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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:
catsrus · 13/10/2012 14:51

Well done Mike Grin

ManOnBoard · 13/10/2012 14:55

TLS I am the same as you but included the fast day as I only have one meal on a fast day at around 5:30pm, I may be fine early in the morning but would certainly have used all of my energy by mid afternoon. The 30 day shred seems very intense and makes some extraordinary claims, you would almost think that the designers were over promoting the benefits to increase profit/sales. Cynical? Me? No!

Anyway got a fantastic new recipe from MikeO that I am going to have a go at, apparently you put eggs into a saucepan of boiling water for 3-5 minutes.........

Skinnyeye · 13/10/2012 15:01

Mike well done in the kitchen Grin for me the best part of the 5:2 experience is the cooking. I love the challenge of getting the most filling and nutritional value for my 500 calories.

Re Cramps
I take a Berrocca like multivitamin, already use sea salt flakes and increased salt intake on fast days. Have been condsidering Pilates but work long hours and do a bit of traveling. Wii fit could be the answer

Re Counting calories on normal days
I do occasionally just to keep an eye on it and to help establish portion control. I also have been coming to realise how much of my weight was due to alcohol (beer and wine) and snacking! I still have these treats but less often and more honestly Blush

Re Weight loss stall
Like many others have said, I think that our bodies do adapt to this WOE and after a while, weight loss becomes weight maintenance. After a few weeks 5:2 with a lunch dinner split my weigh loss evened out at 11lbs. I definitely lost inches but no weight for 2 weeks. My last 3 fast days I have saved all my calories for an evening meal something I would never have thought I could manage but actually found it easier. Lost 3 pounds this weigh in. Play with the variables and stick to the guidelines.

We are each conducting our own research projects and I really believe that we are onto something here. Science, health and medicine need to catch up. Research needs to be done on this lifestyle and I would happily take part in any studies or trails and hope future researchers stumble on this thread. Thanks

catsrus · 13/10/2012 15:02

Well - after not shifting any weight in 3 weeks (11-12lbs down overall, I would love to lose another 3 - 7 lb) I decided maybe this was the weight I was meant to be, which is a lot better than the weight I was - and that this WOE is not that bad if that's what keeps me there (BMI 22.36). So I started a bit of a wardrobe sort out.

I was Shock to find that I could get into some nice trousers I'd bought 7 yrs ago for a funeral - and only worn once. So I feel a bit of a renewed push to get to a place where I genuinely do only eat the calories my body needs. this will either mean keeping my intake lower than I have been (it seems I only need around 1600 at my age and level of exercise Blush) or increasing my activity level. I will not only get into those trousers I will be able to sit down in them without the danger of being sliced in two Wink

TalkinPeace2 · 13/10/2012 20:00

Well done catrus - its the clothes fitting that is the coolest bit about this diet IMHO.
The fasting seems to aim the weight loss right at the visceral fat (the really dangerous stuff inside your ribcage).
I still have too much podge on the be back of my hips (by my standards)
BUT after a fast day, before I next eat, if I pull my tummy in hard (mula banda in yoga speak) its a real hollow under my ribcage - which is what it SHOULD be if there is no excess fat around the organs.
Well chuffed with that.

Interesting pickup point.
My yoga teacher has now dropped down to 6:1 as she's as thin as she thinks is sane but likes the health benefits. And LOVES being able to go out at the weekend knowing that on Monday's she can retake control.

TalkinPeace2 · 13/10/2012 20:02

Question for everybody .....

How much has your weekly food shopping bill dropped per week?

We have two hollow legged teenagers and love our Sunday roasts, but checking till receipts, we are spending about 10% less

How are all of you doing?

(is this the REAL hidden benefit of this WOE!)

ManOnBoard · 13/10/2012 22:27

TP2 Quite agree 10% saving in groceries which as all of our weights drop the cost could keep going downwards as our maintenance calories should be lower.

