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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 13:22

That's comforting DUCKS, I was awful yesterday after first fast day, felt like I could eat for Britain.

Feeling hungry at the minute but sure that is cos my body knows it should be lunchtime. Just having a nettle tea and riding the storm.

Hope all you other fasters are coping ok today?

TellMeLater · 12/09/2012 14:17

Just guzzle some miso soup. Have decided I'm having 100kcal lunch, 300kcal dinner and the rest will be spent on hot drinks with a splash of skimmed milk or miso soup - I'm going to stop counting these as if I go over it'll only be by 20-40 kcal which is not worth getting worked up about. Fasting with the kids at school is so much easier though.

TellMeLater · 12/09/2012 14:18

My first sentence should have read " I'm just guzzling some miso soup" rather than an order for everyone else Grin

katykuns · 12/09/2012 15:12

Got my fasting day tomorrow and am a bit anxious about it seeing as I am working a night shift tonight. When I have had a sleep I tend to go on a carbs binge :S
Have got some meal plans in place, and am hoping to have a small chicken pasta dish, a weetabix for breakfast and miso soup with baby spinach. Hoping that will keep me going. One positive thing is I don't have another nightshift, so then I can go to bed early if I am feeling rough.

Anyone got any ideas for really strong tasting low fat things? Worst thing I struggle with is eating bland food!

mumblechum1 · 12/09/2012 15:13

Does anyone have any ideas for a 300 cal dinner for tonight?

TIA

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 12/09/2012 15:42

TellMeLater miso soup is brilliant, worked out last night I'd prob only had about 410cals (on top of exercising at least 300cal off) so happily had a huge mug of hoemmade miso and it killed the hunger straight away.

Feed day today, was going to hit the gym but my legs are killing me so tempted not to go - I'm not a big exerciser at all so I think the last 5 days days which started with a 25mile bike ride, took in daily half hour swims and half hour on the bikes, pilates yesterday and my usual mammouth walking have done me in! Want to fast again tomorrow though so won't be going then either, so maybe I should go today?!

Would really like to sustain this, maybe going to 6:1 eventually - but got the boost I needed last night after a horribly hungry day, I can fit into my wedding dress!! I was at my absolute slimmest when I got married, and I have a bit of a tummy and the dreaded love handles still but I could put it on and zip it up easily and everything, which has made me very happy and made yesterday worth it!

mumblechum I've been making the lentil stew here www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/9483381/52-diet-healthy-recipes-250-calories-or-less.html

really filling! and good store cupboard basic

TellMeLater · 12/09/2012 15:49

We're having chicken madras (waitrose ready meal) with cauliflower rice.

mumblechum1 · 12/09/2012 16:16

Girl Thanks!

3duracellbunnies · 12/09/2012 16:31

Had a bit of a disaterous fast day so far. Morning was fine, no breakfast, but had to take dh for a minor procedure. Was waiting with him in recovery about 12.30 when nurse came to take out canula and I fainted, so they had two patients! They were concerned that it could be due to lack of breakfast so gave me lucozade and sent me off to the cafe for a cake. I think more likely it was the thought of a needle. I'm usually fine, but just sometimes I feel/am faint. Managed to recover enough to drive him home, as he wasn't allowed to. Dh then gave me toast and marg when we got home.

Think I've blown the 500 cals!!! and still feeling a bit funny. Will have a small supper tonight. Not sure whether to fast on thurs or fri instead, or start again next week, had a good fast day on mon and generally feel that I am eating less on feed days too.

WilfSell · 12/09/2012 16:34

Hmmm fainting not good. We deffo need Drs Mosley and/or Varady to come and sort us out a bit more...

I often feel v tired at end of fast day but then can't sleep. That is just a bit weird. Cranky bastard Mental health not fab on fast days also, am assuming this is low blood sugar.

Side effects still exist even here but I guess if they're not long term un-health then it should be OK?

TalkinPeace2 · 12/09/2012 16:42

3duracell
check yourself for anaemia - low iron often linked to low blood pressure often linked to fainting
:-)

3duracellbunnies · 12/09/2012 16:53

I think I'm probably still only on about 700cal today, so I think a smallish supper, as not too hungry and feed day tomorrow, maybe fast friday instead. I do think that it was probably the needle as I have had that reaction before - I'm not scared of needles, it is just a physical reaction iykwim, the low blood sugar probably didn't help.

Did make me think that esp as I am in charge of a toddler, maybe I should carry a glucose tablet with me on fast days just in case.

