I’m one of those people that regularly tries dieting and regularly fails. I know that if I eat fairly healthy and exercise regularly then I’ll lose weight. I know that, so why is it so hard?!
My youngest is almost two and a half and yet I’m still almost a stone heavier than I was before I got pregnant with her.
My first was a boy and I was just all bump but my girl was a different story. I’ve got back fat. I never had back fat in my life but there it  is and it won’t shift.
Don’t get me wrong, I know I don’t have big problems but I just want to feel comfortable in my body. I feel like I have to always wear loose tops to hide my belly and I just don’t like that feeling.

A friend of mine started the 5:2 Diet and said it was brilliant so I thought I’d look into it. She told me about a documentary on the bbc all about fasting which I watched and was amazed by. The benefits of fasting are just off the scale. I’m not an expert on the science of it all, but your body has a chance to replenish and repair itself when you fast. It can even improve organ health and reduce the risk of stroke.

I decided I’d give it a try, along with my husband. It’s so nice to be doing it with someone so that you can support each other in fast days.

In a nutshell, you fast for two days a week and eat normally for the other five. I don’t do my fast days consecutively as I think this would be a bit too hard! On a fast day women are allowed 500 calories and men 600, so that makes it a little easier. Some people choose to have low calorie small meals and snacks throughout the day, but I like to save up my calories. I don’t eat anything until tea time when I have a healthy meal of no more than 500 calories.
It’s hard, there’s no doubt about that. As soon as you tell yourself you can’t have something you just want it. I get hungry but I drink lots of water and it’s totally manageable. I am actually really enjoying how it’s making me feel to go without food for a bit and I’m already seeing results.

Here are my goods and bads of the 5:2 Diet

Good:
-It’s only one day so you get through it and know that the next day you can eat normally again.
-When you do start eating again, you are naturally more aware of how many calories you’re eating.
– You feel a real sense of achievement when you complete a fast day.
– It helps with self control so much and has made me re evaluate my relationship with food.
– Multi leveled health benefits.
– You lose weight!!!

Bad:
– You get hungry! That’s about it……

I’m really loving this diet and it’s the first time I’ve ever really stuck to anything like this. It’s not overwhelming, like some diets, and fits in easily with day to day life.

I am starting to exercise more which I know is vital. I want to be healthy and set a good example for my children. I want to be strong and fit for my family, as well as for how it makes me feel.

Have you found a diet that works for you? Do you think diets are worth doing? Are you on the 5:2 Diet? I’d love to hear your stories!

Gemma