Anyone doing the Fast Diet?

[Zandy595]

The diet prescribes that adherents eat their typical diet five days per week and then spend two days consuming a quarter of their normal calories -- what amounts to about 500 for women and 600 for men.

I saw Dr. Michael Mosley talking about it and doing the diet himself on a PBS show last night. There seem to be a lot of benefits to this diet and I'm considering trying it.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I saw Dr. Michael Mosley talking about it and doing the diet himself on a PBS show last night. There seem to be a lot of benefits to this diet and I'm considering trying it.

I have considered it...

 

[wvjules]

Why not just eat right 7 days a week with the occasional splurge?

If I were to do something like that I would probably gorge on the day before the 2 days and then again the day after. It just sounds like a disaster of a "diet". What's the plan for after losing the weight? You go back to eating normally 7 days a week then you are going to gain the weight back.

Hasn't everyone learned by now that these "fad diets" never work?

ETA: Dr. Michael Mosley is the author of the diet so I'd hope he would have done it before pushing it off on the public.

Let's do some math. 2000x5=10000 and 500x2 = 1000 = 110000 calories for the week. (BTW, I think 2000 calories is too high anyway). So that leaves 11,000 for the week. Divide that by 7 days and you get 1571 calories average per day. Why not just eat that every day instead of starving yourself for 2 days?

 

[mombrontrent]

Why not just eat right 7 days a week with the occasional splurge?

If I were to do something like that I would probably gorge on the day before the 2 days and then again the day after. It just sounds like a disaster of a "diet". What's the plan for after losing the weight? You go back to eating normally 7 days a week then you are going to gain the weight back.

Hasn't everyone learned by now that these "fad diets" never work?

ETA: Dr. Michael Mosley is the author of the diet so I'd hope he would have done it before pushing it off on the public.

Let's do some math. 2000x5=10000 and 500x2 = 1000 = 110000 calories for the week. (BTW, I think 2000 calories is too high anyway). So that leaves 11,000 for the week. Divide that by 7 days and you get 1571 calories average per day. Why not just eat that every day instead of starving yourself for 2 days?

Exactly, how about just eating a healthy diet 7 days a week. This fast diet sounds like a disaster.

 

[scoutie]

I've read about it. I don't think it sounds very healthy. I think people are going to eat their 500 calories for two days (and be miserable and starving), and then go way overboard the other five days.

I think a better way is to eat reasonably, sticking with the recommended number of calories for your height/gender and exercise. Splurge here and there, but don't starve yourself for two days and then go on a binge the rest of the week.

After the birth of my last child, I had some baby weight to lose. I looked at what I was eating (600 calories in a Panera scone--over a third of my daily calorie allowance!!!!!!) and it was an eye opener. I added some weight training to my usual cardio routines, and I lost my baby weight easily. I maintain a size four by eating reasonably, but still allowing myself a treat or two a day. If I want that Panera scone, I have it, but I don't have another big treat that day. Sometimes, I splurge and go over my recommended calories, but then the next day, I go back to eating healthily. I never starve myself and I never feel deprived. I use the MyFitnessPal app to keep me accountable.

 

[LilyWDW]

This is also called 5:2 and is a type of intermittent fasting. It works for some people and it doesn't work for others. It is no worse or any better then any other way to reduce overall calorie consumption.

 

[dakcp2001]

Heck no! All I can think of while reading this is the line from "School of Rock".

" WHy don't you just go on a diet?"
" I would but you see, I just really like to eat"

 

[Planogirl]

Eating a healthy diet 7 days a week doesn't help someone lose weight. That would just maintain the weight. Something has to give.

This sounds like a radical version of the 17 day diet (which does work by the way). In both cases you eat a certain way to lose weight but then also eat more normally in order to keep your body from adjusting to the new low calorie lifestyle. I think that the two days of fasting sounds difficult though.

 

[Zandy595]

Dr. Mosley didn't come up with the idea of fasting. It's being studied all over the world as a new way of eating for better health.

Fasting is beneficial for brain health and lowering your risk of dementia in older age.

I haven't read too much about it yet, but I don't think it's supposed to be a short term diet, but more of a lifestyle change.

I think I could probably do this without feeling starved and eating everything in site after the 2 days of fasting. Some days I'm just not very hungry and probably eat close to 500 calories anyway. I would just have to do it on a regular basis.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I agree with everyone else. Sounds unhealthy. Just gotta start eating right all the time. Its not easy, but it works.

