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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:
HappyOrchid · 19/09/2012 18:17

Eventually had a couple of sandwiches for tea last night about 9.30pm on my feed day. & a glass of wine.

Fasted today, just had two clementines for lunch. & will have a small portion of chilli for tea. then will fast tomorrow and go out for dinner with my German colleagues.

Will eat on Friday & Saturday and prolly Sunday.
Will do M/ W / F next week as in UK all week. Hooray!!!

Aftereightsaremine · 19/09/2012 18:20

What's the view on going over 500 calories say up to 550, would that still count as a fast day or an intermediate? I understand intermediate to mean that's it's neither fast or food day.

thingy1 · 19/09/2012 18:30

Have been following this thread for a while and I'm on my 3rd week of 5:2. Haven't lost any weight but trousers are definitely looser which is fine by me.

Can't say I'm feeling the love for fasting days, can't wait for them to pass tbh.

Laska42 · 19/09/2012 18:40

aftereights
I think that the consensus here is stick to your 500 cals if you can . Given that you are only supposed to eat 25% of calorie your needs on a fast day, 500 cals could be pretty generous (I think mine works out to only just above 400, but I'm not ready to go that low yet) .

I think its could possibly also be a case of 'different strokes'.. but I do try and keep to my 500 ...but have been losing weight though with eating a little more (say 35 cal or so) on some fast days....

I've not caught up with the 'intermediate day' idea (although some eating days I probably haven't eaten that much because just not hungry) 'intermediate' sounds too confusing for my brain! I'll stick to what I know..

Re: Hunger though... one interesting (and I think positive) thing about doing this WOE is that i've become reacquainted to it and lost the fear somewhat.. So if I'm not hungry on feed days when a 'treat' (like office cakes) has come my way I've not eaten it.. I would eat it if I really wanted it though.. however if its a choc eclair ,I'm still so ingrained not to (even though id like to ) I'd probably still try and encourage others to grab it first ..We'll see next time one 'arrives' on a food day! Grin

GreenEggsAndNichts · 19/09/2012 18:52

GWTMH I find weighing my food really helps when establishing portion sizes. I could do without it now, for the foods I eat most often. I have a small scale which most bowls can sit on, takes no time, though my mum (when she's visiting) thinks it's odd. :) I exists mostly for baking but this has been a good use for it.

OP posts:
LookBehindYou · 19/09/2012 18:54

It's totally obvious that if you eat too much one day you compensate the next, but I have only just internalised that and started putting it into practice. Can't believe I hadn't really thought that through before. I love this WOE - it's made me me rethink a lot of things

LookBehindYou · 19/09/2012 18:57

I use this website for calories caloriecount.about.com/.

lucysnowe · 19/09/2012 19:14

hi guys, tentatively marking my place! Am doing my first fast day tomorrow, am quite excited now but by 11 am tomorrow may be thinking differently! Am planning to have a diet soup for 'lunch' and chicken stir fry in the evening. And not too much diet coke

Aftereightsaremine · 19/09/2012 19:19

Yes Laska I agree to general consensus & I don't actually go over 475 to be on the safe side but I wondered what would be the effect if occasionally you strayed over.

katykuns · 19/09/2012 19:35

TellMeLater - thank you :)

pookey · 19/09/2012 21:05

Hope you feel better Katy

I guessed calories yesterday but think next wek I will do 3:4 and be more vigillant of calories.

Green eggs pea soup on feed day sounds very healthy. I haven't eaten healthily today - need to try not to eat so many packets of crisps and toast on non fast days in furture.

I'm going to try not to tell anyone about this diet, If I keep fast days during the week and eat a fairly normal dinner nobody would notice (DC 3 is at home but not 2 yet).

longsigh · 19/09/2012 21:08

Great to read everyone's experiences- I am on second day of fasting-did one on sunday-I've always been an "oo I've got to eat" kind of person but I felt no hungrier at lunch time than if I'd had breakfast and an apple at playtime!
On feed day I wandered into the kitchen to eat something but beacuse I could eat anything I wanted I didn't-weird experience for me!!
Good Luck everyone!

Aftereightsaremine · 19/09/2012 21:49

Ok I'm going to 'confess'. I've had 600 calories today someone come & tell me it's not the end of the world. I just couldn't resist roast potatoes I made everyone else. From a diet point if view 600 calories is not too bad but had it ruined today as a fast for me?

Aboutlastnight · 19/09/2012 21:54

I'd chalk it up experience and move on sister...

Aftereightsaremine · 19/09/2012 21:55

Feel like moving onto chocolate but will go to bed instead - out if temptations way!

LookBehindYou · 19/09/2012 21:56

No it hasn't ruined it at all. It's still a lot less than you'd normally eat, no?

