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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:
TheCyclistist · 23/10/2012 22:51

Oh yeah and on the positives, have stopped snoring (apparently) and Blood Pressure has gone from too high to border line too low

karateoap · 23/10/2012 23:37

Hello everyone
I have been reading this thread for weeks - its the best with so much advice and info.
I have been doing this 5:2 diet since mid september and I can't believe I am actually losing weight - about 5lbs in six weeks which is great for me. I have done atkins, WW, SW and even lipotrim and was unable to lose that much weight - over many months without cheating.
Anway:
a. 6 weeks
b. just two days
c. monday and wednesday - no breakfast, small lunch and save most calories for dinner.
d. Much better food choices and snack very little. Feels great that I can have some treats without guilt on the feast days. My nails are stronger. My joints feel better too.
e. sleeping patterns changed - used to go to bed very late - 2 - 3 am and only get up for school runs and work. Now have energy in day but was going to bed earlier. I seem to be going back to old habits that way tho.

I certainly think this is a woe that I can stick with permanently.

Breadandwine · 23/10/2012 23:41
  1. Began eating 50% of normal intake 2 days a week in February. After the Horizon prog I went down to 600 cals or less.
  2. Was on 5:2, Monday and Wednesday, now on 6:1 (Wednesday) because I don't feel the need to lose any more weight.
  3. It's been a gradual process - began with a small breakfast and lunch and a good low-cal dinner. Several weeks ago I thought I wouldn't eat until I felt hungry - at 6.30 in the evening I ate, still not feeling hungry. I'm now doing a 22 hour fast once a week and am contemplating a 36 hour fast.
  4. Lost 5 kilos on the first stage, and I've now lost a further kilo. I've had to put 2 new notches on my belt and I'm thinking about a third; I can now put my socks on whilst sitting down; I have more energy now than I can ever remember - on a fasting day I'm positively buzzing! I'm living proof (IMHO!) that it's never too late to start this WOL. And I've switched to real lemonade for my evening shandy instead of that diet (dread word!) stuff! I now feel as if I'm control of my life and I can look forward to living healthily into old age.
  5. I can be a sanctimonious, evangelising bore on the subject in company (or so my wife tells me!) if I'm not careful. Smile
karateoap · 23/10/2012 23:56

I would like to ask if most people find that the weight loss doesn't slow down unless you are at a good bmi?
I have at least 3 stone to lose so really hoping it won't too much.
Altho I am doing this for the health benefits as well so would carry on anway.

Aftereightsaremine · 24/10/2012 06:44

a. Been fasting since beginning of August
b. mon wed & fri but sometimes allow myself 600-700 cal on a Friday if I have a migraine.
c. Try to go 16 hours between non fast day & fast day. I try to skip breakfast on a Sunday.
d. Have lost 22lbs of the 84 I have to lose & feel fitter.
e. medication delayed till lunchtime on fast days (as I have to take with food) so don't know if that's contributing to migraines....

Aftereightsaremine · 24/10/2012 06:46

Sorry also need to say some weeks I stay the same but made up other weeks think I've been losing on average 1-2lbs a week. Got a long way to go before I'm a healthy bmi!

frenchfancy · 24/10/2012 08:09

a) Fasting since 1st September
b) Fasting Tuesdays and Thursdays
c) no Breakfast, soup for lunch (100cals) followed by active yogurt drink (70 cals) then dinner at 7 ish - veg based no white carbs (320 cals ish)
d) lost about 4kg. Seem to be losing my tired all the time feeling. More energy and motivation. Cleaner house. Lower food bills. Eating healthier all the time.
e) get snappy about 6pm on fast days, headaches on day after fast days for about an hour mid morning.

The fact I am not tired all the time may be related to the fact that DH is sleeping better and has stopped snoring :)

samandcj · 24/10/2012 08:34

1 Fasting since early August
2 Fast Mon and Wed
3 Always do the 16 hr fast. Try to keep below 600 calories. I keep the carbohydrates in check...."...because they seem to make me hungry
On non fast days I am trying to eat 'like a slim person!'
4 Lost approx 20lbs but my biggest success is a drop in cholesterol from 7.6 to 4.29 . Has no body else had their's tested?
5 No negatives really ........just wondering whether I will have the 'ooooomph' to keep this going forever?

mollysfolly · 24/10/2012 08:36

a. mid-august
b. usually mondays and thursdays
c. nothing for breakfast, soup for lunch, eggs or fish and veg for dinner. I try to stick to 400 cals due to being short and inactive
d. lost about 9 pounds and feel really healthy and motivated to continue.
e. addicted to 5:2 thread! Not sleeping very well

welshmill · 24/10/2012 09:19

a) fasting since - last week of August

b) how many fasts a week - started at 5:2 but 'fell' into 4:3 half way through, though I have been contemplating having one of my three fast days as a 1000 calorie intermediate.

