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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! 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!

OP posts:
Breadandwine · 26/12/2012 17:17

All quiet on the waistline front! Grin

Intended to fast at least until dinnertime tonight, but the Boxing Day brunch caused me to change my mind! I didn't go over the top yesterday, so I shouldn't have put the last hole in my belt under any jeopardy. Shall eat normally now for the rest of the week and fast again on Monday.

Hope the lack of activity on this thread is an indicator that everyone one has been behaving themselves over the last couple of days - and that normal service will be resumed soon.

BTW, did I hear Dr M's book is due for release on the 27th Feb?

ATB, B&W

GreenEggsAndNichts · 26/12/2012 17:37

buh. I toyed with the idea of fasting today but we just don't have anything going on in the house other than food, TV, and playing with gifts, so it's not a fast day. Xmas Grin I want to say I'm not going overboard, but I guess it's more like "I'm not eating nearly as much as I would have done last year." I had a turkey sandwich at lunch (no breakfast), a few chocolates, a piece of fudge, and soon I'll have some leftovers for dinner.

I am very likely going to fast tomorrow, though. I don't think I can let myself go too many days like this without one!

Hope everyone is enjoying themselves out there!

OP posts:
AmericasTorturedBrow · 26/12/2012 20:26

Have only had one ral each day the last two days but they have been MASSIVE meals lasting several hours! Home made curry tomorrow and bacon but ties for breakfast, will be kind of fasting on 28th (tis DDs naming ceremony so might just uses up all 500cals in champagne), next one on 2nd jan...eeeek

On the plus side was really worried about telling mum I'm now a size 10, she bought me some jeans for Christmas and....they're a bit roomy, YAY,

Let's see what size I am by next week though!

frenchfancy · 27/12/2012 08:45

Back on the wagon today, full fast today then half on Saturday. I've certainly not been dieting the past few days, but I was a little less glutinous than usual. Didn't have seconds, had one or 2 chocolates rather than the entire box ...

I haven't felt deprived at all, but haven't felt unpleasantly stuffed (or drunk) either which has helped me enjoy this Christmas more than any I can remember.

I have put on some weight, but I am hoping it is bloating and that a couple of fast days will see it gone.

Hope you all had a good one too.

catsrus · 27/12/2012 09:53

Hi all

Well I managed to get out of Christmas grazing by doing tons of cooking lol! Tried to last as long as possible each day before eating, then tried to eat like a thin person. Have had all the trimmings including roasties, Xmas pud and custard on the day, lots of wine and port to finish - yesterday I had 5 delicious luxury chocks and 4 after eights and a ton of advocaat Xmas Blush but a reasonably modest roast dinner. We picked up some "vintage" dinner plates from a charity shop - the old smaller size - and we're trying to use those as our default.

According to this morning's WI I haven't put on any weight Xmas Shock but I know that sometimes it chases you and catches up later - so a fast day today methinks. Have made a hearty leftovers soup for everyone else - so will also make a lightweight red cabbage borscht.

The one thing I haven't tackled is Christmas cake - its my nemesis, I love it, but my dcs don't - I bought a small one but have not dared open it as its usually me who finishes it off. I want to be able to have some but not all of it so I have to face the demon at some point ......

Hope very one has had a lovely time with lots of treats Xmas Smile

raspberryroop · 27/12/2012 10:36

Hi wondering if I could sign up ?

Breadandwine · 27/12/2012 11:13

You just did!

Welcome, raspberry! The more the merrier! Xmas Grin

raspberryroop · 27/12/2012 11:58

Thanks ,fasting today for the 1st time .About5 stone to loose ,have lost it before on low carb but really looking for work weight loss and know I' m better at total abstinence than regulation as in Sw & WW

virginposter · 27/12/2012 14:59

Well, tried to be good and suceeded partly by skipping breakfast each day. Like others have tried to limit the damage and was going to fast today but have been invited to friends so that put paid to that. Will try for a fast tomorrow and Sunday and enjoy 31st then for sure back to real fasting on 1st Jan.
Have to finish this Xmas cake first tho' Xmas Grin

virginposter · 27/12/2012 15:01

B&W amazon say 10 Jan for Dr MM book.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 27/12/2012 15:05

Definite fast day today. I'll be slightly over 500 calories but that'll be fine. Tis 3pm and I'm already feeling better for it. :)

OP posts:
Laska42 · 27/12/2012 16:18

hi all , blimey 2 days of overeating and im really hoping that the scales were just having an off day this morning.... its simply not possible to put on 6lbs in 2 days is it..? I think it was the carbs (mainly crisps mince pies & roasties) as I eat very few these days ..

Anyway I woke with a sore and bloated tummy this morning , too much rich food .. Ive not deliberately fasted today but am having a 'veggie only' day in an effort to get my system 'back to normal' (ahem. not too much info here I hope?) Xmas Smile. and am now feeling much better. but I'm pretty sure ill be having some wine tonight again

But planning a proper fast again tomorrow now ..and looking forward to it ..

Laska42 · 27/12/2012 16:19

cats great idea .. the old plates ..

