The 5:2 diet

Hi, I'm 21, 5' 2 (and a half - that's an important part!) and roughy 9 stone 4. While I know this gives me a relatively healthy BMI, I'm attempting to shift the excess weight and tone up before I head off abroad in the summer. I've just started the 5:2 diet today (two fast days a week consuming 500 calories, 5 days where you are permitted to eat whatever you like) Research thus far has been somewhat contradictory - it's been rated and slated! I'm currently 8 hours into my fast (breakfast was 200 cals) and physically I feel fine, lots of water has kept hunger at bay! I feel this could actually work! What are your opinions on this? Success stories? Drawbacks? Thanks!!
 
I'm going to be nice and awkward by contradicting the other answer you've had, sorry! I haven't actually done this myself (I like food too much to just eat 500 calories for a whole day) but my parents have and they made amazing progress. They both stopped after a few months but they didn't gain the weight back because they said their appetite had gone down. I suppose it depends on the person! I don't think it's a diet you'd be able to keep up for a long time though...
 
I've been 5:2 ing since October and I love it. I use it now more as a 6:1 for maintenance now and for the first time ever I'm maintaining my weight. I wish you every success. My only advice would be to keep to the same fast days weekly and never fast consecutive days. It really speeds up the metabolism. My hips have really shrunk and my tummy which is seemingly meant to happen on 5:2. It really is an amazing way of life. :) xxx
 
500 calories is a starvation diet, but I've done it unintentionally when I drink tea to curb my appetite. I think that 3:4 with 4 days at 1000 calories would be a little healthier. But hey, it's your body, and if that works for you and you feel fine, go with it.
 
2 non consecutive days no more than 500kcals and the other 5 no counting but to eat in moderation. I dieted on a vlcd then low carb till sept then started 5:2. I eat healthy cals and really bulk up my meals with veg, slim noodles on fast days. Hit goal weight early December and have maintained since. It's all about eating in moderation ultimately with any diet but rather than cutting your cals by 200-400 every day, fasting 2 days per week has really worked for me. I've been a size 22 at my biggest and have maintained a size 8 since November. Losing 4.5stone last year. It's the only time I've managed to maintain any weight loss. I use a mixture between 5:2 ( I've I've had an indulgent meal out ) or 6:1. Some weeks I haven't had to fast as my kcal's have been clean throughout the week. Hope that helps. :) xxx
 
I really don't find it difficult at all, I think because I always have exercised since before fasting, I'm fine. Don't get me wrong I do think the psychology of knowing I can have more food tomorrow if I want/ need it comes in handy as normally when it's a non fast day I very rarely over indulge. Think it's the old saying, we always want what we can't have. And when we can have it, we don't really want it lol. I'm not saying this way is for everyone, but I've been 5:2 ing for 5/6 months now and my weight is completely stable. I've found my balance and what works for me, if I choose to lose more I'll reduce kcals on non fast days slightly, or bring in another fast day. It's about finding what works for each individual. There's far too many diets out there to say any 1 single plan is right for everyone. :) xxx



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I really don't find it difficult at all, I think because I always have exercised since before fasting, I'm fine. Don't get me wrong I do think the psychology of knowing I can have more food tomorrow if I want/ need it comes in handy as normally when it's a non fast day I very rarely over indulge. Think it's the old saying, we always want what we can't have. And when we can have it, we don't really want it lol. I'm not saying this way is for everyone, but I've been 5:2 ing for 5/6 months now and my weight is completely stable. I've found my balance and what works for me, if I choose to lose more I'll reduce kcals on non fast days slightly, or bring in another fast day. It's about finding what works for each individual. There's far too many diets out there to say any 1 single plan is right for everyone. :) xxx



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You know what Carrie - you are seriously inspiring and part the reason I started properly on this site and started my own diary - just wanted to say thank you! :thankyou:
 
You know what Carrie - you are seriously inspiring and part the reason I started properly on this site and started my own diary - just wanted to say thank you! :thankyou:

Thank you Sooo much, what a lovely thing to say. And a lovely thing for me to read, if I inspire one person to believe that they can do it and they go on to achieve it then that's amazing. Thank YOU :) xxx
 
Thank you Sooo much, what a lovely thing to say. And a lovely thing for me to read, if I inspire one person to believe that they can do it and they go on to achieve it then that's amazing. Thank YOU :) xxx

