I am doing something similar — 2 fast days and 5 low carb days. Since I started 9 days ago, the weight loss was quick – 7 lbs in 9 days. I anticipate the weight loss to slow, as I am quite the veteran in losing/gaining weight and know what my patterns are.

I have expanded my carbs to be up to 40 grams in net carbs (subtract out the fiber), when before I was around 20-30 net carbs a day.

I eat no dairy, juice, avoid almost all fruits. I haven’t had bread or cereal in a long time and pasta even longer. Rice is off the list as well.

Hi, I just signed up with the forum, noticed this post on the home page and had to answer.

I definitely do low carb on my fasting days. Last year, when I first 5:2’d I fasted on any two days a week and ate anything as long as it didn’t go over 500 calories. This time around, I am adhering more closely to Harvie’s 5:2 protocol (she wrote the book The 2 Day Diet), where I fast on two consecutive days, eat low carb (less than 40 net grams a day), and try to get in 60 grams of protein, which isn’t really hard.

This time around, it’s just amazing. I am just not starving on my fast days, heck the protein is so filling I daresay I’m not even that hungry on my fast days, honestly! And I love fasting back to back. Gets them out of the way. Oh, and I now eat around 600 cals on fast days instead of 500 like I did before. But unlike the 2 Day Diet book, I don’t eat Meditteranean on my feasting days. I’m more paleo and don’t eat nowhere the amount of carb I ate before.

I love fasting this way, and cutting carbs/upping protein puts an amazing stall on hunger.

Interesting to know there are others combining lc and 5:2. I’m a recent starter on 5:2, this is my 2nd week, and I am sticking to low carb as well.
I have done low carb diets 3 or 4 times in the past, quite successfully, but I always end up going back to bread, pasta and spuds, thinking I can control it, but I never can. I’ve never had a problem with sweet stuff, but bread is just lethal to me, I believe I am wheat intolerant and it gives me lots of problems, but OMG I would sell my soul for a loaf of fresh bread!
I had already lost a few kilos on lc since new year, but I have another 23 -25 kg to go so I’m in for the long haul.
I always find lc curbs my appetite. (I’ve already gone over 24 hours since my last meal and feel I could go a bit longer).

I would imagine it would make me want as many carbs as I like all the time … 🙂

Hi all, I’m following a low carb diet almost 100% of the time (my mum comes for dinner on a Sunday and this is my only non low carb dinner). I am so frustrated though as I haven’t shifted any weight for ages. I am 28lbs away from my goal so I feel it should be coming off quicker. I have cut back my wine habit and no longer drink Mon – Thurs and not excessively at the weekend. I thought I was maybe overdoing it on the Brazil nuts so have cut back hugely on these too. I go to the gym four times a week, do HIT on the treadmill and lift weights and go running with my dog. All I can think is that because I’m middle aged, my body might just be taking a bit longer. It’s so frustrating though as some friends have had huge success with just low carb alone, let alone 5:2. I’m not on the verge of giving up because I know that IF has other health benefits but I am very disheartened. Any help would be appreciated.

(in response to ali) I suppose you’ll just have to ride out the stall. Your body will adjust. Weight loss doesn’t happen fast enough does it?.