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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 · 23/10/2012 16:41

bread and wine
its this: www.vegrecipesofindia.com/dark-chocolate-avocado-mousse/

I think i could do 22 hrs but 36 hmm
Yes ! take her out ..but forgive me, but why are you making the face if she has a sweet? Good grief ! after 42 years she certainly deserves one !Grin

GWTMH yes it was back to back .. but only because id stuffed myself so silly the few days before i didn't really feel like eating at all for a whole week! But it was surprisingly easy ..

frenchfancy · 23/10/2012 17:25

Foodietoo the 16 hour idea is that by going for 16 hours or more with no food your body uses up its glycogen reserves and goes into fat burning. As you are then only having 500 cals for the next 20 hours or so your body continues to burn fat during that time as it doesn't have enough cals to build back up the reserves.

Not everyone does it though as some need breakfast. There hasn't been enough research done to show if you get more health benefits by going for more than 16hrs or not. It doesn't seem to make much difference to the weight loss.

I do 16-17 hours as I find having breakfast is counter productive as it makes me hungrier.

Laska42 · 23/10/2012 17:39

This WOE is all a bit unproven , but the 16 hour gap is thought to be optimium for the health benefits. I'm not sure it matters when you do it .. i've found that i've been losing steadily by having breakfast and and a very early dinner on fast days (eating 500 cals total ) and then going 16 hrs until eating again .. Some people just have one meal on fast days.. (and some are also doing ok losing weight without the 16 hr gap ..)

You might need to try all ways and see what works for you ..

FoodieToo · 23/10/2012 17:45

Thanks folks!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 23/10/2012 18:02

The 16 hr gap sounds necessary for the cells to go into repair mode, according to some of the follow-up questions posted in the blog link a page or two ago. I am not sure anyone has said anything concrete as to whether or not it helps fat loss. Anecdotally, though, I'd say that I think I am losing more than I would with just the simple calorie deficiency, and it's possible that's due to the longer fasting window than I'd have if I ate more than once on a fast day. I tend to have at least one 16 hr window, if not too, depending on how late I eat in the day.

As Laska says, it's all still being researched on humans, and those of us posting here are pretty much our own little research group. Wink

OP posts:
cathyandclaire · 23/10/2012 19:39

Uggggh....eaten a load of rubbish today, tons of macademias and dark chocolate (so mostly low carb and expensive rubbish Blush). Am looking forward to fasting tomorrow.
Off to cook some veggies so that I've had some nutrients other than fat!!!

TalkinPeace2 · 23/10/2012 19:46

For those who say its unproven - not quite the case : Intermittent fasting has been going on for years and years and years. Remember Dr Moseley met the skinny miserable looking guy who only ate the outside of apples!
5:2 is new in that its a softer form of ADF - but ADF has been around for yonks

How do you think those skinny celebs get away with being seen eating burgers? - cos they do not eat the next day !!!

cathyandclaire · 23/10/2012 19:51

Too right TalkinPeace. Also in 'French Women don't get fat" the author talks about a life time of small indulgences and subsequent cutting back to compensate...
exactly what I will be doing tomorrow!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 23/10/2012 19:58

To clarify, I meant the 16 hr window specifically. I know the fast day works for weight loss regardless of how you consume the calories, because it's mentioned in the weight loss-specific study done in Chicago. Participants were told to consume 500 calories on fast days, however they saw fit, and they all lost weight.

I am just wondering, myself, as to whether or not the window helps even more.

(skinny celebs- don't get me started on the eating disorders.)

OP posts:
Laska42 · 23/10/2012 20:03

oh yes youre right talkInPeace and didn't we all just want to be married to him! Grin

Actually on eating days I also tend to be veering to towards the 16 hour thing now...... either stopping eating early or starting late .. I just don't like to be too full any more , that why I found last (4 day visiting) weekend so hard and ended up doing two fast days in a row.. .

Thelittlestranger · 23/10/2012 20:39

I agree Laska...I am automatically not eating breakfast or lunch on the weekend if I'm not hungry. Never done this before. I don't tend to do it during the week, directly after a fast day though...

Lovely eating day today and tomorrow is my 2nd fast day of the week...I will do my usual 16/17 hour fast then soup for lunch and then chicken/veg curry for tea.

Just the skin on the apple? Where is the joy in that?

Sputnik · 23/10/2012 21:01

You thought that guy looked miserable...
I remember another Horizon documentary maybe 10 or so years ago, looking at life-prolonging, there was a guy on 1200 cals a day, now he looked miserable. And it turned out he had given himself osteoporosis :(
Joe looked pretty fit by comparison.

