Hi! As a registered nutritionist I would say it completely depends on whether you can sustain the diet over the long term. Adherence is one of THE most important factors when it comes to fat loss. Slower and gradual fat loss is both better for the body and more easily maintained, though it may seem less effective at the start. 

Both the HB and IF diets are renowned for being incredibly hard to follow and not very sustainable. In more recent years, fasting-focussed diets have actually been shown to be less effective than others as they can lead to increase in cortisol and inflammation! Both of which can reduce amount of fat lost. 

The real question is, can you sustain it for 20 years? 

I am the owner of the personal training studio Fitnessworks Balham. We don't use crashy/FAD diets with our clients. We solely recommend building good and healthy dietary patterns that focus on increasing consumption of lean protein sources, fruits and veggies! Pair this with resistance and cardio training - now that's the perfect regime! Basically, all the stuff that science actually says works. 

Let me know if you found this helpful!

Hi, I started HBD six weeks ago and have lost a stone. As another poster said the first two days are HARD!! the next two weeks are much easier and then after that it's easier still. It's just about planning and sticking to the rules - five hours between meals, no snacking, plenty of water and meals in 1:1 ration of protein to veg/salad with between 100 -130g of each. No bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc. I find it easy to stick to and never feel hungry and have had no negative side effects. I'm in phase 3 now so also get one meal a week where I can eat literally what I want. There's a good logic to it all which is fully explained in the book. I'm planning to lose another 10-14lbs so am sticking with it. I definitely eat much more healthily now and don't crave the junk anymore. Good luck

Hey there! @grabbtry
So, I’ve been doing intermittent fasting with the 5:2 method, and honestly, it’s been pretty straightforward even with a social life. On fasting days, I stick to low-calorie, nutrient-packed foods like veggies and lean proteins. If I’ve got plans, I just tweak my fasting schedule or pick lower-calorie options when I’m out.
One hack that’s been a game-changer for me is adding superfoods to my diet, like barley grass juice powder. It keeps me energized and helps me get all the nutrients I need even on those low-cal days.
 

Did anyone reply to you who has done the HBD? I tried the 5:2 diet and it did not work for me.
have found the HBD pretty much life changing!
The initial 16 days are quite tough ( though not that bad!)and you need to make sure you can dedicate that time to starting. But after that it becomes easier.
The health benefits are amazing - you feel energised , your brain fog lifts, and lots of aches and pains disappear as the inflammation in your body subsides. The weight loss is a very welcome secondary side effect.
Petronellla Ravenshear is fantastic - she does lives on insta every week and is very responsive to any questions if you message her.
Buy the book - make sure it is the second edition- and the HBD cookbook. You will not regret it I promise!

I've been following the 5:2 diet for two years.  I didn't read any book, just did it: as Carol2R says, you pick two days and then you only eat 500 calories that day.  I too chose Mondays and Thursdays.  The beginnings are difficult but stick to it for three weeks and then you'll see the weight drop and continue dropping in a very encouraging way.
It's now my lifestyle and I use those days as "detox" or "meditation" days. My weight doesn't go down anymore but stays stable and I can enjoy the food I like on non-fast days. I posted a video about how I do it and the benefits: https://youtu.be/jwIDCCBHxXU?si=slu9AKP8rHnxq0Sm
It really works for me because I can't stick to restrictions every day but yes, it's about finding the method that is for you and more importantly not think about it as a diet but as a new lifestyle.
Good luck.

In 2015, my husband decided to try the 5:2 Fast.  Initially unenthusiastic and promising only spousal level of support (you know -- not eating cake & ice cream in front of him on a fast day), after reading Michael Mosely and Mimi Spencer's book The Fast Diet, I decided to give a go, too.  The fasting days are not no-food but they are very low calorie and they aren't easy -- but you know you just have to get through one day.  We both lost the weight that we wanted in a few weeks.  Nine years later, we are still where we want to be.  We don't fast, but what used to be our fast days (Monday and Thursday) are now our "lower calorie" days.  We don't actually count calories, but we choose the foods on those days that we know are lower calorie -- i.e., lots of veg; skip the bread, dessert, etc.   As a rule, I also don't drink at home during the week and avoid snacking.  That said, we're not religious about it -- if we go to an exhibition, for example, we'll likely have a coffee and share a little treat, and anything goes on holiday.  You have to find what works for you.  For us, only having to be disciplined one day at a time, and being more indulgent the rest of the time, works.

There is a huge HBD community on Instagram. If you look up the author Petronella Ravenshear you can find it easily. There’s loads of advice, tips, inspiration etc.

Has anyone on here tried either the Human Being Diet or Intermittent Fasting and would anyone be able to share if either worked? And more importantly how they managed them in their every day lives? Trying to kick start a healthier 2024 but struggling to see how I can fit something more structured, which I think I need, into a social life. Do people just drop off the social scene whilst they get into a routine? Any advice much appreciated.