About 10 years ago I lost 35 pounds on the 5:2 intermittent fasting technique popularized by Michael Mosley. Basically, I ate “normally” for 5 days and restricted calories to 500 for 2 days. I liked it because 5 days of the week I didn’t have to think about when I could eat.
Unfortunately, some of the weight has come back on and thought I would start up 5:2 again but it may not be the way to go these days. From a quick check of this Reddit site I see mostly the 18:6 or 20:4 type of daily fasting. Thoughts?
I think it may depend on your view of how fasting helps you lose weight. Eating 500 calories in a day I wouldn’t personally consider fasting. (No offense meant to anyone - I’m just a lay person here. What the hell do I know anyway.)
What’s your take on weight loss? Is it CICO that does it (reducing calories + more gym time)? Or is it the reduction in average and peak insulin levels? I know there’s a lot of controversy on this, but for me at least I think keeping my insulin levels low helps me lose and keep off weight better than CICO ever did. And keeping my basal metabolic rate constant or increasing it using HIIT with intervals of IF.
Maybe the science has improved a little bit in the last ten years? Not sure what caused the shift “fasting” trends, but again any consumption of calories isn’t a fast in my book (anything that makes my body secrete insulin, actually, like diet soda). Just my two cents, curious to see what others think.
yep. I do 2 x 36 hour fasts a week or sometimes 3 x 20ish hour fasts. I cant do the everyday thing, feels like it runs my life if I do
Im not losing much weight now, but Im down 110 pounds and within about 20 pounds of my GW. Also Im getting stronger, enjoying life and not in a rush to hit my GW
There’s a newer version called Fast 800 that reflects medical knowledge since 5:2 was published. As someone that’s done 5:2 before you might consider this a relaxed version that still works! You could start with this and if at some point you want to alter your fasts obviously you can.
See also 21 Day Body Turnaround with Michael Mosley on All4.
I’ve no idea how well known his work is outside the UK, it’s possible the subreddit demographic affects how often it’s mentioned.