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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:
mjoythomas · 17/10/2012 16:26

Hiya, just had a baby 2 months ago and want to start losing weight. I'm breastfeeding though and wonder if I should wait to start 5:2 diet till I stop? Are any of you breastfeeding and if so has it affected milk supply and so forth?

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 17/10/2012 17:35

Utterly failing to keep up at moment due to visitors but fasting today, salivating over DD's blueberry scone breakfast....Envy

Aftereightsaremine · 17/10/2012 17:36

Thanks mike, though the thought that up to 40% of my calorie needs may be ok is a little scary on the weight loss front.

NotWilliamBoyd · 17/10/2012 17:37

GirlWithTheMouseyHair - hang on in there, you can have a yummy scone tomorrow! Just think how much more you'll enjoy it having resisted temptation today!

PS - How come you've got my hair????

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 17/10/2012 17:40

David Bowie sung about MY hair innit!

NotWilliamBoyd · 17/10/2012 17:47

Ok so picture David Bowie admiring your svelte figure because you resisted the blueberry scone, maybe?

lilimorgana · 17/10/2012 18:01

New person here.

Have been ADFing for four weeks and 'though I don't weigh I have dropped a dress size.

This forum is an inspiration and keeps me going through limited eating days.

Thelittlestranger · 17/10/2012 19:29

Completely underwhelmed by my tuna salad this evening...had half a pot of butternut squash soup at 2pm, and that was yummy though. I have a pudding with calories to look forward to at least.

Ohforduckssake...hope you have made it. Is it worth considering saving some calories for something small in the evening to look forward to, to avoid munching past 7? I was breast feeding for the first few weeks of doing this (have a 4.5 month old) and definitely wanted to snack more...

Phacelia · 17/10/2012 21:07

Well I've got to the end of my first fast day! Phew. I have to say I cannot wait for my bowl of porridge tomorrow morning; it's been very tough. Looking forward to baking some bread tomorrow too and just savouring that hot out the oven.

The worst things for me have been that it has exacerbated my symptoms (feeling shaky, low energy, heart pounding a bit). They're all my typcial bad day issues so I've just had to rest more and hopefully once I've eaten tomorrow they'll disappear. It's not serious, just not pleasant. The hunger has definitely come and gone as it said it would on the programme but that horrible weak feeling hasn't left me. Also I think the fact that I'm fairly housebound has meant the hours have absolutely dripped by. I have done some sewing but being tired meant I couldn't do much except lie still; definitely longed to be up and about and keeping busy.

At the moment I'm a bit down about how hard I've found it as I do really want to stick with it. I think I'm going to struggle to do it 2 days a week. But could definitely do 1, and know I'll appreciate my food a lot more tomorrow. My lunchtime egg and even my plate of pearl barley tonight (in porcini stock, oh my goodness that was good) tasted better than it ever has before. I definitely appreciated having sticks of celery in the house (5 cals for 3 sticks) as I just so wanted something to chew.

Full of admiration to those of you who've been doing this for weeks. Maybe appreciating my food more on non fast days will make the fast ones more bearable.

Piebaldrider · 17/10/2012 21:12

As i didn't do the low cal thing on Monday i did it yesterday instead and then again today which was actually very easy - until now when i have just managed to consume a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc and now i have to go to bed to stop myself having another. I'm not pleased with myself but I'm hoping it wont cause me too many problems . Its so much easier to fast at work but at home i find it more difficult .Most low cal days i have around 600 cals and not 500 and i have still seen a big difference in my shape in just a few weeks. I do worry that its slowed down now and may stop as it has for others . I'm already doing 4.3 so don't have much room to maneuver if i need to do more to keep it going.

I'm finding the ten calorie Jellies i buy very helpful at keeping a sweet tooth at bay and today i have purchased some zero calorie shitake noodles to try on my next fast day. I have seen very mixed reviews on them and they apparently have an odd texture but calorie and fat free its got to worth a try.

Its an eating day tomorrow and im not even looking forward to it how strange is that.

Wishing you all the very best of health happiness and weight loss

MikeOxardForHalloween · 17/10/2012 21:28

Greeneggs I don't think I have a short skirt but I will put something together somehow, and yes kiwi next halloween I will be looking fab!

