How timely, this is a fast day for me :-) Though I remember reading it takes two days of fasting to kick in stem cell regeneration. - Todd Hoff

I have been practicing 5:2 for nearly 2 years now and have achieved unbelievable results -- it actually works -- on many levels. I enthusiastically recommend it to everyone. The early fast days can be very difficult but they become increasingly easy to handle. I actually look forward to them now -- they're a breeze. Weight control with 5:2 is a snap -- you acquire total, pinpoint command. - Sean McBride

Do you want to become fully educated about food and diet? -- do intermittent fasting for at least six months -- you'll be forced to learn and to reboot and reset all your bad eating habits. - Sean McBride

What changes have you noticed? - Todd Hoff

A few changes -- 1. lost 55 pounds easily in less than 6 months (from 235 to 180 -- I'm 6'1") 2. find it easy to keep the weight off (haven't regained a single pound for many months now) 3. naturally eat much less on non-fast days now -- crave less food in general 4. now eat much higher quality food on all days -- fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats -- much less carbohydrates, sugar and dairy 5. feel much more fit and energized (of course I am also walking 30 minutes a day and working out with kettlebells). - Sean McBride

Bottom line: 5:2 and other regimes of intermittent fasting can hard kickstart you into a entirely new and more healthy way of eating on all days. It worked for me and it has worked for others I know who have tried it. I do know a few people, however, who lacked the self-discipline to get through the first few weeks of fasting on 2 days -- that's the tricky part. You need to find the most delicious and pleasurable 600 (or 500) calories of food that leave you most satisfied and full at the end of the day, just before bedtime. You need to keep tinkering to find the most effective formula for you personally -- customize it, fine-tune it, keep adjusting it. It requires attention, concentration and the careful use of a food scale, measuring cups, measuring spoons, etc. -- you need to be a bit of a mad scientist in the kitchen. - Sean McBride

Doing 5:2 for a few months will fully open one's eyes: the way that most Americans eat is crazy and self-destructive -- we eat much more than we need to feel full, healthy and strong. Standard restaurant servings are insane. We are killing ourselves with food. We need a major revolution in the American diet. - Sean McBride

Sean, all these physical details almost convince me you are not a bot :-) Good to hear it's working for you and I agree with the eating insanity. Though I'm confused, how is eating 600 calories a fast? I think a 600 calorie fat fast would be quite doable. - Todd Hoff

Actually, 600 calories a day can be a feast if you plan correctly. :) Staying within that limit certainly taught me the value of a calorie and how to squeeze the most pleasure and satisfaction from each and every one. - Sean McBride