English
Français
Deutsch
Português
Svenska
I'm new to fast 5, here is some background info:
I started at 178 lbs. Ate only 1300 calories per day (not using fast 5) and lost. I plateaued at 162 for two months. So I searched for something different to do.
I began fast 5 three days ago. I have already lost about 2 pounds. I am concerned though. During my eating window I consume about 800-1000 calories only. I know I'll lose weight from this. What I'm worried about is that when I lose this weight and try to live a normal life again, it will all come back.
I'm not talking about binging and eating 5 slices of pizza etc. I think that even if I eat at a deficit later on, the weight will all come back. For example, if I started eating 1500 calories a day every day (thats still below maintenance).
I can't just starve the rest of my life. And it is starving. Below 1200. I would like to continue fasting every so often just for the health benefits like maybe twice a week once I am at my goal weight.
I am just concerned that once I try to up my calories, even if it's by a little, that disaster is going to happen.
I think that it is recommend you eat around 1200 a day to prevent metabolism issues. But it has also been shown in studies that your metabolism will return to normal after a few days of returning to a "normal diet". i wouldn't worry too much and try really hard to eat what your body is asking for. If you are hungry in the evenings during your window - keep eating.
The other way to look at it is that you are currently "on a diet" and you need to eat less than your body needs to lose weight. this is the only way this will work. When the time comes for you to maintain your weight you need to take time to find out the level which your body will accept.
you can increase this level of maintenance calories by doing extra exercise. Increasing muscles is shown to increase metabolism too.
the main thrust of my argument is that your metabolism will not be affected in the long term by low levels of calories right now - but you may find it hard to shift the weight in the short term. Listen to your body and maybe accept that it may take a little longer to lose the weight.