Hi, I’m with you on this & I don’t really count on my non-fast days as I don’t want it to become a diet!

If I’ve really gone to town on one of my non-fast days I do have that at the back of my mind on other days & maybe don’t have extra snacks that day. However, I have made a point of not denying myself something on a non-fast day if I really want it & have had blow outs on a couple of weeks & actually gained weight but I’m so confident in this 5:2 it doesn’t worry me as I usually lose it again the following week. I’ve lost well over 3 stones in 6 months & several inches off my waist, so not counting seems to work for me!

My husband and I started this 5:2 last September. We count carefully on Fast Days but pay little attention on the other days. I just found this forum so have now learned about BMR and TDEE. Despite that and a cruise and 2 weeks in the Caribbean at an all-inclusive resort we have lost respectively 40 and 33 pounds!. We are not particularly active either, though we are planning to change that this fall. For me, the beauty of this regimen is that I don’t have to count calories. I am afraid that if this begins to feel like a diet, we will stop doing it.

I don’t count.

I started without counting at all. Then I hit a plateau. Calculated my TDEE and counted calories every day for about a month. Then I felt I had the hang of it so now I wing it and count once a month or so, just to keep me on my toes. It’s going great so far, I haven’t hit another plateau yet.

Absolutely not! That is what makes the diet so great. I would really have to try to stuff myself to gain weight.

Patti, I read posts like yours and I feel like this was my same understanding of this ‘diet’, that you ‘don’t’ have to count calories so much on the non-fast days. My husband and I have done this diet since late April, 2014. We started out at week 8 great with me losing 12 lbs and 5 in around my abdomen(didn’t do other measures as my stomach was the biggest thing for me). My husband lost 20 lbs and 2 inches around his abdomen. All very encouraging at that time. We also weren’t overly active and realize we need to work on this. Now at week 17, despite being extremely diligent on my fast days (stay within my 500 cal while going as long as I can inbetween meals like 10 hours–drinking only water all day)but changing nothing else that I can really tell, I have gained half back but kept off the 5 inches! My husband too has ‘hit a plateau’ and also did a backslide and appears to have gained about 7 lbs. You have done this for almost a whole year so you have a good picture of what this diet can do for you…did you have issues like this a couple of months into it? Thank you and congratulations on your weight loss! I agree, we also plan to make this our new lifestyle as well as adding in some exercise.

Hope – I do seem to be sitting on one of those plateaus right now but my shape has changed incredibly. We are going on a 23 day holiday which includes a cruise and a week in Paris (49th wedding anniversary!) All my clothes have had to be altered! The pants are all falling off: I look like Dopey from the 7 Dwarves. Unfortunately my behind is not getting much smaller (sitting on it all day doesn’t help) but I have lost about 6 inches of belly fat. For the next 23 days I plan Champagne and croissants for breakfast and anything else I fancy. But when we come home, we’ll start again. This is a long term thing not a race. I have 75 pounds to go and if it takes 2 or 3 years, so be it. But I will not be miserable! Having said that I remember reading a quote from some skinny person who said “Nothing tastes as good as thin!” I have just changed my thinking to only eating calories that are worth it. Hang in, Hope, it is worth it. But don’t let it become a chore or you will quit.

Counting calories on my eat days is a no no answer. I eat in moderation but not counting the calories each food I eat. I indulge in pasta, chocolates and ice cream which are really my favorites without stressing myself to count the calories but instead I eat in moderation to satisfy my cravings and see to it that I do my daily workouts.

I’m counting only on the fast days but I don’t drink any alcohol at all (I am diabetic and it pushes my blood sugar up instantly and uselessly) and I don’t eat any cake or bread so that pretty much keeps me within a healthy caloric window (I think)on non fast days.

No way I would be losing any weight without counting calories on the fast days, I don’t have a clue about caloric value of foods otherwise, have never counted a calorie previously. Only diet I have previously tried was high protein, no calories involved.

My intention is to reduce inflammation and reverse diabetes, if I reduce weight that is a plus. I want to be healthy ahead of being beautiful. 🙂 But I am 64yo and perhaps a bit less healthy than some of the posters here. 🙂

I’ve not had a life of dieting so have no aversion to calorie counting, it is a bit of a novelty for me.

I have been counting but have a great app called my fitness and you can scan the barcodes on everything its great, I count because I don’t want to over do it on my non fast days,making sure I eat 2000 calories a day. Im on my third fast day today and finding it easy I eat at 5pm on my fast days and in a week I’ve lost nearly 1kg.

