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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!

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Lifeissweet · 15/09/2012 21:38

I am one of the (I suspect) many lurkers on this thread who are following the ideas behind this without actually posting - until now.

I'm doing something a bit different - and started before the Horizon programme. I have struggled with my weight since my mid-twenties and have lost weight a few times in the last decade, but it has always come back. I thought I had cracked it a couple of years ago when - completely by accident - I found myself eating only one small meal a day Monday - Friday (was soooo busy and stressed at work) and eating a little more at weekends. I found during that time that I just didn't want to eat the things I had eaten before. Even at weekends when I would usually eat out of boredom I didn't feel the need to eat much. Some of this was down to stress, but I did find my energy levels were higher than before. After about 4 months I had lost about two and a half stone and had a bmi of 22. I kept that weight off easily for a year- until I was pregnant with DD.

I re-gained that 2 and a half stone with DD and am now set to lose it again, knowing that it's possible and sustainable this time.

What I wanted to ask all of you is about monthly hormonal changes and this WOE. I found that I was completely in control of my eating for the first time in years until I was pregnant - and then I just seemed to get my insatiable appetite back. That lasted until I stopped breastfeeding about a month ago when I started back at work.

Now I'm able to go all day without eating (I eat every night at about 6 - usually soup or lentil dhal or a veg stir fry - not high in carbs as I find they make me feel tired) without feeling desperate to eat like I did when I was breastfeeding.

Now my periods have returned (today - after 18 months off) and yesterday I found it impossible not to eat regularly and I felt faint and dizzy.

Is that down to hormones - and, if so - what can I do to minimise that because I don't want to lapse every month because the hormones take over?

moosemama · 15/09/2012 21:58

Lifeissweet, I read on another site (although which one eludes me at this moment) that lots of women have trouble sticking with fasting during their periods, for similar reasons to you - dizziness, faintness etc. Apparently it's common for women to choose not to fast that week and just go back to fasting at the end of their period instead.

There's quite a bit about it online if you google.

moosemama · 15/09/2012 22:02

I've done much better today. Actually didn't feel like eating at all until dh was cooking tea for everyone else and then had a quorn fajita which came in at 470 kcals.

Can I ask what people are drinking. I have been drinking decaff with a little bit of skimmed milk, but was wondering if I shouldn't be having the milk? I used to drink black coffee, but haven't been able to face it since I had dd three years ago. I like pukka detox and cleanse teas though, so maybe I should stick with those on fast days?

Lifeissweet · 15/09/2012 22:07

Thanks, Moosemama. As long as it's not just me being weak-willed. I can't decide whether it's emotional hunger or real yet.

I drink peppermint or green tea, btw, but I do have a coffee every morning with milk because that is one crutch I am holding on to having given up smoking, drinking and over-eating Wink

moosemama · 15/09/2012 22:13

Maybe that's the way then Lifeissweet. A coffee first thing to start the day off, then herbal tea for the rest of the day. I'm another one who couldn't face the day without a coffee - even if it is only decaff.

ThinkICan · 16/09/2012 01:59

Thank you Wilfsell - have some soya at home from one of my earlier experiments and will try that! Or perhaps do what I'm doing now and then when I plateau (the eternal dieter's fear) will switch to that Grin

ThinkICan · 16/09/2012 02:09

Hi bordercollielover and catsrus! One more post menopausal late fifties veggie person here. It's nice to find something that works and will keep us healthy at the time of life when problems crop up. And wonderful to connect with people who do not judge and think there's something wrong with our self control which results in us putting on weight! Good luck to everyone on this thread.

Aftereightsaremine · 16/09/2012 05:59

Glad everyone seems to be doing ok. I've been doing this for 6 weeks now & have lost a stone, ok so I have another 3 to go though ideally I would like to lose 4!

I've decided to do 4:3, as 5:2 getting me the weight loss I wanted as fast. But I'm not as strict on third day as other 2.

I had my RA check this week & specialist told me I could continue this WOE at least until my next appointment so am pleased he didn't put a stop to it.

I've also noticed less cravings & non fast days I usually skip breakfast apart from TOM when I do find it harder to fast anyway.

moosemama · 16/09/2012 11:41

Well, it's my weekly weigh-in today and I've gained 2.5 lbs after my first week. Sad

I am going to stick with it though. Before I started this I had a fortnight of eating nothing but porridge and bananas, due to horrible gastritis, so I think my poor body may have gone into shock. I've decided to give 4:3 a month and see if things settle down - although I'll be very upset if it doesn't and I end up having gained 10lbs! Shock

It's probably already been covered somewhere on this or previous threads, but are the majority of people just eating what they like on eating days or are they calorie counting? Based on what I read before starting I was doing BMR on eating days and 25% of that on fast days, but I'm wondering if actually my intake is too low and that's the problem? Confused

Aftereightsaremine · 16/09/2012 12:18

Definitely eating what I want on non fast days & I've lost a stone so must be doing something right!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 16/09/2012 12:42

I've been eating what I want on non-fast days, as well.

