Hi Asha,

Yeah, that’s the gist but you don’t need to be quite so draconian with your non-fastday calorie intake. 1200 is very low to start on if your actual TDEE really is 2239. This whole thing (5:2) is about creating a sustainable long-term lifestyle – it shouldn’t feel like a diet more than twice (or 3 times on 4:3) a week.

If your TDEE really is that high (mine was originally) then I’d say that you probably don’t need to calorie count at all on non-fastdays and can just eat ‘sensibly’ 2-3 (whatever suits you) meals, with healthy snacks in between if you feel the need. Just try to eat when you’re actually hungry and have a balanced diet (including treats) on non-fastdays and you should still find that you lose weight for a while. Once your TDEE drops significantly your loss will drop too but by then you’ll have the hang of fasting and can tweak your non-fast days accordingly.

Hi Asha, lightly active sounds about right if walking if your only exercise. Moderately means running, aerobics or something else very energetic several times a week.
There is no reason whatsoever why you need to eat 2,000 calories. If you eat less that is fine.

One thing I’ve discovered since starting this is that snacking is not a good idea on any day of the week. Try not eating between meals and only eat when you are really hungry, which is a feeling that most of us never have as we eat when we don’t need to. If you think you are hungry, drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes, as many people (which included me) don’t recognise the difference between hunger and thirst.
I’m not saying don’t have the odd treat now and then, but make it a treat, not several snacks during the day.

Good luck, you will lose weight.