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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:
TalkinPeace2 · 09/01/2013 20:21

First fast since the end of last term, has gone OK. Nothing to eat today - did my swim, yoga and bodypump and then tea for lunch, then my fave 500 calories supper - baked beans, scrambled egg and salami. Tomorrow I'm at a conference with free buffet. Nom nom.

TreadOnTheCracks · 09/01/2013 20:22

You're nearly there Chipstick! Keep going.

I'm doing my second fast tomorrow and have planned my menu!

chipstick10 · 09/01/2013 20:43

Mania I am so looking forward to being able to eat without guilt in the morning. That will be a treat in itself.
Treadonthecracks thanks for that,your right it's not long now. I might go to bed early just to shorten the torture.Smile

TreadOnTheCracks · 09/01/2013 20:45

Sleep well Chipstick.

Snowkey · 09/01/2013 20:56

Well done chipstick you're nearly there - fast days aren't always so difficult.

maniacbug · 09/01/2013 20:58

TreadOnTheCracks second fast tomorrow for me too, just planning mine now. What are you having? Am taking DS2 swimming in the morning, which is going to be the biggest challenge, as we usually go for a luxury hot choc afterwards!

Ghanagal1717 · 09/01/2013 21:06

Hello all.....I am brand new today to this site. I have spent literally HOURS reading posts going back to first thread...then like a daft thing plucked up the courage to join and post...but on thread 3 so no-one will see it!!! So...found this most recent thread and here I am again. Can someone please advise me: I am on 2nd fast day, and ate nothing all day only had black coffee...then for tea had a packet of asda instant noodles with a handful of spincach in and some salad bit left over from yday (sounds gross but actually delicious). My question is have I blown my fast day by having too many cals in the instant noodles, as I have noticed most people just have veg on fast days? would appreciate any advice to this newby.

literarygeek · 09/01/2013 21:25

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TalkinPeace2 · 09/01/2013 21:28

Hi there Ghanagal1717, and welcome.
Your best bet is to set up an account on My Fitness Pal and put in the details of your food to see how many calories it is.
BUT, the odd 75 here or there will not be the end of the world, especially if you managed a good long fast and were active.

The reason for veg on fast days is that you can eat LOADS - so sleep well despite the calorie deficit! Same reason a lot of us eat at the end of the day - to avoid rumbly tummy at 3am.
Personally I love eggs as a fair few of my calories. Or fish. Carbs are easily avoided on fast days as they give you less long term sustenance per calorie.
But then you can have them the day after.

Iwearblack · 09/01/2013 21:29

Hi Ghanagal! It's the amount of calories that's important - you need to aim for about 500 on fast days - this means you can generally eat more vegetables than pasta/noodles hence their popularity! Plus they are rich in vitamins/trace minerals etc so good all round. Don't beat yourself up if you have gone over 500 at first; it sounds like you have made a good start....

Snowkey · 09/01/2013 21:29

ghanagal welcome to the thread. No you haven't screwed up. You can eat what ever you like. Not too much protein but even then it's not that restrictive. Start out experimenting, figure out what suits you, often takes a while to move to one meal a day so your way ahead.

Ghanagal1717 · 09/01/2013 21:30

wooohooooo....happy days :) thanks literarygeek

TreadOnTheCracks · 09/01/2013 21:35

maniac at the moment it looks like this:

Raw carrots at 12 noon (at work)
Home from work: 2 eggs scramble on one slice wholemeal bread
Chicken salad (chicken seasoning on chicken)

Might have a low calorie hot choc sachet on the sofa in the evening.

Good luck to us both, hope we find it easier than the first. At least we KNOW WE CAN SURVIVE IT Grin

Ghanagal1717 · 09/01/2013 21:35

thanks....such encouraging threads :). Gonna take my fat little legs up to bed now and sleep easy. I think Im going to maybe try another fast day on friday as I have a LOT to lose...I put 3 stone on (well almost) since stopping smoking two and a half years ago, and as im only 5"2 and now weigh in the region of (and if honest, probably more than) 11stone. So am as wide as I am high currently. Loving the support and advice..feeling motivated and, dare i say it, excited at how this will turn out for me.

Ghanagal1717 · 09/01/2013 21:51

www.zeronoodles.com/recipes.asp?sid=
was wondering what people thought about the above? apparantly they are calorie free noodles and this link shows some recipes that use them. I'm thinking of investing in some....anyone else every tried them?

Ghanagal1717 · 09/01/2013 22:01

will try againwww.zeronoodles.com/
think this is the proper link.

niki3108 · 09/01/2013 22:06

as a low cal alternative to pasta, I'm going to attack a courgette and a carrot with a veg peeler (make veg tagliatelli) on my next fast day and make a tomato and chilli sauce to go on it. May even have some spare cals for a sprinkle of parmesan!
end of fast day. can't stop thinking of food! found it hard today. maybe it's because it's colder.

