Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 116 total)
  • 5:2 fast diet- what am I doing wrong?
  • vickypea
    Free Member

    I resumed the 5:2 diet this week after a couple of months off but I think i must be doing something wrong because I feel really hungry on fast days, whereas the book, and everyone I’ve spoken to say they don’t feel very hungry at all. Take today for example, I’ve had 400 of my 500 calories already and it’s only 4.30 pm but I am so hungry that I’ve got that shaky feeling like when I get the bonk on a long bike ride. I’ve done no exercise today and the 400 calories today have been made up of: all bran, plain yogurt and a large salad with a tiny bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Any advice? It’s not a case of craving chocolate or pies, it’s a matter of being so hungry I’ve got the shakes.

    BoardinBob
    Full Member

    Not enough protein in your diet today.

    ashleydwsmith
    Free Member

    Cant helpwith your diet but glad you explained that feeling as I get that and didnt know how ti exolain it

    Flaperon
    Full Member

    So eat a bit more.

    It’s not meant to be a punishment. The 400 calorie figure was pulled out of the arse of whoever came up with the plan and shouldn’t be seen as “hard and fast”.

    jam-bo
    Full Member

    what am I doing wrong?

    Falling for the latest fad?

    vickypea
    Free Member

    Fair point Flaperon.

    I’m planning an egg later, so that might help!

    Jam bo- I disagree that it’s a fad. I ignore diets that ban particular food groups or have rules about weird combinations, but there’s a lot of scientific evidence that the fast diet has beneficial health effects not just weight loss. As I’m the wrong side of 40 and need to keep an eye on my waist measurement, it is something that works well, I just wanted to understand why most people who try it don’t get hungry.

    scotroutes
    Full Member

    Fad
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    A fad is any form of behavior that develops among a large population and is collectively followed with enthusiasm for some period, generally as a result of the behavior’s being perceived as novel in some way.[1] A fad is said to “catch on” when the number of people adopting it begins to increase rapidly. The behavior will normally fade quickly once the perception of novelty is gone.[1]

    If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..

    Hmmm… duck!

    imnotverygood
    Full Member

    Try starting your ‘fast day’ at 2 o’clock. You don’t have to do it all in one day (breakfast to breakfast). It still has the same effect apparently.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    You’re eating 500 calories a day, fasting for two days a week, and wondering why you’re feeling hungry?

    I’d respectfully suggest that anyone doing this and not feeling hungry are lying.

    scotroutes
    Full Member

    500 calories is the allowance on the “fasting” days.

    vickypea
    Free Member

    @ imnotverygood: thanks for the tip, I will probably give that a go.

    @ certain others: I asked for advice, if you can’t offer any, keep your smug comments to yourself, thank you.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    Sorry, yeah, I’ve just looked it up.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5:2_diet

    Seems a bit more reasonable TBH.

    there’s a lot of scientific evidence that the fast diet has beneficial health effects

    Is there? I’d be surprised.

    Garry_Lager
    Full Member

    You can call a fasting diet a fad if you like, but it’s defining the term so widely as to have no meaning. Eating less food would seem like a common sense approach to losing weight, afterall.

    To the OP – I’ve had decent results with the 5:2, not amazing, but making progress (fasting like a monk, but my diet on the other 5 days could probably use some work). Definitely did not feel A-OK on the fasting days for the first couple of weeks and a few people I know report similar. Well adjusted to it now so maybe it’s just a case of digging in and not going overboard with the coffee?

    theotherjonv
    Full Member

    I’m doing it – and its going great for me thanks. 36lbs down since mid Jan so a healthy 1.5 lbs per week average and no, I don’t feel hungry thanks.

    Vickypea – protein def fills me up more at breakfast, but you’re not complaining so much of hunger as what seems more like ‘the bonk’. Which might be a function of what you had at breakfast but I don’t know. All I can report from my experience is that something like a 1/3 to 2/3 split of calories between breakfast and dinner works best for me, you seem to have had most of your allowance for breakfast.

    theotherjonv
    Full Member

    And BTW – feeling hungry isn’t bad. You won’t starve and it’ll pass. A cup of hot water seems to trigger the full response, or I have half a stock cube in a cup of hot water to make it taste of something and that’s about 10 cals.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    I asked for advice, if you can’t offer any, keep your smug comments to yourself, thank you.

    You asked for advice but only want people to tell you what you want to hear? That always goes well on here.

    I’ve nothing to add beyond what I initially said I’m afraid; if you’re not eating enough, you’ll feel hungry. That’s kinda what hunger is, really. Quick-fixes or revolutionary new magic solutions generally tend to be made up by people selling something and have little basis in actual science or any sort of reliable evidence that it’s a healthy or effective way of weight loss.

