5:2 means two days per week when you only eat 500 calories from when you get up until when you go to bed so unless your breakfast and lunch only days are less than 500 calories or you eat a sub 500 calorie meal after your run and nothing else until the following day it isn’t 5:2 and it won’t work.

Hi Caroline:

Actually, there are about 144 24 hour periods in a week – but only 7 days. You have described a standard every day reduced calorie diet. Just figure out how much weight you want to lose each week (say one pound, which equals 3500 cal.), divide by 7 (500) and insure you eat 500 cal. less than your TDEE each day and you should lose some weight.

You did not describe 5:2, which requires 2 approximately 36 hour periods each week where 500 cal. or less is eaten.

If you are interested in 5:2, here are some tips: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

Hi Caroline,

Running has been an important part of my 5:2 success template.

For me, the time window after lunch until dinner (approx 1 pm til 6 pm) during a fast day is a challenge as I can feel quite hungry. A 3-5 mile run has been a life saver in that it takes my mind off food, burns a few calories, and puts me into a post run low-hunger period. I did experiment w/running longer and didn’t like how I felt near the end of the run and the rest of the fast. I consume my 500 calorie FD allotment at supper so I can sleep better (36 hours w/no food is too long for me).

I dropped 30 lbs in four months and have kept it off; I normally run 3-5 x per week and am currently doing 6:1 as maintenance.

FWIW and best of luck to you!