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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:
TitHead · 02/01/2013 23:01

Hi can I join you all please? I'm currently around a size 18-20 and hoping to reach a size 12. I think I'm approx 14 stone so I would like to loose at least 3 stone. I'm hoping to start wedding dress shopping around June and would like to be around a size 14 by then. I'm starting on Monday.

Aftereightsaremine · 02/01/2013 23:12

Welcome tithead that's a great thing to be aiming for.

Well I did very well today - not. I've had Starbucks hot choc, large pack of pear drops, large portion of Christmas cake, large pack of sensations crisps, stacks of peanuts lots of chocolates, crispbreads, Stilton, chilli jam. & that's what I can remember! Blush.

That's the old me. I hope tomorrow's fast will kick the old me into touch & rediscover the new me!

froot · 02/01/2013 23:14

nessy I usually have no brekky as it makes me hungrier if I do, fast for as long as poss before a small lunch (salad with prawns or cottage cheese or egg on toast) cups of bovril keep me going occasionally have got to 4 pm before lunch then waitrose soups (which taste as close to home made as poss) esp recommend Lemon Rasam, Chicken Jambalaya and Spicy Butterbean all less than 300 for whole tub , usually I don't eat whole tub at once but split over evening. Tub of jelly 10 cals, options hot choc (white one esp nice) at bedtime. Often gin n slimline or half glass wine if haven't scoffed whole tub of soup . Sorry to repeat as think I put all this earlier on thread but you might not have had time to wade thru. I use myfitnesspal to count calories and usually end up a bit over 500 but I don't get too hung up about exactly 500.

Aftereightsaremine · 02/01/2013 23:16

My books on its way! Hopefully that will remind me why I'm doing this WOE.

froot · 02/01/2013 23:17

Oh also cod in butter sauce good for tea 107 each (I have two) with chipped (into tiny bits with food processor ) nuke in microwave for 40 secs is a bit like rice - tip from ww pro points days !

froot · 02/01/2013 23:17

Should have said : Chipped courgette (or cauli)

Breadandwine · 02/01/2013 23:26

Thanks, Jubyloo and BCL - I heard the programme on the way to the pub this lunchtime and, while it's still well worth a listen, it's just as BCL describes.

Be interesting to see what else he has to say over the next two You and Yours!

Lafaminute bear in mind the 'appetite switch'! Try and hold off that first taste for as long as you possibly can! If you don't have that first nibble, you can resist the temptation. If you think you are going to succumb, have a peeled carrot or a mushroom or a stick of celery (practically zero cals!) to hand. Smile

Foodfactory · 02/01/2013 23:34

I was the same today after yesterday's successful fast day. I really had a binge but haven't beat myself up about it as I know tomorrow is another fast day and fresh start.

TitHead · 02/01/2013 23:46

Thank you Aftereight I think on the 500 kcal days a little and often approach would work best for me so will be having a look at the 100kcal link over the weekend and try and pick up a few tips.

When I have tried to diet in the past I have found I tend to go full steam ahead and then loose motivation. My will power is awful so hoping this thread will help keep me motivated and give me a few virtual kicks up the back side when needed.

Snowkey · 03/01/2013 07:02

First fast of the year done, the easy bit was not eating - sleep quality was awful, fitbit recorded that I woke 10 times in 6 hours, I feel too awake to sleep anymore.

onit · 03/01/2013 07:21

Happy New Year to you all. I haven't been on for a while (mega New Year's Eve blow out-all the courses, cocktails, wine, champagne, port, chocolates and the best bit - cheese Grin). Followed by a day of lying around and hangover grazing. Now back on the 5:2 wagon and think will lay off the booze for the rest of the month.....
Had first proper fast yesterday so will WI later. Clothes not too tight though. Have struggled to exercise whilst doing 5:2 so hoping to get back to the running today soon!
Also got MM's book. Intend to lend it out as a way of explaining what I'm up to!

onit · 03/01/2013 07:23

PS would love a fitbit snowkey. Will be interested to hear how you get on.

frenchfancy · 03/01/2013 07:45

Post Christmas weigh in today +1.7kg (so about 3lb). Not too bad I suppose, but I did do a fast last week and 2 half fasts.

I always have homecooked food on fast days. I started off having soup for lunch then a 300 cal veg based meal for dinner, but now skip the lunch and keep all 500 cals for dinner, which makes for more meal choices. I use a lot of butternut squash, sweet potatoes and beans in my meals. And lots of chilli of course. The more flavour the better. I am basically having a low carb vegetarian diet (only on fast days though). To me adding meat or carbs are wasted calories. I have also cut out alcohol during the week.

