Ready to give this a go!

This topic contains 5 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by TracyJ 10 years, 10 months ago.

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Legion

11:25 am
12 Feb 14
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I’ve been counting calories and slowly losing weight for a few months, happy with an average loss of 1 lb per week. However, I was ill just after Christmas (diverticulitis) and my weight loss seems to have ground to a halt, despite eating the right things and regular exercise (mainly running and walking). Last week I decided to give the 5:2 diet a go. I had my first fast day on Thursday and today is my second fast day. I plan to mainly eat soup on my fast days, with some fresh fruit, and to drink lots. At the moment I’m spreading my 500-600 cals throughout the day, but this might change as I see what fits best for me. I’ve still got about 4 stone to lose (BMI 30.7) and my aim is to reach my goal weight in 2014. Would love to hear any hints and tips (especially veggie food ideas) and maybe find a 5:2 buddy to motivate each other.

TracyJ

12:09 pm
12 Feb 14
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Welcome to the forum Legion. Sounds like you have your head screwed on and you’ve thought it through & have a good plan.

Soups are a great idea, I used to live on them on my early fastdays too. It’s good that you’re keeping an open mind about the possibility of ‘tweaking’ your fastday method as necessary. After a while you should find the ‘hunger’ easier to deal with and at that point I’d recommend trying for a longer fasting period and all of your calories in one meal if possible. This is great for the ‘health benefits’ effects but mostly it just makes for a much more satisfying meal and less cupboard watching during the evenings. It kind of negates the need for ‘special’ recipes too, most people have a few favourite recipes that wouldn’t push you over your fastday allowance anyway.

Hope it continues to go well for you – let us know how you get on won’t you. 😉

kampernaut

12:12 pm
12 Feb 14
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Hi Legion and welcome (although I’m almost as new here as you)!

You might find this post useful on the veggie stuff: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/good-dishes-for-a-vegetarian-not-overly-fond-of-eggs/

One of the most useful tips I’ve read is to plan your menu before a fast day and have all the ingredients prepared/weighed/portioned the night before. I find it helps me to avoid the temptation of other food in the fridge and eliminating the preparation phase means I spend less time thinking about food.

Good luck with 5:2!

Legion

3:59 pm
12 Feb 14
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Thanks Tracy and kampernaut. For my two fast days so far I’ve treated myself to a fresh 600g soup, which I’ve split between lunch and dinner. I think planning what you eat in advance sounds essential to avoid temptation. 😉 It’s good to know that I only have to do this one day at a time. I’m also trying to treat these two days as a gentle detox for my system, as I thought it might help my diverticulosis to have a day or two each week when I don’t eat all those things that tend to clog the gut, but concentrate on taking in plenty of liquids.

I’m a little bit worried about how I will cope on reduced calories when my summer job starts next month. It’s a very active job with long hours. Any advice or suggestions would be welcome.

sylvestra

4:14 pm
12 Feb 14
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@ Legion Welcome. Don’t worry about what will happen next month – by that time you will have got your head round 5:2 and know exactly what to do. The reduced calorie part shouldn’t be a problem, it’s only one day at a time. You may have to adjust how you use these calories to fit in with a change in life style.

As you will see quoted here often – you do what is right for you! from time to time with changes to work patterns, life style etc you have to adjust the way you do it but this way of eating fits with you not the other way round.

keep going, you’ll be fine

xx

TracyJ

12:27 pm
13 Feb 14
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Hiya, yep I totally agree with sylvestra, don’t fret about next month. The way you feel right now on fastdays will be totally different by then & you’ll have got to know your own body much better.

As regards exercise, again it is very personal and you need to find your own way of dealing based on your body and experience. I messed up once early on by trying to do too much directly after my fastmeal and then being totally starving hungry after exercise. It put me off and I avoided exercise on fastdays for a while after that but I’d just done things the wrong way around for my body. I cope MUCH better on no intake whatsoever – exercise – THEN eat my 500kcal. Everyone’s different, just be prepared to experiment for a couple of fastdays & fail 1 or 2 if necessary, in order to find your ideal pattern.