 

[Zandy595]

Eating a healthy diet 7 days a week doesn't help someone lose weight. That would just maintain the weight. Something has to give.

This sounds like a radical version of the 17 day diet (which does work by the way). In both cases you eat a certain way to lose weight but then also eat more normally in order to keep your body from adjusting to the new low calorie lifestyle. I think that the two days of fasting sounds difficult though.

I totally agree with this. I eat healthy 7 days a week (and exercise) and I'm not losing any weight doing it.

 

[wvjules]

Eating a healthy diet 7 days a week doesn't help someone lose weight. That would just maintain the weight. Something has to give.

Eat LESS then.

I totally agree with this. I eat healthy 7 days a week (and exercise) and I'm not losing any weight doing it.

5 days at 2000 calories and 2 days at 500 calories equals 11,000 calories.
7 days at 1571 calories is also 11,000 calories.

Is 11,000 calories not 11,000 calories no matter how you slice it?


And on a side note, I think most people *think* they are eating healthy but in actuality, they are not.

Sounds like a really bad "diet" to me but good luck with it.

 

[worm761]

It sounds kind of like the zig zag diet. I know a girl that did the zig zag diet and lost over a hundred pounds. She continues to eat this way and keeps the weight off. Basically you eat the same amount of calories a week but vary it by day. Some days are really high and some are really low. It supposedly confuses the body's metabolism. I have no clue how it works, just that it works for the few people I know that do it.

Personally, I try to eat healthy and have been watching my calories. I just started exercising again too. I lose about 2 lbs a month doing this. I really need something to sort of boost my metabolism into action!

 

[dhiggs45]

I saw the documentary last night too and found it very interesting. It wasn't about losing weight, it was about slowing the aging process. By fasting your body suppresses a specific growth hormone, slowing aging down both physically and mentally. The mice that are being tested are living to a human equivalent of 120 years old with no signs of heart disease, dementia, etc. Then instead of multiplying, cells begin to repair themselves. Only fasting seems to accomplish this. Eating healthy 7 days a week to lose weight will help you lose weight but not slow the aging process. Also the studies ate showing that people who are fasting ate less on their non-fasting days, they're learning to eat less calories overall.

It looks interesting but I don't think I could spare two days a week of being tired & hungry right now .

 

[amg35]

I totally agree with this. I eat healthy 7 days a week (and exercise) and I'm not losing any weight doing it.

How many calories are you consuming? To lose, you need to be eating 500 calories less a day then you were eating before. You can combine it through calories burned through exercising and just eating less.

So if you were 150lbs eating 2000 calories a day, you need to be taking in 1500 calories a day in order to lose.

You won't lose if you are taking in the same amount of calories as before, even if you are eating healthier.

 

[scoutie]

Eating a healthy diet 7 days a week doesn't help someone lose weight.

It would if they aren't eating healthy to begin with.

I'm fairly certain that a large amout of people who think they eat a healthy diet, and who are overweight, actually are consuming more calories than they think they are.

As I mentioned above, to maintain my weight, I eat 1470 calories a day. When I was trying to lose weight, I cut it to 1270 calories. When I go to the gym, I can add between 200 and 300 calories to my daily intake. I really recommend a calorie counting app. It was a huge eye opener for me.

I know a lot of people who think they are eating healthfully, but are consuming a lot of sugar, fat and calories in between the healthy meals. One Starbucks drink can add up to 1/2 of your daily allotted calories pretty easily. If you drink a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, you've consumed 660 calories. Pair that with the scone I mentioned earlier, and you've now eaten your entire daily allotment of calories if you're a 140 pound woman trying to lose one pound a week. I know nobody would claim that a mocha and scone is a healthy diet, but even if you're eating salads, fish, lean meats and lots of veggies, which IS a healthy diet....you're just adding extra calories on top of the 1200 you've already consumed for breakfast.

 

[AndyLL]

How many calories are you consuming? To lose, you need to be eating 500 calories less a day then you were eating before. You can combine it through calories burned through exercising and just eating less.

So if you were 150lbs eating 2000 calories a day, you need to be taking in 1500 calories a day in order to lose.

You won't lose if you are taking in the same amount of calories as before, even if you are eating healthier.

Before you can determine how much you have to eat to lose weight you have to know what your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)

Eating to little (under BMR) for long periods of time could have the opposite effect then you want... your BMR ( and TDEE ) could reduce meaning you would have to eat even less to lose weight.

