The 5:2 intermittent fasting diet is gaining in popularity because of the way it works. Not only is it a simple program to follow, if followed correctly it will actually help you to lose weight. The simplicity comes from the cycle it works on. In a seven-day stretch, you eat normally for five days and fast on two non-consecutive days. On your fasting days, you reduce your calorie consumption to 25-percent of your normal level. This eliminates the need to follow a strict diet plan, which may require you to purchase pre-packaged meals and careful…