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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:
GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/09/2012 17:05

Thina I have to echo the others; please consider eating more on fast days. It does sound strange to someone who is used to eating low-calorie diets, but it's working for many of us. 1200 on eating days isn't a good idea, as on a 5:2 diet, it leaves you with 1,000 calories per day on average.

You might also find yourself managing your fast days easier if you're left more satisfied from the previous eating day. You're really meant to keep the calories at 25% of your normal intake, hence the 500 calories average for fast days. You might see some progress if you can manage to keep to 500 on the fast days (I don't think the 900 calorie day would count as a fast. I know those first few fast days are quite tough, though- I think my first one I was probably closer to 700 than 500) and up your calories on the other days.

This link will help you figure out your basal rate, and the link mentioned on that page can help you figure out how many calories your body needs to maintain its current weight, factoring in exercise etc.

These are just suggestions, btw, to keep in mind if you aren't having the success you'd hoped for. :)

OP posts:
GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/09/2012 17:06

(sorry takes me ages to post and I've xposted with others who've posted since I started typing that!)

OP posts:
Laska42 · 11/09/2012 17:11

Thina
here you go ..you can calculate your BMR here:
www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/
Then once you know your basal rate multiply it by the exercise level you do as per the next page:
www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/

i'm also 5.5 and my rate is 1641 cals per day. Yours will be different depending on your age and activity level

Laska42 · 11/09/2012 17:12

and me also greeneggsGrin

beamme · 11/09/2012 17:26

Third fast day for me this week. Soooo ready for some dinner now, find the stretch between lunch and dinner the hardest. Have tried a Lucozade Revive today, only 50 calories and gave me the pick me up I needed.

Mintyy · 11/09/2012 17:33

bmr calculator

and the next page

You need to put and either end of your links for them to work properly on Mumsnet.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/09/2012 17:41

Oh, and fast day here as well. :) Had two cups of coffee with some milk over the course of the day, and water. Shall have some veg in a little while; perhaps vegetable soup, but I'll decide then.

Planning a baking project for tomorrow- something with my sourdough starter, I think! It needs using.

OP posts:
ILoveLemonCurd · 11/09/2012 17:49

Well, maybe running on a fast day isn't such a good idea as I am starving!! Pepsi max is my new best friend! I'm afraid I cracked and nibbled on some birthday cake, only a tiny bit though Shock.

So I've just had tea and I am on 600 calories now so nothing more til tomorrow Confused. However my run did burn 924 calories so I am not being hard on myself. Roll on tomorrow ......

I am really trying this for a month and this is my second fast. I am doing 5:2 as I exercise quite a bit, so it's all about finding a balance.

Mintyy · 11/09/2012 17:51

Biwi - are you a fellow short arse? Grin

I am 5ft 2. I'd LOVE to get to 9 stone 7. The only time in my entire life I have been below 9 stone (apart from childhood obvs) was in my 20s when I smoked 30 cigarettes a day and didn't eat anything but did a lot of running around London drinking and partying. As soon as I hit 30 and gave up smoking for the first time I went up to 9 stone 10 and its been a steadily upward trajectory since then Sad.

TellMeLater · 11/09/2012 17:51

Ahhh I used to have a sour dough starter, by the time I had grown it and fed it properly I had got bored and returned to yeast.

ILoveLemonCurd · 11/09/2012 17:52

Forgot to add that overall I want to lose a stone as I think I will be able to run faster if I do. I'll weigh in on Monday ....

TalkinPeace2 · 11/09/2012 17:58

Lemoncurd and beamme
Fizzy drinks are the spawn of the devil when it comes to healthy eating, weight loss and controlling insulin levels
you REALLY REALLY REALLY need to try to give them up.

Water or milk are MUCH better for you and do not contain shed loads of sugar / or even worse sweeteners (they trick the system and knacker up insulin levels.
If you need the caffiene, have a coffee or a tea
but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE for your own sakes, no more than 500 ml of fizzy drinks PER WEEK.

katykuns · 11/09/2012 18:08

beamme - I know exactly what you mean about the hunger hitting the worst between lunch and dinner. I overeat in general, but usually use a heck of a lot of calories eating in the evening. Was expecting that to be my hungriest but apart from a nasty headache I was fine!

BIWI · 11/09/2012 18:18

Mintyy - I am 5 ft 2 as well! I currently weigh 9 stone 11, which is the lightest I've been for a long time. But technically, according to the BMI stuff, I'm still overweight. I was 8 stone 11 when I got married, and bemoaning the fact that I was fat Blush

But - going to the gym has made a definite difference - I'm less focussed on what the scales are telling me because I know from my shape/the clothes I am wearing that all is going very definitely in the right direction. And I even wore a bikini on holiday, for the first time in a million years!

RightBuggerforGOLD · 11/09/2012 18:23

Talkinpeace - How does fizzy affect insulin levels? Does that affect weight directly? I drink diet fizzy by the bucketload (but have lost 1st 2lbs in 5 weeks so assume it can't be that bad)?

rowingboat · 11/09/2012 18:37

Hi all just checking in. It's a normal day for me and I am about to do a bit n my exercise bike followed by a bit of food as I find I am more hungry when I fast - tomorrow- after exercise.
Somebody mentioned feeling I'll after food on normal eating days and I wanted to comment that I have experienced nausea and stomach pain on normal days. Not sure why, but twice felt awful after a veg stir fry with little in the way of rice or noodles. I definitely feel better if I eat something starchy on normal days. Don't think I could do a raw food diet or just veggies.
Want to say well done to the fasters today and keep it up! Nearly there!
Fast day for me tomorrow!

