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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:
Laska42 · 03/12/2012 18:49

Fortnum and Masons do amazing mixed chilli olives also (bought some for DH a few Christmas's ago and now if I do go to London (once in a blue moon) I'm expected to bring some back ( £15! but its a huge jar ..)

Oh must stop this! im fasting..

TalkinPeace2 · 03/12/2012 18:57

am stuffed
mince and bean chilli tonight, wrapped in lettuce leaves rather than tortillas - all the finger messy fun, far fewer calories
(hadn't eaten since 5pm yesterday and now will not eat till lunch tomorrow)

GreenEggsAndNichts · 03/12/2012 19:21

Cyclist lol I did seriously contemplate buying a pack of the pies. Considering we're eating so much less this year, I think buying one pack of amazing pies is a good tradeoff for all the Kiplings pies we aren't eating this year. I might order some, if I'm honest, that how good they were. Grin

Tis a non-fast day here. I'm talking of pies but our treat today was some of the poppy seed stollen we bought last week. DH is German, he declared that it was Good. (Lidl, btw, so I'm not just pushing F&M here!)

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TalkinPeace2 · 03/12/2012 19:25

(((Lidl Stollen))) - the bite size ones with coffee nom nom

Interesting that the kids have both asked that over Christmas we plan just two good meals per day - rather than three - brunch and supper for example.

TellMeLater · 03/12/2012 19:48

Whereas our kids have requested that we don't fast over Christmas!

Piebaldrider · 03/12/2012 19:50

Fasting day for me today and desperate to get back to 4.3 again but as someone said earlier (laska i think) it messes with your head when you break the cycle. I also made my own quick version of Cumin Califlower tonight and it was amazing and i could have eaten it twice. I only had frozen cauli and no spray oil but i nuked it first and dry baked it and it was perfect. Some of you were talking about coffee and for what its worth i have had a taste for black coffee for years after giving up milk and sugar when dieting once and i could never go back to the sweet milky stuff. On fast days i make sure i get some realy good quality fresh filtered coffee and it makes a big dfference to smoothness and taste and thats important when you drink it black. After reading the last few posts i think i will be indulging in a nice mince pie tomorrow and possibly i may have a little cream with it along with my strong black coffee. Im not going near the scales after only 5.2 ing, eating chocloate n pizza and not being able to excersise as much due to a cold and my painful shins but if i can just get back to my 4.3 i am confident the weight will start to move again .Xmas Wink

Laska42 · 03/12/2012 20:20

piebaldrider . It is great isnt it? I often use frozen cauli .. just nuke to defrost as you say, i've not long had my oil sprayer and before that just used to brush some oil on the baking dish , ..

Have made another batch of Mr Ls soup and fasting again tomorrow..
then ill be back to 4:3 this week .. Smile

tiggy114 · 03/12/2012 20:30

Laska is homemade mince nicer than bought then? It's so easy to buy, it'd have to be something special for me to make it myself. Never tried homemade before.

TellMeLater · 03/12/2012 20:37

Mincemeat is so easy to make, just measure and stir, then put into clean jam jars - simple.

ceebeegeebies · 03/12/2012 21:12

Mumof I am also sticking to shop-bought soups on my fast days - I haven't got the time or inclination to make my own and I find it more filling that I would get from another 300 cals (say 2 eggs and 1 slice of bread). I had an Asda slow-cooked pork with orzo pasta last week - it was delicious Grin

Jobyloo · 03/12/2012 22:09

on a fast day too, have been totally off the rails this last week. first anniversary of losing my dad combined with graduating...so to say I've been emotional is an understatement.

Have really noticed how your mind plays tricks on you...had almost convinced myself not to fast today before I'd even set foot out of the door (even though I'd planned it since before the weekend). Anyway managed longest time ever today 21hrs and that certainly wasn't intentional. For me the hunger pangs are worse around the 12hr mark and then totally subside and can be managed with hot drinks. Just need to get myself back to in to the habit because I feel so much better when I do. Had left over roast dinner tho and really enjoyed it Xmas Wink

Its really interesting reading all the msgs and even though I don't post a lot I get an awful lot out of this site. So thank you to you all for being so friendly and so eager to share your experiences!

TalkinPeace2 · 03/12/2012 22:14

Jobyloo
Well done on graduating. Hope you drank your Dad's glass of celebratory fizzy as well as yours. It matters.

The thing with fasting is that it give such a feeling of control.
But because its only for specific days is unlikely to turn into any sort of problem.
Agree about the pangs passing with hot drinks.

I don't 'do' ready made meals - but am trying to mix up the fasting suppers : its so easy to have toast / ham / baked beans / scrambled egg!

Jobyloo · 03/12/2012 22:26

Thanks TIP, too right I drank his fizzy. Xmas Grin

As for fast meals I mix it up, I love cooking when I can but don't mind the odd ready meal from M&S... it sometimes feels like a treat even though I'm on a low day. If I'm being organised I make double portions so I've always got something in the freezer already prepared. I'm a bit of a nibbler... been known to raid the pickle, jam, peanut butter & chutney jars when I get passed it lol!

