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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:
TisILeclerc · 30/11/2012 10:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

myjoy · 30/11/2012 10:45

Am feeling really well today, fasting and looking forward to my second cup of strong coffee. I've somehow avoided getting a cold even though the rest of my family is poorly and wonder if IF is helpful for immunity too? Normally I would be drinking pints of juice and eating chicken soup but I'm going to stick with fasting, plan to have a salad at lunch and veg curry for dinner (with extra garlic and ginger).

So close to fitting into smaller pre-pregnancy jeans and I'm thinking that it might be time to start thinking about training for a mini-triathalon, as I've wanted to for ages.

Happy Birthday Cyclistist!

Breadandwine: how do you make curried wedges?

pip895 · 30/11/2012 10:47

literarygeek - not saying you aren?t right about a high vegetable content being a benefit, but I don?t think its got anything to do with the 5:2 WOE. My memory of the original program (watched it twice) was that MM's eating on non fast days was entirely normal and that his diet on fast days was also distinctly non vegetarian? Wouldn?t like this thread to go off at a tangent Smile

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 11:17

Great... so he does knows about our 'research group' then. Lets hope we get a mention so others can find us.

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 12:07

If any researchers for the book are reading this right now, (and given ive not asked him and this may be a bit of a cheek B&W) . But I think it would be really interesting to approach Bread and Wine (and perhaps ask him to ask Mrs B&W also) as this WOE really seems to work on older people , whereas a lot of other diets don't seem to so well ..

Also (anecdotally, as it all is here ) on the short time since eve been doing this it looks like 5.2 seems to work well on Post-menopausal women judging from the results people have reported .(Again one of those times when its seems that weight gain can happen really quickly and its so much harder to get off.

We also have breastfeeding mothers , the whole spectrum ..

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 12:41

B&W now I'm worried I have insulted you... I thought you said you were one of our more mature men.. but perhaps not .. was thinking of the recent wedding anniversary amount of years , but of course you may have married at 16.....Blush

Alaska77 · 30/11/2012 12:49

Hi everyone and happy birthday cyclicist ! Have a great day and enjoy your curry.

Fasting day for me today and nothing but water so far. I plan an Innocent veg pot for supper later. Perhaps a cup a soup prior to that if I can't ride the hunger pangs out.

Interesting about people being approached for the book - has anyone else other than TisILeclerc said yes to quotes being used?

tiggy114 · 30/11/2012 13:15

Question: on my non fast days am i supposed to be eating my TDEE to makw sure i don't go into starvation mode? O'm losing my appetite. I only ate a few small piesces of cheese for brekkie but i'm still not hungry and have had no dinner.

TalkinPeace2 · 30/11/2012 13:26

TheCyclistist HAPPY Birthday Wine

Weighed in today. Despite going out for Chinese during the week, another pound down.
And for those who have had the mirror EEK moment, yes, the tummy skin looks MUCH better covered up, so I keep it that way.

Tiggy114 Starvation mode is a myth for anybody eating normally most days. But yes, aim for your TDEE on non fast days and the 500 on fast days and your calories deficit should do the trick.

A THOUGHT for those who are stuck / slowing
I do all my exercise on a very empty stomach : the morning after a 500 calorie dinner I burn off around 900 calories and then eat my 1800 later that day.
So, when I'm working my body HAS to draw on fat reserves ....
might it be worth those who are stuck being more active than they are used to on fast days ....

TheCyclistist · 30/11/2012 13:33

Cheers Alaska and Myjoy , and myjoy ,triathlon idea sounds brilliant, good luck! (will you be fasting on the day of the triathlon Grin )

And cheers Sis (Laska) I'll raise a Wine to you too Thanks . And I'm sure B&W doesn't take offence easily Grin

Yeah any follow up adding to what is already out there by Dr MM would be very interesting. Me gets the feeling that this WOE will be the next big thing in the world of weight loss and health, it's certainly no panacea and there may in time be plenty of complications that arise as further studies are done. But for loads of us on here it seems to have been life changing

TheCyclistist · 30/11/2012 13:35

Thanks TIP and I usually exercise on an empty stomach too

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 13:58

Mmmm mushroom omelette (+large splash of Franks of course!) .... Isn't it strange how the simplest things taste wonderful when you've not w eaten for a while so long?

So have Copped Out at 22 hrs today and broke the fast (although I did do another 16 yesterday and 500 cal) but I have day off and am making food for the weekend visitors (and also .. I dont want to get p$$ed tonight celebrating that birthday) Grin

OK and there's an opened box of dark Lindors in the kitchen ...Smile

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 14:14

ShockShockShock *&$$!!!

Dark Lindors are 70 calories EACH!!!!!

starlady · 30/11/2012 15:26

Literarygeek when you say plant-based, do you mean NO meat at all? I know a lot here on 5/2 boards are veggies, but I do feel healthier eating meat. I had a sirloin steak the night before I fasted, and it saw me through till 7.30 pm the next day.

