I’m getting close to target weight, by limiting calories and getting to the gym daily. Today, I had half a yoga class, as I had a meeting to attend. I just can’t get into starve a day then eat. Better for me to just keep to under 1000 calories a day, with at least an hour at gym
That’s about what I am doing, except I allow myself one “free” day a week, but still try to log & track what I eat that day (so I know what the overall calorie intake is). But I don’t end up eating much more on my free day – that’s just in there as kind of an escape valve if I have a strong craving for something too calorie-rich, or if I get invited out to a restaurant meal or something. I don’t think fasting-based plan would work for me because I’d end up messing up on the fast days and eating too much on the rest.
But I also live alone and work from home, so it’s easy for me to exercise control over day-to-day food and possible temptations. I can see where it would be very difficult to maintain a diet in a shared household with family meals.
My new best friend is a digital kitchen scale. I am weighing just about everything that goes into my mouth.
I did not do well having to constantly worry about what I was/wasn’t eating on a daily basis. And it didn’t matter how much I cut out or how much I ramped up going to the gym and exercise, the result were not there. In fact, I continued to gain weight uncontrollably. And yes, I ate the “right” things and gave up all the “wrong” things.
I found the 2 “short” days a week a much less stressful and It so easily resulted in a nice steady, easy loss of unwanted weight—for me. I have also found that although I have not regained a single unwanted pound, I have regained the ability to control my weight. The 2 “short” days do not leave me starving nor do I consider them “starve” days.
Perhaps it is an age/post-menopausal thing, but this has worked easily and beautifully for me going on three years now. Ask my husband! He and my kids can tell a big difference between my moods now and those 8 miserable years I spent trying to get rid of the unexplained weight gain or at least slow it down to no avail.
If another eating plan or diet works for you, go for it and more power to you. But no need to knock this particular eating plan just because you don’t like it for yourself. 
I’ve been dealing with the post-menopause weight gain despite thoughtful eating and exercise also. I’m new to 5-2, but already have lost weight for the first time in years, in a way that makes sense to me and isn’t constant stress. It’s only been three weeks, but I feel I can keep this up indefinitely. Which is nice.
I didn’t have the greatest weigh-in this morning. I knew that was coming, as I’ve lost 7 pounds since 2nd week of May (I am only 5’2"). I did lose 1/2 a pound (and last week ended up being 2 full lbs) but my BMI, fat percentage and muscle percentage numbers were also stalled and actually slightly ticking the wrong way.
Disappointing because I worked so hard this week, and I was really good with food. But ultimately, too many calories in, and not enough out, apparently. Just have to keep marching on, and if I stay with it, I am sure I will see another drop next week.
Still like the 500 calorie days for motivating me, but I really need to keep those 5 day calories down as well (which means filling up on vegetables and leaner protein). Trying not to beat myself up for getting to this point in the first place!
@treemaven, you say you’ve been doing this for three years. Is that because you are still in weight loss mode, or because two days of low calories is necessary for you as a maintenance plan? I ask because most typically it appears that a 6-1 plan is adequate for maintenance. (And that sounds soooo easy!)
@NinaReilly, I don’t think it makes sense to get too upset over one weigh in, especially when you’re still trending in the right direction. The human body isn’t a perfect machine, and weight can vary based on something as trivial as having unwittingly eaten something with a lot of sodium the previous day. I know when my D was religiously on Weight Watchers and weighed in at the exact same day and time every week, she was constantly surprised that her results were a lot better or a lot worse than she expected. There are just so many variables in the weight loss equation. And worse case, a half pound a week is still 26 pounds a year!
thanks, MJ, I am not too upset, as I was bracing for this wall. Weekly weigh-ins are just right for long-term dieting, I think (which is why I would always get discouraged with more daily weighing - “what? I was so good yesterday!” … sort of what I did in above post :). You’re right that a lot goes into the variables.
And I did fit into a pair of shorts this morning that I couldn’t get into for almost 2 years. So that is really positive.
