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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:
frenchfancy · 17/10/2012 10:03

Thanks for the link Trills Grin

ThinkICan · 17/10/2012 10:12

Had stalled for 2 weeks after a month of successful ADF. Was planning on having a 400 cal dinner after just coffee and tea and one corn on the cob during the day. Ended up not having the evening meal. Had gone to a movie and went to bed after just having low cal yogurt. Found the scales had shifted down 2 lbs this morning. Don't know if this will be maintained and if a total fast is the only way to make things budge. Am eating 3 meals today and will continue with ADF and report on progress, or lack of it!

skippyscuffleton · 17/10/2012 10:14

you can't say the breakfast skippers are consuming less calories unless you know how many calories the breakfasters consume at lunch.
Breakfasters - 730kc at b'fast plus lunch of ? kc
Non b'fasters - 0 kc at b'fast plus 876kc at lunch

I would say it's unlikely that the b'fasters will have a lunch of less than 146kc?
The other key point of the study is that the b'fast skippers appear to be drawn to fatty food later in the day (as per the title), with all its negative health associations.
Hope my maths is right Wink

CrackerJackShack · 17/10/2012 10:22

Had my WW meal for lunch (280 cals) and feeling a bit more human. Not sure what to do for dinner. I have more WW meals in the freezer, but would rather a salad...

frenchfancy · 17/10/2012 10:33

You don't know how many cals anyone had for lunch skippy - it doesn't say. Way is says is that those who had no breakfast ate on average one fifth more for lunch than those who had breakfast ate for lunch.

So
Breakfasters - 750kc breakfast + x lunch
Non breakfasters - 0kc breakfast + 1.2x lunch

So by my calcs non breakfasters eat less up to the point at which lunch is over 3750 cals Shock

Being drawn to fatty food is not the same as eating it, I dreamt of cheese scones the other day, but I still haven't made them.

mommybunny · 17/10/2012 10:36

A couple of hours after breakfast (usually a bowl of cereal and semi-skimmed milk) on the day after a fast day I am usually ravenous for lunch. However, I usually am not so hungry following the same breakfast if I have not just fasted the previous day. Not sure why that is.

I know it's obvious, but it's worth remembering that the result of not having breakfast (seeking out, and then eating, higher fat foods) really only applies to those who aren't conscious of what they're eating. We on this forum are all very aware of what we're eating and have made a conscious decision to forego meals and to plan what we're going to have when we do finally eat, in order to keep within a calorie limit.

LookBehindYou · 17/10/2012 10:53

Yes I had the same thing. I had porridge yesterday morning, didn't have time for lunch and felt terrible in the afternoon. Very shakey and tired. I don't have that at all when I skip breakfast which is what I've been doing for quite a while.

Mintyy · 17/10/2012 11:03

My only contribution is that I am a natural breakfast skipper because I am just not hungry usually. I don't like breakfast cereal and don't allow myself more than 2 slices of bread per day so can't have toast if I want a sandwich for lunch, which is what I usually have. So its very rare for me to eat breakfast. I usually eat two meals per day, the first at about midday/12.30 and the second at 9pm.

Still fat though Grin.

Trills · 17/10/2012 11:11

I am a natural breakfast skipper because I don't generally feel like eating until at least 2 hour after I have got up.

I did have a piece of (brown seedy) toast with butter today because I really fancied it last night (fast day).

Breadandwine · 17/10/2012 11:16

Brilliant link, Trills! Grin

"takes the edge off appetite" said the 'nutrition expert' - I don't even know what that means??

If those participants had been given all the info that we've gleaned over the past few months about the 5:2 system, the results would have been entirely different, I'm willing to bet!

As HO says, crap and lazy research. (By the way, let's hear it for HO's boss!Wine)

Can I make a plea for anyone posting a link to cut and paste your post and stick it in the Tips and Links thread?And if you could make a note on here that you've done that, that'd be good.