Re the 30 day shred claim that you could exercise for 20mins a day and lose 20lbs in 30 days, has anyone tried this and how much did you lose? It is just that, if this is fat burning, a pound in weight is generally reckoned to be 3500cals so you would need to burn an extra 2400 cals a day. Unless I am misunderstanding the calculator this would be the same as someone weighing fifteen stones running a half marathon in world class time.........every day.......for a month.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 13/10/2012 23:49

Hello again! Having trouble keeping up with this thread, you're all such busy posters!

I am on eating days for the weekend (phew!), next fast day is Monday. However I am getting very bad snack attacks in the evenings on my eating days at the moment, not sure how to get out of my bad habits!

So far I still haven't really lost any weight, but have been maintaining my post-WeightWatchers level (with less struggles than when I was doing WW), which is the lowest weight I have been for quite a while, apart from my freaky post-baby weightloss when I then put it all back on again after a few months. Considering I keep getting the munchies on my eating days atm, I am quite happy to be maintaining. Though would still like to lose a bit more, if I can either curb the snacking a bit or start doing some more exercise hopefully that will follow.

Whoever was asking about grocery bills, I'm not sure ours have dropped much as although I'm eating less, as life's very hectic at the moment I am relying a lot on bought food for my fasting meals (things like the M&S Simply Fuller Longer meals, or prepared salads for lunch at work) which don't work out that cheap. But as I'm buying less treats and no breakfast I reckon it might work out about equal. Also as DH and the kids are not fasting, it doesn't affect our overall bills much!

Piebaldrider · 14/10/2012 07:23

TP2 My food bill is down but i havent calculated by how much as yet , my Wine consumption has gone down due quite consderably due to my 500 calorie days , so my liver is having a bonus saving too.

I have also noticed that the majority of the fat i have lost is from my ribcage down my trunk but i have also lost some from my bottom and thighs but i am using them a lot at the minute which may be helping.

Piebaldrider · 14/10/2012 07:24

I cant find anywhere to get a blood test done to see if i have achieved any reduction in the IGF and am reaping the health benefits i desire . One online test site was nearly £200 and im not prepared to spend that much but i would like to know if i have done what i set out to do . The weight loss could happen regardless so its no indication is it ?

Yesterday was an eating day but i was out of the house for ten hours and ate nothing until 6pm by which time i struggled to eat and had to have a glass of wine to relax me enough for my stomach to accept food. So over all i ate 500 calories between 6pm Thurdsay and 5pm Saturday so i have mixed things up already without trying.

Today i am competing and it will be another physical day and I wouldn't normally eat until evening but i am going to try and eat a little snack once or twice during the day as i need to stop my body thinking im starving it after the last two days.

I don't normally snack in the evenings but i do notice that now on my eating days late in the evening im starting to crave and eat chocolate which is very strange for me. I am listening to my body and i have eaten a small chocolate bar and will monitor what happens next. The whole experience is very interesting and comparing my results with all of yours is quite addictive in itself .

Health happiness and weight loss to all

TheCyclistist · 14/10/2012 08:32

Hi Piebalder , yeah I've been eating A LOT of dark choc in the evenings (85% Cocao) so pretty healthy hopefully. Don't feel any cravings for it until later in the day the day after a fast but definiatly wanting more than before.

Food bills are down quite markedly despite none of the kids being on WOE, the eldest is 22 today so they're probably too young to follow this and to restrict their protein levels as this requires....maybe the extra brain cells mentioned in the horizon programme are starting to help me add up better or shop more intelligently Grin

Talking of the Horizon programme has anyone heard how Mosely is getting on, last I heard he was dropping down to 6:1 due to the weight loss?

BelinaTheChicken · 14/10/2012 08:49

Had a bit of a bad bingey few days, and I know you can technically eat what you want on up days, I'm pretty sure a whole Terry's chocolate orange wasn't what they had in mind Blush. And now I have put on 3lbs since my last fast on Wednesday, dammit. So going to aim for and intermediate day today then fast on Monday. Hopefully eating more for a few days will have kick started my metabolism, as weight loss had stalled for a bit, despite eating sensibly and exercising more. The novelty had definitely worn off, but I think I've got it out of my system and will have a better resolve on Monday.

