5.2 diet

[Rockette]

Hi all , I know this isn't about running , but as anyone out there tried the 5.2 diet ? . That where you eat what u like ( in moderation) & fast for 2 days out of 7 . If yes can you tell me what you think . Thanks

[OldNed Graduate]

It works!!! My wife & I tried it for a couple of months last year and it did two things - helped us lose weight (obvs), but also reset our understanding of how much we need to eat. We haven't been on the diet for some months now but have maintained the lower weight we achieved whilst on it. We didn't find it unduly hard either, and I'd certainly recommend giving it a go. We did the fasting day from mid-afternoon one day to mid-afternoon the next, so were never left 'starving' for a whole day and night together. That worked well too.

[Rockette in reply to OldNed]

Thanks ned , I'm starting it Friday , have read a lot of positive feed back , but good to hear from someone who as done it. That's great that you have both kept the weight off too .

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I can't do the 5:2 as I am on thyroid replacement and fasting upsets the dosage. But I agree with oldned about he resetting hunger levels. I do my own version which is called the leptin reset, which is easier (just the basic one , there is one online that is extreme.). Basically it is 11 hour fast overnight. Three meals a day. No calories not even sugar or milk In between. I have gone from being constantly hungry all the time to eating when I need to and for the first time in years losing weight. I am using myfitness pal. And of course running has been a fantastic help. Good luck.

[Rockette in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thanks , I have about 1st to lose , so want to get rid of it to help the old joints now I'm into this running .

[Carolecal]

Give it a go...it's easier than you'd think.I started it around last Feb and have followed it since then,apart from two weeks off recently when I was away and just felt like a break from it.My husband started it in the early summer. We have ' light days' as we call them,on Mondays and Thursdays. I usually eat a light lunch at around 1.30 and my "main" meal around 7pm, having a total of 500 cals .

I would really recommend the original book by Dr Michael Moseley and Mimi Spencer,the paperback was very cheap in Tesco a while back and the version for Kindle etc isn't at all expensive. There is also a very good 5:2 forum which offers lots of help and support.

I frequently run on a fast day or the day after and suffer no ill effects whatsoever.

It's not a licence to eat whatever you want on the other five days,but you are certainly more mindful of what you are eating on those days,especially snacks. With a bit of planning its relatively easy to eat well and feel reasonably satisfied on 500 calories...especially when you know it's just two days a week .

Good luck if you go ahead with it

[Rockette in reply to Carolecal]

Thanks carolecal for your reply , you answered a question I forgot to ask , & that was could I run on a light day , I was wondering about that . I'm starting it tomorrow , I've done w watchers, slimming world and got to target a few times , but then I resort to my old ways of eating . I read that this educates you to appreciate your food & think about what you eat so I'm giving it a go . I'll let you know how I go

[Carolecal]

I've done WW and got to goal too...then slipped back to " old ways" ! I can honestly say I don't consider the 5:2 as a"diet"... as far as I'm concerned its a real doddle ! It's great to know that you can have 3 nice healthy meals and a treat or two or a glass or two ,the following day.

That said , I've just got over two colds...one straight on top of the other and the light days when I was feeling rubbish were the most difficult I've experienced,but that was to be expected I suppose . I probably went up to about 600-700 cals on one of them ,but am straight back on it now.

I have about two and a half kilos ( my scales only do kilos) to get to my best ever " happy weight" ...it's one of my targets on Realfoodieclub's Xmas Quest !

I'm sure you won't have much difficulty with your two light days,as you will be used to planning nutritious, low fat meals from your S World and WW experiences.

Anyway...just go for it ! Lots of luck to you ....I look forward to hearing how you get on and if I can be of any further help, just let me know.

[Beek Graduate]

Hi everyone. My son and daughter in law do 5/2 and both have lost significant amounts of weight - they look great! I didn't have much time to sort out a series of meals but DIL loaned me her book and lists which has really set me up fine for it. I intend starting it tomorrow for my first fast day. They both tell me that it does re-educate your eating and you view food very differently. I bought the book mentioned for my Kindle but found it a faff going back and forth in the book when it refers to other pages. The paperback is much better to use for referencing.

I need to shed IRO 10kg. I've lost about 4 just with the running - well I'm thinner. Put my bum bag on yesterday and if kept slipping off! Yay! (I also went to a formal dinner last week in some soft floaty trousers which FELL DOWN when I got out of the car. Thankfully the car park was people free!!! Something good is happening! I am also trying to do short sessions on the gym equipment in the park in the middle or end of my run, depending which run I am doing. The running is fine for your legs but I like giving my top half a 'doing' too!

Where would I find the 5/2 forum? Is it part of HU?

[Carolecal in reply to Beek]

Hi Beek, check out this one...I think it was the first one started -

52fastdiet.co.uk/

There is also thefastdiet.co.uk/ forums which I think was set up quite a bit later by Michael Moseley and Mimi Spencer.

If you google either fast diet or 5:2 there's lots out there.

Good luck with Day 1

[Beek Graduate in reply to Carolecal]

Thank you Carolecal.. I have just been looking at the site and there is a huge amount of helpful information to look at! Tomorrow I will do a morning run (on empty), enjoy my breakfast and then fast until evening when my book club friends come round for nibbles (healthy ones of course!) Thanks again for the link!

All this 'new lifestyle' activity is giving me quite a buzz! I am really enjoying the improved healthier feelings - and taking back control of my life again! Feels really good!

[Carolecal]

Hey Beek,you're welcome. Just remember to drink plenty through the day....especially as you are running ( it's not always so easy to get enough fluid down now that summer's over).

