The Fast Diet aka the 5:2 Diet

The Fast Diet

Michael Mosley, a doctor by profession, came up with the concept of intermittent fasting. He calls it 5:2 method where you fast for 2 days and eat normally for 5 days in a week. Even on fasting days you don't fast completely, you can eat 500-600 calories worth of food as part of one meal or distributed across breakfast and dinner.

I first came across this diet 3 years ago I think. One of my friends mentioned about it. I read about it but did not pay much attention. I have a neighbor who has been doing intermittent fasting from the past 15 years. She does not eat anything after lunch basically. She eats only breakfast and lunch in 24hours. This other friend lost 50+ kgs in a period of 2 years and raves about this diet. Intermittent fasting has him of all his health issues, made him very energetic etc. He runs marathons now.

I read the book and watched videos on YouTube when I first came across this few years ago but never focused on it. This year when I got my physical done, my blood glucose was high. My doctor said I am pre-diabetic. She suggested the book "The Obesity Code" and said the book recommends intermittent fasting and it should help you reverse your insulin resistance. I read the book. It refers to Michael Mosley's 5:2 Fasting method and I got that book.

Needless to say, I am convinced about fasting. It is an ancient Indian culture to fast in the name of God on several occasions. I used to fast before I got married. My husband did not believe in fasting so after marriage I stopped. Who loves to starve when there is yummy food all around :)

Having tried several diets, being a South Indian Vegetarian; I ended up opting for natural means for losing weight. I don't drink any sodas or carbonated drinks, I never had. I don't consume alcohol or smoke. I don't have a sweet tooth. I don't eat snacks. I don't enjoy processed food, canned foods, frozen foods, store bought foods. I eat brown rice, cracked wheat, quinoa, multi grain sprouted bread, freshly made home cooked food. Yet I am obese. It is very difficult for me to lose weight. Basically, I am not a foodie. I eat lot of fruits and vegetables. I don't have any other health concerns except that I am obese and right now I am pre-diabetic with my A1C at 6.3

I strongly believe in mind body connection. I had severe back pain for 5 years and I resolved it over night after reading a book "Healing Back Pain, the Mind Body Connection" by John Sarno. I reversed my gestational diabetes by the power of my subconscious mind. I believe if I can tap into my subconscious mind which I did before on several occasions, I can lose weight with ease. But somehow that is not happening.

I tried meditation but was not able to consistently do it. I am positive if I meditate regularly I can tap into my subconscious and let it know that there is no threat what so ever for me in my life from anything or anyone. So there is no need for me to hind behind my weight. I believe I am fat because my body is using it as a shield to protect me from something or someone that is posing a danger. I wonder what that thing is. I want to go to a psychologist and take some sessions to dig deeper into my mind to figure that out.

Meanwhile I think fasting is a great way to take my body into repair mode and cleanse it and rejuvenate it so that all toxins get flushed out and there is new growth. Irrespective of weight loss, fasting will help me protect from future illnesses caused due to aging. I just entered into my 40's and its time I take care of my body with fasting, pranayama, and yoga.

I would like to blog my way into this journey. I think it is going to make me accountable and commit to a consistent program. I am planning to enroll myself into The Happiness Program provide by The Art of Living. I want to start, or should I say resume doing pranayama daily and yoga (start with Surya Namaskarams) and do 2 days of fasting for a duration of 10 weeks to see the results.

I am excited about all this. I have no doubt it is going to work and improve my health. I asked couple of my cousins to do this program along with me to see results in different people. The both are very different from me and it would be interesting to see how the same program brings varied benefits from individual to individual.