Immediate large weight loss – fluid?

This topic contains 6 replies, has 2 voices, and was last updated by penguin 10 years, 1 month ago.

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penguin

3:59 pm
15 Oct 14
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I used the 5:2 immediately after the Horizon programme and it worked so well I converted a few friends. About six weeks ago I damaged my shoulder. I can’t paddle a kayak or go to the gym and I have put on 7 pounds. I have just re-started with one low cal day, a feeding day then two low cal days. From here on it will be 5:2. My low cal days tend to be quite low, about 400 cal, which I do not find difficult. I am 70 years old, 6ft 4in tall and started this time at 16st 11lb. Four days in and I am down 8 pounds already, which for me is normal -any change of diet results in rapid weight gain or loss. My question is, why does everyone say that the initial rapid weight loss is fluid? One of the reasons I can take two consecutive very low cal days is that I drink an enormous amount of tea. Is there any actual evidence that the initial loss is fluid or is this folklore?.

simcoeluv

4:08 pm
15 Oct 14
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penguin:

I just posted this below – it might help:

“You will certainly lose some fat weight if you cut your calories. And losing water weight is not necessarily bad.

Water weight is a mystery for many, and the body does seem to act arbitrarily sometimes. The initial water weight loss many experience comes from a reduction in glycogen in the liver. As food intake is reduced on diet days, liver glycogen is converted to energy to support the needs of the body. The thing is, for every gram of glycogen, there are about 3 to 4 grams of water and as the glycogen is used the water is released. That is why many that start the diet report they have to make several additional trips to the loo.

This ultimately slows down, but high carb meals rapidly increase glycogen stores, which requires additional water and added water weight. That is why many report they have better weight loss and less weight variation by eating low carb meals.

Try to do your diet days correctly, don’t exercise too much, and you should lose some weight by the wedding.

I’m sure you will have a great wedding. Best of luck!”

The other side of the equation is to lose one pound of fat you need to cut 3500 calories out of your diet. As an average man can lose only a little less than five pounds a week if they eat/drink no calories at all, it is pretty much impossible to lose a lot of weight quickly simply from a reduction in calories.

Here are some tips that might help: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

penguin

4:58 pm
15 Oct 14
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simcoeluv,

Thank you for that. I certainly made lots of trips to the loo, but ascribed that to the fact that I was drinking far more tea than usual, and I always drink a lot. I don’t have a problem with exercise on my fasting days, the reverse is true. I seem to have so much energy that I am bouncing around being more active than usual.

simcoeluv

5:15 pm
15 Oct 14
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penguin:

YW. There generally is no problem with exercising on diet days unless the exercise involves substantial amounts of high intensity exercise – think of doing several 100 meter dashes. On diet days your blood sugar levels, which provide immediate energy, are lower and insufficient to cover lots of quick energy needs. General activity, walking and jogging are usually no problem.

penguin

5:29 pm
15 Oct 14
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simcoeluv:

Interesting. On Day 2 of my next fast I’ll try several hard miles with repetitive sprints on the exercise bike, an activity I normally find intensely boring and avoid. This will give me an incentive and I’ll report the result.

simcoeluv

5:38 pm
15 Oct 14
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penguin:

Everyone is different, but don’t be surprised if you ‘hit the wall’ and find yourself very tired.

Good Luck!

penguin

5:29 pm
22 Oct 14
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simcoeluv.

11 days in and 11 pounds down, but most of that in the first few days. Rate of loss has seriously slowed. Had plenty of exercise- long hilly walks – but no running and didn’t get to the exercise bike. Did cut my grass today, about two hours pushing the machine across uneven ground over grass which was too long. Energy levels Ok, but none to spare. Boredom may have been a factor. So whilst I have not seriously pushed the activity levels when fasting, what I have done tends to support your view. I’m away for a couple of weeks, so I’ll give it a good try when I get back.