The FastDay Forum

I am starting 5:2 tomorrow and I am thinking of drinking 2 slimfast a day on my fasting days which would add up to the 500 calories....has anyone tried doing it this way?

[Tracieknits]

Welcome to the forums!!

I personally would not.

1st, I don't do well when I eat breakfast. For me, and many others on this forum, eating breakfast seems to turn on our hunger. If I don't eat breakfast, my hunger during the day is much more manageable. I do much better if I wait and then have a nice, big 500 calorie dinner.

2nd, I don't think slimfast shakes are a good idea because the ingredient list scares me. I prefer to avoid foods that have so many chemicals and artificial additives.

But technically, you can have 500 calories of whatever, split up however you want in a day. So you're not breaking any rules by doing 2 slimfast shakes.

I have a big bowl of homemade soup or a fresh supermarket soup, not canned. It tastes delicious and has to be better for you than a chemical milkshake do you not think?

A homemade omelette with salad also delicious and less than 400 cals.

Slim fast may be easy but personaly I think I'd find it hard to fast all day knowing that's all I had to look forward to at the end of the day?

[Moogie]

There are certainly healthier and more filling ways of using your calories, but if you choose to do slim fast that's up to you. Personally - having done slim fast a couple of times in my life - I'd stay well clear of them! Vile things and full of rubbish I'd rather not put in my body

Agree with all of the above, slim fast may be easier but I do think you'll be more satisfied and enjoy it more if you're eating real food, and get more health benefits too.

Has the advantage of high levels of minerals, vitamins etc that would be a nightmare to try to match with food at a low calorie level.

Hi sentwithtic....and welcome
wotever you do ...keep us posted on how its going....
personally Im doing this as a WOL....for all the health benefits...which for me will include weight loss...I cannt see myself drinking any shakes twice a week for the rest of my life...I'd rather retrain my body to eat normally and as healthy as I can...
If you dont like the idea of calorie counting or cooking there are those on site that have mentioned they use WW meals etc...I dont know if these are any healthier?
I just love the challenge of seeing how tasty a meal I can make using fresh veg/chicken/fish etc and still staying inside my 500kcal....there are some good recipes in the Hairy Bikers diet book and also on the good food site if you want ideas.
good luck with your first day no matter what you decide

Thank you all for your replies and so many so quickly! Really pleased! Im thinking maybe you are all right and I will try the one meal of 500 cal! Any recipe ideas would be much appreciated lol x

Think I saw on one of the threads a link to downloading the Hairy Bikers diet book for free.......
but there are loads of recipes online
I keep 45kcal for my milk allowance for my tea throughout the day
dont have breakfast...tried that at the beginning but it just started my hunger pangs!
For lunch I would have a fresh home made veg soup
and dinner could be a spanish omelette or a nice piece of salmon and salad...or a ham salad (pkt ham is around 22kcal per slice)
veg stir fry with some soy sauce( light) and a little chopped chicken breast is also one of my favourites
good luck tomorrow....and it does get easier!
Try to keep your carb levels down on your fast days

Hi sentwithtlc, and welcome to the forum. I must agree with everyone else and say that personally I wouldn't go for the Slimfast. You'd be better off eating some nutritious food. You get 'a lot of bang for your buck' eating fish and fresh veg. I have half a tin of tuna in brine and a salad dressed with balsamic vinegar and it come to just 132 kcals. It's filling and healthy and makes me feel like I've had something satisfying and tasty.

[Tracieknits]

There's a recipe section of the forum filled with lots of ideas

DO IT... I can't eat on a fast day as I don't stop and trips to the kitchen or fridge are danger to me... I now find if I do two optislim shakes 12 hrs apart and lots of water, herbal tea. I manage. I do one before lunch and one before bed.
I tried eating but its hopeless... I just end up with extra eggs, fish prawns salad whatever.... Also sports people on v restricted diets spend a lot of time drinking protein shakes... and they do have minerals and vitamins in. I would search the net for those which are really good nutritionally.
They can be super good when you are in a rush rather than eating junk food. Not all of us like to cook or can be bothered to cart salad around...

I never felt full with slimfast shakes, but you must do whatever works for you. I know that I am getting many more nutrients after starting to fast as I eat much better than I used to. There is no harm in trying slimfast for a day and food for another fast and see what works best for you.

I don't have an opinion on slimfast but there is something that I feel I must add: The reason why after breaky we feel hungry is because our metabolism starts to work. I know that hunger on fast days is not a good idea (LOL) but don't count it as a bad thing. The best way to kickstart a metabolism is having breakfast!

tried food again on fast day yesterday!!!! ahhhh! over ate!!!! will stick to lunch and bed optislim.... shakes and tons of water and green tea.... have found that I'm gravitating to more carbs and junk on feed days I'm doing alternate days to kick start winter gain... but early days and I dare say I will come back to sensible habits... clearing the house of crap does help....