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I wanted to start a new 5:2 fast thread that is open to everyone--include pre-op and post-op VSGers (there is another thread that you can read but can't post to unless you say you are at least 1 year post-op). Obviously if you are considering this plan, which involves very low calorie intake 2 days a week and eating regularly the other 5, you should do so with your RD's and surgeon's/PCP's approval and guidance. If you are losing well using traditional means, then you might not need it--but it should be up to you and your medical team if you are interested in giving it a try.

Here is some info:

dinner. For us, that would be tough to do given our capacity, unless we did very calorie dense foods at dinner.

For my "feast" days, I'm going to eat regularly (800-950 calories, up to 1100 when exercising hard, if I feel that I need them), and for my fast days I'm going to do Protein Shakes with low-carb veggies if desired. Many/most people eat regular foods on fast days. Fast days cannot go over 500 calories, so that will be about 2 to 3 Protein shakes depending on the source, plus about 100-150 cals of low-carb veggies. I'm going to continue to keep my diet high protein/low carb. I will continue to exercise and am aiming for 100 ounces of Water per day.

I will post here to let everyone know how it's going and hope that others will post about their experience as well!

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Ill be watching

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I'm still pre-op and in the middle of my NUT monitored diet, which is not working out well. I'm thinking of doing the 5:2 now, to get a head start on my weight loss. Not sure what the NUT will think, but I'm going to start doing it anyway ....

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I'm still pre-op and in the middle of my NUT monitored diet, which is not working out well. I'm thinking of doing the 5:2 now, to get a head start on my weight loss. Not sure what the NUT will think, but I'm going to start doing it anyway ....

If your dietitian is anything like mine, he/she will likely be very supportive. Mine is awesome and I sent her some links on email, and then we discussed in person.

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Im 7 months post op and stalled for the past 2 almost 3 months.

Im giving this a try. Ill try anything given i have 50pounds to goal weight. Pls post results after 1 week.

Im starting today.

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Thank you for starting this, I hope it will get some good advice.

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I'm glad you started it too. There is no reason there can't be 2 or more groups trying this out.

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I'm glad you started it too. There is no reason there can't be 2 or more groups trying this out.

Yes, and I think it's always good to err on the side of inclusivity and love hearing different perspectives.

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Yes' date=' and I think it's always good to err on the side of inclusivity and love hearing different perspectives.[/quote']

Hey just noticed this, good for you guys! And the links are very helpful for those wanting to learn about the process. Lots of info there .

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Hey just noticed this, good for you guys! And the links are very helpful for those wanting to learn about the process. Lots of info there .

The last link in particular is very helpful--it's a forum of people doing the fast. Dr. Mosley, the author of the book, is from the UK, so lots of the sites have that orientation.

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Today was a fast day and my goal was 500 calories, 60 g of Protein and 30 or fewer carbs. I ended up at 501 calories, 58 g of Protein and 34 carbs. Pretty good. I feel really great. I am just finishing my snack (Protein shake with leftover coffee and Torani syrup) so no more food until at least 7 tomorrow morning (12-hour fast). Stay tuned, and feel free to share what you are doing here! Curious to know what protein range others are at on fast days. I find that it's easier to get plenty of Water in on a fast day.

FastDay1

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I fasted yesterday and gained a lb. My recommendation to anyone trying this is don't weigh every day. The scale jumps all over the place and it gets depressing. I was ecstatic to see that 2 lb drop , and I didn't go off plan and gained it back.

I wish I could keep myself from weighing every day. Maybe I'll take my scale to my daughter.

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I wouldn't recommend fasting til one is at least a year out from surgery. You need to make sure your body is healed and have had blood tests to make sure you are getting all your nutrients before you start fasting.

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I wouldn't recommend fasting til one is at least a year out from surgery. You need to make sure your body is healed and have had blood tests to make sure you are getting all your nutrients before you start fasting.

Your body is definitely healed at a few months out. My bloodwork is good and I'm doing this with the blessing of my RD and surgeon. I'm not sure how familiar you are with this plan or if you read any of the links, but the fasting day is not a complete fast--it's a 500-calorie day for women and 600 for men. You are creating a weekly calorie deficit by doing this but you are also getting your body to stay out of homeostatis by mixing up your carb/calorie/protein intake from day to day (something my RD highly recommends, especially for slower losers). I agree that if someone is losing steadily at a good rate that there's no reason to try this plan. But for those of us who are slow losers and are looking for a way to do something different to get different results--it can be an excellent option.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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