The 5.2 Diet – Can it Aid Weight Loss and Long Life?

Many active adults are concerned about weight gain and how it affects their health. There are a number of diets and exercise plans that can be considered for this problem. New and improved ways of ensuring weight loss and long and healthy lives are always being introduced for you to try. This means you have to give up the foods you like to eat and make significant changes to your lifestyle. However, if you are interested in living a long life and being fit and trim, yet don’t wish to change your lifestyle too much, you could try the 5.2 diet.

What is the 5.2 Diet?

The 5.2 diet is a diet plan that does not require you to change your lifestyle entirely. It will not ask you to give up carbohydrates and eat only proteins or propose a vegetarian diet. The great thing about 5.2 is that 5 days of the week, you can eat whatever you like. These days are referred to as “feeding days” while the remaining 2 days become your fasting days. During these 2 fasting days, no more than 500 calories, for women, and 600 calories, for men, should be consumed. When fasting, you can either spread out these calories during the day or eat it in one go. The choice is up to you. You can eat what you like on feeding days. However, it is recommended that stick to approximately 2000 calories. There is no set day to fast and feed. This diet enables you to choose the days you wish to fast and the days you wish to feed. So, if you have a dinner coming up during the weekend, and you don’t want to miss out, fast for two days during the week and you can enjoy your dinner.

Is the Diet a Healthy Way to Lose Weight?

According to Dr. Michael Mosley, author of The Secret to Intermittent Fasting, the 5.2 diet is an excellent and healthy method of losing weight and ensuring longevity. Although fasting is considered an unhealthy way of losing weight, Dr. Mosley contradicts this idea. He states that fasting reduces IGF-1 levels (an insulin-like growth factor that increases the aging process). Fasting may also reduce blood pressure and glucose levels and turn on DNA repair genes.

If you are not interested in the 5.2 diet (if it is not recommended due to health conditions), there is always a healthy and sure way of ensuring weight loss and longevity. These are to eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise at least 3 or 4 days a week. Being active and eating proper meals keep away the extra pounds. This does not mean you cannot enjoy the occasional dessert. Living a stress-free, happy life ensures a younger outlook on life which helps you to look and feel young. So, if following the 5.2 diet is not viable, consider a healthy lifestyle full of greens, fruits and plenty of exercises.

Fasting is not an option for pregnant women and diabetics on medication. Therefore, if you are interested in the 5.2 diet, you should speak to your doctor and do so only with his/her approval.