5:2 Fasting Diet

[CaveyUK]

Need to lose weight. Am traditionally terrible at regular diets.

Some guy at work was talking about the current diet du jour, the one where you eat normally but have two fasting days per week at reduced calories.

Normally I'd consider diving in head first, but now am careful in case any particular faddy diet could have implications for PLWH.

I'm on a combo without any specific food requirements.

Anyone have any insight?

[owt]

Hey Cavey, yeah well i knew this diet by Intermittent fasting...

it worked for me (before chemo before ART before puff..  ) its supposed you have to reduce your calories intake to 600 calories 2 days per week... (if you do this 2 days straights works better but its harder)

i used to do it no more than 1 month straight went i started to feel "fatty", sounds easy but eating only 600 calories holy crap. and of course the other 5 days you should eat healthy enough but HEALTHY!

And i'm pretty sure this is not a very healthy diet but works... so you know if you want give it a try, and more important, if you continue for a long time maybe there's some consequences.  what can i say... try it but moderation hehe, maybe comment this with your DOC.
P.D. i saw a nutritionist... a deception... no good advices, she just gave me a list with my do and dont's, and she told that i'm an oncologic patient so i can't no consume less than 2k calories... puff... how pathetic are the medical services in MX (talking about the social security services not private) in that case i really prefer myfitnesspal app is more efficient.

[CaveyUK]

yeah, I plan  to discuss it with my doctor this week.

Been reading more about it, and I'm interested in the possible benefits from a blood sugar/cancer biomarker side as well. Just need to ensure it's not going to be a bad thing to do meds wise, which is why I will discuss with doc.

[Wade]

Hey Cavy,
I struggle with my weight also.
That diet wouldn't work for me because I like to eat...lol
It also doesn't sound like a healthy thing to do to your body.

I have a stocky build and thats all there is to it.  I eat a lot of fish and I like pretty much everything...yes including fried foods and the fat around my pork chop 
I have found everything in moderation, after a plate of fried clams the next few days I try and eat more healthy .  I don't deprive myself of the foods i like, i just spread them out. Took me most of the winter to get this down and it has been working, my weight is staying stable. My big treat after fasting for labs is a nice greasy cheese burger ! Bottom line is binge dieting doesn't work , at least it hasn't for me.

Good Luck !   Wade

[owt]

Hey Cavy,
I struggle with my weight also.
That diet wouldn't work for me because I like to eat...lol
It also doesn't sound like a healthy thing to do to your body.

I have a stocky build and thats all there is to it.  I eat a lot of fish and I like pretty much everything...yes including fried foods and the fat around my pork chop 
I have found everything in moderation, after a plate of fried clams the next few days I try and eat more healthy .  I don't deprive myself of the foods i like, i just spread them out. Took me most of the winter to get this down and it has been working, my weight is staying stable. My big treat after fasting for labs is a nice greasy cheese burger ! Bottom line is binge dieting doesn't work , at least it hasn't for me.

Good Luck !   Wade

Yeah the problem with this diet is when you like to eat a lot, or for me for example i suffer a lot of anxiety and feel hungry all the time, that's why i tell you this diet used to work for me but no more (before i was so strict about food and when i wanted to be in a regimen) since i'm on chemo and ART it's been so difficult try to control myself from eating a lot!

i'been considering another reasons: maybe it's the Paxil i take for depression, or Paxil boosted Ritonavir (hehe i mean Ritonavir increases the effects of Paxil for me) or simply the anxiety of my condition.

some oncologist tell me that is normal to gain weight when you are on chemo treatment cause your body is recovering from the very hard kind of treatment you're getting so you get very very hungry.

i suppose i have to try more exercise  other way soon i'll be rolling around u.u

for the moment i will try not to be obsessed with this situation, i'm finishing chemo soon, so i'll be able to stick to a diet or do more exercise!

[owt]

yeah, I plan  to discuss it with my doctor this week.

