There is some evidence that suggests a continuation of fasting overnight improves blood circulation, the immune system and lowers cholestorol. However, it does not necessarily have better results than Michael’s system. There are many variational circumstances such as: body type, metabolism and exercise routine. It is entirely your own decision to follow a 5:2 diet that best suits your lifestyle. I hope this has been some help.

I have been on the diet since the end of Jan 2013 but seemed to stick at a loss of around 12-14lb for a while after about 3 months. I stuck with it and the weight slowly dropped away until I had lost 16lb by May 12th.
I then went on holiday to Madeira (I am old enough to go there) and enjoyed some excellent cheeses I took and generally ate for England. On my return I found it difficult to get back into the Fasting routine having put on about 4Ib in 3 weeks but today have just finished my 2nd fast day after my hols.
I feel generally good, my weight is falling, waist is down 2 inches and I have my positive mental attitude back. I have several targets, weight wise is to attain 14 stone then re-assess having started at 15st 12Ib, but more importantly are cholesterol lowering and PSA readings which hopefully will be lower in August.
The diet has also made me take stock generally of my diet and other health issues such as Mental Health, cancer and Heart disease and I am more active in eating healthier on none fast days. I am not relying totally on a two day fast each week to gain better health but conciously seek to eat less saturated fats, more fruit and veg and something I find easy to do, have a couple of meat free days each week. I am still lazy though and on my fast days still eat M&S Fuller Longer ready meals and their 300 cal Pork dinner is very good and very filling. Expensive though.
I feel that if you seem to stick at no weight loss for a while it could be the result of many things for different people. Persist and remember weight loss is a side effect of the diet, it is the inner health benefits that come first.
Good luck to you all out there.

Hi hjrag and welcome to the forum 🙂

24lbs since July is not considered slow weight loss for 5:2, and 5″ off your waist is great. So well done! This is not a way of eating that is supposed to give quick weight loss – I hope that helps you feel better about your rate of loss:)

Do read the faqs which may give you further insight into how this all works and what is realistic to expect.

It seems that we each have our own body shape, and when we lose weight on average we lose it all over – so it can be difficult to shift weight from areas where there is proportionally more. (I am the opposite of you, most my weight is now on my legs, rest of me is not too bad, and I don’t really want to lose any more from ‘up top’!)

Can you give us some more stats – age, sex, BMI, how much more you want to lose. What is you waist to height ratio – the aim is for it to be 50% or lower.

It can be very hard to spot reduce. I think the best thing is to find exercises that help tighten the muscles around your waist and tummy – perhaps seek professional help to ensure you are doing the right things.

Also do a search of this forum as I know there are discussions on this sort of issue, and these may have other tips.

Good luck with it!
Sassy 😀