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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:
Paddington76 · 12/09/2012 06:35

GirlWithTheMouseyHair I was debating going for a run today (second fast day) but was worried about that too. I think i will settle for a walk with the dog and go tomorrow instead. I don't think burning three quarters of my daily food allowance is a good idea when I am eating so little.

On another note slept so much better last night than on my first fast day.

TellMeLater · 12/09/2012 06:49

Fast day today, will do an intense exercise session today...will probably sleep the rest of the day. I think it could become a permanent way of eating but it'll be reduced in frequency around the time of my period because I find it too tough and I think if I'm struggling that much it's best avoided. I haven't lost any weight yet - I live in hope, maybe it helps me maintain, I'm clinging onto the health benefits.

Mrsjohnnydepp123 · 12/09/2012 06:59

HELLOOOO, wow finally after reading all your threads ladies about this new diet i thought i would try and join you, after trawling everywhere on the forum i found you!!!!Grin
Well i tried my 1st 2 fast days, yesterday was hard but im hoping to reap the beneifits of both health and weight loss.
Can i ask some dumb questions as im still getting my head around things.. 1st can i have what i want more or less on feast days??? 2nd can i also have alcohol? 3rd Is there somewhere on here where i can see people fast days menu's? questions, questionsGrin.

OHforDUCKScake · 12/09/2012 07:41

I was going to go to 700cals yesterday because if the whole breastfeeding/faint thing. But I did 600 and feel absolutely fine.

Does anyone know why Id feel utterly rotten on one fast day (right into the next day) and cope/feel fine the next?

I started 10.6

And this morning im 10.01

5lb in just over a week. I wonder how much of it is water. My muffin top is significantly smaller though which Im over the moon with as thats the only bit that bothered me.

Laska42 · 12/09/2012 07:50

GirlWTMH I'm thinking Mondays will be 500 cal days once i've got down to my desired weight (i'm only thinking 5-12lbs more).. someone up thread said her parents used to have Mondays 'off' to make up for the weekend and i also used to know someone who did that who was always slim event though he'd party at weekend .. so sounds like a good idea

Mrsjohnnydepp you can in theory eat what you like including Wine on food days... but the consensus here is that its best if you keep to healthy choices as much as you can .. (Having said that plenty of people are eating cakes biscuits pizza etc) but its sensible not to go mad, you are not trying to completely make up for fasting days so just not the whole packet. I've had takeaways and wine (but have limited the carbs as it suits me) , but plenty here are not worried about carbs..

Sounds confusing? You'll get some better idea of what people are eating if you keep reading.

I suggest you first calculate your basal rate to find out what calories you should be eating to remain the same weight and use that as a guide. A couple of pages back there are some links to a BMR calculator . Look for Greeneggs, mine and Mintyy's posts (prob around page 11).. the explanation is there .

Food day for me ..scrambled eggs scoffed , coffee made .. must work now ..

catsrus · 12/09/2012 07:57

Hi MrsJohnny

I've been eating what I want on non fast days, and drunk Wine. Am out for a Thai meal tonight (second this week due to visitors) so will probably have a satay or tempura starter, a Green curry, some interesting veg and rice. I may have a pudding and I will have Wine. Tomorrow I'm going out to lunch with colleagues and it will be Italian. Experience tells me I will still lose weight this week Grin.

I'm not binging or overheating on non fast days, but I have found my appetite reduced overall and I do seem to be generally eating healthily so am really enjoying my treats like meals out when I don't have to worry about "keeping to a diet"! I am not eating any low fat 'diet' foods apart from the odd diet coke (yes I know it's not good, but it's a treat!) and am concentrating on unprocessed food as far as possible. I might get my calories up on a non fast day by eating some nice cheese and having an oil rich salad dressing as I don't want my body to adapt to a low calorie intake before I reach my goal. This has happened too often over the years Sad.

I've just done two fast days in a row and the second was hard - I'm going to try not to do that again as I find the one day very manageable so long as I can have a normal eating day the next one.

Anyway having failed to kick start weight loss since the menopause a few years ago I have now lost 8lb in 4 weeks and am over half way there. I am Grin Grin Grin Grin about it!

It doesn't seem to suit everyone but fingers crossed it works for you.

captainmummy · 12/09/2012 08:27

Strange - aafter my first fast day yesterday I wasn't really that huingry when I went to bed but woke at about 3.30 starving! Went back to sleep but this morning (eatting day) i made 2 hardboiled eggs and mayo with celery - and ate only half of it! Just not hungry.

