Mumsnet Talk

www.genesisuk.org/media-centre/articles/The%20Intermittent%20diet%20.html

It's not specifically for women who want to prevent breast cancer although who doesn't? The idea was to look at alternative ways of dieting to the standard calorie counting/Mediterranean diet as people find it hard and it's important for cancer prevention to keep your BMI in the heathly range.

I'm thinking of giving it a go as a part of my inevitable New Years loose weight resolution and it would be great to hear of anyone else who's done it or would like to give it a try.

My plan is to start a general 'good' diet tomorrow, throw out the booze and chocs and once the dc's are back to school at the end of the week start the intermittent diet.

I don't think its esp for breast cancer, more that reducing body fat% reduced breast cancer risk and this diet helped reduce breast cancer.

IMO this would be a great diet for weight maintenance but I this the risk with this diet is that if you ate too much on the off days (as you would be esp hungry then) you'd undo the good work on the vlcd days.

Yes I understand it's not about breast cancer itself, more about loosing weight. I'd be concerned that you might think you can eat whatever you like on the remaining five days. Of course you can't do that, but I thought this might be a good alternative method.

I took part in the trials for this and it doesvwork.the two low cal days are tough but if you choose carefully, you can survive.. We did the two low days drinking just milk and some veg but it has now been updated to calories and not making you have to have milk - I am starting it again from tomorrow - I find that this diet is best one for me as easy to do and fits in with life as 5 days you can eat normally

Let's keep in touch!

I was looking to see if anyone was doing this. I'm going to give it a go. Do the two low cal days have to be consecutive, or can they be two days out of seven?

I think it's recommended that the low cal days NOT be consecutive. I've been toying with the idea of doing this too, might give it a whirl....

When I was on the trial, we did the days consecutively but reading the iterature, would not seem to be essential. I used to do mon and tue to set me up for the week as usually quietest days of my week so could cope with owed energy which was never too bad tbh.. So I am starting tomorrow..... See how it goes!

I've only read the information on the Genesis site, there are some downloads with recipe ideas and that would appear to say two consecutive days. ZZMum did you feel weaker on the low calorie days? I'm wondering if it's best to steer clear of exercise on those days. Monday and Tuesday sounds good to me start the week off well, but enjoy the weekend.

In my case I do have a high risk of getting breast cancer so really do need to get my BMI down, I've calculated that I need to loose a stone to do that. Whilst its not too much, I've been this weight ever since I had my last dc nine years ago and I think my body is quite happy at this size.

is it important to eat the veg & fruit that they recommend and drink the milk??

I am not a milk fan.

Would it work for me to mess with it and have 2 days a week of water and veg without the milk?

I cant stand milk either, but it says you can swap it for yoghurt/cottage cheese etc. Im trying to tie it in with tackling my PMS, which is apparently done by increasing calcium so this fits. I won't be drinking glasses of milk though - yuk.

I did feel a bit tired on the low cal days but I would run first thing Monday before food as I do usually and then would skip any exercise unti Wednesday after breakfast . This worked for me and is how I plan to do it again. I also hate milk but from what I have read on further development of the diet, you can replace with yoghurt or cottage cheese. I also did read that you could just eat another sort of protein as long as under calories. The premise of the diet was about the impact of the two low cal days rather than impact of milk. If you can fi d one gh mag had a good article on this in the dec or jan isuesand and am sure dm also did - will see if I can find links.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2071903/Strict-diet-days-better-calorie-counting-week.html

Hmm cottage cheese <vom!!>
could do yoghurt though

Thanks

I did the trial about 3-4 years ago ... Lost a stone in about 2 months which is about normal I guess except for the fact that I was not on a diet for most of the week - I just ate normal family meals but was a little more conscious of what I ate which they think is one of the reasons for it's success. As ever, stopped it when lost weight and stopeped the plan as I did not like milk and so weight went on slowly. But now I see the milk can be replaced I can see it working for me longer term - have worked out some meals I can do for 650 caps using eggs which really fill me up

Really is no ned for book - we did triAl with just the literature on the website - think we just need to think and share meal ideas for 650 cal days.

Zzmum did you do it with the Genesis clinic?

Yes was part of the Original trial based at hospital in manchester

Oh sorry I got that wrong then - do you think it's ok to do them on non-consecutive days? Think I'd rather split them up! Will give it a go from tomorrow - although I'm not convinced it can really work??!

I would think you could do them apart - on the trial we did consecutive but this is not stated as a requirement in any of the stuff I have read. I like to do the 2 dYs together to get into zone and it feels like mini detox after weekend. It does work as long as you realise you can not eat madly on 5 days sadly - just careful but not obsessive mindful eating. I liked it as can not be arsed to count calories and this means I do not have to once I have worked our what I can eat on the 2 days. Tend to eat same things so easier to manage.

Really pleased to find this discussion. I read the article in good housekeeping today and think I could try this. I looked on Amazon for the book too but do not have £2,000 to spare.
Anyway would like to join in with you all!

What did you eat on a typical milk day Zzmum?

I've read about this, sounds interesting. Even more interested now that I find the 2 low cal days don't have t be consecutive.

When I did the trial, I would make soups from the veg allowance - used to drink a lot of soup during the day! Breakfast would be a fruit milkshake. Lots of milky coffee as well. Also made veggie curries and chill is to provide variety. A baked aubergine/pepper and tomato layer was filling as well with lots of herbs and garlic.

But this time am going to do it differently and use more yoghurt and eggs. Tomorrow plan for yog and fruit for breakfast, big veggie omelette for lunch and then big thick soup for dinner - comes in at about 650 calories but with good levels of calcium which I remember where important

Thanks for that. Def going to read up on website and then go for it.