The 5:2 Diet

[TheNewSusie 471]

5:2 caused me and many others to be much less hungry on feast days! Enjoy! I believe that watching what you eat on non fast days increases your loss overall. Just get your Protein in and don't go too low on cals or your body will adjust to it and slow down loss overall.

I tried so hard today, hopefully tomorrow I'll get in more cals. I had a Quest bar for Breakfast, 4oz. tuna for lunch and 3 ounces of grilled salmon with some zucchini at dinner and I'm overly full.

[Globetrotter 1,340]

Hey Georgia, what is it you eat and do exactly, that is giving you such awesome results? I do Insanity 5x a week and the scale has not budged an ounce since I started - going on 3 wks now

[Georgia 2,908]

Hey Georgia, what is it you eat and do exactly, that is giving you such awesome results? I do Insanity 5x a week and the scale has not budged an ounce since I started - going on 3 wks now

I'm not sure, GT. I do not eat until at least 11-12 on fast day and usually then it is a mini babybel cheese and a cup of SF cider or cocoa.

Then I eat dinner. Usually before 7 and it will be veg Soup or chicken stir fry or turkey franks with guacamole and cut up veggies. I'll have no sugar added ice cream bar usually for a snack.

I don't do any really strenuous exercise. I am almost 60. I have a Gazelle and an bike that I ride for exercise and try to stay active with my steps during day

I eat very clean most other days and usually don't hit more than 1200 calories on those days also. Now, this week I've eaten too many goodies but not enough food. Still holding at low weight but probably because my overall calorie intake is still low and I am doing two fast days a week

I think my body just likes 5:2 lifestyle!

[TheNewSusie 471]

I'm not sure what's going on but is it normal to gain weight on 5:2? I'll admit I didn't do the greatest Christmas Eve and day but I also didn't do horrible, a few bites of this and that but I'm up 8 pounds and it's making me crazy. Really worried and not sure this is for me. My sugar also drops a lot and I wake up shaking in the middle of the night and grab a Protein Bar or some crackers to being it back up. I feel like a failure.

[mistysj 1,939]

I don't know the answer but you shouldn't feel like a failure if it doesn't work for you. We got tricked for years by blaming ourselves instead of the diets. You can always speak to your doctor or set up a consult with a nutritionist to get advice. Not everyone on this site who is successful has done 5:2.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

You are diabetic? Its not recommended for diabetics. It sounds like Water weight, have you upped your salts and/or carbs? This will pack on the water. No, gaining weight is not common.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I don't know the answer but you shouldn't feel like a failure if it doesn't work for you. We got tricked for years by blaming ourselves instead of the diets. You can always speak to your doctor or set up a consult with a nutritionist to get advice. Not everyone on this site who is successful has done 5:2.

Not all people who have tried the 5:2 lose weight either. A few are very successful, others moderatly, others love how it makes them feel, and they maintain on it.

Susie:

How long have you been trying it? What are you doing? still counting calories and such? Drinking Water? I know I have been eating more sugar and carbs, and calories and salt the last couple of weeks, but try and clean it up for the fast days. I gained a couple of pounds over my high bounce/goal, but managed to get it back into the range by the day after christmas. I am now fighting some carb monster because of my choices, but hope to get that off my back in the next couple of days.

You are not a failure, perhaps it is not for you, or we might be able to figure out why its not working for you. After I had gained 16 pounds I tried a plan where I started gaining weight... the plan even said that I would gain before I lost... I gained 6 pounds and chickened out, It just scared the shite out of me. I then tried another plan that had worked pretty well in the past for me, I lost 5 pounds on that, then found out about the 5:2 and have had good success with that, losing 22 pounds to goal, but I had to crawl around and try a few things until I found something I thought I could live with and worked for me. I am still trying it out, and so far so good, but who knows about the future, I might have to start looking for some other approach some time if this stops working for me. It is a package of behavior, including exercise, water, Protein, the scale, MFP, support here and fitbit. Not just diet.

Edited December 27, 2013 by feedyoureye

[mistysj 1,939]

Sorry for the confusion, feedyoureye. I have never attempted 5:2 (I'm not at a year out and I'm not having trouble losing yet). I was just responding to the feeling like a failure bit.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

Thats ok Mistysj, I was responding to your post, then to Susies post after that.

