5:2 while caring for a 1yo - any tips?

[Strangehappenings]

I'm thinking about maybe starting 5:2 next week though I really am maintaining weight, don't necessarily need to lose any. Hoping that fasting might encourage healthier eating habits overall.

Does anyone have any tips for surviving a fast day while caring for a young DC? I get irritable when I'm hungry and DD is v, v energetic and mobile.

Or should I be doing 6:1 or 16:8 instead maybe?? Thanks!

[MrsMolesworth]

Why would you choose to follow a diet that might make you irritable with a tiny child?

Instead of doing 5:2 you could do two days raw a week - salads, slaws, avocado and nuts, fresh fruits and juices/smoothies. All the raw food gives you an amazing buzz, replenishes your vitamins and as long as you don't go crazy on the nuts etc will come in at lower than daily average calories, but you can eat as much as you need, whenever you want.

If you do really want to do 5:2, I'd still base most of it around raw veg with a big, clear soup with noodles for when you feel hungry.

[mrsmugoo]

Do you work or are you a SAHP?

I did 5:2 earlier in the year with a one yearbook but I work 3 days a week and always did my FDs at work!

I usually had either a miso soup or a plain greek yogurt for lunch (skip breakfast obv) and then a large tuna salad in the evening (ot was spring/summer then!)

You have to drink loads of water! I also had 2 espressos a day too for energy.

I lost my 2 stone goal easily on it. Pregnant now and I will definitely do 5:2 again to lose the weight after this!

[FusionChefGeoff]

If you just need to maintain, I'd stay away from any diet that is going to make life more difficult. 5:2 will deplete vital shot term energy reserves and also means a lot of time planning / shopping / cooking to have good fast days. Also means 2 different meals for you and the baby.

Presumably you provide pretty healthy food for the 1yo?? Can't you just have that yourself and keep portion sizes small?

[Strangehappenings]

Thanks for comments.

why would you follow a diet which might make you irritable with a small child?

Well if you mean, "why would you follow a diet which might make you irritable when you have a small child" - bloody good question and I'll probably not bother actually so thanks! If you mean "why would you follow a diet which might cause you to become irritable with a small child", well I probably wouldn't become irritable with my DD as she isn't that irritating, but it wouldn't be great if I wasn't in a good mood while caring for her either so I take your point.

I'm a SAHM so can't do FDs at work sadly.

I eat fairly healthily in general (as does DD), but I do have cravings for unhealthy crap which I do give in to sometimes and tend to overeat when I do which is a habit I hate. Wondered if fasting might help be regain control over this, but it doesn't actually sound like it would.

[Strangehappenings]

Should have said "...she isn't that irritating and I'm not the sort of person who gets irritable with tiny children".

[mrsmugoo]

After a few weeks on 5:2 the FDs become a breeze. If you drink enough water you just mind over matter the hunger. It's a really easy lifestyle to follow!

[Breadandwine]

5:2 will deplete vital sho(r)t term energy reserves

Sorry, Geoff, that's just not true! A 5:2 Way of Life (WOL) gives you more energy, not less! I'm in my late seventies and I've been 5:2ing for almost 4 years now. I feel like a forty-year-old - a fit forty-year-old!

Strange, I used to get ratty if I didn't eat (and, BTW, you don't starve on this WOL, 500 cals buys a lot of veg!), but now I fast weekly for 24 hours and I'm completely zen about food. If it's not there (and it sometimes isn't, as a vegan!), I just go into fasting mode.

My daughter has a very active 2-year-old, and she practices 16:8, with sometimes a 24 hour fast.

Come and join us over on the 5:2 main thread - you'll find lots of posters with young children happily 5:2ing. Lots of support and friendliness on there!

[mrsmugoo]

Totally second everything breadandwine said - I found that 5:2 support thread invaluable when I was 5:2ing - they are an incredible bunch