TheCyclistist · 23/10/2012 21:04

Hi Breadandwine , yeah I know what you mean about the not eating-not feeling hungry then as soon as you eat- finding the urge to eat more much stronger. Unfortunately that's always been my problem with booze as well Wink .

Hi FoodieToo . Basically as the others have said the 16-20 hours (I don't think the optimum time is clear yet) is a possible benefit to health but 'may' not have any additional benefit for weightloss. From what I've read, though I'm no scientist. if you fast virtually totally for any length of time this will effect how the pancreas releases insulin into the body and certain chemicals/hormones released by the liver. This in-turn has an effect on the every cell in your body and 'may' decrease your chances of certain cancers, diabetees, heart problems and Alzheimers - the Horizen programme goes into it in some detail and there are further links here on Greeneggs and Breadandwines threads.

On an 'Up' day I now try not to eat after about 9.00 in the evening, I'll then try and go through to about 2.00 the following afternoon before I have anything to eat. I'll then eat about 600 cals during the remainder of that day, then start eating normally the following morning.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 23/10/2012 21:14

I definately find once I"ve broken the fast I"m mroe likely to carry on eating - hungry or not. Years of "fuck it I may as well stuff my face now the rest of the day", very hard to break that habit!

Friends coming over for dinner tonight, bringing with them "hamburger helper" a very very high calorie content and fatty fast food - they've been desperate to introduce us to it. Thankfully I"ve only had 3 rich tea biscuits and a 5seed health bar so far today, will therefore not eat anything else (Except Tuesday treat with DS which is frozen yoghurt) until dinner, to compensate in advance and attempt to stay within 2000kcals for the day....a good reminder actually to myself because was about to make some lunch but have instead realised I'm not actually hungry so shouldn't "waste" the calories

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 23/10/2012 21:19

Actually it'd be nice to get an update on everyone? Not neccessarily weight lost, but the fasting habits you've got into? something like:

a) fasting since
b) how many fasts a week
c) pattern of fasts (set number of days inbetween, how many hours before breaking fast etc)
d) benefits noticed
e) negatives noticed

Something like that anyway...be interesting to compare and I especially would like to know how people are developing in terms of how long they're going before breaking the fast, patterns to it etc. I'll start unless anyone has any other question ideas?

a) End of September (5weeks)
b) usually 3
c) days dependant on what's going on that week - try to do 16hours before breaking fast, try to keep 16hours on the other side of eating too. Try to leave it as late as possible but normally eat 1-2pm
d) despite chronically awful sleep from DD at the moment, more energy than I thought I would. Body shape improving despite no dramatic weight loss
e) If I don't get enough calories in before the evening on a fast day I am get really really ratty with DC and start to feel a bit like I'm on speed...

Pabboo · 23/10/2012 21:33

I have a question!
DrM has moved to 6:1 as he was losing too much weight, and my DH doesn't need to lose any more (I could do ith another 3kgs) - we are thinking of knocking it down to 1:6 too. But is there any research at all that suggests that this will offer those other health benefits?
I know the research is lacking - but even a scientist saying "maybe" might be enough for us right now!

girlwiththemouseyhair
Actually it'd be nice to get an update on everyone? Not neccessarily weight lost, but the fasting habits you've got into? something like:

a) fasting since - Beginning of August
b) how many fasts a week - 2
c) pattern of fasts (set number of days inbetween, how many hours before breaking fast etc) - monday and thursday (but flexible, fasting today as had a meal out yesterday). Usually have lunch and dinner, but reading up on the feastfastfeast blog I realise I am not doing the recommended 24hrs so may move it to just dinner - but I am not convinced I would get through the day...
d) benefits noticed - lost 8lbs, feel healthy and fit
e) negatives noticed - mean, horrible, crabby Mummy and wife on calorie restriction days, tired and less energy on those days, also I do indulge probably too much on my "up" days (I allow myself 1700 plus exercise calories at the moment, just til I hit my target weight).

Sputnik · 23/10/2012 21:47

ok:

a) fasting since mid august

b) how many fasts a week: 2

c) pattern of fasts: I've always done monday and thursday, but my lifestyle is pretty regular. I started off having lunch and dinner, then late afternoon snack and dinner, now just dinner (except a bit of tea and coffee in the day).

d) benefits noticed: so many really! Weight loss about 7 kgs, and I'd just about despaired of losing weight at all since turning 40. I don't find it at all difficult, in fact I quite look forward to fast days, I'm seeing this as a way of life now and a fab tool for health and weight maintenance. Snacking down, wine consumption down, and I've got back into the mindset I had (back when I was a size 10) that a dessert or cake has to be really good for me to want to eat it. I think my energy levels a generally up.

e) negatives noticed: I do get ratty and lose concentration from around 6ish onwards on a fast day, up til then I'm ok. Struggling to think of anything else.

