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Her Campus Tries The 5:2 Diet

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Hannah Eastaff
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Harriet Dunlea
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Nottingham chapter.

As December creeps up on us and as we begin to over-indulge on one too many Christmas chocolates many of us will get to January wondering why our jeans are feeling slightly tighter. On average people from the UK gain between 2-5lb over the festive period, leading to many people feeling the need to cut back and cut down in the New Year. One of the most recent diet ‘success’ stories is the hugely popular 5:2 diet – but is it really the one for you?

THE BASICS

The 5:2 diet is essentially 2 days of ‘fasting’ and 5 days of eating a normal healthy diet, whilst continuing to exercise as normal. The two fast days you are supposed to consume a mere 500 calories; ÂŒ of the recommended daily calorie intake for women.

500 CALORIES A DAY

500 calories a day is a huge decrease in your usual daily allowance. Those who preach by the diet highly recommend continuing to eat three meals a day, while remaining in line with your new calorie target. An example menu could be:

Breakfast

  • 1 x Porridge Sachet with Water = 100 CALORIES

 

Lunch

  • 1 x Portion of Chicken & Vegetable Soup = 200 CALORIES

Dinner

  • 1 X Portion of Roasted Ratatouille = 150 CALORIES

SNACK

  • 1 x Apple = 50 calories 

GOOD OR BAD?

Though many people claim it’s an effective weight loss regime, it is NOT for everyone. For many people, including those with low blood pressure or demanding life styles, it is not suitable; 500 calories a day is simply not enough fuel to keep many people going and it also can lead to people over indulging on non-fasting days.  Though it may be the current craze, if you get to January and want to cut back I highly suggest you eat less, eat better and exercise more – the 5:2 diet fad has certainly not won me over. 

 

Edited by Mackenzie Orrock

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Hannah Eastaff

Nottingham

Hannah Eastaff - Health & Fitness Blogger
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Harriet Dunlea

Nottingham

Harriet Dunlea is Campus Correspondent and Co-Editor in Chief of Her Campus Nottingham. She is a final year English student at the University of Nottingham. Her passion for student journalism derives from her too-nosey-for-her-own-good nature.