What's it all about?

[gman1961]

After completing every other day of reduced calories around 600. 4 days in total .Weighed in today to find I've stayed the same .

Anybody help answer my situation.😖

[Mollydex 2st 7lbs Restart July 2024]

Hi

I don't really know that much about calories , but I know that if I reduce my food intake drastically I don't loose any weight .

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to Mollydex]

Hi thanks for your reply,someone at work told me that to your metabolism slows right down

[Mollydex 2st 7lbs Restart July 2024 in reply to gman1961]

I find that I loose Weight really well when I eat carbs on a day I exercise , and lots of healthy fats on days that I don't . I don't count calories

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to Mollydex]

Aw thanks for that ,need to go at it differently.

[Diana]

I've always counted and still do, msintainer that I am, you being male will need 500 cals a day, more than us women, annoying for us, great for you tho!

I think the 5.2 diet, suggests not going lower than 800 for a man, and 500 for women, not that I've ever done it.

So in logical terms, it will vary on your normal dietary days too? Check out your activity and calorie needs, bodies were strange too, luckily you've not 'lady dramas' to stop things, tho you may have stress and a difficult work life that don't help.

Good luck

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to Diana]

Thanks Diana for your reply.

[Diana in reply to gman1961]

You seem cautious about my reply, oh well

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to gman1961]

Hi Diana , sorry for my short reply I just wanted to reply as soon as possible before I went out.

My problem is I was stuck in a rut and I wanted a quick fix, which did not happen.

I need to stop beating myself up as my clothes seem to fit better so there's a plus.

Appreciate your reply,thanks

[ShortyS]

Hi, how long have you tried this and are you counting your calories by an app? What are you eating on your non fast days ie how many calories and sorts of food? I do 5-2 so I fast on a Monday and Friday, then eat normally on the other days (but stay within my daily calorie allowance mostly). I've started this again roughly 4 or 5 weeks ago and lost half a stone now but I do exercise quite a bit too, not sure I could manage to do this alternate days though!!

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to ShortyS]

This is my first week, just thought I would lose something.thanks for your reply it's appreciated.

[Claire2stone]

Hi gman1961 😀

I think on your low calorie days your body is going into starvation mode. Your body doesn't burn off any fat as you don't take in enough calories to function....especially if you are exercising too!!!

I would stick to your recommend calorie allowance everyday and you will loose a healthy 1 to 2lb a week.

Slow and steady wins the race 😀

[gman1961 Restart April 2024]

Thanks Claire ,I'll have to try something else this week.

[Claire2stone in reply to gman1961]

Bodies are stubborn funny things and it can take longer than a week for it to kick start weight loss .... don't expect miracles overnight when you change your weight loss plan 😆

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to Claire2stone]

Think that's my problem,expect a quick fix.

[Diana in reply to gman1961]

You may like to check out calorie cycling, very interesting take a look around Google and see what you think, I did this for a bit, seemed fine, too, I've also overcome plateau too.

All quite intersting

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to Diana]

Hi Diana

Thanks for your advice ,I will definitely have a look.j just feeling sorry for myself,could be a lot worse.

[Diana in reply to gman1961]

We are all allowed to have those feeling sorry for yourself moments, we've all been there lost and gained, I know of hardly anyone who hasn't gained or stayed the same, and said why is it so unfair?

Moving on, try to change what you can , within your contort zone and lifestyle, good luck

[ShortyS]

It all depends what you eat on the other days, basically it all needs to average out to less than your normal weekly calorie allowance to lose any weight. Stick with things for a while to see if they work but I'd try 5-2 first before alternate days and see how you get on with that, you can always ramp it up after you've got into the swing of it but eat normally on the 'eat' days. I find it helps to exercise on the low cal days too, even if just a walk. Good luck with finding what works for you...

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to ShortyS]

Thank you for the advice ,how many calories do you have on the 2 days and do you have two consecutive days or split them ?

[ShortyS]

I used to have 500 cals on the fast days (female) but I found it hard to stick to if I eat anything! So I haven't been eating, just drinking therefore minimal calories from some tea and coffees with milk (skimmed or semi-skimmed) which I don't log but can't imagine it being many. Today is a fast day though and I've actually had my 500 cals today as I've done a 4 mile dog walk too and felt I needed something to eat. I don't do them consecutively ever as I think that would be too hard and could possible slow the metabolism.

You need to find what works best for you though to get you through it, my partner prefers a breakfast and small lunch whereas I prefer to just have an evening snack if anything at all. But if I eat too much on the other days it will counteract all my hard work, so although I don't calorie count I think about what I'm eating and try not to snack between meals etc. I'll eat cheese, have a glass of wine or a dessert but the key is now and then and not every day or too much of any, plus I walk the dogs most days and play hockey at the weekend. Hope this helps...

[IndigoBlue61]

So sorry you haven't lost gman1961 😕 I know you have worked really hard, but maybe by "mixing it up" a bit it will trigger a loss later in the week? I think you were doing this because you haven't lost on previous weeks? 😕 I have no words of wisdom, I hope you find something that works, 😕 Maybe try to focus on the positives like your clothes fitting better and your fitness improving 😊 Good luck 😊

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks anna ,just a low day .back on track tomorrow.been feeling sorry for myself.thanks for your support.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to gman1961]

Fingers crossed for you 😊

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks

[Caz28]

Hi, sorry this method didn't work for you, I agree it is probably because your body went into 'starvation mode'. My advice would be to go back to basics, check your calorie allowance on the bmi calculator, weigh and log all your food intake and stick to the lower end of your calorie allowance. Also take a look at the healthy eating plate and try and have the correct quantities of carbs/protein/fat. Good luck!

[HealthyTanja]

Your body does not go into starvation mode on fast days! Instead by drastically reducing your intake for one day you raise your metabolism.

I would rather think something like this is what went wrong:

"But as the post points out, if you do a ’24 hour’ fast, say from 2 pm to 2 pm, and eat your TDEE before 2 one day and after 2 the next, you have done no caloric restriction and you will not lose any weight – despite having ‘fasted’ for 24 hours."

I tried to figure out what you do before 2pm on day 1 and after 2pm on day 2 in your other post, but you didn't say. Any calories you eat before or after your fast technically count towards your daily allowance and you might not be restricting as much as you think.

A regular fast day is from midnight to midnight. For example, you eat what ever you want on Sunday, go to bed, get up on Monday, eat up to 600 calories, go to bed, get up Tuesday and eat what ever you want. Repeat. Simple and effective.

Hope this helps

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to HealthyTanja]

Hi tanya,thank you for your reply ,before and after fasting I was eating as normal.what you explained makes sense. I will try it doing just 5:2.appreciate your thoughts.