The 5:2 fasting diet

Goal: to lose weight or eat healthier

Be aware: this is only the goal of this diet, not necessarily its outcome. Results vary from person to person. Consult your doctor or dietician before starting this (or any other) diet.

The 5:2 fasting diet

The 5:2 method is a type of of intermittent fasting. Here, eat follow your regular diet for five days of the week. The other two days you fast.

On the homepage you can compare this diet with other diets.

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A regular diet and fasting

Usually, a regular diet is referred to as consuming what you need (no more and no less) and making health choices. However, this diet is mostly about when you eat and less about what you eat.

Two days of fasting

Depending on how strictly the diet is followed, during the two fasting days you eat nothing at all, up to a maximum of 500-600 calories (or anything in between).

Which two days of the week you fast is up to you. However, there must be at least one regular diet day between the two fasting days.

The new 5:2 diet

Since the publication of the book "The Fast 800," Mosley has been recommending eating and drinking 800 calories a day, instead of nothing, up to a maximum of 500-600 calories. Mosley calls this ‘the new 5:2 diet’.

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Health benefits

There are many health claims about fasting and the many types of intermittent fasting. It would promote lowering body fat and reduce insulin resistance. Before assuming this is true (for you), you should discuss this with your doctor or dietician.

Be aware

Consult your doctor or dietician before starting this (or any) diet, especially if you have diabetes or bowel problems.

Books on the 5:2 fasting diet

Many books have been written on the 5:2 fasting diet. We've listed a selection of ad links from Amazon, Apple and Ebooks of such books for you:

Another book that uses the 5:2 method is the dr Ludidi Fasting Method. This method also uses the 16:8 method (the 8 hour diet).

Comparable diets

Other variants of intermittent fasting include the 8-hour diet and the 4:3 diet.

Examples of diets that use this, or other methods of fasting, include the dr. Ludidi fasting method, the Longevity diet, the TRF diet and the Galveston diet.

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Goals

  • Lose weight
  • Part time
  • Eating healthier

Exercise

As you see fit

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Dietitians

With the professional help of a dietitian it should be easier to reach your goals. Please contact a dietician in your area or talk to a doctor before starting any diet.

General warnings

Please take note that most diets do not have a scientific basis.

Consult your doctor or dietician before starting a diet, especially if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease or kidney disease.

Eating disorders

If you think you might have an eating disorder (like anorexia or bulimia), it is important to look for professional help. Contact your (house) doctor or find help elsewhere. Here you can find a list of several websites that can provide (online) help. These sites also provide information for people that know someone with an eating disorder.