Beginning a diet can be quite overwhelming, particularly if you are not mentally prepared for the challenge. But there are quite a few things that you can do to prepare yourself before starting the 5:2 diet, which will give you the best chance of seeing the results that you are after. Like most things, preparation is the key.
Here we list some of the main points to consider when starting your fasting diet plan.
For more information on starting a 5:2 fasting diet, click here.
Mindset
In order to motivate yourself, it is a good idea to think through the process and list the reasons why you want to start a diet as the very first step. Being in the right place mentally will help you to follow through with the 5.2 diet, particularly during the challenging times. People start the 5:2 diet for numerous reasons, but knowing that you are working on improving your health to lead a more fulfilling, active life makes it easier to stick to than if you simply start the diet on a whim.
Look for Support
Let your family and close friends know that you plan to follow the 5:2 diet and to actively enlist their support. This group of supporters could even include work colleagues or anybody you have daily contact with. It helps if people around you are aware of your new diet, particularly if you need to meet them for lunch meetings or other social events.
Try motivating someone close to you to also start the 5:2 diet, so you can follow it together. Two committed people can support each other and keep each other motivated while sharing important information or feelings about the diet. Be sure that the person you choose is capable of staying committed and motivated. If this person is more motivated than you are, it will be even better as he or she can help you to stay on track through the hard times.
Plan The Start Of Your 5:2 Diet
Any diet can be challenging and it is best to begin at a time when you are not overly stressed at work or in your home environment. Do your planning in such a way to ensure success. This could mean not starting your diet during holidays or during very busy periods at your workplace. Get rid of any food items that you know you will not be using during this diet program.
Plan Your 5:2 Fasting Diet Days
Always be prepared for the days on which you will be fasting. Come up with a fasting day meal plan so you won’t be wondering on the day… ‘What can I eat?’ Purchase the food that you need for these days well in advance to ensure that all the necessary items are available to you on the morning of the day on which you plan to fast.
Research Your Food
Research not only which meals will be suitable on the days you fast, but how these meals are made up calorie-wise. Be aware not to overindulge on non-fasting days. Overeating on non-fasting days will detract from the positive results that you have achieved on your fasting days.
Purchase Low-Calorie Foods
Stock up on tasty foods or food items that you can use when preparing meals for your fasting days. It will always be easier to stick to the correct maximum amount of calories if your meals are at least tasty and enjoyable. Fortunately, many foods that are both healthy and low in calories are readily available, and by checking out the nutritional information label on many foods, as well as checking out our handy list of foods with typical calorie counts, as well as our low-calorie recipes, you can have a large variety of items to choose from on your fasting days.
Monitor Your Progress
Keep a record of and celebrate your progress. Obtain a calendar or planner with sufficient space to record a lot of details if necessary. This will allow you to record your food intake and the exact amount of calories you are consuming. Do not forget to congratulate yourself every time you reach a set goal or goalpost in the program. Sticking to the 5:2 diet means overcoming mental, emotional and physical barriers to greater or lesser degrees and it is important to recognize the progress you make.
Reward Yourself
Reward yourself with tangible gifts as you reach certain goals. These can be new clothes to compliment your “new” slimmer figure. Other tangible gifts could be health-related, such as running shoes, a pedometer or a bicycle, which will contribute to your overall general health and fitness.
Look Forward To Success
This intermittent fasting diet is easier to follow than many other diets but still produces noticeable and great results. Set goals, look forward to being successful from the outset of your 5.2 diet and never give up.
The 5:2 diet is a health plan that can become a lifestyle. It is easier to stay motivated to fast for one day if you know you can eat what you want the next… and that’s where the whole secret lies: motivation. Stick to the diet and you will soon feel better about your body and reap the health benefits. Good luck!
However, if you need some more information on starting the 5:2 diet, I have put together a guide to help you every step of the way. Click below for more details and to access the guide instantly…
Hi
Everyone gives advice about the fasting days which is great. What about the non fasting days? What are the perimeters there?
Thanks
Hi Kathy
Thanks for your great question! What you eat on your non fasting days is just as important; but it does not revolve around calorie restriction but rather eating healthy and nutritious wholesome foods.
If you really want to get the most from your fasting or the fasting diet plan you should stick with eating well. Yes! It is true you can still have that piece of cake, that ice cream or a couple of slices of pizza but it does not mean that you binge on unhealthy fatty fried foods or those laced with high amounts of sugar. Neither does it give you an excuse to overeat on your normal days to makeup for the calories or foods you did not eat the day before.
If this is occurring then you need to focus on this and ask yourself why this happening and look to what can make it easier to get on top of it.
Further to this try and limit the amount of prepackaged foods you are consuming they are laced with additives and preservatives and often chemicals and bad fats that only build up in your system over time making it easier for fats and toxins to accumulate; which is another aspect we aim to eliminate from our system when we fast; so if you are limiting the amounts of these foods and additives going into your system; you should see improvements right across the board
What you eat on non fasting days requires you to also apply some common sense. Just the same as no magic pill exists to take away all your excess weight or improve your health over night the same principal should apply to your overall diet. Be sensible with what you eat through the entire week but you can enjoy the occasional ‘treats’ without feeling guilty and you still should be able to lose weight, detox and improve your health from fasting if you remain diligent and focused on your goal.
I hope this helps and clears things up and should you have any other questions be sure to check out our FAQ page http://thefastingdietplan.com/faq/
To your health
Sarah
I want to get something straight in my head. Ok I’m fasting on Monday and Wednesday. The last thing I ate was at 7:00 on Sunday night. Does that mean I have to wait until 7 pm on Monday until I eat? The same on my non fast day. Do I have to wait a full 24 hours before eating? I’m probably making this harder than what it is. Just want to make sure. Thanks!
Hi Tammy
Thanks for your question.
I can see how you would think that a fast day is a full 24hrs but in actual fact when you complete a fast day you actual fast for about 36hours.
Eg If you are going to fast on Monday and Thursday this is the format you should follow.
Finish eating about 7pm Sunday night. This is when you begin fasting. Then wake up Monday and this is a fast day so you continue to eat but only consume 500 calories throughout the entire day. What you eat and what times you eat is up to you, but of course I would suggest sticking to healthy low calorie foods such as salads, vegetables, proteins and dairy and limiting sugar and a high intake of carbohydrates and fats (as this is where most of your high calorie count will be)
You go to bed that night and wake again the following morning and aim to break your fast and have breakfast at 7am.
This total approximate 72hrs fasting rather than 48hours.
I hope this clear this up for you. If you are not sure why not join our 4 week challenge which is free and you will receive a guie you can download which answers lots of questions like these and helps get you started and on your way.
You can get that guide here http://thefastingdietplan.com/products/quick-start-guide/
To your health
Sarah
Hello Sarah,
I would like to order your book. Can I get a hard copy by mail instead of downloading the book?
Hi Margarita
Thank you for your interest in the healthy and Delicious Recipe book. Unfortunately I do not have any hard copy books for sale; it was just too expensive to make them available this way. In order to kept costs down and not have to worry about shipping the book is only available as a download. If you prefer to have a print version you can always print out a copy for yourself; I have had a number of people do this as they like to keep a copy in the kitchen. Some have commented that they go through the book, print out the calorie table of variety of foods and then choose 5 recipes print them out and go from there, only printing out those that they are going to cook based on their meal preparation, individual taste preferences and ingredients /shopping list.
So this is another option for you. I hope this helps.
To your health’
Sarah