How To Make The 5:2 Fast Diet Work For You

Every few months or so, we are introduced to a new diet craze which guarantees instant weight loss and other major health benefits. As the low-carb group begins to falter, the 5:2 fast diet prospers.

The basic principle behind this new eating regime is that you fast two days out of the week, with research starting to show that there are actually some physiological benefits to skipping certain meals. Over at Breaking Muscle, they explain in detail the science around this unorthodox diet. It?s definitely worth a read if you?re thinking about switching up your routine:

How Does 5:2 Work?

A person would begin by figuring out how many calories he or she should be consuming five days out of the week. From there, you pick two days where you will only eat a quarter of your normal day?s calories. This comes out to roughly 500 calories for a woman and 600 for men. (It?s good to be a guy.)

The author also gives their own opinion on the best way to approach the 5:2 fast diet:

I?would advise approaching the diet in steps.?First, go into it with a mindset that you can?t fail.?Sure, you may not be able to stick to any or all of it. But learn from it anyway. If the black-and-white approach of fasting simplifies things for you, take note. A lighter form of intermittent fasting may be part of the solution that works for you long term.

The next few steps are to break down the diet protocol itself.?Take a few weeks and journal your food. For some people this action alone can make a huge difference.

Like all diets, getting used to the immediate lifestyle changes is challenging. However once you overcome that, your body will adapt to the new routine. It may take days, weeks or even months depending on your experience level with dieting. Check out the article now and make your own mind up on the 5:2 fast diet.