No seriously - thank you! I am on day 6 of exante and have already lost 12lbs! need to update my diary though - Will in a bit! I can only hope to achieve as much as you have x
 
No seriously - thank you! I am on day 6 of exante and have already lost 12lbs! need to update my diary though - Will in a bit! I can only hope to achieve as much as you have x

Wow!!! That's a fantastic loss in the first 6 days! I'll look for your diary! Xxx
 
Hi, 12lbs loss in 6 days is a lot.
I know, although it is my first week so you do lose more..... Can't say I am complaining about that right now though!! lol
 
I've been 5:2 ing since October and I love it. I use it now more as a 6:1 for maintenance now and for the first time ever I'm maintaining my weight. I wish you every success. My only advice would be to keep to the same fast days weekly and never fast consecutive days. It really speeds up the metabolism. My hips have really shrunk and my tummy which is seemingly meant to happen on 5:2. It really is an amazing way of life. :) xxx

Hi hun x wow inspiring, u look great!! I'm reading the 5:2 book at the moment, on SW for past 3yrs & struggling to lose last stone or so. Think 5:2 is the way forward. Can I b a pain & ask if u would mind writing on here an example of ur fast day food diary? (I'm a veggie). Thank u in advance x L x

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Hi hun x wow inspiring, u look great!! I'm reading the 5:2 book at the moment, on SW for past 3yrs & struggling to lose last stone or so. Think 5:2 is the way forward. Can I b a pain & ask if u would mind writing on here an example of ur fast day food diary? (I'm a veggie). Thank u in advance x L x

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No probs, I'm not a veggie though so I suppose you could sub some things. Breakfast would either be 1 x toast ( ww lowest kcals per slice ) with one 15g portion reduced sugar jam or 1 boiled egg with a cracker bread, lunch 1x tin ww soup ( I normally go for chicken noodle as its only 51 kcals ) with a pack of skips or some other low cal crisps, tea, slim noodles from holland n Barrett 42kcals for 200g packets ( I buy loads when they're in the penny sale ) either done like a veg noodle stirfry with chicken and any veg you prefer or a 1 egg omelette bulked up with 2 chicks egg whites and veg. Snacks are normally sf jelly pots and pink n white wafers. Also boullion is a staple at only 12kcals per cup made with 5g it's like a little cup a soup. Hope that helps. I'll take a pic of the 2 chicks ( found in tesco and sainsburys in the fridge aisle beside the ready to roll pastry ) and the slim noodles. :) xxx



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No probs, I'm not a veggie though so I suppose you could sub some things. Breakfast would either be 1 x toast ( ww lowest kcals per slice ) with one 15g portion reduced sugar jam or 1 boiled egg with a cracker bread, lunch 1x tin ww soup ( I normally go for chicken noodle as its only 51 kcals ) with a pack of skips or some other low cal crisps, tea, slim noodles from holland n Barrett 42kcals for 200g packets ( I buy loads when they're in the penny sale ) either done like a veg noodle stirfry with chicken and any veg you prefer or a 1 egg omelette bulked up with 2 chicks egg whites and veg. Snacks are normally sf jelly pots and pink n white wafers. Also boullion is a staple at only 12kcals per cup made with 5g it's like a little cup a soup. Hope that helps. I'll take a pic of the 2 chicks ( found in tesco and sainsburys in the fridge aisle beside the ready to roll pastry ) and the slim noodles. :) xxx



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Hi hun x thanks so much 4 that x I live in quite a rural part of north wales so the shops u mentioned r abt 40 mins away :( so going to check online. Hoping to start this wk, but not 2 sure when? I workout every other morning & I take it I shouldn't fast on workout days? x L x

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Your not supposed to but as I've exercised daily since starting 5:2 I've kept it up. You'll find what works for you xxx
 
Your not supposed to but as I've exercised daily since starting 5:2 I've kept it up. You'll find what works for you xxx

Once again, thanks hun x I've started working out every other morning, before breakfast, so I don't want to stop that. Going to "start" my fasting tomorrow, it won't b 100% but I'm happy giving it a try x L x

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Hi girls, im thinking of starting this diet and seeing if it can work for me!
Think I may make tomorrow my first day...get it over and done with lol!
What days do you chose as your fasting days?
You have done amazingly well, well done!
I only weigh 10 stone but im 5 foot so I need to get rid of about a stone and currently my BMI is overweight....so fingers crossed! :)
 
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