5 TOP TIPS

FOR 5:2 SUCCESS

1

Record your weight, your body mass index (BMI) score, and your waist size at the start. Waist measurement is a simple and important gauge of internal fat and a powerful predictor of future health. BMI is your weight (in kilograms) divided by your height (in metres) squared; you can find plenty of online calculators. A BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered optimal.

2

Prep your Fast Day food in advance so that you don’t go foraging and come across a leftover sausage lurking irresistibly in the fridge. Shop and cook on non-Fast Days, so as not to taunt yourself with unnecessary temptation. Keep it simple, aiming for flavour without effort.

3

Stay busy. Fill your day, not your face. Engage in things other than food – not necessarily skydiving, but anything that appeals to you. Distraction is your best defence against the dark arts of the food industry, which has stationed doughnuts on every street corner and nachos at every turn. If you absolutely must have that doughnut, it will still be there tomorrow.

4

Stay hydrated. Find no-calorie drinks you like, and then drink them in quantity. Some swear by herbal tea; others prefer a mineral water with bubbles, though tap water will do just as well. When you are burning fat you are also losing water, so you will need to compensate with additional drinks beyond your routine intake. The recommended eight glasses of water a day is as good a guide as any. A full glass of water is a quick way to hush an empty belly, at least temporarily. It will also stop you mistaking thirst for hunger.

5

Be sensible, exercise caution, and if it feels wrong, stop. It is vital that this strategy should be practised in a way that is flexible and forgiving. If you’re concerned about any aspect of intermittent fasting, see your doctor. Remember, it’s not a race to the finish, so be kind to yourself.