    Anything calling itself The Something Diet should be treated with a healthy does of scepticism. If you want to watch your figure, unless you’ve got some sort of medical condition which affects your weight the best thing is to eat a balanced diet with less sugar and lard, and burn off some of what you’re eating.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    A cup of hot water seems to trigger the full response

    Hunger and thirst are oft-confused feelings, I’m led to believe.

    As are hunger and cravings, in fact.

    _tom_
    Free Member

    Yep, read Racing Weight and the section on belly hunger vs head hunger 🙂

    Cougar
    Full Member

    new magic solutions generally tend to be made up by people selling something

    And in this case, Google would suggest that it’s Michael Mosley and his Fast Diet. In it, he explains the “fascinating science behind the 5:2 diet.” He’s got an accompanying recipe book out too.

    That would be Michael Mosley the journalist, of course.

    glupton1976
    Free Member

    I lost 2 1/2 stone in a couple of months by eating less and moving more. I’ve kept it off too. No fad diets.

    How can seemingly otherwise intelligent people fall for this guff?

    cinnamon_girl
    Full Member

    I really struggle with eating sufficient protein, particularly meat. Is it a wimminz thing?

    wallop
    Full Member

    The Something Diet

    It’s not a diet, it’s called “Intermittent Fasting”.

    Garry_Lager
    Full Member

    glupton1976 – Member

    I lost 2 1/2 stone in a couple of months by eating less and moving more. I’ve kept it off too. No fad diets.

    How can seemingly otherwise intelligent people fall for this guff? Fasting to lose weight has been known since the dawn of time. There are cave paintings of the 5:2 diet. ‘Moving more’ is the bigger fad – only been around for a few 100 years.

    Congrats on shedding 2 1/2 stone btw, since you weren’t that hefty to begin with IIRC.

    scotroutes
    Full Member

    I do that one every day – several times in fact!

    glupton1976
    Free Member

    Congrats on shedding 2 1/2 stone btw, since you weren’t that hefty to begin with IIRC.

    I got a bit hefty and am probably still a stone heavier than the last time you saw me.

    Onzadog
    Free Member

    To answer the OP and not get dragged into the discussion about a “diet” that is just a different way of looking at the eat less, move more equation which I cidentally has seen me shift about 40 lbs this year with relative ease.

    1. It does take a bit of time to get used to. I was hungry on fasting days in the first couple of weeks. You will adapt.

    2. I found to start, I spread my calories because of a fear of feeling weak or becoming shakey. Actually, I found that eating triggered the hunger. Now I save my calorie allowance for the evening. I’m off out for a swim in a bit so I’ve had an apple and a rice cake for that and the rest of my calories will be when I get back.

    I don’t need “fuel” for the swimming as its already on board. In fact, that fuel reserve is one of the reasons I decided to give this a go.

    scotroutes
    Full Member

    500 calories and it’s mostly carbs? This thread isn’t going to end well….

    thejesmonddingo
    Full Member

    The journalist Dr Michael Moseley,qualified as a doctor before joining the BBC,his speciality is producing films with a medical theme.

    sadexpunk
    Full Member

    onzadog +1000!!

    thats exactly it. its not a wonderdiet, it doesnt have magical alchemy properties or such like. its a way of eating less that isnt harmful like i would have thought at one time too. its purely a way of ‘managing how you consume calories’

    as for the 500 cals on fast days? to me thats not fasting, nor does it help especially. id have thought each time you consume a few calories itll trigger your body into wanting more, so FOR ME its easier to consume zero calories over that period. it may be different for you.

    ive tried a couple of these methods for shifting fat, both successful. firstly i tried the 5/2 method, with 2 X 24hr periods of zero calories, eat ‘normally’ the other 5. its not as bad as it sounds. evening meal, then nowt. no breakfast, few tummy rumbles, hungry at dinner, push through it and eat tea again. yes youre hungry, but for some its easier to tell your mind youre having nothing, no picking at things, nothing to think about.

    my favourite way is more akin to the ‘leangains’ style, (without the + and – carbs/fats etc). every day i eat my calories in an 8hr ‘window’, then nothing for the other 16hrs. i really find this soooooo easy. its pretty much just missing breakfast. i usually have 2 meals, a lightish one 12.30ish, then eat what i like for tea. mebbes a bit of pudding after, but nothing after 7ish. its easy. now and then ill be a bit hungry in the morning but just tell myself its nearly dinner 😀

    again, its just a method of controlling how i consume my calories. its easier to eat less if its spread over 2 meals. im not too strict with myself when it comes to nights out, or when it doesnt suit either. i make sure it works FOR ME rather than dictate my life. honestly, it so easy.

    personally i got to where i wanted to be, bodyfat-wise, now im gonna slowly put more weight on, but however many calories i set myself, i know im going to do this for life. the joy of pigging out instead of spreading meals out…..NOMNOMNOM!!!

    sorry, ive waffled on a bit 😀 some people may like to eat little and often, fine, some may like 1 or 2 bigger meals, thats fine. this works great for me. s’not magic, just calorie control innit 😀

    EDIT: should also say myfitnesspal.com is great at logging what you eat too. surprising sometimes to see how the calories mount up when you dont think youve had much.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    I really struggle with eating sufficient protein, particularly meat. Is it a wimminz thing?