I have also hit this particular weight that I have stalled at before. Years ago, I read an article about “set points” and how your body adjusts over time (age, stress, etc) to different set points. It was detailed, but the gist of it is that I sort of know the different “scale weights” that I will stall at, and today is one of them. (Another reason I am glad to have this program measure the other indicators, in that sometimes if two are trending in wrong direction, the other three may be good so it keeps you going). A bit like the news report some weeks ago about the Biggest Loser contestants having a much harder time maintaining a certain weight after such a big weight loss as compared to those who are just naturally that same weight (all other factors being similar).
I suspect some of my issues this week are due to over indulging in diet soda - first few weeks I cut them out completely, and now I am “sneaking” a few a day again, especially on the 500 calorie days. Bad for one’s health overall.
I didn’t know that about 6-1 for maintenance; good to keep in mind.
MommaJ, I consider myself continuing with the plan even though I am more lackadaisical in sticking to the 2 “short” days each and every week. But if my weight starts to creep, I know I can control it easily by simply being more diligent I following those 2 days per week.
oops! Didn’t get the rest of the thought in.
MommaJ,
I dropped back the 6:1 model after I’d lost about 17lbs and it had plateaued for several months. That 17 lbs represented those I’d gained in those horrible 8 years of uncontrollable gaining, Losing those pounds put me at the weight I’d held (without a problem) for 16 years after my last pregnancy before that horrible 8 years. I figured I could be happy with returning to that weight, so I dropped back to the 6:1 generally. But as needed would also return to the 5:2.
After a year or so, I began dropping weight again and given that my ‘if had my druthers’ goal had been to return to my pre-pregnancy weight, I realized I had only 8 more pounds to lose. So, I have returned to the 5:2. I still find it very easy and so much less stressful to follow. Last week, I was away at my sisters for 10 days and did not really have the opportunity to adhere to it due to our schedule and needs. While not strict about my choices, I was mindful and was quite surprised to find I’d lost another lb when I got home. I now have only 6 lbs left to achieve my ultimate (secret) goal.
So, I do continue to follow it switching from 5:2 to 6:1 as needed or desired. I find it very easy to do so and am sooooo grateful to have returned to the land of being able to control my weight without stress and without being hypersensitive to what I choose to eat or having to give up everything under the sun. It just works like it used to all those years prior to the horrible 8.
I do not find that I want to eat everything in sight after a “short” day. I was never a huge eater, so this hasn’t changed that at all. It just has taken away that stressful feeling that I couldn’t have treats, no French fries, no milk, no Cokes, no wine, half of this, half of that, etc. This plan has allowed me to return to eating like normal and to being able to control weight gain.
I am a happy camper.
But, I realize ‘your milage may vary’ as I have had friends tell me they can’t possible do this after trying it a week and my sister said it didn’t work for her.
Interesting and inspiring, @treemaven.
We all have to work with our psychological angels and demons in addition to our individual metabolisms. For those of us who are driven to despair (and ultimately cheating) by having to say “I can’t have that” multiple times a day, being able to say “I can’t have that today, but I can have it tomorrow if I still want it” is HUGE. Sometimes the thing I wanted so badly on a fast day has lost all interest for me by the next day; sometimes it’s on my mind as soon as I wake up the next day. It’s all quite fascinating to me.
Now today is an non-fast day, so I’m going to go grab some of those fabulous Rainier cherries sitting in my fridge.
@NinaReilly I’ve read that diet sodas (and artificial sweeteners) trick your mind into telling the body to start holding onto calories.
I’m slowly getting used to stuff being less sweet. It’s funny how stuff like strawberries and raspberries are starting to taste REALLY sweet to me now, like candy! And they have a lot less sugar than candy, so I’m amazed that my body adjusted its “sweetness” meter. I have nectarines that should be ripe this week-I’m looking forward to that
I haven’t read every submission on this thread, but my husband and I have been on the 5:2 diet since February. He has had more success than me - he lost around 35 lbs. while I’ve lost around 15. I love our fast days if only for the reason I don’t have to worry about making dinner (yeah, I hate figuring out what to make and am not a cook at heart.) I think we probably could have lost a little more by this time if my husband didn’t have to have a hernia surgery, and I didn’t start a new job as it gave us an excuse to go back to our regular eating. We are both feeling better and plan to restart our efforts in earnest again.
