As regular readers will know I’ve been doing the 5-2 diet. My motivation for doing the diet was to lose a little weight as well as benefit from all the reported health benefits associated with intermittent fasting (see here for more details).
I did the 5-2 diet for two months, all of April and May. My motivation for giving up the 5-2 diet? On fast days I was hungry,irritable, moody, and did I mention hungry? I literally spent the whole day thinking about food, my hunger, and when I would next get to eat. In the end this massively outweighed any potential benefits the diet might offer.
The other thing that happened was binging. On the days when I wasn’t fasting I wanted to eat as much as possible, the deprivation of fasting made me want to eat EVERYTHING. Also the day before a fast always felt like the day before a diet starts, as in a last opportunity to eat as much as possible. So although I lost a little weight it wasn’t a huge amount considering how hard the diet had felt.
I think this diet could work for some people, those that cope well without eating and do not turn into a massive cow when their blood sugar levels drop. For me though an absolute mismatch.
I did want to find an alternative though. I know that with my passion for food that if I didn’t find some kind of plan I would gradually gain my way to needing a crane life out to the old folks home. So I discovered the eight hour window (for more info look here). The eight hour window is a different version of intermittent fasting where you essentially fast for 16 hours and eat for eight. The benefits are supposed to be similar and I have found it works a lot better for me.
I have been following the eight hour window for over a month now. I haven’t actually lost any weight. However I am still breastfeeding and my weight is within a healthy BMI anyway (9st 3 and 5ft 4) so this isn’t a massive issue for me. However I do generally eat whatever I fancy during my ‘window’ and I haven’t gained weight so it seems like a good weight maintenance plan long term.
So I will continue with the eight hour window, hopefully long term. It feels like a more natural way to eat for me, and with a bit of luck it is also benefitting my health.
hmmm interesting! I did the 5:2 and lost a lot of pounds and still kept them off even though I haven’t really done it now for several weeks. Might look into the 8 hour window, I do like to mix it up a bit anyway! I’m 5′ 4 but 9st 6lbs so you are doing great 🙂
I like ‘mixing it up’ too – my problem is I get bored with whatever diet I’m doing and want a change (and a biscuit)!
Ah, MultiLayerMummy has the same opener as I was thinking…hmmmm interesting! The 5:2 never appealed purely due to the fact I would also be a pure cow on fast days. I did the old fashioned method of eat less and exercise more and have shifted 22lbs over the last 10 mths. I still have food I enjoy just less of it and treat myself on a Saturday. So far so good – still want to shift more though but like we chatted about before – never happy!! 🙂
I’m about to try the 5/2 diet, sometimes feels like I’ve tried them all. I don’t need to lose loads, but it’s that last half stone… I realised the other day, I’ve been moaning about this for a DECADE!! Foolish isn’t it?