Hi Barnabie,

I understand completely your fears, I have been a binge eater and emotional eater all my life and have struggled with my weight because of this. Like you, I have been inspired by reading about the Fast Diet, but worried about failing. I think the first thing to do is to tell yourself, there is no failing – this is a journey and you can keep going forwards, no matter what. I started and stopped 5:2 a couple of times because I thought I’d ‘failed’, but then I decided to by gentle with myself and understanding that it’s going to take time to adjust to fasting, after being so used to emotional eating.

I found as well that fasting turned my feelings back on, as I would usually try to stuff them down with food and this was strange at first. But, when you choose to sit with the feelings and recognised the desire to eat, but don’t act on it, the feeling really does pass.

I am now finding my way with this lifestyle and am slowly but surely getting a control over my compulsive eating each time I have a go at fasting. Take your time and congratulate yourself for your small wins. If you manage half a fast day, that’s a small win – next time you can increase that until you find you are successfully achieving a fast day and it gets easier and easier the more you do it. Don’t beat yourself up if you veer off course, you can just come back again the next time.

I have bought Paul Mckenna’s ‘freedom from emotional eating’ which is a really good book for tackling the underline reasons why we overeat. It may be of interest you to suport you with your journey.

Good luck!

Hi, I’m new and yesterday was my first fast day. It wasn’t easy especially when late afternoon rolled around…but I managed. I already lost a little over one pound from yesterday. I have failed at almost every diet out there but this one is totally different and i”M excited about it. For years we have been told about “starvation mode” that we should eat six small meals throughout the day , etc. etc. Its refreshing to hear someone tell us we can ditch all those rules. Today is a non fast day for me but I know i can’t go hog wild. Im going to eat healthy, low carb and no sugar. I’m also going to give myself one cheat meal a week, for me that would be friday night I’m going out with friends and plan on having a hamburger.

Hi and Welcome Chimama:

Here are some tips for those just starting 5:2: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/warnings-to-newbies/

Good Luck!