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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:
ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 13:47

Just discovered this thread on my first fast day - aiming for 5:2 at the moment but will see how things go. Had a 30 min power walk this morning, is that a daft idea when restricting calories? Going to start at the beginning of this thread to see how you're all finding it... Grin

WilfSell · 14/09/2012 13:50

Heh heh, there's two more GIANT threads before this one, bint Grin. Settle yerself in...

BIWI · 14/09/2012 14:09
Grin Course that's normal for the weekend, Wilf!
ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 14:11

Ok - I'm about 1/4 of the way through, and I have a question! Today I had porridge (50g oats, water) at about 10.30am and have made a 4 egg omelette and cut it up into about 6 bits which I was going to spread throughout the day. But am I better of eating the lot by about 4pm and not eating again until 8am tomorrow? Or does it make no odds?

LookBehindYou · 14/09/2012 14:18

I think you're supposed to limit it to 1 or 2 meals in the day. The idea is to stop insulin from circling. It's in the varady interviews and I think the telegraph article.

ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 14:21

Thank you! Right, will eat the lot now then and hope I don't crack before 8am tomorrow...

TalkinPeace2 · 14/09/2012 14:24

4 egg omelette! WOW that's huge. I have two egg on a small plate so it feels like a full portion.

whatcha · 14/09/2012 14:29

Hi all.. read this thread from the beginning, including the others Shock and i've been doing the 4:3 for about 4 weeks ( i can't exactly remember when i started) i've lost 4.5lb which is ok.. but i haven't particularly been controlling myself on eating days.

Thought i'd come on here and if i have to confess my sins then i won't be so gluttonous!

I do Mon/Weds/Fri as reduced calorie and the rest of the time normal, i've got about 3 stone to lose..

On a fast day today and had a two egg omelette and will have a WW meal for tea as they need to be used up.

Great reading about everyone's journey!

ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 14:46

4 egg omelette + 50g oats = 540 cals, that's alright for a fast day's food isn't it?

TalkinPeace2 · 14/09/2012 14:55

What size eggs, did you use butter, what was on the omelette?
It comes back to portion sizes - I could not physically eat an omelette that size at one sitting. But yes, the calories are within the limits. Personally I'd do a 2 egg and then a side salad to get the different vitamins.

ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 15:00

Medium eggs, no fat, just with some spring onions. Tracked it in MFP. Was bloody ravenous as made the mistake of going to the gym first thing...

RightBuggerforGOLD · 14/09/2012 15:02

Whatever gets you through the day thatbint but most people have 2 meals a day.

Measured my waist today and have lost another 1.5 inches since about 2 weeks ago. Gone from 38.5 to 31 inches in these (almost) 6 weeks. Not sure what I'm aiming for for my waist tbh, it used to be about 23 before kids but I know I'll never see that again, haha. I suppose I'll just keep going til I'm happy with my weight and things look in proportion again. Less than 2 stone til pre-pregnancies weight, and about 1st to pre-ds weight.

The size 14 trousers I was so pleased to fit into a few weeks ago are starting to get loose now too, yay. :-)

ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 15:07

RightBugger - that's amazing. Grin

So, two meals in a day but with 16 hours gap between last meal on fast day and first meal on the next?

BuntCadger · 14/09/2012 15:12

Lovely dh here too who is very complimentary of the weight loss he's rather enthusiastic about it and where he is on it too he's feeling more sexy himself Smile

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 14/09/2012 15:21

RightBugger that's brilliant, well done you

So yesterday's fast went well until about 6pm - walked DC home from swimming (takes 1/2 hour) and my eyes were stinging from the clorine - then I utterly crashed and burnt when we got back, monumental effort to get them fed and into bed, made a baked egg and went to bed. Maybe I need to rijig when I eat as I think I just ran out of energy - although was only saving last "meal" for the evening as DH was supposed to be home then he worked late after all.

Has anyone seen improvements in their energy levels/tiredness?

SolarSparkle · 14/09/2012 15:53

Well Done RightBugger, that's great news!

My waist is (was) 38.5 inches on Mon, forgot to measure it when I started ADF about 4 weeks ago (had a week off 'cause of hols) but I've lost about 8.5lbs so far.....

reddwarf · 14/09/2012 16:18

well done rightbuggar and solar sparkle!

My skirt is deffo feeling a bit looser, but the jeans are still a looooong way off.

Can I add to what other have said, and say, holey moley, a 4 egg omelette! Blimey. etc etc.

ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 17:03

Grin Really? Cut into 6 pieces and spread out over 6 hours?

coribells · 14/09/2012 17:22

I am on y third fast day to day. So far ive had some porridge and popcorn. Really difficult to work out the cals in the popcorn ,it was microwave popcorn , the label says around 400 for 100 grams but there is no weight on the packet. I ve weighed it on the scales in a container , i think it comes in at around 50 grams, my scales arent that accurate.Im not really planning on having any else today.
Yesterdays feed day i think i failed enormously on , ended up drinking the bettter part of a bottle of wine and had crisps on top of three good meals .
not good really Sad

coribells · 14/09/2012 17:23

I am also premenstural , so am a bit down really.

whatcha · 14/09/2012 17:32

thatbint - i have my tea about 7 on my eating day then on my fast day I have lunch about 12 ish so there's your first 16-17 hour fast. then I have tea about 5 and then don't eat until about 9-10 the next morning so another 16-17 hours.

I think that's the right way... but some people only have one meal at tea time..

It's what you find easiest to deal with.. so that you stay on the WOE for life rather than a quick fix i guess.

TalkinPeace2 · 14/09/2012 17:54

thatbint
I think its just the idea of cooking a 4 egg omelette for one person who wants to lose weight that has surprised people.
presumably you mean a tortilla type omelette that is mostly eaten cold -
but even then its a case of thinking about cooking and eating less from the outset ...

coribells popcorn is not good - you need to go for low fat, high protein, small portion ....

ThatBintAgain · 14/09/2012 18:06

I've been low carbing until recently, so I figured you feel fuller for the same calories - and yes, was in the style of a frittata/tortilla.

Coribells - sorry you're feeling a bit glum. If you ate the whole 100g bag cooked it would be 480cals according to MFP so not the end of the world. Tomorrow is another day and all that.

beamme · 14/09/2012 18:07

First week of ADF finished and I've lost 5lbs! Long way to go but over the moon.

HappyOrchid · 14/09/2012 18:12

Enjoying my eating day, but not overdoing it.
Had pate and crispbread for lunch and then some apple and blackberry crumble with custard.
Will have chicken and salad wraps for tea and might just manage a glass or two of Wine

Nearly there if you are fasting today. I will fast tomorrow, third day this week.
Right off to carry on tidying up my office, which is what I'm supposed to be doing whilst DH takes DD to trampolining class Blush