There are a number of opinions here :) so feel free to take mine with a grain of salt. I have mentioned calories on eating days a few times, but it's mostly to suggest that people not go to extremes on those days. Going on regular Secret Eaters-style binges isn't great, nor is trying to eat low-calorie on eating days. I suggest looking at basal rates to get an idea of what your normal calorie consumption should be, but (in this case) it's a guide, not a rule.

Your mileage may vary and someone else might come along and say something totally different. I just know, I'm eating normally, some days having a number of treats, and I'm still losing weight. Have been doing 4:3 for a month now and I'd say my portion size is definitely smaller. If you stick with it, it's possible you'll feel the same; your body will self-regulate.

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Squawker · 16/09/2012 13:47

waves nervously
Hello all, I'm brand new to mumsnet, having only joined for this thread. In fact I'm not even a mum at all (sadly) yet, but this does seem to be the place to find out about the 5:2 diet. I have lots and lots of questions which no amount of googling seems to give the answer to without being redirected to some Atkins thread. So sorry in advance for the huge question.

Ok, tried my first fast on Thursday, having been trying to cut the carp out of my diet for the last couple of weeks and running regularly. I didn't find Thursday difficult - I had 2 raw carrots for lunch and lentil soup for dinner. The raw carrots did leave me feeling extremely nauseous and I got a sore throat but I was expecting that because so many of you posted about it. What I wasn't expecting was flu. I know some of you have posted that you got a headache, but Friday was full-on, stay-in-bed flu, I had fever/chills/sweats, diarrhoea, aching bones and skin, 'hot' eyes, bunged up, and I'm still feeling light headed.

The only things I can find online about this is that it is 'carb' flu and the symptoms will go away when I have cut carbs out. But I don't really want to cut carbs out completely, I just want to be able to fast a couple of times a week

So my questions are
If I fast again whilst eating carbs in between, will I get the same thing?
Will I get the same thing but the symptoms be less severe over time?
SHOULD I cut carbs out if my body is clearly so dependent on them?
Or are some people just not cut out for this type of fasting?

It would be a shame not to be able to do this because in every way it makes sense and sounds achievable. Incidentally, my husband did it with no ill-effects whatsoever. I know not everyone hear is medically trained but I wondered if you would give me the benefit of your real-life experiences so far.

For anyone who has even managed to get to the end of my long and rambling post, thank you
Smile

Squawker · 16/09/2012 13:54

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry I typed hear instead of here. Naughty Squawker

GreenEggsAndNichts · 16/09/2012 14:06

Hello Squawker, nice to meet you! Welcome to the nest of vipers. Wink (er, that's Mumsnet in general, not this thread specifically)

If you are in this for weight loss, I'd suggest having a look at this article first, which gives an overview of the diet. Here is another article with more figures which cites a couple of studies done in Universities in the US. Please note that neither of them were restricting carbs. ("The University of Illinois trial I highlighted employed a rather conventional menu which provided roughly 55% carbohydrates, 25% fat and 20% protein." from the second article)

You may certainly combine this diet with a low carb lifestyle. Several posters in this thread are doing so, and you might want to consider low carb for your fasting days as you'll get more bang for your caloric buck. I, myself, eat mostly veg on fast days, as I find trying to wedge in starches just makes me hungry. However, LC is not a requirement of the diet. I would not be able to LC in the long term, which is why I'm doing this WOE. (Way Of Eating, by the way; it's an acronym that pops up often here)

For what it's worth, this is the way I follow the diet: I do 4:3, instead of 5:2. I fast 3 days, eating below 500, sometimes around 400 calories on those days. On my eating days, I eat what I like. I've done this for a month and have lost about 10 lbs ("about" because I'm weighing in kilos but convert to pounds for recording here!)

OP posts:
BIWI · 16/09/2012 14:45

Welcome to Mumsnet, Squawker!

That does sound like a very extreme reaction, especially as a) you didn't really keep your carbs that low, if you had eaten carrots and lentil soup b) the symptoms came on only one day after your first fast.

Could it be that you were just very unlucky, and that you had actual flu?

I'm not an expert on 5:2, nor am I a doctor though!

