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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:
Aboutlastnight · 08/10/2012 19:07

Am 9 stone 12 - down from 10 stone 9 about 8 weeks ago.

Am on a fast day today - omelette this morning, veg stir fry tonight. Had a blow out weekend: had a few drinks, went to cinema, had a curry bug foolishly ordered a starter which meant I couldn't manage the main course!

Have drunk rather a lot so probably gained a few pounds but the beauty of this is that I know I will continue to fast and the overall trend wi be downward, especially as my appetite is much smaller.

MsIngaFewmarbles · 08/10/2012 19:38

First fast day and it's ok :)

So 11 weeks until the trip to the in-laws for you know what. I'm hoping to lose enough weight that SIL won't feel the need to tip her head sympathetically at me all day every frigging day whilst we're there Hmm

Piebaldrider · 08/10/2012 20:01

Weeks 3-4 not going so well , I know i blew it and so last week was not a 4.3 but 5.2 but i suppose its not the end of the world. Trouble is the same thing has happened this week and im not sure i will make 5.2 if i carry on like this. Overall i have found the fasting days fairly easy but the last few times i have fallen apart in the evening and eaten or drank possibly both something i shouldnt. I cant understand why when i found it fairly easy at the start i suddenly cant do it. Im not beating myself up as that wont help and i know i can start again tomorrow but its hard to stay focused when you know you have let go of the reins and the horse has run away with you. I'm hoping posting my thoughts will get me back on track. Thanks to all beacuse i wouldnt be doing this without knowing you were too.

Health happiness and weight loss wishes to all.

TalkinPeace2 · 08/10/2012 20:16

piebald
It sounds to me like you need to analyse your eating patterns and habits more.
The whole point of this WOE is that you stop snacking and leave decent gaps between the times that you put calories into your system - at least one 16 hour gap per fast.
Are you snacking?
Why are you snacking ? What prompts you to start picking in the evening?
Why is that food in the house in the first place .....

Take a step back and get the 16 hour gap easy to do.
Then add in an extra bit to do the 500 in 24 hours.
If you are hungry in the evening, avoid eating all day and then have a really filling supper (I just had a HUGE bowl of soup and had to loosen my belt - all 420 calories thereof!)
Others have very accurately said that there is a real mindset to eating too much, and only once you have recognised it can you turn it round and get the eating the right amount mindset.
Hang on in there.
And take little steps at first

Sputnik · 08/10/2012 20:29

Piebald hang in there and keep trying, I find if I plan rigidly what I'm going to eat it's easier to stay on track. Don't know if you have other people around you eating and drinking stuff you shouldn't but if you do try and go off into another room or something before you get tempted.

Sputnik · 08/10/2012 20:32

Agree about trying to leave it til the evening, I just had a huge veggie curry, I couldn't finish it. Then enough calories left for some plain yogurt and blueberries. Up til dinner I just had coffee, tea and water.

Mintyy · 08/10/2012 20:36

Can I ask a favour? I'm not on myfitnesspal and I don't have a calorie books. Can anyone tell me how this tots up in calories:

1.5 tbsp olive oil, 1 large onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 stick celery, 2 knorr chicken stock cubes, 4 smallish potatoes, 4 medium carrots, 1 large courgette, and a handful of green beans.

Thank you ever so much Thanks.

ManOnBoard · 08/10/2012 20:46

Piebaldrider you better than most should know if you fall off the horse get straight back on, it will get easier and soon just becomes a habit

Mintyy I do not have MFP either, just put "calorie counter" in your search engine

Laska42 · 08/10/2012 20:58

854 cals Mintyy (Hope it wasnt your fast day ).
.
Potatoes - Boiled, cooked without skin, 4 small (1-3/4" to 2-1/2" dia.) 430
1 Courgette 18
Oil - Olive, 1.5 tablespoon 179
Carrots - Raw, 4 carrot med 100
Celery - Raw, 1 stalk, medium (7-1/2" - 8" long) 6
Onions - Raw, 1 large 63
Green Beans French, 3.5 oz 22
Knorr - Chicken Cube Stock - Soup, 1.5 23
Garlic - Raw, 3 clove 13

Mintyy · 08/10/2012 21:19

Oh thank you! That went into a large pan of soup and I'll have a quarter portion, so think am going to be ok Grin.

Quite shocked by the calories in carrots tbh ...

Laska42 · 08/10/2012 21:30

yes.. they do have fairly high sugar/carb load for veg but it might not be all usable calories but think of the fibre also ..

Calories are a fairly broad measure esp for fibrous things - .. ...anyway for soup I think its ok ..

Breadandwine · 08/10/2012 21:48

Minty, this is the one I use - it's not perfect, but it has it's uses. It gives cals, protein, carb levels, etc.

And every veg has a list of other veg, both for an ounce and 100g on the same page - I use Ctl F to get to the one I want quickly:

www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories-in-food/veg/Mushrooms.htm

But also, every time I look up the calorie count of a veg I put this info in a word file - so I only have to look it up once.

Bit surprised by the amount in the small potatoes, Laska - 100g of boiled potato is 72 cals (and is the carb of choice on my fast days), so that's about 600g of potato.

awaywego1 · 08/10/2012 22:26

End if fast day 1 this week. Feel disappointed as I've gone a bit over I think-around 600 rather than 500-need to rethink dinner as soup just didn't cut it tonite so i ended up having a small fruit salad with a dollop of yogurt as well.
It probably doesn't matter that much but can't help feeling a bit bah humbug about it. Have a relatively healthy day planned tommorow so maybe that will even things out.

