The 5:2 diet means you only need to diet twice a week, but that can be a lot harder than it sounds if you’re not used to fasting. These tips and tricks aim to make those 500 calorie days a lot easier.
The diets featured on this website are designed for healthy adults over the age of 18.
Keep a diary. This way you can log your progress. Writing down your goals, struggles, setbacks and successes can be a great way to support yourself.
Prepare meals in advance and stick them in the fridge and freezer until you need them. That way, should you be feeling peckish and not in the mood to cook, (ie those times when it’s most tempting to grab a takeout!) you already have a meal sorted.
Tell a friend what you’re doing. It’s a lot easier to stay motivated when you’re sharing your diet progress with someone else!
Create a list of why you started this diet in the beginning and what you hope the end result will be so that then when you feel yourself slipping back into old habits, you can take a look at your list and be encouraged by how far you’ve already come.
Drink plenty of water, especially on fast days. Not only will it keep you hydrated, it will make you feel full.
Plan ahead. Buying what you’re going to eat on your fast days in advance means you’re more likely to stick to them, rather than go over your daily limit because you have no low calorie food stocked.
Stay busy. If you’re used to snacking then fast days will be difficult. Find something to keep your mind off of eating. Learn a skill or pick up a new book.
This plan means you only need to diet twice a week. If you’re struggling on your fast day, remember you only need to get through the day and you’re done.
Make vegetables your new best friend. Low in calories and rich in nutrients, fill up on fast days with veggies.
Even on your fast days, you don’t need to avoid social occasions.
Don’t overdo it on your fasting days. Spending hours at the gym on limited calories can be dangerous.
Non-fasting days are not an excuse to over eat – you should still limit yourself to the recommended 2000 calories a day. If you binge on ‘off days’ you could see your weight increase.
Stock-up on herbal teas – almost non-existent in calories AND they could starve off any sweet cravings.
Take advantage of all Woman’s resources, including an app and cookbook.