5/2 Fasting Diet

[RubyTuesday]

I just thought some of you might be interested to know that I am finding the Fast Diet - having downloaded Michael Mosley's book onto my Kindle app - extremely beneficial, not just from a weight point of view, but also because I am feeling so well.

I remember seeing the Horizon programme MM did and being impressed by the extremely good scientifically-proven health gains, in particular the lowered cholesterol, since mine is quite high and the GP did discuss statins with me (I refused them), but I am one of those people who also needs to see stuff written down, so the book had more impact on me.

I did 3 weeks of 5/2 fasting before taking 2 weeks off to go on holiday; my weight only decreased by 1.5 pounds, but my energy levels had increased and I feel immensely well. After 2 weeks of not fasting I found myself beginning to feel sluggish and was relieved to do my first day of fasting, again.

After another week of fasting I've just weighed myself and I have now lost 3 pounds in weight, but suddenly decided to measure myself and, as suspected, realise that I have lost quite a few inches, in particular from around my waist - 1.5 inches, in fact! I do my weighing in the morning, after my first coffee, on the day of my fast and this morning I also did the measuring.

Some people find it too difficult, say they feel dizzy, get headaches, but I find I feel quite ok; I do ensure that I drink plenty of water, though I also know I need to be near a loo since I spend most of the day dashing to it! What I really like about it is, if I find myself smelling fish and chips (I often visit the seaside at this time of the year) with yearning (!) I simply tell myself it's only for a day and that tomorrow I can eat with impunity (though I am not a huge eater in the first place, just have an under active thyroid and age slowing me down, lol).

[rosetrees]

What do you eat on the fasting days? Am I right in thinking those are 500 calorie days?

[PinkNinja in reply to rosetrees]

Yes, 500 calories and then a normal 2000 on normal days

[TTLady]

Is it completely normal eating on non fast days? I'm very tempted to try this.

I really struggle to retain information, trying to remember what I can and can't eat, red days/green days, calories etc is too much for me so just not eating much on two day might work better for me.

[PinkNinja in reply to TTLady]

Normal eating on non-fast days; around 2000 calories for women

[Southlondon]

Worked for me too - really excellent diet and I felt more energised and healthier.

[RubyTuesday]

I am a simple soul! I cannot entertain a "diet" which doesn't allow me to drink coffee, for a start. So I use my mild allowance to have 3 mugs of coffee across the day; drinking water regularly stops the hunger pangs and at 6-6.30pm I have a Waitrose pot of fresh soup - I go for the lower calorie ones, between 210-260 calories for the whole pot. I then allow myself an Options 40 calorie hot chocolate drink and a couple of Rich Tea biscuits and that's me done for the day.

On my non-fasting days I carry on as usual and have no real idea how many calories I get through.

I have noticed not just an improvement in energy levels, but also my skin looks fresher! Maybe all the water I drink on those two days.

[TTLady]

Do they have to be concurrent days? Or do you have an even spread?

[PinkNinja in reply to TTLady]

Generally it's better if they are not concurrent, I believe. I don't think I could manage concurrent days fasting...

[Mrsmoon]

I've always struggled with losing weight and diets that either don't anything or don't make me feel dreadful. This has been brilliant and works without rendering me incapable of functioning. I have to say I'm feeling better than I have in a VERY long time and not sure I could have attempted when I was really poorly. But I guess with any diet or as this is, way of eating you need to be in the right place physically and emotionally.

[audrey64]

Iv been doing similar but I juice on my fast days and feel great iv lost 20 lb so far.. I also take wheatgrass and spirulina, I have more energy now that iv ever had since being diagnosed whither hypo. I'm still on 100mg of levothyroxine but my tsh is now 1.71,I'm finally relaxed with my condition.

[Hidden]

Huge congrats on that weight loss Audrey64. That's amazing. My mum has been doing the 5/2 (she's not hypo) and has lost 1 stone so far. And I really agree with the juicing. I think it's a great way to get great vitamins into us especially as most of us have compromised digestive systems.

Xxxx

[TTLady]

Right that's it, I'm doing it

[infomaniac]

That's really encouraging. I have done a similar sort of plan in the past but after the first week I found I just maintained rather than lost. I also wasn't sure what effect the fast days had on the thyroid but now that it's been proven by you all that is clearly has no detrimental effect I might just give it another go! Now I am on Levo I might just start to lose the weight that the medical profession seem to think I will

[Janeleary]

I fast once per week, every week. Keeps me on my game. I do it for the mental effects tho, more than anything. You think much more clearly during a fast, and it can really help re-center you for the week ahead.

I also got a lot of help at weight loss camp. That's actually where I learned it - not that they do fasting with everyone who comes there, but I got to talking to Conn and it came up so he taught me how... What a great place, worth checking out. it's CFS Weight Loss down in Florida on the gulf coast. Beautiful place too.

Sometimes I drink juice on fast day tho. Cause sometimes the body just can't handle it right.

[Hidden]

I'd managed to lose around 10lbs in the space of two months but stopped the diet over Christmas/New Year. Consequently I put around 5lbs on again. I'm finding I actually look forward to the fasting days though - I find it much easier eating 'nothing' for 12 hours, twice a week, rather than having to decide all the time. I generally have cereals in the morning and a bowl of soup plus fruit in the evening.