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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:
Aftereightsaremine · 15/10/2012 11:18

Thanks everyone for your good wishes I'm still so seriously chuffed! Been doing this for 11 weeks, I hope it carries on downwards.
thatbint are you doing 5:2 or 4:3?

Breadandwine · 15/10/2012 11:20

Just watched a bit of the Horizon film and was inspired to do the 'Standing on one leg with eyes closed test'.

I managed 21 seconds on my right leg - and 28 seconds on my left before I got bored and stopped. I think that's excellent pretty good for a bloke my age! Grin

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 11:34

Just curious. But what do people eat on their feast days. Fast days are easy, but I'm having a really hard time trying to eat normally on my feast days. Today I had a WW rice pudding thing for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and I'm planning pasta and a couple of glasses of wine for dinner. But I'm starving and I want to eat more. Sad

Mintyy · 15/10/2012 11:39

You are not supposed to "be starving" on feast days. Just eat normal healthy meals.

I had a feast day yesterday. No breakfast then I had a slice of pizza, some posh crisps (a couple of handfuls), some carrot sticks and cucumber dipped in hummus and a small slice of chocolate cake (ds's birthday party) for lunch. For dinner I had two roasted chicken thighs, cous cous with roasted peppers, tomatoes, garlic and red onion, a big pile of rocket with a tiny bit of dressing (just because I don't like tons of dressing) a glass of white wine and a glass of red wine.
I had two mugs of tea with milk and one mug of coffee with milk and 1 tsp sugar and some water.

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 12:04

Well according to myfitnesspal if I eat what I want to today I will be at 2,655 calories. (I think I have to be calculating these things wrong). I had a WW rice pudding at 118 calories, a 6inch Subway Italian BMT which is around 500 calories. But it says that my dinner tonight, which is:

2 cups whole wheat penne pasta: 800 calories!!!
2 cups canned tomatoes: 133 calories
1/2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil: 60 calories
6 cloves garlic: 27 calories
1 cup onions: 67 calories
6 slices of pancetta: 660 calories

And 1/2 a bottle of white wine: 300 calories.

Which brings me to a whopping 1,937 calories for one meal. :S

Yet I'm hungry. :S

GreenEggsAndNichts · 15/10/2012 12:26

Cracker A quick google makes me ask the question: have you specified cooked or uncooked pasta in your calculations? 2 cups cooked pasta sounds like it would be approximately 400 calories. (Again, don't take this as bible and verse- I actually prefer weighing this sort of thing out for accuracy so I've no idea about cups)

OP posts:
Sputnik · 15/10/2012 12:28

Cracker it does sound a lot, maybe try entering by weight, ie per gram of dry weight pasta, also pancetta, how much is a slice? More accurate to weigh it.

Sputnik · 15/10/2012 12:29

x post there!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 15/10/2012 12:32

For what it's worth: I do 4:3, I've not counted calories at all on non-fast days. Now, things do sort of self-regulate over time; I do have treats and meals out but if I eat too much at lunch (which is still less than what I'd have eaten previously if I'd eaten too much.. if that makes sense) then I am rarely inclined to eat much more that day. In fact, we went to a buffet for Sunday lunch yesterday, and not only did I not eat dinner (well, I ate a small snack) but I decided to make today a fast day and move my non-fast day to Tuesday. My "schedule" is to fast Tues/Thurs/Sat, but it felt natural to fast today.

OP posts:
Mintyy · 15/10/2012 12:33

Would you really eat all that yourself? The recipe looks like it is meant for at least two servings (ie. the 6 cloves of garlic doesn't really go in a meal for one person).

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 12:33

No I didn't specify cooked or uncooked. Ok, now that I'm doing it it seems to be making a lot more sense. Now I'm down to 1,965 calories for the whole day. That seems more reasonable I guess....

Mintyy · 15/10/2012 12:35

An easy way to cut those calories down without starving yourself is to forego the wine. Or just have one glass?

