The FastDay Forum

New to forum, in fact have never posted in any forum! Been following 5:2 for 9 weeks though and have lost 11lbs so far. Really pleased as I've been carrying about 5 stones extra weight for far too long. Am looking forward to becoming overweight instead of obese, that's my first goal and hoping to get there by the summer. Not finding this the quickest results, but do think it's the most sustainable weight loss in the long term and hoping some repair is going on at the same time! I have two children and the youngest is 6 months so now is the time to focus on looking after myself and my health! Hoping to get to know you all better

[Moogie]

Hi & welcome Mariposa!

It's great that 5:2 is working for you and as you say the important thing is that this way of eating is sustainable in the long term - the weight may not be coming off as quickly as you like, but what other diet allows you to eat as normal 5 days a week and still watch the scales go down?

How do you do your fasts? Do you split your calories into several meals? Do you do the '1 sleep' or '2 sleeps' version? Just wondering if there's anything we could suggest to help give your loss a bit of a boost as with quite a lot to lose you may be able to shift some of it a bit quicker by changing the way you do your fasts.

Welcome to the forum Mariposa!
I'm new to this forum too...and to 5:2, this is only my third fast. I've lost 4lb this week, which is really great, but I don't think it will continue like that, I only ever shed weight really slowly. I have about the same amount to lose as you. Congrats on what you've managed so far! I hope I can have lost as much weight as you in 9 week's time!

After a bit of tweaking I now save my calories for dinner, although I am a little stuck in a rut with what I eat on a fast day, I fast from 8pm until the morning after the fast day. Can definitely feel the results and my trousers and belt are looser! Having so much to lose does make me worry about losing too quickly and ending up with saggy skin so for now I'm happy with the slow and steady loss. I have had the odd week where I've thrown in an extra day of fasting until dinner, but not calorie counting food and wondering whether to try and do this more regularly on top of the two fast days, don't think I could manage a 4:3 as feels it would interfere too much with family time/meals etc. back to work from maternity leave in a couple of weeks and so will be interesting to see how fasting and work goes! Good news is my boss is on the 5:2 as well so there will be someone else in the same boat!
Thanks for the welcome

Hi Becca, 4lbs every week would be amazing! When the doctor pointed out I have 5 stone to lose it was a little disheartening, guess there aren't any real quick fixes, but other diets have left me hungry every day whereas this one just leaves me hungry 2 days which seems to suit me, I've even got to the point where it just seems part of my routine and have managed to meet up with others at cafes and just had a black coffee without having to explain. I've found mixed responses from others so until the weight loss starts being noticed (by others and not just my mum!) I'll be keeping low key about it! Anyway, good luck with your journey and keep me posted!

First fast day, just heard of this plan for the first time 3 days ago. I'm excited to see the results.

Hi I am new too and finding this website useful. I only lost 1.5lbs in my first week but had been doing weight watchers since middle of jan and have now lost 12lbs. I am combining ww on my feast days as I too have 5 stones to go. On my third fast day and mucked it up as I wasnt going to do it got to 530 cals m thought no lets just do this! Struggling so far!

[carorees]

Queenie, I wouldn't combine ww and 5:2. First eating below your normal calorie needs (i.e. TDEE) does not seem to improve weight loss and second, low carb rather than low fat is likely to improve the effects of fasting. Cutting calories on feed days just intensifies the body's attempts to make you eat more and fall off the programme!

Hello I'm just into my 5th week of 5:2. I started last year after the Horizon programme but was doing 2 consecutive days and found this too hard. After reading the book I realised that I could spread the days and I am finding this much more manageable. I am also doing the NHS Couch Potato to 5k programme and I'm generally feeling much perkier than I have in a long while. Good luck to everyone

Thanks for advice I have been fine so far, not depriving myself just dont want to binge eat as thisis why I reached my weight. I devide my extra 49 pts over 5 days which gives me 42 points to eat daily. This is arround 1600 ccalories, I will continue for a month and then reevaluate if I do not seem to be loosing lbs xx

Hi, I started today. It was sooo hard. I have felt very lightheaded all day, which was really difficult as I was at work. I have just had my evening "meal" and still feel light headed. Very encouraged by your other posts. I'm off to bed now so that I don't have to think about food!!! I hope it gets easier and the light headedness goes.