TalkinPeace2 · 08/10/2012 22:28

awaywego
think presentation and nouveau cuisine - makes even a small simple meal more fulfilling ....

Breadandwine · 08/10/2012 23:17

Sorry, here's that link again:

www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories-in-food/veg/Mushrooms.htm

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 09/10/2012 00:02

Hi all, found you again!

Some amazing weight losses here, well done - very inspiring!

I've not posted for a while.. but managed my first "proper" Monday fast day today - up till now I'd only managed Thursdays so only 6:1, so hopefully this week will be my first real 5:2. I tried last week but started feeling a bit rubbish on the Monday, think I wasn't totally well so let myself start eating - I don't believe in starving when ill!

Anyway though, today I managed to stick to it, pretty much - if I'm honest I will have gone slightly over 500 (just had an Options hot choc, and nibbled a tiny bit of dark choc after lunch) but probably only around 600 or so altogether. I really don't care if I go over a little bit - after all I don't think there's been any firm evidence that 500 is the "magic number" to go for, that's just what they tried and it seemed to work; but even 600 is way less than I'd have on a normal day, so that plus a long(ish) fasting period ought to do some good.

Hard to say if I've lost weight yet - I did seem to drop a bit but our old scales died so that was on the new ones (they said DH had lost as well) so it may just be the difference between scales! But I am nearer to my latest target than I have been for a long time, so here's hoping to see some results now I'm moving to 5:2.

ThinkICan · 09/10/2012 03:30

supervixen - too early to count my chickens! No weight loss in last 10 days though I'm doing ADF. Guess my thyroid and body caught up. Think the early weight loss was 'cos I have 40 lbs to lose to get to my normal weight. And my BP shot up to 170/90 yesterday and I may have to go see doc and get meds which I was hoping to avoid by a healthier WOE. Anyone found their BP going up after starting this WOE? I thought it would bring it down Shock

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 09/10/2012 06:21

No idea in bp to be honest

Heading to bed after a successful fast day. First time going to bed not hungry after a huge and delish dinner thanks to the torygraph website.

Decided with dad to do thurs rather than weds, mainly so I don't have as big a gap between fasts

CrackerJackShack · 09/10/2012 07:00

Yesterday was a feed day but I think I might have overdone it with 1 too many glasses of wine and some pretzels. Sad

Today is a feed day as well, but going to try to keep the calorie intake a bit low to compensate for last night.

Thelittlestranger · 09/10/2012 07:35

Morning, first fast day of the week over and done with yesterday...approx 540 cals as I had a yoghurt in the evening. Also went to the gym for an hour of strength training, so I figure it's evened out.

Food day today...planning on chilli prawn spaghetti for dinner tonight, and then am going to do another fast day tomorrow.

Definitely worth investing in MFP if you have a smartphone, it's fab and really helps you work out what you can have.

Laska42 · 09/10/2012 07:50

Fasting again today .. eggs and carrot , red pepper tomato and lentil soup planned

Bread and Wine sometimes I think MFP does show things higher than id expect so i don't know if that's right , (but i think about right ) I don't eat potatoes much anyway anymore ( though I love them.. ) but sadly they are sneakily high in calories and carbs

mistlethrush · 09/10/2012 08:11

Laska - strangely, sweet potatoes are significantly better in terms of GI than normal potatoes - I think its to do with them being a vine not a potato.

LookBehindYou · 09/10/2012 08:48

Re potatoes, I have read that small potatoes are lower in carb and calories than big ones. Less starchy I guess.

Laska42 · 09/10/2012 09:06

Yeah they are mistlethrush but they are also spawn of the devil in my opinion ( as is butternut squash !! ) bleugh! .. far too sweet for me .. not keen on parsnips either for the same reason ..

LBY , yes i think salad potatoes are also , but im the person who can eat (and has eaten) a whole pot of mashed potatoes out ofd the pot standing in the kitchen .. best i leave them for very special occaisions. Potato is pure drugs for me ! (ive only started admitting this recently ..even when i started this WOE a few weeks ago i was kidding myself i could control it and they didnt have that effect on me .. )

TheCyclistist · 09/10/2012 09:16

Hi ThinkIcan, yeah surprised about the BP shooting up but BP can be all over the place anyway, especially if you were feeling apprehensive when taking it.

I've had high BP ever since giving up the fags 6 years ago, at one stage upto about 160 over 80 whislt on medication. BP has steadilly dropped since doing more exercise and weight dropping down markedly but STILL has the odd spike so don't stress at all about the odd blip.

Since this WOE though the Blood Pressure's down to silly levels, quite often 110 over 60 odd and have had to cut dose in half (saw doc about it so not advising anyone to self medicate), now on 5 mg of Lisinopril rather than 10mg.

You probably already know this but with BP, measure it once a day at the same time of day, it tends to be lower first thing before breakfast and higher after food and will soar after sugar or a hot bath/shower.

If you can avoid going on BP medication at all that's best as once on it they reckon you never come off......However if it's obviously constantly too high it's sensible to see a doctor and get advise (Hawthorn is an alternative and is available from Health food shops)

Fasting day for me, so off for a cycle to keep my mind off it for a couple of hours. Happy fasting all... keep the fast, keep the faith :-)

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