Hi everyone!
I have been a good stone or more (14 pounds for our American friends) overweight ever since having my first child - and that was nearly thirteen years ago! I went from eight and a half stone (pre-pregnancy) to twelve stone, and then settled at just over ten stone for the last ten years or so (I'm only 5ft 3in tall). I have never dieted, although I try not to overeat, and although I appreciate some of my curves I've never really been happy about being bigger. Apart from a nasty flare last year when I lost a few pounds then put them straight on again, I have never managed to lose any weight.
So I have now embarked on my first 'proper' diet ever - the 5:2 fast diet, and it is working!
I'm sure many of you will have heard about it, but basically it consists of cutting your calorie intake to 500cals (600 if you're a man) on two days of the week. On the other five days you just eat your normal diet.
For those of us with poor will power it means that you can work on the 'one day at a time' principle and I manage to get through the fasting day because I know that it's only for that day - I can even go to bed early to make the next day come quicker!
I had a little difficulty getting used to 'fasting' at first, but if I keep busy and away from the kitchen it's not a problem. I also had a bit of trouble finding out what was best for me to eat, as I couldn't fill up on too much salad because it upsets my guts, but I have found bananas good, lots of water, and simple prawn, chicken and rice/pasta dishes are good, spiced up with a little sweet chilli or soy sauce.
Anyway, I have been losing a pound a week (a good steady rate, I think) and according to my body fat scales it is actual fat loss (rather than water or muscle). So after 6 weeks I am 6pounds lighter and feeling fab. I can already get into previously worn jeans, and I'm just off now to have a sandwich and a chocolate biscuit for lunch, and I can still have my glass of wine on non-fasting nights - yum!
They say that once you reach your target weight, fasting just once a week should keep you at that weight. There are a whole host of health benefits associated with fasting, apparently due to how it affects the immune system, so I'm hoping my CD could also improve as an added bonus. My husband, who is a lean running machine, is also doing the diet but just for the health benefits as he has no fat to lose!
Anyway, I just wanted to pass on a positive experience and encouragement to anyone who has heard of the diet but not been sure about whether to try it or not.
Cheers!
:wine:
I have been a good stone or more (14 pounds for our American friends) overweight ever since having my first child - and that was nearly thirteen years ago! I went from eight and a half stone (pre-pregnancy) to twelve stone, and then settled at just over ten stone for the last ten years or so (I'm only 5ft 3in tall). I have never dieted, although I try not to overeat, and although I appreciate some of my curves I've never really been happy about being bigger. Apart from a nasty flare last year when I lost a few pounds then put them straight on again, I have never managed to lose any weight.
So I have now embarked on my first 'proper' diet ever - the 5:2 fast diet, and it is working!
I'm sure many of you will have heard about it, but basically it consists of cutting your calorie intake to 500cals (600 if you're a man) on two days of the week. On the other five days you just eat your normal diet.
For those of us with poor will power it means that you can work on the 'one day at a time' principle and I manage to get through the fasting day because I know that it's only for that day - I can even go to bed early to make the next day come quicker!
I had a little difficulty getting used to 'fasting' at first, but if I keep busy and away from the kitchen it's not a problem. I also had a bit of trouble finding out what was best for me to eat, as I couldn't fill up on too much salad because it upsets my guts, but I have found bananas good, lots of water, and simple prawn, chicken and rice/pasta dishes are good, spiced up with a little sweet chilli or soy sauce.
Anyway, I have been losing a pound a week (a good steady rate, I think) and according to my body fat scales it is actual fat loss (rather than water or muscle). So after 6 weeks I am 6pounds lighter and feeling fab. I can already get into previously worn jeans, and I'm just off now to have a sandwich and a chocolate biscuit for lunch, and I can still have my glass of wine on non-fasting nights - yum!
They say that once you reach your target weight, fasting just once a week should keep you at that weight. There are a whole host of health benefits associated with fasting, apparently due to how it affects the immune system, so I'm hoping my CD could also improve as an added bonus. My husband, who is a lean running machine, is also doing the diet but just for the health benefits as he has no fat to lose!
Anyway, I just wanted to pass on a positive experience and encouragement to anyone who has heard of the diet but not been sure about whether to try it or not.
Cheers!
:wine: