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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:
Aboutlastnight · 11/10/2012 12:06

Perhaps as I have always been a three meals a day plus the odd treat person, I fon't have much experience of consistent overeating/dieting and how that can skew your perception of what 'normal' eating is.

But I don't think you should over complicate this either. low carbing or agonising over whether to eat 1500 or 1700 calories on a normal day seems miserable. But if someone is eating 3000 on a normal day then I can see that calorie counting is necessary as no one will lose weight with that level of consumption.

I also wouldn't refer to a normal eating day as a 'feast' day - that seems to be getting into binge/ starve territory.

Trills · 11/10/2012 12:20

Unfortunately "eat like you are a person of a healthy weight who is not trying to lose weight or gain weight and does not obsess over food" day is not very catchy :)

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 12:24

That's the thing though isn't it? A slim person eats when they are hungry whereas I can eat wherever, whenever & whatever!

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 12:25

And that's why I HAVE to change my mindset.

Aboutlastnight · 11/10/2012 12:33

Yes, I think changing your mindset takes time and perseverance. I also think you have to be a bit forgiving - so if a day doesn't go well then you just chalk it up to experience and move on.

Thing is, it's not physiological, it's all in your head. My extra eating is s about stress ( exam coming up) tiredness ( hZve been on nightshift want some comfort food to make it all better) and the thrill of the forbidden ( a cheese scone with butter and jam) so I suppose it takes time to adjust these patterns and not see food as the answer to emotional difficulties.

Easier said than done!

mommybunny · 11/10/2012 12:50

Hi all - I'm on a fast today and about to hit my 16 hours (last food I had was a bit of dark chocolate at about 9 last light). I'm dying to go get some lunch (a salad from chop'd) but I'm waiting for a work call that I must not miss if it comes, but equally it may never come Hmm. So my fast could go on a long time! Oh well, best not to think about it...

Good luck all today!

Trills · 11/10/2012 12:52

Why would you have jam on a cheese scone?

GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/10/2012 12:59

yep. I only even included the BMR mention in the OP because people constantly ask. I can leave it out next time, or someone else can if they start the next thread. It's just there as a guideline. I put it there as a starting point for figuring out what your actual calories are for a day; if you visit the link, there's a further link for where you can take that number and add your physical activity etc to figure out how many more calories you can have. It could be a couple hundred calories more than your BMR. It could be more. It could be very close to your BMR. If a person just wakes up, sits on the couch and watches TV all day, they really aren't going to burn a whole lot more than their BMR.

The problem with coming into these things is we look at it from our own perspective, if you're active, you're thinking like an active person. If you don't eat much, then you're wondering why someone else doesn't just eat normally. etc. We have to do some thinking for ourselves here, and get guidance when needed. People in this thread are, overall, very happy to give tips about what works for them.

However, at the end of the day, it is all about what works for us as individuals. I'm doing 4:3, it doesn't feel like a crash diet to me Grin but evidently it does to some others. I'll switch to 5:2 at some point, but I'm pleased with my progress and I'm not struggling to keep doing it.

OP posts:
Aboutlastnight · 11/10/2012 12:59

It is a taste sensation.

Did you never have cheese and jam sandwiches as a child ?

Aftereightsaremine · 11/10/2012 13:03

Yes I know it's in my head. I used to exercise 4-5 times a week & ate what I liked. I just didn't readjust my eating habits when the RA got so bad, hence putting on weight because it was like I didn't care. Now however the fact that I may need 4 ops makes me realise that I do not want to go into surgery being so large. So onwards & downwards!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/10/2012 13:04

lol about

Cheese is great with quince jam so I imagine it'd be nice with other jams. Also, cheese melted on apple pie is quite nice. Not that I've had it in many, many years. :(

OP posts:
TheCyclistist · 11/10/2012 13:05

Hi Laska

Yeah I've been getting a few twinges of cramp recently too but mainly when out on two wheels. I put it down to low salt (sodium/potassium etc) levels as well. I reckon on the whole this WOE seems to lead you to a fairly healthy intake of salt but if you exercise and are doing ADF or 4:3 one might be slightly too low over all. The only change I've made is not making such an effort to avoid salt on feeding days as I did b4. Before following this WOE I had high blood pressure so tried to keep salt as low as poss and it wasn't always that easy.

On the subject of crisps...as a fellow Chillihead I recommend Nandos Hot Peri Peri ones, I usually pick up a bag or two from the Newsagents on a Non low cal day Smile ...but not today as like you, fasting today.

Good luck and hope the day goes well for all, off for a Brew now

Breadandwine · 11/10/2012 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aboutlastnight · 11/10/2012 13:07

Oh

And Wensleydale with fruit cake.

