Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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.

5:2 Diet Thread Part Six! Now's the time to de-lurk and chat with us..

984 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 25/10/2012 12:49

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 in August, 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 started is a good resource for some of the links and tips that get lost in these big threads. In addition to sharing links, we try 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 mentioned BMR and TDEE often. Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) quantifies the number of calories you burn in a day. This measure is best estimated by scaling your Basal Metabolic Rate to your level of activity. TDEE is critical in tailoring your nutrition plan to desired fitness goals. Here is a link to a calculator to help you figure out how many calories you should be eating in a day.

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 · 02/11/2012 16:40

Yup, the KISS method has done it for me and I'm sticking to it .(she says stuffing a bit of lime and sea salt dark choc into her gob Smile) ..

And No... I'm not referring to my rediscovered mojo Wink

I really don't want to go on , but I've bought new size 10 jeans today and having sat at the computer for an hour in them I think they are a little bit loose on the bum...(Sorry, ill get me coat..)

Aftereightsaremine · 02/11/2012 16:52

Still on my hols & have been eating rather a lot, my excuse though is that I'm staying with family & omg do they get the hump if you are not eating every half an hour! Thank goodness I can keep repeating that doctors have put me on gluten free diet as goodness knows how large I'd be. Unfortunately dh has no such excuse! I'm am dreading weighing in when I get back but at least I know that I'll be able to fast & will eventually lose it (again).

Well done to everyone else & welcome to any new people.

frenchfancy · 02/11/2012 17:05

TIP2 I'm not very tall, 168cm, but I am heavy and do a physical job. I've actually been cautious and put moderate exercise in to the TDEE caluclator. If I put in heavy exercise it goes to over 2500 cals/day.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 02/11/2012 17:30

Wow there's been a lot of finagling in here since last I checked the thread. Grin I'm not really going to comment much- I know someone posted previously saying she did dinner to dinner fasting and it was working for her, so whatever floats your boat. As long as you're getting the weight loss out of it (presuming that's what you want, of course, and not the other benefits) then I don't think it matters. It wouldn't work for me, though. I really prefer to keep myself on a schedule and know that a day is a fast day, from waking up to going to bed.

I've had two non-fast days in a row and normally tomorrow would be a fast day. However, the inlaws will still be here tomorrow, so it's a dilemma as to whether or not I try to explain it or if I just go along and make Sunday a fast day. I'm not really keen on it, though, so I might just have to be weird and explain. (It's slightly more difficult with the language barrier, would be easier if I found some articles in German on the subject.)

OP posts:
Piebaldrider · 02/11/2012 19:25

I just want to share how good i feel tonight.

I am very happy and feel really well.

Today should have been my 3rd fast day this week but i chose to break the fast and share a birthday and eat cake. I wasn't hungry i just wanted to enjoy the moment.

It was cold and dark and i was knee deep in mud getting my horse in tonight, i came home cleaned up at 6.30 then went out and fed my other animals and was cold again. I came in washed up and slipped into my pj's. I have an evening alone and have eaten macaroni cheese and fresh bread and butter. I have opened a bottle of wine and am warm and comfortable, i am very lucky to be able to do this. My weight will reduce in the course of time and already my clothes are loose. Compared to some in this world i am incredibly lucky and my rise in weight over the years is a reflection of this. Some are so thin from starvation and will never be as big as i am, this is a crazy world and so unfair to some. Tonight i am very grateful to be me.

TalkinPeace2 · 02/11/2012 19:38

:-)

SpiralSkies · 02/11/2012 19:39

Piebaldrider, that is a wonderful post. Seriously wonderful.

Liberty132 · 02/11/2012 22:21

Well yesterday was my 2nd ever fast day, first being Monday. It went very well up until the evening. Had a very busy day of running errands, so went though until 3.30pm before I had home made soup and an apple. So far a real success.

