kiaboxer, good luck with your plan but do bear in mind that you may not see quick weight loss on this lifestyle (it’s a fastING diet not an actual fast diet). Some people do (I did lose about 1.5 stone in my first 3 months but I think I probably started out a LOT bigger than you by the looks of your TDEE and after that 3 months my weight loss has gradually reduced to a fraction of what it was) but some really don’t and start off losing inches rather than actual weight (some people even put a little bit on as their fat converts to muscle).

Your progress may not show up best on the scales so don’t rely on them and don’t let them put you off. Take your starting measurements and settle in for the long haul rather than trying for a goal that may not be achievable and feeling like you’ve somehow failed if you don’t make it.

I do hope you’re one of the lucky ones but please don’t expect miracles.

Hi Maggie, one of the many reasons why this eating plan works is that the average number of calories per week is lower than what we were eating previously. But I am not quite sure when you say ‘more important’, what you mean it is more important than?’
‘Typical’ diets rely on reducing calories every day by restricting certain foods – many of us find this hard to stick with in the longer term, but probably admire those who can.
I think the thing that most find better about the 5:2 (and its variations) is that there are only 2 days in the week when you need to be very careful about what and how much you eat; the other days you can just eat what someone of your size, age, sex and activity level would eat to maintain current weight. Of course, many 5:2ers find that the motivation they get from the fast days and weight/inches lost is that they also improve their eating on non-fast days. (Some of us lapse from time to time and can over-indulge after a fast, but based on the forum comments, most are able to get back on track again.)
The 5:2 regime has the additional benefit of fasting; tho fasting periods can be incorporated into other eating regimes, I understand there is evidence that a very low calorie intake on a couple of days a week has other metabolic and health benefits. Others who respond on this forum are more knowledgable than me on this.
Not sure if this has helped your query at all!
Good luck with continuing on the plan 🙂

Hi Maggie, sounds like you have a clear plan – good for you 🙂 and you’ll get fit too!
Will be interesting to see what others think about the (reduced) total weekly calorie intake being a major factor for success. For me, it’s certainly a necessary factor, but I think it’s the way that 5:2 is relatively easy to stick to, or go back to if you have a lapse, that has been the major factor. I may still be missing the point you are making tho…
Cheers 😀

I lost 2.2 lbs this week, after having gained 1.7 last week, and the difference this week is that I’m drinking much more water. I’d read that for my height/weight/activity level I should be drinking 98 oz. of water a day, and while I’m not going to go straight to that much water over a day’s period, I did jump to about 50 oz., and I’ll increase it by half again next week, til I’m at the 98 oz. level (sorry I don’t remember the site, was it thefastdiet? where I ascertained the levels). So I’ve clearly been not drinking enough water, and I am hoping this change, along with continued diligence and being as meticulous as possible, will help me get to the eventual goal. I do see this as a lifestyle change, not just a diet, which is a better way for me to think of things. I’m in it for the long haul, just as I have been about exercies.
I agree that the fast days are critical, and the overall net deficit is as well. I’m striving to have at least a 500 cal. deficit on the non-fast days.