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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:
BuntCadger · 17/09/2012 23:01

Week 6 and fast day #13 tomorrow. I've eaten more than normal today cake and not looking forward to fasting. Think it's because I did 4:3 week 5 and prob a bit much for me. Having restless nights with teething baby and nursing 5/6x a day. I'll stick with 5:2 in future.

Skinnyeye · 18/09/2012 00:09

Hi all been away for the weekend without internet access so had a lot of catching up to do :) Fasting Tuesday and Thursday this and I am looking forward to it after a weekend of indulgence. Heading into week 3 and people are commenting on my weight loss. I love the flexibility of this WoE and the support from you guys. As previous posters have mentioned I seem to get a high from fasting. For all the new fasters welcome to the club and it really does get easier!!

TellMeLater · 18/09/2012 06:35

Thanks laska for the link to scorchio, we've been getting gradually more and more disappointed with the habanero powder from seasoned pioneers - it has less kick that a supermarket chilli - just put in a couple of orders, hopefully we'll be sweating through our curries again very soon.

Good luck to all the fasters today.

Aftereightsaremine · 18/09/2012 06:36

I now buy m&s ready meals for my fast day dinner they have lots for under 400 calories & I find that as I'm having a 'proper' dinner I don't feel deprived. So last night had count on us cottage pie at 340 calories & I was stuffed.

hoops997 · 18/09/2012 07:23

Morning fellow fasters, first ever day for me, does it matter how much water you drink or is it the more you drink the better?

TellMeLater · 18/09/2012 07:25

hoop Drink lots of water, it will hold off the hunger. Good luck and remember it's only for one day, you can do anything for a day.

2012fan · 18/09/2012 07:49

Feeling a bit glum this morning. Have put on nearly a pound this week, making weight loss in 5 weeks 5lbs. Feel thinner though - very strange. Still, I'll carry on as I don't find fast days too bad and I'll do Wednesday & Friday instead of Thursday and see if that does the trick.

Have read with interest the weight loss v health benefits posts. I know I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for the weight loss. My ambition is to get down to a BMI of 23 (15lbs to go) and then maintain, the maintenance being the key, as (like for many of you) this is the stumbling block of those other diets out there. As for health benefits I don't really know - I felt healthy before I started and don't have recourse to the medical tests to know whether this marker or that is up or down. No worse anyway! Smile

mumblechum1 · 18/09/2012 08:38

I've lost half a stone in 3 weeks doing 4:3, with weekends off.

As others have said, Im now finding fast days much easier, had M&S sushi for lunch (175 cals) and a proper dinner of 250 cals and barely noticed the hunger pangs, whereas in teh first 2 weeks I could happily have eaten the furtniture.

DisorderlyNights · 18/09/2012 08:48

My breakfast meeting was cancelled so I'm fasting today and thurs, with option of Saturday too. Had a black coffee, need to stay busy now.

The high is weird. It worries me a little - for the first time ever I can see part of the attraction of anorexia. I'm glad everything I've read about this says its not suitable for those with history of eating disorders - I agree.

I'm fascinated to know what biochemical change in me is causing the high. DH going to research done more of the papers about it for me tonight.

BelinaTheChicken · 18/09/2012 08:52

mumblechum I did my first fast day yesterday, and found it ok (except when DS1 didn't eat his dinner, and it looked soooo good, that was a struggle to bin), didn't even eat the full 500 calories. My problem is that I'm fine when it's new and novel, but once that wears off I'm really going to struggle, that's when I'll be on here crying cos I'm so hungry.

2012fan do you use MFP? If so, try tracking your measurements as well as weight, as I often find (on previous diets) on weeks I haven't lost weight, or even gained, that my waist or whatever measurement has gone down. Might be the case for you, especially if you say you feel thinner

Laska42 · 18/09/2012 09:01

TML hope you find them as reliable as i do, they usually deliver really quickly . I have to say living here (IOW) i just cant get these things.. so its worth it to me even though i have to pay postage..

