Giving up the 5:2 diet...

[CrimsonMama]

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of the 5:2 and it was a massive help in slowly getting me to change my eating ways. First by recognising real hunger to boredom hunger. And then for making better calorie choices and portion sizes. It got me on the road to my weight loss! But now I count calories daily as I used to still consume too many over the week and I've been stressed out this week and not having much to eat on my 'fast' days has been tough and I've had a few wobbles.

So tonight I looked at my weekly allowance - 1619 per day lowest. That's 11333 per week. I like a bit extra weekends so take off 1900 for sat and sun. Divide the remainder over five gives me 1500 per day.

I was doing 1700 three days and 800 two days for mon-fri.

Anyways! I've worked out a ten days food plan! New plan new motivation I'm hoping! It's my weigh day tomorrow but I am certain I won't lose anything after the week I've had but I'm looking forward to having a more normal routine over the week, no more missing dinner! Just hope it works!

[S11m]

Hi - have you thought about NEAD (Not Eating All Day) or e.g.16:8 instead of 5:2?

[CrimsonMama in reply to S11m]

I tried the 16.8 before but didn't find I lost any weight. It's quite easy for me as I used to skip breakfast and I don't get any breaks at work so the earliest I could eat is 2pm and my bedtime is 10pm. But you can eat a LOT of bad food in that time!

Now I'm more mindful of calories and quantities.

NEAD would be far too difficult compared to the 5:2 !

[Minniewinny 5 stone Maintainer]

I hope your new plan works well for you, it's good that you benefitted from the 5:2 and can take the things learnt forward as you plan your 10 days ahead...

Cheering you on 🎉🎉🎉

[CrimsonMama in reply to Minniewinny]

Thank you! If it doesn't work I will back on the 5:2 lol. I just like the idea of feeling a 'normal' routine everyday.

[IndigoBlue61]

Good luck with your new eating plan, I agree about the 5:2 being useful for gaining confidence about our hunger signals and appetite. Have you also seen this book healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... I found it very helpful, for example it encourages the mindset of eating less and better a matter of CHOICE and not a restriction

[CrimsonMama in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Very interesting. I definitely come under the addictive desire to eat based on taste not nutrients. 100%! Like if choosing between a chocolate or an apple the chocolate will win as I know if I eat the apple I will still want the chocolate badly for the pleasure/taste it gives and therefore will end up eating both which is more calories than if I just ate the chocolate. However that doesn't consider the more healthy benefits of having the apple.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to CrimsonMama]

I’m glad you found it useful 😊.

I’ve been on this (current) weight loss journey for over three years and I’m still learning new things, about myself, my body and my mind. I really like the idea of choice, of choosing to be healthy and fit, and occasionally, choosing some chocolate! But not every day 😊

[CrimsonMama in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Haha I still have chocolate everyday. A twirl finger which is 90 calories. But my taste for chocolate has decreased now I don't have so much of it. At one time I used to have the really big bars... 250g bars I think they are? Like one or more of those A DAY. Now I feel sick at the thought of so much chocolate!

I gave up drinking Pepsi too... Which was giving me over 2000 calories a week. Now last time I was given a can I couldn't drink it.. it was so sweet!

It's a slow slow process but I am changing! 😁

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to CrimsonMama]

Well done 😊👏👏👏. Those are big changes