I’ve been doing 5:2 for 5 weeks, I have lost 6lbs, which is nowhere near as much as some others but I am DELIGHTED. I have noticed that my clothes are looser, I am getting into smaller sizes and I think I look as though I have lost far more that 6lbs (thanks for tip about trying on clothes Annette 52 – it is very motivating) I have both type 2 diabetes and an underactive thyroid so losing weight has been difficult for me in the past, the thought of giving up favourite foods, or being constantly hungry for months on end feels like hell to me but I can manage 2 days a week, it is MAGIC!

Annette your posts are so inspiring. I’m really only at the beginning of my journey, only 17 days. BUT I have lost 3kg, I think I may have said it was only 2kg in another post somewhere but it’s definitely 3. I measured myself when I started and again yesterday. 1″ gone from my waist already. My niece has been following the 5:2 for a few months and she has lost 2 stones and quite a lot of inches, it was talking to her that led me to view Michael’s documentary and read the book. Thank you for your posts and good luck with the half marathon 🙂

hi everyone, my fat loss seems to be from my bottom and legs mostly 5 inches off each leg now, hips 3 inches< waist 3 inches, bust 1 1/2 inches, 3lbs to go for the 3 stone bench mark id set myself,
ive dropped from a dress size 24 to an 18, and jeans size from 20 to now buying size 14s. keep posting its lovely to hear all your results xx

Thank you for all your great posts annette52.
My scales do not like me at the moment but this time that doesn’t matter! I have taken measurements but my stomach seems the same, yet ………
I had a clothes trying on session this morning again! I have a couple of trousers/jeans and a pair of shorts that for such a long time I could put on but couldn’t do up, so I am now pleased to say that they fit comfortably, one pair is even loose. Another pair of long shorts were more forgiving but now I have to wear these with a belt and even put the belt on the next hole!
At least you can have a break from 5:2 and know it is easy to start again. Good luck with the marathon. 🙂

Dear Anette:

Thank you for these wise words. I have been on 5:2 for 16 weeks and have lost about 12 pounds…actually 16 but when I weighed Saturday it said I was up 4 pounds. Granted – I did go to Florida for a week and did not follow the diet. I was shocked to have gained and have been in kind of a tailspin over it. I actually cried!
I see that you have been on for about 7 months. You are still going strong and you are awesome! You inspire me. I probably need to be on 5:2 for a year and just relax and let it happen. As you said… it is not a sprint. There are other ways to see progress that do not include a scale.
For me, the weight itself is the end product of a lifelong relationship to food that is unhealthy. My mom put me on diets as a kid and it’s like I’ve been hungry ever since. She denied me anything that tasted good so I ate junk food in secret. When I saw my friend’s parents giving them treats, it seemed like a form of love that I was steadfastly denied. I need to recognize that I can withstand feelings of hunger and not immediately comfort myself with food and that this is progress. Just getting through fast days is an achievement because I have discovered that hunger won’t destroy me or drive me crazy – and I used to that think it would. So onward and upward! I am making progress and I see that thanks to your insights.

Dear Annette52:

Thanks for replying. You are super-sweet! I have to keep in my mind always that I AM NOT ALONE in this endevour. People like you and all the folks who post on this site are a community. We need each other’s support and kind sentiments. I am in Tennessee and this is a region known for unhealthy eating – fried food, Bar-B-Q, heavy carbs. It seems that 5:2 has caught on in the UK but is still kind of a new concept in the states. Reading posts and telling my story here makes me feel like part of a group and this is essential to my success.
My clothes are much looser and I appreciate you for reminding me to notice this. My legs and arms look more supple. I still have about 20 lbs to lose and am determined to see this through. I have had the best success on weeks when I was very strict on my fast days and ate three high protein meals on my regular days.
I have started to collect samples of exotic perfume as a treat – a sensual pleasure that has no calories. Again, thanks for your support.

Hi all, congratulations on your progress. I’m really impressed! annette52, good luck on your race, sounds like you are well on your way to finishing that half.

Hi moonglow4ever, I am in Tennesse also. I grew up on the southern country cooking in a family where my Mom and Aunts were always on a diet. I started dieting at age 13 when I was 5’2 and weighed 103 lbs and thought I was fat. I’m sorry you were taught about dieting the hard way as a child. it’s amazing the things that parents do with good intentions that have really bad after effects.

I think this way of life is going to be good for us all. I am starting officially tomorrow, along with my husband and daughter. I have spent this week paying extra attention to what I eat, and how I feel after. I find that I don’t really get hungry until 3 or so in the afternoon, unless I eat something in the morning. : )

thank you all for being so willing to share your progress. it’s really helpful to everyone who reads it, at least I know it is to me. blessings

Thanks StephB. I’m looking forward to this new adventure.

