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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:
TellMeLater · 16/10/2012 05:50

Happyorchid no idea why you are not losing, must be very frustrating. This diet may give me health benefits but weight loss has not been one and I have been doing it from the start but I don't need to lose any more weight.

Low carbing or Atkins may well work for you. But before embarking on it, why not read around the subject and satisfy yourself about the science behind it, once you understand why low carbing produces good health results you will be more likely to stick to it long term. From all that I've read, I've satisfied myself that it's a very healthy way to eat.

CrackerJackShack · 16/10/2012 06:23

So I ended up eating about half of what I thought I would. Which is nice.

I forget what it's like to have access to decent food for decent prices, Good veg (I.e. the kind that isn't rotten within a day or rotten when you buy it) is expensive here in Abu Dhabi. And there isn't much variety. I suppose this is why I've also gained so much weight since moving here. That and the fact you can't walk anywhere.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 16/10/2012 07:46

Hello all - been a bit AWOL as mum isnow staying, thankfully she's also doing 5:2 though and usually has breakfast then mid afternoon dinner, yesterday we both managed til lunchtime when we had a boiled egg each, then dinner of grilled fish and steamed broccoli and greenbeans. Broke the fast in style this morning with chocolate cake for her breakfast but relatively healthy the rest of the day - and I didn't drink due to driving 2hours home after dinner...sorry Mike, but think I've made it pretty clear I'm a girl who loves her drink.

We're planning next fast for Thursday but I'm tempted to do tomorrow as well, I prefer 4:3....

Laska42 · 16/10/2012 08:54

Hi all fasting today .. this will be my last this week now,as away from tomorrow but am going to try and skip breakfast and lunch on thurs and fri aas ill be eating meals with friends inthe evenings.. . maybe ill be able to manage sunday as thats when ill be travelling back..

Blimey! am I obsesssed..? I actually feel a bit annoyed at not being able to have my third fast day this week..

Right confession time.. 1 G&T and over half a bottle of wine yesterday Hmm And it was a school night! .. . DH tells me he wants to retire early (he works away all week now) But if he does im going to have to put my foot down with a heavy hand on weekday drinking.. Its not just his fault though... but so much harder to not have wine in the evening when he is here..

Its going to be a 'wine week' though as visiting a least 3 seperate friends houses .. .. my hope is to STS weight this week . If i can do that ill be happy ..

Have my eggs and roasted carrot, tomato red pepper and lentil soup ready for later.
Happy fasting or eating today

CrackerJackShack · 16/10/2012 09:13

My problem with wine is that I have the hardest time just having one or two glasses. It's always 3. Because after I've had one all my willpower goes flying out the window. LOL.

HappyOrchid · 16/10/2012 10:20

I have done Atkins before originally about 15 years ago and lost 4 stone in 8 months. It took pregnancy and 6 years to gain 2 stone. I did Atkins a couple of years ago just to lose a stone quickly, but TBH I didn't see such quick results and the health side of it worried me. along with the fact that after I first did it my teeth started to fall apart.

I've so far enjoyed this WOE and it really is just frustration that I seem to take one step forward and then two back. I really felt I'd done well over the weekend not going mad on my eat days and I always do a quick calorie tally up even on eat days. I got to 1750 on Saturday and 1450 on Sunday even with the cheeky couple of glasses of wine on Saturday.

I know I need to execrcise more and after next week shall have more time to do so. I am working in Italy for the rest of this week and in Czech Republic next, but fingers crossed I will be in the UK for the rest of the year.

Yesterday I started fasting and lasted til I got home and then shared a quarter of crispy duck with DH & DD. Followed by chicken & quorn and peppers with boiled rice and another glass of wine, which DH kindly brought me as I was on the phone to my boss for an hour and a half. Blush

Thanks for your support, I'm going to re-double my efforts and fast today and Thursday and Sunday (always easy when sitting at the airport for several hours)

It is also TOTM, which arrived out of the blue 4 days early and kept me awake with severe pain most of Sunday night, so probably not in mood for fasting yesterday.

Hoorah for this thread and the great support Thanks

HappyOrchid · 16/10/2012 10:26

Oh yeah meant to say. I'm almost 5' 2" and currently weigh in at 9st 12lb. A good stone heavier than I'd like to be and two stone heavier than I was 20 years ago . At my lightest 6 or 7 years ago I maintained 8st 7lb for a long time.

When I went swimming n Sunday I actually thought I looked in better shape than I have for a while, but the work trousers are def turning over at the top yesterday and today and a couple of blouses were abandoned for gaping buttons, so defo feeling blobby this week.

Also feel as if I have a cold coming, so will try and take it easy on myself.