I have a head cold, as I did on Monday. On Monday I went for a swim and a sauna. Thursday night (before dinner), I went to my high temp circuits class. 15 mins in I thought my chest was going to explode! I do this class most weeks so I knew something was wrong.

I hope it was due to the cold and not the lack of calories that day. If it is the calories, I will have to rethink the days I fast.

As per Monday, Thursday was really straight forward. I do hope its the same when I return to work next week.

Does anyone else reguarly do two fasting days back to back and if so how much more difficult is it (hunger wise, energy level wise, concentration wise). Does anyone doing 4:3 do 1 day stand alone and then 2 back to back?

Curious. I do want the health benefits but I also want to shift some weight but as my BMI is 25 I think I may need to do more than 5:2. I guess I will see tomorrow morning when I weigh myself for the first time this week.

Still loving this WOE one week in. Love that I can make mine and my hubbies dinner the same 5 times a week and dont need to weigh and measure my food. Love the feeling of control. Love that when I feel hungry on a feeding day, I just embrace the feeling. Love that my IBS bloated tum appears to be no more.

Well thats enough love - lets just hope I weigh a little less at 7am tomorrow morning.

Purlin · 02/11/2012 22:39

Done my 2 days this week but seem to have developed a head cold. Cue falling off the healthy eating wagon and vast amounts of ice cream and soft white bread. I figured that trying to be good whilst sick was just too tough, but this may have been a step too far. Need to be bikini ready in 6 weeks... What do you reckon? Can 2 days of carbs throw months of 5:2 off course?!

nminx · 02/11/2012 23:02

Piebaldrider - how lovely. I know just what you mean. Was on a fast day recently and went to local late night store for a bottle of water. There were two homeless youths begging outside. I asked what they needed and they said they were hungry. It really struck me that I was hungry out of choice and they were hungry out of no choice.

I felt very blessed indeed to be able to have the luxury of this choice.

It was very humbling. I'm grateful to be me too!

Breadandwine · 02/11/2012 23:03

"This alternative may be successful but is not 5:2 and perhaps shpuld not be given too much space on a thread labelled 5:2."

MoB What do you suggest we do? Tell EnidN to go and start her own thread?

This thread has been one of the most inclusive threads I've ever been a part of - and personally, I'd like to see it continue in that vein.

Surely there's room for every variation of this WOE on here - and we can perhaps learn from her experience. In the meantime she can see all the other variations and make her own mind up how to proceed.

Breadandwine · 03/11/2012 00:13

Laska I finally got around to making that chocolate avocado mousse recipe you recommended in the last thread.

I bought a pack of four avocados about a week ago, and I've been waiting for them to ripen. Tonight I could wait no longer, so I had a go.

I hit a couple of snags:
The avocado was still pretty hard - I only have a stick blender, and I couldn't make any inroads into it until I blitzed it in the microwave for 90 seconds;
The sugar I used was Billington's molasses sugar which had clumped together. When I microwaved the chocolate and sugar together (only for 60 seconds), the clumps of sugar hardened rather than softened.

So, when I mixed it all together, it was fairly gritty, what with the avocado not being properly ripe, and the sugar staying in little lumps. It reminded me of my homemade chocolate spread, rather than a mousse, so I added about 80mls of soya cream to loosen it up a bit.

Having said that, it was very nice indeed - it tasted lovely, the coffee (I used a good instant) added another layer of flavour and I'll definitely do it again.

I think I'll add a dash of Benedictine to it next time. My wife would have preferred that I used milk chocolate instead of dark - but I pointed out that it wouldn't have been vegan, then, would it?

I can see me making two different batches next time! [rolls eyes smiley]

Thanks for the suggestion, Laska!

Piebaldrider · 03/11/2012 07:39

Monday will be my next fast day and the change in the weather seems to make it so much harder. If its hard for me to do this by choice how hard must it be for those with no choice especially children. This woe is bringing these things to mind and as such i think if i do something about it then maybe i will get more out of this and it will give me another reason to continue. As such next week to make a start i shall donate a little food to a homless charity on the days i fast . I now this thread is about 5.2 but this post is about how this woe is affecting me as a person as well as my health and weight. If one other person quietly does the same thing then this thread has helped more than just us.

