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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:
Skinnyeye · 19/09/2012 00:32

Chin up Rowingboat we're in this for the long haul :) there will be good days and bad days. Don't beat yourself up tomorrow will be better. Night all

rosemarysage · 19/09/2012 00:47

Hi all and rowingboat, I did 4:3 last week (and some other weeks) but this time found it was probably a bit too much, so I'm going to do 5:1 this week as I have some important things on and cannot afford down days this week. Then I'll do 5:2 from next week, and see how I get on for a few weeks.

Probably part of the problem last week was I ended up effectively doing alternate day fasting for the second-half of the week, and I seem to generally feel better with 2 eating days between fasts. I find if there is more of a gap betwen fast days I feel more able for them, and also almost look forward to them as a cleanse.

I am hoping to do some version of this way of eating in the long-term as well so want to make it easy enough for me to stick at it in the long-term. I don't have a lot of weight to lose at this stage (about a stone, but even half a stone would make a big difference) so happy to take things slowly once the overall trend is downwards. I still find this way of eating a lot easier than trying to calorie count every day which would wreck my head.

Meagain9, thanks for the link to the beetroot and quinoa burgers. This is it for anyone who missed it. I am hoping to do them next week.

allotment2kitchen.blogspot.ch/2011/03/beetroot-and-quinoa-burgers.html?m=1

And BelinaTheChicken thanks for the recepie for the broccoli and bean soup. I'm trying to get more adventurous with my fasting day meals.

Hello to any new people. I found the first fast day my hardest and I ate about 700 calories on that day, as I just couldn't keep it down to 500. Now I usually have about 500-530 or so on fast days.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 19/09/2012 04:47

Thanks again for the beetroot and quinoa burgers rosemarysage...is it worth us starting a 5:2 recipe thread at all? For inspiration rather than anything else! I made miso soup tonight, added spring onion, coriander for a different flavour, chilli and pak choi - though like the idea of mushrooms.

Don't worry rowingboat, I have spent all of my fast day today nearly saying "fuck it" and making a cheese sandwich. Probably stupidly I have caved on alcohol again, still managed to keep within 500kcal but pretty sure allocating some to booze goes against the whole point! Also didn't manage a 16hour fast this morning, but last ate at 7:30pm so hoping to make it through to 11:30/12 tomorrow.

I got really irritable this afternoon - poor DS, it took a lot for me not to loose my rag over nothing. Might try pushing through until teatime next fast day...

Piebaldrider · 19/09/2012 07:14

Hi

I have joined the group because i feel that the amount of people posting and sharing their stories and recipes etc is a great motivator for others myself included. Knowing so many people are doing this makes you feel like you a part of something that can only make you feel good. I'm a mum although mine flew the nest a few years ago but at 50 i don't think im that much older than some here and i am keen to find out if age has any bearing on how much weight we can lose and how great the health benefits vary.

Today i am trying for a third fasting day in my first week, i found it relatively easy with no ill effects so im going for it.

To get me off to a good start i use a foul tasting mouth wash after cleaning my teeth as you really wouldn't want to eat for some while after that . I skip breakfast and at lunch i eat an adapted version of Home made tomato soup i found on Tinned tomatoes 5:2 forum and its very filling and probably around 125 calories for a big bowl full, i make enough for 4 portions and freeze for my next fast day. My evening meal on Monday was a homemade vegetable curry that i had a massive bowl of without Rice but i had enough calories left for a small amount. It was very easy to make and i made it the the day before so i didn't have to cook much on my fast day. Frozen mixed veg, onion , potato, spices, veg stock cube a little water and tinned tomatoes. Tasty very filling and very few calories. Im not to hungry if i don't eat but as soon as i eat i want more so i have a shower and an early night.

I ride my horse every day before or after work so i am keeping to a normal routine.

I don't weigh myself any more as that can be misleading as my weight can go up or down 7 pounds overnight and this de motivates me and i srtr to think its not working and give up. I don't care how much i weigh i care how much i look like i weigh so i look for visible signs. I have a riding Jacket and a pair of Jodhpurs i really want to be able to get into and they won't even go over my hips but they are further up than they were a week ago and my work trousers are looser so i know im heading the right way.
Good luck everyone

hoops997 · 19/09/2012 07:27

Good morning, well today I thought I would wake and feel famished but I don't! Had some grapes 60 cal worth at around 8pm so going to wait til lunchtime for anything else.

Also weighed myself and I weigh in at 11st 12lb, am looking to get to 10st 7lb

I think I can do it Grin

frenchfancy · 19/09/2012 07:57

I have started a recipe thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/1567814-5-2-Fast-day-recipe-ideas

Would be good to get the recipe ideas into one place.