Back to Low-carbing now, i'm only doing 6.1 so that's it until next tues.

MamaGeekChic · 12/09/2012 08:37

Weighed in this morning and only lost 1lb in my first week, slightly disappoint as I'm used to big losses in the first week of following other diets. However, as I feel so positive about it as a WOE I'm not even tempted to throw the towel in. Also, thinking about it last night, I feel much calmer about losing weight this time, as much as I'd like to wake up tomorrow a couple of stone lighter and minus my post pg stretchmarks I'm not slimming for a holiday in a couple of months or stressed about it- 1lb a week is fine, as long as its consistent I'd be a stone lighter by christmas.

Feed day today, up early to get DD off to nursery even though I'm on holiday. Had a coffee and a couple of jaffa cakes so far... plan for the rest of the day:

Lunch- fishcakes with beetroot and salad

Snack- banana muffin (if I drag myself to the kitchen to bake them)

Dinner- chicken in breadcrumb, baked potato, beans not exactly healthy but really fancy it

Pudding- meringue with berries

Looking forward to another fast day tomorrow!

HappyOrchid · 12/09/2012 08:50

I was supposed to fast yesterday, but couldn't resist the hotel buffet breakfast, pizza that was delivered for lunch and then when I got home from Italy I polished off some sandwiches. Oh well, fast today I'm in an Employment Law seminar for at least 3 hours so no opportunity to snooze eat.

Good luck to anyone fasting today.

2012fan · 12/09/2012 09:03

What I love about this diet is the simplicity of having just one rule - eat 500 calories or less on 2 days a week and you'll reap health benefits and lose weight. It's simple and it works. I have had food (and drink - yes pepsi max sometimes!) on eating days since doing 5:2 that I've not eaten in years. White bread sandwiches, Magnums, chips, copious amounts of Italian white wine etc. Not huge amounts - I don't binge eat and I'm not a chocolate lover - but enough not to feel deprived. I don't feel guilty because I feel great and have lost 6lbs in 3 weeks. Simples! Smile

GreenEggsAndNichts · 12/09/2012 09:09

GirlWithTheMousyHair I see it as a long-term WOE because the fast days aren't making me feel as if I'm "going hungry" anymore. The first one was very difficult, the second was tough as well, but since then (tomorrow will be a month) I've felt quite okay on fast days. The only thing about them is that I realise how many of my activities involve eating, so I have to plan my social/private life accordingly.

Am doing 4:3 but imagine I'll change to 5:2 once I get closer to target.

OP posts:
OHforDUCKScake · 12/09/2012 09:35

Same 2012 Im allowing myself white bread and Im Shock losing weight.

LouiseDavies · 12/09/2012 09:35

Second fast day of the week for me.Weighing and Zumba tonight. Just tea until lunchtime when I'll have home made veg soup and a salad totalling around 180 calories. Had chilli last night so will have the same for tea but without the rice and garlic bread! Tip for those with a sweet tooth. Ready made Hartley pots of sugar free jelly (under 10 cals) with a spoonful of reduced fat greek yogurt total below 30 calories and satisfies on a fast day Smile

ChazsGoldAttitude · 12/09/2012 09:49

Impromptu fast day for me today as I woke up this morning and wasn't hungry so decided to fast today rather than tomorrow.

I bought an Innocent Veg Pot on my way in to work so I am sorted for my first meal around 2pm. Coffee and herbal tea until then.

rowingboat · 12/09/2012 10:17

Hi all it's so busy on here now, this way of eating has really caught the attention of the media now so it is going together busier I reckon! Hi to everyone just starting out and cheer for everyone fasting today, including me.
So far have had a herb tea and feeling ok. Planning to have a coffee with milk between 11 and 12, will see how I hold out....
Just the usual to eat I reckon an egg and carrots for lunch with a cup of tea later and then some lentil soup and radishes and carrots.
I can't really be bothered with cooking an elaborate low calorie fears - I like this regime because it's easy - too lazy to cook! Smile
I have a yucky cold and am interested to see what impact fasting has upon it.
Laksa could you have a couple of days of just normal, no calorie counting meals to see if it resets your metabolism when you fast? Is it 4:3 you are doing?it won't be the same without you on here!

rowingboat · 12/09/2012 10:18

That was supposed to read low calories feasts. I got predictived!

WilfSell · 12/09/2012 10:50

Update!

Looks like [crosses fingers] my blip was a blip. Back down - after an eating day yesterday, to my lowest weight so far, give or take an ounce, so happy with this.