Laska42 · 27/12/2012 16:22

also Cats* please can you post your red cabbage borscht recipe?.. I have a red cabbage needing using up ... thanks

GreenEggsAndNichts · 27/12/2012 16:42

twitch. You know what's odd? I'm not really bothered by all of the actual food in the house. I am, however, haunted by the homemade Bailey's I know is sitting in my kitchen. Xmas Grin

Laska I'm not trying to make excuses for you, but it'll be worth waiting a day or two and weighing again. These sort of big holiday meals tend to have lots of salt (for retaining water) as well as the volume of food making its way through your system. I'm not saying you might not have put on a pound or so, but I'd be surprised if it were 6 in 2 days!

I'm not brave enough to weigh in until New Years, I think. As I said before the holidays, I am just going to close my eyes, fast when I can, and hopefully the damage won't be too bad. I'm fasting today, and again on Saturday or Sunday, not sure which.

And I'm posting here a lot today because for the first time in a while, a fast day is a struggle! Xmas Grin Not because of the lack of food, but sheer boredom around this house today. We went out, but now we're in with the TV again. sigh. I think I'll drag DS around the neighbourhood to spot Christmas lights.

OP posts:
scripsi · 27/12/2012 17:57

I haven't done too much damage I think with the holidays (though I haven't weighed myself either!). I would be grateful to know what your favourite fast-day menus are. I am finding that I need to eat volume - so stirfries of low calorie vegetables (in stock not oil) and proteins like eggs and grilled lean chicken or cod. But I have been getting really bored. At the moment I allow myself two meals of two boiled eggs and then a low fat chicken stirfry and if I still have calories allowed I will have a tablespoon of plain fat free yogurt. I tried eating soup for a meal but I get ridiculously hungry.

Laska42 · 27/12/2012 18:14

scripsi that's pretty much what I eat on fast days ..yes its same-y but then its also easy .. and I don't want to think too much about food on fast days . . You could try my MR Ls roasted carrot and red pepper soup and my roasted cauli with cumin both (on the recipe thread link above) also making things as tasty as possible helps (im a great chilli sauce fan) . Lots of people only eat one meal ,as well so that gives more scope.. Veggie chilli and curry are good

Right i've found a beet and red cabbage borscht recipe on the net and am off to make it for tomorrows fast now.. .

greeneggs Hi there .. I hope you are right .. actually I'm sure you are .. i didn't eat that much.. but quite a few carbs which I'm not so used to now. Keep strong.. its evening now.. you can do it !! (I'm sure ill find it hard tomorrow.. I still have people here also )

scripsi · 27/12/2012 18:54

Thanks Laska, yes I need to up the herbs and chilli I think! I also need to be more varied on the non-fast days too. Good luck with your borscht!

Skinnyeye · 27/12/2012 19:14

Hi Losers hope you all had a good one?
Back from my Christmas break and back on track with a fast day today before another Christmas meal and trip to the Panto tomorrow. Just had a lovely and very hot vegi chilli and feeling much better for it. Don't know what the damage is yet but it's weigh in day tomorrow

raspberryroop · 27/12/2012 19:31

I had my 1st day and have brought some innocent veg pots to start my self of with as you can just microwave them and they are worth 3 veg point and 350 calories so had some leway for milk in my coffee and an apple.

Does anyone do longer than the 16 hours ? and do you lose quicker if you do?

pookey · 27/12/2012 19:35

Hi all this thread is amazingly busy for christmas week!

Laska I think low carbing can see quick weight gain on days when you have carb heavy days - I have had 5 or 6lb weightloss in a day when I have been on an anti allergy diet which basically is low carb and cals by default. scripsi and laska your fast days sound very healthy.

I had 2 helpings of delish dinner on christmas day but no breakfast and toast and skinny soup for lunch I had a couple of after 8s and a couple of pringles and a choc cup cake ... oh and a mince pie and lots of mulled wine. Boxing day included fried breakfast christmas biscuits and chocs but didnt go mad. My weight went up half a lb to 11.10 3/4. Not bad really!

Fasted today (after a fashion) skinny soup (200) slice of toast (150) and a few choc coins and a candy cane (not exactly plant based)

skinnyeye enjoy panto

pookey · 27/12/2012 19:37

raspberryroop welcome, I have occasionally done longer than 16 hours and I feel as though it helps with weightloss, read somewhere that your body starts to lose weight after 16 hours of fasting so there might be some science for fasting for 24 hours.

frenchfancy · 27/12/2012 20:21

I now do 24 hours for each fast day. I have no idea if you lose weight quicker but I find it easier.

frenchfancy · 27/12/2012 20:22

Just to clarify for newcomers, that is 24 hours of not eating (so 7pm to 7pm) followed by a 500 cal meal then nothing else until next morning.

So 36 hours with only 500 cals, but of those 24 full fast.

TalkinPeace2 · 27/12/2012 21:01

Feeling a bit podge - but then lunch was a hero roll on 5th Avenue watching people walk past the Empire State Grin - it's too darned cold here to fast .... that's my excuse.

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