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Fasting / 5:2 diet

Talk about intermittent fasting and 5:2, including what’s worked for others. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

5:2 Diet Thread: Part Three. Come join us!

986 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 07/09/2012 15:51

The continuing thread for those of us following either the 5:2 diet or the alternate-day fasting diet. Both are two versions of Intermittent Fasting, which you can read more about here.

The 5:2 diet was featured on Horizon recently, and essentially requires you to fast for 2 non-consecutive days per week. The other 5 days, you can eat what you like. Alternate-day fasting is just how it sounds; you fast every other day. By "fasting", we mean that we keep our calorie consumption very low, around 500 calories on average, on those days.

Here is a list of the links we've gathered so far about this diet. I hope I haven't left many out, but it was a 40 page thread! This is a good start for anyone, though:

First things first, here is a link to our previous thread, which we've outgrown. Lots of good support and ideas still to be found there.

Here is the link to the BBC article regarding Michael Mosley's findings, which was featured on Horizon.

is a link to the first part of the aforementioned Horizon, subsequent parts of that episode are linked on that page.

There is a Wiki article here which explains intermittent fasting and gives a short summary of some studies which have been done on it.

A blog post here gives some of the scientific explanation for why this way of eating helps you to not only lose weight, but improve your all-around health.

A Telegraph article which comments on the diet and gives a brief overview.

A study discussed here gives commentary specifically addressing the effect of this diet on obese people (both men and women), with regard to both health and weight loss. ("After 8 weeks of treatment, participants had an average 12.5 lbs reduction in body weight and a 4 cm decrease in waist circumference. Total fat mass declined by about 12 lbs while lean body mass remained relatively constant.) it also mentions "Plasma adiponectin, a protein hormone that is elevated in obesity and associated with heart disease, dropped by 30%. As did LDL cholesterol (25%) and triglycerides (32%).")

Important link if you are currently your ideal BMI: this appears to suggest the benefits for women at a lower BMI might not be seeing the same health benefits that are found on men at their ideal BMI.

And for those already fasting, here is a link to 100 snacks under 100 calories. :)

Another food link, here is a link to the BBC Goof Food site, with a list of low-calorie soups.

I will start a different thread just for recipe links, though, as there seems to be some demand for that.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have been contributing, btw. Most of us are new to this diet. All of the links above have been posted by others in our previous thread, and they've been very helpful. Sorry if I haven't given credit where it's due, but it was just enough of a job getting them all in one post this afternoon. Wink

Come join us, and tell us about your experiences with this diet!

OP posts:
saladfingers · 11/09/2012 13:22

For those interested in the other health benefits as well as possible weight loss,Sainsburys are doing free cholesterol tests at the moment.You just make an appt then on the day it takes approx 10mins til you get the result.
I've booked mine for Thurs morning.Been doing 5:2 then 4:3 for 3 weeks now.Dont have any idea what Cholesterol level was when i started but would like a baseline measurement (Too scared to go to GP yet as fear it will be high!)to be able to make a comparison with around Christmas time.

Laska42 · 11/09/2012 13:33

Ooh ...and I'm now back to BMI normal! (finally!) That's brilliant.. Today is turning out to be a fast day after all - just having a Green Brew with lemongrass.. really nice . (Health and Heather .. you can get it at H&B )

LookBehindYou · 11/09/2012 13:35

I skip breakfast every day now since I started the 5:2 diet. I don't feel hungry at all but make myself eat lunch otherwise I start obsessing over carby things and stuff myself silly late afternoon.
There is talk about adaptation upthread. Is it a problem? If so, how do you avoid it?

Laksa well, ahem, it might have been more than one glass of wine but I was on hols! We went to the South of Crete this year - Loutro and Myrthius. Next year we'll go to the mainland. Pelion looks good.

LookBehindYou · 11/09/2012 13:36

Laska, Laska, Laska - sorry - keep spelling your name wrong Blush

OHforDUCKScake · 11/09/2012 13:37

Hello, Im on my second time of fasting. Ive lost a couple of lb's.
Im upping my calorie intake by 200 cals to see if I can still lose weight. I'll be having 700 calories today.

Reason being, Im bf my 15 month old still. Except he feeds hourly, sometimes every 40 mins and throughout the night. And last fasting day I was fine until 7pm then I felt terrible. The following day was awful, I was a shaking faint mess. Id worry about driving to do the school run, and that was after breakfast. I didnt begin to feel normal again until the end of the following day. Bf and running around after children, feeling like that is really hard. It was worse than a hangover!

Any tips and advice welcome.

I do want to stick with it. More than anything else its the most affordable diet Ive done so far!

Sputnik · 11/09/2012 13:45

Ohforducks that sounds sensible to me.
Congrats Laska, fabulous!

BettyButterknife · 11/09/2012 13:46

Curses, you're right orion1111 - 1480 per day. Which isn't a lot. And makes me think I should definitely not be eating whatever I want as that is really not many calories! I could easily eat double that.

Is it really worth it?!

idoloveabiscuit · 11/09/2012 13:51

I think I'm going to add an extra day so it will be 4:3 as despite only eating 500 cals a day fir a month (5:2) I seem to be losing and gaining the same 4lbs.

I have about 9lbs to lose and thought I would've got there by now.

Has anyone else has more success on 4:3 as opposed to 5:2?

OHforDUCKScake · 11/09/2012 13:52

BIWI do I remember you from the low carb thread?
Why did you change diets if you dont mind me asking? Or are you mixing the two together?

captainmummy · 11/09/2012 13:56

Half-way through my very first fast day! Am not too hungry, though i missed breakfast -slept through the alarm! have had 2 milky coffees at work and 1 HB egg and 1 celery stick since. Will try to hold out to dinner, which will be homemade tomato soup. Funnily enough i am still not that hungry.

