I’ve started with 2 day fast too 🙂 Thursday and Friday last week and eating a little below the TDEE each day on other days as I’m very inactive however I’m calorie counting and planning meals ( nutritionally balanced ) well using nutracheck app – I wish you well – I did ask a question about the weight tracker here, but had no reply – however if you know id be keen to sort it 🙂 what are the goals and measurements part – I won’t know what my waist will be till I start losing weight – so far ( less than a week ) I’ve lost 4.8lbs 🙂 X wishing you well. Ps I upped my housework in a few bouts of 20 mins or so which added to my exercise overall – when I lose more weight I’ll do more – I and definitely stronger in my muscles and move quicker around the house 🙂 and yes I think that is a 36 hr fast ?

Hi,
This is my second day on the 5:2. Today is a fasting day, had 1/2 banana and some yoghurt for breakfast so not feeling the burn yet. Not sure what I’ll having for lunch so already have learnt my lesson…. Plan plan plan, makes things much easier.
I have been yoyo dieting for the best part of 20 years. I’m really hoping I can do this as a lifestyle choice rather than seeing it as a diet. I would like to lose 3 stones and then maintain a healthy weight. I have a long term illness so can’t exercise but I do go walking with my dog when I have better days. I’m feeling really positive and looking forward to sharing my journey with you all 😊

Hi piglet,

Are you doing a 24 or 36 hour fast as one of your fast days? I can appreciate that you have a cold but Id stay well away from juices on your fast days. In fact Id stay well away from juices at any time!! You might as well just eat a couple of table spoons of sugar instead, same effect as drinking juice. If you want the benefit of fruit, then eat a piece of fruit.

Look very closely at the sugar content of packaged foods. You will be stunned at how much is in there. Choose wisely.

Good luck.

Hi Sarah,

What kind of yogurt was it? Go for one that has a high fat content and low sugar content!! Yes that’s correct. Try and stick to plain Greek yogurt with less than 5% sugar and more than 10% fat. Rather than a banana try and choose from all the berry fruits instead. Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries etc. The sugar content will be lower.

Stay away from breads on your fast days. Simple carbs like bread, rice, pasta will make fast days difficult.

This is my first fast day, and so far, so good! Coffee in the morning with 1/4 c. almond milk (10 cal), worked out during my lunch break (which was actually awesome and took my mind off food for an hour), and I was starting to feel a little shakey after the exercise so I had a big bowl of miso soup (75 cal). My plan is to go as long as I can before eating to truly get the benefits of fasting… I’m hoping I’ll be able to go longer and longer each time until I just have dinner at the end of the day.

Just a note, I read in the book that the foods you choose on fast day should be low GI. Try to avoid the bread I reckon. I’ve been going no complex carbs. Chicken breast grilled with seasoning or flavour like Cajun or chargrill Swartz seasoning, with a mahoooosive tomato,cucumber, onion salad. Some broccoli and pearl parley. And some raw carrot on hou modus. It takes ages to eat, loads of different textures and under 500 cals. Maybe a weird mixture for some people to have salad and veg on one plate but it works because I use knife and fork and then finger for the carrots and houmous so it takes ages to eat. Xxxxx (doesn’t help when I watch masterchef afterwards though! Lol!)

So far I’ve had a banana. Saving my calories for dinner.. I have been told that I didn’t eat enough on all my other diets. Or didn’t exercise enough. I just hope this diet works like everyone is saying it does.

Hi, I’m new to the forum, lost about 16lbs since christmas using fasting but went way off plan this whole week as had a lot on so hope that by taking part on the forum i can get back to where i was. I gained back about 6lbs (mostly water i imagine)in 7 days.

My wedding is in August and i want to get down to 101/2 stone so a stone to go!

My first fast yesterday went really well! It was surprisingly easy, especially with working out around lunch time. I’m kind of excited for my next one on Monday. I always flip flop with wanting to not have to think about food but also want to be actively conscious of what and how I’m eating… and feel like this could be the answer since it’s a little of both.

Also- I know I’ve only had one fast day so far, but I’ve been able to use the bathroom 3x in the past two days which is CRAZY for me. Typically I’m LUCKY if I get that per week. So I shouldn’t get too excited just yet because it could totally be coincidence, but hey, I’ll take it!

Hi all. I’ve been doing this two and a half months and have lost 14 lbs so far. This site has some really helpful people on it, there’s lots of info and research as well as good support.
I’m so glad that some of you are finding the fast days easy. I didn’t at first but gradually learned what to eat that quelled my hunger a bit (eggs and soups in particular), but I’ve had a few fast days where I’ve been hungry in the mid evening so have gone over the 500 a little, nearer 600. Some days I don’t eat anything till the evening meal, but days like today, where I’m hungry from mid morning, I just have to split it in three. I’m on low carbs too so not eating bread, pasta, rice or potatoes, though have carbs from vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds. BigBooty’s advice on full fat yogurt I really agree with, and proper butter too, not margarines or substitutes. Fish is great too.
Really good luck. I do believe this is potentially a lifestyle.