Thought I’d post an update. I’ve lost a total of 11 pounds (would love to take off another 12). Obviously, it’s been a slow process, but it’s been steady except for one week when I had day surgery and figured I should pass up my fast days while I healed. I’m perfectly happy with my progress, but more important, I’m perfectly happy with eating this way, don’t feel at all deprived, and have no hesitation about continuing indefinitely. I can understand that this type of slow loss would be too frustrating for a lot of folks, including those who have a significant amount of weight to shed, but I think it’s a good choice for many.
As I’ve mentioned, my fast days are ones where I’m busy, not preparing dinner for H, and not in the house much–grabbing a snack from the pantry or fridge is one thing, going into a store and buying a snack is behavior I find it easy to avoid. I’m not starving by the end of the day (I have two meals, one for lunch, one for a late dinner), though around bedtime I do start fantasizing about what I’m going to eat the next day. But by the time the next day rolls around, I’m no longer so focused on whatever it was I was thinking about the night before. I still find calculating my 500 calories to be a pleasant challenge–trying to get in a portion of each food group plus a variety of textures is a bit of a game for me.
I saw a magazine at the supermarket check-out yesterday that offered 5-2 diet recipes, but honestly, on a day when I’m not eating much, the last thing I want to do is linger in the kitchen and cook.
My favorite treats on this diet are the various flavored almonds made by Blue Diamond. At 50 calories for 7, they offer a big punch of flavor and texture. I like to combine the toasted coconut and chocolate to achieve my own substitute for an Almond Joy bar (takes a dollop of imagination, too), but they have several savory flavors for those who don’t share my sweet tooth.
If anyone else out there is doing, 5-2, I’d love to hear how it’s going.
I have just passed the 10 pound mark, after a little less than 4 months. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but since I hit menopause three years ago, it was nothing but gain, gain, gain, even though I was exercising and eating lo carb. So I am thrilled.
Seriously, I probably don’t often make 500; more like 6-700. But like you say, even though I might fantasize about what to eat the next day, I usually don’t want to when it rolls around, so I’ve stayed on top of it.
I don’t bother with recipes. Being totally honest, meals might be a locarb bar or shake, or a handful of nuts or piece of cheese.
I can already feel the difference, and think this is the best thing I’ve tried eating wise in many years.
OP back, with an update. Total loss of 15 lbs., and still finding the diet very easy to comply with. I know that amount of weight loss in almost 6 months would seem painfully slow to many, but I don’t have a deadline, and I’m very pleased. I actually backslid in September when I had day surgery–skipped a fast because it was the next day and didn’t seem like a smart thing to do while healing, and then indulged in some self pity by overeating over the next few days. (I also ate an awful lot of leftover Halloween candy.)
Yesterday, a fast day, H brought home a bag of rugelach from the deli. I thought they looked awfully good, but fended off any cheating by planning to dive in today. But by the time I got up this morning, I was craving protein instead, and still haven’t even wanted to open the bag, despite my well-developed sweet tooth.
I’d like to lose another 8 lbs., and assuming weight loss slows down a bit as one gets thinner, I guess that means I should check in again in April and let you know if I was successful.
^ impressive kudos to you @MommaJ !
As fate would have it I just read this John’s Hopkins health review - "are there any proven benefits to fasting ".
Many benefits are mentioned including brain benefits.
"Neurochemically, he says, when the brain is challenged by physical exertion, cognitive tasks, or caloric restriction, the body produces a protein called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which not only strengthens neural connections and increases the production of new neurons but can also have an anti-depressive effect. In his experiments with mice, he’s found that those with exercise wheels in their cages have higher levels of BDNF and show fewer signs of depression. “Probably during evolution, BDNF evolved to play an important role in increasing neuroplasticity in the brain and forming new synapses crucial to learning and memory as well as mood and motivation.”
Sent from my iPad
I am a firm believer that no one diet word for everyone. I have lost 30 lbs since August by cutting carbs. I wouldn’t say I am following Atkins Diet to a T , but it is the foundation. When I went to my Dr recently, she was very pleased with my results . I have never had issues with blood pressure or cholesterol , but my numbers are really good. She never asked me what I have been doing and I didn’t offer up the fact that I eat cheese, butter , eggs, red meat and sometimes bacon on a regular basis. Whenever I eat according to the food pyramid, I cannot lose weight.
I wish I had the metabolism I had 20+ years ago, but I just don’t