's fantastic and you should keep doing it like that!

All the best to you and your Old Man whatever method you decide to use