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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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

5:2 Diet Thread: Part Five! Top of the Mornin' to you!

977 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 07/10/2012 17:53

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 a month or two ago, 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 we've filled several threads by now. Please share if you find something particularly useful, and we'll add it for the next thread.

First things first, here are links to some of our previous threads: most recent one before that another one.

Another thread which breadandwine has just started can be found here. We'll be trying to condense some of our top tips for fasting there. Keep in mind, we all do this differently, so these are just tips, not rules.

frenchfancy has a recipe thread over here, please post any low-calorie recipes there so they don't get lost in these bigger threads!

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.

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. We tend to favour lots of hot drinks during the day (count your milk if you use it!)

Another food link, here is a link to the BBC Good Food site, with a list of low-calorie soups.

We often mention basal metabolic rate (BMR) here. This refers to the amount of energy (calories) a person uses when at rest; so, the basic number of calories a person needs to stay the same weight. This number is often quoted as being 2000 calories for the "average" woman, but of course is different depending on how tall you are, how much you weigh, etc. Here is a calculator which will easily help you to find out what your BMR is.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have been contributing, btw. Most of us are learning this way of eating as we go along. All of the links above have been posted by others in our previous threads, 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:
mistlethrush · 11/10/2012 07:23

two and a half weeks in, 4 lbs down (which is a record for me)

MsIngaFewmarbles · 11/10/2012 07:38

Is it very bad that I weighed myself thus morning? I only started on Monday Blush

If the scales are right I have already lost 2lb though so very pleased.

TellMeLater · 11/10/2012 08:06

I think it's fine to weigh yourself everyday as long as you do it first thing in the morning before eating and you accept that weight fluctuations are very variable and dependent on fluid levels in the body. Dh fasted yesterday and gained 1lb in weight!

frenchfancy · 11/10/2012 08:55

Fast day today. Due to various things including friends visiting I have done a full fast day for a week, but I have done 2 half fast (so like a normal fast day until 6pm then eat and drink normally). I haven't lost weight this week, but more importantly I haven't gained any either, so the half fasts are obviously enough for weigh maintenance.

I have alot of physical work to do today so don't know how I will cope with the fast, we'll have to see.

Laska42 · 11/10/2012 08:57

fast day again... 3rd this week , Sun Tues and now today .. lLast night I was roaming round the house looking for something salty .. , found a lurking (and quite small 38g) packet of spicy crisps in the cupboard (left over from last christmas probably) 400cals Shock!!....I've been known to eat two of those before in an evening with wine and not even look at the calories .. No wonder i got fat..

Anyone else been getting cramp? I've been suffering terribly these last week or so especially thigh and hips.. . I wonder if i need more Marmite! (does it work of is Marmite just my folk remedy?.. I've always understood that was lack of salt and certain vitamins that could cause cramp.. I certainly drink enough water so not dehydrated ) .

I'm asking here because as cyclistist sdays we seem to be the fount of all knowledge here between us Grin

LookBehindYou · 11/10/2012 09:02

I thought cramp was dehydration or low potassium. Isn't that how the whole 'eat a banana' appeared? Unscientific, as ever.

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 09:04

Day after fast day I always want toast with marmite for breakfast, though am resisting so far! inga I weigh myself most days but only count my Monday weigh in as my 'official' one.

Trills · 11/10/2012 09:30

Curry and beer last night, Definitely a "feast" day.

Thelittlestranger · 11/10/2012 09:32

Inga, it's fine to weigh yourself whenever you're happy with doing it! Personally, I was developing a bit of a fixation so have hidden my scales in my OH's car and after the first few days I now don't even think about it. I'm keeping an eye on things with the gym scales...

Finished fast day yesterday, found it fairly easy. Had to munch on some tomatoes to get me through to dinner...

Aftereights - I have just eaten (and thoroughly enjoyed) vegemite on toast. It's my absolute favourite breakfast and three days of the week now I don't have it because of this WOE. So this morning I indulged.

I'm off to the gym today, and have planned toad in the hole for tea. Nom. Love that I can enjoy it, knowing I'm going to fast for most of the day tomorrow on my half fast. I have definitely found doing 2 and half fasts a week works for me over the last two weeks.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 11/10/2012 09:54

trills I had curry and wine last night, was a feast day, but I feel a bit guilty, a friend came over and wanted to get a takeaway, tried to steer it to turkish and therefore grilled chicken and salad, but he wasn't to be swayed, we shared a chicken jalfrezi - I had about 1/4 and half a sag paneer, half a garlic naan, 1 samosa and half a popadom.....damn damn damn

I'm fasting today, but just have the feeling that I'll be lucky if by friday weigh in I will even have lost the 2 pound birthday gain from last week now.....

oh well, we shall see, at least fasting today, maybe I'll throw in an extra fast on sunday as the kids at their dad's this weekend.

enjoy your day all

Trills · 11/10/2012 09:57

Why would you feel guilty? That might not be the ideal dinner for every night, but I thought that the point of the fasting days was that you didn't have to restrict your calories all the time and so if you have a special occasion (like, er, Wednesday :) ) you can have a curry and not worry about it.