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 03/12/2012 22:44

Hi all

interesting to see plans for Christmas - my mum and dad are both supposed to be doing 5:2 but mum's said nobody is fasting over Christmas (23rd - 28th!) I'd like maybe just one day in there so will prob fast the day we leave US (22nd) as then I'll also be avoiding the crap airplane food, then will sneakily try to avoid on 27th....but I think 2 meals max each day sounds good too. Just try to pay attention to my body and no overeat every bloody day!

Attempting to do between 4:3 and ADF until then though...

GreenEggsAndNichts · 03/12/2012 22:56

I'm not sure I'd survive Christmas without a fast day or two. Grin Having had my trial run of holiday food already with Thanksgiving, I think I've learnt to appreciate having a fast after a day or two of rich food!

But, easier as it'll just be us. I'm sure it's tougher with extended family around, commenting all the way.

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starlady · 03/12/2012 23:04

Quick opinion fasters if you please. I think I have gone over my allotted cals today. What I had - glass of apple juice this morning, throughout the day 1 coffee splash milk, 3 teas, again splash of milk [ie almost black] fuller for longer salmon with soya beans m&s 430 cals at 7.30 Then I nibbled a cookie (literally one bite) & ate 1 toffee 30 cals. So about 100 cals over, would you say?
My question is, given the fact I am 5 ft 11 woman weighing in at 11 stone 12 lb, do you think it matters, will I still reap benefits? Ie - given fact I'm tall, maybe i get a get out of jail card?

Been doing it for 4 weeks one & lost about 6 lb

Breadandwine · 04/12/2012 00:28

Doesn't seem fair, starlady, that I'm allowed 600 calories and I'm only 5' 6" tall, while your allowance is only 500 calories! Sad

So, just on this one occasion, I shall grant you absolution. Grin

However, on your next fast day you need to tighten up! Forget the apple juice*, cookie-bite and a toffee and you should be closer to 500! Smile

Your 430 calorie evening meal is perhaps too much to allow any leeway - you need to choose something under 400 calories, IMO. Then you have 100 to play with. Lots of suggestions on the recipe thread.

*Just for info, there are more calories in apple juice than there are in a dry red! Shock

starlady · 04/12/2012 00:38

Thanks for replying b&w - you're so right. I just needed someone to talk sense to me! For some reason today felt quite tough. Still hungry now. Luckily, tomorrow when I wake up I will feel better for fasting, and it will seem worth it!

Laska42 · 04/12/2012 08:36

ok I am officially obsessed! .. its day 2 of my back to back fasting days and now Im cross because I just looked in my work diary and I have a lunch with a friend booked in.. (and I didnt make it last time so cant get out of it ..) and no, I cant not fast today if I want to do 4:3 this week (which I do as I have 2 possibly 3 meals out this week )..

I do hope the soup of the day on the menu isnt parsnip or sweet potato (bleugh!)

TellMeLater · 04/12/2012 09:00

I fell into a bucket of sugar on Sunday - Monday I fasted - no hunger - first time that has happened, normally I am pretty hungry all day and I'm still finding the one meal a day easier than the split. But the thing that occurred to me was that although I had too much sugar on Sunday I didn't have a "too hell with it all I've failed now" moment, I was able to glide quite easily into Monday's fast and I think it might be the forgiving nature of this diet that will encourage me to continue. It's allowing me to have treats and have control too.

Thelittlestranger · 04/12/2012 09:36

Thanks pookey...I tend to skip breakfasts, and sometimes lunch on Fridays anyway. But do so with the knowledge that I can drink and eat what I like later that evening. Not relaxing on a Friday evening is the part I can't get my head round.

I would definitely find it easier to skip breakfast every day as someone else mentioned..hmmm, perhaps I will try not having breakfast on Thursday after my Wednesday fast, having brunch instead and see how I feel.

Decisions, decisions.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 04/12/2012 10:03

Yep starlady I agree with B&W about the juice. I don't drink apple juice often anymore, but when I do, I tend to have it half and half with sparkling water, sometimes a bit more water than juice. It's also not low calorie (well, it's lower than drinking it straight, I guess) but I find it really refreshing. It's a popular drink in Germany, so it's my default to order when we go out for a meal there.

I wouldn't have even responded as I was just repeating what B&W said, but I wanted to share about the apfelshorle. Grin

OP posts:
Jossysgiants · 04/12/2012 10:07

Well day 1 was ok- was starving last night before going to sleep but hunger pangs had subsided by this morning strangely.

Iwearblack · 04/12/2012 10:54

yeah I love that feeling the day after a lo-day: euphoric that I did it the day before and feeling I can eat anything I want.....but strangely I don't pig out, as the chocolate biscuits seem to have lost their allure somewhat.
I quite like the hunger pangs on a fast-day too: it's a bit like when I used to get my brace tightened on my teeth: hurts a bit but at least then I know it is doing some good!

Also, it is Ok to be hungry on this WOE as it is only for a day; unlike in other weight-loss programmes where hunger is the enemy as you should be full up with bran/fresh fruit/wholesome stuff etc when all you really want is a donut!!
Plus the hunger subsides if you ignore it Xmas Grin

GreenEggsAndNichts · 04/12/2012 11:02

I just really appreciate not having to fret over everything that goes in my mouth every single day. No food is demonised. Which is a good thing, going into the Christmas season. :) I have drinks out scheduled this evening. I doubt I'll have much as it's well, Tuesday Grin but it's just nice to not worry. Wine

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