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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:
mamarun · 08/12/2012 21:36

Just a question for those who have been on this woe where did you start losing weight from first or has it been fairly even and how long before you felt different and others commented. Finally this might be just a bizarre coincidence but I started having a sore throat day before fast and have gone on to become sick and can't shake this cough. Did anybody have this? Am getting all sorts of mild aches and pains.

TalkinPeace2 · 08/12/2012 21:49

DH and I started on the first day of term.
He is allergic to scales, I weigh myself twice a week.
Its not steady. I average 1 1/2 pounds a week ish
DH averages half an inch of his waist ish
the loveliest thing about this WOE is that exercising during fasts seems to strip visceral fat - both of us have lost more off our tummies than anywhere else

colds and stuff : probably unrelated - look at your diary from the last four autumns to see what colds you had ....

people are DIRE at correlations - unless you can compare years for other factors, chances are eating better is actually good for your health.

mamarun · 08/12/2012 21:56

Thanks TIP - you are probably right and probably lousy timing on my part to get a bug. 1 week in and I am obviously eager and excited about how much more I could lose.

mamarun · 08/12/2012 21:59

I have to say I am weighing myself every day and the weight is yoyoing all over the place but overall the range is dropping.

dontcallmehon · 08/12/2012 22:03

Thanks Talkinpeace, I feel much better, you can see from the first photo that I had a little belly and chunky legs that have now disappeared. I have had a Burger King meal and pizza this week, can't imagine another WOE that would let me eat like this and still lose weight. I know I can maintain this for life.

In the second pic on my profile I'm wearing a size 10 dress and I'm now sitting in size 8 skinny jeans. It is fab.

I have had a sore throat, cough and fuzzy head this week, but I put that down to the time of year rather than anything else. I feel better, generally.

mamarun · 08/12/2012 22:06

Great progress dontcallmehon. How long have you been on this woe?

dontcallmehon · 08/12/2012 22:25

Thanks mamarun, I started this in August. I don't lose weight some weeks, but the general trend is downwards. I've never stuck to a traditional diet before.

virginposter · 08/12/2012 23:02

dontcallmehon

You look fabulous and a bit like Carrie from Sex and the city in that outfit - well done.

virginposter · 08/12/2012 23:07

mamarun

I too have lost from my tummy first, waist and hips. A little from my bust but not as much from there as I usually do when dieting. It was noticable after 7-12 lbs and I had lovely comments after 14lbs. I found my shape changed even when the scales said 'no'.

Breadandwine · 09/12/2012 00:02

"I'm cycling from Cornwall to John O' Groats in May next year,"

TheCyclistist, you'll most likely come through my home town - maybe past my front door! We'll have to have a 'mini-meetup' when you arrive!

Let me know when you're coming - and I'll put the kettle on! Smile

fretfree · 09/12/2012 07:03

TheCyclistist - well done you. That sounds very impressive - and even more so the fact that you are going 'up' the country, rather than 'down' Xmas Grin. I haven't managed to catch many of the before and after photos, but dontcallmehon - that is inspirational. You look fab!

So many encouraging stories here - well done everyone!! Certainly not a typical Christmas thread, which is normally full of tales of excessive eating and weight gain Xmas Smile

I started ADF at 71.6 kg (158 lbs) on 30th November (almost six weeks ago) and this morning I was 65.7 kg (145 lbs). A loss of 5.9 kg or 13 lbs - that is almost a whole stone!!!! I was at 34.5% body fat when I started, and currently 32.3%. Although that is not going down as quickly as I would like (I was around 24% before pregnancy) that's still a 2.2% drop and a loss of 3.5 kg of actual fat (I know it isn't all as accurate as that, but wow - what a motivation booster: 3.5 kg of fat!!! Xmas Grin)

I was wondering though if anyone else had experienced the same pattern of weight loss as me (bearing in mind that I am doing alternate day fasting) - I generally see the weight loss after the day where I am eating, but stay the same after the fast day! Weird - no??

Aftereightsaremine · 09/12/2012 08:58

I've lost 35lbs since starting at the beginning of August, I did 2 days a week until mid September when I started 4:3, as I was finding it easy by then. I still eat out but have changed the way I eat if that makes sense! I still have a lot more to lose but I'm no longer in the obese category of bmi. People started to notice around October time I suppose once I'd lost around 20lbs. Usually by now I've given up on a diet but I don't want to on this one purely because I feel so much better.

Aftereightsaremine · 09/12/2012 08:59

Oh & I should add that my body fat has gone from being 45% to 41%, which is not a great reduction but at least it's downwards!

fretfree · 09/12/2012 09:23

Sounds pretty impressive aftereightsaremine. It's good to work out what that % drop in body fat means in concrete terms - it shows that what seems to be a small percentage in fat loss is actually a substantial amount :)

catsrus · 09/12/2012 14:34

Well done aftereights - isn't it great how this WOE feels so "do-able" Xmas Grin.

