Last week I did something I’ve never done before. I fasted.
I’ve been hearing a lot about the “fast” diet over the last year and the majority of what I’ve heard has been incredibly positive. I know a few people who have been doing the 5:2 including my Mum who has been really pleased with the results so I decided it was time to give it a try.
I dutifully watched the documentary Eat, Fast and Live Longer which was responsible for sparking interest in the fasting diet in the UK. I was satisfied that the health benefits are worth the hunger and that I’m unlikely to pass out mid way through a busy day at work.
Like most people I know doing the 5:2 I have chosen Tuesday and Thursday as my low calorie days. These days don’t interrupt my exercise regime or that all important mid week glass of wine or cinema trip and crucially aren’t consecutive.
I have to admit that I found the “fast” days much easier than I anticipated. My stomach wasn’t growling too loudly and I didn’t feel light headed which was my main concern. I snacked on raspberries and grapes throughout the day and ate a simple meal of under 250 cals in the evening. When I checked my calories the content of the grapes really surprised me. I checked the back of the packet and who would have thought grapes would be 300 calories! While the raspberries were around 50! I had to remove the margarine from my evening meal to compensate! At the end of the day my stomach did feel empty but I definitely wasn’t desperate for something to eat and I knew breakfast was waiting for me the next morning.
I can see this way of dieting being sustainable so wish me luck for tomorrow. It’s my fourth “fast” day.
The book The Fast Diet: The Secret of Intermittent Fasting – Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, Live Longer
is on sale for £2.95. Have you read it?