The FastDay Forum

I am just a bit disappointed since I was hoping that 6:1 or 5:1.5 (1 day of 500 and 1 day of 1000) would work, but they don't, at least not for me and I know that not for Franglaise either. I still love this WOL because I still have relative freedom for 5 days a week and it is relative not absolute since I can't really eat whatever and as much as I want but i can eat reasonably, eat out and indulge occasionally while still maintaining my weight. I wonder what is the experience of other people with maintenance?

How long have you been trying this approach to maintenance, out of interest?

I have been trying to maintain since March 24th at first it worked with 5:1.5 but since 5/11 I have been barely maintaining on 5:2. Didn't change my feast days eating or my excercise level.

I am losing weight very slowly doing 5:2, and I assume that I will just eventually stop losing and maintain, still doing 5:2.

I've gone back to 5:2 once when my weight crept up a few pounds. But I don't really like doing 2 full fasts a week. I prefer to do one full fast a week and then skip a few meals on other days.

I feel your pain Einatbl! Since I reached heaven (er that's maintenance) I think it's harder than the earthly slog that preceded it. Then I just had to lean one way and now I have to balance.

I'm still trying to find a formula that works. I am weight-watching and putting in fast days when I need them: that works out roughly 2 days 1 week and 1 day the next, I suppose that is 5:2:6:1?

I agree Susan I don't much mind the one fast day (Monday) but I would prefer not to have to do the second (Thursday)!

I also agree Einatbl that the freedom of the other days is relative. I certainly have my moments on non-fast days but in general I think I am eating much more sensibly than before, and if I wasn't I would be gaining even with the full 5:2.

I think being lighter means we just need quite a lot less calories and our natural appetite hasn't adjusted yet. Will it ever?

Dominic. For about 8 years I have been maintaining my weight on CR of 1400-1500 cals/day and excercise. I was never hungry since I learned to eat the right things that fill me up. In the first 1-2 year ( can't remember well) I had these cravings and times that I lost control, but over time this decreased in frequency until it went a way completely. Now that I am on the 5:2 since the beginning of March ( with variations as I was trying to find the best formula for maintenance) since I allowed myself treats that I would have never before I experienced these cravings again, but now that I stopped the indulgences and mostly I eat sensibly the food that I know that is good for me- complex carbs, lean proteins, lots of veggies and leave the indulgences for dinners out, I'm gaining my control back. So as I said before" relative freedom" it is. I can't eat cake and chocolate on a regular basis but I am happy.

I think being lighter means we just need quite a lot less calories and our natural appetite hasn't adjusted yet. Will it ever?

I'm not sure. I"m still staggered by how little food you actually can eat before putting on weight once you have lost a few kilos and your TDEE drops. I'm very active but couldn't go back to what I ate previously at 62kgs (and managed to remain stable) without putting on weight. And I only lost 6kgs. It must be really hard for people who have lost a lot of weight to maintain.

I am losing weight very slowly doing 5:2, and I assume that I will just eventually stop losing and maintain, still doing 5:2.

That's pretty much my plan. Although in the past 10 days I'm maintaining with no fasting at all, I'm just keeping it low cal. I haven't reached my goal though and I'm planning to return to 5:2 as soon as possible.