[Closed] 5:2 fast diet- what am I doing wrong?

Not enough protein in your diet today.

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

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".

what am I doing wrong?

Falling for the latest fad?

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.

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!
[img] [/img]

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.

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.

[quote=Cougar ]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.
500 calories is the allowance on the "fasting" days.

@ 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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 [i]journalist[/i], of course.

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?

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

The Something Diet

It's not a diet, it's called "Intermittent Fasting".

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?

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

[quote=wallop ]The Something Diet
It's not a diet, it's called "Intermittent Fasting".
I do that one every day - several times in fact!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

spoilsport

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).

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.

I'm about to start this [s]diet[/s][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.

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.

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

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.

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

good luck anyway, whichever method you choose.

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 🙂

Tuna is king for fast days.

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

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.

Well, somebody has a belly full of bitterness just waiting to be dumped on random strangers. Good job they built the internet 😀

[b]glupton1976[/b] - 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?

i love the diet threads on here.

one day you will be forced to post your swimsuit photo under your advice.

Female colleague has recently started this fast diet thing, on Thursday she fasted, on Friday on top of the regular Friday bacon and sausage sandwich, she caught up on the cakes and cookies she had missed the day before.

i can see how it can/could work, i can also see that like any other eating plan its open to interpretation/abuse and as a result will fail to produce results in some people.

OP - hungry. Pint of water, down in one.
if you have the shakes however, might be the sugar crash from whatever you have previously eaten. You are not supposed to be starving yourself.

what books mate?

[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fast-Diet-Intermittent-Fasting/dp/1780721676/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371893884&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fast+diet ]THIS ONE[/url] to help me understand the theory etc
and
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fast-Diet-Intermittent-Fasting/dp/1780721676/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371893884&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fast+diet ]THIS ONE[/url]to help with ideas as I'm a bit lazy 🙂

I've not done 5:2 because if I'm honest I'm to much of a piglet, I think I'd die if I cut right back but the other half does it twice a week. Only thing I can suggest without having personal experience is make sure you are drinking lots and lots of water through the day (3L or so), fruit/green tea etc. Drop the bran and swap for protein source? 500 is hardly anything so don't get too stressed if you go over. Finally, make sure the food you have on the non 'fasting' days is all healthy and nutritious and gives your body what it needs, it would, I should imagine, fuel you up a bit more for the fasting days?

I think two of the most useful things 5:2 gives people are:-

1, not eating diesnt result in instant death, breakfast is not the most important meal of the day. That's just a Kellogg's tag line.

2, when you do eat, you get a greater volume of food if you choose "quality" calories over sweets and cake.

Of course, some people follow 5:2 and fail to see this sort of thing.

@Jambalaya and glupton - But I'm not trying to lose stones, just a few pounds.

If you only need to lose a few lbs there's probably lots you can do to your diet generally without 5:2. Is it working or is it just that you are feeling hungry? Guessing your a girl from your user name but at some points in the month I could quite happily eat a whole cow and other days I can go for 16 hrs or so on just water....

This is an interesting thread, as much for the content and debate on topic as much as it is for a bit of people watching!

I am doing this to reduce the 25% free body I have at the moment and would chip in with the following:

1, Eating less on 2 days of the week may be helpful for some people, based on the fact that for some 2 days of high effort is easier than 7 days of consistent "dieting"

2, The fast days seem to make you think about food in a different way, basically a better understanding of the calorie content of food to keep to the 600 calories means you are less likely to blow loads of calories on the other days

3, I think there is also an emotional investment in that on fast days you put effort in, then you are less likely to make poor food choices on non fast days (weight watchers is successful partly because of a financial and group investment like this)

4, I am not sure about the claims of this diet replicating a more historically appropriate diet (early man struggled to get enough food). But there does seem to be some positive markers e.g. Leptin etc in studies suggesting that this way of eating has physiological benefits.

Hope this adds to the debate!