[former_vbg 198]

So, I'm curious. I've been watching the posts here- haven't tried this yet. I see everyone mention their focus strictly on calories but never carbs. I realize its about clean eating, but there are lots of foods that are not poor choices can be low calorie but high in carbs. Various fitness bars come to mind but there are other more traditional foods- just can't think any at the moment.

[mistysj 1,939]

So, I'm curious. I've been watching the posts here- haven't tried this yet. I see everyone mention their focus strictly on calories but never carbs. I realize its about clean eating, but there are lots of foods that are not poor choices can be low calorie but high in carbs. Various fitness bars come to mind but there are other more traditional foods- just can't think any at the moment.

You mean like potatoes, which are full of essential Vitamins and minerals? I know I still have potatoes occasionally (more like 1/4 of a russet).

[No game 14,437]

So, I'm curious. I've been watching the posts here- haven't tried this yet. I see everyone mention their focus strictly on calories but never carbs. I realize its about clean eating, but there are lots of foods that are not poor choices can be low calorie but high in carbs. Various fitness bars come to mind but there are other more traditional foods- just can't think any at the moment.

If you are talking about our fast days? I personally try to make my calories dense Protein and non starchy veggies on fast days so carbs don't really come into play as far as watching them..

As a matter of fact unless I'm seriously blowing it I still watch my carbs on all days, as I'm pretty sure all the other 5:2 people here do..

[feedyoureye 3,087]

The 5:2 diet, as it is described in the documentary and book allows eating or drinking anything on feast days.... what you usually eat. around 2200 cals!

Then on fast days eat mostly veggies, try to get in around 50 gms Protein , no booze, keep the sugar down, and carbs are ok, but not dominant.... mostly low glycemic index carbs. Rest your liver and other innards.

Us gals here that have been doing the 5:2 eat reduced cals on fast days (500-550), low carb if you do low carb, (I do lower/medium carbs... not really LOW and have found success with that) and eat around 1100-1400 on feast days depending on what you usually eat. I think you can eat some sugar and junk, but then the carb monster rises up, and its just not that good for you, so eating good nutritious food is where its at in my book. I have gone through the holidays eating too many treats, and am still in my goal bounce range. I attribute this to the fasting days of the 5;2. BUT I am fighting the carb monster, and am working to get back to my cleaner routine as we speak!

[former_vbg 198]

So, I'm curious. I've been watching the posts here- haven't tried this yet. I see everyone mention their focus strictly on calories but never carbs. I realize its about clean eating, but there are lots of foods that are not poor choices can be low calorie but high in carbs. Various fitness bars come to mind but there are other more traditional foods- just can't think any at the moment.

If you are talking about our fast days? I personally try to make my calories dense Protein and non starchy veggies on fast days so carbs don't really come into play as far as watching them..

As a matter of fact unless I'm seriously blowing it I still watch my carbs on all days, as I'm pretty sure all the other 5:2 people here do..

My question on carbs was not specific to the fasting days or not- was just a question in general. I have always had success with keeping my carbs low. One thing I haven't been able to understand though is prior to my surgery (2 1/2 yrs ago), I ALWAYS had success doing the Atkins diet. Ok, so obviously it didn't has lasting effects but I've tried the Atkins style of eating over the past few months with little or NO success which has me absolutely befuzzled. My bloodwork is all in check, don't have any health issues, etc., so I'm just trying to assess how to approach the 5:2 plan.

Atkins style of eating has always been my preferred method simply because I HATE cooking, HATE preparing food, etc., and so if I can get by with just eating meat products and other low carb foods, it was super easy for me to follow. You guys might laugh but I have no problem snacking on Pepperoni slices and the like. Yes, high in salt content I believe. My point is that for whatever reason the Atkins style of eating doesn't work anymore like it did pre-surgery. Admittedly I need to incorporate more veggies and such. Just trying to figure out my strategy so I don't get frustrated and quit. I need to take off 20# of regain.

Edited December 28, 2013 by former_vbg

[feedyoureye 3,087]

vbg, have you watched the BBC documentary yet? Very helpful....

has an annoying popup, but scroll down to see the video. it tells the details of what the plan is based on.

http://leangainsguide.com/diet/igf-1-and-fasting/