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12 November 2013

Fast Diet - Week 4 - #LoseDayTuesday

Week four of the 5:2 Fast Diet!! To find out more about it, read my original post here.

I can't believe I am in week four already. One definite change in the past week is my body's adjustment to fast days. No longer do I wake up desperate to eat first thing now. I can usually wait until around midday to have my first meal for the day now. I find it incredible how quickly that has changed for me, as I used to require breakfast within half an hour of being awake!!

Another change for me is how I feel about myself. This would most likely be due to getting stuck into pilates again and enjoying feeling my muscles again, the return of some old friends!!! Even though there still hasn't been much of a change on the scales yet, I just feel more confident, and that in itself is a huge change. 

Lunch - Sweet Potato Wedges

Not unlike the Sweet Potato Fries I posted about last week, but the wedges packed a little more punch!! I still had the same amount, cooked with low-cal oil spray, but added some chopped coriander along the way to change the taste somewhat!! They are a very high calorie snack though, I'm not sure I should be using up so much of my quota on a humble yam!!

meg-made: 5:2 Diet recipes - sweet potato wedges

Snack - Cinnamon Cottage Cheese

This is a slightly odd one, I admit. When I was living in a share house throughout University I lived with a Canadian girl Laura, who in her spare time, was a health nut! She would take me out for "park sessions" which sounded so enticing, but involved whipping my butt into shape through cruel and unusual measures. But she also ate some things that at the time seemed kind of loopy to me, but have stuck with me as sensible ways to snack without overloading in calories. This cottage cheese snack comes from her. It is SO simple - combine cottage cheese and cinnamon, mix and eat! 

meg-made: 5:2 Diet recipes - cinnamon cottage cheese

Dinner - Garlic & Chilli Prawn Salad

Discovering that seafood generally is low calorie was a very important discovery last week. I love seafood endlessly, so being able to eat it, even on a fasting day, makes for one very happy Meg.  I created this meal out of the basis of a Thai Beef Salad that I have made and loved for years and years.  I just searched for it on meg-made to link to it and realised somehow it has been overlooked for a post, so that will be remedied soon!!

I marinated the prawns in finely chopped chilli, garlic and coriander. Usually I would add oil to the marinate, but didn't for this recipe and the prawns were still well infused and tender. I made a simple green salad and really just grabbed whatever was in the fridge. I used mixed greens, red onion, red pepper and sliced cucumbers. All of these are low-calorie veggies too. I wanted a little sauce to toss over the whole salad, and so combined light soy, freshly squeezed lime juice and a drop of agave nectar. It just gives it a tang and ties all the flavours together.

meg-made: 5:2 Diet recipes - garlic and chilli prawn salad

This prawn salad is an explosion of flavours in an otherwise fairly bland day, a very welcomed meal to finish the day of fasting. 

meg-made: 5:2 Diet recipes - garlic and chilli prawn salad

Drinks

I noticed that I wasn't drinking enough water until it was too late in the day, so even though I didn't get a headache, I certainly noticed it the following day. I was dehydrated for sure. 

Total calories for the day = 415

Exercise

I did two classes of Reformer Pilates this past week, and one cardio session. I wanted to work out one night but it was miserable outside, so I ran up and down the stairwell for 30 minutes. I did lots of funny things out there in the privacy of darkness and with the accomplice of some funky music. I may have in done some dancercise!! 

Weight loss?

Total loss to date = 1.3kg (2.86lbs). Only a small loss this week, but still a loss so I'll take the win! I am so impatient, I just want to see the kilos drop off, but I guess I'm not doing enough on my non-fasting days for that to happen. I am toying with the idea of a 3rd fasting day, potentially doing a 1,000 calorie day in addition to the two regular 500'ers. Does anyone know if this would be a good idea?? 

Are you doing the Fast Diet?? Have you had a good experience or know any good tips to share? I would love to hear success stories or advice, there are definitely some easier days than others, so lets share how to achieve them!!!

meg xx

13 comments:

  1. Hi Meg, well done on your blog. Thankyou for the food suggestions, definitely will check out the sweet potato dish. Sound's like you're doing really well on the 5:2 Meg. It's my first day of the 5:2 for me, 7 hours into it and I'm doing okay. Being at work is a nice distractor. I've had a headache for an hour or so and drinking heaps of water so it's not dehydration. Apparently it can happen with blood sugar level and ketones. I did exercise this morning, be it small, just 20mins walk with the dog, 10 mins of weights. I will continue to exercise on fasting day's but just a little, as my non fasting day's I exercise for around 1 hour. Losing 5kgs would be great but I'm more in this for getting older and keeping my health. Keep up the blog! ps Not sure about 3 fasting days though eek. goodluck, cheers Liza

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    1. Thanks Liza! Having some distractions on a fast day has helped me out a lot too!! I started off getting lots of headaches on fasting days too, but they have now stopped thank goodness. Good on you for exercising on a fast day, gosh, I could never!! Good luck to you as well!! xx

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  2. Meg, I'll have to say, I tried the 5:2 once. Managed to be on it for about 2 weeks and then gave up. After reading your post above, I went back and read your other ones, and your food ideas make me want to go back and try it once again. Thank you! Great post!

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    1. Hi Sofia! Thank you SO much for letting me know that my recipes are inspiring you to consider giving it a go again! If this foodie can do it, I figure everyone can!! Let me know if you do try it again, I'd love to hear how it goes xx

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  3. Hi Meg, your doing brilliant, keep it up. I have been doing 5:2 since April, (it really dose get easier) down from 189lbs to 173lbs my target is 165lbs my waist has gone from 42inches to 37inches (aiming for 34") I tried several ways of eating my calories on the fast day but in the end, (for the last 6 months) I found it best to just not eat from 7pm until 7pm, then have my 600 calories. I feel great doing this and have lots of energy for heavy weight on my fast day's (Tuesday & Thursday). For me 2 days has been enough as my main driver was the 'actual maximum fasting period time' for the health benefits to combat age related maladies. I think I remember reading that the alternate day fasting method worked fine but not significantly quicker for weightless results, so two days a week is enough for me and easier to motivate and continue with, I will switch to 6:1 when I reach my target in the new year. Good luck and keep at it you are doing great.
    James

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    1. Hi James. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. Congratulations on your incredible success so far!! Thats amazing!! I'm really pleased to hear that 2 days has been enough, I dread the thought of upping mine to 3!! Good luck for your final 8lbs!! Meg

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  4. Hi Meg! You're doing so good on 5:2 keep it up! For me, I find that if I keep my calories around 1,300 on non-fasting days and keep my calories at 500 on fast days, it really helps to lose weight. I also don't lose more than a pound or half a pound a week but that's ok, every little bit helps. I tried fasting for a third day however it didn't make a difference for me, it just made me even hungrier and then I wanted to eat junk food!

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    1. Hi Jen! Thanks for the encouragement!! Goodness 1300 calories isn't much for every day, good on you!How long have you been doing the Fast Diet for? That's good to hear that the 3rd fasting day didn't make a difference, I certainly don't need to feel even more hungry!! Good luck with your journey too xx

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  5. I have to try all of them :) It look so yummy :)

    http://myvintagephotography.blogspot.de

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    1. Thanks Nadja! You should certainly give them a go!!! xx

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  6. Hello from US; I started early Sept; down 11 lbs. 3 inches from my waist! My doctor is very happy with all my numbers. I find this the easiest plan ever. I am 66 years old.

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    1. Thanks for your comment and congratulations on your incredible results!!! I'll bet the doctor is pleased but you must be thrilled!!! Well done you!

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Thanks for your comments, I SO love hearing from you! xx Meg