Thelittlestranger · 23/10/2012 22:02

a) fasting since start of September, so 8 weeks...have now lost 11lbs.

b) how many fasts a week - 2 and an additional 16 hour fast, although I sometimes do another one unintentionally.

c) pattern of fasts (set number of days inbetween, how many hours before breaking fast etc) Started off doing Monday and Thursday, now do Mondays and Wednesdays, and 16 hour fast on Friday. Usually eat something small like soup or a boiled eff about 1/2pm to stave off afternoon grumpiness, have a milky coffee for breakfast, 250 cals meal and I make sure i save enough calories for a small pudding in the evening (eg Greek yoghurt and raspberries)

d) benefits noticed - i'm steadily losing weight whilst eating the food I love still, finally have portion control, much more aware of the food I'm eating, realise that i'm actually ok if i get hungry. Have realised that tomatoes are actually quite nice to snack on. I can honestly see myself eating like this forever...

e) negatives noticed - can get grumpy before dinner on fast days, can feel slightly dizzy when at the gym the day after fast days...that's about it!

Thelittlestranger · 23/10/2012 22:04

Forgot to add another benefit....I have gone off chocolate!

Skinnyeye · 23/10/2012 22:11

Hi losers, gainers and stay the samers

1 Started fasting beginning of September
2 Fasting twice a week (Monday and Thursday) - not this week (had to abandon fast day yesterday as DP took me out for a lovely Thai meal Grin so fasting today
3 I have black tea and coffee during the day and save my calories for an evening meal. Sacrificed the meat element of today's meal and am having a glass of chilled white (bad day icon?)
4 More energy, sleeping better, finger nails growing like never before, people are commenting on my new shape, lower food bills, loads of new recipes and meeting you guys
5 Can't really think of any negatives other than having to buy new work clothes and needing to get my suits altered

Skinnyeye · 23/10/2012 22:14

Am finding eating once a day much easier and am thinking about trying 4:3 next week to mix it up a little

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 23/10/2012 22:28
  1. since early September
  2. twice a week, mostly Tues and Fri but depending on what else is going on
  3. cup of tea with milk for "breakfast", then fruit teas all day until supper
  4. some weight loss (more for DH), and "feel" thinner
  5. really tired on fast days (is this the lack of caffeine?) and, um, this might be TMI... terrible wind! Blush
GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 23/10/2012 22:42

Actually I should probably add to the positives finding what feels like a sustainable woe forever, no more horrid guilt of eating "naughty" foods (which used to lead to binging on aforementioned naughty foods), less food wastage

Bordercollielover · 23/10/2012 22:42

1 since mid August
2 mostly 3 per week, Mon, Wed and Fri but not rigid.

  1. One white coffee, gallons of black tea, green tea, liquorice tea, lime juice in water, vegetarian stock cubes dissolved all day until raw veg in the evening. Try to minimise grain products on eating days and none on fast days. Am vegetarian.
  2. Lost 2 and a bit clothes sizes, approx 16lbs in weight. Now top end of overweight after being Obese for 15 years. Another 35lbs to lose.
  3. Feel younger, walk faster, generally feeling better and more energetic.
Food habits improved, stopped snacking, grazing and overeating. Lost taste for junk foods. Am smaller now than at any time in the last 15 years. Just feel good.
  1. Sometimes starting to get the munchies again in the evening of an eating day.
TheCyclistist · 23/10/2012 22:44
  1. Can't remember exactly when but think it was early August
  2. Usually fasting 3 days each week: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
  3. Usually stop eating about 9 or 10, the night before a Fast day, eat 600 cals on a Fast day but try not to consume calories until around 2.00 pm. I always try an exercise early every on on a Fast day as I find it helps distract me. Start eating anything I want the morning after a Fast day. So basically consume about 600 cals over a 30 hour period.
  4. Lost alot of weight, changed my body shape, feel MUCH younger, feel much less bloated, eating a lot of very tasty food on non-fast days but still losing weight, food bills are lower but eating better
  5. Concentration on Fast days can be poor, my sleep patterns have changed but hard to say whether for the better or worse. Not as... er regular as I used to be on the loo.
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