Hi, New to 5:2 and question about fasting calories

This topic contains 5 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by franfit 10 years, 6 months ago.

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Sarahlou79

12:01 pm
5 Jun 14
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Hi,

I can’t seem to find a definitive answer in the book about whether I need to alter my fasting day calories to fit my TDEE. My TDEE comes out as roughly 1500 cals per day rather than the 2000 average, so would I need to cut the fast day calories down to 375 rather than 500? Seems quite low!

Rosamber

12:38 pm
5 Jun 14
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Yes, I am similar to you in that my TDEE is 1430 calories so in theory I should eat a quarter of that on a fast day. However, as I am starting out, I am using 500 as my upper limit. Maybe as I lose weight I will reduce the total? I make sure I have protein and lots of veggies so the calories are ‘good’calories and I find I am drinking more water.

Amy C.

12:41 pm
5 Jun 14
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This plan is not prescriptive. I would try 500 calories on your fast day and stick to at or below your TDEE on the other days to see if this works.

Sarahlou79

12:45 pm
5 Jun 14
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Thanks Rosamber, that’s good to know as I was thinking of doing the same (I’m not doing my first fast day until Monday, so I’m planning ahead!). I suppose if I find I’m not losing weight I can adjust it down. The book and this site only ever seems to refer to 500 calories but I was a bit worried that I wasn’t looking into it in as much detail as I should, I guess it will be slightly different for everyone. Good luck!

Sarahlou79

12:47 pm
5 Jun 14
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Thank you Amy C, I think that’s a good place to start and see what happens. I’m looking forward to getting started now 🙂

franfit

1:45 pm
5 Jun 14
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Sarahlou79, I had the same question when I started last August, stuck to the 500 calories, and lost 40 pounds in 40 weeks with 5:2 plus gradually increasing my walking to an average of 10,000 steps per day. 500 calorie days are challenging enough, no need to make things extra-hard for yourself.