Hi Clare
Welcome and congratulations on starting this WOE (way of eating); I really hope it works for you. 😀
Have a good look around this forum – pick topics that sound of interest. NB topics from other newbies should be particularly relevant as the replies they have received should be useful for you.
Also look at the faqs, these are quick reminders and tips – tho having just read the book, you should be fully primed!
Enjoy the fast days and the associated hunger – know that it means you are taking control and also that fat is being burnt!
Experiment with what will work best for you on a fast day – read up on what others have done. Having lots of water/teas/some coffee (all without milk or sugar) is important and helps with hunger. Broths can be good too. I think the strategy that seems to work for lots is to leave the first food for the day til as late as possible. And only eat protein and veggies – avoid sugar/wheat/similar carbs.
Take photos now and all your measurements. Think about how often you want to take these. Again, there are individual preferences on this, but I think weekly weighing and monthly inches/cms seems common.
Use the TDEE calculator (under how? page) to work out the number of kcals someone of your sex, age, height, weight and activity level on average needs per day – on non-fast days try not to exceed that.
I am sure you are already thinking of strategies to help you at work – there is probably a topic on this??
There are lots more ideas on this forum – and do use the forum to help you thru the difficult times that we all experience.
Keep us posted on your progress. 🙂
Best wishes
Sassy

Hi
I too started out yesterday. I watched Michael’s original Horizon programme and was intrigued but not motivated to start at that time. I have struggled with excess weight for a long time and, like many, tried a lot of diets, only to see the pounds creep back on in time. I was almost at the stage of thinking, why bother? I’ve recently retired (early) and it would be the easiest thing to give up on trying to lose weight. Something inside though keeps nagging at me to do something, but I just can’t face the prospect of days and days of denial. I had bought the book some time ago but it had languished on a shelf unopened. I picked it up a few days ago and skim read it and decided to give it a go.
I have decided to fast on Mondays and Thursdays (a popular pattern it seems) and try to eat healthily on other days, keeping indulgent treats for the weekend – but knowing I can have what I want on non fast days (really liberating!).
Yesterday was my first fast day – I was a bit apprehensive to say the least. People who have unlimited access to food never really feel hungry, do they? I intended to split my 500 cals between breakfast and dinner but I didn’t feel hungry so thought eating unnecessary. I honestly went all day without feeling hungry – all that passed my lips was water, black coffee and tea made with a dash of skimmed milk (I can’t give up my tea, I really can’t!). Come 6pm I thought I had better eat so had a low cal meal but actually felt more hungry afterwards. Slept ok and woke up this morning with normal appetite. I’m really surprised and pleased as I thought I would be famished!
Anyway, thought I’d post and share my experience of beginning 5:2 and look forward to hearing how you are getting on.

Just keep posting Clare, it can keep your mind of the hunger and motivate you! remember the first few times are the hardest, but also think of how your body is cleansing every time your stomach growls. It’s not just burning fat, but fasting has so many other health benefits!
Again, it gets easier! This is coming from someone who fasts around 23 hours a day, and this weekend I basically felt no hunger at all. I’m a bit peckish now, not sure why, but I don’t mind – the growls usually make me smile!

Another tip you may use; write down the things you’re currently craving. Then tomorrow, pick one from the list which you then want the most – you’ll usually find your tastes have shifted completely and you may not want to eat anything on that list! And if you don’t want to, just throw the list away. But on fast days telling yourself “I can eat it tomorrow” can be that little extra push to keep going strong.

Hi Clare C!
It’s troo, the girls are right! Keep busy. I used to always and only fast at work. Terrified of fasting on home days. Now it’s easy to fast on home days. It does become easier over time, like anything we learn that is new to us. I am still terrified of fasting when my O&O ( one and only) is home. This too will change with time. Be kind to yourself as you learn!