This is very interesting for this newbie to read.

I’m so used to counting Something – calories, carbs, protein, something, please! In fact, after I set my tracker up today I spent a long time looking round the site for the food log. Surely I’ve got to be counting Something!

What a relief. Today has been Day #3, and my first fast day. It’s had its challenges, more in the sense of “it’s X o’clock, time to eat” than being bothered by actual hunger but I’m here, not long ’til bed-time, I’ve made it. I’ve probably eaten a little more than 500 but, believe me, I’ve eaten far, FAR less even than the last 2 “sensible” days, and much, MUCH less than when I was in London last week eating madly and badly!

My intention is to try it this way for 4 weeks and see how much I lose (80+lbs to go, I’m bound to have lost something!) and then, if I need to, begin to tighten things up on the Fast days, if it seems like I need a little bit of calorie re-focus.

But a caloriecounting – free lifestyle!!! Very exciting. 🙂

Should have said, I’m doing my first fast on Monday so practising being sensible and normal over the weekend.

Not counting on eat days have lost 2.5 kg after only 5 fast days fingers crossed this is going to carry on but am planning to be more mindfull of what I eat especially at the weekends

Absolutely not counting on eat days – I’m on day 1 week 3 don’t feel like I’ve lost much but do eat quite a lot on my non fast days, and refuse to weigh myself as it depresses me I’m just going to get into the swing of having 2 fast days a week as part of my lifestyle and hope that it works

I DO NOT want to calorie count with 5:2. That would feel like being on 2 diets to me and I know I’d fall off the wagon. I do plan on eating healthy and having treats / alcohol in moderation. I’m hoping that the fasting pushes me to eating less naturally…

Absolutely not counting of fast days either, totally defeats the point of this whole WOL.

Dr Mosley’s advice is quite clear…..you are only fasting for two days of your choice each week, and eating normally on the other five days.

I’m aware the definition of normal varies from person to person, & if you wish to count calories or strive to stay within your TDEE, then that is up to you.

I’ve had my fill of counting calories, points, whatever, every day of the week, month in month out, to lose a few pounds, be miserable doing it then putting it back on again the minute I stop. It doesn’t/hasn’t worked for me.

For me, this way of life is about fasting and combining it with a way of eating that works for ME. I’m doing just fine, I’m getting closer to my goal…and that’s what I’m happy about. If I plateau then I may well try to work within my TDEE, but until then I’ll continue to eat what is normal for me on a non-FD.

Good morning all

I am counting all calories over the week because how I got this way was I over ate on a very regular basis if not everyday.

Eating normal, I didn’t know what normal eating was. I fast Monday Thursday between 500 and 600.

So I put everything into fitness pal everyday. This is helping me learn.

I was observing people at work eating over the day. Morning tea most of the overweight people were having fruit or yogurt or the occasional muffin or cake. Told to eat regularly. The trimmer people just had Hot drink nothing to eat. So that’s now what I do just a coffee. Took a couple of days but I am fine now.

Fast days taught me not to be afraid of hungry.

I also started a group exercise group I do go 4 days a week. My gym gave me a program 3 meals three snacks healthy never lost anything even with my exercise for three weeks. Started 5 2 over the past 6 weeks lost 8kg. I realise this will slow and expect to to take 12 months.

I will do this to keep track, I do not plan to do it forever just for the first few months.

Take care

I have lost around 5st in weight twice before over the last decade or so, getting under 25 BMI only to put it back on again within a couple of years. Add to that quite a few mini diets where I’ve lost a few lb and regained. I’ve always been on plans where I count 24/7, whether Weightwatchers points or calories, and it makes me miserable. I start to slip on the maintenance counting after a while, first giving up on weekends, then midweek, because I can’t live like that forever. It’s not just that it’s tedious. It makes me obsessive.

Since I’ve just started 5:2 on Monday, I can’t predict how I will feel long term with this. However, I suspect I’ve much more chance of prolonged adherence if I don’t count calories except for twice a week now, and once a week eventually. As long as I don’t start eating considerably more on NFDs I think it’s got to be an improvement.

Hi Laura:

There is the book, and there is reality.

First, if you are losing weight at an acceptable rate for you there is no need to count calories on your non diet days.

But, if you are not, then you need to count – at least for awhile to identify why you are not losing.

