5:2 Fasting Diet

I started last week and did quite well, however have time off work this week and I'm not doing too well, have only managed today as a fast day - however, I suppose one day is better than none. Back to work next week so will be more organised, I pick at things when I'm in the house - no willpower, did manage to go swimming yesterday though.

I am following this thread with interest but does the book or any other info say if it is suitable for "older" people? I am probably one of the more mature Grans and don't know if an upper age limit is stated as on some diets. While my G.P. would say I need to lose some weight his only and constant advice is "portion control".

I'm 60 and GP was fine with it. Can't remember if there's anything in the book aobut age.

Thank youFORZANONNA but I have to admit to "over 75" and wonder if I would be wise to miss this one

I started last week and just finished my 4th fasting day yesterday - I agree the trick is to be busy - I have eaten the same thing on all 4 days though this may change in the future - this is what i have fancied - I had 2 eggs (only 1 yoke) plus a little milk for brecky and veg soup at about 7.30 pm. I have lost 4lb - I feel really well and at the moment i am not suffering at all & loving the fact you can have what you fancy the next day within reason of course

annsixty I seem to remember that the Horizon programme stressed that this regime was particularly suitable for older people, as that is the age at which we are more at risk from high cholesterol and blood pressure and diabetis. Some people do it simply for the health benefits, and not necessarily weight loss.
The TV programme can be found on Youtube under 'Horizon. Eat, fast and live longer'.
Good luck if you decide to have a go.

Hi - just joined gransnet today but I have been doing the 5:2 diet since 2nd January and have lost a stone. I find it really easy and always do Monday and Wednesday as that fits in best with my life. I am boring as I always eat the same which is sachet of porridge with golden syrup made with water for breakfast and then for dinner a salmon fillet cooked on a bed of half a pepper and 6 cherry tomatoes halved just baked in the oven. The hard part is still cooking hubby a proper dinner. I think it is sustainable for life or at least until I get to my ideal weight then perhaps drop to 1 day a week fasting.

Mamalinda hi! Be wellcome to this merry band of ladies (and the odd man.+a couple of delightful ones)

I tend to eat more or less the same things too. I like an egg & slice of ham for breakfast ( but I will try the sachet of porridge) & then I either have Dhal with fat free yoghurt or a Fajita with mushrooms, peppers & half fat mozzarella & passata for an early dinner. I stick to water & black coffee & always make proper coffee- if I am not havng a lovely cup of tea then at least I can have decent coffee.
I do eat my dinner earlier than usual but that also helps as I am not eating at same time as DH & when I do his meal I have already had mine so not so tempted- plus I make him things I am not so keen on those days.
It really does not feel like being on a diet.
Weight loss slowed this week but it was a bit of a heavy weekend with providing meals for grandchildren staying so I expect I overdid the calories.. They do love Grandma's cakes & biscuits & I love cooking them! I'll do better this week.

BTW have you seen the 2.5:4.5 verion of this eating plan in book by Jacqueline White? I got her book from Amazon on Kindle as it was only 1.99 & had a lot of recipes.
She maintains that most of us prefer to have our fast days away from weekend so she does Monday & Wednesday & then from Thursday evening to 6pm on Friday thereby getting an extra half day in but still able to have some wine & a nice meal on Friday evening. This is only if you need a quicker loss or to lose some more for a special event. This makes sense to me so will give it a go this week & see how I feel. I have been doing Tuesdays & Thursdays but this week I have done Mon & Wed so if it feels OK for me.

That sounds really interesting GrandmaH especially if the loss slows down. I need to lose at least another half stone to get back to where I was before my thyroid started misbehaving. Although I am now on the medication it left me with the extra 1.5 stones which is why I wanted to diet in the first place. That would take me down to the 11 I have been stuck at since my early 30's when I had a full hysterectomy - now I am thinking perhaps I could get down to 10 then I would be jumping for joy. I am aware to go below that to the 8.5 stone I was before then would be a stupid aim and show too many wrinkles. Anyway 1 day at a time and I did give myself a year to achieve it to be realistic.

I find fasting from about 10 pm until about 9 the next day the only sort I can manage - and then only if I actually stay asleep

I got up a bit late this morning so just had a coffee with milk before I came to work. Normally I would say I 'needed' breakfast but it's now nearly 1pm & i am off home for lunch & I feel fine. I really think this way of eating shrinks the stomach as I rarely feel hungry at all- & I can't eat so much on feast days either.

Am into my third week or so with this diet, today is a fasting day. I am not experiencing a rapid weight loss, but that' fine I want something I can sustain, just wondering if this is other GNs experience. Also I take my dieting day from say 8pm the night before fasting day to around 9 am to 10 am the day after the fasting day so roughly that is 37 hours. I was with a friend the other day who diets from 7 pm to 7 pm the next day, thus managing to get a proper evening meal in both days. Anyone else do it like this? and if so are you still losing weight?

I am starting 5:2 diet today and will do Monday's and Wednesday's or Thursday's. I cleared out my baking cupboard last week so I'm not tempted to bake and eat cakes for a few weeks!

I hope all goes well frida . Let us know how you get on.

Help ladies please. I fell off the wagon big time last week. It was half term and I was so involved with the children all week that I chose to stop for a week. I am having my first fast day back on it today and am really struggling. I put on all the weight I had lost before half term, over half term, and I feel really yuk today. I am so fed up with this wretched weight thing. Have struggled all my life and am questioning if I will ever achieve it after all these years. Really fed up

What am I missing??
Just come back from the barber's , hairdresser's, unisex hair salon and everyone there was on a fasting day bar me.

Orca Short back and sides or granny perm?

Keep at it, nanapug - I’m sure you’ll soon get back on track. Too late for this advice, I know, and I hate sounding holier than thou, but I find it’s best to keep to the 2 days fasting a week, even when it’s a holiday week, or you’ve got a lot on. I just think the fast days get easier as time goes by, and you get into a simple routine that might be disrupted if you miss a couple in a row. That’s my experience anyway. I do hope you feel a bit better now – just think of all the good things you can enjoy tomorrow. I’ve got a huge white chocolate cookie squirreled away in my desk drawer at work from a birthday celebration today – I’ll have polished that off by 8 am tomorrow!

Been on the 5:2 for a month now. Starting losing weight immediately, and saw knock on effects with reduced BMI, Viseral etc etc. I'm battling fibroids at the moment as well, but had a normal cycle of 7 days....can this be the result of changing from the inside that this eating lifestyle purports to do?

You may be right Walletmilkers (love the name by the way). The hot sweats which I had been suffering for 15 years, way beyond the menopause, are subsiding at last. I have even added a light cellular blanket to my bed which has had sheet only for all those years. I might even have to buy a duvet and warm clothes one day!
It would be interesting to hear of health benefits noticed by others.

Don't worry Nanpug- in the book I had he said he doesn't fast during holidays or over Christmas & it still works OK. If you put it back on quickly- it will come off quickly too. Maybe try the fasting on Thursday am until 6pm Friday as detailed earlier in this thread which I read about in another book which is for when you want a one off quick loss. It may make you feel better to get straight back to pre half term weight.
It is working for you which is the main thing.

Anyone here still keeping an eye on what they eat on the five non fasting days? I have had a couple of celebratory occasions last week and ate more than I would have normally and now I think they may have cancelled out my last two fasting days.

Working well for me and find I have reduced appetite following fast days.This is a real benefit as I was worried I would want to binge a little after fasting. Think my stomach is shrinking! Hooray. Sparkling water seems to help me feel fuller on fasting days. Have lost half a stone and feel very positive at the moment.