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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:
Laska42 · 15/10/2012 14:10

I tend to not do wine during the week either , but this one wil be different but hey this is a WOE so we have to let real life in, or else it becomes a diet ..

so my sample menu for today - a non fast day:

mushroom and cheese omelette , 2 eggs ,mush poached in a few drops of water and a one inch cube of cheddar cheese grated (previously i wouldn't normally would have measured my cheese but I'm now mindful of eating a little of WHAT I want not HOW much I want)

2 sqs 85 % dark choc. 2 black coffees 2 green tea

a tuna tomato mozzarella and pesto pitta with tons of salad leaves and no other dressing ,

Tonight ill be making a vegetable (courgette, onion and cauli) and (lean) pork curry though ill probably also have that will salad and not rice and probably even though its a Monday a glass of wine as not on my own this evening

I've no idea how much that is , but I wouldn't think more than 1900..

mumofcrazynamedkids · 15/10/2012 14:12

welcome shrimp there is an accompanying tips thread, check the sticky at the top, but MFP good for double checking. I'm actually loving teh discipline of a fast day and am definitely looking forward to them, and today have swapped from 5:2 to 4:3....well this is day one, so we shall see, but I definitely like the rigidity of a fast days calories and then the freedom of a normal day.

Sputnik · 15/10/2012 15:46

I usually do have a glass of wine on feed days, maybe 1.5, maybe you could have wine but less of it and you would still make a difference. Also if you bulk out your meals with more veg you can have less calorie loaded pasta or other carbs, but still have a full plate.

Breadandwine that's pretty impressive!

MikeOxardForHalloween · 15/10/2012 16:26

I'm gobsmacked at how much wine everyone drinks. Every night some of you, or every weekend! I am a bucks fizz at Christmas and a glass or two at weddings type of person. I would soooo rather have food!

frenchfancy · 15/10/2012 16:35

Thing is Mike for most of us it has never been a choice of wine OR food. We have wine AND food. That is why we need to lose weight. As jpart of my 5:2 effort i have cut my drinking down to 3 days a week. For me that is a BIG drop.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 15/10/2012 16:58

lol mike did you not realise that you were in the minority, or do you surround yourself with teetotal friends? then again, maybe it's us drinkers who are in the minority, but we surround ourselves with drinkers so we feel it's ok?

either way, I drink, but never alone, so as a single parent that often means I only drink weekends, and even then not to huge excess, i don't binge, but if I had company I could easily share a bottle of wine a night, hence why when i was married I was much fatter!

and I had about 4 years off drinking through 2 pregnancies and breastfeeding, but I love a drink now, am always the first one to wave a wine bottle at a fellow mum friend on a friday afternoon!

I'm with you frenchfancy definitely wine and food!

MikeOxardForHalloween · 15/10/2012 17:33

Oh yeah, french I didn't think of that tbh!

mumof I haven't got any friends, haha! Not that I am so close to that I would know if they normally had wine with dinner or not iykwim. Normally, if I go out with friends there will be alcohol, but thats because it's an occasion, plus it is quite rare as I have been pg and bfing for 4years ish now, and still am bf. So what I mean is, it's not you, it's me, probably!

kiwigirl42 · 15/10/2012 17:40

I hardly ever drink anymore either, but only because it gives me a headache on top of anti convulsants. Saved me a fortune, it has! Saying that, we had a lovely bottle of Australian fizzy white for £7 for our anniversary and it was really, really nice. And didn't give me a headache. I've tasted a lot worse champagnes

TalkinPeace2 · 15/10/2012 18:42

OK. I'm stuffed. Cannot eat another bite.
Mug of tea for breakfast. Apple and black coffee for lunch.
Dinner = tin of baked beans with leftover roast pork chopped into it, followed by a satsuma
(Slightly over my limit - came to 690 calories for the day but I did swim a mile and do a class.)
Delicious and totally filling.

