Hi Ian I’m not sure what you mean when you say “day 4” are you fasting 4 days in a row or fasting one day & eating normally the next but having 4 fasting days each week? After all with 5:2 you don’t fast 2 days running as a rule, I fast Mon & Thurs which a lot of people seem to do also, not 2 consecutive days.

Hi Ian

Personally I can’t see that restricting your calories to 600-700 per day for 4 or 5 days in a row is good really especially for a man. If you fast 2 days out of 7 you’ll need 2000 calories per day to “survive” & maintain your current weight realistically. You don’t want to risk being deficient in calcium or other nutrients. Is this regime sustainable long term for a happy life? Once you become less strict any weight you’ve lost might creep back on.

I had about a stone to lose from my starting weight of 10st 6 in Oct last year. I gave up over Christmas & put on all the weight I’d lost which was no surprise I should have waited till after Christmas! I’m now 9st 8lb & would like to be nearer 9st as my blood glucose is raised & I’d rather no go down the diabetic route.

Mostly I’m fine, I do a 24 hour total fast 6pm Sun evening to 6pm Mon evening when I have my 450 cal meal (I deduct 50 cals for milk in tea/coffee) followed by another 14 hour fast till breakfast 8am Tuesday (repeat Wed evening to Friday morning). It’s quite manageable & the weight loss is steady. I don’t exercise much.

Some weeks I forget about my fasting days if I’m particularly stressed or the weather is fine & we have friends visit. A nice BBQ with a glass of wine is important to me, life is too short to worry about one day of not sticking to the plan. I’m not a big biscuit/cake person but I love cheese & the odd tipple but have cut out cider other than Bulmers Light. I have also cut carbs dramatically since starting 5:2 ie fewer portions of cereals, bread, pasta, potatoes & eating much more in the way of salads & fresh vegetables

After hearing that Dr Mosley did a fast kick start for 3.5 days and now you doing 5. It has inspired me to kick start the 5:2 for 3.5. days of fasting.

Its going to require a lot of willpower but I’m going to post here daily to see if I can last even those designated 3.5.

Here’s to a new me.

Ian.

Day 1 done but I didn’t feel hungry whatsoever.

Did a bit of research and was shocked to find out how much calories white coffee w/2 sugars has 🙁 drank quite a bit today.

Shifting to sugarless blacks tomorrow hopefully my body will kick into fasting mode.

I did a 4 day fast a couple of months ago for possibly obtaining health benefits, not for weight loss. I lost weight and gained it back quickly but I’m at my goal weight so I made no effort to keep it off. Still, it was sure easy to gain back.

I don’t think it makes sense to “kick off” 5:2, but to each his own, I guess. I suspect it is safer to ease into intermittent fasting as your body isn’t used to it in the beginning. After you’re sure you’re not going to have any problems with a single day, then maybe increase, would be my thinking. I started with many months of partial day fasting with an 8 hour eating window before moving on to 5:2 after being at a weight plateau for a few months. I may be slow, but over the course of 3 years I lost 60 pounds and it’s been off now for nearly a year.

In my reading, more than 5 days of the 500 cal fasts seems to be generally recognized as potentially unsafe so maybe discretion is the better part of valor.

Speaking of non fasting days being a minefield, would eating half as much as you normally would suffice?

I.E Instead of eating 2 pies for lunch just have 1? or just 6 nuggets opposed to the dozen I normally eat.

I’m really unsure at this point and any info would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.

Good morning,

Thank you all for your prompt advice.

Its wonderful and inspiring
Starting today…

Kind Regards

Hi,
I am on the 2nd full day of my 4-5 day fast, but might keep going depending on how I feel. I am expecting big results as I am overweight, and almost obese.

Thanks.

I don’t think I could go the full stretch without the sugarless black coffee (Just switched from white 2sugars when I found out how much calories the damn thing has!).

I’ve been having those insta soup satchels and it is amazing how much appreciation I have developed for soup. (I previously just gulp soup in one go). I might get one of those soup making blenders and try make my own on non fast days.

Just holding on by a thread moving into the 3rd day but seeing david do the 4-5 has strengthened my resolve. Though I’m drawing the line at 3.5 😛

Hi all! I fasted Monday and Tuesday. Had tonnes of green tea which I’m hooked on it! Had few coffees. And some salty crisps so I don’t get any headaches. I’m ok but feel very tired. Is that normal?

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your words.

Today my I reached the 3.5 day milestone, but will carry it on till tomorrow at least. It’s become easy now, but I notice light headedness whilst doing simple things such as walking or general activities. I did read it can lead to death if you are not under the supervision of a doctor, so I drink more water than I used to and might end it as soon as I feel more faint than normal. Apparently one has to start with lots of healthy food pre-diet, and end it high quality food post-diet.
Be careful!

Hi Jules,
thanks for your comments.

My 3.5 day fast hasn’t been stopped yet. I am carrying it on till tonight, which makes it 4 precisely. I began it Sunday evening and I am not hungry at all. But I nearly gave up Tuesday, but went to bed instead, so as to avoid food.

I did it as it’s scientifically proven to renew the immune system, and lowers IGF1 immensely(the pro-ageing hormone). Maybe this is why I look young and gorgeous for my age? lol!

I read that you should do this fast every 60 days, otherwise just follow the intermittent fasting methods and switch to a plant based diet. Does that sound good? Thanks

Yes,
it seems to be the elixir of youth.I haven’t had any colds,flu in years.

I will let you know and might end it tonight, and begin to eat a keto diet, but in intermittent style.

Thanks,

David.

Thanks,
i ended it at 3pm today which means I fasted for 4 days. I then eat very healthily but a lot. Tomorrow I will eat just lunch and dinner, but will eat less protein than I used to and more vegetable. But will do the 3.5 day fast every 60 days or so.

Are you going to do it again ? and well done for losing a stone.

Thanks.

Hey guys I noticed that I’m eating waaaaaay slower. Before I began fasting I used to just blink and my whole plate of food was gone!

Its really cool IMO because with every bite now comes appreciation for food/taste. Which I did not have previously to fasting.

Anywho when Monday comes round going to start a 2 day fast again. Both of you keep up the good work!

Jules.

Hi guys and gals..just stalking you all, I cant do more than 5:2 as I’m breastfeeding (a toddler) But I’m so enjoying reading about your experiences and wanted to share mine!

I fasted years ago, I used to do 3 day fasts a few times a year then I did 2 weeks once, just water, then slowly slowly coming out with juice to salad to clean food which took another v two weeks .

My daily weight chart on the Wii fit was like a big tick, I lost over a pound a day while water fasting, and gained it back at twice the speed despite calorie restricting! I found the first day easy, days 2 & 3 the hardest theni thoughti might never eat again it was so easy! I was like a super human bags of energy, mental acuity and an extraordinary feeling of lightness. Finally the cry for protein overwhelmed me and I broke my fast. I must say I did a lot of research and I went into it gently (clean no carbs 5 days last 2 just light salads) and VERY gently coming out as that is when the danger is you have to be so careful, it can be fatal if you fast then pig out on a fry up!

Even though I instantly gained back the weight I lost I did feel very well. Food tasted amazing I had more energy and I felt really ‘clean’!

Good luck on your weight loss journeys you are all doing amazingly!