Well i got on the scales again (yes i know! I do it far too often!) this morning and i seen to have dropped another 2lbs.. wonder if its a blip... ? was suposed to be a fast day again today, but i didnt end up eating that much yesterday simply because im chained to the computer right now..

Have had some eggs and will see how i feel late to decide if im eating or fasting today .. probably eating i think..

Good job im working at home today again, this means i can have all the windows open , the house still stinks of burnt popcorn .. grrrr
Right if you see me here before lunch time tell me off I have to get my report in t omorrow!!

captainmummy · 18/09/2012 09:17

Belina - I'm the same. I did a fast day yesterday (my 2nd - i'm doing 6;1) and while last week was sort-of fun, because it was interesting to see how i dealt with it, yesterday was getting a bit, well, boring by the end.

I had between 400-500 cals, spent on soup and salad. I'm low-carbing too during the rest of the week so the fridge was full of low-carb stuff that I couldn't really eat because it's not low-cal....but then i hate low-cal stuff anyway, it tastes so artificial.

Anyway, just musing. backto eating normally today yay!

WilfSell · 18/09/2012 09:18

Someone talk me up please? Am having my first mini-crisis on this WoE after 8-9 weeks... As I've said, I've been really committed, allowing myself a very slow weight loss, even though I have lots to lose. I figured its better to lose half or one pound a week than constantly lose and then put on the same half stone quickly. I've been doing so well but yesterday had a shitty day at work and was fasting but came home and got into 'fuck it' mode. Today I should really do another fast but I've already been on the breakfast and the biscuits.

Do I just take this week off until my head's in a better place, or plan to fast tomorrow, or just knock myself into shape today. How am I going to cope if I turn to the biscuits at my first bad day?! Argh.

captainmummy · 18/09/2012 09:25

Wilf - can't you just put it down to one-of-those-things and move away from the biscuit tin on? Do a clean fast tomorrow, use today as a food day, but go easy from now for the rest of the day?

You've done so well, you can carry on doing well. It's just a blip. You don't need biscuits after every bad day.

How was that?

Mintyy · 18/09/2012 09:27

Wilfy! Don't panic, you are fine. Absolutely fine. Today is not a fast day, but tomorrow can be ... don't give up for a whole week, there is no need.

Find something absolutely gorgeous that you can eat tomorrow ... something a bit different. Did you see the scallops with pancetta recipe on that Daily Telegraph link? Or a scrumptious soup. Or grilled prawns. Anyway, something you really love but is still low calorie.

All is not lost, it really isn't. That is the whole point of this 5:2 malark, any day can be a fast day.

What if you were planning a fast day and a friend spontaneously offered to take you out to a slap up dinner? You'd change your plans then, wouldn't you? Your wee bad day is just the same.

Chin up chuck Thanks.

ChazsGoldAttitude · 18/09/2012 09:28

Wilf don't worry. This isn't like a normal calorie controlled diet where you fall off the wagon and then inhale the contents of the biscuit tin. This is a flexible way of eating. In the AD Diet book James Johnson calls some days intermediate days where you've eaten less than your normal calorie intake but more than the fasting intake.

So maybe yesterday was an intermediate day, today is an eating day and tomorrow can be a fast day.

It doesn't matter if your have a couple of days normal eating this week and fast again next week. This is a long term approach not a quick fix lose half a stone for a holiday.

Maybe you need to find some stress busters going forward punching your boss a nice massage for example or watching a favourite film.

BurningBright · 18/09/2012 09:30

First fast day yesterday. I had about 550 calories, so slightly over target, but I'm OK with that. I was doing fine but had a sudden yen for hot milk at bedtime which pushed me over the 500.

Nosh day today, but not planning on going too mad. I'm surprised that I don't feel more hungry this morning.

Next fast day will be Thursday.