I have been doing this diet since January. My husband convinced me to do it after he lost 2 stone over the course of last year. I managed to lose a few pounds in January but since February I have stayed the same weight.
I find fast days easy, lots of water and have a calorie counted meal in the evening with vegetables. I don’t know whether I overeat on my non fast days or if under eating on a non fast day makes a difference.
I have downloaded the Nutracheck app tonight so will be scanning and monitoring what I eat for the rest of the week to see what happens when I weight in Saturday morning.

Well I am almost at the end of my 2nd of fasting. It wasn’t any harder than the first, although I’m looking forward to eating tomorrow. I don’t plan on getting on a scale for a few weeks. However when I first started I did weigh in and take my measurements, so I will know if there is any improvement.. Hoping for my clothes to fit me better and not think about what will fit me today!!!
For me it’s been a never ending battle since I was 10. Up and down. I’m 160 lbs on a short 5′ 2″ frame.
So for me this has to work!!!
I exercise 3 times a week. I really hate exercise but must keep it up not only for myself but for my husband.
If I don’t go to the gym my husband will find an excuse to not go.
Anyhow, I wish you all luck. I’m still hanging in there.

2stonestolose I’m sorry to hear your having a hard time. I know I’m finding my time at the gym is not as easy. It’s like I have no energy. I’m hoping it’s because it happened to fall on my fast day.
I don’t eat much on my fast day,but I drink a lot of water and anything that is calorie free. My calories for today are 260 calories. I find it easier this way. Hang in there! Hopefully it will get easier.

2stone,

You’ve done one fast!! You have to be realistic as to what you’re going to be able to do with regards to exercise. I suspect that your body is almost 100% reliant on burning carbs for your energy needs. Your ability to utilise fats as your preferred energy source would be almost zero. You need to give your body time to adapt. If you want to exercise (at a high level) then you probably need to give it a few months. If you just want to adapt to restricted carb intake without strenuous exercise then give it about 4 weeks.

I do a lot of bike riding and initially I wasn’t able to ride (at a fast pace). Now I can do it with ease. You have to be realistic though, carb burning is more efficient that fat burning but with some training you should be able to get to within 90-95% of what you can achieve on carbs.

Piglet, I think every body is different; some people find cutting out carbs helps them, others don’t. For me, I’ve never been able to stick to anything that restricted all carbs (including whole grains and fruit), and the most effective method is one which you’ll stick to. I believe the specific “avoid carbs on fast days” advice comes from the fact that you want to train your body to use fat for energy instead of glycogen stores. However, as long as you are in a calorie deficit, it shouldn’t matter in the long run.

And good idea about avoiding your scale… even once a week can be too much, since even differences in your bathroom routine can have significant impacts on your weight on any given day… taking your measurements/progress pictures and noticing when your clothes fit better are much more reliable metrics.

Hi piglet,
Tomorrow is my 3rd fast day. I too, am looking forward to it. So far not finding it too hard at all. Just hoping it works. I feel great on my fast days. I would have never thought I would be saying that!!! Here’s to our journey…good luck.🍷

Piglet,
I usually have 2 cups of coffee in the morning with a banana.
Lunch is usually V8 (vegetable juice)
Dinner is soup.
I drink a lot of water, tea and anything with no calories in it.
Thanks for asking. Everyone has their own routine I guess. I’m sure I’ll have to mix mine up a bit, so I don’t get tired of it.

Hi everyone! Today is my third fast day… it’s nice to see other people who are still just starting out like myself and who are optimistic! I am trying to work my way up to only eating a 500 cal dinner, so I’ve planned coffee for this morning and chicken broth for lunch after my workout. I do have some plain greek yogurt and cucumber salad in the fridge at work just in case, but I’m gonna do my best to stick with fluids (water, tea, coffee) for the day if I can.

Dinner tonight will be homemade curried lentils, and steamed veggies with lemon, garlic, and Parmesan. If I manage to not need a mid-afternoon meal, I’ll make a chocolate protein shake for dessert.

Good luck to everyone fasting today!

It’s actually two separate things, the cucumber salad is super thin sliced cucumbers with rice wine vinegar and sesame seeds… but having them with yogurt does sound good, I like your thinking! Maybe even some fresh dill too. I may have to try it!

Yeah, I make my lunches at home. Healthier and far cheaper. Where I am in Cambridge, MA it’ll cost you $9-12 for a sandwich. Woof.

Good luck Piglet. 2lbs is not a big increase especially with hormones flying around.

Today is my first fast day, have drunk lots of herbal tea, had 2 satsumas at lunch and planning a on having chicken and brown rice for dinner.

So far it has been ok not to eat at work, have avoided the sandwich vans and biscuits. Think I will make dinner as soon as I get home though!