Anyone try a 5:2 diet?

[Anonymous]

I have done 16:8 intermittent fasting for years (basically skip breakfast most days and only eat from 11-7) but I don’t seem to lose weight anymore. A colleague mentioned that she switched it up to eating normally and not restricting her food intake for 5 days and then fasting for 2 days (only eating 500 cals). She said when she does this she can lose 5-8 lbs in a month.

Has anyone tried this before? Curious if it worked and what/when you ate on the fasting days, and how restrictive you were on the other days.

[Anonymous]

Yes it did work better than intermittent fasting and I just ate normally on the other days. The problem was that I was miserable to be around on the days that I only ate 500 calories. I feel like with daily intermittent fasting our bodies adjust to the regular fasting and your metabolism and digestion eventually slows down. With 5:2, the body does not adjust and with only 2 low calorie days, your body continues to burn calories as it normally would. I would do Tuesdays and Thursdays normally, but would adjust based on what was going on or when my period was due to start.

[Anonymous]

Is there a specific diet for that 500 calorie day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a specific diet for that 500 calorie day?

No, you can eat what you want as long as it's limited to 500 calories.

[Anonymous]

Very dangerous. A very close relative of mine had heart failure doing this and died. she was 33. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/500-calorie-diet

[Anonymous]

I tried the Up Day Down Day diet, which is normal diet and then 5-600 calories every other day, to lose the last of the baby weight. I am 5'3" and was 118 post-baby and 108 before pregnancy. Fwiw, the weight didn't budge until I did a 2:5 diet with normal eating on the weekend and 500 calories during the week. It took three months to get down to 112, where I am now.

At 118, I was diabetic and now I am not. The restriction was worth it for me. Ymmv

[Anonymous]

Read Dr Krista Varady research on every other day diet.
It was a successful way for me to kickstart weight loss journey. I now IF 16:8 to maintain
Cutting out late evening eating was key for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it did work better than intermittent fasting and I just ate normally on the other days. The problem was that I was miserable to be around on the days that I only ate 500 calories. I feel like with daily intermittent fasting our bodies adjust to the regular fasting and your metabolism and digestion eventually slows down. With 5:2, the body does not adjust and with only 2 low calorie days, your body continues to burn calories as it normally would. I would do Tuesdays and Thursdays normally, but would adjust based on what was going on or when my period was due to start.

I had a similar experience. It worked, at least for a while, but I was miserable on the 2 days — headache, cloudy brain, trouble concentrating, starving, etc. it just wasn’t worth it. I was pretty anxious on the two days before the two fast days, too, anticipating what was to come.
I lost about 15pounds but gave it up.