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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.

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:
Bordercollielover · 08/11/2012 19:55

As I said,some people find Joel Fuhrman's ideas challenging! I think it's his formula Health = Nutrients / Calories which was being described in 2003 as
" revolutionary". He suggests fasting as one tool towards improving health but his way of eating is about not being over fed while undernourished which is not the same as " eat less and do more".
If everything is going fine for you on 5:2 plain and simple the obviously no need for added complexity but for anyone struggling with either extreme hunger or inability to cut calories sufficiently to lose weight, then perhaps his ideas. Might be relevant .

Breadandwine · 08/11/2012 19:57

Hi literarygeek How nice to have another vegan on the board! Especially one who loves food!

You'll be able to help me spread the word how well - and cheaply - we vegans eat. I've just had a terrific curry non carne and rice - using seitan as the meat substitute.

I'd like to PM you my blog - loads of vegan recipes on there - but I think you need to create a profile first. In the meantime there's a gorgeous chocolate cake of mine on the recipe thread - for a feasting day, obviously - that will cost you all of 70p!

Looking forward to hearing about your favourite recipes. Smile

literarygeek · 08/11/2012 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

literarygeek · 08/11/2012 20:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Laska42 · 08/11/2012 20:26

OOPs Sorry ....I said the 'D' word up-thread!!! Shock. I didn't mean it , a slip of the keys.
I meant of course to say: 'This WOE has meant that for the first time my waist has decreased ....

Unlike many proprietary marketed 'diets' (WW for example) which promised lots,meant you had to buy into the whole marketed thing, and haven't delivered long term for me, This is a real lifestyle change and one ithink ican do forever now..

applefalls · 08/11/2012 20:31

I absolutely agree, and I must say the logic and simplicity make it very seductive for this non-scientist to follow. Can manage the 500cal maths and really loving the challenge of recipe finding. I also prefer to eat vegan most of the time as I just love the clean taste of grains and veggies and the unending lovely flavours.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 08/11/2012 20:37

Another variation of IF is the Genesis diet, aimed at breast cancer prevention. The fast days feature a whole lot of milk and dairy products (so, not for the vegans in the thread) for calcium. The calorie count is slightly higher on fast days to allow for that.

The Genesis diet is actually what I was aiming for when I started 4:3. I thought I'd have just milk and veg on fast days. Instead, I realised I couldn't keep up with the milk, so I went to Mosley's approach and just had veg on fast days. Now I sometimes allow myself other things, but still mostly just veg.

OP posts:
NotWilliamBoyd · 08/11/2012 20:58

Literarygeek - coincidence, today (a fast day) I discovered the Pukka '3 Gingers' tea and am really impressed with it!

TalkinPeace2 · 08/11/2012 21:12

I used to make a stonking vegan pizza for at parties - but the veggies and meat eaters had usually polished it off before the vegans had dragged themselves out of the pub Grin
Well done vegan and veggie nosh is splendid. Leon's used to be the best festival food and my Cranks and Rose Elliott books are well thumbed.
As a confirmed carnivore (but with very strict rules on provenance and welfare) I've found my meat intake has dropped, which is probably good for the planet.

makehay
try not to graze your 500.
I consumed nothing till 6pm except a mug of white tea, a cup of black coffee and a bowl of miso soup. I then had a 2 egg mushroom & onion omelette and have just had a satsuma when I got home.

Bordercollielover · 08/11/2012 21:14

I should think the vegans ( free range eggs are my only animal product so not quite vegan) could replace the milk with green smoothies for the genesis diet, they are a better source of calcium provided you don't overdo the spinach, use other greens too.

applefalls · 08/11/2012 21:29

Love green smoothies, but thought on my fast day that I fancied chewing my calories (as opposed to the dog/my arm/furniture IYSWIM.

Fab vegan and veggie recipes at www.mynewroots.blogspot.com

lilacbluebell · 08/11/2012 21:54

I can't get my head around how I am in control of what I eat (rather than my cravings controlling me as they have in the past SW WW etc )it's fab! So far I have been no more hungry by the time I get to my fast-day evening meal than on a day where I've followed a "diet plan" and already had at- least-- two meals, probably even less hungry! Even my wine tonight is being savoured, rather than slipping down like water down the plug-hole!

Am going to attempt my 3rd fast day tomorrow, mainly because there is stuff planned over the weekend that may involve indulgence, but if I don't manage it I won't worry too much as I've done two successfully, and will do another Monday.

I cannot imagine being vegan, although I quite like the idea of the odd veggie fast day.

apologies for bland post, but I need to keep posting to mark my place - I haven't been on such a fast-moving thread since my PN daysSmile

babbas · 08/11/2012 22:10

Rolf - you are not alone. I have lost 1 lb in 8 weeks doing mostly 4:3 and good amount of exercise. For me it's very interesting that there are a good few of us doing this and not losing. Other observations I have:

1 the first week I felt very flu like. As if I was coming down with something. And it's interesting that many many others have noted the same. Coincidence?

2 I also had a few weeks about week 2-5 where I ft totally fatigued and drained.

3 like someone else mentioned, this WOE is made much harder when the physical benefits cannot be seen.