ToffeeChops · 30/11/2012 15:45

Re: eating a plant based diet, this is known to be good for health, protection against many diseases and maintaining a healthy weight. I tend to think that if you are reducing your calorie intake you are best to make sure that the calories you DO eat are good nutritional value (I don't always manage it, but I think it's worth doing.)

The only thing I'd add is that I notice quite a few people seem very wary of eating carbs. While I know carbs have a bad name these days, Michael Moseley specifically said that eating alot of protein is the thing that keeps the body in 'go go' mode.......and this is what 5:2 is meant to address.

Personally I usually eat some protein on fast days, but I think veg curries, soups, salads, fruit etc are probably better choices (ie, carbs, but not the high starch ones.) Not wanting to preach to anyone, but if we want the health benefits and not just the wight loss it's worth thinking about.

ToffeeChops · 30/11/2012 15:48

Or even weight loss for that matter.......Wink

virginposter · 30/11/2012 16:08

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2240003/Its-hell-feast-famine-diet-help-drop-dress-size--live-longer.html

Has anyone else seen this? Always a bit loathe to read Daily Mail stuff but this one is ok. She has an IGF-1 test before her month of 5:2 and then again at the end and it has dropped significantly. Have a look you guys.

Breadandwine · 30/11/2012 16:33

I've just been catching up with this thread since this morning, sitting here with a big smile on my face! It's very inspirational stuff!

Curried wedges for myjoy:
Microwave your potato then cut into quarters. Oil your frying pan and fry the cut sides for several minutes - until they've browned a little. Turn them on their backs so that both cut sides are uppermost and sprinkle curry powder over them. Turn them over and fry each side for two minutes more. Serve.

When I'm calorie counting I take a potato weighing 100g (72 cals) and spray the pan with one-cal oil a couple of times. Before adding the curry I spray the cut surfaces with oil. I figure the oil and curry powder add another 15 calories.

If I'm not calorie counting, I just make sure there's enough oil in the pan.

(I used to quarter the potatoes and boil until soft, but, since my wife was microwaving hers I found it just as easy to stick mine in there as well.)

[Is it worthwhile putting this on the recipe thread?]

Laska I'm not insulted in the slightest! (Cyclist was quite right, you see! Smile).

If you refer back to my initial post on the 1st October (thread number 4) you'll find out just how ancient old I am!

I've had no trouble losing weight - I've found it more difficult to maintain the weight I am now (my sin of choice is greed, I've discovered! Grin), but if I find I've put weight back on I just don't have breakfast and lunch a couple of extra days a week - and the unwanted weight just disappears!

My wife, who is 11 years younger than me, has also lost a significant amount of weight, so we're both happy.

pip895 · 30/11/2012 16:51

ToffeeChops - I know there is plenty of evidence in both directions re the health benefits of vegetarianism. I accept that in general we eat too much protein and not enough veg. - however I believe we are designed to be omnivorous and that?s how I chose to continue. MM did not suggest a requirement to change the food you ate on feed days. I personally find I cope better with fasting if I have at least some protein - Anyway I don?t think this is the right forum for a discussion of the pros & cons of a veggie diet.

Laska42 · 30/11/2012 16:52

Ah B&W I did remember correctly .. so as you can see why I think you'd be ideal as a case study ....I'm always hearing people talk about how hard it is to lose weight , after 50.. but there's several of us here doing very well on this WOE.
Do let Mrs B&W know the bad Lindor news.. Ill probably never eat one again now.. It just doesn't seem at all a good use of 70 cals at all .. id rather have the equivalent in nice cheese or nuts.. (obviously you wont want the cheese..)

pip895 · 30/11/2012 17:11

I think there's room for the odd Lindor in my diet - just not on a fast day Grin

Skinnyeye · 30/11/2012 17:57

Hi Losers marking my space before an indulgent weekend off out for dinner with friends tonight and a 50th Birthday party tomorrow and planning on finishing the weekend with a fast on Sunday. WI stayed the same this week (a 5:2) but happy to have done so and switching back to 4:3 next week to lose another couple of pounds [bgrin]. Enjoy you weekend and happy birthday Cyclist

No contact from researchers for me - my posts must be too dull [bwink]

Loving the Scottish Smileys

ToffeeChops · 30/11/2012 18:08

pip85 - I'm not a vegetarian - could never go without bacon butties! Grin

TalkinPeace2 · 30/11/2012 18:18

Another confirmed carnivore here
but I'm eating less red meat during the week - more fish primarily
and have always been VERY strict about the provenance of the meat I buy (happy pigs www.chatervalley.com/)

ToffeeChops · 30/11/2012 18:35

I usually eat chicken or fish on fast days with a big pile of veg (I save all my calories for an evening meal.)

Since watching Horizon and St MM I'm trying to reduce my protein a bit and go large on the veg. Brussels sprouts are a current favourite....... yes, really!