The FastDay Forum

Does anyone use chia seeds? I normally have a teaspoon on my peanut butter toast in the mornings and I find they help to fill me up. Wondering if I could just try a teaspoon of them with water? It would only be about 20-25 calories.

Also, do people chew sugar free gum? I know it's not totally calorie-free but is it oK?

Hi, I'm also from the States - yes, I think chia seeds are fine, mixed into any drink or broth/bouillion - if you let them soak for a while, they will soak up some liquid and become quite jelly-like and be filling. Just count the calories.

As for gum, there's no reason why not . . except it might make you feel more hungry on fast days!!

Good luck with your 5:2. There are not many followers in the U.S. yet and we should stick together!!!

Hello Pumisimo. If this WOE is to be sustainable, it needs to fit into our lifestyle...completely. I chew SF gum regularly after a coffee because my job entails me consulting with people all the time, so my breath needs to be fresh. And I've lost weight. Win-win. Good luck!

I add them in smoothies to keep me full a while longer, but not on fast days. Just don't use lots as while they're full of good stuff, a tablespoon still has 70 or so calories!

They are pretty obscure in the UK but you can get them online from Amazon and other places (don't get them from Holland & Barrett as they're ridiculously overpriced - as are most other 'fashionable' health foods in that place ).