Mjoythomas I'm breastfeeding and doing 4:3 or ADF. I started when ds was about 1 month, he is 3 months now. It hasn't affected supply or anything at all (he is following the 75th centile perfectly and is very happy. Supply corresponds to how much and how often baby feeds, not how much the mother eats.

TalkinPeace2 · 17/10/2012 21:30

mjoythomas
ignore what celebrities do.
Finish breastfeeding before starting fasting - we (the combined brain of the thread) are unsure about the impacts, but just eating healthily and the odd 16 hour gap should be plenty while you are still feeding small person....

MikeOxardForHalloween · 17/10/2012 21:49

Speak for yourself talkinpeace. I looked into it loads before starting off and satisfied myself that studies had shown that (a) supply is based on demand, and unrelated to mothers' calorie intake, and (b) that the nutritional content of the milk is practically identical regardless of the mother's own diet. And I'm not a celeb.

TalkinPeace2 · 17/10/2012 22:15

LOL
I knew you were - but how old is your small person
also it comes down to how much each person has to lose.
myjoythomas - have a natter with mikeoxard and you can compare notes

did you never have the problem of chilli milk by the way - gave mine the squits if I had too many chillis!

Breadandwine · 18/10/2012 00:42

Hi folks

I've been fasting all day - had a very filling plate of chilli non carne with a baked potato around 7 - and I can't believe just how good I feel, how much energy I have!

The dinner came to just under 300 cals - and that's all I've had today apart from some good filter coffee. I spent the evening with 5 friends, playing cards - they were all drinking wine, while I had black coffee and some fruit juice. I had no desire for the wine, yet I love a dry red! There were bowls of snacks passed around all evening and once again I never even thought of taking any. This is so different from my usual behaviour I find it slightly weird!

I generally have a mug of cocoa at this time of night, and I have a homemade Chelsea bun in the freezer calling my name (although I'm not hungry in the slightest, it's just that those other 300 calories are burning a hole in my pocket, to coin a phrase! Smile).

Phacelia, when I began this WOE back in February, I was very cautious about it and thought I'd do it very gradually. In fact I just cut my calories in half on two days a week. So I'd have half my usual breakfast, half my usual lunch and half my usual dinner. I imagined I'd lose the 3 or so lbs I'd put on over Christmas, but in fact I lost that very quickly and just carried on losing. It was only after the Horizon programme that I went down to 600 calories.

This is just a long-winded way of saying that you don't have to go the whole hog in one go. You could perhaps do as I did and take it a step at a time. Smile

[15 minutes later]
Well, I went for the Chelsea bun option - although I only ate 7/11ths of it. The whole bun worked out at roughly 262 calories Shock, so 7/11ths = 167. Plus the cocoa (no milk, I'm a vegan) at around 15.

So the day's tally looks like this:
........Dinner - 294
.....Fruit juice - 50
Chelsea bun - 167
..........Cocoa - 15
..........Total - 526

(Now I just have to figure out how to make a low-cal Chelsea bun!)

Breadandwine · 18/10/2012 00:53

Meant to say - but it's perhaps better said in a separate post:

For anyone who is serious about the health benefits of this woe other than weight loss, skippyscuffleton's post on the Tips and Links thread, timed at 1523 today, is a must read.

CrackerJackShack · 18/10/2012 06:55

myjoythomas I would finish breastfeeding if I were you. Due to problems with nausea I was eating next to nothing (probably 200 cals or less a day, EVERYDAY) when I was breastfeeding and my milk dried up.

Also, you're only 2 months postpartum RELAX!!! Take the baby for long walks, catch up on sleep and just cut out junk food for now. You'll find the weight shifts.

As for me, finished fasting day 5 yesterday. Started out hard, but ended being really easy. Is it just me or does anyone else look forward to their fasting days? I know that after the next 3 feast days I'll be looking really forward to my Sunday fast.

Also, dropped another pound! Which is surprising cause Aunt Flo comes next week and I usually bloat like a whale the week before.