Hi Humphrey, good for you!!!! that is seriously impressive! We usually eat early around here, I have for years needed several hours prior to bedtime. have had really bad reflux. since I started trying out the 5:2 plan, I haven’t had reflux at all. just started officially today, so no results to speak of, but a week of trying out fasting until after lunch seems to have helped at least one thing. hope you had a great supper and enjoyed every bit.

Hi Annette52, you ran 13.2miles!! heck, I wouldn’t think a person would feel too good after that. LOL. actually I mean physically, emotionally I think you should be really proud of your self. you are doing amazing things.

I can’t really exercise(M.E./CFS) my workout consists of trying to clean my house and cook a meal. LOL. Still, I’m going for it. I expect only good things.

hope your salad was great, and you get to wear that dress soon.

annette52
Wow! Your running and body size achievements must be such an affirmatory assist to keep on doing what is so clearly working for you.

Regarding BMI – I hope you get to yours – I did make it my healthy BMI, but I have been stuck exactly at the top of healthy BMI since January. I wanted to have a half stone BMI contingency, so that natural weight seesawing wouldn’t ever matter, but it’s just not happening. But I do know that a bit more exercising is required and I need to stop having so many, “oh well, it doesn’t matter” days.
There’s usually a perfectly simple explanation 🙂

Good luck on your run and happy dancing!

Well done, everyone! I have done six fasts so far (I’m keeping a fasting journal) and feeling so positive and empowered. I weigh again tomorrow, so that should be interesting. But the first two weeks I lost 4.4 pounds and 1/2″ around both my neck and my waist!!! I didn’t even think it was possible to lose 1/2″ around my neck (maybe I measured it wonky the first time! Who knows?).

I have had two people tell me they can tell I’ve lost weight.

And tomorrow will be fast day number 7.

Onwards and downwards!

Melinda

Annette52, I’m so thrilled for you!! going dancing and wearing your skinny dress to boot!! You are going to make that marathon in style. I agree about the moving your body bit, I do thing in 5 to 10 minute bursts, sit down for a bit and go again. unfortunately, my house refuses to clean it’s self. LOL.

snedger, congratulations on reaching your ideal BMI, that’s great!

Melinda, sounds like you are doing great! interesting that you lost in your neck, that’s one measurement I didn’t take, going to have to do that.

hope everyone is having a great day.

UGHHHHH!!!! I gained 1.4 pounds this week! I didn’t go completely overboard on my non-fast days, either. Maybe it’s because my period started on Tuesday (today is Thursday)?

Well, I’m not giving up. In fact, today is my second fast day of the week. I’ll just keep on going.

I lost 15 pounds to reach my goal weight of 130 two months ago and my weight stayed there for the past two months though I’ve continued fasting for the health benefits. HOWEVER, within the last two weeks,my weight is slowly going down again. And my two brand new pairs of pants are hanging off me. My sister gave up after 3 weeks because of no change in her weight – she needs to lose at least 100 to 125 lbs. My niece gave up after 4 weeks because her weight stayed the same. I told them that maybe their bodies were taking care of some things that were preparatory to losing weight. We just don’t know everything that’s going on inside us.

Hi Annette52,

Congratulations on the half marathon completed!!!

I would like to say that I have found this site and forum so inspirational!! I grew up with the belief that fasting would make you gain fat and that eating 6 smaller meals a day was the ideal thing to do, but after reading Michael’s book and seeing the science behind it I definitely believe that 5:2 is the way to go.

I have only been fasting for 2 weeks (unfortunately the second week I had fallen sick with the flu and that time of the month arrived for me)I have not lost much weight only 300gms (not even 1lbs) but I feel so much better, before I started fasting I was feeling so bloated – I just got married and had put on 4 kilos (8lbs)in about 6 months, there are factors involved (depression due work place bullying), I have since left that work found another job that is a much nicer environment!

I went to a naturopath that charged me over $200 to give me herbs to help, damn I wish I had read Michael’s book before that, what a waste of $200!! Since fasting even though it has been only 2 weeks I no longer feel bloated and even after the first fast was amazed at how I did not feel hungry at all, it was amazing and I actually looked forward to fasting, I love the fact that I don’t have to plan cooking (even though I still cook for my husband) and the what will I have for lunch question always trying to think of healthy options.

I love reading everyone’s comments, t think this just such an amazing community and am glad to be part of this. I am not looking for a fast solution this time just a healthy lifestyle, I love reading everyone’s progress and can not wait to start posting some of my own achievements. I feel so positive about this life style change and am looking forward to the changes in my body, goodbye jelly belly

Well done on completing your half marathon, Annette! I really am impressed and you put me to shame – I feel very self-congratulatory when I can be bothered to drag myself off to the pool for a half hour’s swim, which is pathetic really! Apart from the 4″ loss in waistline, what’s your next challenge?

congratulations Annette!!! way to go! I do believe that you can reach any goal you want. Keep the jeans and enjoy them for a bit and before they are too big. take care