Been reading more about it, and I'm interested in the possible benefits from a blood sugar/cancer biomarker side as well. Just need to ensure it's not going to be a bad thing to do meds wise, which is why I will discuss with doc.

yes, just be sure it is safe, and then if you stick to this diet (nothing of grassy burgers and fries on the 5 days hehe)  i'm sure you'll see good results soon!

good luck!

[RemyG1971]

It might sound crazy but for two weeks try:

1. drinking nothing but water. I drink Smart Water & flavor it with Harney & Sons Herbal decaf raspberry tea & cut up lime.

2. Eating nothing but high water soluble fruit (watermelon, grapes, oranges, kiwi, apples, mango etc). Benefit is you get to eat as much as you want, your body will tell you when you have had enough. Easy to digest and it will change your life.

3. If really out of shape start off by taking it easy. Continue to challenge yourself. When the lbs start dropping try yoga, keep the joints limber. As they say once the joints go, you go.

This is coming from a 45 year year old male, that eats probably 80% fruit diet. I run, swim, bicicle, train in bjj, go to gym, play tennis, play volleyball, bikram yogi, surfer, skater, completed marathons & triathlons, so it works.

Change happens one person at a time=) Hope this helps...

[BT65]

Hi Cavey,
Being diabetic I have to at least try to eat the right way.  Back in March I wound up in the hospital with sepsis, acidosis and acute kidney failure.  I dropped about 23 lbs in about 2 weeks.  And while my body suffered, I feel like while I was in the hospital I detoxed from a lot of the junk I was putting into it.  Because of course while in the hospital I had to follow a diabetic diet. 

Now I try to limit my sweets and snacking, which can be very hard for me to do.  I like to snack and I love sweets.  So when I snack now I try using those 100 calorie bags of popcorn and a (reduced fat) cheese stick, and maybe some fruit.  I've also gotten into eating more fresh veggies and fresh fruit.  It really is a learning process, to eat healthy. 

I also started exercising 4-5 days a week.  I have horrible knees, they both need replaced, are bone on bone, so I have to do exercises that won't make them worse.  A few years back I bought a recumbent stationery bike that I ride for 30-40 minutes, and every other day that I do exercise I do weight bearing exercises. 

I think exercising is important to keep the bones at least supported, and for our hearts etc.  Plus with me, if I do get knee replacements, I will supposedly have an easier time with the therapy afterwards with the exercising. 

You have to find what fits you.  Every person is different and what works for one doesn't work for another.  Good luck though!

Betty

[mecch]

It might sound crazy but for two weeks try:

1. drinking nothing but water. I drink Smart Water & flavor it with Harney & Sons Herbal decaf raspberry tea & cut up lime.

2. Eating nothing but high water soluble fruit (watermelon, grapes, oranges, kiwi, apples, mango etc). Benefit is you get to eat as much as you want, your body will tell you when you have had enough. Easy to digest and it will change your life.

3. If really out of shape start off by taking it easy. Continue to challenge yourself. When the lbs start dropping try yoga, keep the joints limber. As they say once the joints go, you go.

This is coming from a 45 year year old male, that eats probably 80% fruit diet. I run, swim, bicicle, train in bjj, go to gym, play tennis, play volleyball, bikram yogi, surfer, skater, completed marathons & triathlons, so it works.

Change happens one person at a time=) Hope this helps...

I suppose the normal recommendations of percentages are these:

Carbohydrates: 45-65% of calories
Fat: 20-35% of calories
Protein: 10-35% of calories

You are eating 80% carbo.

I would not recommend your diet to anyone.   Maybe as a crash diet.

IMO "Smartwater" is a gimmick. 

OP - generally a reducing diet is higher in fat and protein, and LOWER in carbs, than a maintenance diet.  But dropping out all the carbs, you reduce the caloric total.  Also fats make you feel like you are nourished despite a total reduction in daily calories.

It is also commonly understood that regular exercise helps weight loss if used with caloric restriction.