Like Dido, I’m not counting calories on my feed days either and am eating healthier. I am confident I will lose all my weight doing this…and I’m going to enjoy the journey! I can’t wait until the new forum starts up, and it’s so great to hear everyone’s inspiring stories. For me, I’ll take slow weight loss over quick, huge losses any day. It’s healthier and you don’t end up looking gaunt and saggy. Viva la 5:2!

Liz, my husband is 63. He is doing 5:2 and eats the 600 calories per day (only 2 days a week). He is losing. He lost 8 lbs. the first month, 1/2 lb. more than me (oh the competition!)…seriously though, do you have the Fastdiet book? I would follow what the book says…500 cals for women…600 for men. Oh, my husband is not very active either and he still lost.

Yes! A comeptition between the gals and guys would be fun!

Thanks for mentioning that study Dr. Mosley. I can’t get enough of the science!

Liz, ah yes, I’ll bet your wines are absolutely lovely. At least you don’t have to count every last calorie while you’re drinking it…on feed days that is!

By the way US readers, Amazon has delayed the release of the recipe book until July. And I am so anxious to get it!

I can’t believe I’m saying this but it has CHANGED MY LIFE and in Australia we haven’t even sen the program yet!
I live in Hobart, 62 years old, 90.8kg on 22/1/13. 14 weeks later 80.7, cholesterol dropped from 7.2 to 5.9; triglycerides from 3.2 to 0.8, BMI 34.8 to 30.1 (still a way to go). I now swim 3.5km 5 days a week, and my 2 fast days are total (water only). And I still cook dinner for my husband on fast days. On the days I swim at 7am I don’t eat breakfast (or I can’t swim). AND I feel great.Cooking his dinner has made me realise that I am not hungry, just need something to do! Thank you Michael

Vicki, it seems like you have more energy. I’ve experienced that as well. It’s so good to talk with folks who are eating this way. So far the only folks I really know who are on 5:2 is my husband! I shared the info with a friend and she might start it. But I’m not pushing her; everyone has to find their own way.

Here in Finland doctors warn: sugar addiction for national chronic .. I think 5/2 out for circumstances in the days of fasting will break the cycle of sugar .. For me, it was really hard at first, but after a month I no longer need sweets, even if they are at home.

I have just completed week 4, and have two questions:

1) I have gone from 187.4 lbs. to 181.5. I am pleased, however, my last weigh in, from Tuesday morning to Friday morning, showed a gain of 0.9 lbs., the first gain. Should I be concerned?

2) I am afraid this is about bowel movements. They have become irregular. Is this common?

Sorry, that should be ‘bear in mind’ and not what my auto correct rudely changed it to!

Anyone have tips to prevent ghastly next-day headache? I just started 5:2, love the concept and potential health benefits, have no problem with fast days at all, and feel fine – except for next morning headache! Haven’t worked out if it’s a deficiency of salt, caffeine or wine…

Judy, have you given up caffeine? That may be why you are getting headachy. We can still have caffeine. I would be a mess without my coffee. On fast days I sip it up until mid-afternoon. It really keeps me going. Dr. Mosley briefly discusses caffeine in his book – latest research has found it to be actually beneficial.

If I had to give up my beloved coffee…I just couldn’t do it! Thank goodness this plan is not like some others that make you give up caffeine.

Judy, I hear you about the milk in coffee/tea…I used to put a LOT of milk in my coffee but because I drink so much of it, I just got used to drinking it black. Now I like it better black! Funny how tastes change. Do you have the Fastdiet book? I’ll go check and see if I can find anything about side effects for you.

Hi everyone. I’ve been doing the Fast Diet for just over 2 months now, and am loving the results – lost 7lbs the first month, and 2 the second (which included a very indulgent Easter holiday – was amazed I’d lost anything as I missed a couple of Fast days). My husband’s been doing really well too. So thanks to Michael for that!

I’m worried now though because I’ve come across some news reports suggesting the Fast Diet might actually not be good for women who aren’t obese, and that it may actually cause diabetes in some women (although details as to how this process worked weren’t forthcoming). Articles also seem to imply that it’s definitely good for men, because of how their metabolism works etc etc, but benefits for women aren’t nearly so clear cut.

I know studies on humans following this sort of programme are only at the 5/6 year mark, but could anyone shed any light on this please? I can’t believe that having 2 days where I’m actually not eating any sugar and my pancreas is getting a rest might possibly be bad for me. I’d really like to think that these reports are no more than the usual wave of negativity any new idea generates, but as a few sources are suggesting similar things I can’t help but wonder.

And I really don’t want to give this lifestyle up, because its working (apparently) so well for me at the moment.

All ideas gratefully received! Thanks.

I’m only on the first week and already feel better. I kick started this by swimming more and run 3x a week between 40-80mins anyway.Let’s be honest – the diet won’t work if I over compensate on the non-fast days. Already I’m looking at this as along term life style change and if it makes me look at how I eat over all – all well and good. I LOVE food, eating out, cake and coffee but at only 5ft 1in, I know how quickly the weight goes on, especially when I visit the UK every summer and spend time with family and friends! My husband is losing faster than me and looks fab!

I started the 5:2 with my husband on 3rd Feb. He’s lost 20lb and I have lost 14lb. We found very quickly that even though we ate normally on non fast days, we could not manage the portion sizes we were used to, and yes we did look at cheesecake and didn’t fancy it! Just like it says in the book.My husband has NEVER dieted or watched what he ate, not for the want of me going on at him. He now shops carefully, explains the calorific value of different foods! He’s hooked and we both now find this not a diet but a way of life. We’re experimenting with fast day foods & recipes. The recipe book to go with the 5:2 book is excellent Belts need tightening, we’re fitter, thinner, have more energy, sleep better and all the stats are going in the right direction. On we go – can’t praise this enough.

Been on the diet for 7 weeks now. Admittedly, not very strict on the calories on fast days, I eat one evening meal, but probably miss the 600 limit now and then. I only checked weight recently and have lost 3kg over a two week period. I don’t think that’s a sustainable reduction week on week, so looking more longterm. Fasting was difficult at first but not anymore and I would advise anyone to just stick to the program and check your weight infrequently rather than every day or even week.

Hi Michael, I’ve been on the 5:2 diet since January, have lost about a stone and need to lose at least another. I have a chronic condition which rules out doing any exercise or even walking very much. Do you think the diet will still work for me even so? I don’t mind if progress is slow, but seem to have stalled.

hello from Australia 🙂 am just started last week and have bought the American version of the book and have watched the Horiizon show….I keep reading it and jumping around saying to my husband ” I found the answer, I found the answer..”

I’m now at the end of week two and am very grateful for this forum. I lost 3kgs in the first week which was great as I have been struggling to get under the 100kg mark for two months ( have lost 15kg in the last 6 months with healthy eating and exercise) and this put me at 98.7kg. But then put on 1 kg this week and was ready to throw in the towel. Feel better now reading the other posts and am hoping it will settle down into more weight (or should I say fat) loss in the next coming weeks.

I also keep reminding myself that one of the main benefits from this is also to help fight other health problems, which scare me more than just being fat!

At the moment on non fast days I am eating around 1500 cals (using myfitnesspal) which is what i was eating before embarking on the 5:2 ,is this slowing it down? Should I try an eat more? I also go to the gym 4 days a week (both fast days and non fast days) and on average burn 400 – 500 cals on those days with exercise.

Thanks to anyone who answers my questions!

Thanks Vicki, I have an idea that I was eating far too much on the non fasting days even though I was tracking. I think the “you can eat whatever you want” on non fasting days is more directed to people who are only a bit over weight not those who have 30+ kilos to lose and have bad eating habits like I do. I think if you are going to eat whatever you have to do the alternate day fasting to make up for it. And I am not willing to do that so I will make sure what I eat on non fasting days is calorie controlled. I also find exercising on an empty stomach much better as I used to feel ill afterwards when I had eaten before hand.

Yes this is for life for me as well, as I have watched how Alzheimer’s sucked the life out of my grandfather and it scares me that I am at risk as it is in my family so anything I can do to delay it or god willing prevent it I will do my best to follow.

Amanda

Hi Amanda, “whatever you want” I think means variety, not quantity. I have kept a diary since I started 15 weeks ago and that helps focus the mind. I don’t count calories at all, and I still drink wine every (non fast) day. That was one reason I have never stuck to a diet, not prepared to give up wine and cheese (and the occasional half piece of caramel souffle cake). But I have stopped nibbling when cooking (amazing how much those bits of cheese, proscuitto etc are) and with only having water on fast days I now have 2 alcohol free days a week. Also with swimming 5 days a week (at 7.30am) I actually fast on those 5 days from the night before till lunch, then on 2 of those days also don’t eat after a light lunch. Some people report light headedness and feeling faint but I haven’t had any of that. I started at 90kg and now 80, aiming for 65. Have you had a bloodtest for cholesterol & tryglicerides, even more than the weight loss to drop 1.3 cholesterol was a great feeling. Keep at it and lets compare in another 15 weeks!

Well done, sarahsocks, for surviving. Can you say a bit more about being ‘at the top end’ of your BMI so you ‘don’t have a lot to lose’ as I can’t follow what you mean by that?
If you trust your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) calculations, it would suggest that 1400cals is your appropriate intake on non-fast days with 350cals being the figure for your fast days. If you find those reduced figures do-able long-term, then all well and good. If not, then I would suggest you experiment to find what figures you can happily manage and see if you get the results you desire. However, your comment about messing up your body ‘by eating too few calories for too long’ bothers me somewhat in this connection. Can you, perhaps, give more details about the statistics involved in your calculations in order to double-check the figures?