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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! 7 is our lucky number...

991 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 19/11/2012 12:57

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 2012, 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.

I know a number of people lurk on this thread, as this is currently quite popular. Please just jump in and post if you're new- we won't bite. Well, maybe on a fast day. Wink

Here is a list of links to get you started with this way of eating. Please let us know if you find a new article or some other information online:

First things first, here are links to some of our previous threads: most recent one before that another one etc!

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.

Here is where I would link to the aforementioned Horizon programme, but it appears as if the BBC have finally noticed it on YouTube and have taken it down. If you have another link for this episode, please PM me with it, or post it to the thread and we'll put it up for the next thread.

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 all the links re-copied and back into one post.

Come join us, and tell us about your experiences with this diet!

OP posts:
franklyidontgiveadamn · 29/11/2012 20:19

Budge up, I'm joining in! Started 5:2 this week and just coming to the end of my second fast day - going to treat myself to a big bubble bath then bed. I find it easier to eat nothing on the fast days as I have terrible grazing tendencies but I do have tea and a mid-morning coffee. Find the tea comforting in the cold weather and seems to stave off fasting headaches.

Don't know if appleogies still on the thread - been lurking ages while trying to sort out registration probs - but we sound very alike, I am 12 stone 8 and 5' 3", suspect incipient diabetes as have been battling oral thrush all year and all kinds of other health issues related to obesity. Have felt absolutely fine both fast days firstly because I'm always fine until I start eating and then I can't stop and secondly because if I feel deprived I can just tell myself I will have whatever I like the next day and straight away the 'hunger' goes off. I expect a slow weight loss as I will not be watching what I eat on the non-fast days - that's sort of the point of doing it for me - but I am happy to accept that.

Skinnyeye · 29/11/2012 20:21

Sounds good Laska I had Cauliflower rice tonight and will definitely be eating a lot more of it in all it's guises.

TellMeLater · 29/11/2012 20:30

Thanks for that laska - have just ordered an oil sprayer. I eat so much cauliflower - it's ridiculous.

TellMeLater · 29/11/2012 20:32

Has anyone else been contacted by an author requesting permission to use your posts as quotes in a new fasting book?

GreenEggsAndNichts · 29/11/2012 20:58

Laska ooh that sounds similar to a cauliflower roasting recipe I used for ages. As you say, not a recipe as such, but merely cutting it up and roasting it at a very high temp. The one I read and used had you taking the head and slicing it up (so, not into florets, but "cross section of the brain Shock as the original poster so memorably put it). Spray with a bit of oil then add spices as needed.

Cauliflower rice sounds like something worth trying! Do you need a touch of water just for the steaming in the microwave, or do you use no liquid at all?

TML I haven't! Your posts must be particularly insightful Grin

OP posts:
TellMeLater · 29/11/2012 21:00

No water needed to steam the cauliflower rice - it will getting soggy and horrid!

TellMeLater · 29/11/2012 21:02

Bleeding predictive text - it will get soggy and horrid!

dontcallmehon · 29/11/2012 21:08

TML, I've been contacted about my comments being in the book.

Laska42 · 29/11/2012 21:16

NO!! so someone is trying to make money out of 5:2 eh? I suppose its a 'how to do this great new wonder diet' (she says cynical as ever)they'll probably haul out a celebrity dieter and make a mint .. Well any one who buys it will be totally wasting their dosh when its all here for free here on the net..

Piebaldrider · 29/11/2012 21:25

Virgin thanks for the info on the shin splints i will look it up. They are very very painful and even keep me awake at night. Its hard on your legs when you start running but are rather overweight. I was going to try for a 3rd fast tomorrow but i have to confess i work at the head office of a very large and well known pizza company and tomorrow is a working lunch with pizza provided and its is sooooooo good im going to idulge myself. I will do two mini 24 hour fasts at the weekend to try and make up some of what i have let go this week.

Keep up the good work all of you and i cant wait to try the cauliflower rice and and bake recipies.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 29/11/2012 21:25

Diet books are such a big moneymaker. :( It was only a matter of time before someone decided to cash in.

I'd think if you were keen you'd just get the other book (Eat Stop Eat? or something like that) that's been out for ages. People like New Shiny things, though.

OP posts:
Laska42 · 29/11/2012 22:08

..and its coming up to that time of year when diet books cash in greeneggs Sad.
What we need to do is find someone whose good at getting things at the top of Google's search engine, and put up a big banner on the next thread heading , saying ' 5:2 fasting?.. dont buy any diet book .. its all here! Come and join us for free!

JsyJan · 29/11/2012 22:31

Hi, brand new to this but started on the 5:2 10 days ago. Love it!
I am doing it for the health benefits as my sister had breast cancer diagnosed a year ago (she was 47) and my mum has had a tumour removed from her jaw last week. Both are doing well, but the anti cancer thing made me think I could give this a go.
I am 49 (!) and was 156lbs. Now 10 days after starting and I have lost 6lbs! I have another 3lb to go so I can fit into last summer's jeans ;-)
I 'low cal' Tue and Thur as this fits my days. I eat 550 cals and fit this in between waking and sleeping (dont understand the 16 hr thing??) which is easy to do. I am strict (yog for breakfast and a tea, soup and a Ryvita for lunch, apple mid aft (when daughters home from school and eating in front of me!) normal meal but NO carbs (pasta, potatoes, rice, bread etc) for tea.
Lots of water (been getting headaches every low cal day).
Definitely lost weight fast (too fast?) and may go to one day a week if I drop below my goal.
Eat whatever I want other 5 days, inc chips, chocolate, cakes, biscuits. I dont eat extra those days though as I dont feel I am extra hungry, but dont eat less than before either. Starving on the low cal days but what the heck, feeling hungry for a day is do-able, and there is always a 'food' day tomorrow, heh heh.