Thelittlestranger · 18/10/2012 07:31

Non-fast day today and have shepherd's pie or curry planned for tonight.mmm. Also off to the gym, and can therefore step on the scales and see if I've lost anything this week after a slow two weeks of 1lb loss.

Feeling especially hungry this morning, but will do the school run before I have my breakfast, so I can sit down and enjoy it. Also decided to plan my fast day menus better next week, as I had salads for dinner on both fasts this week and it just doesn't cut it in this weather!

Just got my 16 hour fast to do on Friday, and that's it for the week. A nice feeling....

CrackerJackShack · 18/10/2012 08:20

Thank God today is a feast day! VIP's cancelled their trip to my work so all the food ordered for them is now for all of us lowly employees. :D Chicken wings, samosas, mini-pizzas and burgers, eclairs, YUM YUM YUMMY

BrigitBigKnickers · 18/10/2012 08:23

Had my 2 fast days this week already. Just did a weigh in and have now lost a total of 9lbs (in just over 4 weeks.) Grin

I think I probably could be losing more but I am not especially restrained on my food days Blush. But I suppose this is the first WOE I have tried in about ten years where I am losing weight and can stick to it- I don't feel like I am "depriving" myself.

Now have to force myself to go and do 20 mins on my instrument of torture cross-trainer.

ThatBintAgain · 18/10/2012 08:25

Fast day yesterday and feast day (1700cals) the day before. Have put on a pound. What the hell is wrong with me?! Sad

2beornot · 18/10/2012 08:28

Morning all!!

Second fast day today. This ones going to be a little bit harder though because DH is out tonight. Gonna keeps self busy with online Christmas present shopping and topped up on tea.

I told myself I'd only weigh weekly because ours scales are not very accurate and just by leaning you can change by 2lbs so a small weightloss might not show. BUT early indications show I am down on mondays weight! Gonna read up on other health benefits on this WOE tonight too as I came into it purely for weight loss.

Phacelia · 18/10/2012 08:55

Breadandwine think that's a very good idea. It might just be that having 500 calories doesn't go with having M.E but even if I eat 6-700 calories on a fast day that should make a difference. I can only try and see what happens and if I'm not losing weight I can try to drop it lower.

Definitely going to M and S and stocking up on their 'feel fuller longer' range for fast days and am going to eat my main meal at lunch on those days too in the hope that that might reduce the weak and wobbly feelings.

I really enjoyed my bowl of porridge this morning but interestingly I wasn't massively hungry. Just wanted to stop feeling weak. I don't have any desire for a massive lunch either, so that's good.

skippyscuffleton · 18/10/2012 08:58

Breadandwine you deserve a fasting medal for not caving in last night. I hope there was money involved with the cards and you cleared up.
Not sure what to make of not finishing a chelsea bun though Wink

Laska42 · 18/10/2012 09:02

that bint I haven?t kept up with this thread this week, .. Have you posted about this before?.. if so ignore repeated advice you'll have probably already had ..
how often are you weighing?
Have you lost anything at all ?
Have you determined how you should be eating on eating days and tried counting your feed day calories to see if you are too far over ?
What are you eating on your fast days ?
(we are all different but i find sticking to mostly veggies and egg with no refined carbs sugars seems to work for me also getting in the 16 hour break..) . I hope you can find what works for you .. if you?ve been losing and stopped maybe you just need a few days break to ?reset your body engine? (you may have just got used to this WOE) Totally unscientific advice , but could be worth a go, as long as you commit to coming back to it in, say a weeks time..

I?ve found my weight fluctuates up and down 2lbs or so and strangely after the last three fast days I?ve weighed more than I did before .. Yesterday after fasting the day before was teed off at 10. 9 .. This morning ( yes I know I shouldn?t weigh everyday but I?m an obsessive) was 1.5lb less after eating a huge birthday meal with wine and the biggest lemon blizzard dessert id ever seen ( in fact id never seen one before .. it was all cream, ice cream, lemon sauce and meringue .!. couldn?t finish it all though ).
Well I?m away now for long weekend.. Plan is to miss out lunches to make up for what will be big dinners and wine.. Hoping to reach Monday the same weight range as now .
Good luck everyone ..

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