The FastDay Forum

Hi there, thought I'd say hello and see if I can find any folk in a similar situation to myself.


I have tried to lose weight but had the usual difficulties, I've just managed to sneak my BMI in under 30 (29.7 - hey that point-three makes a difference ) for the first time in a long time but am now interested to see if a 5:2 diet can work for me to get myself in to a healthy zone.

My wife is going to give it a go too as she fancies shedding a little, although she had doughnuts at work today whereas I've started today

I think finding edible, simple to prepare meals is going to be key for me - I don't like to faff in the kitchen, so finding a small number of tasty but simple meals will be more important than a never-ending list of different dishes I reckon.

All the best to my fellow fasters,
DadOfTwo

Hello, DadofTwo. Just thought that I would say hello and wish you well on your first fast day. Neither my husband or I are in your situation but we do both need to lose some weight and are being successful with this WOE (Way Of Eating). 5:2 seems to have more men following it than would usually be found at regular slimming clubs. I think it may be because it isn't a faff to follow it and it easily fits around your regular lifestyle. Having said that, I think that's why so many women are also doing it!

I would suggest that you use the forum for advice, encouragement and support. The search facility will help you find information on specific things, as will the FAQ area. We are generally a friendly bunch and you never need to be afraid to ask for help. It's also very useful to read the posts when you feel the hunger pangs - although best to avoid the recipes at that time! There are recipes in the Fast Diet book, if you have that, and many available online. I don't use recipes so I can't help you with those. I am more of a 'make it up as you go along' cook, I'm afraid!

Hope the rest of your day goes well. Keep us informed of your progress - and your wife's too!

good luck Dad and mrs dad
hope you find this easy and it helps with the lowering of blood pressure etc for you

its a friendly place with lots of advice and some recipes but there are many easy low cal ones on the web too
some of my favs are chicken breast and stir fry veg, omlettes are good too and if you can get a taste for it -Quorn is pretty useful -a whole cottage pie i think is about 400 cals and its lots

jeniben

Hello, good to have you on board. I have high blood pressure too and am hoping this WOL will help to get it down. There are some excellent recipes in the latest Hairy Bikers latest book, I think it's called the Hairy Dieters which is family friendly. Their recipes are very straightforward, no faffing about, and they have tweaked lots of familiar and traditional foods to give low calorie versions, but still very tasty.Best of luck to you and your mrs.

Thank you for the welcome folks
I looked-up a couple of interesting-looking recipes from links to various places from this forum - tonight I'll try a Mexican Chicken one. I did discover when I popped out for the ingredients that mooching about a supermarket with a rumbling tummy probably isn't the best plan in future though

The Missus is trying to get me on to Oatbran for breakfast, so will try that later in the week.
Thanks again

Hello 40 something Dad
I am also a 40 something (Mum) of 2. I recently started 5:2 and am hoping to create a new WOE which results in shedding a few kilos - well actually 15 kilos!

I like 5:2 because it fits in with my family life particularly well. On fasting days, I eat 100 cals for a light breakfast with one daughter before school and then I save 400 cals for an evening meal with the family.

The kids favourite is beans on toast (lol). Half a can of Heinz Baked Bean and 2 slices of my local supermarkets low cal wholemeal bread is 235 calories. Easy for you, the wife and the kids for tea. I also eats lots of salad which my kids love.

I hope that you all get into the swing as easily as we have and may we all lose some weight and gain the health benefits along the way!

Kelly

Hi DadOfTwo, if you don't want to faff in the kitchen then this plan will suit you fine. There are some great recipes on this forum and Hairy Dieters recipes are good too; however I prefer to keep it even more simple. I fast on Monday and Thursday. On Mondays, we have always eaten Sunday Roast leftovers anyway so I would have maybe some soup at lunchtime and then eat some leftover meat and some veg for evening. On Thursdays, again soup for lunch and for dinner just have some scrambled eggs with a mixed greed salad (while OH scoffs his takeaway kebab!). Enjoy and good luck!

Well I made it through Day 1 and I'm happy to note that all of the comments both on here and in the book about hunger pangs being brief rather than a day-long-pain are true

Hi, I have just signed up to this site. Have been doing the 5 2 for just over 2 months now and have lost around 10 - 11 lbs - I'm 39 and a bloke ! Starting weight 15 stone 2 lbs and I am 5 ft 9 and a bit so quite overweight verging on obese . Am now 14'4 (sometinmes 14'6 as my downward weight fluctuates) and am keen to get to around 12 ' 6 if possible by the summer - fingers crossed. I have not yet deviated from 600 cals on my fast days and have done 18 of them I think . I started by having a breakfast of around 200 - 300 calories (usually eggs and maybe a slice of toast) but have now found that not eating until the evening and having all 600 cals in one go is far easier for me personally (not easy at all but you know what I mean!!) Good luck with it DadofTwo and stick with it. My weight does fluctuate but is definitely going down!

[carorees]

Hi Neilo and welcome to the forums!

Good to know the 5:2 way of life is suiting you. It's interesting how so many people gravitate to the one meal on a fast day method. I have tried having a mini-lunch just to check and it made absolutely no difference to how hungry I was in the afternoon so I felt it was wasted calories really!

DadofTwo, the knowledge that hunger really does pass is so empowering isn't it?

Hi DadofTwo - just to say welcome and do truly hope that 5:2 works for you and your wife. I've been on this since November, together with OH. He's managed to shed 2 stone in weight and me just over 1 stone. It's a slow and steady decrease, which I'm more than happy with. It's just so easy and adaptable and fits in with life so easily. Do hope it works for you and look forward to hearing your progress !

mooching about a supermarket with a rumbling tummy probably isn't the best plan in future though

The Missus is trying to get me on to Oatbran for breakfast, so will try that later in the week.

Neither is watching Masterchef!

Try Quaker Oat So Simple porridge. Two minutes in the microwave, and made with water it's only 135 calories. A Fast Day classic!

Cheers - Tim.

Hi been of this fast diet for 5 weeks now and I am very fit but very little lost of weight!!!!! It just makes me grumpy and I over eat on none fast days, plus a headache!!! The gym I go to has so many people on this diet it's unreal some have lost around the middle and some like me no difference!!!

If you hadn't just joined , I'd say you were my husband! He too is 40 something and we have two boys.

We started in January and hubby has gone from nudging just under nineteen stone to a few pounds over seventeen. He also has high blood pressure and is on medication. He last had his bloods done just before Christmas so it will be interesting when he is next called for them (no more frequently than every six months)

His typical diet day now is 100cal worth of zero fat natural yoghurt for breakfast, an apple mid afternoon and then we have our main calories at teatime usually in the form of a stir fry or ramen. We are finding that going low carb works best for us on diet days.

He's also proud to say that a packet of crisps hasn't passed his lips since he started (he used to have a daily packet during the working week)

There are some useful ideas in the recipe section on here. I started one on eating with the kids which others have contributed to.