@ nina6 Well done on your weight loss 🙂
Have just read right through this thread and like Sylvestra have some misgivings.
We have all probably tried just about every diet going, lost some weight, found things either too restrictive or just plain boring, given up and then regained the weight we had lost plus some!
I don’t think of 5:2 as a diet but a new way of life. Apart from my husband I didn’t tell anyone I was IF for about 6 months, even though I was socialising with most of our friends and family frequently. Apparently my holiday photos caused people to notice.
The joy of 5:2 is its flexibility.
On normal days when I inadvertently missed a meal and became close to 500 cals for the day I changed that to my fast day. I only ever did 5:2 until I plateaued after about five months. I never had any trouble eating my correct TDEE and sometimes more on normal days.
I only tell you this because I find this way sustainable and feel you are very restrictive and your body will go into ‘starvation mode’.
There is nothing wrong with having a SMALL chocolate bar occasionally (I have had my share of NY cheesecake over the months :p )it would be unrealistic to think you could avoid it with small children around.
Don’t think of this as a FAST (speedy) diet think of it as a way of life with fasting involved and happily a weight loss too :).
Your Mum 😛

Hi @nina6 What you are suggesting sounds ok but remember it is NOT a rigid diet. We all want to lose weight as fast as possible but we have to do it in a healthy way and in a way that fits in with out lifestyle and is sustainable. If you make this too rigid it will not be sustainable.

As someone else said – this is a marathon, not a sprint. it isn’t a quick fix it’s a complete change to your way of eating.

Total fasting on 3 days is quite difficult especially to start with and it might be better to do 5:2 until your body is used to fasting then go to 4:3. Also at the beginning it is sometimes easier to have one or two small meals on the fast days, again so you get used to less food. A complete fast is maybe a bit too much the first week.

Can I also just say that our mothers very often don’t approve of the things we do but at the age of 40, I think you are old enough to decide for yourself. If she really doesn’t approve and if it helps to keep the peace – have three small meals (totalling 500 cals) on the fast days she is with you. It won’t make any difference to your overall loss in the long run.

xx

I (used to) hate when my mother would ask me “so how’s your weight doing?”. Now I’m waiting 4 it! Lol. I’m just glad I’m feeling more energetic and focused. B4 I kind of lost track of keeping myself trim. It had gone way too far. U r supposed to do something when the scale goes up-not just ignore it! Glad I’m being accountable and sticking to my set fast days! Weigh in on tues is coming up-have to do tax prep all weekend so I know ill be keeping busy!
xxx

Hey all,
I could do with a diet buddy too, my friend who agreed to join me is not exactly taking it very seriously. I am working so hard at this. My daughter has started too but she only needs to lose one stone compared to my five. Help!

Lost 20 lbs since I started on new years eve! Just stick with it kids! The weeks are gonna go by anyways-might as well be fasting and maybe get a surprise on the scale! Good luck to all just starting and re-starts!!

Have you picked any favorite recipes yet Nina?

Im finding my happiness week to week isnt on the scale as much as my own approval getting through fast days as planned. Im trying to add fish and red beans to my diet, on fasting days, because they are lacking in my diet when not fasting. I seem to do well when things go as planned. Reading previous posts the chocolate bar got my attention. I used not crave chocolate or sweets, but others keep it stocked in the cubbard. I make up some tiny plastic bags with a dark chocolate and yogurt covered raisen, and a coffee bean covered with dark too. Its not much , but is just enough to pass on desserts. I typically don’t have it on fast days , but If im famished early on a fast day. I’ll start my morning with approx 50-75 calories of chewable vitamins, follow with the chocolates. Cross my fingers hoping it doesnt trigger more appetite. After about 4 months I began to realize that some days are better with a bitter coffee drink. I make my own with a chocolate flavored vitamin drink, add no fat milk and add instant coffee.
it’s bitter. However on days scheduled for fasting if im hungry very early. I switch to the protein shake instead of food. That way im still getting carbs, fats, proteins in the right measures, and vitamins and minerals. I add ice to it periodically . While that puts off my hunger pangs most of a day. I know from its my experience that I will zero will power. So I go to bed early on 500 calorie shake days.

After adjusting to 4:3 with adequate nutrition fast days. It became easier for me to chose some weekly meals. These meals were always the same in calories so is easier to count in my head. I make a salad that simulates spaghetti or lasagna in flavor without starchy ingredients. More for family cooking duty since I don’t cook for them on fasting days. I can fix them spaghetti and I eat the vegetti. After counting it out many times i just do it without thinking. Another tip is I don’t get calories from my drinks. This made keeping track of my intake to 3 meals instead of 9 or 10 to keep in mind. This led to my habit. I moved fish and beans to fasting days. Leaving only 3 meals a week to count out. I like to eat oatmeal after fasting its very easy to count and can be flavored in sooooooo many ways. Which leaves only 6 meals to freely choose and count. As time marched on I settled on eating at an all i can eat buffet on Sunday’s a my only feast day. It’s about 1400 calories as I start with a plate with a lot of low calorie vegetables, a second of fruits, skip the starches , and eat a small steak and lobster. I do exercise withing two hours doing lifting and jumping rope or jumping jacks. It helps me feel stronger on weeks I lift, or at least use an exercise ball to do core exercise and dance video.
This leaves five meals to freely choose. I started coming around to the cell phone calorie counting apps just using it on those five meals. This is when those cook book and menu apps help me make good choices.
I made a decision to always chose fish when eating out. Just a personal decision to simplify eating out choices, and by skipping the breads I usually don’t struggle with my TDEE when out.

I go through periods when it’s just easier to open a can of mixed vegtables for 150 calories and get the full feeling for a few hours. Or store bought protein shakes these are easy to count in my head. After reading your post nina6 it reminds me how easy it is maintain my obesity, go over TDEE, or sacrifice flavors or adequate nutrition. I’m glad I’m on a forum this year. Best wishes!