LookBehindYou · 19/09/2012 09:47

Hi. Here is the other 5:2 recipe thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/1536164-The-5-2-Approach-500-calorie-meals-thread

I had two medium baked sweet potatoes with jumbo prawns, chilli, garlic and lime, spinach and steamed brocoli. Was lovely and more or less 400 calories. I saved the rest for my coffees. I find it quite easy now but have learnt to avoid my totm.

rowingboat · 19/09/2012 09:59

Hi all, thank you so much for the support, hope I can do the same for you some time! Smile
Rosemary I agree, I think it suits me better to have a couple of days in between fasting otherwise my body seems to think it has is never going to see a square meal again. Today is my third fasting day this week, but back to 5:2 next week for me or a change, I reckon.
I will be starting antibiotics in a couple of weeks and won't be able to fast with them anyway so will stop fasting temporarily for that period.
I don't know about you guys, but I find I am putting less effort into my normal days now so don't always know what to eat. I would love to hear what you guys are eating on normal days, just for some inspiration.

QuaintIrene · 19/09/2012 11:01

Impatient of London writes: how long does it take for people of the 5:2 regime to notice results (by which I mean vaporising flab, trousers falling down etc)? I don't have any bathroom scales but I my trews do feel a little looser ? but I'd love to able to think that I'd notice beneficial changes within two weeks.

Aboutlastnight · 19/09/2012 11:03

Today I woke absolutely starving after fast day yesterday - I did a lot of walking yesterday and didn't sleep well last night as was famished.

This morning I have had two pieces of toast with marmite and just had enormous cheese scone with butter. I have surprised myself with my hunger. I guess this may happen sometimes.

Going to have so e soup for lunch and a relatively light dinner before another fast day tomorrow.

katykuns · 19/09/2012 11:05

Really like the MFP site... helpful for planning out my meals :)

Fast today... this is what I am having over the course of the day...
www.flickr.com/photos/katykuns/8002602296/in/photostream

Anyone know if you can make MFP to have a set value for number of calories? Instead of 1,940 cals a day?

Hope other fasters are coping. I would like to shift this cold, especially as it makes me want to scoff more food than usual. But I am perservering :)

mommybunny · 19/09/2012 11:36

Feed for me today after fast yesterday. By dinner last night I was incredibly bitchycranky with DH, who is also fasting, but kept interrupting me while I was making dinner with questions about an issue DS was having at school. I was begging him to leave me alone and let me get on with getting the salmon under the grill and talk about DS once we were eating, because I was so ravenous I couldn't do 2 things at once. But dinner was good - had 100g grilled salmon, huge plate of salad leaves and drizzle of olive oil and balsamic. Used MFP to figure out I had enough "headroom" to afford 10g of dark chocolate, which tasted heavenly! DH used his headroom on a piece of cheese. Then we watched two episodes of "Barefoot Contessa" on Food Network - are we masochists or what? DH kept threatening to make himself a bacon sandwich.

Very hungry today, can't wait till lunch. I'm going to Pilpel for hummus and falafel, which I haven't permitted myself in a long time. Then I have a client event this evening - a champagne tasting - so I'm glad I'm feeding and not fasting today!

I'm supposed to fast again tomorrow, but next week I think like rosemarysage I will try to get more than one day between fasts and do Monday/Thursday rather than Tuesday/Thursday. I know plenty of people really do "Alternate Day Fasting" but that would be too disruptive to my life. I'm already dreading tomorrow.

BIWI · 19/09/2012 11:38

Some insights here about controlling hunger levels

Also, made me see that I can fast - indeed I shouldl fast - before I go the gym, so I will be trying that next week.

mommybunny · 19/09/2012 11:51

Rowingboat, you asked for inspiration on "normal" days - the whole point of "normal" days is that you eat whatever you "normally" would, i.e., basically, whatever you like! Smile If you look at the Telegraph article it says that studies have shown that people who ate low-fat diets didn't lose any more weight than people who fasted for the same amount of time but ate high-fat diets on their feed days. I am deliberately not following any particular eating plan on my feed days, not low-calorie, not low-fat, not low-carb, not low-protein. The whole point, for me, in this experiment is to see if I can achieve and sustain a healthy weight with only having to worry 2 days a week about what and how much I eat. If that's the case, I can easily handle that, but if I have to worry about it the other 5 days then I might as well be on Weight Watchers.

chdev · 19/09/2012 12:32

Great new thread ! Need to kick start my diet and would like to get a few pounds from under my belt in just two weeks ! I wondered if I combined 5:2 with low-carb this might just do the trick and then stick to 5:2 from then on. Any thoughts ? Thanks.

Aftereightsaremine · 19/09/2012 12:34

I agree with mommy if I couldn't do my feed days I would really feel this was a diet as it is I view it as a WOE instead. Far easier.

Just wondering though if people include calories of balsamic vinegar etc or not on their fast days.