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 10:29

thelittlestranger I've caved & had toast & marmite yum. I especially love my genius gluten free seeded loaf for added crunch! Thinking about lunch already but no interest in cakes I was craving yesterday on fast day.

Trills · 11/10/2012 10:43

If you are on an eating day it's not called "caving", it's called "having breakfast".

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 10:49

I know but I wasn't hungry so I was trying to think like a thin person & only eat when I was hungry but the thought of toast & marmite was just too strong. Got a long way to go before I think like a thin person.....

Aboutlastnight · 11/10/2012 10:53

Look, I have lost 11 pounds in six weeks doing 5:2. I haven't calories counted on eating days. Yesterday I had a cheese scone and jam, cereal bar, soup, cheese sandwich etc. at the weekend I had beer a curry, crisps, steak etc

The whole point of this is that you incorporate it into your life forevermore. This is why I won't do 4:3 - because for me if round be similar to crash dieting, too onerous, too miserable. Thus us why I do not count calories on eating days either - you cannot live the rest of your life like that.

Do your fasts. Try not to be greedy on eating days. Take the long view. That's my advice.

Trills · 11/10/2012 10:54

The only reason to count calories on a feast day is if you believe that you have previously been eating a very "wrong" amount - if you have been massively overeating or if you have been on low-calories diets for so long that you don't know what "eating a normal amount" feels like.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/10/2012 11:24

Good post AboutLastNight

My whole "thinking like a thin person" only comes into play naturally if I know I'm going out for dinner or something, have found I am fine eating quite lightly during the day knowing it means I can have whatever I want for my dinner out.

I'm also not calorie counting at all on feast days, think I could otherwise become obsessed and I'm trying to make this a true WOE for life

mistlethrush · 11/10/2012 11:29

Aftereights - you know what a thinperson would have thought? 'I fancy a piece of toast and marmite...'

Trills · 11/10/2012 11:37

Of course a fat person might have thought exactly the same :)

Breadandwine · 11/10/2012 11:37

Here's a very interesting article on Rapid weight loss I came across on Fasting Connection

This links to a Horizon thread I began on there a while back (before I found Mumsnet! Smile )

My worst time in terms of - well, guzzling for want of a better word - is late at night. I stay up very late, often it's 2am or later before I go to bed.

The trouble is I get hungry (not on my fast days, funnily enough) and I almost always have something interesting on the stove (lentil and potato curry, ATM, which is one of my favourites).

So before I know it, I have the pan in front of me and I'm reaching for the bottle of (homemade) red. I'm aware I don't need to lose any more weight (I've recently - this week, changed to 6:1), but I don't want to put any on, either.

I'm lucky in that I can eat a good meal before bed and sleep like a top. Last week I ate what was supposed to be the next days's dinner - at 2 in the morning!

To compensate, I've realised a short fast following any binge eating, should balance things out a bit.

So I won't eat until dinner tonight, when I'll have a normal meal.

As others have said many times - no guilt on this WOE! Smile

Best wishes to all! Losers! Grin

Ps. I've posted those links on the Tips and Links thread.

Trills · 11/10/2012 11:44

Yes, my plan is to do 5:2 and then drop to 6:1 when I've reached the weight I want to be. I don't mind it coming off slowly because I know it'll be less likely to come back (plus I'm not technically overweight, just over the weight I want to be).

Trills · 11/10/2012 11:46

That was a yes to going to 6:1 when reaching goal.

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 11:50

My problem is (&which is why I want to try & think like a slim person) is that I'm 6 stone overweight. Clearly I've been over eating for a long time. Last thursdsay I stopped counting when I got to 3000 calories which is why today I was attempting to eat only when hungry.

I've now got mfp so far easier to monitor what I'm actually eating. I'm doing 4:3 as may need knee & hip replacements soon & want to be in reasonable shape for any ops I need. Will then go to 5:2 when I've lost 4stone in total though I've lost 17 lbs so far.

bunjies · 11/10/2012 11:56

I'm sorry aboutlastnight but I don't think that post was very helpful. If you read a bit further up thread you'll see your approach doesn't always work. Some of us are struggling to understand what does work and whilst I am happy for you that you've lost weight it can be hard to hear when you've lost none.

On a more positive note I only ate about 550 cals on my half fast day yesterday. It was wholewheat pasta & pesto but I thought i'd better weigh out a 200g portion instead of just piling my bowl up. Used a breakfast bowl as well so psychologically it looked a lot. Had some choc & a glass of milk to finish. Also had teas/coffees during the day with milk.

Back on regular fast day today and looking forward to dinner! I got the hairy bikers diet recipe book and they've got some great recipes. I made the jambalaya for Mondays fast and made enough for 2 meals so we've got it tonight too. Even the dcs liked it.

Trills · 11/10/2012 12:03

That's why saying on a feast day eat a normal amount or on a feast day eat whatever you like is not very helpful.

It might be that your "normal amount" is far too much because you have been overeating for a long time, or it might be that your "normal amount" is actually too little because you have spent a long time on diets where you have to eat not very many calories every day.

I think including a mention of BMR in the first post was a good idea, but it was presented in a slightly misleading way. I guess ideally on a feast day we would eat approximately our energy expenditure for that day. Not much more and not much less. Definitely not below our BMRs (BMR = how many calories would you use if you were in a coma)

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