    You eat more meat than me. How much protein do you need? Most people eat too much, generally.

    It’s not a diet, it’s called “Intermittent Fasting”.

    It’s called the 5:2 Diet, clue’s in the title.

    Fasting to lose weight has been known since the dawn of time. There are cave paintings of the 5:2 diet.

    Aside from the wisdom in caveman science; I don’t think there were many cases of obesity back then, and I also doubt that was due to the 5:2 diet.

    The journalist Dr Michael Moseley,qualified as a doctor before joining the BBC

    Yes, but. The good Doctor is a Doctor of Philosophy, and his medical doctor training specialised in Psychiatry. He’s no more a Dietitian than I am. Sold more books, though.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    Actually, I’m going to bow out of this. Negative use of the forum and all that, I really can’t be arsed starting an argument.

    dabble
    Free Member

    spoilsport

    5thElefant
    Free Member

    Can’t say I feel particularly hungry when I’ve done it.

    I do get the crash/hunger symptoms if I’m eating a lot of sugary type stuff. It may have more to do with your normal diet than your fast days (or not).

    molgrips
    Free Member

    How can seemingly otherwise intelligent people fall for this guff?

    How can seeminly intelligent pepole totally faily to get the point and ignore everything that’s been said over and over and over again on these threads? Oh hang on, they don’t, you’re not a seemingly intelligent person.. at least not with posts like that 🙂

    Anyway – there could be a few reasons why the OP struggles. It seems that different people’s metabolism works differently. Some folk depend on carbs more than others. I used to be a wreck if I so much as missed breakfast when I was younger, and even if I had it I was desperate for 12 to come around so I could eat lunch. Now, after iDieting off and on, I can actually forget either.

    The other thing that comes to mind is insulin. If you eat something that promotes the release of insulin it’ll cause your body to hoover up glucose from your blood and this makes you very hungry and weak. Insulin isn’t just released by high GI foods, some proteins cause it to be released too – particularly those in dairy, and especially those in yoghurt. So skip the yoghurt, see how that goes.

    granny_ring
    Full Member

    I’m about to start this diet[s] fad[/s] or whatever you want to call it. A mate swears by it and he’s pretty clued up with healthy eating and nutrition etc so thought I’d give it a go too.

    In theory it sounds like it’ll be easier to keep with it than others I’ve tried in the past. Just reading up and trying to sus menus at the mo, yes I’ve thrown £15 at it for the books, worth a punt tho in my eyes.

    theotherjonv
    Full Member

    glupton1976 – Member
    I lost 2 1/2 stone in a couple of months by eating less and moving more. I’ve kept it off too. No fad diets

    Genuinely – using a calories deficit model where 3500 calories is a lb lost, you’re 35*3500 calories down in 9 weeks = 13500 cals per week. That’s on average a deficit of nearly 2000/day which I guess you could achieve by eating a lot less and moving a lot more, but sustainably? I’ve done the same in 5 months starting with calories control to 1500/ day and then on the 5:2, and I suspect I’ve got a ‘diet’ that I can adjust to maintain the weight better than you can adapt yours – are you going to start moving less, or eating more, cos you can’t keep going losing 4lbs a week.

    nicko74
    Full Member

    @ certain others: I asked for advice, if you can’t offer any, keep your smug comments to yourself, thank you.

    mmm…. no.

    For the record, you posted a question on a forum, where other people also post questions and comments. Some people have posted questions and comments underneath yours. Don’t like em? Shame.

    sadexpunk
    Full Member

    yes I’ve thrown £15 at it for the books, worth a punt tho in my eyes.

    what books mate? cant see the need tho, theres nothing special about it really. if youre an ‘average size male’ that needs roughly 2500 cals per day to maintain your current weight, try the 16/8 method to consume 2000 calories per day for a while. use myfitnesspal to start logging food macros. once youve done a few, if you eat the same sort of stuff each day its as easy as a mouse-click or two each day.
    depending on results, up it or reduce it slightly, just keep watching whats happening.

    good luck anyway, whichever method you choose.

    vickypea
    Free Member

    Some interesting thoughts, thanks. The point about eating a little triggering hunger…. I might try saving all the fast day calories til the evening.
    For info- I have a pretty healthy diet on the other days and I’m not actually overweight. My LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are low. I just want to lose a few kg to bring me down from the top end of normal weight.

    And I have no problem with people disagreeing with me, I like an intelligent debate, in which smug remarks are not particularly helpful 🙂

    scaled
    Free Member

    Tuna is king for fast days.

    Boat load of salad, tin of tuna and a dash of hit sauce.

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