This thread is for those who have been practicing IF (Intermittent Fasting) for quite a while and are now at, or nearing, their target healthy weight.
It's also for anyone who is doing it for the health benefits alone.
How do we experience fasts and balance a stable food intake while having little or no weight to lose?
How do we ensure that this WOL keeps us at the healthy weight long term rather than revert to yoyo games?
How do we ensure that we keep ourselves looking great rather than just thin?
Many of us have been maintaining at our original goal weight for a few months, and others are joining all the time.
Obviously, the more the merrier!
It is also worth considering whether a second, leaner target might be achievable.
You'll find the first two maintenance threads and all the main 5:2 threads for posters practicing IF to lose weight here on the Fasting / 5:2 on the diet forum. We're currently on thread no. 23, but there is a new main thread every 2-3 weeks.
There are two other associated threads:
This one, which is an absolute goldmine of Tips and Links on how to practice IF, and the research behind it.Â
And here is a treasure trove of 5:2 recipes, mostly low calorie for fasting days, but there are also recipes for when you want to treat yourself. And, now we're maintaining, we'll need more of these!
PS thanks to Breadandwine (proof that this forum welcomes everybody, not just Mums) for setting up the last thread while my old name that set up the first one was on 'holiday' 
Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.
Fasting / 5:2 diet
IF, 4:3, 5:2 - Maintaining a healthy weight - Chapter 3
Talkinpeace · 19/07/2013 13:03
I'm here - not fasting now until next week - am on leave and enjoying a weekend of indulgence
Good thinking, ATB!
I'm getting pleasantly mellow, knocking back my homemade stout, sitting in the sun, listening to the Aussies getting well and truly stuffed!
(Sorry to go off-piste!)
Each pint is around 200 calories, so that's...
Loads!
For dinner, I shall stuff myself with a lovely spag bol (homemade pasta), followed by chocolate sponge and ice cream (Swedish Glace - chocolate).
So I'll do the opposite of you. ATB, and take the weight off after the event.
Good maintaining, everyone!
Cheers, 
Woo hoo! Despite 2 days of music festival, food carbs to mop up the more breakfast carbs to deal with the hangover, pakoras with hot chilli sauce to kick start the afternoon, more (you get the picture ) I have done a WI to assess the damage and am at the bottom of my range
Otoh I suspect this might be down to dehydration and the effects of the hot chilli food on the gut 
but still - very good to see and a cheery start to the day 
I have to say it was really lovely just to eat the festival food and not worry about calories - I have so many memories of being at events and feeling trapped because there wasn't any food that I would allow myself to eat 
.
I ate the deep fried, battered veg with great delight and enjoyed every bit - we even shared some fish and chips . Today I made a huge pot of veg & lentil curry that the dcs and I have demolished - will do a fast when I'm back at work on weds. I'm due to see some friends (work context, ex colleagues) towards the end of the week so want to feel on top of things then - I was a good 32lbs heavier the last time they saw me so I will look good - but want to FEEL good too !
Just had a reality check whilst doing up my belt! 
Normally I can pull through about 4-5 inches before settling down on the last notch, but just now I could only manage about two!
Nothing I wasn't prepared for, since I've been overenjoying myself recently.
And it's nothing I can't fix - I'm going for a 36hour liquid fast (started a couple of hours ago), and I'll probably fast again on Wednesday.
I've had this theory for a while, now, that our forebears would have feasted every now and again, as well as fasted. So we should over-indulge on occasion, and not feel guilty about it.
tip I want to know who your OH is too!
americas 3 good fasts last week is great, you'll have another good one today and your upcoming indulgent week should be pure guilt free pleasure!
cats your festival fun sounds fantastic, just what this WOE allows.
breadandwine you know the drill, and I agree about natural periods of feast and famine, but I know also the glum feelings when we gain, finding the equilibrium of not feeling bad about it is my challenge!
FrenchFancy sounds like a great plan, school holidays definitely a bit of a killer, I agree, glad that I'll be working lots of it so can fast to keep things on an even keel!
had a weekend of too much wine on thurs, 2.5 pints of cider on Sat and then too much wine yesterday, not feeling very impressed that I drank on 3 days, it wasn't in the plan, and I definitely overate at least 2 days and up to tdee on the other 2, so feeling abit 
too, last 2 weeks good progress just hiccupped, but, it should just mean I'll be teh same weight (fingers crossed) this week as last week, and might try and trow in a back to back extra fast on thurs so that I'm feeling great for a weekend up north with bf and without kids!
bshh great loss last week!
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hi there, well i've managed a 24hr fast today (the first in ages ) and have just polished off a plate of stirfried-in-stock veggies and 125g sirloin steak.. Yum .. I do like to have nice food on my fast days..
It was missing a nice but I reckon I could add a few raspberries later.. .
its still hard for me to go all day MONCK , but 3pm I though i was going to keel over!
B&W smuggidy indeed.. we'll let you off though.
well I just got home from my Christmas lunch.. Turkey dinner and roasties ? yum yum yum ..
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