MandaHugNKiss · 16/09/2012 15:56

I would think it's probably a coincidence, too, squawker and you were genuinely ill rather than any 'lc reaction'.

Only one way to find out, I guess... try again!

Kaloobear · 16/09/2012 16:10

Sorry to gate crash but this thread is so massive I got a headache trying to read through it all! I was wondering whether anyone has done this with an already healthy BMI and seen benefits such as fat loss/muscle gain? I'm 8st 10lbs and my BMI is 21 so I don't really want to lose weight so much as fat. I'd be quite happy to keep my current figure and current weight but would love to get rid of the wobbly jelly belly...

Herrena · 16/09/2012 16:21

Hi, squawker :)

Just wanted to check in and report that after my second week of 4:3 I have lost 2.1kg! Which is approximately 5 pounds I think Grin very pleased!!

FYI I have been calorie-counting on feed days (DH calls them feast days) because clearly I haven't been eating sensible amounts in the past and so I probably need to keep tabs on it. I've been finding it quite hard to eat enough on feed days - I really am just not that hungry. DH (who is doing this too) has no problems at all with feast days and had a McDonald's sausage & egg mcmuffin for breakfast the other day - 700 calories!! Not to mention the hash brown and latte to go with.... he does keep reminding me that the original study showed that your diet on feed days doesn't change the outcome of fasting overall; i.e. you'll still see benefits and lose weight.

Respect to anyone out there who is managing to fast on a sunday - that's commitment :)

Squawker · 16/09/2012 16:31

Hello and thanks for making me so welcome.

It hadn't even occurred to me that it might be coincidence! I'll give myself a few days to recover and then try again. I will post back my findings.

Very interesting reading everyone else's progress

Laska42 · 16/09/2012 16:59

Hi again , checking back in after the weekend. its good to see how many more people are finding us.
Well im fasting again today .. but its been a weekend of wine and bread and many other good things.. I didnt manage the roast pork though .. maybe next weekend..

My weekly WI was the same, so im still on 8lbs lost but my shape is definately continuing to change, the muffin top is going and my waist is down another half inch - making 3 inches off in four weeks! (and i dont exercise muchapart from walking and cycling) !

It also looks like i may have to go down a bra size perhaps even to a c cup!( Hooray!! iI'd be happy with that as they are bigger than i like, )and i'm pleased that i can now fit into some shirts which before were definately a bit 'gappy' around the bosom, Also, i seem to have lost some from the top of my arms!

Ilike to eat my fast day 'dinner' meal early and am just polishing off a big pile of broccoli with a little feta sprinkled on, some cherry tomatoes ,10g of h/m pesto and (the ever -present in my case )splash of Franks red hot sauce.. YUM! .who needs pasta?

I hope you other fasters are still doing well.. I was going to cook a chicken to eat cold forthe week but have decided to leave it until tomorrow ,, dont want to torture myself. Luckily, Sunday eve-Thursday I only have to cook for myself (and feed the cat!) . DD and DS have left home now and DH currently works away all week.. . it must be much harder for those of you who still have to make family meals..

longsigh · 16/09/2012 17:42

It all sounds great...do people tend to fast or split their 500 cals over the day..is not eating for the longest time best?

GreenEggsAndNichts · 16/09/2012 17:57

Kaloo if you're already at your ideal BMI, this will be worth a read through.

There are several people here who are doing this diet who are close to their ideal BMI, and hopefully they can chime in with their experiences.

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GreenEggsAndNichts · 16/09/2012 17:59

I'm fasting today! Not my usual schedule, but I had a conference to attend Fri-Sat so I chose those to be my eating days this week. It's easier because DH is also fasting today due to a birthday party he went to yesterday, so no pressure to go out for lunch.

Have just had some veg, and will have a cup of soup in a little while. Before that it was just coffee and water.

OP posts:
purplepenguin86 · 16/09/2012 18:08

Kaloo I came on here wondering the same thing. My BMI is 20, but I am more comfortable when it is around 18, and this seems like a reasonable way of losing a bit of weight/fat. I think I might try it - my only issue with it is the calorie counting, because there have been periods in my life when I have been very obsessive over calories and have weighed everything etc, and I don't want this to be a slip into that. But I'm not comfortable with my body at the moment, and this looks a better idea than most other diets.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 16/09/2012 18:10

purple please read the link I posted above, I've also posted it in the OP to this thread.

If you aren't interested in reading it, the summary is, this diet might not work well for you if you are already close or at your recommended BMI. It might work, of course, but it's worth having a read through it for information.

Good luck :)

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