Fasting today so off shortly for my morning coffee and then won't eat till tonight.

I have decided that the fruit and lattes I was having as 'lunch' are actually not helping. I don't feel hungry after them particularly, but somehow I just find it easier to eat nothing until I'm in 'eating' mode later IYSWIM. If I graze, even on fasting days, it feels harder. Of course, I'm still having a few calories, with a splash of milk in my tea/coffee, but I can cope with that.

I think this is my 8th week (will check properly) and I can safely say that this is the LONGEST I have been on any WoE/diet without massive weekends of going nuts (ie eating/drinking) and then feeling depressed about it, and thinking 'oh I can never lose weight what's the point) and then forcing myself to suffer back on SW/WW/Low Carb.

Everything is feeling so balanced in my head, even though the fasting is hard. No more food guilt/addiction is REALLY really great for me. Smile

Slimandhappy · 12/09/2012 10:52

Weighed in this morning after 2 more fast days and am a total of 9lb from since I came back from Greece 2 weeks ago! I am OVERJOYED!!! Have been given a diet called the chemical diet where you are supposed to lose 14 in a week so I am going to do that one just Monday to Friday next week, then back to 5:2 the following week. There is a forum on here about the other diet but just wondered if anyone else has had any success with that one too? I have another 2.5 stone I want to lose. Addicted to this thread btw x

Slimandhappy · 12/09/2012 10:54

Wilfsell how much have you lost so far? Well done you being so in the zone :)

WilfSell · 12/09/2012 10:59

Here's my rules, for the newbies:

Fast 3, eat 4
No calorie counting for me, although I already have a fair bit of knowledge about what's in what from years of dieting.
On fast days, I eat very little all day, including a bit of milk in tea/coffee. I have a Bovril/bouillon drink mid afternoon to keep me going, then an apple while cooking kids' tea. I then have a big pile of veg and a tiny bit of protein in the evening, with a small amount of oil if I need to: eg a chicken stir fry for tonight, or pea and ham soup, or steamed veg with sesame oil, plus whatever cold meat is in the fridge. Milky drink (eg hot milk with cinnamon and sweetener) in the evening if I've got sweet cravings.

On feed days I genuinely eat what I like, also no calorie counting or restricting. I find I don't pig out all day, though I often have things I want. Yesterday I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a cheese sandwich for lunch, fruit and cake with the kids in the afternoon, meatballs potatoes and veg with the kids in the evening, and then I had a beer with DH later and a couple of chocolates! I probably eat slightly more than I should on feed days but for me, losing slowly and not having to worry about what I eat is crucial. I'm happy to lose a lb a week for a year or two to get to where I want to be, as long as I can then adapt this WoE beyond that to maintain things.

When I'm a bit lighter, and my knees can take the strain a bit more than they can currently, I hope to do more exercise on feed days too, but i'm taking it VERY slowly right now which works sustainably.

SolarSparkle · 12/09/2012 11:00

Hi [Wilfsell]

Gr8 post! I'm doing the ADF ....& only have one meal in the evening on my Fast days, 3 cups of tea & a few glasses of water throughout the day.

Fasting today...... finding it easier when I'm in work Smile

WilfSell · 12/09/2012 11:01

Hi slim, only 7lb in 8 weeks, given my blip upwards last week, but as I say I am happy as long as the overall trend is gently down, as this is more about slowly re-educating my brain for me, rather than a quick fix. I have a lot of weight to lose so I need something I can work with forever, not just try and then go back to a dodgy WoE.

rowingboat · 12/09/2012 11:37

Good to hear your blip has unblipped Will! I have a weigh in tomorrow morning and if no change to weight I might well move to 4:3.

Laska42 · 12/09/2012 11:40

rowingboat not leaving (i've become slightly obsessed with this BB ,when i really should be working (at home) Hmm). I'm just trying to eat more on feed days and leaving it a few days until next fast ..(unless i wake up tomorrow or next with a nice loss 'cos then ill know im not stalled! .

Today i'm planning on eating more than I have been so far on eating days , so for mid morning snack just had a couple of h/m pittas made with feta, chorizo and pesto in the dough .. mmmmm.

Right if you see me on here again before 5pm . TELL ME TO GET BACK TO WORK !!!!

OHforDUCKScake · 12/09/2012 13:11

Im on an eating day and I dont want to eat everything in the house like I did after the last fasting day.

My appetite seems to have settled right down.

Im LIKING this diet!