Thina · 12/09/2012 17:13

Checked out the number of cals I need to eat: 1926! OMG, I am not sure I will be able to eat that much on an eating day... I am completely brainwashed by diets and I think I have taken little snippets of each of the diets that I have done over the years and merged them all into one-not-very-good-way-of-eating and probably have become my own worst enemy.

Day 2 of fasting this week, am on target so far Shock....

BIWI · 12/09/2012 17:21

Here is a very interesting article by Zoe Harcombe that is free to download, about intermittent fasting

3duracellbunnies · 12/09/2012 17:21

Thanks Talkinpeace I have low thyroid which also at the moment makes my bp fairly low. Might find a mulitvit/mineral to take and talk to the nurse next time I go, hopefully my weight will have gone down then too, starting gentle running next week too.

frenchfancy · 12/09/2012 17:24

Feed day today after fast yesterday. I am seriously cranky today, not sure if it has anything to do with the fast but it might have. I felt like I had a hangover this morning and this afternoon I have done nothing but shout at the kids.

I'm trying to make sure I eat well on feed days, but I didn't fancy carbs at lunch (very unlike me) so I had a tuna salad. I am now very hungry, much hungrier than yesterday, but don't actually fancy anything we have in.

I've got a chicken roasting in the oven so that should solve the problem :)

reddwarf · 12/09/2012 17:46

Thats so weird, cos i feee really miserable and am totally bad tempered with the kids and just came on here to ask if anyone else had experienced it and if people thought it was fats related.

So yes, i feel mega down and bad tempered.

Andnfed up cos I haven't lost any weight. Why do i not loose weight? :(

GreenEggsAndNichts · 12/09/2012 18:06

reddwarf Sorry, I've gone back a few pages but not found previous posts of yours- how many fast days have you done so far? Are you limiting your calories on eating days? (If so, about how many calories are you eating?)

Suggestions off the top of my head without knowing anything specific about your situation: make sure you're eating enough on eating days (not low-calorie dieting). Also, are you already close to your ideal BMI? Your results will be slower, if so.

OP posts:
tumbletumble · 12/09/2012 18:26

Reddwarf, I was going to ask the same question about how many fast days you've done. I found the first one really hard and had a terrible headache, but have felt fine since then.

Laska42 · 12/09/2012 18:50

Well!! I reckon of my metabolism was going asleep its certainly awake now.. Just totted up my calories for today and its 1936!! .

That was:
Scrambled eggs , strawberries and banana for breakfast
Salmon noodles with l/o veg curry for lunch
Some blueberries
3 sausages, salad and pitta bread for dins ..(and I could easily eat the other two that are left over)Shock..

Actually, I felt really hungry today for the first time in ages .. but that's probably because i've been eating far too little on food days and I gave my self permission to eat lots today but I think I'd better stop eating now...

Would really like a Wine though , but shall I ? Hmm.....perhaps I should have green Brew instead..

Paddington76 · 12/09/2012 19:13

I've just tallied it all up and I've had 381 calls today. Do I need to have more or is that ok?

poachedeggs · 12/09/2012 19:15

It's been super-hectic today so I've had no problems with hunger.

Two cups of tea with milk, a punnet of cherry tomatoes and a small packet of nasty ham. It's all I could manage in the car.

Not hungry now!

reddwarf · 12/09/2012 19:20

Hi thanks for taking the time to puzzle it out! I really want this to work! It is technically my 3rd fast day, but the last one I sort of got nibbling ...... So strictly speaking may e only 2nd. I think I've been eating enough on food days, possibly too much? But I am heavier than I was after my 1st fast day. I can't seem to shift away from 66 kilos :(

Laska42 · 12/09/2012 19:33

How tall are you reddwarf? 66kg is 10st 5 .. If you are in normal BMI that might be why.. Read the link above on why this WOE might not work so well for weightloss in women in their normal BMI range.. You'll be getting other benefits though

Laska42 · 12/09/2012 19:40

Oh dear.. the phone rang....and while I was talking I somehow managed to pour out a Wine after all BlushGrin. ..

Oh well, I'm assured of a good nights sleep tonight I think -which will be great after the last few days .....and ill see what the rest of the week brings and maybe fast again Friday or Sunday depending...

Like I said, having lost 8lbs in 3 weeks,after so long of not losing anything at all on WW , as long as I can maintain that, I'm prepared to experiment a little ..Smile

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