Hello Vets!

Today is my first fast day for the 5.2 diet plan. So, only 500 calories for fast days and 1200 to 1500 for the feast days? Right?? I was wondering if it is ok to have coffee?

I'm so excited to try this diet and new way of eating. I'm so ready to get to goal and I'm praying that this will at least get me started in the right direction. I've gained 3 pounds recently and now am back up to 170 and I'm scared to death. I realize that weight flutuates but also I've not been doing as well as before and I can eat more usual. I know it is up to me to keep this weight off! I never want to go back! NEVER! I've been back and forth to many time in my life.

OK, so again I'm very excited to start this plan and any advice or encouragement is appreciated! Love you guys!!

How are the carbs Lis? I know that if I am not eating 'protein first' date=' veggies next,' not getting the water in or if I slip on vitamins the scale stops. Too many slices of cheese - too many nuts - all things that can get grounds up easily or slip down fast slow things.[/quote']

Nuts are nuts! Seriously, I tried low carb again before 5:2 and went Nuts eating them. Them I started logging and realized how many calories I was downing!!! No matter if it's low carb, it still takes 3500 less calories to lose a pound! So I quickly figured out why I was losing my regain on low carb! Ha!

Quote. A pound of body fat equates to approximately 3500 calories. So if you have a calorie deficit of 500 calories (meaning that you burn 500 calories more than you eat each day) you would lose approximately one pound per week:

500 x 7 = 3,500

It's easy to see that a calorie deficit of 1000 calories would mean that you'd lose approximately two pounds per week. And that's a good number to remember, because two pounds a week is commonly accepted as the maximum rate of weight loss that is healthy. Losing weight too quickly has other disadvantages, too, and we'll be discussing this in the next topic. ""

Once, I realized what I was doing to myself and sabotaging my loss, I had to lay down the nuts! Ha! Now I only allow myself to eat in100 calorie packs and that sparingly.

As FYE said, count on us to cheer you on. Really, it just comes down to the reality of nobody can do it for us. I was totally devastated that I had gone through almost 3 years and allowed myself to slide back into bad eating habits, GRAZING, and had added back 25 pounds. Don't let that stop you from taking things back!!!!! Do what you have to do. Whatever works for you. Basics, low carb, 5:2, just be proactive and log it!!!

That's a good idea Georgia - my husband gets those monster sized bags of Hoodies peanuts from Costco and I generally try and stay away from them - he can enjoy them in maintenance (and he also works out like a demon 5-6 days a week.) but those little buggers add up waay to quickly for me. I would rather save my calories for a nice greek yogurt or snack sliced veggies or hard boiled eggs,

I can say that this way of eating has dramatically helped my hunger. That alone makes it something I would stick with. I just hope my body stops fighting me on these last 20 + pounds. It is beyond OLD!

Lisa, I have found that I completely agree on food intake. I can eat much more than I used to. 4 ounces of protein & a veggie, easy peasy. although I have not eaten that much for breakfast, I think I easily could. (I have had 2 eggs & 2 slices of bacon, no toast.) eggs really smoosh up.

The hardest part for me is not eating slider foods in mass quantity. Sometimes I get these cravings & I find myself eating more because I can.

So far so good today on my fast! I feel great as right now. I had a protein shake and coffee no sugar. I will eat my meal tonight at 7 or so.

Lisa, have you tried making your own Frappe? I make my own, either with vanilla protein powder & iced coffee (or instant coffee) or GNC coffee flavored Optimum Nutrition (I like it cause it mixes super easy & is low carb, some of the coffee flavored proteins have a lot of carbs.) protein powder. Either way, I add ice, water (whatever the protein shake calls for), a little Splenda & SF creamer. Nom nom nom. And WAY cheaper than daily frappe's.

Lisa' date=' have you tried making your own Frappe? I make my own, either with vanilla protein powder & iced coffee (or instant coffee) or GNC coffee flavored Optimum Nutrition (I like it cause it mixes super easy & is low carb, some of the coffee flavored proteins have a lot of carbs.) protein powder. Either way, I add ice, water (whatever the protein shake calls for), a little Splenda & SF creamer. Nom nom nom. And WAY cheaper than daily frappe's. [/quote']

Okay, I'm interested in this because I am NOT a coffee drinker but sorta like a light coffee taste mocha kinda (if that makes sense1!). So the powder stuff from GNC- how many carbs/ cals/protein would a glass have do u think?