On my way to a birthday tea for an old friend - only had a cup of tea, black coffee and a latte at the station so far - have to grab a contribution to take with me and the train is so delayed that I won't make it to the supermarket for the crudités and healthy dips I was aiming for Xmas Sad fingers crossed I find something. Not particularly aiming for a fast day - but have def entered the Xmas season and am trying to be sensible and compensate for the large brandy leading to bag of liquorice allsorts last night Blush

CecyHall · 09/12/2012 14:48

Well done fretfree and aftereights

I'm eating today after fasting yesterday but I have a weird sore throat, it's not like an inflamed one, its like the muscles and its hurting my whole neck so I don't feel like too much.

Will be weighing tomorrow but I'm still losing some stupid weight I put back on during a silly weekend so probably won't be as low as I have been on this WOE but hopefully in the right direction!

Laska42 · 09/12/2012 16:08

hi there well ive posted two more photos up of me wearing The Dress, They're not great ( as taken at a works do by drunk person!) but do show me as I am now after 4 months 5:2 and 19lbs down .. and even I'm impressed by the difference! .

ill keep them up a few more days then ill be back to anonymity ..

So fasting today again .. . have two meals out this week again .. so will be doing two days back to back today -tues am again. Have just had some soup earlier and will be having prawn, courgette and cauliflower curry later. Then a couple of eating days of days without breakfast ( to make up for lunch time meals out) and then 24hrs thurs to fri evening as its going to be longest I can get in towards the end of the week.. If i can manage another have another STS this week ill be happy ..

dontcallmehon and TIP2 you both look brilliant, well done..

cats hope you can find something, ill be in Brighton I hope sometime in year year . so hopefully we can arrange a meet up , (perhaps with GWTMH as well

Laska42 · 09/12/2012 16:14

TIP2 i've just realised that last one of you is a 2003 photo.. (but you looked pretty good then ..probably thinner than I am now ) , looking forward to seeing you as you are now!

ErikNorseman · 09/12/2012 17:29

Hello! I just found this thread after fasting today and I'm really thinking about trying the 5:2 diet. How successful has it been for people? Background - I'm an emotional eater, I associate food with stress release and I'm in the habit of overeating. I have lost weight successfully in the past using calorie counting but I find it hard to do it long term, and when I stop, I go back to overeating.
I discovered last summer that I am able to fast (I did ramadan) with no problems at all and I think that I could fast twice a week with no problems. Today has been a cinch and I've got a nice low cal dinner planned.
I'd love to hear that it works!

TalkinPeace2 · 09/12/2012 17:32

it works :-)

Aftereightsaremine · 09/12/2012 17:44

Oh yes it works & more importantly its easy! Thanks to everyone who has congratulated me though have had a blow out weekend so doubt will have lost anything this week when I weigh in tomorrow.

ErikNorseman · 09/12/2012 17:51

So how do you eat on normal days? Do you try to eat sensibly or do you end up overeating? I can see it not working because I end up eating far too much 5 days a week!

TalkinPeace2 · 09/12/2012 17:58

Friday : no breakfast, lunch - smoked salmon, roast venison, cheeseboard ; dinner WINE and pizza and Manhattans
Saturday : fry up beakfast, chicken parmesan supper (no lunch) and WINE
Sunday : croissants, roast beef and every trimming and pudding and WINE
Monday : will be bugger all - tea and miso and scrambled egg supper
Tuesday : no brekky, single slice ham sarnie lunch, fish supper, with water
Weds : same as tuesday
Thurs : same as Monday
Friday : here we go again

THE COOLEST DIET EVER :-)

mamarun · 09/12/2012 18:07

Have a busy Xmas get together week ahead with various lunches/dinners Wednesday, thurs and fri. Should I do fasting 2 days in a row - mon and tues or is that not good. Really don't want to do one on weekend as harder when kids around. But if cant do 2 days in a row could be pushed to do weekend. What do you all advise?

Laska42 · 09/12/2012 18:21

mamarun two in a row is hard if you are quite new at fasting. but i've been doing this for a while and find it fine now,

Also like TIP i quite regularly miss breakfast and or lunch these days if i icit over the whole week, you should find out what your know im going for a blow out meal or drinks later..

ErikNorse Eating days are not feasting days .. and if you are worried i'm sure you'll find after a while you'll get used to it and probably not overeat on eating days . But what you are doing is aiming for a total calorie deficit over your week, so to start with you should find out your total calorie needs to stay the same TDEE (link above),and preferably not go over that on eating days. then with your two fasts you'll be reducing your calories without thinking about it . Do read breadandwines 'tips' thread above also, we've put lots of FAQ responses on it and so you'll probably find most of you want to know there. if not just ask and I expect someone here will be able to help. Bit remembering that we are all experimenting here.

But yes it works for most of us it seems..