Aftereightsaremine · 09/01/2013 22:08

Welcome ghanagal. I've not tried them but others on here have so hopefully you'll get an answer soon.

I managed a fast of around 480 today, which I'm pleased about - when I woke up this morning I really didn't feel like it but dh was fasting today so I thought easier for both of us to do it together!

catsrus · 09/01/2013 22:10

Hi ghanagal - I have referred to these as "superglue noodles" as the resemble that bit of solid glue at the top of the tube Grin

I use them and find them useful when I want to pad out something like a stir fry. They are tasteless -so better with a strong tasting sauce - try them and see what you think! Don't try putting them in anything you are going to freeze though - they turn into tough string!

Fazerina · 09/01/2013 22:13

Evening everyone! Sorry I've not had a chance to read posts since last night.. Today was fast day no 3 and was not hungry at all! Until now:(.. ghanagal my DH is from Ghana and just made a bit of jollof rice and fried chicken for him for dinner and could have eaten my own arm while preparing it Grin! Thankfully my DS took an hour to go to sleep Hmm so I've now thankfully avoided the temptation and sat in fron of my work laptop with a cup of Miso soup to warm up my tummy for the night. Tomorrow morning I shall have pancakes for brekkie as a treat:)..

TalkinPeace2 · 09/01/2013 22:20

A tip for all those having to cook meals for others : get your other halves / children to eat meals that are variants of yours, or join you in fasting.

Remember that the purpose of 5:2 is health, weight loss is a by product.

I am now nearly at target, DH has a couple of stones to go. BUT I'll keep fasting with him, but will relax more when I'm on food days.

If you fix a rice and chicken dish, do steamed rather than fried, lettuce rather than rice etc, or just persuade them to eat healthily with you that evening. Everybody in the UK will benefit from it.

Laska42 · 09/01/2013 22:29

Hi all . WOW lots more new people! Welcome...im headlong back into work and not had time to write much or post , but still at it. Has been an eating day today ive been out for a chinese and have just scarfed chocolate (because i was trying not to have Wine!! Hmm so eaten well over my TDEE.... but fasting again tomorrow..

I'm well into normal BMI now and haven't really lost anything for a few weeks now ,(just christmas weight) .

so here is a question/confession/muse/pathetic whinge and moan for those oldies who have been here a while with me Now this is weird .. i've been here a while as you know and i've done so well , but right now I simply have not been able to get my 'motivated head' back on and I almost feel like I'm going backwards a bit.. so Is it because i've lost so much and its no longer coming off at the rate it did ? or is it (insert childish tantrum emoticon here) like something Cyclistist said might happen earlier on .....because this WOE doesnt feel so ' special ' any more since so many new people have 'found 'it ..... Like all of a sudden , lots of people have discovered 'your ' favourite band and its no longer 'yours' ? Oh ridiculous!! Do slap me please..

However despite not having the weight drop off any more . I'm have a sneaking desire to lose another half stone and get to 9.10 or under to break the 10 stone emotional barrier and to say that i've lost 4 stone overall ,(and almost 2 stone on this WOE ) .. So not only do I need to get motivated again seriously I also have to face it.. my TDEE is so low (1586) because I simply dont exercise much .. I'm just going to have to get my ar$e out there if I want to lose any more .. bah Sad.

Trouble is i've not yet found an exercise I like yet .. Well zumba was ok , ...but its getting out again when i've got home in the evening at this time of year that I find problematic and there are no classes that start just after work in my rural area , I dont have anyone who could become an exercise buddy .I cant afford to join a leisure centre .. and I dont like dvds a either have loads .. many in their original packaging! ..

Lets just face it , I'm not only moaning minnie who can easily find a myriad of excuses not to do it ( as shown above) but also, (and this is the main factor ) a total sloth when it comes to exercise ..always have been and I'm 55 now.. I simply do not enjoy it in any shape or form except walking or cycling and those are not things I can do of an evening this time of year .. Its surprising then that I'm not the size of an ox.. ..

Good slap round the chops required ? How do I break out of this?

literarygeek · 09/01/2013 22:34

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TalkinPeace2 · 09/01/2013 22:36

Pick up a cheap second hand static bike on ebay?
have you got a wii - wii fit step is really funny, or the tennis or baseball. The fact that you'll be jumping around the living room for an hour or two of an evening will get your blood flowing
and come the lighter evenings you'll be fit enough to do some SERIOUS walks and cycles

literarygeek · 09/01/2013 22:40

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