Many of you will know I’m an advocate of the fast diet, it works for me – I’ve lost weight and easily maintained this without much of a compromise on my lifestyle. I can still eat out a lot and eat what I fancy in restaurants but with two low-calorie days I keep the weight off. That said, there a few common feelings which I think anyone on a fast day can relate to…
1) Fast days = early nights
On a fast day I do feel a little weary by 8pm and don’t want to risk an evening nibble or trip to the biscuit tin, so it usually means an early night! Luckily I love my bed and falling asleep isn’t usually a problem for me.
2) You plan/dream about things you’re going to eat on non-fast days!
I can usually stick to my fast days pretty well but I do definitely day dream about what I’ll eat the next day when I’m not fasting! A croissant, a full fat latte, even just a couple of slices of buttered toast are delicious treats to look forward to.
3) You’ll never look at certain high calorie foods the same way
I don’t mean you won’t eat them but you’re just more aware of what you’re putting into your body. 250 calories for just a slice of Dominoes! Half my daily fast day allowance in one little pizza slice – I still get a takeaway pizza on occasion but I do it knowing it’s really not good for me and a fast day needs to follow!
3) MyFitness Pal is everything
Where would I be without this calorie counting app? Almost all foods are already listed in there and there’s a handy barcode scanner to let me add anything I’ve just snacked on. It’s so satisfying to complete a fast day and feel saintly as you see your 500 calories on the display before bed time! I don’t use it much on my non fast days but I still find myself mentally trying to work out the calories.
4) Weighing yourself after a fast day is the best
You’re never lighter than first thing in the morning after a fast day – so that’s the only time I ever weigh myself! It’s encouraging to see the slightly lighter weight (or that you’ve not gained despite a heavy weekend, which may have included the aforementioned takeaway pizza). I find it motivates me to keep up with the 5:2 lifestyle.
5) You REALLY look forward to meals out (and indulging guilt free!)
Everyone loves dinner out but when you’re on the fast diet it’s especially exciting. You’re obviously not going to do a fast day when you’ve got dinner out so the possibilities of what you can eat seem extra delicious and exciting…chips, steak, cheese, dessert – I enjoy a meal out without feeling guilty at the indulgence.
6) You know the calorific content of almost everything (and it bothers you if there’s something you can’t instantly recall the calorie content of)
That’s me, an encyclopedia of calorie knowledge! I’m like the rain man of calories! Partly through My Fitness Pal, partly through my own obsessiveness – I know roughly how many calories most things have…I think most serious fast dieters do too.
7) You know which processed and on-shelf snacks are healthiest/have the least calories
This one’s closely related to number six – but if you’re on the move and not someone who’s batch cooked healthy fast day treats then you will reach for the convenient on-shelf snacks that are readily available and incorporate them into your daily allowance. A few of my favourites that don’t get me into too much trouble with calorie counting are Wotsits (90 calories), Weight Watchers Caramel Wafers (79 calories), Proper Corn Sea Salted Popcorn (84 calories) and very occasionally a Club chocolate biscuit (115 calories). I know I should eliminate some of these things from my diet all together – but snacks are everywhere and realistically many fast dieters will reach for them like I sometimes do.
8) It’s easier to go meat free on a fast day
Works well if you’re doing Meat Free Monday! It’s much easier to stay within 500/600 calories if you cut out the the meat and go veggie instead. There are some reasonable veggie sausages out there for as little as 64 calories each, much easier to make a meal out of! Bacon medallions are the only meat which does sometimes fit into a fast day.
9) You miss lattes and cappuccinos
I know I’m all about tea, I really am but I do love a good takeaway coffee during the working day. It’s a no-no on a fast day though, even a lovely skinny latte can still have going on for 100 calories in and they aren’t calories that will keep you full. So fast days are often coffee-free – lucky I love tea so much really!
10) It can be really hard to avoid alcohol
Have you ever tried doing a fast day on a Friday? It’s really hard not to crack at the end of the working week, just for glass of wine while watching Graham Norton…but unless you’ve eaten nothing else that day – you cannot fit the wine-time calories in. And if you’ve eaten nothing, there’s not much point in having wine as one glass will go to your head! I generally avoid fasting around the weekends – what’s the point? Weekends are for wine and cocktails!
10) Soup is your friend!
Filling, healthy and often low-calorie…soup is a faster’s best friend. Covent Garden’s Carrot and Butternut Squash at 80-something calories per bowl is a particular fast day dinner win for me.
Would you agree? If you’re a fast dieter too I’d love to hear your experiences!
xXx