BananaGio · 16/10/2012 10:37

first fast day this week. Last week was a disaster. Got my period early in the week and was no way I could fast for first few days, then had ds birthday thursday, then ds party sunday so my apartment has been awash with cupcakes and birthday cakes and zero fasting. Found this morn tough getting back on it. Am on my 2nd cup of tea and a couple of low fat biscuits. Was planning on waiting until mid pm but was getting a headache and couldnt concentrate on work. This week is also looking like a 6:1 week as have a night out, a birthday party and then my mum is coming to visit for a week. Thinking that 6:1 is better than nothing though? And then next week should settle down again.

catsrus · 16/10/2012 11:32

on the move again! the scales that is :-)

After 3-4 weeks of not moving an inch I appear to be down another 2 lb, bringing the grand total to 13-14lbs and have hit one of my targets - the weight which, 5 or 6 yrs ago, I declared to be the absolute TOP weight I would ever let myself get to Blush. "If I hit 10st 4lb then I will diet again to get back down to 10 st" it was my 4lb "buffer zone" where my nice clothes would still fit but were uncomfortably tight.

Basically I kept calm and carried on doing 4:3, nothing drastic, but I was a lot more aware of not going overboard on non-fast days. My 'target' expensive skirt fits, but with that bit of muffin top that I need to get rid of. I have started packing away my ugly but comfortable clothes and am working towards a wardrobe where everything fits and I don't have to go to work in the same 'reasonably smart' pair of trousers all the time!

amazing what a psychological difference a couple of pounds makes! Grin

GreenEggsAndNichts · 16/10/2012 11:43

Happy Two things: if TOTM started on Sunday then you've definitely got some water weight if you're anything like me. Grin

Second, if you're doing 4:3, you really don't want a lot of your non-fast days to be 1450. It sounds counter-intuitive if you're trying to lose weight, but it's something to keep an eye on. If you ate like that every non-fast day (and I know you aren't!) you'd only be averaging just over 1000 calories per day. Just something to keep in mind.

cats that's great news! Grin

OP posts:
WeShouldOpenABar · 16/10/2012 11:47

oddly enough after playing host to a friend and all the eating that entails last weekend I seem to have lost a couple of pounds. I'm back to my comfortable weight , so the next thing will be to see if those never shifting pounds that have hung around for years start to go.
I wont be too put out if they dont or if it takes a while I'm back to normal and thats what matters. I find I'm more likely to lose if i ensure I fast for 16 hours straight so I have lunch on my fast day and then nothing but fruit tea.

insprognito · 16/10/2012 12:59

On my 3rd fast day today am finding it a bit easier now.-I've just had lots of veg stirfried in garlic ,chilli, ginger and soy sauce it was really nice and filling. Did about an 1.5hrs exercise yesterday. Some cardio,some weights and the rest legs bums and tums.I do enjoy excercise and feel great afterwards but I'm just going to keep it to the days I'm not fasting. Don't think I've lost any weight yet but I only started last thursday:-) Is there a set day for weighing in?

manyhatson · 16/10/2012 13:21

I'm doing 5:2 and with some tweaks in my 'eating' days (cutting out overeating basically) have lost 13lb in 2.5 months and it's very noticable (fitting into old clothes, people saying how great I look etc). But I've been stuck at 165lb (11st 11lb) for the past 2 weeks however so I'm hoping for some movement this week!

MollysFolly · 16/10/2012 13:42

I see there is now a 5:2 diet book by Jacqueline Whitehart (Amazon £6.99, kindle £3.99 52 pages). Didn't glean anything from the sample that I've not seen on these threads.

My 5:2 journey is progressing steadily - weight loss slowed to about half a pound a week, but not keen to increase to a third fast day at the moment and am reasonably happy.

hoops997 · 16/10/2012 13:47

Hello everyone, weighed in today, another 2lbs gone, so have lost 11lbs in 4 weeks Smile

Which is fab especially as I had McDonalds yesterday but instead of having lots of food, I had a plain burger, chips and water, felt like a treat but came in at 470 cals, was an eat day so wasn't bothered, this WOE is brilliant...

TalkinPeace2 · 16/10/2012 14:51

Well done to those who are losing and hang on in there to those who are on a temporary plateau.

hoops997
That is a REALLY important point you have made about the size of meal that you enjoyed. The fact that the 'eating at McDonalds' treat was settled with far fewer calories (and coins) than used to be the case shows that its much more about awareness than sacrifice.

For those on plateaus - I know its hard to say, but REALLY, REALLY look at your portion sizes. Eat the mix of food you like, but check by weighing that that you are not in fact having a meal that skinny people would regard as being for two.

To help small portions go further, add flavour : chilli, pepper, garlic, curry.
That way you are much more aware of every bite (as you may need a gulp of water in between)

AND
The alcohol intake : I love a drink, but I'm aware of
(a) the calories
(b) the liver damage
so am doing 4:3 on booze ..... ie none, four days a week.

Supper is served with water or squash or milk or fresh fruit juice
Not fizzy as that is equivalent to alcohol for the kids ...

