Overview Of The 5:2 Diet
Eating On Fasting Days
On fasting days, women must not consume more than five hundred calories. Men are restricted to six hundred calories. Patients do not need to limit their eating window to specific times on the fasting days. They can eat at their normal mealtimes. Thus, having a late dinner or an evening snack is perfectly acceptable. Followers of the 5:2 plan are encouraged to eat several small meals throughout the day to make the fast as easy as possible. Online cookbooks designed specifically for the 5:2 plan have recipe suggestions for fasting days. Patients can use any recipes that fall within the calorie limit for these days. Some individuals find it easiest to use packaged foods that display the calorie content on fasting days. Others choose to include meal replacement bars or shakes for some meals on the fasting days.
Building meals around whole grains, fruits, and vegetables enables followers to enjoy a larger quantity of food while remaining within the calorie limits. This can help ease hunger. For example, breakfast could include a small fruit salad or a portion of oatmeal with some yogurt. Alternatively, patients may want to have a piece of wholegrain toast with avocado slices. Including a large tossed salad at lunches and dinners is ideal. Patients should measure out the salad dressing for calorie control. If planned correctly, fasting days can include desserts as well.
Uncover more tips for fasting days now.
Other Tips For Fasting Days
Of course, there is more to fasting days on the 5:2 diet than eating. Individuals need to remember to drink a significant amount of water on these days. The minimum is eight glasses, though more can be quite helpful. Patients should consider drinking a glass of water either before or after any food they consume on their fasting days. Another good tip for fasting days is to plan ahead. Specifically, it helps if individuals plan what they will eat on these days, even the time frame in which they will eat. Keeping fasting-friendly foods in their refrigerator and pantry is crucial, since it will help them avoid ordering food and going off their fast entirely.
As mentioned previously, it also helps when individuals schedule the fasting days for when they are busy but do not need to be incredibly social. Social events often include a fair amount of food and eating, which can be tough on individuals who are fasting. Finally, the best tip for fasting days is for individuals to be kind to themselves. Accidentally eating a few more calories than allotted, such as 520 calories instead of five hundred, will not destroy the fast. Hunger pangs are also normal and will subside, but it is okay if individuals need to restart the 5:2 diet.
Continue reading to uncover the health benefits of the 5:2 diet next.