I think that nutrition is really important when you are fasting. I know the program said you could eat junk on feed days and still lose weight, but eating junk doesn't make you feel good. I am trying to make sure I get my 5 a day even on fast days so that my body gets all the micronutrients it needs. One of the diet theories I have been reading up about is the fact that if you eat rubbish food your body keeps sending signals to eat more as it isn't getting the nutrients it needs. Improve the nutrient levels in your food and your body cuts back the cravings.

OnlyWantsOne · 03/01/2013 07:51

Bloody hell I fasted yesterday (didn't eat for 24 hours then had
250 cals dinner)
And today I have weighed in at 12.9

I was 13 stone on New Year's Day

Snowkey · 03/01/2013 08:03

onit so far my fitbit is a source of deep frustration as I can't get it to work properly with mfp. In hindsight I think you'd do just as well with a basic pedometer but the thing the fitbit does is plotting progress and encouraging you to make it to the goal of 10000 steps. Mfp gives you a lot of the lovely graphs already and if you try to achieve more steps daily you'll be 90% of the way there. The sleep data is geeky - so it tells me I slept well or didn't, I know that already and even armed with this info, I can't change my sleep with it.
Bottom line - get a pedometer for £15 or cheaper, it'll be almost as good, fitbit imo isn't worth the extra ££.

MABS · 03/01/2013 08:42

no wine yesterdy, hideous bad headache today :( and failed on calorie from too at had 700 cals.

OddBoots · 03/01/2013 08:59

Right, fast two here we go, black coffee time!

Great to hear the good results people have had, I have restricted mobility and a lot of weight to lose. I'm also a genetics geek and have had my 23andMe done which shows a huge risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease I really need to take care to live well.

literarygeek · 03/01/2013 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 03/01/2013 10:00

Hi all, Happy new Year, today is my first Fast in 3 weeks, I had a very stressful divorce court hearing just before christmas (didn't go the way I had hoped) then sick children over christmas and now an imminent relationship breakdown, so lots of stress and a fair amount of stressed eating/drinking, but I weighed in yesterday and i have only gained 3 pounds in those 3 weeks, and with teh current misery i shouldn't have much problem getting back to 2 days fasting, although the temptation to drink my calories in alcohol rather than eating will be tougher!

I will attempt to catch up with everyones news over teh next week, but I'm at least 20 pages behind, heres to a better 2013 for any that need it!

xxx

mumofcrazynamedkids · 03/01/2013 10:08

onlywantsone well done, that's a great start to the year!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 03/01/2013 10:38

Well, first post-holiday weigh-in, and I'm up maybe a pound. (I weigh in kilos, it was less than half a kilo) :) I'm okay with that, considering I was only doing 6:1 and not watching what I ate on other days.

Yesterday was a fast, today I'm eating normally. I think I'll be doing 5:2 for a while as a change from the 4:3 I was doing since August. Just to change things up and see if I can lose a bit again.

Good luck, and welcome new folks :)

OP posts:
Aftereightsaremine · 03/01/2013 10:41

Right weighed myself 12stone 1lb, Xmas eve was last weigh in & was 11.11 so I make that 6lbs gain. Good job it's a fast day today. Scary how easy it is to put weight on.

Agree with ff about cravings I ate such rubbish yesterday & I just couldn't stop myself. Going to bin the lot today. (Apart from gluten free hamper bits dcs gave me for Xmas- that would be mean).

Breadandwine · 03/01/2013 11:42

Morning all! Smile

I bring good news, Aftereights! 12st 1lb take away 11.11 only leaves 4lbs!

As GreenEggs would no doubt tell you - kilo's is easier! Grin

Making a GF carrot cake later - or maybe parkin.

DistantShip · 03/01/2013 12:22

Day 1 in the Ship house will be on Monday 7th January - when our normal routine should help us to do 5:2 Mondays and Thursdays will be our Soup Days to keep it simple in January.

Off to get a few veg soup recipes ready so we can start with a lunch plus dinner pattern = 500 calories. Methinks the freezer will be my best friend in this WOE.

Aftereightsaremine · 03/01/2013 12:27

Thank you b&w! Maths was never my forte! Blush can't believe how much happier I feel that's its 4 & not 6lbs.

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