Most of us want to be able to maintain our weight as much as possible which is why we often look at diet programs that can help us keep it at the right number. Unfortunately, most of us just start a diet without really trying to understand the program itself which is why we barely stick to it. This is why, if you want to go on a diet, you should take the time to know more about it.
Nowadays, the 5:2 diet is making waves in the diet industry as it basically allows you to eat whatever it is that you want for five days then starve it afterwards for two days. Considered as a part-time diet, the 5:2 diet gives you leeway to eat your favorite treats and still get to shed pounds too.
So what exactly is the 5:2 diet?
It is simple. As it was stated above, this diet gives you the freedom to eat the usual foods in your diet for five days but go on starvation mode for the next two days. Of course, there is a restriction with the number of calories you should eat per day. Women should only consume 500 calories for the 5 days while men can eat up to 600 calories. On the two days fasting, you should only consume 25% of the 500 or 600 calories.
It has several benefits. Intermittent fasting comes with several benefits such as better metabolism, reduces risk of health problems, and even prolongs your life.
It can be broken down into smaller meals. If you don’t want to skip meals, which you really shouldn’t do, you can break down the 500 calorie diet into smaller meals. For example, you can have two to three egg whites for breakfast, then for lunch, have some grilled chicken breast with vegetables on the side. For dinner, you can eat white fish with another helping of leafy green veggies. You have complete control over what you eat for five days so make sure that you don’t go beyond 500 or 600 calories.
It’s easier to follow. Unlike the more restrictive types of diet, the 5:2 diet is easier to follow because you can actually eat the same kinds of foods that you enjoy and still be able to lose weight because of the 2 days fasting. So if you don’t want to give up eating your favorite treats, this diet might be worth considering.
It stimulates cell repair. The 5:2 diet appears to boost cell repair which means that your body can heal its injuries faster as opposed to other types of diet. Also, doing intermittent fasting can help improve your digestive system so you won’t experience any bloating, cramps, and other digestive issues.
Fasting days don’t have to be consecutive. If you are not sure if you can handle fasting for two consecutive days, you can do it every other two days. Again, you have the freedom to choose when you will fast as part of the 5:2 diet program.