Can anyone tell me how they make cauliflower rice? I'm not sure if I should fry or steam the cauliflower. I've seen different recipes that suggest both methods. I'm thinking that frying makes for better flavour, but obviously using oil will increase the calorie content. Or is it such a small increase that I shouldn't worry too much?

WilfSell · 18/09/2012 09:33

Haha at punching my boss - oh YEAH!

Yes - thankyou... You're all so RIGHT!

And good idea about planning nice things to eat on my next fast day tomorrow. I think I'm just slipping into misery mode and I need to remember eating better, losing weight ultimately makes me feel better. Flexibility - yes, I CAN cope with the odd blip day.

MamaGeekChic · 18/09/2012 09:46

Sorry, been MIA for a while. Had a lovely weekend with far too much to eat and drink... was supposed to be stepping up a gear from 5:2 to 4:3 with my first fast of the week yesterday but I was thrown off course by the hangover from hell Blush and the unexpected early arrival of my period. Mon/Wed/Fri was really going to work for me this week as I'm out tonight and it's the last day of my holidays but if I fast today and Thurs that would mean I could go to the gym Wed and Fri (it's near work so can only go when I'm in the office) decisions, decisions... not brave enough to try the gym on a fast day!

I normally weigh after a fast so will need to wait till tomorrow or Thurs depending on what I decide.

captainmummy · 18/09/2012 09:48

BurningB - cauli rice. Grate a cauliflower into bits, microwave for about 2 mins. That's it.

BIWI · 18/09/2012 10:08

Wilf - just stand back for a moment and look at everything you have achieved so far. Not just the weight loss, but the re-focusing of your brain in regards to food/dieting. It is no mean feat.

So you had a bad day. It led to a 'fuck it' moment. It won't be the last, and you aren't the first! This is something that you're doing as a WOE. And this WOE accommodates exactly this kind of eventuality. Your day ended up being a feed day, and now you can plan in your next fast day.

Chin up! You're doing really well. Smile

dandycandyjellybean · 18/09/2012 10:20

Wilfsell, I had similar with my dad's cancer op and my period all in same week. One week of normal eating is not going to chuck things up; plus this is a 'lifestyle' not a time limited diet to get into a bikini for a holiday. If you are struggling, give yourself a few days grace, and you'll get back to it when your head is ready. I kept reminding myself that it's only one day, then I am free to eat what I want. I also found that after nearly a week off, I craved the hunger and the high of a fast day. Chill and just be...it will work out.

I realised that this new lifestyle might mean for me that I only do this 3 weeks out of the month, as I found it really hard when I was mega hormonal pre period, and would rather not put myself under pressure long term than make myself even more miserable than my hormones do! Plus, I need to think about the effect on those around me too...Grin

I have not been rigid, and yet I have definitely noticed a difference in how I feel and how my clothes feel, have lost that bloated look around my face etc. I'm not weighing myself for a few weeks, as it seems there can be a real fluctuation in short term w/loss. I didn't want to know what my initial weight was or what my weight will be in a couple of weeks; all I want to know is if there has been a change in my fat % and bmi, and also how much weight i've lost, so that I can have a visual rep - bags of sugar/blocks of butter, etc to remind myself how much extra I've been carrying around all these years.

Be strong, be healthy...above all trust yourself...you'll know when you're ready to get back out there.

TellMeLater · 18/09/2012 10:23

cauliflower rice I whizz the washed florets in a food processor and then I steam in the microwave (with no additional water) for 8mins, no fat needed but if you were low carbing I'm sure melted butter would improve the flavour!

TellMeLater · 18/09/2012 10:26

Wilself week 4 was bad for me - I abandoned fasting but then realised I was premenstral, I felt stronger and more positive the following week. I think it's hard to fast if you are not feeling positive about it, nothing wrong with taking a break for a week and coming back when you're in the mood.

TellMeLater · 18/09/2012 10:28

Sorry wilfsell

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