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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:
TalkinPeace2 · 11/10/2012 19:44

Look Tee hee - I saved some of yesterday's calories for a manhattan! Todays extra went on parma ham chopped into my baked beans ...
Tomorrow is pizza and red wine!

Interestingly am using MyFitnessPal to track and because of my swim my net calories for the day are ..........53 !! Yeah right .

GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/10/2012 19:44

Oh that sounds lovely LBY. Since doing this diet I've tried making my own wontons, which I quite enjoyed (and not particularly calorific, lots of veg in them, water chesnuts for crunch, turkey mince for meat), homemade samosas (all veg, can't say those weren't calorific though!) as well as lots of new breads.

Cheese and honey pizza? I'll need to google that! I've been doing a lot of my own pizza dough lately.

OP posts:
Sputnik · 11/10/2012 19:44

Geekswife I've been doing this a while and occasionally have a really hard day sometimes. A couple of times I figured out I had eaten quite a lot the previous day and that was maybe why. Other times maybe stress or tiredness, but on the whole it does get easier.

Sputnik · 11/10/2012 19:49

DH's pizza was so popular he blogged about it, here: geommm-bees.posterous.com/pizza-with-honey
Enjoy (not on a fast day obv.!)

LookBehindYou · 11/10/2012 19:51

GreenEggs I'm going through Delias bread recipes in her vegetarian book at the moment. They turn out really well.

AGeeksWife · 11/10/2012 20:16

Thanks Sputnik, this is my 6th fast so still quite early days, just got to keep thinking that what I can eat tomorrow makes it worthwhile!

Piebaldrider · 11/10/2012 20:16

OMG cheese and honey thats just not normal , i have a big jar of honey i was given and due to its weight loss properties i so want to eat it but i cant even take the lid of the very thought yuk.
Mintyy your craving is my craving and its hard, when things are tough i allaow my self one small glass on a fast day and go straight to bed so i dont have another. It hasnt affected anything as yet , and while i can get away with it i will (:

Just ate two slices of toast with crunchy peanut butter for my evening meal ( not a fast day) about to top it off with a large pinot grigio . Fasting tomorrow Hmm

Aboutlastnight · 11/10/2012 20:22

Feta cheese and honey is bloody gorgeous.

Bordercollielover · 11/10/2012 20:27

Re cramp, I have also heard that lack of magnesium can be a cause of cramps and that you can buy a magnesium spray to put directly onto the muscle. Not tried it yet and my own night leg cramps have eased but suffered badly for about three weeks.

Aftereights: I started this with 4 stones to lose and have now lost about 1.5 stones. I think I understand what you are saying about mind changing, but just wanted to share with you that I have found this WOE has done the mind changing for me. Don't know how, don't know why but my whole food/ overeating/cravings etc etc has changed on my eating days without me having to do any conscious mind changing at all. Previously I had brief gaps between eating rather than meals and just ate anything too slow to escape until I felt physically stuffed . Now I detest that feeling . The only thing I try to do on eating days is to eat a lot of vegetables, if I want chips, buns, cheese etc too I have that as well.
So, can't remember how long you have been doing this for, but I would be hopeful that if you stick with 4:3 for a few more weeks it will all sort itself out.

Sputnik · 11/10/2012 20:36

Well I never claimed to be normal! :o

Skinnyeye · 11/10/2012 22:05

Hi losers,gainers and those in between. I have suffered terrible night cramps for years and initially on 5:2 thought I had found a miracle cure but over the last 2 weeks they have returned with a vengeance. Will be looking into the magnesium spray as the quinine tablets are not cutting it anymore. Fast day today and it's gone well. Heading to bed now very tired and hoping for no cramps!
Does anybody know how many calories in quinine sulphate tablets lol

TalkinPeace2 · 11/10/2012 22:22

(Skinny) How horrible for you.
What exercises do you do to stretch your muscles before bed and ensure your circulation is working well?
As the weight loss kicks in you may find it changing because your sleeping positions will change as your body gets smaller.

mommybunny · 11/10/2012 22:42

I got through today's fast much better than my recent ones - that salad at lunch really helped. I also torture myself looking at recipes and watching food tv on my fast days, though I also do that on my non-fast days!

Looking forward to not fasting tomorrow! Have a great night all...

rachelblythe · 11/10/2012 22:43

Laska - strangely today I too have been suffering with cramp, but luckily its only in my toes, still unpleasant though. Hopefully you don't suffer any more. I always thought cramp was down to dehydration, but I have still drunk a decent amount of water today. Keep us informed on the cramps :)

HappyOrchid · 11/10/2012 23:24

Golly Gosh this thread moves fast. Thanks Green Eggs for setting up.

