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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:
TheCyclistist · 11/12/2012 13:51

Wow a few days away from the internet (courtesy of switching ISP provider and thus losing contact with the modern world) and a busy weekend and the thread moves on so fast...another couple of days and Greeneggs will have to be thinking of yet another title for the eigth incarnation.

Brilliant to see so many great looking photos on the profiles, I won't mention any names just in case I forget to someone and offer unintentional offence Xmas Smile . Have now put up an 'after' photo to go with the 'before' photos (but itching to take them down so they won't be there for long Blush ).

Hi B&W , yeh it'd be great to meet up when I pass by your way on the End2End cycle next year. Haven't got firm date yet but I reckon some time in May is looking most likely. I'll be doing the route from the c2c hand book, Lands End along to Portsmouth I think, up to Bristol, through Wales then up through the NorthWest Conurbs into the Lake District then up through Scotland via Glasgow then Fort William and hopefully , very hopefully arriving in John O'Groats.

Tried doing Sunday as a third Fast Day in preparation for Christmas, but after getting through to about 5pm it all fell apart in the evening. But got through Monday's Fast well, although had a few wobbles early on and had to get my mind sorted and focusing on the positive things that this WOE can provide and got through the day OK. The beauty of this WOL is that I can approach Christmas and all the trappings of the Christmas and New Year season pretty positive that I can enjoy myself and relax without too much of a concern about outgrowing all the new and 'back of wardrobe'clothes I've just started to be able to wear. Yep come January I'll probably have put on half a stone or so but by the end of Jan I should be even lighter (and hopefully healthier) than I am now...as long as I can approach the Fasting days IN THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND.

Have a great day all

TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 14:18

Looking good that man!
You can always edit out your own face if you are shy (like me)!

I can't put one up of DH as there are so many on the internet that he'd get recognised pretty quick.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/12/2012 14:49

good workCyclistist you look great

TiP are you married to someone famous????

Had the best fast day in months yesterday, actually kept within my calories, was never starving or snappy (always a bit of problem when combining sleep deprivation and not eating) and had enough for a small glass of wine in the evening...kept passing the fridge and the snack cupboard and happily reminded myself I can eat all of it today if I want to.

Out for dinner at our favourite restaurant in West Hollywood tonight, it's a bit pricey (especially for this time of year) but the food is AMAZING....I can already taste the lobsert and truffle ravioli...

TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 14:53

Famous in his field and VERY distinctive - he goes to lots of schools so we do get 'clocked' quite a lot ... and schools often post pictures of him on their websites (mad fools)

Lobster and truffle ravioli NOM NOM : send some sunshine our way please !

pip895 · 11/12/2012 14:53

For the first time in over three months I am eating normally on a Tuesday Shock. Decided to take your advice and shift things around a bit - I am doing Monday, Wed & Friday this week, to see if I can kick start weight loss again. Not being helped by not being able to exercise due to a RA flareup Sad although I did manage a 30min swim this morning for the fist time in nearly a week.

ToffeeChops · 11/12/2012 15:02

Oh dear, for first time in nearly 4 months I have just blown a fast day BIG STYLE. Have munched my way through a large pile of cheese and biscuits left over from a meal with friends last night. And now the fruit cake and mince pies are calling me from the kitchen and I just KNOW I'm not going to resist..........

Help! Can't bear the thought that I'm losing the plot and undo all my good work, steely resolve etc etc. Someone talk sense to me, please.....?

ToffeeChops · 11/12/2012 15:04

Blimey TiP, you're not Mrs Gove are you?!

TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 15:04

make tomorrow the fast day ....

seriously, rather than beat yourself up about it, go clean the bathroom (esp round the back of the toilet) as penance

and you can still keep your weekly calorie deficit if you change your day.

TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 15:05

Toffeechops No. DH is welcomed when he arrives at a school, not glared/sworn at :-)

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/12/2012 15:07

yeah I agree - start afresh tomorrow, don't eat the mince pies, save them for thursday when they will be amazing because you'll pre-warm them in the oven....

OK, have bitten the bullet and uploaded the weight fluctuations form the last 1.5years (could have gone way back but the photos of me at the end of university weighing in at 12.5stone were so depressing! Even if 6months in Africa just before my wedding a year later meant I was down to 10stone2lbs!)

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/12/2012 15:08

is he a nobel prize winner TiP?

TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 15:14

Mousey
COOL CAR : and yup, you look very lean. Impressed.

No, he's far more fun than most Nobel prize winners. :-)

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/12/2012 15:16

it was a rental! my brother flew over for 3 weeks, we left DC and DH and had a riotous few days in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree doing silly photoshoots with our frat boy car

I'm intrigued, give us a clue! what's his field? tv prsenter?

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/12/2012 15:18

ps just wanted to point out the muffin tops are still bloody there though - am starting to look a but scrawny around the face and neck but bloody midsection needs work, power yoga tomorrow then

ToffeeChops · 11/12/2012 15:23

Ha! This is like 'Tip's DH's Identity' - 20 questions!

Not Michael Gove, not a Nobel Prize winner....... well we're narrowing it down, aren't we? Xmas Wink

AfterEightMintyy · 11/12/2012 15:28

Toffeechops - fret not! It doesn't matter one little jot. Make tomorrow a fast day instead.

I didn't fast at all last week (so that's two days I didn't do, for the first time since 1st September). My period started which was quite a shock as its been almost a year since my last one (I am 50). It was v painful and I had to take heavy duty painkillers for 3 days and there was no way I was going to take those on an empty stomach. The non-period days all had fun/social things scheduled so ... I just didn't fast at all. No harm done Xmas Smile.

I think we have to get past the idea of "failing" on this woe.

Talisin · 11/12/2012 15:30

Hmm. Vists children... always pleased to see him... distinctive looking... fun. He's Santa, isn't he?

AfterEightMintyy · 11/12/2012 15:32
Xmas Grin
GreenEggsAndNichts · 11/12/2012 15:41

Talisin I properly LOL'd at that, thank you. Xmas Grin

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 15:53

Talisin - you have made his day!

pookey · 11/12/2012 15:57

Xmas Grin I was just coming to that conclusion!

pookey · 11/12/2012 16:00

after8mintyy thta's interesting I had assumed this woe would have the opp effect. PS didn't keep to my excersie plan but there always tomorrow ...

frankinsensible · 11/12/2012 16:13

Is there a prize in the Mr Tip quiz? I reckon...Michael Morpurgo or similar.

My third week on 5:2 - fasting today. I didn't weigh myself at the start because as soon as I start doing that I get all obsessive and keep weighing myself all the time. I decided I would judge weight-loss by loosening clothes so had been disappointed that none seemed any looser. Weighed myself this morning as I could tell I was starting to lose resolve and found I am 6 lb lighter! Don't know where I've lost it from but it gave me a big boost and I'm a happy (frozen) faster today. Xmas Smile

frenchfancy · 11/12/2012 16:34

I've taken the plunge and put up a photo. Taken at the end of summer 2012 about a week before I started 5:2. I don't have an after photo yet, maybe at Christmas (I'm self employed so no Christmas parties for me :( )

TalkinPeace2 · 11/12/2012 17:26

you need to set the picture as public ....

self employed people do not have "Christmas Dinners" they have monthly "strategy meetings" in restaurants with their husbands professional advisers

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