MamaGeekChic · 11/09/2012 18:42

Fast day has been ok so far although I don't recommend attempting food shopping, had to be really strict with myself not to leave with lots of yummy goodies for my 'eating' day tomorrow. I haven't felt overly hungry but I did feel more than a little bit faint when picking DD up from nursery, was worried about driving so bought a chocolate bar oops as I felt I needed sugar, I only ate 2 squares though and brought the rest home for DP, equated to about 70 cals so will have less chicken and more veg at dinner I think.

The BMR bit is really interesting. Mine works out at 2200 which is higher than I expected although I have maintaned my weight rather than gaining for a while, so that explains some things. Also looks like i'd need to stick to around 1500cals on feed days doing 5:2 or 1725cals when doing 4:3 to lose 2lbs a week so will need to bear that in mind as clearly eating what i fancy has averaged out at about 2200 of late.

Going to weigh tomorrow so hoping for a positive result to spur me on.

Lagartijadoesthecrazyshake · 11/09/2012 19:15

Weighed myself this am (after a feed day) and down another pound since last week. Might even be more as I started my period today and always feel a bit bloated with it. fasting today and not feeling hungry at all. Had nothing til lunch and then a little spag bol with no spag. Going to have carrot and orange salad for dinner now.

ILoveLemonCurd · 11/09/2012 19:43

Thanks for your concern Talkinpeace, but I don't drink fizzy drinks very often at all. It's just today there was a bottle in the house and the sweetness seemed to take the edge off the hunger for a fast day. I had three glasses for 3 calories. Don't fret I won't touch it again til the next fast promise Smile.

dandycandyjellybean · 11/09/2012 19:46

AAArrrrrggghh. Having a major wobble. Had told myself I wasn't going to fast for the next two weeks whilst my dad has surgery for cancer, and I'm under massive stress and doing loads of travelling, whilst still trying to care for my disabled dh. However, my sister said I might be disappointed if I didn't do anything and suggested I did it once a week. However, I just can't face going to bed hungry and tossing and turning til the early hours coz I never sleep well after a fast. Have done 4 fast days so far, and don't find it too hard normally, and definately see this as a long term lifestyle choice. just really don't feel that I can cope with this at this hugely massive time of stress. Fasting makes me just that bit more irritable and easier to snap, and all the stress is doing that to me already.

But I just can't seem to give myself permission. it's driving me mad. I feel like such a failure.

dandycandyjellybean · 11/09/2012 19:47

Got my period too which isn't helping...

LookBehindYou · 11/09/2012 19:54

sexbomb, the world won't fall apart if you eat normally for a few weeks - be nice to yourself. Hope it all goes well for your Dad.

Deniselaine · 11/09/2012 19:56

thanks Thina that makes sense. I didn't realise how many calories you could have on non-fast days either - I'm on 1200 or less so perhaps I'll have a few more on non-fast days instead of pannicking that I've gone over by a few. good luck !

OHforDUCKScake · 11/09/2012 20:03

Im finding todays fasting far easier than the last one. Ive no idea why though....

I am about to watch The Great British Bake off, clearly I like to torture myself.

Laska42 · 11/09/2012 20:07

Long post - slight 'confession' and a decision ...

I've been thinking further about the conversations we've been having today and I've just fully read that link above about women and IF .. Its worried me a bit as i've been experiencing unusual wakefulness at night (I usually sleep right through) over the last few days, and also I've STS weight after the last two fasting days after losing 8lbs the two weeks before.

So I've been looking back over the last week and now I really don't think i've been eating enough on eating days either (around 1200 -1300 cals even with wine at weekend). Also, taking the wakefulness into consideration I reckon I may have stalled or be about to stall my metabolism, so I've made a decision....

I'm going to not fast again until next week and will concentrate on eating around 1600-1800 calories a day until then, but try and make them good healthy ones.

I have been fasting again today but its too late to do much about it now , but I have just had 50g of 75% dark cocoa chocolate -good antitoxins, some fat and not too much sugar (and recommended by Dr Briffa!) in an effort to forestall wakefulness again tonight.

As I'm planning on being in this WOE for the long term (and I've lost so well so far after not losing for several months previously on WW) I'm prepared to experiment a little . I don't know how many of you have done WW before but there used to be an unofficial version called the 'Wendie' plan which people used to recommend for stalls, where you eat alternate high and low (but not very low) 'points' days. I'm not about to go back to WW , but it did used to help break stalls and keep your metabolism guessing and, thinking of IF and 5:2, I think it does make sense to not over-diet and restrict calories too much .

If I'm honest I think i've been concentrating too much on quick weight loss (despite the fact I haven't really admitted it here) which is why i've been going too low on calories everyday I think, and I certainly have 'Previous' on that front before on diets, so if I am in danger of another metabolic stall (and I think I am if not already done so ) I want to get sensible and stop it in its tracks right now . .. ..

I'm so thrilled to have finally got down to BMI 'normal' (that's 10.12 for me and that means I've lost 3 stone now all told over 3 years!) . I only really want to lose another 5 to 10 lbs , its tempting to try and rush , but I know if I stall again , I could easily become disheartened and start gaining once more.

Thanks for reading this, I'm appreciating the mutual support here, and hope I'm also helping someone by saying this .. Its good to talk eh? . Smile

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