OK so Week 9 and yesterdays fast turned into eating 1450 calories. So have fasted today and will do Saturday.

At the end of Week 7 I had lost 6lb, but at weigh in at end of Week 8 having had 3 successful fast days & not gone mad on eat days, BUT done no exercise and gained 1lb. I do weigh most days and so far this week nil loss. More than a little depressing. I think my metabolism has adjusted to 4:3 and I will now maintain despite being about 10lb heavier than is reasonable Sad

Will try to go to gym over weekend, but off to Italy next week and Czech Republic week after which is bound to put spanner in works. Would like to be 7lb lighter by time go on holiday on Boxing Day - is that shallow?

Also blood pressure remaining normal and blood sugars even on fast days in normal range. (Benefits of having DH with blood pressure monitor and FIL and sister with diabetes)

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 12/10/2012 03:04

Oh god cramps sound awful skinny and laska no suggestions except some gentle yoga or Pilates to realign maybe? Or are you carrying lots of stress in your jaw? All interconnected

Been picking all evening (non fast day) which is so annoying - but did some emergency clothes shopping and have gone down a dress size! So so chugged especially as I've only lost 3lb in 4weeks and had a blow out week last week of epic alcoholic proportions....

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 12/10/2012 03:05

Er, chuffed

Not chugged

Fecking phone

Aftereightsaremine · 12/10/2012 05:56

Border thanks being doing this since beginning of August so hoping the mindset will come. Have done lots of diets & this is by far the easiest.

Laska I second trying Pilates but maybe speak to your GP first.

Skinny maybe try a vitamin supplement.

Apologies but had done a very detailed reply to you all last night but it seems to have disappeared! So this is shortened version.

frenchfancy · 12/10/2012 06:50

I thought fast days were getting easier, until yesterday. I found it really tough, and felt weak and dizzy for the first time mid afternoon.

I think it was because I was physically active all day, including heavy lifting. I will try to avoid such work on a fast day in future. On the plus point I lost 1lb in a day :) (okay I know it doesn't count and I shouldn't weigh myself every day but still :) )

Piebaldrider · 12/10/2012 06:51

Im on my low fat Skinny day today ( im trying not to use fast ) and i feel like i need it . Yesterday i ate a late breakfast of porridge , a quorn lasagne for lunch , crsips, 2 x peanut butter on toast and 3/4 of a bottle of Pinot. It was a busy and stresfull day so no time to plan any meals and the Pinot was purely for medicinal reasons - honestly.

Today as always i have kick started with nasty mouth wash and that will do me untill late lunch of a cuppa soup. Probably have a WW ready meal with piles of veg for dinner just for ease then a pint of squash and an early night ... Howver the whole weekend is full fat but lots of work to do and a competition Sunday so will allow myself whatever .

So far i have no cramps no headaches or any other unpleasant symptoms, long may it last.

Health happiness and weight loss to all.

frenchfancy · 12/10/2012 06:53

Oh and for cramps switch to sea salt rather than table salt. And use plenty of it on fast days. It has theminerals in it that table salt doesn't, including magnesium and potasium.

BelinaTheChicken · 12/10/2012 07:48

This TDEE calculator might be better for calculating an approximate amount for what you should be eating on up days. TDEE is total daily energy expenditure, so takes into accound your average activity level. I have been trying to make sure to eat around that on feed days, as I think I haven't been eating enough and my weightloss stalled.

And crabapple jelly with camembert is amazing

Trills · 12/10/2012 08:29

Good calculator.

Alaska77 · 12/10/2012 09:00

Yes yes yes to reading recipe books on fast days! For the past 2 weeks I have felt compelled to dive in to my recipe book and folder cupboard and have read almost all of them cover to cover! Whilst watching Australian Masterchef and Great British Bake Off! What is it with this torture? I've also knocked out a couple of cakes this week; a pumpkin pie and a walnut and honey loaf cake. Both on fast days. I've eaten neither but given them to family and workmates. Perhaps I'm trying to offload my surplus calories on fast days to others?! Hmm Grin

Trills · 12/10/2012 09:04

My recipe books are almost entirely for reading, not for actually making recipes.

Yesterday was a fast day. I was at 500 cals on a basis of coffee, tea, bovril, squash, cherry tomatoes and pickled onions and olives-in-brine-from-a-jar (and a bag of quavers) and this soup for dinner:
100g frozen prawns
1/3 of a big onion
1/2 a can of water chestnuts
1/2 a red pepper
20g risotto rice
1 knorr gel stock pot
lots of water
garlic and chilli (I don't count calories in that)

Then DP complained that he didn't want to drink wine alone so I had a glass of wine and went up to 650.

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