5:2 is working for me on the outside, hope all the good stuff going on inside too :-)
Go for it ladies!

literarygeek · 29/11/2012 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThinkICan · 30/11/2012 00:46

Have a wonderful year ahead Cyclistist and thank you for always being there with a word of encouragement and inspiration!

ThinkICan · 30/11/2012 00:57

Very true literarygeek. Plant-based food is great for nutrients and weight-loss. And we've found that out for ourselves.

Bordercollielover · 30/11/2012 06:43

A good point literary geek, and perhaps particularly important to highlight now that the original programme is not available. Anyone coming to this new without having seen the programme could easily miss that altogether and negate all the health benefits.

tiggy114 · 30/11/2012 08:35

I can't bekieve how good i feel! I am the type who can't stay awake after 10pm. EVER. On my fast day yesterday, toddler didn't go down till 9pm, i then watched a film and latenight tv with oh. We then went to bed and had some special cuddles Wink so i didn't get to sleep while gone 1 am. I've just woken up fresh as a daisy!!!! I think it's a combination of not overeating and flushing out my system with all the water i'm drinking. Like a detox twice a week. I am singing the praises of this woe i tell youGrin

TheCyclistist · 30/11/2012 08:39

Hi Laska , yes another amazing coincidence Sis you being a fellow Sagitarian Smile . I half expect to see Cilla turning up this morn saying 'Surprise, Surprise' here is the long lost sister you never knew you had.

Thanks so much to everyone for your kind words re the rapidly diminishing me over the past year. I tend not to mention how much I've lost as it's all relative and people lose at different rates and and different speeds depending on their starting weight and other factors but as it is about the anniversary of when I thought 'sod this' I'm going to make changes I mentioned the amount.

Interesting about a few people being contacted about being quoted in a book. One of the great things about this thread (so amazingly well started and administered by Greeneggsandnichts ) is the general atmosphere of encouragement and inclusiveness. A community basically just looking at supporting each others success and nuturing strength and progress...something I've never seen in a forum before. Rather than buy a book I'd play an active role in this anyday

Right, birthday to get on with here, so have discarded the normal practice of trying to eat within an 8 hour window and am just about to start my 4th slice of wholemeal toast with generous lashings of Bertolli spread, have had a tea with 'proper' milk and 1 sugar. The sky outside is blue and I'll have my oatmeal and set out for a couple of hours on my bike...before smashing into a curry tonight with the kids.

Seeing the doc later today as well for the results of some blood tests, will post the results later as the last ones I had were just before starting this WOL and good or bad it will make interesting reading for those of us trying to assess the impact of ADF 5:2

Have a great day all Smile

Breadandwine · 30/11/2012 08:53

Happy birthday, Cyclist my friend!

Have a great day - and indulge yourself!WineWineWine

TheCyclistist · 30/11/2012 09:07

Thanks B&W will do Smile

and Sis, sorry didn't answer your question re: the cycling in my long winded 'happy rant' above.

I've always cycled as living in London, there was no real need to drive and money was always so tight I never had the money to spare to go through all the learning to drive business etc. But I cycle a lot more now than previously although had done the odd mega trip before up to the beautiful North Norfolk coast or down to Bognor Regis.

When I was working full time usually ccommuted in but round trip was no more than ten miles or so. This February, gradually started going out in the morning and distance soon started to build up so now doing quite a distance every week day out into the beautiful southeast Essex countryside.

TheCyclistist · 30/11/2012 09:09

Sorry should read 'South WEST Essex' countryside

TisILeclerc · 30/11/2012 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fruitscone · 30/11/2012 10:19

Hi there,

I have been lurking and reading since early October when I started this WOE. I read about it in the Telegraph in August, thought it sounded interesting but it took me a few weeks to decide to give it a go.

I wasn't obese before starting but have lurked just above a healthy range BMI for about 15 years since I developed thyroid problems and literally piled on loads of pounds in a very short space of time. I have found other diets really hard and not that effective as the thyroid thing means my metabolism is very sluggish.

But this works! I think the thing that made me try was someone writing on one of these threads that they were losing weight despite thyroid problems.

I found the first fasts very hard going but now find it really very do-able. I have no breakfast (but have enough energy for a lot of walking each day), have hot lunch (low or no carbs) and have scrambled egg or soup at nighttime.

So yesterday it was 8 weeks since I started this (5:2) and I have lost exactly 6kg (just under a stone). I am so chuffed, BMI is healthy, jeans feel very baggy. Weightloss has slowed down but the general slow trend is downwards and I am sticking with this longterm.

Thanks for all the advice, recipes etc - lurking here has been a great source of info on this WOE. I will continue to read avidly!

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 10:38

Interesting.. are people being contacted through Mums net? otherwise how do they know?

If it is MM then this could be another reason why the programme has disappeared and why he has been so silent about it all recently >but if anyone should do it then I think hes got a perfect right and at least any book should have some decent science behind it . .. Would be great also if we can get him to mention this groupas far as Iknow , we are the most longstanding and prolific posted regardinmgthis WOE and weve certainly had some great success.. ( I cant believe just how well i've done on it )

Carrying on my yesterday fast to do make the full 24 hours today, but will be eating tonight and raising a Wine or two to my fab n' skinny Birthday Bro!.. Enjoy the curry, mate ..Smile