Eating over TDEE will cause you to gain weight.

One of the best sites and posts to explain this is:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

There are no short cuts to losing weight. You have to eat less ( and better ), move more, and lift heavy things.

We all didn't put on the extra pounds in a few weeks... it took months and years. It will take months and years to remove the extra pounds.

 

[Zandy595]

I saw the documentary last night too and found it very interesting. It wasn't about losing weight, it was about slowing the aging process. By fasting your body suppresses a specific growth hormone, slowing aging down both physically and mentally. The mice that are being tested are living to a human equivalent of 120 years old with no signs of heart disease, dementia, etc. Then instead of multiplying, cells begin to repair themselves. Only fasting seems to accomplish this. Eating healthy 7 days a week to lose weight will help you lose weight but not slow the aging process. Also the studies ate showing that people who are fasting ate less on their non-fasting days, they're learning to eat less calories overall.

It looks interesting but I don't think I could spare two days a week of being tired & hungry right now .

I didn't see the beginning of the show. I started watching when he did the 4 day fast. I would never be able to do that. I was interested in doing it for all of the health benefits, not mainly to lose weight. Weight loss it just a very nice bonus.



I think I eat a fairly healthy diet. Below is a typical day.

Breakfast - usually nothing because I'm often slightly nauseous at the thought of food in the morning. Sometimes I'll have a lowfat yogurt (190 cal.)

Lunch - a normal lunch for me would be a serving of carrot chips (35 cal.) and two servings of hummus (140 cal.) I'm eating this now.

Snack - a banana or some strawberries

Dinner - tonight I'm having grilled shrimp (5 oz), steamed broccoli (4.5 oz. no butter, just salt) and roasted potatoes (4.5 oz) with evoo and salt. Not sure about the calorie count.

Snack - once in a while, maybe 2 days a week, I'll have some chocolate. I think the serving size for Hershey Kisses is 9 and I never eat that many.

The only things I drink are water or unsweetened iced tea. Less than once a month I will have 1 regular soda, so I don't really count that. And I don't drink coffee, can't stand it actually.

 

[scoutie]

Zandy Is that enough calories? It seems light to me. I'd be starving on that diet!

Here was the day that I logged in on MyFitness Pal app. I was under my allotted 1470 calories.

Breakfast: Black tea with a bit of sugar and a splash of milk. Oatmeal with blueberries.

Snack: Tangerine

Lunch: Tuna salad with veggies on whole grain bread, carrots, Greek yogurt, and half of a Dove chocolate bar

Snack: Cut up fresh veggies

Dinner: Crescent hamburger casserole (I found on Pinterest--not very healthy, but well within my goal calories), green salad with ranch dressing

Snack: 1/4 of a cup of gelatto

Exercise: 60 minute "Barbell Blast" class

I felt full, I had a couple of treats, and while this day of eating wasn't 100% textbook healthy, it had a good mix of fruit, vegetables, protein, and was under 1500 calories.

 

[lizabu]

I didn't see the beginning of the show. I started watching when he did the 4 day fast. I would never be able to do that. I was interested in doing it for all of the health benefits, not mainly to lose weight. Weight loss it just a very nice bonus.

I think I eat a fairly healthy diet. Below is a typical day.

Breakfast - usually nothing because I'm often slightly nauseous at the thought of food in the morning. Sometimes I'll have a lowfat yogurt (190 cal.)

Lunch - a normal lunch for me would be a serving of carrot chips (35 cal.) and two servings of hummus (140 cal.) I'm eating this now.

Snack - a banana or some strawberries

Dinner - tonight I'm having grilled shrimp (5 oz), steamed broccoli (4.5 oz. no butter, just salt) and roasted potatoes (4.5 oz) with evoo and salt. Not sure about the calorie count.

Snack - once in a while, maybe 2 days a week, I'll have some chocolate. I think the serving size for Hershey Kisses is 9 and I never eat that many.

The only things I drink are water or unsweetened iced tea. Less than once a month I will have 1 regular soda, so I don't really count that. And I don't drink coffee, can't stand it actually.

You're only eating like 800 calories per day. For the short term you will lose weight. In the long term your body goes into starvation mode making it difficult to lose weight. There's some really good advice on this thread. The trick is calculating how many calories your body needs just to breathe and pump blood and take in just a little fewer calories than that.