TheCyclistist · 15/10/2012 18:44

Hi Laska

Thanks for asking about the Curry, it went well cheers. Daughter loved it and had a qood day. Caught up with some family who hadn't seen me since I began this WOE and they were somewhat shocked by my appearance, in a good way I think Hmm

Back to a fast tomorrow, first one since Thursday so quite looking forward to it tbh.

Good luck and health to all, especially those that have posted recently about starting this WOE Smile

ManOnBoard · 15/10/2012 19:32

WOW I am with MikeO, this site could be renamed Lushnet. Seems many on here could easily be below 500cals if someone hid the corkscrew

Piebaldrider · 15/10/2012 19:34

I didnt fast today, i went to work feeling very hungry which was fine until i started feeling light headed and sick. Lots of people in my office have a very nasty cold virus thats going around and if i get away with it then it will be down to this new woe and lifestyle im trying to merge into. My nose was bunged up and i felt generaly ill. I didnt go over my calories ration while at work but did eat a sensible meal tonight and will be ott. However on the plus side i have found out why i felt so sick and under the weather and in a nutshell i think i need to take more fibre with it. I feel much better now after dealing with both issues and am almost eager to start my next fast day. if i only do 5.2 this week it wont be the end of the world and if i can mange my normal 4.3 then all is well.

Weight loss Love and laughter to all.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 15/10/2012 20:02

oh yep meant to say, had my first couple of comments on my weight loss this weekend. That was nice. :)

Having an odd fast day today. Still ill, and seem to be particularly loopy, and my cheeks are as pink as if I'd drunk all the wine discussed earlier in this thread. Grin I almost always just have veg on fast days but today I was creative with a salad and a small scone. (very small, think Morrisons Value range or something, 135 calories) I wouldn't normally do that but my stomach feels better for it, and I'm still under my 500.

Tomorrow I've got DS home with me all day so if I can muster myself, I'll do a bit of a baking project with him. I just need to decide what!

OP posts:
2beornot · 15/10/2012 20:20

Ok, so good day 1. Had 3.5 cups of tea with sweetener (which I found keeps me full), banana around half two, massive dinner of stir fry veggies, hoi sin sauce (blue dragon, 80cal) and rice. I might even have another cuppa later Grin total 475cal!

TheCyclistist · 15/10/2012 21:06

Congratulations 2beornot welcome to the worlds best WOE.

Hope you get what you want from it Smile

Blondie276 · 15/10/2012 21:30

Hello all,
Well done to all the good weight loss stories!
I haven't weighed myself since I started on 22nd sept as promised myself I'd weigh in once a month but have definitely changed some what as my trousers are becoming looser!
I've been doing 4:3 and walking ( very fast) for 30 mins a day.
Making sure my fluid intake is high bit has anyone else suffered with headaches at all? Be interested to know of others have been in safe boat

Blondie276 · 15/10/2012 21:31

Oops same boat even!

NotWilliamBoyd · 15/10/2012 21:35

Hello everyone, can I join in?

I started the 5:2 WOE 2 weeks ago now; today is my 5th fast day (I usually fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays but have jiggled days around this week). I'm after the health benefits but also want to shift some weight after a really bad year of no real exercise and masses of comfort eating due to hideous work stress Sad

So, 5:2 plus I'm doing a lot more exercise (hard work as I'm seriously unfit now). So far, the fasting is much easier than the exercise!

No radical weight loss, a couple of pounds shifted so far but I do feel better and slightly less sort of bloated - DH has also commented that my shape is starting to change a little (tiny steps) so we shall see......

anyway, I wanted to ask - for my dinner (fast day) I had some very lovely roast red pepper/tomato soup and a little granary toast. I was careful to eat slowly, yet I now feel very bloated and uncomfortabe - I've noticed this on other fast days too, anyone else? It's disappointing to end up feeling uncomfortable instead of virtuous!

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 15/10/2012 23:13

Hey all!

