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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:
cathyandclaire · 22/10/2012 10:12

Normal day here but after big curry takeaway last night I'm feeling stuffed and bloated, so going to put off eating until I've done a 16 hr fast.
My weight is stable-ish which is what I was hoping for Smile

Laska42 · 22/10/2012 10:33

Well I?m back from my big eating weekend away and am pleased that my weight is still the same this morning especially as I enjoyed wine, curry and lasagne at friends homes over the weekend .. I managed a fast yesterday as planned but couldn?t make the best eating choices as I was travelling , so was just fruit and sliced supermarket chicken breast ..
However, I do feel like I need another fast today . So today I?m doing egg and vegetables only, but won?t worry too much if i go over the 500 slightly .. as its 2 days in a row.. but in fact after those last few days of rich food I feel a bit ?post Christmas? already so think ill stick to veggies until the weekend (when I have parents over for the day and have promised to make lamb casserole )
piebald the zero calorie noodles are fine, just wash them first and don?t expect them to taste of anything.. The texture is a little strange to start with but ok I think .. They are filling though ..I found I couldn?t eat he whole packet

trills so sorry to hear about the burglary. I hope they didn?t make too much of a mess .and you are bound to be angry and traumatised so do make sure that you take some time to look after yourself. I?ve never quite got over the loss of my grandmother?s jewellery that was stolen when we were burgled about 20 year ago.. all the rest was replaceable .. ..so sad .

Trills · 22/10/2012 10:37

Thanks Laska - it was two laptops and a phone that went missing, and it was all very neat and tidy.

I have had lots of coffee this morning. Aiming for small soup for lunch then chicken breast with vegetables for dinner.

LookBehindYou · 22/10/2012 10:47

Hi all. Have just had a fab long weekend in the Ardennes.
I posted ages ago - maybe on the second thread about snacking. I really believe it isn't healthy. Plus I think people often kid themselves about how much they really eat when they 'snack'. Three meals a day is the way to go. I definitely think on fasting days snacking isn't good. It negates the whole point of reducing the growth hormone etc.

Breadandwine · 22/10/2012 10:49

"Oh, and breadandwine, I tried a version of chilli non carne last night and it was delicious. Am going to include on my fast day menu..."

Thanks, littlestranger. It's easy and versatile, isn't it?

I made it as a curry on my last fast day, intending to make enough for two meals, but, in the event, I made enough for three - each with 224 calories. I added 100g of microwaved potato to the plate and still came in under 300 calories.

That's all I would have had for the day if there hadn't been a Chelsea bun lurking about.

This Wednesday (I'm now on 6:1) I shall have the 2nd batch which I'd frozen - and I don't intend to have anything else - so less than 300 calories for the day.

I'm finding not eating during the day so easy that I'm working myself up to doing a full day's fast. I'm beginning to think that's the way to go - it would take away all the faffing about with calories, for one thing.

However, I'd have to convince my wife first - which might not be so easy! Grin

mumofcrazynamedkids · 22/10/2012 10:54

morning all, fast day here, i have my 40th party on Friday night so want to get the fasts over with early part of the week. But during weekend away bf wanted to take the kids to mcdonalds, so I had it too, when I was really craving a roast dinner, but we were away and had a train to catch so simply no time.....funny how I read all the calories and just thought, this just isn't worth it, I've never really enjoyed it....well barring a hangover maybe, but now just thought what a waste of an eating opportunity!

so I was really looking foward to fasting today, didn't manage 3 days last week either, because of last minute decision to go away for weekend on Friday, but on my weigh in I had lost another 2 pounds, so that is 10 pounds in 10 weeks, doing just 2 fast days a week< that totally works for me, I am happy continuing at that rate, and knowing that I have up and down weeks where I gain, or stay static, but overall i am losing 1 pound a week. theoretically 9 more pounds loss by christmas, and that would get me to 10 3 where I would be very happy.

sorry to trills for burglary, have you got children? mine were very upset about being burgled, and had nightmare for months after, and like yours it wasn;t messy or anything too personal taken, but sometimes teh shock of strangers being in your house can take a while to sink in, I agree with laska take some time for yourself, take care....but excellent news on 3 pounds down!

enjoy your fast/feast days all.

CrackerJackShack · 22/10/2012 10:55

Co-workers birthday today, so just had a rather large slice of ice cream cake...it had been so long since I had ice cream I think I forgot what it tastes like and went overboard. Feeling bloated now. :(

mumofcrazynamedkids · 22/10/2012 10:56

breadandwine does your wife do this WOE too?

Trills · 22/10/2012 10:58

It's just me and DP, we are fine really. Waiting for lettings agency to call back to say when someone will be around to change the locks.

40th party sounds fun - and I agree that when you see the calorie counts on things it's much easier to think "is this worth it?".

awaywego1 · 22/10/2012 11:02

Have totally fallen off the wagon, lost motivation and finding fast days too hard-so havent fasted probaby for 10 days now. I don't know why but I do have other health problems so wonder whether that affects things. Sad
Well done everyone else-ill keep checking in until I get the motivation to give it another go! Grin

GreenEggsAndNichts · 22/10/2012 11:54

Trills honestly, when I first read your post, because "burgled" had no context, I was Confused that you'd managed to use some UK term I hadn't come across before. Anyway, really sorry to hear it- our apt in Amsterdam was broken into when we went away for a weekend, and it was such a crap feeling to come back to it. Like Laska, they'd managed to get DH's grandmother's jewellery :( as well as some laptops and an iPod. bastards.