I always run in the morning and always on empty...though not everyone's choice I know.

Taking charge of your healthy lifestyle,diet and exercise-wise can be very empowering .Enjoy that buzz

[gingernut49 Graduate]

Yes, yes, yes! It's brilliant! Have you watched Michael Mosley's original Horizon programme that started it off? It's still available on vimeo.com/54089463.

I lost three stone in six months from October and felt so good I started C25K - and I'm nearly 64. I haven't weighed 9 stone 7 pounds since I was a teenager and hated running at school. The best part is that I've maintained my weight loss since by just fasting one day a week - instead of piling it all back on again.

If you want to see a quick video about the diet there's one on Michael and Mimi's page thefastdiet.co.uk/the-fast-.... I always run on my fasting days.

[Rockette in reply to gingernut49]

I've started this today , & decided to miss breakfast I never do it but it's strange , it's 10.30 & I don't even feel hungry , I feel more hungry at this time when I do have breakfast . I'm at work & usuall y have it 7am before I leave the house & usuall eating toast or something at this time on my break , strange ! I'm drinking loads thanks to all for all the info

[gingernut49 Graduate in reply to Rockette]

You've discovered what we all seem to - eating breakfast actually makes you more hungry. I usually don't eat anything at all now until my evening meal - if I keep busy and drink plenty then that's very doable. Once I eat anything at all I seem to get the munchies. Well done you!

[iloverunning Graduate]

Hi, I know that you've had loads of feedback but just to say that I do this too, I run on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after work and my 2 day fasting days are Tuesday and Thursday when I eat nothing all day then have veg and fish for tea. My body seems to have adjusted to this new way of eating (I've been doing it since March) and doesn't seem to miss food on my fasting days.

I feel healthier and more alert especially the day after my fasting. I haven't lost much weight as I seem to make up for not eating on the days that I can eat so you do have to be firm with yourself! However, I have lost 1/2 stone since starting it but that may be to do with the running too. Also I went on the 5.2 more for health reasons than for weight loss. If I was more careful on my none fasting days I would lose more. I agree with previous comments, the book by Michael Mosely and Mimi Spencer is worth getting and remember to drink plenty of water to stave of the hunger pangs if you have them. I hope it goes well for you

[Rockette in reply to iloverunning]

Thanks iloverunning , I have done my first fast day today & I can quite honestly say I've not been starving at all , I'm doing ok , had ham salad at 2. & chicken & steamed veg for dinner tonight . I've surprised myself ! Can't wait for tomorrow but I won't go mad , need to lose a stone .

[iloverunning Graduate in reply to Rockette]

That's great Rockette, it's amazing how quickly your body gets used to it and the day after the fast day you're not as hungry as you think you'll be. It does affect your appetite and make you more aware of the food that you eat. I'm sure that you'll lose that stone. Do let us all know how you get on with it. I find that if I'm really hungry on the fasting day I just tell myself that I'll be able to eat the following day and it soon sorts me out - a day isn't that long!

[Rockette in reply to iloverunning]

Someone posted a link on here , off that horizon programme , watched it last night , I was fascinated . Yes will keep you posted . Feast day today .

[iloverunning Graduate in reply to Rockette]

Yes I saw it on TV when it was first on and that's what started me off - I did it for a while but then had a break over xmas and started again in March. Feast days are good!! Fast day for me.........roll on tomorrow!

[Beccym Graduate]

I have a small glass of fruit juice for breakfast usually roast veg for lunch and a posh soup for dinner. I am doing it for my brain not to lose weight.

I have found fizzy water is the key. Not that hard really.

[KateK Graduate]

I started the 5:2 diet the same time I started the strength & flex podcasts (which got me on to the C25K podcasts) I didn't loose much straight away apart from an initial 4lbs so was slightly disheartened but found my "500 days", as I call them, easy to do so kept going. I've now lost just over half a stone in 14 weeks which doesn't seem much or look much on the scales but my shape has considerably (4 inches lost from my waist) I'm not sure if it's the diet and/or the running but I love it whatever it is and will carry on doing it. It does make you look at food differently and eat a lot better all round which can only be a good thing, can't it?

[gypsydepp Graduate]

After reading these posts I've decided to give it a go!

I run Mon/We'd/Fri ( on a good week!) so have chosen Tue/Thurs as my 500 cal days.

First day today....need some advice....have a salsa/Zumba class 6.45-7.45. Thinking about having about 200 cals around 3pm and then the rest after the class.

What do you all think?

x

[Rockette in reply to gypsydepp]

Sounds good to me , but I've only just started yesterday , so see what more experienced 5.2 ers say , good luck with it , my first day of fasting was ok no starving like I thought I would be .

[Beccym Graduate]

I do body combat on a Thursday and I am fine afterwards.

[Plinth Graduate]

Hmm. I was interested in the horizon thing. Then they did the book and I thought "oh you are making money out of it". Then there was another program on BBC about the diet/food/exercise industry (men who make you fat /thin ?? ) where doctors question diets including 5:2 and some experts reiterated live and eat healthy, don't look at bmi but your own fitness, and that diets ultimately fail. It's all to do with what you can maintain forever... (And there was a horrific bloke who stuffed his face then went and pumped out stomach into loo - after seeing that, you never wanna eat again)

[Sharonyarnley]

i started 5:2 in may the same time i joined slimming world i done it til aug and when i was in turkey for 3 weeks then i come home and lost the plot i restarted last monday and ive just done my 4th fast im on thyroxine and feel fine yesterday i also started couch to 5 k i walk alot but really want to run for my health as i have heart deciese in the family i hope this all combined will get me healthy x