Okay' date=' I'm interested in this because I am NOT a coffee drinker but sorta like a light coffee taste mocha kinda (if that makes sense1!). So the powder stuff from GNC- how many carbs/ cals/protein would a glass have do u think?[/quote']

My fiance is a mocha kind of guy. He loves the coffee flavor more than the Mocha that I also boight. 24 grams of protein, 130 calories & only 4 carbs. I ordered the 5 pound tub off of Amazon for around $50 (it has 71 servings!).

My fiance is a mocha kind of guy. He loves the coffee flavor more than the Mocha that I also boight. 24 grams of protein' date=' 130 calories & only 4 carbs. I ordered the 5 pound tub off of Amazon for around 50 (it has 71 servings!).[/quote']

Wow! I might have to try it. You can get it at GNC too?

Not all GNC's carry the coffee flavor, so I would call first.

I get ESA chocolate fudge(pre mixed), mix with a cup of strong decaf and ice. I drink this for breakfast on fast days. Honestly, I keep adding ice and it lasts through lunch. 100 cals, 4 gms carb, 17 gms pro. Target Sometimes I mix in a few drops of peanut butter or coconut extract.

I get ESA chocolate fudge(pre mixed)' date=' mix with a cup of strong decaf and ice. I drink this for breakfast on fast days. Honestly, I keep adding ice and it lasts through lunch. 100 cals, 4 gms carb, 17 gms pro. Target Sometimes I mix in a few drops of Peanut Butter or coconut extract.[/quote']

Yum. That sounds good. Target has it? I'm going to try these as a change up. I've never been able to tolerate much of it. Lactose intolerance but think I could do these

Not all GNC's carry the coffee flavor' date=' so I would call first.[/quote']

I will! Thanks, Kristie!

Lisa, have you tried making your own Frappe? I make my own, either with vanilla Protein powder & iced coffee (or instant coffee) or GNC coffee flavored Optimum Nutrition (I like it cause it mixes super easy & is low carb, some of the coffee flavored Proteins have a lot of carbs.) Protein Powder. Either way, I add ice, Water (whatever the Protein shake calls for), a little Splenda & SF creamer. Nom nom nom. And WAY cheaper than daily frappe's.

I have tried making my own frappes I just don't like them much. However, I have found this new protein shake at Walmart called Six Star French Vanilla. I usually drink premier or myoplex lite chocolate. I've never liked vanilla ones but this one is pretty good. Yesterday on my fast, I mixed a cup of coffee with half the shake with one tablespoon of creamer. I had that through lunch yesterday. So it got me through. I've also added ice to make an iced coffee. I lost only a pound on my fast yesterday. I had 550 calories. A pound every fast day and keeping it off would be great, huh??

I have tried making my own frappes I just don't like them much. However' date=' I have found this new Protein shake at Walmart called Six Star French Vanilla. I usually drink premier or myoplex lite chocolate. I've never liked vanilla ones but this one is pretty good. Yesterday on my fast, I mixed a cup of coffee with half the shake with one tablespoon of creamer. I had that through lunch yesterday. So it got me through. I've also added ice to make an iced coffee. I lost only a pound on my fast yesterday. I had 550 calories. A pound every fast day and keeping it off would be great, huh?? [/quote']

Yep, a pound a fast day would be great but.. Sadly, probably not. LOL. I usually lose down a lb or two in a week. Bounce back up a couple then back Down and HOLD that weight then start over. Averages show 1 lb a week loss on 5:2. I was lucky to average 2 a week but also really contained my feast days to under 1100. Or less.

I'm going to def try the frappes

You guys sound like you have the protein/coffee mojo going on! I am going to have to try some of these products and recipes. I looooove my hot drinks but regular boring latte at 37 carbs can put a strain on my little low carb budget - at least it is dairy carbs