The FastDay Forum

I have been done 4 fasts now, so decided to write down my thoughts so far, to start a progress report. I started cutting down calories with MFP at the begining of the year, so I'm going to jot down how they compare.

I have gained weight so far on 5:2, but I know its early days. I fast on the days I go into work, as other commitments would make it difficult on 'home' days. I am yet to feel any reduction in appetite, and feel hungry both on fast days and on feast days when I eat plentifully. I'm going to calorie count my feast days, so I have more accurate picture of what I'm consuming. I keep carbs low most of the time.

Advantages of daily calorie control
I was losing weight on it
I can eat with my colleagues at work

Advantages of 5:2
Principle of dieting on days I work, so I can be relaxed at weekend really appeals
Health benefits (although they are long term, so dont have an immediate attraction)
It fits in with my belief we should more naturally, so go for periods without food

Tricky week this week - I can't see how I can manage 2 days fasting, so I'll be doing 6:1, with a real struggle to calorie limit on the 6 days, as I've got a lot of going out to do. I'll have to practice my new found ability to skip meals to make sure I keep under my weekly limit

Hi Minum, I'm really sorry to hear you are struggling with 5:2. How were you eating your cals on the fasting days? Most people who do it for any period of time seem to conclude that it is best to try to keep most of the calories to the evening. It's psychologically comforting to feel that you have that 'reward' ahead of you, it may be healthier (as you have a longer real fasting period), and having small feeds (breakfast, lunch etc) seems to trigger worse munchies! Just a thought...

Hello Minum
I am also sorry you are having difficulty with this way of eating. I like you have completed four fasts & over the two weeks have lost inches & two pounds . I also calorie counted before starting 5:2. On fast days I eat one meal in the evening because I have found the moment I eat food I feel hungry, it is almost as though my body now prefers fast mode. But I think it takes time for our bodies to adapt to a new way of eating. On eating day I still try to keep below 1500 calories. A typical day would be a cereal breakfast usually two shredded wheat or weetabix with Oatley (oat milk) microwaved to warm it. Soup & whole meal bread for lunch & then supper of protein & veg with some rice, pasta or new potatoes & fruit or fruit jelly. I have coffee throughout my day & try to drink plenty of water. I try not to eat anything between meals because it seems to make me hungry & have a drink instead between meals.
Are you eating often on eating days? Perhaps it is that making you feel hungry & perhaps your calorie intake has increased because of that?
Good luck for your next week & do keep going!
Isis

Thank you both for your kind words. I am having one meal on fast days, at night, and high in protein. I think I will have to cut down more on what I eat on feed days, despite my increased exercise.

I don't snack on feed days, and try to stay low carb, other than all-bran for breakfast. I have eggs for lunch, meat for dinner, and veg or salad with both meals. I drink water and loads of black tea, but at the weekends, I do have wine.

Will see how it goes next week, hopefully appetite will be down, along with my weight !

Hello Minum
You sound as though you are doing all the right things, it may just be your body is still adjusting to the new regime.
Good luck next week.
Isis

Sounds like you should be doing very well, your approach seems practically perfect. Stick with it and I think the results will come through. Good luck!

"Practically Perfect" makes me sound like Mary Poppins

Hurrah !!

First weight loss today. V. pleased.

Fast went well yesterday and I'm going to continue till lunchtime as I cant manage a second fast this week.

Feeling much more optimistic about 5:2 today.

Well done Minum
Sometimes we just have to stick in there & try to be patient with our uncooperative bodies! I will try & take that advice when I also get stuck & my scales show no weight loss. Last time that happened I became very frustrated & asked my husband to weigh himself to prove to me the scales weren't stuck! He was very forbearing but amused. I hope I will also have gone down in weight when I weigh myself next Sunday.
Good luck with your next week
Isis

Bad week, so busy I couldn't fast at all due to holidays, meals out, long journeys etc etc. Back to fasting tomorrow. Weighed myself this morning, and I'm higher than I was when I started 5:2, so any gains were lost (or is it the other way round )

I'm fasting tomorrow, but I'm already having to change my plans for the week, to enable me to fit in 2 fasts, which feels like the wrong way round, for something that's meant to be a WOL, rather than a short term diet.

I've been pondering calorie counting - I really enjoy the mechanics of it now I have MFP on my phone, I love the barcode reader ! I also like planning my days food the night before. So I wonder if "i hate calorie counting" means the mechanics of the counting, or the consequential restrictions.

http://db.tt/N5PjOxV6

Hope the link works - I'm on my phone.

I've been meticulous this week recording what I eat, to try and see if I'm eating 'normally' for my TDEE. And this week I've been pretty close, so I've got a feel for how I should eat. I have skipped a couple of meals this week, as well as 2 days fasting.. And now I've got used to fasting,, I'm not scared of skiping lunch, before a big night out.

[carorees]

I've been pondering calorie counting - I really enjoy the mechanics of it now I have MFP on my phone, I love the barcode reader ! I also like planning my days food the night before. So I wonder if "i hate calorie counting" means the mechanics of the counting, or the consequential restrictions.

I think it's the weighing etc of food if you want to be accurate plus the restrictions. I guesstimate on feed days and don't restrict myself calorie-wise and don't mind it.

Weekly weigh in today - have gained on my start weight, aftrr 5 weeks on 5:2.

Fasting again today,