How fasting gives Hong Kong trail runner Dennis Theodosis the edge

Some runners train harder to achieve better race results. Dennis Theodosis applied science and research to solve the problem: he simply ate his way to speed.

Last year, the 39-year-old dropped a remarkable 10 kilograms in five months to trim his weight to 68 kilograms. The newly trim trail runner has since progressed from the “middle of the pack” to finishing top 10 in many of Hong Kong’s competitive trail running races.

His impressive weight loss came about, he says, not by running more but eating less.

Theodosis champions a type of intermittent fasting, known as the “5:2” diet. Twice a week, he eats 600 calories, only a quarter of his daily requirements. On other days, he eats normally.

“One of the reasons the 5:2 diet seems to work is you don’t need to live a miserable existence eating nothing but rabbit food every day,” explains the Australian, who moved to Hong Kong seven years ago. “Yes, you need to be restrictive on ‘fasting days’, but can sleep knowing a latte and cream cheese bagel is waiting for you in the morning.”