Many people come to 5:2 while they have been gaining weight. That means they are constantly eating over their TDEE. They hear they only have to diet two days a week to lose weight and say ‘I’m in!’. They start 5:2, lose little or no weight, say it does not work, and quit.

The reason they lose little or no weight is that they are eating ‘normally for them’ on their non diet days, which, of course, means ‘too much’. 5:2 usually stops their weight gain in that situation, but yields little or no weight loss. So the only way for them to actually lose weight is to eat less on their non diet days and for many that is helped by calorie counting.

As for quick weight loss, some people are in a hurry. 5:2 only yields about a pound a week over time (several months). Initial weight losses can be substantial, but if people think they will continue, when they slow down or stop they quit from disappointment. The only way to achieve rapid weight loss is to eat fewer calories. There is nothing wrong with that – it is a personal choice.

Here are some tips that might help you with your 5:2 efforts: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

I’ve been doing this diet since August and have regularly been losing 1 lb per week roughly. I don’t count calories but try to be sensible and cut out all the extra snacks between meals and in the evening. Sometimes though I feel like I just need a bar of chocolate so I have one. If I started struggling to lose weight I would probably count calories for a couple of weeks just to see where I was going wrong. Good luck.

Perfectly put, Onahealthyhigh!

Hi Laura. I’ve only just picked this up but I am with you 100%. There are some people both on here and on various Facebook pages who are just addicted to dieting and counting calories and still consider this as another “diet”. My husband and I, who are both foodies who enjoy good wine too, have been doing this since October and are losing about a pound a week – sometimes nothing, sometimes a couple but generally steady. We look on this as a lifestyle change and not a diet. We stick to the calorie limit on Mondays and Wednesdays but the rest of the time, we eat and drink what we like. What we have found is that we actually just don’t want to eat as much as we used to, so we don’t. Christmas is going to be interesting and then we are off on a 2-week all-inclusive holiday so we’ll see what happens but whatever we do, we’ll be back on it as soon as we are home. I too have read the book carefully and will stick to what Dr Mike says and hang the rest of them! Keep it up and don’t lose heart.

I have never counted before in my life. I used to think people who counted calories needed their head read. Now that I am older, and can not sustain the intensity of exercise I regularly did and also relied on to shed when I wanted; I now understand why counting calories can be a useful tool/skill.

However – being an x – gym junkie, I can see how compulsion can make such an activity a turn into a chore, rather than a means to an end. I am going to count early on … but only to learn and get an idea of what it what.

I too got the impression from the book that it was not about counting … although then the book started counting; but then later went on about balance.

I have a lot to learn about food – so I am not only counting calories, but also learning about nutrition as well. Once I know what I am doing and what works for me, I hope to simply be more mindful of the food I eat and give up the counting. I can see how counting binds a person.

I want to live a minimalist life style – but not if it means having to count calories for the rest of my life. I don’t believe the 5:2 diet is about that. I read somewhere, it’s the Diet that is not a Diet. Early on I will count … but if I am still counting much later down the track … then I believe I am missing something vital about the concept itself.

Hi Lee- Agreed, I think this is how it is meant to work. So far I am down 7 pounds in just over 3 weeks. I have 20 more I’d like to lose so this pace is more than acceptable to me. I have been moving my Thursday to Friday the last two weeks because of holidays and this flexibility is one of the best things about 5:2 IMO.

I am NOT dieting. I have just made a change in my eating format. 5:2 to me is just a plan for eating, a format if you will. One I can understand and can easily adhere to.

I absolutely refuse to count calories on fast days or non fast days. I know the calories in a LOT of foods from being on “diets” that require calorie and/or carb counting. (Doesn’t it drive you crazy to weigh, look it up etc and so on. Bonkers absolutely drove me off my nut and some Diets I did for almost a year! No wonder I babble like a fool.)

I’m not changing my eating format to 5:2 primarily for weight loss, that is a secondary consideration that is way down the list. I am looking for improvements in my health: blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels.

If weight loss occurs (it already has) and as I am sure it will continue I’ll be all the more happy for it. But I’m not doing 5:2 for weight loss.

I’m doing 5:2 for life.

I wish they hadn’t called it a diet on the cover of the book.

I don’t count calories on my non fasting days either. I am trying a 4:3 plan so on my 3 fasting days all I have is water, no food at all, the reason I don’t eat on fasting days is because I don’t trust myself to start stuffing myself with food then feeling bad. I certainly won’t be counting calories!!