2:5 The Fast Diet

B2014 BookthefastdietThe Birthday Month seems the ideal time to start with spring-cleaning my health. Now that my blood pressure seems reasonably stable I have checked with my doctor and have her permission to have a go at the 2:5 diet which utilises intermittent fasting. The basic idea is to fast on 2 non-consecutive days each week – by “fast” that means eating 500-600 calories. Then on the other five days, eat a normal healthy diet.

My GP tells me she has a number of patients who are using this method and that they are having good results. The plan, then is to stick to this method for the whole of March and then review the situation. I’ve already been doing it for 10 days or so. Today is my 4th Fast day and I can honestly say that though it is quite rigorous it is doable. I am sticking to 500 calories on Mondays and Thursdays, and trying not to go too mad on the ordinary days.

It is worth reading up on the method and the scientific reasoning behind it. I have long admired TV’s Dr Michael Mosley – he is someone whose work I trust. And besides that he has a nice smile and bedside manner! I first heard of the Fasting approach from my hairdresser – she has lost around 20lbs over 3 months and is looking much the better for it. Her encouragement started my quest for information.

Along with the food restrictions I am trying to exercise a bit more and have dusted off a pedometer that was lying neglected in a drawer. Hence the number of steps etc in the previous post. My weight increased when I retired, and it has been a struggle to keep it just under the obese section in the BMI scale. So it is clear I need to try something to shock my system into behaving itself. I guess I just enjoy the wrong kinds of food and chronic ailments make it hard to get fit. Dancing is good exercise because there is someone else to help prop you up. But that is only one evening a week.

I know that some people lose weight when they don’t want to – I don’t want to be a diet bore, I just want to get into a more sensible frame of mind where I can enjoy food and yet not beat myself up about being a chubby person. Encouraging comments please.

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4 Responses to 2:5 The Fast Diet

  1. Dianne says:

    WW works best for me. I am not good with counting calories.

  2. Mina says:

    Just don’t try the ‘sinusitis’ diet – 3 kilos in 10 days……………

  3. friko says:

    I am in the same boat, not fat, but could easily lose 10 pounds.
    I think the best thing to do is a combination of several methods. 1) fasting, 2) being aware of intake on the other days and 3) more exercise.

    Should be doable. But I am lazy and easily distracted.

    Good luck.

  4. Tabor says:

    Exercise is good for losing weight, but it does not help me in that area. I still do it because it is important for health. I try to eat healthy, maybe Iwill try to take two days and eat only 800 calories??? I think I would have serious energy problems on 500, but maybe not!

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