Hi everyone 
I have been doing 5:2 since late March (with a brief 4:3 interlude in there), and have dropped about 6kg. Prior to that, I had already lost 3.5 kg. I am now 60kg, and my eventual aim is to get to 58kg.
Currently, my approach has been to count my calories on feast days -sticking to my TDEE (sedentry) plus eating some exercise calories, and the occasional more indulgent day. But always tracking every single bite, weighing and measuring, and recording all exercise. To be honest, I have counted my food in some form or another (calories, points, carbs, marco ratios etc), for the best part of 8 years. I am over it, and what's more I think it contributes to my occasional binge, as I place too much emphasis on 'good' or 'bad' weeks, and let it effect my emotions too much.
My dream was to always one day not have to count calories, so in light of this, I have decided to transition my way to maintenance. I'll continue with 5:2 (and counting the 500 calories these days obviously), to lose that last 2kg, but not count on feast days. If I try a new recipe I will look at the calories to see what a suitable serving size is, but no more agonizing over balancing out my daily count.
I'm also going to aim to weigh myself less. As a daily weigher, I know that the scales effect my moods too much. If I gain - I feel depressed, low self esteem. If I lose weight, I often use this as an excuse to celebratory eat! And if they don't move I second guess what I am doing and give up too early on a plan that is working. So first up I'll aim for once a week weighs, and then maybe once I am OK with that, once a fortnight.
I have just under 4 months till I go to Hawaii on holidays, it would be nice to be more in tune with my eating habits by then, and not so reliant on calorie counts and punishing myself with daily weighs to keep my eating in check. On holidays I hope that I will b able to do the occasional fast, and skip breakfast every other day, so that I can fully enjoy all the lovely food without gaining too much! (or at all).
Anyone successfully given up calorie counting?
Or gone on holiday and maintained the plan?
I have been doing 5:2 since late March (with a brief 4:3 interlude in there), and have dropped about 6kg. Prior to that, I had already lost 3.5 kg. I am now 60kg, and my eventual aim is to get to 58kg.
Currently, my approach has been to count my calories on feast days -sticking to my TDEE (sedentry) plus eating some exercise calories, and the occasional more indulgent day. But always tracking every single bite, weighing and measuring, and recording all exercise. To be honest, I have counted my food in some form or another (calories, points, carbs, marco ratios etc), for the best part of 8 years. I am over it, and what's more I think it contributes to my occasional binge, as I place too much emphasis on 'good' or 'bad' weeks, and let it effect my emotions too much.
My dream was to always one day not have to count calories, so in light of this, I have decided to transition my way to maintenance. I'll continue with 5:2 (and counting the 500 calories these days obviously), to lose that last 2kg, but not count on feast days. If I try a new recipe I will look at the calories to see what a suitable serving size is, but no more agonizing over balancing out my daily count.
I'm also going to aim to weigh myself less. As a daily weigher, I know that the scales effect my moods too much. If I gain - I feel depressed, low self esteem. If I lose weight, I often use this as an excuse to celebratory eat! And if they don't move I second guess what I am doing and give up too early on a plan that is working. So first up I'll aim for once a week weighs, and then maybe once I am OK with that, once a fortnight.
I have just under 4 months till I go to Hawaii on holidays, it would be nice to be more in tune with my eating habits by then, and not so reliant on calorie counts and punishing myself with daily weighs to keep my eating in check. On holidays I hope that I will b able to do the occasional fast, and skip breakfast every other day, so that I can fully enjoy all the lovely food without gaining too much! (or at all).
Anyone successfully given up calorie counting?
Or gone on holiday and maintained the plan?
