The new 5:2 diet: You could lose a stone in a month!

Whether you have a little or a lot to lose, Dr Michael Mosley’s new Fast 800 plan can help with your weight-loss goals – and there are a wealth of health benefits, too…

He’s the health guru whose hugely popular Fast Diet took the world by storm, and now Dr Michael Mosley has launched the Fast 800, an updated and more achievable version of his famous 5:2 plan.

Not only can it help you rapidly shed excess pounds (2-4 a week), the Fast 800 also has a host of health and mood-boosting benefits – and it’s all based on the latest science.

The plan is simple: consume 800 calories for two days a week and then eat a Mediterranean-style diet for the remaining five, without counting calories.

Unlike other plans, you don’t have to cut out any food groups, and studies show that 800 calories provide just the right amount you need to trick your body into “fasting mode” while still providing you with enough nutrients to stay healthy and feel satisfied.

“When I wrote the original book, we recommended 500-600 calories on fasting days,” explains Michael, whose Fast 800 takes the form of a 12-week online programme. “But 800 calories is easier for people to achieve. Plus, science proves it has the same metabolic advantages in terms of weight loss and lowering the risk of conditions such as diabetes and breast cancer.

“We’ve always been told ‘slow and steady’ is the best approach to dieting, but rapid weight loss is not only effective, the evidence is you’re actually more likely to keep it off in the long term if you do it this way. It’s designed to be flexible, depending on your goals, and in line with any advice from your doctor.”

Michael developed the original Fast Diet seven years ago, after discovering he had Type 2 diabetes like his dad, who died from complications of the disease aged 74.

“It was a wake-up call,” he says. “I took part in a Horizon documentary to find out if I could reverse my diabetes without medication. I went to the US and learned about fasting and lost 22lbs in 12 weeks, reversing my diabetes. My blood-sugar levels and weight have stayed the same ever since.” Here’s why Michael’s Fast 800 could work for you… ● The Fast 800 online programme costs £99 for a 12-week plan. Visit www.thefast800.com for more information.