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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:
mumofcrazynamedkids · 10/12/2012 15:11

Hi pookey just wanted to observe that we have had pretty similar weight loss, (I've lost 12 pounds since 6th August) and I actually consider this a very good and successful WOE, considering I do eat what the hell i like on non fast days! it's not the same kind of loss I would get on WW or atkins or whatever, but for me those ways of losing weight are just not sustainable/enjoyable, and certainly don't propose the same kind of health benefits.

unless you have lots and lots of weight to lose, in which case maybe this pace of weightloss is too slow for you, but genuinely, if you find it fairly easy to do, then surely a long term slow loss on this WOE is more enjoyable with all the benefits you're hoping for?

i just wondered if you reframed your thinking of it as a long term process rather than looking for results quickly it might help? not to mention if you put out 10 pounds in weight (i.e. 20 packs of butter) and realised that was no longer on your body, would that help?

Hope this doesn't come across as patronising, just that I know at times I've felt a bit low about not losing more, but I tell myself all that stuff above and I now feel much happier about it all.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 10/12/2012 15:14

greeneggs you look great! thanks for sharing, i will attempt to do tonight if I remember!

Laska42 · 10/12/2012 16:16

hello Greeneggs! nice hat Xmas Grin.. yes ill be taking mine down later on also //

AfterEightMintyy · 10/12/2012 18:22

Marking place. Evening all.

Still trundling on, still very fat Xmas Sad, still not sure WHY I can't lose weight but anyway ...

Laska42 · 10/12/2012 18:28

well Shock I just did day 1. wk 1 of C25k !! .You may not be at all impressed but its been about 18 months since I last did any running at all .. its quite cold out there this evening.. was easy enough though, and my white reflective running top is pretty loose on me now Grin.

My lower back feels a little tender , so will go give it a cold pack and see how it its later on. If its ok will go out again later on in the week .

So a celebratory mint tea i think .. (though I think I deserve a Wine now but its a fast day...)

pookey · 10/12/2012 18:29

mumofcrazynamed kids - I know what you mean and I would look very different had I put on an additional 10lb and was now 13 stone, that's why I am not giving up! 1lb in a month though means I would still be overweight next Christmas! I am 11.11 now btw. Today I really didn't want to fast so the 1lb weightloss didn't help!

pookey · 10/12/2012 18:34

well done Laska! I think the exercise bug is catching somebody in rl was telling me they have taken up running, maybe I don't need to put it off until New Year ...

pookey · 10/12/2012 18:38

after8minty...were you getting your thyroid checked or am I confusing you with someone else? fancy getting up at 6.30 and sticking on an excersie dvd too?

starlady · 10/12/2012 19:56

hmm. I feel the need to confess. I managed to get through today with 2 cups of tea, one cup of coffee (ie 40 cals), the n the prerequisite herbals, one M & S salmon, soya bean and rice (430 cals) THEN I BLEW IT at 6.30 with a creme caramel at 150 Xmas Blush

Hope the pain of fasting today has not all being in vain ...

Bordercollielover · 10/12/2012 20:29

Have Aftereightsaremine and Mintyy merged into the same person??
Natasha that chocolatey/ cocnut drink sounds very decadent, I will be trying that tomorrow!

TalkinPeace2 · 10/12/2012 20:30

starlady
on the other hand, you still ran a significant calorie deficit on the day and did not eat for a good long stretch.....

I'm waiting for DH to come home and see what he wants for his 400 calories supper ....

AfterEightMintyy · 10/12/2012 20:31

AfterEightMintyy is me, Mintyy, wearing my Christmas namechange. No relation to Aftereightsaremine. Sorry for any confusion!

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 10/12/2012 20:38

starlady I have done that on more occasions than I care to remember, especially recently...it's still a lot less than you would normally eat though so don't fret too much

Fasting today - exhausted as usual thanks to DD but not actually hungry - it's 1pm here and have only had tea and coffee so far. Boiled a few eggs for DD"s lunch so will prob snack on one later then have a main meal with the children and go to bed early

starlady · 10/12/2012 20:38

Thanks TiP. It's not a completely wasted day I guess! I do feel v. full now. Hope your dh is stronger than I am and sticks to that 400 cals!

borisjohnsonshair · 10/12/2012 20:42

Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but Michael Moseley tweeted earlier this week that he's written a book called The Fast Diet, which will be out mid-January.

Jobyloo · 10/12/2012 20:51

evening all, fasting day today but really struggled when I got home...so went and stood and watched football training for DS...nearly an hour, hoping that the shivering has burned a few extra cals. Was the distraction I needed but perhaps should have taken a tip out of Laska's book and gone for a run instead. Well done Laska!

Jobyloo · 10/12/2012 21:03

just tried to go on the link above for TDEE and google chrome identified it as malware??? sorry not an IT bod so not sure what that means but have found another calculator at www.health-calc.com/diet/energy-expenditure-advanced

Laska42 · 10/12/2012 21:36

Hi jobyloo rather you than me on a touchline - mind you I hate football , (sorry bro) .Hope you are doing well i've not lost any more , but ok with that for the moment .

yes it looks like the TDEE has indeed got a problem . My Mcafee just screamed at me also

Here's the link to the old BMR calculator we used to use . Then to find out your daily needs you need to work out using your result and multiply according the formula for your activity level on the next page More clunky but near enough the same results

Hope that's helpful

Jobyloo · 10/12/2012 21:39

Thanks Laska! Had a look at your pics and can really see the difference you must feel on top of the worldXmas Grin!!! Not sure when your birthday is but hope you have/had a fab time! x x

Laska42 · 10/12/2012 21:44

thanks jobyloo its Wednesday. 55 argghh Shock. .. i'm trying to be good until then as have 2 days of meals out on the trot plus another at the weekend....

TalkinPeace2 · 10/12/2012 22:02

DH had eaten at work so I've had a swift omelette. Time to sleep.

dontcallmehon · 10/12/2012 22:42

hi all, green eggs and laksa you look great - this WOE is brilliant. I'm on a feed day, so enjoying a large Baileys.

Aftereightsaremine · 11/12/2012 06:48

Keep thinking I should change my name also as had a after eight the other day & they were too sweet. I really wondered what the world is coming to.... But I'll stick with my name for now as everyone knows me on this thread.

On the plus side I've had lots of lovely comments & I hope that I continue to lose weight but if I don't at least I know I won't be putting it on.

frenchfancy · 11/12/2012 07:03

I wouldn't use the calculator jobyloo posted if I were you. It gives my TDEE as 3500+ cals/day Shock and DH as 4500 Shock The old calculator gave us 2350 and 2800 respectively.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/12/2012 10:23

lol aftereights! I haven't even had any yet this year, and I love them. My indulgence at the weekend was some all-butter fudge from the Christmas section at Aldi. Envy At least since it's in the Christmas section, they won't get any more in when they sell out. It was amazing, and I'm very picky about that sort of thing.

This week I... will do 5:2 for the first time since I started this. I've been a strictly 4:3 kinda gal, but it seems as if every social engagement I have this month is falling this week. Thurs, Fri, and Saturday! I will be sure to stick to coffee when I'm at home. I might even attempt to make Saturday a fast day as the event that day should just be mulled wine and mince pies.

anyway. Thanks for the lovely comments about my hat. Xmas Wink

FF wow that's a big difference! Does the new one not take into account levels of activity? I'll have a look.

OP posts: