Baggybear
Well-Known Member
I'd say no.
The 5:2 diet works because your body doesn't go into starvation mode (which it does on most calorie restreicted diets).
When your body goes into starvation mode it stores energy for when food is in short supply - this is your body storing FAT - then when you eat less you use your fat reserves BUT putting your body in starvation mode means as soon as you eat normally you start storing fat again NOT burning it off.
The 5:2 diet works as your eating plenty and then wham nothing so you burn your reserves (FAT) then your eating well again the next day so the body DOESN'T try to store fat. If your body is getting lots of food then nothing (FAST) then lots of food it doesn't go into starvation mode, it goes into repair mode, fixing things that are wrong within the body (there are lots of these health benefits that go with the 5:2 diet) and you also use some of your fat reserves to get through the fast.
From what I understood of the research, the longer you go from the night before your fast to when you have anything on your fast day the better, so having 1 meal in the evening is best as your body has worked for a long time on your fat reserves and then you break the fast with a small meal (500/600 cals) and go to bed again. Then you eat as normal keeping your body guessing and stopping it from going into starvation mode.
xxx
