Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--I don't know why you are under attack here, though clearly many of the prior posters have no clue what the 5:2 diet is about. I think it's great that you are trying it! If I had 250 calories allotted for dinner, I would do a large salad with lots of fresh vegetables, a dressing made from a good vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs, and a poached egg or two on top.

FWIW, I tried it for a couple of weeks and found it too hard to keep to a moderate dinner while cooking for the rest of the family. I've ended up doing a compromised version: On work days, I don't eat until noon or 1:00 (just black coffee, tea, or water in the morning), then I eat a large healthy salad, vegetable soup, or some other very healthy, primarily vegetarian meal for lunch. I eat a handful of nuts or other healthy snack when I get home, then for dinner I eat a smaller portion of what I normally would. On weekends I don't think about what I eat. With this plan plus weight lifting 2 or 3 times a week I've lost more than 20 lbs in 6 months, and I feel great. Good luck!

So, are you fasting on your "rest days" from lifting? Are you able to facilitate muscle recovery without sufficient protein?

I usually lift once on the weekend and on one or two weekdays a week. I lift in the morning, so on the weekdays, I'm not eating protein until several hours after the weights session. I do try to have protein both before and after the weekend sessions. Though this plan is certainly not what the New Rules of Lifting (which I'm following) authors recommend, I haven't noticed any issues, and I've definitely been able to progress (slowly) on increasing the weights used. That being said, I'm not really focused on athletic achievement--I can only squat 60 lbs or so currently. I just like the way the weights make me look and feel. Mind you, under my modified fasting plan, I'm eating way more than 500 calories every day. Probably more like 1200-1400 or so on a good weekday, and more on the weekends. I don't count calories.

Anonymous wrote:So what happens when u go back to eating 'normally'?

Eating "normally" is what led me to needing to lose weight and improve my health markers in the first place, so I personally plan to continue ADF for life. It is not difficult or uncomfortable at all once you adjust to it. And you would be surprised how much healthy food can be included on a 500 calorie day. I personally eat very healthy on non-fast days ... I don't use this methodology as a way to eat twinkles and Fritos while maintaining my college weight.

Anonymous wrote:OP--I don't know why you are under attack here, though clearly many of the prior posters have no clue what the 5:2 diet is about. I think it's great that you are trying it! If I had 250 calories allotted for dinner, I would do a large salad with lots of fresh vegetables, a dressing made from a good vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs, and a poached egg or two on top.

FWIW, I tried it for a couple of weeks and found it too hard to keep to a moderate dinner while cooking for the rest of the family. I've ended up doing a compromised version: On work days, I don't eat until noon or 1:00 (just black coffee, tea, or water in the morning), then I eat a large healthy salad, vegetable soup, or some other very healthy, primarily vegetarian meal for lunch. I eat a handful of nuts or other healthy snack when I get home, then for dinner I eat a smaller portion of what I normally would. On weekends I don't think about what I eat. With this plan plus weight lifting 2 or 3 times a week I've lost more than 20 lbs in 6 months, and I feel great. Good luck!

So, are you fasting on your "rest days" from lifting? Are you able to facilitate muscle recovery without sufficient protein?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what happens when u go back to eating 'normally'?

Once you go into maintenance mode, like any other diet, you can eat normally but continue moderation. Many people keep 1 500 cal day, as opposed to 2 or 3.

For me, its much easier to cut 1500 cals 2 days a week and eat 1500-2000 cals on the other days than it is to eat only 1200-1500 cals every day.

I also find that when I limit the types of foods I eat (no carbs, no sugar), I just binge. There are a million different diet plans out there bc not everything works for everyone. My body has plenty of fat to feed off of on the 500 cal days and as long as I feel good and am not miserable knowing I can have that treat/wine/chocolate the next day, its worth a shot and hopefully my craving will fade by the next day.

Muslims eat this way for the entire month of Ramadan and many studies have actually shown health benefits.

Muslims do not do this during Ramadan. They simply refrain from eating/drinking during daylight hours, but many eat plenty before/after that. It's not unheard of for Muslims to GAIN weight during Ramadan, because they binge before/after, and there are lots of sweets at fast-breaking dinners.

What are the health benefits of severe calorie restriction? Can you provide a citation?

You will find lots of citations here:

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/juddd/780230-benefits-alternate-day-fasting-cron.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those complaining, there is a lot of research on the health benefits of eating this way. Maybe do some research before you snark?

Cite?

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/1/7.full


http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-intermittent-fasting-might-help-you-live-longer-healthier-life/

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/Pages/Does-the-5-2-intermittent-fasting-diet-work.aspx

Hi OP. Don't listen to the naysayers ... They mean well but they are not informed about the latest research. I have been doing ADF for about 9 weeks, I if can tell you that your 500 days will get easier in a couple of weeks if you persevere. Your scale and your tape measure will start to reward you around 8 weeks, but I promise you it will be worth it.

Regarding your specific question, poached eggs are my go to protein if I am at the end of the day with few calories left. They are about 60 calories a piece. My favorite down day supper is a full package of frozen organic spinach (cooked of course!) topped with two poached eggs and some shaved Parmesan. Very tasty, nutritious and filling.