TalkinPeace2 · 19/09/2012 12:41

Piebald I'm 47 and there are people on this thread a fair bit older than you - the potential to avert Alzheimers is a strong motivator.

Rowingboat
Plan your menus more.
Just after you have eaten, sit and look at some recipe books (or websites) and plan out exactly what you are going to eat for the next 48 hours - and when.
Try new things - as if it turns out you do not like them its EASY to eat less!
If you are having problems with snacking, stick to 5:2 and make the fast days be something like Monday and Thursday so they do not impinge on the weekend but you have time to settle in between.
This is for the rest of your life so its worth slowing down and getting it stable.

RightBuggerforGOLD · 19/09/2012 12:46

Quaint irene I lost half a stone in my first 2 weeks and definately felt/saw it. Give it a go!

Feed day, woohoo. Not had any diet coke today and i have been snacking like buggery, despite having a very decent breakfast and now lunch. I think the 3 feast days together (very greedy ones) at the weekend was not a very good idea. I cant seem to get back into it. But since snacking is allowed on feast days I'm just going with it. A few more fast days and I'll get back into it. I think i just reawoke my appetite, and i'd like it to go back to sleep again now!

QuaintIrene · 19/09/2012 13:05

Thanks, RightBugger, that's good news and well done. I'm doing pretty well at not gorging self during food days (even resisting flirting biscuits placed provocatively in front of me yesterday) but I went to bed famished. Next fast day in Friday.

DisorderlyNights · 19/09/2012 13:28

Interesting what some of you are saying about liking 2 days between fasts, rather than only one. I might try that, and fast Sat rather than Thurs as yesterday was hard.

As I've found before, I went to sleep hungry but woke up not hungry! Met a friend in a cafe at 9.30 and enjoyed scrambled eggs on w/meal toast, but couldn't finish the 2 slices of toast!

I know I don't need to count calories on feed days. But my appetite is definitely smaller than it used to be, and my interest in sugary food diminished.

I'd like to echo the question about intermediate days?
And, "16 hours" gets mentioned a lot, what's the significance?

LookBehindYou · 19/09/2012 13:32

Things that work for me.
I don't fast on a weekend. I want to socialise, have a glass of wine, cook for dh etc. I also don't fast on the preceeding or first day of totm. If I do it's a total car crash.
When fasting I don't waste my calories on heavy carb stuff such as pasta, rice or potatoes (generally. Had sweet potatoes last night). I eat a lot of veg/salad and meat protein comes from sea food or chicken. I have one big meal in the evening. I drink gallons of water and lots of herbal teas. A couple of coffees in the morning.
On feed days I skip breakfast and then have lunch of a big salad and lots of fruit and some yoghurt. Dinner is anything I fancy plus fruit. I never snack. I think it's unhealthy to be digesting something all the time and snacking keeps your insulin circling. (I don't think that's a good thing but am not sure about the health benefits so would love to have your thoughts on that). I eat lots of fruit but always just after a meal to share the insulin that's already there (scientific, not).
I've been doing 5:2 for about 8 weeks now and have lost about 6kg. I feel as if my blood sugar is really stable. I used to have huge dips during the afternoon. Now I don't feel hungry at all during the morning and don't get the dips. I felt grotty the first time I fasted but feel great now. My complexion is fantastic and eyes look really clear.

Would really love to have any new and interesting ways to cook veg.

DisorderlyNights · 19/09/2012 13:35

On feed days I'm also noticing that I listen to my bodies signals much better. Although I have a lovely almond tart in the cupboard, I'm full from lunch so not eating it. Before, I'd have polished it off before even thinking if I was still hungry or not, and then felt sick!

WilfSell · 19/09/2012 13:42

Right. Back on track today after wobbles. Fasting and so far had two slices of salt beef (21 cals, approx 5g protein). I'm now gonna hold out until my afternoon miso soup and then have something vegetably and delicious for dinner.

It does mean I need to do another fast day this week, which means inevitably, Friday or a weekend. I REALLY struggle with the idea of restraining myself at the weekend. Who has some words I can tell myself to get me through? Grin

Or I could write off this week as a 6-1 week and get head back together for next week?

Or do you think it would work instead of doing another full 1-2 fast days, to fast up until evening and then wolf down a load of wine and chocolate for 3-4 days. Or would this just be a bit, er, weird and wrong and I JUST NEED TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED.

Thanks for all your support!

loulou969 · 19/09/2012 13:43

hoops I am exactly same weight as you with the same goal in mind!
Would be great to get there Smile

TellMeLater · 19/09/2012 13:43

Had some lovely Tom yum soup for lunch with green veg & prawns - 100kcal and I'm stuffed!
Chicken jalfrezi with cauliflower rice for dinner.

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