I promise i wont keep on posting about it but this woe may just be having other benificial effects on me.

Have a great day one and all, im off to ride and then i shall be at the gym and take another step towards increasing my fitness .

frenchfancy · 03/11/2012 07:53

I think this thread should be about all the benefits piebald.

We went shopping yesterday. DH needed new jeans. He ended up buying 32" waist. He hasn't been a 32" waist for more than 15 years. He is very happy, and I am happy to have a trim husband.

Trouble is he is now saying he will reach target by Christmas. It will be at least Easter before I hit mine - not fair!

mollysfolly · 03/11/2012 08:02

Whoop whoop!! Have lost over 2lbs this week, bringing total loss to 11lbs in 11 weeks after severe doldrums last month (1.5lbs in 4 weeks). BMI 24!! GrinGrin And I'm never going to be 'overweight' again !!!

Just adding my sixpenn'orth to above posts - glad to see some sticking to the simplicity principle of this diet. There really is only one rule! Other than that, do what works for you.

Liberty132 · 03/11/2012 08:37

Woooo hoo, woo hoo, woo hoo.

I have lost 3lbs. First week of this WOE. Found fasts on Mon and Thurs ok but ate loads on non fasting days. Yesterday was a normal eating day too (always weigh myself on a Sat monring). I ate danish pastries, pasta, pizza (took nieces to pizza hut), cake, chicken and melted cheese, some chocolate.

OMG - really chuffed. I was really happy that tum has shrunk and IBS symptoms seem less - but weight loss aswell has made my day. Had a cold all week so defo thought that may hinder any results.

About to head out for a 5 miles walk along the beach (on the sand - good work out for thighs!) with my dad.

Havent told any family or friends that I am doing this WOE. Wanted to get my head around it first and see if it is something I will stick with. At this rate I think I will be making some announcements next weekend!

Still interested to know how 4:3 people get on and how hard is 2 back to back days. As I really enjoy a tough work out at the gym, I dont think I can fast and attend my circuits class so need to move fast days around and Mon and Tues would be the easiest for gym, after work activities etc.

Beautiful sunny day (very cold though) up here in the North East of England. Hope everyone has a great day. Love this forum. Will start to look at some of your great recipes over the coming weeks.

By for now.

catsrus · 03/11/2012 09:13

Well done liberty

I moved to 4:3 after a while on 5:2 and it's been fine - I tried back to back and really struggled, it definitely felt like being on a diet - so I won't be doing that again Smile. What I often do though is have a fast day followed by an 'intermittent' day - not fasting but light eating if I'm in the zone. I don't force myself to eat high calorie food if I would be as happy with a salad.

I've now lost 16lb since the programme aired in August and am finding the way that works for me given my age etc. basically i take every opportunity i can to fast (but not on consecutive days) and eat low calorie (but not calorie counting) on the other days when i can, and eat high calorie foods when being sociable and out for meals. Interestingly this seems pretty much how my skinny sister has lived her life!

I have accepted that my calorie requirement is now at the level that I used to think of as diet rations (1500 ish) so will simply have to eat accordingly. Went out for an Indian meal last night and a few Wine so will not eat today until later - I'm hoping it will be a fast day but I've got a friend staying for a few days so it might not be Grin. She's not doing it but I'm not the only one of our circle who is- so she understands how it works! I just love the fact that I can be so Flexible and relaxed about it.