Can't say I've noticed my food bill going down, but then DH and the DC aren't fasting, and I eat a lot of my meals at work anyway. Though like Inigo I haven't been buying treats and snacks, so that will probably have put it down a bit.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 14/10/2012 10:07

ManOnBoard I haven't seen where the Shred claims to drop 20 lbs in 30 days, do you have a link for that?

OP posts:
ManOnBoard · 14/10/2012 10:40

GE&N It's actually a quote attributed to Jillian Michaels on Amazon, just google 30 day shred and it is the fourth option, the quote is on both the front page and also in the promo write up

Trills · 14/10/2012 11:05

Then again Jillian was on "the Biggest Loser", so maybe the 20lb weight loss only applies if you weigh 400lb to begin with.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 14/10/2012 11:13

I must be blind, I don't see it here.

My thought was the same, Trills.

OP posts:
ManOnBoard · 14/10/2012 11:25

If someone weighing 400lbs could exercise for 20mins at that sort of intensity that would be pretty astounding. Not having watched The Biggest Loser I am not able to comment but there was a programme several years ago called Fit club(?) where a group of overweight celebs were put on a tough diet and exercise regimen with varying results. It just seems that to achieve the 20 in 30 loss you would need to be 400lbs but train like Paula Radcliffe

Sputnik · 14/10/2012 11:33

I just looked at my shred DVD and it does say the 20lbs in 30 days thing right on the cover. I am a fan but I find that rather unbelievable, you'd have to weigh a lot I think.
It is intense but I like it because it's hard to find an excuse not to find 25 minutes to do it, and you feel really great at the end. However I also think that if you did it every day and you were quite heavy you could risk injury in the cardio part. Weights are better from that point of view.

Trills · 14/10/2012 11:50

I just know she says "I've got four hundred pound people who can do jumping jacks"

(sounds a bit like she keeps them in her garage or something)

Laska42 · 14/10/2012 11:58

Hi all marking my place . im fasting again today , but this will be quite interesting as will be the first Sunday in ages when DH will be here this evening.. however j he is really supportive so as long as I keep out of the kitchen and dining room when he is eating it should be OK... Think this evening ill have on ill take myself off for a nice bath and do all the 'routine body maintenance' ! ..

I'm only going to be doing 5:2 this week though because after weds I'm off to Brighton for a long weekend visiting but its great to think i can join in with all the usual eating and drinking that accompanies a weekend away with friends without guilt knowing that on Monday I can get straight back to it Smile

CrackerJackShack · 14/10/2012 12:01

Hi Everyone,

fasted on last wednesday and fasting today. Finding it pretty easy on fast days, but having the issue that I wake up in the middle of the night and I'm starving, and I'm finding myself really dizzy and hungry the next day.

I did drop a pound last week though. So hopefully this week I will lose more because I'll be biking every day.

ManOnBoard · 14/10/2012 12:56

The 30DS sounds like it would be good for toning and shaping but not really for weight loss.

Part of the appeal of this WOE is the simplicity in that you do not have to convert stuff to points, live on cabbage or eggs etc or pay through the nose to stand in front of a load of other fatties and try to avoid public, ritual humiliation. Appllying the same logic to calorie burning simply walking would seem to be the simplest and most effective option as it involves no difficult maths, is low impact so no damage to the joints, you can do it anywhere without any equipment (sensible shoes?) and no cost. An hour of steady walking, on average, would equate to roughly 3500cals or a pound in weight.

ManOnBoard · 14/10/2012 12:59

Although I might still buy the 30DS dvd just to watch the star jumps

ManOnBoard · 14/10/2012 13:07

Sorry, the walking is an hour-ish a day for a pound a week, mayne I should promote workout DVDs

insprognito · 14/10/2012 13:09

I'm sorry but there is no way an hour of steady walking would burn that many cals! An hour of high intensity cardio only burns about 500. Walking is a good step on the ladder to becoming more active but isn't particularly effective for weight loss. On my second fast day today have just made moroccan chickpea soup,am fiding soup to be my secret weaponGrin.