Fasting day for me, so I've made myself some nice filter coffee (in a vacuum flask, so it's there, available at any time, all day!). I won't eat until this evening.

Thelittlestranger · 17/10/2012 12:43

Feeling really good today, on my fasting day...

Laska, good talking to you gave yourself! It seems that quite a few of us have experienced a stall, but it also appears to me that those who have been doing it longer than me and experienced a stall are now moving downwards again...my 'stall' was last week - but I maintained after a very boozy and eat what you like weekend away. So, i can handle that.

Grreeneggs, when doing weight watchers I found that if I didn't have breakfast, them I was more likely I to snack at the kid's tea time. WW did work for me, but it wasn't something I could see myself doing long term, like this.

Today I managed to do up my pre-pregnancy jeans...I wouldn't wear them with the muffin top I had, but it feels so very close!!

Phacelia · 17/10/2012 13:10

Hello! I'm finally joining you.

I have been browing the 5:2 threads for ages but it wasn't the right time for me to start the actual regime.

I'm on my first fast day and really finding it fine so far. Didn't eat till 11, and only had one really shaky patch at about 10 (I have M.E so not eating regularly does exacerbate my symptoms. I'm going to monitor this really carefully and if I'm getting worse on this woe I will have to stop).

Had a ryvita and boiled egg and just had some pea soup for lunch. Tea will be an apple and then supper some pearl barley and veggies in stock.

It definitely helps that I can say to myself I'll be eating normally tomorrow. If I can lose some weight doing this I'll be ecastic; I have about 2 stone to lose and I can't really exercise because of the M.E (exacerbates it hugely). I am also tentatively hopeful that, given this is supposed to promote cell repair, I might start feeling a little better day to day. You never know.

Not sure how much I'll be able to keep up with this thread as I'm trying to cut back on computer time, but will lurk and hopefully occasionally post.

TalkinPeace2 · 17/10/2012 13:37

Welcome Phacelia good luck with it. And do keep us updated as your input will add an extra dimension.

Re the Breakfast thing.
I gave up breakfast when I was 14. DD has just given it up. I ALWAYS have either a glass of orange juice or a glass of milk and a mug of tea. I am insisting that she has either milk or OJ every morning while she is still growing.
BUT
She eats the same lunch and supper as she did before
and my weight gain had far more to do with wine and cheese and late night munchies than breakfast!

Thelittlestranger
the jeans test is the best of all. Scales go out of adjustment. Waistbands do not lie.

MikeOxardForHalloween · 17/10/2012 13:49

Aftereights i think the adf researcher on the documentary said 25 to 40 % so i think you'd be ok. sory for crap typing, baby is sleeping on me! I was feeling a bit bad for my 600 cal breakfast until i read the posts aboout 750cal ones, feeling almost virtuous now, haha!

NotWilliamBoyd · 17/10/2012 13:56

Hi everyone,

Still feeling very positive - not so much on the scales evidence (will weigh again on Friday) but my shape is slightly different and what is particularly brilliant is that my 'ciabatta bread dough' (I know, sounds disgusting, but that's what it reminds me of!) belly is definitely shrinking and firming up. Hoorah!

Less hooray is that I'm not fasting today as yesterday I had a horrific migraine, first I've had for months, and a colleague has today suggested that it could have been triggered by my new WOE and its impact on blood sugar etc.

I'm going to fast tomorrow instead, I'm definitely not giving up, but would welcome any ideas from anyone about this???? Colleague (well, friend) is clearly concerned that I'm doing myself no good........

OHforDUCKScake · 17/10/2012 14:13

I had another week off

Im really struggling with this diet now. The baby is feeding constantly and its killing me. Im usually so good with sticking to diets but having a child at my boob constantly and lowering my calories was a killer on my last fast day.

SO Today is a fast day and Im giving myself 200 calories extra I need them. I figure going 200 more is better than having no 'low calorie' day at all. And I put money on burning more than 500 calories feeding him.