c) pattern of fasts (set number of days in-between, how many hours before breaking fast etc) Monday/ Wednesday and either Friday or Saturday depending on what's happening at the weekend. I've stopped eating late at night and have my last meal at 5.30 - 6pm, principally because I used to feel uncomfortably bloated if I ate any later. So on a fast day I tend to have a strong coffee (dash of milk) or green tea first thing and eat around 12-12.30, usually soup/veg. curry or boiled egg and ham. Bottle of water throughout the day and last meal at usual time - gen. fish with lots of veg, baked potato or a low-cal home-made stew. Sugar free gum when a wave of hunger hits (usually mid afternoon) tends to help as well.

d) benefits noticed - weight loss (13lb so far), sleeping well for the first time in years, calmer, sharper and more in tune with my body than I've ever been. My hubby says I have become 'zen-like' Grin. As I've always been a nervous worrying type this is a major change.

e) negatives noticed - nothing major, other than the odd hunger waves on a fast day (hence my toying with the idea of an intermediate day).

Laska42 · 24/10/2012 11:46

a)fasting since Mid August

b)how many fasts a week: 3 ( sometimes its 3 full fasts or sometimes 2 full fasts and one ?intermediate.. i.e. 800-1000cals depending on real life! )

c)pattern of fasts: Sundays, Tuesdays then either Thursdays or Fridays depending. Usually eat 2 meals.. eggs for breakfast and veggies or soup for late/lunch early dinner . This week though I fasted two days in a row (Sunday and Monday) to make up for being away most of last week and being served big meals at friends houses. I usually stick to my 16 hours before breaking fast

d) benefits noticed: MUCH Smaller grocery bill! Grin 13lbs lost back to normal BMI after my weight loss being stalled for at least 18 months despite being on Weightwatchers.. .. Loads of energy - feel much younger than my 54 yr old self, DH tells me I have my mojo back!! Wink
Lack of guilt if I want curry or cheese or Wine Wine Grin
.. Feeling like I?ve finally got my ?eating life? back to something normal .
Don?t feel the need to eat huge meals .. don?t want huge meals.

e) negatives noticed: for I while I had trouble sleeping on fast days, but this has now mainly passed. Can get dehydrated on fast days if not careful . I do talk about it and have converted some friends, but some people have been and still are quite negative.. The other main negative has been in my pocket ?..All of my nice new clothes I bought after previously losing weight on WW are now too big ( and the new clothes in the catalogues I get sent are all so nice!) Grin

mollysfolly · 24/10/2012 11:52

karateoap my weight loss has slowed down to between half a pound per week and no loss, and my BMI is still too high at 25.5. I would still prefer to keep to 5:2 though as I feel I am learning what I will need to do to maintain when that happy time comes.[hsmile]

mumofcrazynamedkids · 24/10/2012 11:58

a. since: Been fasting since 7th August ( 11 weeks this week)
b.how many: 2 on tues and thurs to begin, but now mon and wed, but sometimes change to fit in with plans
C. started eating breakfast, but now try to go til lunch (about 16 hours)eat dinner at 5/6.30
d. positives: Have lost 10 pounds, so average of 1 per week, was low end of overweight, now high end of normal BMI , have also lost some of the guilt feelings about eating what I want on other days; am managing to stop when full again - I had learned this skill on Paul Mckenna, and that worked for a couple of years, but had gone back to bad habits, generally making more conscious choices about what to eat; feel good that my health is probably improving
e. negatives: need to plan my meals for fast days, otherwise I don;t enjoy them and end up going a bit over, which just disgruntles me; have realised I can't do fasts on days off with the kids, my tolerance levels much lower and I am around food much more, but on work days it's fine; did get constipated in first few weeks, but that seems to have settled.

mollysfolly · 24/10/2012 12:02

[hbiscuit] I just wanted to be first to use this emoticon

hoops997 · 24/10/2012 12:59

Hello everyone...

a) fasting since 17th September
b) I do ADF so fast every other day
c) Benefits include 13lbs lost, skin has got clearer, pooing regularly, shape changing and people commenting on weight loss.
d) Negatives, monthly cycle has been thrown into disarray and have had 4 periods in 6 weeks Hmm luckily not heavy or painful.