I treated myself at lunch and had a ham and phili sandwich, but made sure it was a level teaspoon of phili on the slice of bread. Still tasted fab.
Chilli for supper - only two tortillas full rather than the three that DH and I used to routinely have ...

hoops997 · 16/10/2012 15:05

It's a massive eye opener talkin I counted up the amount of cals I would have eaten normally and it came to a whopping 1570 cals Blush

So yes, my awareness of food and portions have changed dramatically and it all makes sense why I always struggled with my weight.

mommybunny · 16/10/2012 16:06

Hi all, marking my place back here though haven't had time to read all the posts. I fasted yesterday and have to say it was the easiest I've ever done - you all have made a believer of me that the best way to get through it is to push yourself as long as you can before eating. I waited till 7 last night and had half a carton of Waitrose Love Life chicken and quinoa soup (thumbs up! tasty, warming (much needed with our kitchen roof off and no insulation!), VERY filling and only 185 calories). It left some room for a 125 ml glass of wine later and 4 crisps that I had with some friends who came over in the evening to whom I didn't have to explain that I wasn't having any because I was fasting.

OTOH, DH nibbled through his fast day and was distressed at how little he could have each time. I am definitely converted to saving the calories for one main meal late in the day whenever possible.

I seem to be finding I'm waking much earlier on the mornings right after I've fasted, although I'm going to bed the night before at the same time. I also seem to have lots more energy on those mornings. Has anyone else found this?

MandaHugNKiss · 16/10/2012 16:54

Haven't checked in for a while... but just hopping on to say we still sticking with it. In fact, 'sticking with it' makes it sound like it's an effort - it's really not! DF has lost 10kg so far Shock I continue to lose approx 1/2 lb a week, give or take - this morning I was 58.5kg (and I'm almost 5' 7").

MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/10/2012 17:50

Hi all just dropping in, madly busy with uni work. Very proud to say that I weighed myself and I'm now 12 st 12.5lb. I am so happy :)

ManOnBoard · 16/10/2012 18:10

Really? Seven quid and 52 pages for someone to write "Two days a week don't eat much". Almost tempted to buy it just so that I can write a letter of complaint to the author and publishers. It is a disgrace the way the diet industry rip off the gullible, girth-ically challenged.

MollysFolly · 16/10/2012 18:21

mob Quite!! Grin

2beornot · 16/10/2012 18:30

Hi all.

Eat day today - I have counted calories on my fitness pal and including tea and wine it is 1554 which I'm sure is less than usual for me, but it is still reasonable. The only thing I stopped myself eating was cheese as the amount I would've put in my sandwich was a whopping 210 calories!!

My next fast day is Thursday which I'm looking forward too!!

Pabboo · 16/10/2012 19:54

Hi all.
Just joining for a little support. DH and I have been doing 5:2 since the beginning of August. We are mainly doing it for health reasons - to get some protection against cancers, Alzheimer's etc. but we were happy with the weight loss side effect!
I started at 75kg, and a BMI of 25.1. We use myfitnesspal to ensure we keep up the right amount of calories on non-fasting days (we call them restriction days as it is not really a true fast and I kept getting talked at by people about what real fasting is etc and they were missing the point of what we are doing).

We started eating 3 small meals (I stick to 400-500 cals) but now I am down to lunch and dinner (btw, Dr Mosley has tweeted that he thinks you can spread the cals on a fasting day and he used to have two meals. He now does 1:6 as he was losing too much weight).

I eat a minimum of 1500 cals on non-fasting days, and end up with a week with an average of about 1200 (when you take into account fasting days). We do quite a lot of exercise, and we eat those calories to maintain the 1500 on those days. I know this is accurate and we measure portion sizes, use calorie count analysis on new recipes etc.

I am down to 71.3kg and my body fat is slightly reduced (our scales are good, but I do not think they are very reliable for body fat).
I am a little bemused at the weight loss plateau I have reached (DH too). Most of our weight loss was in the first month - about 3 kg. in the last month I have only lost 0.5kg in total.

Any thoughts on the plateau and whether I should be changing anything? Like I said, we are not doing this solely for weight loss, but I would like to get down to 68kg and shifting these last kgs is proving difficult!

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 16/10/2012 20:08

Had to rearrange our fast days this week because of a work thing for DH, so today was a feed day and I am all confused, because it "shouldn't" be! Tomorrow will be a fast day instead... hauled myself out for my second couch to 5K run and am still standing (just about) - I think I might try and do the next one on Friday which will also be a fast day. What have the rest of you found about exercising on fast days? I'm bit worried it might finish me off... or that I just won't be able to manage it. but I feel I need to give it a go because I've been doing this for six weeks now (I think) but only lost 4 lb, though I'm trying not to get too hung up on that. Technically I'm not really much overweight, but I'm bigger than I feel comfortable at and my clothes are too tight Blush. And I am keeping DH company...