Have you lost weight? Gained weight? Are your clothes looser? Have you had to buy new clothes or a new belt or both?

Without some base line weight, measurements, ie. neck, chest, 1″ above the navel, hips, and thigh it’s tough to say if you have lost or not. Without blood work you don’t know if it’s doing you good or ill. I’d say a medical checkup at least once a year is needed.

Do you keep a food journal and total calories daily? Are you eating under your TDEE? As you drop weight your BMI and TDEE will both drop. If you have a goal weight put that in the calculator and eat for the goal weight. You’ll reach it eventually and never have to go on a maintenance plan as you’re already there.

If you feel better it’s probably doing you good. At our age (over 60) should have blood panels done at least once a year. Compare this to your last one. Your Doc should be able to tell you if the changes are good or bad.

I started 5:2 for the benefits and those have been plenty went from pre-diabetic to low normal blood sugar, my COP is under control for the first time in over 11 years, my joint pain has decreased significantly, my use of pain meds aspirin, acetaminophen, other OTC pain reducers and prescription narcotics has dropped to levels unheard of for me. I’d say they are reduced OTC by 80% and prescription narcotics by 95%. My COPD rescue inhalers now last months instead of a week. The blood panels are fantastic and my Dr is a firm believer now though at the outset he said it couldn’t hurt he wasn’t a great fan.

For me it’s been very obvious after only 3 months. Wight loss is a pure bonus Jan 1 236.8 pounds Today I weighed in at 196.8 pounds.

I have to see my Doc once a month due to heart issues, hypertension etc Thank good for NWT health care and Seniors benefits. I get monthly checkups and everything is to the good so far. Knock on wood.

I do wish that 5:2 wasn’t called a diet. It’s just a new way of eating.

To get the most effect from fasting, cell repair, inducing autophagy and autolysis doesn’t start until 18-24 hours into a fast from all I’ve read though some literature indicates 12 hours.

Dr. Valter Longo recommends fasts of 2 to 5 days. If you have watched the video Eat, Fast, and Live Longer with Michael Mosley who basically started the 5:2 diet you will see him undergo a 3 day diet under Dr. Longo. A search will bring up multiple places to view the video

I’ve tried fasts of 36 hours (basic 5:2 diet) to fasts that have extended to 7+ days. I do NOT suggest anyone try extended fasting without medical supervision and a complete health checkup first. Extended fasting can bring about some major emotional issues to some as well as physical issues that can be serious if you have any medical conditions.

I honestly don’t know why anyone would want to fast longer than 7 days. I’ve read of water diets of 40 days and deaths of individuals under supervised care after 10 days. So a lot depends on the individual and the medical supervision and tests one receives to ensure the body is not in severe distress. You may want to stress your body with caloric restriction through fasting to achieve health benefits but I don’t think you want to distress your body to the point of death.

For me 3 to 5 day fasts once a month are now part of my pattern. I will not recommend this to anyone else. The 5:2 diet as outlined does work for weight loss and some health benefits are derived from it. It is safe.

To get maximum cellular level benefits it is likely that other methods are required.