Hello Ladyeleanor and Lauren

Relax – it’s fine to eat less than your TDEE on non-fast days!

Well done on starting 5:2 and any losses so far 🙂

As you lose weight/change your activity level, your TDEE will probably change, so use the ‘My Tracker’ section to record that and reset your TDEE. (Personally, I only do that about once a month, as weight fluctuates day to day, even on a diet. I look for a ‘downward trend’ – and 4 months in, so far so good.)

It’s great to have a good spurt of weight loss at the beginning. Partly, this is water loss, so don’t get disheartened if the rate of loss slows down. Dr Mosley has just posted some figures for average rate of weight loss for 5:2 dieters – will post the link here.

Hope this is helpful and best wishes
Bootsy B

Hi Lady Eleanor! I lost 2 stone in Summer 2013 with 5:2 (in 10 weeks) and am back to do the same since having my 2nd baby – 2nd fast day today and waiting for baby to go to sleep so I can break my fast with a big plate of stir fry!

I find I worry on my non fast days too, but in the end it just makes me a bit more conscious of making healthier choices, which is no bad thing. You can still eat what you normally would and might find you naturally gravitate towards smaller portions and the need for cake etc. Give it time 🙂

Don’t be disheartened by a 2 steps forward 1 step back sort of thing, it is a bit like that in some ways but the cumulative effect is in the end, better general health and weight loss. In my experience anyway!

The lovely thing about 5:2 is that there is always tomorrow to have that slice of buttered toast or bag of crisps or chocolate biscuit or whatever, unlike some diets that are an every day slog of misery and abstinence! They are designed NOT to work so you keep paying up for more.

Best of luck with the 2 stone… we’re on the same journey!

Nikki 🙂