I’m now some 3 months a 5/2-er and it’s worked! No question about it – some preceding months of exercise and careful food intake hadn’t produced the desired results but adding 5/2 to the mix has done the job.
From a BMI of 25-26 down to sub-24, a reduction of some 10% body weight. My ‘proto-paunch’ is but a shadow of it’s original self. Moreover I definitely feel healthier and more energetic. More reasons to believe in the other touted benefits? I hope so.
OK, that’s the good, now for the not so ‘good’:
Apart from the obvious battles with hunger and low-energy malaise during my two fasting days I do get bouts of tummy/abdominal aches/cramps. They usually occur late on the first or into the second day. I’ve been fairly zealous on my personal interpretation of fasting; generally restricting myself to plenty of liquids (tea, water and occasionally a hot Marmite beverage – try not to laugh please). Lately I’ve relaxed this strict regime to include fruit such as water melon, pear and kiwi. So perhaps not surprising that my digestive system has gotten cranky.
More disturbing are the thankfully few dizzy spells I’ve had shortly after breaking my fast. The most recent was during a meeting at work (on an offshore drilling installation) – about half an hour after a ‘generous’ breakfast of muesli followed by a plate of tuna/beans/cooked tomato with whole-wheat toast I had a hot-sweat and near black-out spell. Perching myself on the edge of a table saved me from a potentially difficult situation.
I surmise that being more frugal with the first meal might avoid this issue but I’d really like to read other fast-dieter’s experiences / thoughts on this and the pluses / minuses of this life choice.
4:11 am
23 Jan 14