Does the 5/2 diet work and is it a healthy way to lose weight?

[Camembert_Electrique]

Seems to be flavour of the month. Anyone tried it? Anyone tell me if it's any good?

[problemo]

Surely if you're not eating for two days a week you'll lose weight??? You'll be eating 2/7ths less calories unless you stuff your self on the other 5 days!

[Camembert_Electrique]

Yes, but if I eat nothing for a day, I *will* stuff myself the next day. Also, the chances of me doing any exercise on an empty stomach are - ahem - slim.

[Kazzachoc]

A couple of men in my office are doing this diet. I will see how they do but I wouldn't do it anyway. I'm not sure what you can eat on the two days off but if it's absolutely nothing then I would be starving after two days and just eat anything I could get my hands on, plus it can't be healthy, your poor body wouldn't know where it was up to

[Oldgirl]

I would find that type of diet impossible to work with as I am quite energetic and like to exercise. The days I do a lot of exercise I just would not have the energy if I was working with only 500 or so calories. I much prefer to reduce my calories overall, watch my fat content, eat my FAD and exercise.

[herdwick]

Seems to work well in clinical trials and has attracted a following after the Horizon program. Gives better health results than the equivalent daily calorie reduction.

[Camembert_Electrique]

Hmmm, I'm less convinced by the evidence. Have you seen this: nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/...

[Camembert_Electrique]

OK, might give this a go. I do most exercise on Weds, Sat and Sun. When should I fit in my fast days?

[Hidden]

I'm inclined to agree with problemo.

What REALLY matters is the direction your body fat is going in - gaining it or losing it?

Thinking of us as modern people in cavemen's (or cavewomen's) bodies, our ancestors would have had a somewhat famine and feast relationship with food. They probably would have survived on minimal food many days and when the hunters brought back a wild pig, or a deer, then had a feast up.

A regime such as 5/2 (or indeed any other regime) will suit some personalities better than others. Though it doesn't strike me as very 'family-friendly' and I couldn't fit it into my way of life easily.

If it works for you ...

[Legion]

With the 5:2 diet, the idea is that on the two 'fasting' days you eat 500/600 calories (women/men) and on the other 5 days you can eat what you like. Supposedly, rather than stuff themselves silly, people only eat slightly more than 'normal' on the day after fasting. You can eat your 500/600 calories however you like - one main meal, a couple of smaller meals or snacking throughout the day, etc. If you stick to fruit and veg on your fasting days then you needn't necesarily go hungry.

I like the idea of this diet and the other health benefits it's supposed to provide, but I haven't been brave enough to try it yet. I did used to eat kind of like this when I was younger though (some days I just didn't feel hungry) and maintained my (healthy) weight easily.

[gingernut49]

The diet is absolutely excellent for me and I've lost two and a half stone since August. I see it as a lifestyle rather than a diet. When I reach my goal weight (another half stone) I will just fast for one day a week (as Michael Mosley is now doing) for the rest of my life. There's an excellent Facebook group (The 5:2 diet run by Kate Harrison) that's really supportive and friendly.

Whereas with other diets you lose the weight, then start eating normally and pile it all back on again, this is so easy to incorporate into your life. There's no sense of feeling deprived; you're not having to diet every day - only two non-consecutive days - so I plan those around my social life.

I'm 63 so have tried every diet under the sun in my life but this one has worked the best for me. I'm happy, full of energy, and have now started the Couch to 5K running plan. I'm on week four so can now run for five minutes at a time! I always run on my fasting days and feel lighter and more energetic doing so.

I also now walk everywhere that I used to get the bus to and have walked or jogged over 50 miles in January. I really was a fat and lazy couch potato before I started this, so if I can do it anyone can!

[Legion in reply to gingernut49]

I just started the 5:2 last week (I'm loathe to call it a diet as it is a lifestyle, but I do also have a lot of weight to lose) and did my first weigh in this morning. I've lost 3lbs and I feel great. Only having to calorie count twice a week (I was using mfp every day previously) and then eating anything I like on the other five days is incredibly liberating.

I did c25k last year and it is brilliant. I didn't really imagine I could ever run for 30 minutes (I was 5-6 stone overweight and had never been a runner) but it has totally changed my life. Enjoy your c25k journey (I will look out for your running blogs). You will be so glad you did it.

[gingernut49 in reply to Legion]

I'm now on week 7, run 3 tomorrow, so I'm getting there!

[Legion in reply to gingernut49]

Wow! Not long until graduation. I bet you never imagined you'd get this far when you did week 1.

[gingernut49 in reply to Legion]

Not bloomin' likely!