I'm sure the months of low-carbing have helped with the appetite-supression, normally i would be ravenous by 730 and have snacked on 2 apples and a banana before lunch!

BIWI · 11/09/2012 14:48

OhforDUCKScake - I'm very definitely a committed low carber! I'm combining the two, as I believe that low carbing will help with appetite suppression. I'm not going to do the whole calorie counting thing though as I believe that way madness lies Grin

Briffa is interested in this too, what he calls intermittent fasting - or more prosaically, only eating when you're hungry.

I'm also having a go at it as my weight loss has really slowed down, and thought that this could be a way to get it going again.

Deniselaine · 11/09/2012 14:50

oh dear ... my first week 5:2 and stayed the same. I might try 4:3 this week as a kick-start and try harder to stay around 500 cals as nearer 600 last week. please would you answer a couple of questions for me Confused
what does 'marking my place' mean ? and is it true that on fast days I only have to wait 16 hours from when I have my evening meal to when I next eat again ... so if I eat at 7pm my 500 carlorie allowance for the next day starts at around noon and can be used at anytime till it's time for bed ?

dandycandyjellybean · 11/09/2012 14:51

My dad is having an op for prostate cancer on Thursday, and have been very up and down emotionally for the last week or so. Managed fast days Monday and Thursday last week, but am only aiming for one fast day this week and one next week, because I will be doing lots of travelling and be under a lot of pressure emotionally, and don't want to lay any more on myself. Besides, this to me is the beauty of this new lifestyle I have adopted, I'm not slimming into a bikini in 6 weeks, I'm hoping this is something I will be doing long term, so tweaking it to fit around things that go on in my life is part of 'doing it' iyswim?

Deffo noticing a smaller appetite on feed days, very rarely hungry for brekkie and so don't have time to eat as much food! Don't restrict though, eat what I fancy, and on non fast days tend to have wine.

Have just had large salad with Quorn ham, non fat mayo and a tiny bit of chipolte mustard. Yum. Then will be having a Quorn lasagne with a large side salad for tea, and an orange options hot choc to get me through the evening.

It's funny how I find myself planning all the stuff I will eat on a feed day (choc, toast with lashings of butter, chips, etc, and then not eating any of it)

Well done all, keep it up!

Mintyy · 11/09/2012 15:25

Good luck to your dad on Thursday sexbomb. I think you are quite right ... don't give yourself any additional stresses or things to think about right now. You can get back to it when he's had the operation and recovering Smile.

Biwi - there can't be a spare ounce left on you now, shurely?

Thina · 11/09/2012 16:12

Week 2. First week I fasted Mon and Wed.... Mon was nearer 900 cals, Wed was just over 500. Have given up the booze Mon - Thur. This week I fasted yesterday and will be tomorrow. Yesterday I managed 700 (oh dear). Fingers crossed for tomorrow. Maybe I should try three days at 600...? So far have lost 2lbs and gained 2lbs. I also watch the cals on feed days, about 1200 usually.

BIWI · 11/09/2012 16:14

If only, Mintyy! I've got 11lbs to go to get to my ultimate target. My next target is 9 stone 7, which is just over 4lbs away.

BIWI · 11/09/2012 16:16

.... and I know it doesn't sound a lot, but my progress has been very slow nothing to do with the amount of wine I've been drinking

TalkinPeace2 · 11/09/2012 16:23

Well I'm 3lb down on the first day of term. No sure if that is the fast days or reduced alcohol intake.
only 9lb to go till I'm happy for years and years.

Laska42 · 11/09/2012 16:24

So that's it for today.... just ate my early dinner of a bowl of h/m veggie curry (no rice)..It was yum and pretty filling. Will have to be because I reckon I'm now on my 500 for today..

Now, what shall I plan for breakfast?...........................
SmileSmile

Sputnik · 11/09/2012 16:31

Thina you should really eat more on feed days otherwise you are starving yourself and your metabolism will slow right down and you'll find weight loss even harder.
1200 cals is very little, unless you're tiny

Thina · 11/09/2012 16:51

Sputnik - thanks, it's hard to... after years of doing every diet under the sun! I am not tiny, I am 5' 5", and and 11 stone (give or take a few lbs, but never under 11). I have been this weight for over 10 years.... but I want to lose a stone. I have read all the posts on these three threads and know the normal calorie intake has been mentioned a few times, but I can't find it. Any advice most definitely welcome.

Deniselaine - I think 'marking my place' means that they are sort of bookmarking where they've read up to. This thread grows by the hour and you can soon lose your place. I think this is what it means.....

mumblechum1 · 11/09/2012 16:53

Thina, I think you should be eating 2000 calories on your non-fast days. That's what I'm doing and am losing weight q rapidly.

coribells · 11/09/2012 16:57

Well an enjoyable feed day. Though do feel a bit guilty having a biscuit with my cofee when i am supposed to be on a 'diet'
A bit nervous about tomorrow being a fasting day, as Ill be at work. i usually get quite hungry at work especially if im not busy.
I am planning on having a slim fast shake on my way in. Maybe an apple and banana while i am at work and then veg ratouile for dinner. Hopefully ill be so knackered by the end of the day (usually am on wednesdaiy ) that ill fall asleep at 9.00 and it will all be over easily.

Thina · 11/09/2012 16:57

Ooooooh gooooody.... Grin... can I have leftover curry right now? Yarooooooooooooo!

TalkinPeace2 · 11/09/2012 16:58

If you are 5'5 you should be aiming for 2000 calories on non fast days (average - so if you have half a bottle of wine, then your food needs to drop by 300 calories)
I'm 5 5 too BTW