ManOnBoard · 03/11/2012 10:12

Weigh in today and down 2lbs total of 23lbs in 30 fast, bmi 33.1 to 29.5

B&W You appear to be deliberately ignoring the most salient points and being selective in highlighting what I posted out of context
i) it is called the 5:2 diet and that a day is 24 hours but 24 hours is not necessarily a day
ii) That you say you have to restrict your calories beyond 24 hours, as french agreed in her post
iii) The potential health benefits there may be as you sleep on an empty stomach

iv) We are all doing this based on DrMM's results and he fasted from waking up to going to sleep
My uncle is called Leo but that don't make him a lion

And no, I am not suggesting anyone starting a separate thread and I am disappointed that you have made this personal and appear to only have suggested that at the same time as saying "friendly and inclusive" in what appears to be a fairly crude attempt at making me out to be the bad guy

Blondie276 · 03/11/2012 10:16

Good morning to all! Have been busy last few days and so just having a catch up!
To those ( I think was bunjie and babbas ) I have been doing this since 22 sept. I've been doing 4:3 and have started power walking for 30mins a day( started that on 1 oct ).
I am 29 yrs old, I'm 5ft7, and weigh 10st10. My bmi is about 24.
I have not lost a pound since starting BUT I feel smaller, happier, more energised and trim.
I have no idea if the scales will ever show a loss but I am slowly fitting in smaller clothes and I have noticed an increase in muscle in my legs/bum from walking so time will tell.
My wedding is next year and I would love to loose a stone but no hope of that yet but I'm getting smaller which is what matters.
I live how I'm starting to feel so don't get de motivated- it is worth it!
Have a great weekend to all and well done to all those that have lost!!

mollysfolly · 03/11/2012 10:52

The feature about IF/5:2 in the Times magazine is good. The first part is a 2-page article by Mimi Spencer with 3 pages of photographs (one of which is very nice indeed - no, not the photo of the takeaway). It includes quotes from Michael Mosley, Brad Pilon, Krista Varady and refers to the work of Prof Valter Longo, all people we are familiar with on these threads and links. The second part is a very amusing review of the diet by Hugo Rifkind who did the diet for 3 weeks, without losing much weight (but he does intend to keep at it).

I shall be cutting out to show my DH (who is more likely to believe that it's not a fad now) and friends who are beginning to ask what diet I'm doing. I, like so many of you, just love this WOE!

applefalls · 03/11/2012 11:20

I live the idea that awareness of our own hunger leads to thoughts and actions about those who have no choice, lovely ideas in what is a very inclusive and interesting thread. I find it very rewarding to read everyone's experiences and conclusions. And especially successes!

I did weigh, gulp, 10.4 stone.

But have just done two fast days back to back, feel energetic and hungry but not in an eat-the-dog way. Just quietly happy to sate ot with fruit and looking forward to soup and a roast chicken tomorrow.

Thanks for letting me join in and sharing everything you're all learning.

applefalls · 03/11/2012 11:21

Ooops, "LOVE the idea" in case you think I am perhaps a religious mystic in a cave...

Laska42 · 03/11/2012 11:58

Hi breadand wine glad the mousse it was good .. i've not done it yet.. made a batch of guacamole instead! - but now encouraged ill get some more today and have a go..
Lunch out today at the Garlic Farm cafe.. so looking forward it .. if any of you ever come to the Isle of Wight for a break,.. its a definate 'must do'

Mintyy · 03/11/2012 15:22

just marking place on thread, hello all Smile

catsrus · 03/11/2012 16:00

MoB I'm not sure this is the right kind of thread to get too picky about how people interpret this WOE ... to be honest I'm not doing this based on Dr MMs results - that's just one factor - I did my own research once I'd watched the programme. I'm not doing 5:2 I'm doing 4:3 or even ADF .... depending on the week you decide to check on me Grin.

I think the point about what constitutes "a day" of 24 hrs is interesting, but if someone is fasting and restricting calories in a different 24 hr period to 'the norm' then I don't see the problem if it works for them. If it doesn't work then we might suggest a more traditionally based definition of a day as an alternative - but isn't it the flexibility of this WOE that so many of us (certainly me) have found positive? I don't think we should be too prescriptive because that does turn it into "a diet" - and I hate diets Grin