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 12:36

The 6 cloves of garlic and the pancetta are off, I've adjusted those now, but I would eat around 2 cups of cooked pasta, 2 cups of tomato and a cup of onion...give or take a quarter or a cup here or there.

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 12:39

I decided to do this diet so I could have a glass or two of wine in the evening. Looking at what I eat I see why I'm fat. Grin

mumofcrazynamedkids · 15/10/2012 12:40

omg, started to catch up with you all, but I'm still 9 pages behind, but all those pages of talk of yummy food......please no more!

(although I will say, yes to cheese and jam, definite yes to marmite and cheese and marmite and Peanut Buttter - especially the crunchy no sugar whole earth one, generally just a yes to cheese...baked camembert stuffed with garlic! mmmm)

ahh heemm, sorry, I am fasting today, my first attempt at 4:3 this week, aiming for mon/wed/fri....although Fri might be fast all day til wine o clock.

will attempt to read more this evening, but even I can't spend this long reading the thread at work!

I spent the weekend cleaning/tidying/paperwork, which is very unlike me, but was long overdue and i have a b'day party coming and will have to put the house on the market soon, so constructive but necessary chores.

i also did a little too much cooking with double cream.....ahh well, that mackerel dauphinoise is my lunch for tomorrow now!

Mintyy · 15/10/2012 12:42

Not a diet Cracker! Remember that Wink. Unfortunately none of us are ever going to lose weight without adjusting our eating habits. All I'm saying is that if you are feeling hungry and you want to eat more without sky rocketing your calories then the empty calories in the wine should be the first to go. But you know that already.

2beornot · 15/10/2012 12:43

Quick question: is the 500 calories on a fast day the limit or the target? Just I think I could do it in lot less but don't know if that will be advantageous or not?

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 12:44

I know. Wine is evil...but so so good.

Thelittlestranger · 15/10/2012 12:45

I've never got the cup thing...for accuracy I would definitely opt for actual weight of things.

My house is immaculate. Struggled this morning and was really hungry, so started cleaning. I suspect i was hungry because I ate a lot yesterday (2450 cals worth). That's hangovers for you. My house has never been so clean since I started this WOE...there's a benefit I didn't expect.

Also chuffed, because I recalculated the calories in my prawns for dinner and used the amount of cals on the packet, and I've now got enough for soup at lunch then Greek yoghurt for pudding. Small mercies...

TalkinPeace2 · 15/10/2012 12:53

2beornot
limit - but its worth setting as a target - even if you have extra vegetables - to keep your system stable.

cracker
I LOVE wine. But am using this WOE to give my liver a break too - no booze Monday to Thursday. And limited on Saturdays. Friday and Sunday I splurge.

shrimponastick · 15/10/2012 12:54

Have been watching and reading.. May I jump onboard please?

I did a fast day last Weds, found it okay actually. Even cooked for DH andDS without picking at theirs too. Today is my fast day. i last ate at about 9pm - so if I hang on until after 1pm today that is best, right?

i plan to have something like an omelette with asparagus, parma ham? Will calc the calories on MFP first though.

Anything else i need to know? :)

CrackerJackShack · 15/10/2012 12:57

Talk I go for none Saturday, Sunday & Wednesday and limited Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Thursday I splurge. :) Probably should cut out another day though.

awaywego1 · 15/10/2012 13:32

Goodness I'm struggling today-had planned to go until tea time on nothing but can't make it Sad just had some beetroot and a slim a soup so not too bad-have planned king prawn soup (no noodles) for tea so hopefully will still be under 500.

2beornot · 15/10/2012 13:43

Thanks Talk. I planned my day for today and included banana, apple and WW soup while at work. But so far I've had nothing and think I'll only have one of the three before I go. I'll have some extra veggies with tea then.

MikeOxardForHalloween · 15/10/2012 14:05

Cracker, I would have similar, but a smaller evening meal, no wine, and I would have a homemade sandwich with nimble bread and low cal cheese, and ham (so about 170 cals). I would also have lots of tea, and maybe a few squares of dark chocolate and an actimel.

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