The FastDay Forum

Hi all
Firstly, what a great resource this is to people who are on the diet. Ive had a quick browse around and there is no shortage of inspiration or figures etc.

The reason I decided to sign up and not just browse unregistered was that, my wife and I are going to be going on the diet soon and we were all motivated and prepared sensibly by researching dishes the 2 of us would find appetising for our 2 days fasting etc, all was going well until my wife's friend called today and she has lost 16 lbs in 2 weeks on a different diet. So when I decided to check the average weekly loss on the 5:2, I couldnt help but feel a little disappointed with 1-1.5 lbs averages.
And I do not mean to discourage anyone, but feeling like this I know is not going to give me the confidence in the diet and therefore im defeated before I start.
Ive never dieted before but I think I need motivarion or reassurance before I give upbefore I start.

[Moogie]

Hi & welcome

Glad to hear you've found the site useful so far & have decided to join. Another new recruit, yay!

Firstly, losing 16lbs in 2 weeks is likely to be primarily water weight, not fat. That sort of loss is not something which could keep going at that rate and I imagine the methods used to lose it are not the sort you would want to do in the long term. Plus, think of all the nasty loose skin you'd end up with if the weight loss was so rapid and kept going like that!

A sensible, healthy rate of weight loss is by most health professionals' standards around 1lb a week of loss as I'm sure you know.

Now, on 5:2, as you'll see from the Progress Tracker if you sign up, most folks do have a greater loss in the first few weeks, which then slows down. I think most of us who have a fair amount of weight to lose (ie, a couple of stone or more) find that the first stone comes off in around 4-6 weeks. After that the losses may slow somewhat to a more steady 1lb a week, some users find it's more, a few find it's a bit less.

The great thing about this way of eating is that it doesn't leave you feeling deprived like so many other diets do. It also sort of resets the way you think about food and hunger - really quite empowering!

I've tried general calorie reduction so many times in the past, only to regain all the weight because I can't keep going without my high cal treats like chocolate, crisps, takeaways etc for the long term. We shouldn't have to if we enjoy our food.

So, two days a week I eat 500 calories - I'm not generally hungry during those days and have a huge dinner for those calories with plenty of veg and some filling protein. The rest of the week, I eat as I normally would - which includes things like biccies, chocs, takeaways etc. That said, I don't feel like snacking as often as I used to and for the most part I actually find myself wanting more healthy foods. My meals are generally very healthy but I'm not deprived in terms of the foods which many diets forbid.

Please do feel free to ask any questions you may have and we'll do our best to answer. I hope this explains a little of why 5:2 is so great. No, it's not a quick fix - but it's a way to lose weight and keep it off in the long term!

Moogie summed it up really well.

Slow weightloss is far far better for you than it coming off really fast, and your body will not sustain a loss like your wife's friend for long - even if she stays on her other diet, the chances are her weightloss will slow right down, too.

Please don't be disheartened, have you ever seen what 1lb of fat looks like? It's a big chunk for your body to lose in a week.

The great thing about this way of eating is that it doesn't leave you feeling deprived like so many other diets do. It also sort of resets the way you think about food and hunger - really quite empowering!

I've tried general calorie reduction so many times in the past, only to regain all the weight because I can't keep going without my high cal treats like chocolate, crisps, takeaways etc for the long term. We shouldn't have to if we enjoy our food.

Hi there,
I have extracted a couple of quotes from Moogie's response which totally express my view point.
I'm happy to go more slowly if the route is scenic.... what's the rush?
There is no need to deprive oneself for more than a day, on this way of eating.

[Moogie]

Thank you for all the replies, they all make logical sense and have me believing and motivated again.
We went and bought a weighing scales today in preparation for the diet. I think it must be over a year since I last weighed myself, and I can remember it was in the 11.5 st area. Well jumped on the scales today...although I knew id put a little on, seeing it in black and in front of you really brought it home to me that I need a lifestyle change. I weighed in at 12 and 3 qtr stone. I've put on a stone and a qtr in a little over a year. I'm only 30 years of age and 5 ft 6in so began to think "ehoa, that gain over x amount of future years? " ....so im ready!!!

[Moogie]

Well done on weighing in, it can be quite daunting. I didn't weigh for ages after I got married, just let myself relax into eating. Well, within a year I'd gained a little over 2 stone. Thankfully that was all lost within 6 months of 5:2. I've never known weight to come off so much quicker than it went on! Yes, it's coming off more slowly now but I'm only about 7llbs heavier than what was in my younger years my 'normal' weight.

Here's hoping 5:2 helps you the way it's helped me - and so many others here!