The FastDay Forum

So I completed my first four weeks on the 5:2 diet yesterday. I weighed myself today, I've lost 4.5lbs since I started and I'm well chuffed.

I can't begin to praise this diet, or rather WOL, enough. I've done diets before - I managed to lose a stone on WW many years ago - but I've never been able to stick to them and have always put the weight back on. It's clear to me now that it's because these other diets have not been sustainable long term. They may be for other people but do you know what? I LIKE pizza, and potatoes, and bread, and cake, and chocolate (actually I LOVE chocolate ) and I don't want to live my life never eating them again, or 'caving in' and eating them only to feel guilty and then 'falling off the wagon'.

Since I started the 5:2 I've been to Pizza Express with my family, I've had takeaway curries, I've 'helped' my children eat their Easter Eggs and I've had hot cross buns.

Not only that, I've really enjoyed the fast days. I allow myself about 100 calories for the milk in my tea (I CANNOT do without it) and then go through to my dinner. Thanks to the Hairy Dieters book I cook a meal that my husband and kids can enjoy too and I savour every mouthful!

Unlike things like low carb, which I considered before 5:2, I can see this as being a long term plan. Hopefully I'll lose all the weight I need to and then I can follow MM's lead and move onto a 6:1 maintenance. Then if I blow-out at Christmas or on holiday I can go back to 5:2 for the short term just to get myself back to where I want to be.

I really must thank my mum who started 5:2 first and encouraged me to join her!

Sarah/Noddy

Well done noddy!

Sounds like you're doing well and have a really good attitude towards food and the 'diet'. I agree with you, that it seems sustainable as a Way of Eating, rather than a diet. I was looking at another website and the 5;2 people were going on about restricting calories etc and were really obsessed with food and eating.

How much are you wanting to lose? Or is it more a health thing?

Congratulations on your weight loss, noddy! Like you, I love my carbs and this WOE suits me really well. It's a great feeling knowing that I now have a manageable WOE which will allow me to get rid of the remainder of my excess weight and then, most importantly, keep it off!

Well done, Sarah. I'm only a week behind you and like you I think it's a great way of life to follow. I think you can manage anything for a day and then you can go back to the foods you enjoy. Good luck with the rest of your plan!

Thanks everyone! Basketcase, it's definitely a weight thing - I have an initial goal of 28lbs and then I'll see after that. As it's something I plan to do long term I might just see what weight I get down to. The health side sounds really interesting too. One of the things that's worried me about the fact that we're all living longer is that dementia is on the rise. If 5:2 helps with that it would be great - I'll pop my clogs at the age of 90 with all my marbles and with a huge bar of chocolate in my hand

Great thread, well done!