4 I too feel my Monthly cycle has changed since this WOE.

5 despite not losing weight and not feeling great on this WOE ( finding fasts harder and eating badly on no. Fast days) I feel I can't stop. I feel intrinsically that this is better and date I admit I am almost addicted to fasting!! Also, there is a lot to be said to finally feel In control of my eating.

As this really is new and experimental I'm just putting my observations put there. Good luck fasters! Oh and non fasters.

babbas · 08/11/2012 22:11

Sorry for terrible grammar. Bad day. Tired. And on stupid iPhone.

stillhere · 08/11/2012 22:51

Evening people! Just three very quick questions, with apologies if they've already been answered elsewhere. Can't keep up. It's this fasting, you know. Grin

1 - what websites/resources do you use as gospel for checking calories? I've been using weightlossresources.co.uk but find calories a bit random still.
2 - is there such a thing as a calorie weigher? I think Weight Watchers do a weighing scale which weighs points - anything else out there?
3 - what are the best scales to buy to accurately record my weight?

Thanks in advance.

TellMeLater · 08/11/2012 23:24

babbas I feel much the same way as you do. I have lost almost nothing since mid August. I don't calorie restrict on feed days and I often feel very hungry, but then I run 3 days a week and do interval/resistance training 2 days a week so you'd expect my appetite to be increased to meet my training. My menstral cycle is all over the place, my insomnia has returned.....but i have not gained weight and i still want the long term health benefits, I am torn..
Dh has continued to lose though and is trying to up is calories on feed days as he's worried that moving to 6:1 would be pointless - is there any evidence to suggest only fasting one day a week does any good? He'd rather suffer twice a week knowing hews improving his health, than reducing to once a week for no benefit at all.

delphie · 08/11/2012 23:26

I have just started this Monday - reaching the end of my 2nd fast day. Thank you for these threads - and all the reference/research/recipe ones. I'm planning on doing 5:2 with fasting (ie 500 kcals) on tuesday and thursday. I am working my way through the 5:2 threads for all the great info and insight but would love to know about anyone else who has alot to lose - I need to lose 5stones!! Sad

BuntCadger · 08/11/2012 23:37

Hi, I'm marking my space. Been off mumsnet for a while. Still have been sticking to 5:2 and its been 3 months now. Total weight loss is currently 23lb. When does this level off?

ThinkICan · 09/11/2012 01:11

Congrats BuntCadger. And don't say the 'level' or 'plateau' word! You want to keep going unless you've already reached your target weight. Please share your tips/rules on how you achieved it! Good going!

Piebaldrider · 09/11/2012 06:55

Those of you who have not lost any weight even though you have been doing this a while i would suggest and its only a suggestion as i have no special knowledge just a gut feeling. Change something , drop to 5.2 for a couple of weeks mix up your work outs and maybe drop some here and there and see if anything changes. I do believe that our bodies can become very accustomed to what we do and make changes to accommodate it so mixing it up a bit may just make a difference.

Im on 3rd fast today for the week and was debating not bothereing and then i looked in the mirror and the woman looking back at me is starting to look so very different and i have never seen changes like this with any diet i have ever tried so onwards and upwards im fasting today .

Abra1d · 09/11/2012 07:40

stillhere Many of us use Myfitnesspal.

Aftereightsaremine · 09/11/2012 07:41

Saw my rheumatologist yesterday & my cholesterol has dropped from 6.2 to 5.2! Yay. Also when I told him about this WOE he said lots of his patients swear it helps with lessening the inflammation & lots of people no longer need meds. Not promised that will happen to me but he approves, which is great news.

Only thing he said to me was that as I fast on a day that I take my strong meds I should up the calories to 800-1000 on those days to negate any side effects, I do 4:3 so am not so bothered.

Laska42 · 09/11/2012 08:23

Yay! another pound down confirmed so 15 down now. Two lovely eating days in a row now,, Having lunch today with so an old friend I've not seem in 30 years (its an old boyfriend actually...but its OK I'm in no danger of doing anything daft.. In fact OH will also probably get to meet him also ! ).

BUT how nice is it that ill be virtually the same weight I was when I went out with him as a teenager?

Well done Buntcudger That's amazing.. "When does it stop?" Do you have much more to lose?

Abra1d · 09/11/2012 09:15

I think my cholesterol is down a bit. Despite some encounters with homemade fudge and a Barbados Swirl Cake and other non-cholesterol-enhancing foods.

Jester2050 · 09/11/2012 09:25

3rd week completed and feeling good.

Both my wife and I have made very pleasing progress so far.

Body weight for has decreased for me but fluctuated for my wife slightly, BUT, more importantly both of us have lost body fat % and increased muscle mass %, so I am really happy with that.

I have found it hard to get a good night of unbroken sleep on my fast days.

I exercised on both my fast days this week to see how I would feel and also to see if it would help me sleep. I actually felt ok (no different from a feed day) I did CT on Monday and Spinning on the Thursday. But, did not assist my sleeping pattern.

All in all, a good positive start Smile