I haven't decided if today will be a fast day or not. Monday is usually not, but I made a nice dinner last night so am considering it. I liked my little cafe lunch with DS (3) last Tuesday so much that I think I'd like to be able to do it again this week. (Tuesdays being our full day together.) Oh well, something to think about. Not in a rush to eat today anyway, having a cup of coffee as usual.

away I hope you're able to join us again soon. :)

OP posts:
Trills · 22/10/2012 12:00

That's ok, not sure why I mentioned it really. Apart from my entirely logical "in that case I must have a takeaway" reaction. :)

Breadandwine · 22/10/2012 12:11

"breadandwine does your wife do this WOE too?"

Hi mocnk

She is, thanks, and I'm happy to report that she's lost a 'significant' amount of weight since she began it in early September - she doesn't want to be specific, yet. But I have to say, I'm more hopeful than I have ever been since she was diagnosed with a useless thyroid gland (after having our two kids), and put on loads of weight.

On a fasting day she has 25g porridge oats with 12g sultanas and half a banana. Lunch is two Lidl's rye crispbreads and cottage cheese,;and dinner generally consists of prawns, small baked potato with beetroot and cucumber. So not exactly less than 500 calories, but, since the weight is falling off, I'm not bothered in the slightest. Time enough to move on to strict 5:2 when she's been doing this a bit longer.

audley · 22/10/2012 12:23

First fast day today and going fine :0). Am making a veg Dahl for my tea. Keeping busy is working for me with coffee too

Trills · 22/10/2012 12:25

Green tea with jasmine is much nicer than plain green tea.

I am assuming that anything that is a teabag has no calories unless you add sugar/milk/etc.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 22/10/2012 12:34

breadandwine that's good, sounds like she's making excellent progress, how rewarding for both of you.

i think it really helps if you are both on the same wavelength, my bf stopped doing it, admittedly he was going through a lot of stress with a cutody case going on (we live 250 miles apart) but i'm pretty sure if we had been living together he would have stuck at it, he was losing more than me, am hoping he'll get back into it.

greeneggs i changed my customary tues and thurs fast days to mon and wed as i am also off work on tues and it's the day I can have breakfast at home with my kids (4 + 6) and pick them up from school at 3.30 and cook/bake with them or enjoy a nice dinner with them, seemed unfair to have that as a fast day

Laska42 · 22/10/2012 13:34

Just had some of my roasted carrot, pepper , tomato and lentil soup.. its so good , do try it.... (on the recipe thread).

My favourite is Green tea with lemon grass. (Heath and Heather in Holland and Barrett..) no green tea bitter taste!

loulou969 · 22/10/2012 14:38

Fasting day today. Due to manic morning in work have had a cup of tea with milk(actually managed to drink it with no sugar and it was ok!) and a cuppa soup. Did bring salad but as not horrendously hungry decided to see how far I can go until teatime. Will have veg chilli and have around 200 calories left so praps a jacket potato with it and a hot choc before bed

Aftereightsaremine · 22/10/2012 14:54

Official weigh in & another lb down, though was a little disappointed that it wasn't 2lbs. But it's still downwards so not too disappointed. Off on hols next week so it'll be interesting to see whether I can stick to this woe while abroad or just have a week off. Will decide when I'm there probably.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 22/10/2012 17:11

Fast day here too after I lapsed yesterday - though did go to power yoga rather than have dinner. Should be a good day for fasting as no guests, DH working late, DS long day at preschool and my house is disgusting, major clean and tidy needed!

rachelblythe · 22/10/2012 18:24

Fast day for me. Just had three boiled eggs at lunch and a few coffees with milk. Debating whether to have anything else today. I know I could comfortably not eat for the rest of the evening, but I have some curried cauliflower in the fridge which is within calories and needs eating today. I'll probably eat it as I hate wasting food, but that's the old mentality of eating 'just because' rather than when actually hungry. Its amazing how aware we become of our body now. Had a nice eating weekend and out for done beers and a curry last night with friends...scales said I had gained 3lbs from last weigh in, which was after a fast day, so interesting to see what they say tomorrow after todays fast. I expect to have lost 2lbs of the weekend weight, and the rest again by Friday. I love this woe

Piebaldrider · 22/10/2012 18:57

The day isnt over but i have stayed on the wagon and manged to fast today. Nothing all day ecept my usual black coffe, waterand herbal teas . I mainly drink lemon and Ginger tea as it takes my appetite away and makes me feel warm when i suffer the chills when fasting. I didnt cook my noodles tonight i just wanted to eat quickly so i had a tesco low call chilli that has potato wedges in it for 300 cals and a bowl of salad. I wish i had more time to prepare nice low cal meals like some of you do but if i eat a ready meal i know how many cals im having i suppose.

I think i may have enough cals left for a glass of wine hmmm red or white....

BrigitBigKnickers · 22/10/2012 19:05

Fast day for me. Didn't dread it at all- been amazingly busy so didn't really notice any hunger.Loads of veg and some soup for lunch. Just had three boiled eggs and a bit of salad for tea. Had a bit more than I should have but still works out around 600 cals.

Not finding the fast days that hard any more but really need to reign in my food days as am going too mad. Really going to make an effort this week to eat more sensibly on my food days- at least during the week if I can't do it at the weekend.

Losing around 1-2lbs a week.

Aboutlastnight · 22/10/2012 19:08

Fast day and sm likely to be over calories , but only slightly.

Had small bowl of porridge made with water and tiny splash of milk, three cracker breads at lunchtime and am going to have omelette with veg for dinner.

Have been hungry today

Mintyy · 22/10/2012 19:14

First fast day fail for me! Am feeling v sick with a virus that has completely blocked my nose and ears and made me horribly dizzy - absolutely couldn't stand the hunger pangs as well. I'd already broken my fast by midday with the number of cough sweets and strepsils am crunching.