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Fasting / 5:2 diet

5:2 Diet Thread! Number 8, fast away fast away fast away all!

999 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 14/12/2012 15:51

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 You'll find a lot of support here.

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. Here is a link to the programme's page on iPlayer, which features a couple of clips, and might have updates eventually. Let us know if you find another site hosting it.

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. (This is a new calculator to previous threads, this one seems to give me approximately the same results the last one did, but without the virus warnings on my browser!)

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!

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 09/04/2013 13:32

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If you would like to continue reading the discussion, here is a link to thread 9.

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 17 which you can find here.

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

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 23/03/2013 16:57

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 11/03/2013 16:03

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NurseEzzzaChapel · 07/03/2013 12:11

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

If you would like to continue reading the discussion, here is a link to thread 9.

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 14 which you can find here.

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

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rayzara · 09/02/2013 17:39

Hi Ladies,

I'm doing research on fasting diets and comparing that to what happens to those who fast for longer times periods of time as part of religous or personal choice. I am a 3rd Year student at Sheffield Hallam University and this research is part of my university assingment.

I would love to hear about your personal accounts.

Please get in touch with me on [email protected] and if you could kindly help me out.

Kind Regards,
Railah

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Ezzza · 08/02/2013 10:30

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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 14:07

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Ezzza · 27/01/2013 06:16

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 9.

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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nicnac58 · 25/01/2013 16:13

Newbie here have sat reading the threads around the 5 2 diet this afternoon. There appears to be a lot of wisdom and experience on here. Started the 5 2 plan Monday of last week and did 2 x500 days, 4 X1200 and 1 X 1400 also 5 exercise classes weighed myself on the 9th day after my 3rd fast day; result not one single solitary pound gone. Wondered what peoples thoughts are, is it better to just eat normally on feast days or should you calorie count, wanted to give things a a kick start but failed dismally.

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Jadean · 21/01/2013 16:34

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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frenchfancy · 18/01/2013 16:35

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Lock down before we hit 1000 and people cannot reply.
But the conversation, motivation and health gains carry on over at thread 9
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mrgregpittman · 18/01/2013 12:18

Nice post got very much information for my diet.

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rufusrabbit243 · 18/01/2013 12:01

Hi all, I saw the documentary in Summer and have been fasting on and off ever since. Just before Christmas I switched to a maintenance fast of 1 day a week but after a lovely family Christmas need to go back to 5:2.
I am a vegetarian and have dropped from a largish size 10 to a size 8. I am very happy with it and it does work long term.
I usually fast from supper to supper as the only problem I found is that I can't sleep when hungry.
I do feel cold when fasting but I have lots of lovely jumpers!
It has become so easy now that on a fast day I sometimes go 24 hours on nil calories.
Good luck all, ///emo/te/4.gif

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bubbymonster · 17/01/2013 18:24

I recently started the 5:2 diet and have just completed my first fast day! I just wondered approximately how many calories you eat on feast days. Any help?
Thanks

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soomcgoo · 14/01/2013 15:46

Hi new to mumsnet today and have also started 5:2 after reading about in sunday papers... Is it ok when breast feeding? My LO is 5 months and still exclusively BF. I have plenty to lose........

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TalkinPeace2 · 12/01/2013 19:40

THREAD CLOSED
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Lock down before we hit 1000 and people cannot reply.
But the conversation, motivation and health gains carry on over at thread 9
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/a1655696-5-2-Diet-Thread-Number-9-welcoming-the-new-year#36558810

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TalkinPeace2 · 12/01/2013 19:39

by the way ....

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TalkinPeace2 · 12/01/2013 19:38

(( Flojo )) try half of it next time.
I've never done a DVD based exercise thingy, but you need to listen more to how your body feels.

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Flojobunny · 12/01/2013 18:31

Just thrown up Sad

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Flojobunny · 12/01/2013 18:10

I have just done the level 1 Shred, it was the longest 20 minutes of my life. Feel sick as a dog now Sad

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pookey · 12/01/2013 17:55

Congrats lauryloo! I agree with Eric fasting when pg (esp when so little research is probably available) would prob not be a good idea. You can diet when pg but only if overweight, I think 1800 cals a day is reccommended. some people lose weight naturally in the first trimester because of nausea so losing weight through normal calorie control for the first 12 weeks is considered ok and then gaining slowly for the last two trimesters about 20 lb in total dep on your weight when you became pg. Some people on here have been bf and fasting but I couldn't manage it myself. I lost weight in my middle pregnancy and had the easiest birth that time but that could be coincidence.

hope2pigs that sounds like a good plan to wait a while before cutting the pepsi - if you replace it with green tea you might have less caffine withdrawl?

Just received a traffic fine for going in a bus lane on boxingday (I thought it was sunday :( )

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hope2pigs · 12/01/2013 09:18

New member - hello fellow fasters - just about to start the 5:2 diet. Had a test fast day on Tuesday before I had read the Michael Mosely book. Have decided normal fast days will be Mondays and Thursdays. So I'm gearing myself up ready for Monday.

I'm going to try skipping breakfast (I start work at 8am and rarely have time for breakfast anyway) have a filling homemade veg soup for lunch and vegetable filled salad for dinner.

My only problem is that I have hopelessly addicted to Pepsi Max (zero cals). I tried cutting down on Tuesday when I test fasted but ended up with a terrible headache on Wednesday (i suffer from headaches) and am hoping that was due to withdrawal from the pepsi and not the fasting. So this Monday I intend to take one step at a time and focus on the fast and not stop myself having the pepsi max.

Just wondered if anyone else suffered with headaches on or just after fast days?

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lauryloo · 12/01/2013 09:06

that's what i was thinking :)

I think i'll just watch my calories and at least I know what diet to follow once baby loo comes along!

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ErikNorseman · 12/01/2013 09:03

Auryloo it would be a very bad idea to fast while pregnant (congratulations!) maybe try to track your calories and aim for your TDEE?

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lauryloo · 12/01/2013 09:00

well in the past week and a half I have lost 5lb doing this - although I am not sure what to do now going forward because I have just found out that I am pregnant!!

Any advice would be appreciated - i still want to lose some weight whilst pregnant and not sure if this option would be advisable or not!

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