Health and Weight Loss Benefits of the 5:2 Fast Diet

My Healthy and Delicious "Fasting" Breakfast on the 5:2 Fast Diet

I recently discovered a healthy eating plan I truly believe I can stick with - it's called the 5:2 Fast Diet. Personally, I hate the word "diet" so I prefer to call it an "eating plan." It was created by the English physician Dr. Michael Mosley. Basically, it involves restricting your eating JUST 2 days (ANY two non-consecutive days) per week. The other 5 days - you can eat anything you like. The funny thing is, restricting your diet those two days -- magically leads your body to want healthier foods the other five days. It's like your body begins to understand that it CAN have whatever it wants, it just feels better if it doesn't go overboard. And the cravings really get in check all week when you eliminate sugar and carbs just two days. It's shockingly easy to fast two days when you can tell your brain that TOMORROW you can have those chips or that ice cream. And when tomorrow comes, your brain tends to say "I don't HAVE to have to have the chips AND ice cream today - because tomorrow I can have whatever I don't have today." In other words, you never end up stuffing your face - because you realize you have 4 other days that week to give into those cravings (which have diminished like you will NOT believe!).

Your two restricted days are considered "fasting" days because you are only allowed 500 calories as a woman or 600 as a man. I have found that a big brunch (organic eggs, all-natural turkey sausage and organic salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar) and a light dinner (chicken and vegetables) fit these criteria and gets me though the day just fine. Personally, I chose to eschew carbs, dairy, soy, and sugar on my two fasting days. Just makes life easier - and means I am eating at my utmost healthiest for almost 1/3rd of the week with little effort.

There is a ton of science behind fasting, which indicates that intermittent fasting makes us healthier and actually adds to our longevity. As Dr. Mosley himself reported in a Huffington post interview: “I went into (fasting) quite skeptical because I’ve looked at diets over the years and I’ve always assumed they’re rubbish. Really seriously rubbish. But the people who study in this area (of fasting) are really top scientists — world-class scientists who are hugely reputable in their areas. And they were all coming at it from their areas of expertise: cancer, dementia, diabetes — they were approaching it from different angles, but coming to the same conclusion.”

I've been doing the 5:2 Fast Diet for three weeks now myself, and I can tell you I sleep much better, my clothes are loser, I feel much more energetic, and I don't crave sugar at all anymore (although I do allow myself dessert when I feel like having it on my five non-fasting days). Reaping such benefits with so little effort means this is a plan I can DEFINITELY stick with ... hopefully for life.

ADDED BONUS: I save money and don't have to think about shopping or meal prep two days a week! That's a VERY welcome break to my busy week!