Target,

I’m not sure why you want to eat more on your fast days, and less on your non-fast days?

5:2 works just fine as it is, you know (which is probably why it’s such a massively successful brand 🙂 ). It’s calorie restriction for two days a week only, and the ‘normal’ 5 days make it very doable. What you propose is some level of calorie restriction every day, which starts to sound like every other type of restrictive diet that people generally start but don’t stick to long-term! There really is no need to fiddle around with 5:2, just do it by the book, and for ever.

However, if you think your version of this massively successful diet might be better, the best (and probably only) way to find out if it works is to try it. If you lose weight, it’s working!

Everyone’s different, and finds what works for them through personal experimentation, but most do start with basic 5:2. Why not just give it a go and see how you get on first before you start changing it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

No, I’m not offended! I was just pointing out that 5:2’s success suggests it’s a tried and tested method for weight loss (and then maintenance) and there really is no need to change it.

I lost 30lbs in early 2014 and have been the same weight (about 130lbs) for over a year now. And I know people who’ve been fasting for longer and have lost more than that. It really does work!

It sounds like you’ve been a life-long dieter? You will need to try and unlearn some of those bad and unhelpful dietary habits! This really isn’t about daily restriction.

If I was you, I’d just try it by the book for a while and get the hang of it, and see how it goes. You can do more fast days (every other day, if you want) or less (even one day a week will help, if you can’t fit in two for any reason). And you can eat less on a fast day (some people eat nothing as they find it easier than trying to eat a little).

So there is flexibility. But it sounds like you just need to forget other diets, and focus on getting into the habit of fasting twice a week, before you start playing around with it.

There are a few active threads here (look at popular, or active), with plenty of people with large amounts of weight to lose and long histories of dieting. Any of them will be more than happy to share their experiences and advice with you, and there’s always someone to talk to and support you. Why not have a look at mid 50s or Fat Busting Brits for example, or Aussie Determination (if you’re in the SH!).