The Complete 2-Day Fasting Diet: Delicious; Easy To Make; 140 New Low-Calorie Recipes From The Bestselling Author Of The 5:2 Bikini Diet

If you are reading this on your first diet day then I suspect you are feeling one or other of these common symptoms for the first day. Not everyone gets these but if you are one of them, then read on for some simple ways to combat them and get through the day.

Headaches are a common problem in the first few days of the 2-Day Diet. I believe the main cause of this is a change in caffeine intake. If you normally have a few cups of tea and coffee then a headache is almost a given if you cut down. But as this diet is not about caffeine-reduction and you are most likely to go back to your normal intake tomorrow, then any headache you have today is in vain.

Think about what your average caffeine intake is on a regular day and try and have a similar amount of drinks on a diet day too. I normally incorporate my normal skinny latte and two cups of tea into every diet day. But you do need to count the calories so if your normal caffeinated drinks are too calorific for a diet day then you need to swap to something else. Any coffee drink without milk has negligible calories, think Americano or Espresso. If you prefer a milky drink then make sure you use skimmed milk and don’t overdo the milk. Also worth trying are drinks such as green tea, which is mildly caffeinated and, of course, diet colas are an option.

As a general guide, your caffeine intake should be below 500mg per day. But if you are sensitive to caffeine or suffer from headaches, restlessness or anxiety you should consider dropping this to less than 250mg. If you have trouble sleeping, try not to consume any caffeine after 3pm. This is because caffeine has a half-life of eight hours. If it is consumed after 3pm, it may still be affecting you at 11pm. For the purposes of the diet, you should be trying to maintain your standard consumption of caffeine so as to maintain a feeling of well-being over your diet day.

Light-headedness or dizziness can be a problem, particularly on your first diet day. This is your body ‘rebelling’ against the diet and saying it can’t cope when really it can! In fact, studies have shown that tests done on people suffering from a ‘blood sugar crash’ have actually had normal blood sugar levels. The first thing to do if you get a wave of light-headedness is to move about and get some fresh air if possible. The wave might well pass in 15 minutes.

If this is still your first week of the diet and you are finding that one or other of these symptoms is limiting your ability to function normally, then you should eat something small and filling. Ideally go for about 100 calories, perhaps a small banana or a Ryvita with a light spread of soft cheese. On these days you will eat 100 calories more in total – so that is 600 for women and 700 for men.

Don’t let it put you off, and you will find the next day easier. Your body adapts quickly and after two weeks it should no longer impact on your feelings of well-being.

Finally, if you are a new starter, the great news is your weight loss in the first week or two is at its most dramatic. After two to three weeks it will stabilise. So push on through, you will see the results on the scales almost immediately.

Ten top tips to stay strong on your diet days

1 Know exactly what you are going to eat and stick to it.

2 Keep busy all the time.

3 Stay out of the kitchen and away from the smell of food.

4 Choose a guilt-free drink or nibble when you feel the urge to eat.

5 Tell yourself you can always eat [fill in the blank] tomorrow.

6 If you feel a wave of hunger, get some fresh air and it will soon pass.

7 Clear out your cupboards and fridge of tempting treats.

8 Take it one day at a time – each day gets easier.

8 Savour every mouthful of the food you eat.

10 Get on the scales the morning after your first fast day – you will have lost weight... but how much?

Guilt-free snacking: 10 foods less than 10 calories

Please note calories are approximate here.

1 Five slices of yellow pepper

2 Diet cola or lemonade

3 Two sticks of celery

4 Fruit tea

5 Five radishes

6 Small cup of hot Bovril made with 1 level tsp Bovril

7 Three cherry tomatoes

8 Sparkling water with ice and lemon

9 Two strawberries

10 Low-cal jelly

DIET DAY PLANNER

You can download and print this planner from www.52recipes.co.uk (http://www.52recipes.co.uk)

The absolutely amazing thing about the 2-Day Diet is that you only have to be on a diet for two days. Yet to get the best results you need to make healthy choices every day of the week. There is plenty of good news for your healthy days:

• Treats are allowed.

• You should not count calories.

• Do not feel guilty if you eat something naughty.

Change your attitude to food and you will make positive lifestyle changes.

• Be aware of what you eat

• Choose three healthy balanced meals

• Eat less snacks

• Limit your food intake

By following these simple guidelines you will notice improvements in your well-being as well as your waistline.

Look for your weak spots. Is it the office treats table? Boozy drinks after work? Junk food snacking? Evening cravings? Find what you think is your worst offence and make a conscious effort to curb this every day of the week. I think one of the best ways is to set yourself a specific goal and reward.

Eat well

Eating well on your five healthy days doesn’t need to be hard. Try and cook real food every day of the week. Choose simple recipes that are balanced and low in fat. Try not to snack too much. Most importantly, banish the junk food as much as you can.

Top tips!

• Remember to eat three meals a day with not too many snacks.

• Cook food such as soups and stews and freeze in one or two person portions.

• Make a 7-day plan (#ulink_d1c3a489-596b-506e-8286-f3ff77e508ba) to incorporate your diet days and healthy days.