I can honestly see me eating this week for the rest of my life, I'm portion controlling for the first time ever and only eat when I'm hungry, snacking has pretty much stopped Smile

TalkinPeace2 · 24/10/2012 13:08

a) started fasting on the first day of term
b) Monday and Wednesday or Thursday and routinely going 16 hours without food.
c) no breakfast ever. fast days lots of black coffee then family supper. NO BOOZE Monday to Thursday.
d) 12 pounds lost. Dropped a jeans size. DH has not been on the scales but his waist has dropped 4 inches
e) none really.

Breadandwine · 24/10/2012 13:34

Well, 'best laid plans' and all that! Turns out my wife's going out with some friends tomorrow night, so we're making today a fast day - her second this week and my first.

Laska "but why are you making the face if she has a sweet?"

That was the old me (this method has made me a new man - although I was pretty much there already! Wink) Before 5:2 I wouldn't have dreamed of encouraging her to have a sweet when dining out - now I can do that happily!

Neither would I have bought her a box of Thornton's chocs for our anniversary as I did for today. I'm pleased to report she was properly gobsmacked!

We exchanged cards and gifts last night after midnight - she did exactly as I predicted, taking a couple and handing me back the box so that I can give her one or two a day.

It did my little heart good to see her choosing her favourite - coffee cream! Neither of us can remember the last time she had such a thing - it's certainly the first time in many years that she's had one without any guilt attached!

This WOL is just the bees knees! Smile

That chocolate mouse recipe, Laska was the one I found on google - looks really good. I've got avocado on my shopping list for tomorrow and I'll let you know how it turns out.

BrigitBigKnickers · 24/10/2012 14:47

Struggling today. Fast day on Monday went fine but today I am starving and shaky- which I haven't been for a few weeks on my fast day. Wondering if AF imminent might be the problem...

Don't want to spoil it- am going on Holiday next week and will not be fasting again till 5th November so determined to keep to it today-just need something to distract me!

TellMeLater · 24/10/2012 14:56

Started fasting mid August
2 fasts a week, usually Mon and Wed
I usually have coffee for breakfast, a light lunch and a curry for dinner
Positives - fingers crossed there's health benefits as there's no weight loss, no gain either, which is good.
Negatives - hunger can be quite distracting, mood can be poor at times and depending on what im doing I can get very tired and suffer from poor concentration.

mummyof2girlsx · 24/10/2012 15:12

Hi, I am new to this thread and also new to this WOE. I started just over a week ago and have lost 4lbs (smile)
I am doing 4:3 (aiming for Mon Wed and Fri) but due to last minute plans with family I have not done a fast day today. I am considering doing 2 consecutive fasts on Thur and Fri, has anyone ever done 2 together?
Have picked up lots of great tips and information from this thread, thanks everyone (grin)

mummyof2girlsx · 24/10/2012 15:14

Hi, I am new to this thread and also new to this WOE. I started just over a week ago and have lost 4lbs Smile
I am doing 4:3 (aiming for Mon Wed and Fri) but due to last minute plans with family I have not done a fast day today. I am considering doing 2 consecutive fasts on Thur and Fri, has anyone ever done 2 together?
Have picked up lots of great tips and information from this thread, thanks everyone Grin

mumofcrazynamedkids · 24/10/2012 15:54

breadandwine huge congratulations on your wedding anniversary, and so lovely you and your wife get to enjoy giving and receiving guilt free chocolates! (kind of a shame it's taken this long to get to that guilt free stage, in my world celebrations have always been exceptions to everyday rules...and additionally I have a drink champagne for sad things as well as happy mantra, if you don't you will surely never drink enough!)

shame it's a fast day, but you'll hopefully enjoy many more indulgent days together now you have a working strategy.

ManOnBoard · 24/10/2012 15:56

i) 12 weeks
ii) Monday and Wednesday plus occasional Thursday or Friday
iii) Now having only dinner and find soup seems to work best at shrinking the stomach
iv) Food bills down, BMI was 33.1 and today 29.8 (not obese) and as I have fewer chins so saving on shaving foam
v) Never read so much about cycles and motions

Hoops "pooing regularly, shape changing" too much, really too much

hoops997 · 24/10/2012 15:59

MOB Blush

Breadandwine · 24/10/2012 16:15

Thanks, mocnk. I'm with you on the celebration stuff - trouble is the kids (and now the grandchildren) have always piled in with the chocolatey stuff, so I haven't felt like adding to it. Now I don't care! Smile

Just posted this on the Tips and Hints thread:

Here are some Q&As on fasting, written by a bloke who, while admittedly is flogging stuff, seems to have most of his info freely available. It's a fascinating blog - well worth a bit of a browse:

www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-questions-answers/#axzz2A9hW1Alh

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