5:2 Diet - fast day 1

I haven't posted for so long, but I haven't been eating in a very skinny style.

I'm hoping to be back to being good, healthy and motivated! 

I've been reading up on the 5:2 Diet (intermittent fasting). 

Have any of you tried it? 

It sounds very interesting. You fast 2 days a week, surviving on only 500 calories a day for women, 600 for men. Not a lot of calories but the idea is for the rest of the week you don't have to monitor what you eat.

I've never tried a "fad diet" before, I've only ever tried weight watchers really.

However this diet appeals to me as I tend to do very well at eating healthy Monday to Thursday then go a bit crazy at the weekend! 

It's also a bit like the old weight watchers plan where you could save points so I would often have very low point days to save to party at the weekend.

Plus it would be nice to have a break from points and calorie tracking for 5 days a week! 

It boasts other health benefits such as lower cholesterol and even helps fight ageing. Sounds great. 

Here's the official website to read more:

http://thefastdiet.co.uk

I didn't buy the book, I just decided to go ahead and give it a go.

So I've fasted 2 days so far and day 1 I found quite easy. Below is what I ate.

Note: I've added pro points where I can for anyone on weight watchers. Some food amounts are too low to point but I need to include every calorie to have an accurate fasting amount. 

Monday - Day 1 fasting 

Breakfast:

1 Ryvita light Crackerbread  =

19 calories (2 for 1 pro point)

I spread with a tiny bit of my favourite 

Jam from Ikea  = 6 calories & had a

Coffee with almond milk (Alpro unsweetened) = approx 4 calories.

Total breakfast = 29 calories 

(2 pro points)

These crackers do the trick for a low cal low point carb fix.

Lunch:

Egg white frittata

3 egg whites = 48 calories

2 cherry tomatoes = 6 calories 

20g Weight watchers reduced fat grated cheese = 43 calories or 1 pro point

1 tbsp of skimmed milk = 11 calories

Lunch time snack:

Tea &

2 mini weight watchers orange cookies from a pack of 8. (8 = 2 pro points)

= 11 calories each

Total lunch = 130 calories (approx 3 pro points)

Dinner: (recipe to follow)

50g King prawns = 35 calories (1 pro point)

1 pack of oodles of noodles = 89 calories (2 pro points)

2 tbs soy sauce = 20 calories

1 tbs rice wine vinegar = 5 calories

1/2 tbs shiracha sauce = 5 calories

50g Little gems lettuce = 8 calories

15 ml kraft fat free French dressing = 6 calories 

Total dinner = 167 calories ( approx 4 points)

Snacks:

1 Cadbury snack bar (purple wrapper) = 120 calories (3 pro points)

1 mini meringue shell = 19 calories

1 coolpop = 20 calories

Frozen grapes = 15 calories 

Total daily calories = 500

I didn't find day 1 difficult, I think mainly because I'd prepared so much over the weekend and was actually looking forward to it. Day 2 didn't go as well, i'll add this to my blog soon! 

In the meantime here are some articles to read more about the 5:2 diet or intermittent fasting:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken

/2013/05/17/hot-new-fasting-diet-from-

europe-hits-the-u-s/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.

cfm?id=how-intermittent-fasting-might-help

-you-live-longer-healthier-life

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/06/13/

new-diet-craze-offers-five-days-feasting-for-

two-days-famine/