I too have coffee with cream in the morning ... The fat in the cream is very satisfying and allows me to save all the rest of my calories for dinner.

Here is a link to low cal down day ideas, which you may have already seen. I haven't read through it myself. Also, your chicken idea would have been very good and you can freeze the rest in small portions for future down days.

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/juddd/741589-down-days-recipes-only.html


Don't forget your water and best wishes to you! Trust me, if this way of eating can work for a hypothyroid, postmenopausal woman (me!), it can work for you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what happens when u go back to eating 'normally'?

Once you go into maintenance mode, like any other diet, you can eat normally but continue moderation. Many people keep 1 500 cal day, as opposed to 2 or 3.

For me, its much easier to cut 1500 cals 2 days a week and eat 1500-2000 cals on the other days than it is to eat only 1200-1500 cals every day.

I also find that when I limit the types of foods I eat (no carbs, no sugar), I just binge. There are a million different diet plans out there bc not everything works for everyone. My body has plenty of fat to feed off of on the 500 cal days and as long as I feel good and am not miserable knowing I can have that treat/wine/chocolate the next day, its worth a shot and hopefully my craving will fade by the next day.

Muslims eat this way for the entire month of Ramadan and many studies have actually shown health benefits.

Muslims do not do this during Ramadan. They simply refrain from eating/drinking during daylight hours, but many eat plenty before/after that. It's not unheard of for Muslims to GAIN weight during Ramadan, because they binge before/after, and there are lots of sweets at fast-breaking dinners.

What are the health benefits of severe calorie restriction? Can you provide a citation?

Anonymous wrote:So what happens when u go back to eating 'normally'?

Once you go into maintenance mode, like any other diet, you can eat normally but continue moderation. Many people keep 1 500 cal day, as opposed to 2 or 3.

For me, its much easier to cut 1500 cals 2 days a week and eat 1500-2000 cals on the other days than it is to eat only 1200-1500 cals every day.

I also find that when I limit the types of foods I eat (no carbs, no sugar), I just binge. There are a million different diet plans out there bc not everything works for everyone. My body has plenty of fat to feed off of on the 500 cal days and as long as I feel good and am not miserable knowing I can have that treat/wine/chocolate the next day, its worth a shot and hopefully my craving will fade by the next day.

Muslims eat this way for the entire month of Ramadan and many studies have actually shown health benefits.

So what happens when u go back to eating 'normally'?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those complaining, there is a lot of research on the health benefits of eating this way. Maybe do some research before you snark?

Cite?

Go to pubmed and read pretty much any research published my mark mattson, who is the chief neurological research scientist at Johns Hopkins institute on aging. You could also check on the work of Sinclair out of Harvard, luigi Fontana out of St. Louis, valter longo from Berkeley. Other search terms that will get you to this research include sirt1 or calorie restriction or hormesis or ...

Anonymous wrote:No amount of weight loss is worth eating like this.

You ain't neva lied!!!

OP--I don't know why you are under attack here, though clearly many of the prior posters have no clue what the 5:2 diet is about. I think it's great that you are trying it! If I had 250 calories allotted for dinner, I would do a large salad with lots of fresh vegetables, a dressing made from a good vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs, and a poached egg or two on top.

FWIW, I tried it for a couple of weeks and found it too hard to keep to a moderate dinner while cooking for the rest of the family. I've ended up doing a compromised version: On work days, I don't eat until noon or 1:00 (just black coffee, tea, or water in the morning), then I eat a large healthy salad, vegetable soup, or some other very healthy, primarily vegetarian meal for lunch. I eat a handful of nuts or other healthy snack when I get home, then for dinner I eat a smaller portion of what I normally would. On weekends I don't think about what I eat. With this plan plus weight lifting 2 or 3 times a week I've lost more than 20 lbs in 6 months, and I feel great. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No amount of weight loss is worth eating like this.

I'm with you.

Agreed.

I've lost 50lbs recently, and would rather be fat again than eat 500 calories a day. Better to eat sufficiently and contentedly, and have a 500 calorie deficit with exercise.

Thats great for you but I have been trying to lose weight and miserably failing for a long time, including WW and other more traditional plans. Its only 2 days a week where my calories are limited and the other days I can eat normally (within reason , of course). I actually feel fine and am less tempted to binge (as I would usually do when my food is restricted bc I know I can have that scoop of ice cream tomorrow.

I am exercising as well but dont always have time to burn 500 calories that way.

Ok. Then workout less, and lose it slowly. Starving yourself is incredibly stupid. It's not sustainable, and it will either damage your body if done for any period of time (organ shutdown - your body has to conserve energy somehow), or you'll gain it all back when you return to a normal diet.

Seriously, just eat all things in moderation and exercise when you can. It's better to be fat, than be a yo-yo idiot.

A ripe avocado with lime juice and sea salt.

Anonymous wrote:For those complaining, there is a lot of research on the health benefits of eating this way. Maybe do some research before you snark?

Cite?