OP One of the things this diet may do is help you "listen" to your body, if you are shaking / bonking then clearly food would be a good idea! Protein is digested slowly and may help?

vickypea, you may want to give Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald a read through. Seems to be suited to what you want to achieve as it's aimed towards endurance athletes who want to get as lean as possible without sacrificing performance, which as cyclists I think is what we want regardless of whether we're competing in triathlons etc. The DQS vs calorie counting seems like a good approach to me.

I tried a keto diet for about 5 months and it did help me get over a plateau (went down another 2 inches off my waist and lost about 2kg) but after a few months I was beginning to feel drained all the time and couldn't perform well on the bike or on the weights. Just not sustainable unless you sit on your arse all day every day, imo. Much like most of these so called "fad" diets.

And that's the key, isn't it. Any diet you can't sustain is ultimately pointless; you fall off the wagon, go back to old habits, and the only thing you've got to show for it is a bigger habit.

A successful diet has to be a change in your relationship with food; eat better, healthier, balanced. You can't just starve yourself for a fortnight then go back to the cake and pies thinking it's a magic bullet.

I agree to an extent with the statement 'most diets are guff' but it [b]really[/b] doesn't help people who are making an effort to lose weight and become more healthy. A bit of positive encouragement goes a long way 😉

In response to the OP - over the past couple of years I've 'adjusted' my eating habits to suit my circumstances ie. I can't eat meals at regular intervals and the temptation to eat the 'wrong' things is high. I've also had that shaky feeling from not eating enough and have found that coffee or water and a handful of peanuts or a banana does the trick. I found restricting carbs (or eating low GI foods) at max 4 hours between food, works for me, although the nuts wouldn't be good if you calorie count!

I'm reasonably happy at my current 15 stone after pushing 18 stone at my heaviest. I'm also a firm believer that if you are genuinely hungry - [b]eat something asap[/b], as it will stop your body going into storage mode with whatever you eat next.

The science behind intermittent fasting is explained in the horizon program ' eat, fast and live longer'.

Basically it showed how it can help reduce cholesterol, reduced levels of insulin like growth factor (linked to some cancers), help control blood sugar levels and bit also showed that it could stimulate neuron growth in the brain possibly helping to prevent the onset dementia.

They were looking into it as it has been regular practice in many cultures and those that do it swear by the health benefits. The guy basically sets out to see if it can reverse the age risk associated with aging and his test results show he achieves this.

I found the program very interesting, especially as I have always had random days where I eat very little. So it hasn't made me change my diet - I can just ignore comments that I should eat more 'regularly' more easily now.

The program is worth a watch - but not if you just want to moan at people about fad diets and reiterate 'eat less exercise more' constantly. The program is only for those who are keen to see what its actually about 🙂

Hope you manage to sort your hunger issues vickypea and stick with it - I have always eaten a little later in the day and had some kind of protein - eggs are good.

There have been several 5:2 threads in the past where I've explained how I came to be on it and why it works for me, and I'm not planning to rehash all that again. But alibongo made one very good point, any diet/eating plan has to work long term otherwise you can't stick with it. This one works for me, I can still take a client out to dinner without studying the menu with mfp in hand and tailor fasting days around a normal life.

I don't know whether the 'science' behind 5:2 works, or whether the health benefits are true, I don't honestly care that much. If they are, and i live longer / have less risk of diabetes and heart disease or whatever as a result - bonus!

If looked at in its simplest form it fits broadly the eat less style of diet, cutting intake by 4000 cals per week approx, which if you run a calc on that deficit like I did for glupton, would be a lb or so a week which is pretty close to what I've managed. But OF COURSE it relies on not overexercising the pieroid gland on the other days - that's common sense. Hence why I don't think it fits the category of 'fad' diets, as the basis is one of sustained healthy eating permanently. Anyone that thinks fasting for 2 days gives license to pig out for 5 is treating it like a fad, and like a fad, it will fail them.

I'm also a firm believer that if you are genuinely hungry - eat something asap, as it will stop your body going into storage mode with whatever you eat next.

The research surrounding intermittent fasting shows that this isn't actually true - it's more like 2-3 days of fasting before your body goes into "storage" mode.