I wish we had a drooling emoticon.

Am on a fast day though Sad

GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/10/2012 13:15

Bread I think she was referring to someone else.

Also, it's come up before, but the idea of not eating much (or, this sort of "fast"- eating very low calorie) the day after eating too much is probably why thin people stay that way. So many of us have been told to never skip breakfast etc that it's never occurred to use that it might actually be healthy to do so sometimes. Our bodies don't really need a constant supply of food. Sometimes they need a rest from it, as the scientific evidence in the articles shows.

OP posts:
Breadandwine · 11/10/2012 13:20

Well, what a numpty I am. Sorry bunjies, I read "aboutlastnight" and thought you were referring to my earlier post! (Wondered why there were no spaces?? Confused )

Please ignore my last post (I'll report it and get it withdrawn)

Blush
Foreversmiling · 11/10/2012 13:24

Hi everyone, has anybody considered doing a detox? I've just finished a 9 day one, it was really easy, lost half a stone and several inches and feel absolutely amazing to have got rid of all those toxins...my hair, skin and nails are great and my energy levels and mood are fantastic!! So much so that I am now recommending to everyone I see ;)

Trills · 11/10/2012 13:26

The people who say "I won't have much for dinner tonight because I had a big lunch". Those people.

Trills · 11/10/2012 13:27

feel absolutely amazing to have got rid of all those toxins

I have a working liver. Therefore I am not full of toxins to begin with.

LookBehindYou · 11/10/2012 14:28

mmm yum, cheese and fig jam. Calcium and fruit - very healthy no?

LookBehindYou · 11/10/2012 14:29

Trills, me too. Don't really understand these detoxes. If you need it, you're very ill.

Trills · 11/10/2012 14:35

OK, maybe some cheese and jam works. But only quite specific combinations.

Piebaldrider · 11/10/2012 14:51

I cant manage cheese and Jam together any more than i can eat peanut butter and jam together but i do like tomatoes with peanut butter on toast and i love marmite and cheese.

Seems we are all having up and down days and lack of weight loss or weight gain is de motivating but i say ditch the scales and use a tape measure or your clothes to see how much you are really losing. I don't care if i weigh 50 stone as long long as i look like i only weigh ten.

Sometimes our body's hold fluids and that can make a huge difference on the scales until we get rid of it.

People who stop losing weight are very often not eating enough and their body's have gone into starvation mode others just have a slower metabolism and need less calories overall . At the minute i eat whatever i want on a non fast day and have broken my fast a couple of times but my clothes are still getting looser. However i will also add that on non fasting days my appetite has changed and i have days where i chose healthy or small portions because that's what i want. Today is non fast but i haven't eaten anything OTT but i have just popped a piece of chocolate in my mouth because i found it in the cupboard and i have no regrets i loved it .

Fasting again tomorrow but that's it until Monday which is just as well as i am competing Sunday and may struggle if fasting.

Health happiness laughter and weight loss to all.

MikeOxardForHalloween · 11/10/2012 14:55

Lol trills you do make me laugh! What do you mean by detox foreversmiling? I did the Carol Vorderman detox once (once sucessfullly, and several times I started for a few days/week but couldn't stick to it). It is soooooo good for you, I lost quite a bit of weight, and it cleared my acne right up (I had it bad at the time - main reason I did it as I was slim then anyway), I felt bloody amazing. BUT it was soooooo hard to stick to, you can't eat any of the crap stuff I normally eat, basically it's veg, fruit, rice cakes and humous - totally vegan and no bread, no wheat pasta, no white rice. It's only a 4 week thing, but they are 4 very long weeks! I am sticking to 4:3 for now thank you very much!

Eat day here, skipped breakfast cos I was busy, then had lunch out - chicken burger and chips. I ate sooo much less of it than I normally would though as I got so full up. I didn't even consider pudding either even though they have some really yummy chocolate ones.

mommybunny · 11/10/2012 14:57

Finally was able to grab lunch - the wait for my call helped me push my fast out! If you're in London, I recommend chop'd for their salads - they all come with calorie counts so you can see right away how much you're consuming, and they're all made with fresh ingredients. I had the Thai chicken and mango meze with sweet chili dressing - came in at 247 calories. I feel content but not full. And smug that my salad gave me 3 of my 5-a-day Grin.

And put me in the "cheese and jam can be heavenly" camp. Though I didn't always hold that view - I remember my mother once giving me a sandwich with American cheese (or "pasteurized process cheese food" as it's required by law in the US to be called - tells you a lot about it right there!) and strawberry jam that was absolutely disgusting.