TalkinPeace2 · 19/09/2012 21:57

YOU REBEL !!!
In that case, Tuesday week after next you have to have a half glass of wine, not a whole one.
Or to put it another way.
You are aware.
That is the biggest step.
Just be more careful next time.

Aftereightsaremine · 19/09/2012 21:59

Thanks all yes put it all into perspective. & most important lesson learned is not to make family food that I like on a fast day. Grin

GreenEggsAndNichts · 19/09/2012 22:39

Yes it should be written into the unwritten rules: never cook food you love on a fast day. Grin

OP posts:
WilfSell · 19/09/2012 22:44

I have made it through the day! Made my emergency pea soup again, and DH had cooked some gammon for him and the kids so I slung a bit of that in it. Then I checked the calories in gammon and was Shock. Anyhow, I'm not obsessing about calories, as you know but actually pea soup with gammon in it pretty high calorie meal. It was bloody lovely though, I couldn't finish it and am still full...

Thanks for getting me back on track. I've decided I'm going to do my normal week now - feed day tomorrow then fasting until Friday wine. I'll do another short day fast on Sunday. These mini fasts are just me not much all day then not worrying too much about calories in the weekend evenings.

catsrus · 19/09/2012 23:09

I am not counting calories on any day - certainly not balsamic vinegar LOL. For me this WOE is an alternative to calorie counting - having said that it's the years of calorie counting that means I know what I can eat to keep to less then 500ish on fast days.

I drink diet coke some days, but don't have a sweet tooth and certainly haven't been any more inclined to eat cake (prefer chips).
Some fast days I eat a steady supply of home made veggie soup, some I don't eat until evening meal (so no regular 16 hr total fast)
Some 'fast' days I've been hungry and have eaten more than 500 - maybe even up to 800, I don't worry about it, there's always another fast day in a few days time.
Some weeks I've done 4 fast days, some I've done one.
I don't think about carbs or fats.

Basically, for me, the only rule is that some days I deliberately eat very little in terms of calories and other days I don't worry about it. I try to make sure that I don't have 2 'very little' days next to each other (not nice Sad). Most of my normal eating days are not over-eating days but they are "not worrying about eating" days. I have eaten take aways, drunk Wine and still lost weight.

Fast day yesterday, ate a few figs at breakfast then nothing until Jacket potato and ratatouille for evening meal. I had cold/sore throat so had hot toddy at bed time, didn't add up any calories. today was a normal eating day. Fresh figs for breakfast (on the hoof as I drove to work). Wrap with hummus and felafel for lunch with a banana smoothie (yum) and a small pot of melon and mango. When I got home a lentil curry with rice and trimmings (veggies, hot sauces, pickles and yoghurt) and now a couple of large Wine as it was a hard day and I got home late. I'm working from home tomorrow so it will be my old favourite of a large pot of veggie soup during the day.

the key thing is it's working - whatever "it" is Grin. It will be 6 weeks on friday since I started and it looks like the weigh in will be around 10lbs lost.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 20/09/2012 06:24

Off to bed. It has been a FEAST day! Friends over for dinner tomorrow so fasting will be on Friday, but will try not to get so stuffed and bloated tomorrow!

rachelblythe · 20/09/2012 07:05

Morning all. Feed day for me. Fast yesterday was unusual. Had a sore tummy from the dodgy apple pie that I Ste on the previous feed day. Want sure if I wanted to eat to try and see if it made my tummy better, or just leave it. Well I had some soup at lunch, even though I usually wait until late a afternoon and just have one meal.then had a large plate of veggies in the evening and felt very uncomfortable and didn't want to eat anything else. So all in all it was a successful fast day.

Have been up and down with DS most of the night and we were up watching cartoons since 5:30. He is back in bed now so got a bit of time to myself.I don't usually have breakfast but think I will this morning.

I love this time of year when it's cold outside but I'm tucked up in a lovely warm bed. Better get up in a minute though as I have got a doctors appointment before work today. Glad it's a feed day :)

TellMeLater · 20/09/2012 07:08

Sounds like you have it sorted cats - great weight loss well done.

I calorie count everything - mfp makes it very easy and on a fast day there isn't much to count. I keep 100kcal for hot drinks, have a 100kcal lunch and then a 300kcal dinner. I low carb and drink red wine on feed days and fasting has made me love low carbing more and more. I'm not losing weight but hopefully I'm not setting myself up for dementia either.

hoops997 · 20/09/2012 08:10

Morning fellow fasters, fast day today for me, last thing eaten was at 8pm so looking forward to porridge at 12noon Smile

Jumped on the scales today and have lost 3lb and also my trousers are looser, think this is water loss though.

I'm finding fasting ok but then I've always thought of food as fuel rather than pleasure, I'm really fussy Blush