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Fasting / 5:2 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:
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Laska42 · 14/12/2012 17:27

TIP2 forgot to do her job !!

THIS THREAD IS CLOSED

We are now over here

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TalkinPeace2 · 14/12/2012 17:41

whoops!
was working on a spreadsheet!!!

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This thread is full so the lovely *Greeneggs has started number 8
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/1636695-5-2-Diet-Thread-Number-8-fast-away-fast-away-fast-away-all
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Xmas GrinXmas SmileXmas WinkXmas GrinXmas SmileXmas WinkXmas GrinXmas SmileXmas WinkXmas GrinXmas SmileXmas WinkXmas GrinXmas SmileXmas WinkXmas GrinXmas SmileXmas Wink

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mcteez · 04/01/2013 13:40

Just wanted to say hello and thank you to everyone who has shared their stories. My first fast day was yesterday and I did very well. I am feeling odd today though; tired and a little strange (?)

I had a gastric sleeve operation 3 years ago now and lost 10 stone. I still have 6 to loose. It's never easy is it? However, it is easy for me on fast days because I only have a small stomach which fills much quicker with less food.

Thanks again.

Michelle xx

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bubbles1231 · 04/01/2013 14:40

I started this 2 days ago. I'm doing 2:1 which is a kind of halfway house between 5:2 and 4:3. It also means my fast days will change week on week but I think it will be ok.
On my first fast day I had a cup of tea for breakfast, a huge salad at lunch with,get this, 5g of cheddar and 2g of fat free salad dressing. Those little nuggets of flavour made a huge difference! For dinner i had roast beef, swede,broccoli and carrots. My plate looked fuller than a normal dinner.
Woke up the next day with a headache but it soon went. Looking forward to my next fast day tomorrow...
Start weight 12st 4 (5'7")
Target 11stone
Aiming for 1lb loss per week

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frenchfancy · 04/01/2013 17:31
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Jadean · 21/01/2013 16:03

Hi - im about to start the 5:2 "way of life" - just a few questions before I start that I really need help with:

On the "non" fast day - is it ok to restrict calories, i.e. 1200?
Ive heard that you need to leave 16 hours before eating after a fast day?
Do you have to eat the 500 cals in one go or can you split them for the day?

This seems to be having great results with people, saw Hugh Fernley Whittingstall and Chris Moyles have both lost quite a bit of weight doing 5:2 and im really keen to get going [SMILE]

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fynelady · 22/01/2013 12:06

Hi everyone,
I am new to the site so hello all.
I started the 5.2. diet on Friday and did my first fats day yesterday and the next will be on Thursday...Could anyone tell me if it is o.k. to drink diet cool drinks while on the fast days as plain water doesn't do it for me and lemon water gives me cramps!! I also do not really like coffee without milk and never drink tea! Awkward I know. So help please?
Thanks.

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fynelady · 22/01/2013 12:07

That should be fast day but I suppose fats still works!!

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GlassWorld · 22/01/2013 19:39

On day two... Yesterday was a fast day and I ate a low cal soup for lunch, a cup of milky tea and a light choices bangers and mash.

Today is an eating day and I have eaten an all day breakfast sandwich, some gingernut cookies, a cream cake, a chicken pie and dauphinoise (sp?) potatoes, a chocolate melty thing and wine.

Surely I can't possibly lose weight from this BAD BOY of a diet?!?!

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Ezzza · 27/01/2013 06:11

THREAD CLOSED

Mumsnet threads have a maximum number of posts which is 1000. As this discussion is so popular our discussion has continued over many new threads.

If you would like to continue reading the discussion, here is a link to thread 8.

If you?d like to read the discussion from the beginning here?s a link to thread number 1.

If you would like to jump in and join the conversation we'd love to hear from you. Please join us on the latest thread to post your comments. As I'm posting this, the latest thread is number 10 which you can find here.

We soon outgrow the threads, but there's always a link to the next thread in the previous one so come and join us!

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Ezzza · 29/01/2013 14:06

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Ezzza · 08/02/2013 10:36

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 07/03/2013 12:09

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 11/03/2013 16:02

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 23/03/2013 16:56

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 09/04/2013 13:30

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