Onzadog +1

I did this diet for a few months and it worked, but I temporarily stopped it as I thought the "fast days" might be worsening my migraines (triggered by low blood sugar). As a scientist myself, I am really interested to understand why most people that I know of who eat in this way don't feel hungry, yet I do.
So, I'm going to try the following:
- more protein on the "fast" day
- saving more of the calories for teatime on the "fast" day
- drinking lots of water
- possibly try the version where you time your "fast" differently

I've never counted calories before and it's a bit of an eye opener. Although I have a fairly healthy diet, and I don't binge on pies, I could pay more attention to what I eat on normal days.

I find a low sugar approach in a more general sense helps level the peaks and troughs.

The research surrounding intermittent fasting shows that this isn't actually true - it's more like 2-3 days of fasting before your body goes into "storage" mode.

Not a method to be recommended but as she said herself (as a long term yoyo dieter) it was the only way she could do it, as she needed to see and feel quick results to keep her going. As far a hunger goes and how she coped with it she freely admits she was constantly ravenous but when it all became too much she would give in and have ....... wait for it ..... A Freddo! 😀

Amusing to see some using this thread to vent on diets, probably makes them feel better. Anyway I've been doing the 5/2 thing. The key for me is that on a fast day your only 24 hrs or less from eating. So you don't get the....I can never eat certain foods again feeling. Also if your serious about improving your diet, the impulse to eat crap on normal days fades quite quickly...gd luck to anyone else doing it anyway, it works for me.

I follow my own [b]2:5 diet[/b] - watch what I eat for 5 days a week and then on the weekend eat what I want. Seems to work - gone from 90kg to 83kg since March.
Also have given up drinking and only drink water, which has helped.

I might try this 5/2 day my fasting days shall be [b]yesterday[/b]and [b]the day before[/b]
So it looks like I'm good for the next 5 days 😀

when it all became too much she would give in and have ....... wait for it ..... A Freddo!

Nothing wrong with that. Everything in moderation; if she'd had 12 Freddos, that's where we start to have issues.

@Jambalaya and glupton - But I'm not trying to lose stones, just a few pounds.

In that case eat a wee bit less and exercise a wee bit more. 😀

In that case eat a wee bit less and exercise a wee bit more.

And that's guaranteed to work in 100% of cases is it?

Fast diets strike me as the epitome of a 1st world problem.

Just eat normally and not to excess and live an active lifestyle. It's really not hard. Just eat less every day instead of going stupidly low 2 days a week.

Most of the people on this thread do that, ojom, we're not stupid. We just want to lose a bit more than we currently have.

Ojom, I find 5:2 easier. Is it okay if I keep doing it?

What molgrips said: I do live an active lifestyle, as I imagine most on here do- why would I be on this forum if I didn't? and I don't eat to excess). I am, however, the wrong side of 40 and have a back problem that stops me from doing much more exercise that I already do. The 5:2 does work for me, and as already mentioned I was scientifically interested in an answer to my question as much as anything.

[i]But I'm not trying to lose stones, just a few pounds. [/i]

Surely if it's just a few pounds you don't need to diet, just eat slightly less and exercise slightly more - and after a month you must lose weight, or at least not gain any more.

I can't imagine what it'd be like only taking in 500 calories in a day, you must be lethargic to the point of stationary.

Also this metabolism stuff, surely that was invented by folk who eat too much to have a pop at us that manage to balance intake/outtake?

Also this metabolism stuff, surely that was invented by folk who eat too much to have a pop at us that manage to balance intake/outtake?

Haha.

I find it very difficult to lose weight; if I eat less I just get more tired. However, I also don't gain weight very easily either if I eat more and move less.

Hmm, that's interesting, maybe someone should do some research...

I don't know much about this diet, but it does sound like nonsense. Eating 500kcals per day is not a fast is it! It's just eating not very much. I think if you;re gonna do it, don't eat on your fast days. It will probably take a week or so for your body to adjust to the fact its got to use its own reserves for fuel.

But if you just want to stay at a healthy weight then the best way is to eat clean and ride your bike fairly hard for an hour or two every day of the week, or as much as you can. The added bonus is you get really fit!

I can't imagine what it'd be like only taking in 500 calories in a day, you must be lethargic to the point of stationary.

Don't imagine it - try it for a fortnight. you might be surprised? It's not 500 cals per day, it's 500 cals for a day, two days a week. You won't die, my bet is that you'll feel hungry, probably about 2 in the afternoon, then it'll pass and you'll be OK once you've had your dinner.

I don't know much about this diet, but it does sound like nonsense. Eating 500kcals per day is not a fast is it! It's just eating not very much. I think if you;re gonna do it, don't eat on your fast days. It will probably take a week or so for your body to adjust to the fact its got to use its own reserves for fuel.

Excellent work David. "I don't know anything about it, but that qualifies me to say why it isn't correct and how I can make it better"

Again - maybe do a bit of reading up on it BEFORE rubbishing it.

In fact - Has anyone that has rubbished the 5:2 on this thread actually read any of the books / articles on it, much less actually tried it?

Sounds like a rubbish diet if I was only allowed 400 calories in a day I would probably end up killing someone and eating them. Can I suggest healthy eating and lots of exercise?

Can I suggest healthy eating and lots of exercise?

Maybe some if the smartarses rubbishing the various diets, 5:2 in particular, could give their qualifications and some justifications, so those of us who have actually read a bit about it and are interested in the physiological aspect of weight loss could assess the merits of their criticism.

Thanks in advance and apologies for repeating much of what theotherjonv said ^^^^ but I get a bit tired of people giving simplistic glib answers without anything relevant to back up their comments. 🙄

ok well I lost about 11 stone (yes I was huge, this was before I was properly into biking) without any kind of fad or special diet - just cutting down portions, not eating crap and riding my bike every day. It's just the last bits that are harder to shift and require you to be more strict I think. But I don't fast or anything because I know it won't last and I'll be miserable on the fast days, just eating even cleaner and working out harder! Slow progress but progress nonetheless. Like I said I tried the low carb stuff and whilst it helped me get over a plateau it stalled again recently and it wasn't sustainable for the amount of biking I want to do.

So yes, the "eat less move more" lifestyle does work, quite well apparently.

Woody - Member

No. It's repetitive and boring.
Maybe some if the smartarses rubbishing the various diets, 5:2 in particular, could give their qualifications and some justifications, so those of us who have actually read a bit about it and are interested in the physiological aspect of weight loss could assess the merits of their criticism.

Thanks in advance.

OK I will go into more detail limit alcohol consumption to bare minimum or even better go teetotal. A lot of eating habits are psychological so looking at what drives your bad eating habbits could be worth a crack or improving your overall mental wellbeing. Perhaps going pescetarian,vegi or even vegan could help limit the number of unhealthy foods consumed. Half way through writing this just looked at what the NHS says on the 5:2 diet. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/Pages/Does-the-5-2-intermittent-fasting-diet-work.aspx

Says there is limited evidence that it works and suggests the following.

eating a healthy balanced diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day

taking regular exercise

drinking alcohol in moderation

[EDIT]Some of my colleagues find those calorie counter apps really good, I have a steps app that encourages me to walk more.

That link made me chuckle. This paragraph in particular
[i]"It should be stressed that our assessment of the evidence was confined to entering a number of keywords into Google Scholar and then looking at a small number of studies which we felt would be useful to explore further.
[/i]
Just remember, always check with your GP first 😉

the horizon program "eat, fast and live longer"

The thing that people seem to always miss on these threads is who you are and from where you are starting.

If you're an obese pie stuffing slob, then eat less move more is indeed far better than some magic pill diet that you think is going to do all the hard work for you.

If you're a casual sportsperson with a few lbs and a few indulgences, then, eating less and moving more could still work - become a bit less casual and indulge less.

However if you're training for a specific goal and already train and eat well, then there may be certain ways to maniuplate your metabolism to lose more weight and/or get a training benefit.

In all of those cases though, understanding how your body actually works beyond the oversimplistic ELMM (and it is oversimplistic, that's clear if you read a bit more) may well achieve quicker and more permanent results. Depending on your personality and brain of course.