I hope to post back before I go to bed to say I stayed on the wagon.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 17/10/2012 14:28

ohforducks you go girl! I think it's inspirational that you are even attempting it while breastfeeding, when i BF'd i stuffed my face with biscuits/cakes and gallons of high sugar squash, the craving for instant sugar kicks was massive, i genuinely think increasing your cal allowance by 200 cals will be absolutely fine and you will still lose weight, better to find something manageable and move forwards from there.

good luck!

MikeOxardForHalloween · 17/10/2012 14:45

ohforducksake Good idea. I'm finding that feeding ds is helping because he is always on me so I can't get to the fridge!! :o To be fair, I probably could put him down a bit more than I do, but he's my last baby and I'm soaking up every second of baby snugglyness before he grows up! (Hes 3 months now).

HappyOrchid · 17/10/2012 14:57

Breadandwine Yes, my boss is a very nice man. He not only came here rather than me travelling to Italy he bought very nice chocolates for all the girls in the office. I will take him for a nice dinner tonight (good job I fasted yesterday)

Am feeling quite low with tonsilitis so it was appreciated that he got up at silly o'clock to fly here at short notice. He will visit some UK customers while he's here so not a total waste of air miles Smile

Hopefully if I can taste it I will enjoy my meal at v. posh restaurant tonight and maybe a glass of Wine

Am determined that this week will be the last of the plateau, will drop weight this week and feel better by next week.

MikeOxardForHalloween · 17/10/2012 15:20

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh bollocks. I ordered a slutty nice halloween costume in a ridiculous ambitious size and it just arrived and doesn't bloody fit obviously. Shit. Now I feel really crappy and gutted and I don't have anything to wear for the party except the hat, and nobody wants to see that much of me. :(

MikeOxardForHalloween · 17/10/2012 15:22

It is a very nice hat. I was going to go as a slag witch, you see. But I'm not as slim as I intended to be by next week. :/

GreenEggsAndNichts · 17/10/2012 15:40

Could you not build a costume around the hat? Get some funky tights, short skirt from wardrobe, leather boots? Tis what I do with the ridiculous witch hat I made several years back. I trot it out every couple of Halloweens. :) (witch hat made from furry leopard print fabric. Er, not the realistic looking sort)

OP posts:
OHforDUCKScake · 17/10/2012 15:48

Thanks mikeoxfard
Id love to just ear biscuit and cakes like I have been the whole duration of bf, but he's 16 months now and I dont plan on stopping any time soon.

With my first he self weaned at 11 months, annoyingly I dropped half a stone with no effort at all and got to my ideal weight.

I just dont want to keep gaining. I also dont want to be 'good' every day to keep at an even. This diet allows me to eat cake and biscuits. If only I can stick with it!!

So far so good though. Its from 7pm I struggle though...

kiwigirl42 · 17/10/2012 15:49

oh well, maybe next halloween aye? Smile

Phacelia I have fibromyalgia and haven't noticed pain being worse on fast days - I actually feel quite energised the night of a fast which is weird as I've usually got the energy of a wet dishcloth if I'm lucky. Let us know how you get on.

I'm fasting today, all ok so far

ManOnBoard · 17/10/2012 16:21

Strange how we interpret things differently, re the "skip breakfast" article I read it as meaning if you are feeling hungry and not concerned over your calorie intake you are more likely to opt for the less healthy, more calorific choice. They supported this with the MRI scan readings, but why not test the theory for yourselves, on a fast day serve your meal and put it alongside a second plate wih a large slice of chocolate cake. Due to self control you will hopefully opt for the healthier choice but which of the two is the more appealing?

The BBC site has a link from the article regarding breakfast being the most important meal of the day but also said this would usually be cereals and not a full english. They do mention blood sugar levels but my interpretation is what would normally constitute breakfast is likely to contain the largest proportion of most people's nutrients and vitamins.

A colleague who does not have time for breakfast, due to being out and getting up late, will often have elevenses of pain au chocolat and a latte (french and italian, whatever happened to tea and a bacon butty?). Proof enough I think!