Fast day today, but I messed up a bit towards the end. Started really well, only had a leftover Weightwatchers soup for lunch and a couple of mini breadsticks (and a bit of milk in coffee) up till 6 (and I wasn't even particularly hungry!), so I had enough calories left to have a "normal-ish" tea with the kids - 3 fishfingers, 1 potato waffle and 1/3 can of beans is under 400 cals apparently Shock

Unfortunately I was out in the evening and someone brought lovely chocolates so I was a bit led astray Blush so probably ended up with at least 700 cals. Still a lot less than I would have on a normal day though! So hopefully it will still have some benefit. Must try harder next time though, but hopefully nobody will be waving chocs around then...

HappyOrchid · 15/10/2012 23:18

Well end of Week 9 and weighed in.

Fasted M / W / F last week. Did not eat during day Sat or Sun as just too busy, but did eat tea. Saturday qtr of large pizza, potato wedges and ½ bottle of wine. Sunday, chicken breast with chorizo, 3 new potatoes, carrots and runner beans. Went swimming on Sunday afternoon and spent most of Sat & Sun tidying out spare room.

And.... gained 2lb from previous week. Am v. fed up.
In 9 weeks have now lost grand total of 4lb. Am v. fat and ugly and have decided will do Atkins as it is guaranteed to make me lose weight.

Breadandwine · 15/10/2012 23:48

Hi Blondie and Hopalong

Welcome to the thread on the 5:2 WOE.

All human life is here! Smile

No headaches for me, I'm glad to say, but I have seen others with that problem - they'll no doubt be on here tomorrow to tell you about it.

Love the 30 min brisk (power?) walking - far cheaper than the gym.

NotBill I haven't noticed any bloating - haven't had soup, but tend to have a large veg curry on fast days (which could be a soup if you blitzed it) and have been known to leave some, I've had so much.

Anyway, stick around and I'm sure others will chip in.

Skinnyeye · 16/10/2012 00:05

Hi losers last fast was Thursday and can feel myself slipping back into bad habits Sad have had a 4 day weekend and it was too much. Fasting will get me back on track again tomorrow but lesson learned old habits make me feel bloated and kinda sicky now. I suppose its a valuable lesson. I'm not that person anymore and my new body does not appreciate my old WOE.

kiwigirl42 · 16/10/2012 00:11

Only eaten 320 k today and don't feel too hungry. I am having homemade chocolate cake tomorrow though. Thats what has got me thru today. Saying that, i was surprised how full I felt after a tin of soup. Usually I would have a couple of 1 inch doorsteps and butter with soup but was OK without.

ManOnBoard · 16/10/2012 00:37

HappyO This could just be a blip, I weigh myself daily and notice that my weight can vary by a pound or more up or down for no apparent reason. Possibly water retention or my body reacting to the fluctuating amounts I am eating but the trend is down. You write that you are down 4lbs in nine weeks which is still an achievement and considering that you are still able to eat pizza and potato wedges is excellent.

Everything I have ever read about Atkins makes me wonder why anyone would even consider it, the decrease in bone density, increased risk of heart disease, higher cholesterol etc and NO PIZZA. This WOE, if the claims are correct and they do appear credible, will be beneficial to your health and should result in a long term sustainable weight loss.

You do not say but it sounds like you may have already tried Atkins and, if so, it only delivered short term results. Why not switch to 5:2 so that you do not feel you are depriving yourself as much, also as you had previously lost 6lbs in eight weeks you know this works. Stick with it

pookey · 16/10/2012 01:31

Hapy Orchid Atkins is great for weight loss but ime I always gain back more weight. Could it be much mentioned TOTM but the less pleasent kind?? Dodgy scales?? Do you feel any thinner? It doesn't sound like you had many cals over weekend but would it be worth calorie counting for a while? Not sure I have lost any weight yet but am 12 stone 7 lb and 5ft 4 going to keep trying this woe as don't want to cut carbs. MOB is right you would not be able to have wedges and pizza on atkins.