Hi im also pretty new to 5:2 im heading into my 3rd week. I wouldnt be too hard on yourself on putting weight on it happens to most of us in our late teens/early 20s. Im 28 and up until i was about 21 i could eat whatever i wanted and was still skinny. By 23 i was a little chubbier but def not big. I fell pregnant with my son at 23 after his birth i was just shy of 11 stone i lost a stone just by being busy as a mum and have been 10 stone for the last 4 years eating what i wanted. But the last six months my weight has crept up to 11 stone 4 i was shocked so started 5:2 on 5th Jan in 2 weeks i have lost 9lbs so im thrilled. I wouldnt want to give you advice as im new myself but one thing that has helped me incredibly has been the support and inspirational stories on this forum i dont think i could do it without this. Good luck on your journey and weight lose

Welcome.
Read all of the FAQ’s on this page and all the other information, it will help you.
Do not focus on weight alone. You will change shape as the weeks go by and notice from the way that you clothes fit that you are shrinking. My top tips are to measure all of your vital statistics along with weight, just once a week and try on clothes then too.I keep all mine in a little book. There will be some weeks when the scales seem to be broken and the tape measure doesn’t move, but just keep going, you will be losing fat from somewhere.
I always choose food that I love of fast days. I really like salmon, I put a portion in a foil parcel, sprinkled with some chilli flakes and cooks for around 18 mins in the oven and have that with vegetables or salad.Soup is very filling and warming in the winter and the calories are easy to find on the tin or make your own-just chuck the veg in a pan with water and boil for 15 mins then blitz to a puree, which you can then portion and freeze.
I am sure that working full time in a legal firm is going to be both very busy, so take precautions plan meals for the week.It will make it so much easier if you either batch cook and freeze at the weekend or have everything in for the week. It can be tough going into a supermarket on a fast day.
If you can get some exercise in your day, then that will help with the stress of a busy job. Can you fit more walking in somewhere? Take the stairs rather than the lift etc?
This isn’t a diet, but a way of life.It is also a marathon and not a sprint.
There are loads of tips on the forum and plenty of support from all over the world.

Thank you.
I run a couple of times a week, currently on a treadmill in the warm at a gym.The treadmill is very useful for doing interval training which will improve your stamina and speed, as well as weights which are very good for strengthening core and upper body, which also improves running.
I also began on a similar programme a couple of years ago and run races, usually at the back, through the year. I have a 10K in a fortnight and I am not looking forward to it in this freezing weather. My son who is 25, started running with me to keep me company, but we now part company at the race start as he is much faster than me.We have run 4 half marathons together, but he is running one on his own in a couple of months to see just how fast he can go without me.
I look forward to hearing about your progress in the next few weeks.

Well done! You must feel amazing! Good luck for this week. Make sure you take care of yourself and just take one day at a time.

How has your last week been?

Keep going girls you are doing well and it will get easier.
I’m 2 months in now and i’ve lost 8.5kg thats about 1 stone, 5 pounds.
I find my fast days now are really easy i get through them without any hunger pangs. I plan the fast days carefully and tend to eat the same every fast day.
The rest of the week i eat normally but find i do eat a lot less than i used to, simply because i am not that hungry and if i do eat too much i feel bloated. This has shocked me, and pleased me! I’ve always been someone who was ALWAYS hungry before! I do count my cals on non fast days just to see what i am eating, not to stay within a limit. I find i tend to average 1400-1600 cals most days, which is lower than maybe it should be but i’m not starving myself, just eating better. I have the odd day where i’m a bit piggier, and if i’m eating out i don’t worry about calorie counting!
I’m still eating chocolate, cake, etc, but not binging on it as i did before.

I ty and do exercise on weekends when i’m off and maybe a small bit in the week, like go on my exercise bike after work. But over the last 2 months i haven’t done that much exercise, so i’m sure with more i could have lost more weight maybe?!
I just feel so much better. I’ve noticed i have a waist again, i have much more energy, i don’t get out of puff going upstairs and i love walking the dog for hours whereas before i’d get tired quickly and get pains in my side.

I relaly think this is the eating plan for me, i love how simple it is and i’m going to continue it for life.

My mantra is always ” you can always have that chocolate/wine/pudding tomorrow. Today you are 5:2. “