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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 9, welcoming the new year...

999 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 10/01/2013 00:14

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. This might be a good place to catch up with us if you're feeling a bit lost!

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.

B&W has found a new link to the aforementioned Horizon programme here. If you're keen to see it, watch it soon, because BBC has been quick to find these copies and shut them down online. We're hoping they'll re-play it again soon. I know these threads are popular, maybe they'll read my request. Wink

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:
literarygeek · 17/01/2013 16:09

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Salbertina · 17/01/2013 16:18

Ok completely flunked fast BlushAngry

Stressed- got to relocate us all 1,000s of miles, both find new jobs, house, schools all in secret in a matter of weeks on a wing and a prayer! Long story but have hit the choc and soon the wine...tomorrow is another day, bugger, bugger...

literarygeek · 17/01/2013 16:26

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Salbertina · 17/01/2013 16:30

Oh if only it were as interesting as it sounds! Nope just cant afford to lose dhs job or our tenancy or kids' school places until we're set up to ship out tis all! Fucking stressful!!

Salbertina · 17/01/2013 16:31

Sorry, thank you for your understanding anyway,LG.

literarygeek · 17/01/2013 17:09

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GreenEggsAndNichts · 17/01/2013 17:17

Salbertina wow! We've done some relocating around the world but before children. Enjoy your wine for now, tomorrow is another day. Make use of the internet, there's usually expat community forums which can be of help in terms of schools, good locations etc. Might even help with jobs, some advertise specifically for expats. (I'm assuming you're changing countries, unless you're in the US or similarly-sized country!)

LG no, I suppose we aren't helping each other here. Grin To be fair, since the holidays, I've not touched the tiny bit of the Bailey's I have left. I was just considering it as we're getting snow and it might be a nice treat for tomorrow. You know how the mind wanders on a fast day..

OP posts:
Salbertina · 17/01/2013 17:25

Step away from that Baileys ...Wink
Seriously, thanks for the support, yes changing countries. Expat forums great, i agree.

literarygeek · 17/01/2013 17:26

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MoJoRegained · 17/01/2013 17:38

Interesting Greeneggs about stalling since Christmas, as I think that's what has happened to me. Admittedly, have only really fasted 3 times since we got back (fasting tomorrow), but have noticed the tendency to snack has increased on feed days. Wonder if it was because I got used to all the food that was always available over the festive period. Added to extended family meals where we all got together to cook, being more about communal cooking and laughter than eating. Coming back to just the two of us after two weeks of first being with DH's family then with mine may be making me graze and possibly Wine more as I'm missing the social aspect? Ooh, heavy analysis there Grin.

OK, so action required on my part - need to start looking at what I actually put down my throat on a feed day for a while. Suspect I've relaxed as I was so pleased about not putting much weight on over Christmas.

Plus of course there are all the lovely edible presents I was given, which need to be finished off Blush. These were one unexpected downside of not letting the family know we are following this WOE because I wanted to surprise them with my reduced waistline. My own fault then!

Must adopt the B&W household tactic - one choccie a day, no more!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 17/01/2013 18:01

Was listening to a radio show earlier about the 60's & presenter commented that most people were thin in those days & put the question as to why to listeners. Listener phoned in & said of course people were thin because people didn't snack in those days....

juneau · 17/01/2013 18:10

Can I join? I'm on day one and I've felt surprisingly fine most of the day, but now it's 6pm and I'm STARVING. Dreading going to bed on an empty stomach Sad

Can I ask a few questions of those of you who are veterans?

  • do you do a total fast or 500 cals? I'm doing 500 cals - is it harder or easier than a total fast?
  • what's the deal on tea and coffee? I drink 4-5 cups of tea every day normally with sweetener and a dash of skimmed milk. I've had my tea as usual today and cut back a few calories from lunch to account for the milk.
  • does your stomach shrink so that it becomes easier with time?

I'm very glad I don't have to do this again tomorrow.

DogsLoveMeCosImCrazySniffable · 17/01/2013 18:23

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me why Type 1 diabetics are advised not to follow this WOE? That is the recommendation on Dr. Mosley's own website. I'm a Type 1, very well controlled and only interested in losing a small amount of weight. If I control my background insulin properly and maintain a normal range of sugars throughout a fast day and spread my 500 calories into 3 very small meals, does anyone know what the issue/s might be?

Thanks.

Laska42 · 17/01/2013 18:50

I would hazard a guess dogslove ( knowing nothing at about it ,mind) that despite fasting bring around for years the idea of 5:2 is largely experimental and the science behind it is not well studied on humans ..

There are lots of other long established intermittent fasting websites around .. so perhaps its worth a Google to see if there is any thing else about diabetics and fasting..

DogsLoveMeCosImCrazySniffable · 17/01/2013 19:01

Hmm, well even Diabetes UK offer advice on fasting for those undertaking it for religious reasons. Their concern seems to be with people who also stop taking their insulin during this period, which results in high blood sugars and possible ketoacidosis, which I don't plan on doing anyway. Still not sure what the issue is otherwise, but thanks Laska.

Breadandwine · 17/01/2013 19:21

Welcome to the thread, juneau!

I fast for 24 hours then have >600 calories. I've never gone a full day without food, although I'd like to have a go. I'm lucky in that I've yet to feel hungry on my fasting days. So I can't answer whether it's easier to fast completely or not.

You're doing the right thing about your drinks.

I think your stomach does shrink. I'm now using a side plate instead of a dinner plate on both fasting days and eating days. And I feel just as full as I used to.

I'm very glad I don't have to do this again tomorrow.

I know the feeling! I've yet to do two consecutive days, although some people do.

Best wishes, it does get easier!

B&W

literarygeek · 17/01/2013 19:23

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DogsLoveMeCosImCrazySniffable · 17/01/2013 19:34

Hi literarygeek,

Weight loss rather than health benefits for me, in the main. I don't have a lot to lose really and started this last week then saw the caveat about diabetics. I get what people are saying about blanket warnings rather than looking at individual cases though. From my point of view my blood control is great, (HbA1c is always between 5 and 7 if that means anything to anyone!) and I test regularly and have good hypo awareness, so I don't think any of that would be an issue for me. And yes, it would certainly reduce insulin requirements for me on a fast day as I control my diabetes through carbohydrate counting.

Laska42 · 17/01/2013 20:13

b&W re chilli sauce.. I hate to say this... but after his earlier recommendations I'm now wondering if my good friend cyclistist might be a bit of a Wuss on the chilli stakes after all ! GrinWink ...Sorry bro Thanks

Anyway, for everyday I like to eat Franks red hot - Extra Hot (there's two versions obviously one milder than the other Sainsburys do it if you shop there ) on most things and I reckon that s pretty good, its hotter than Tabasco and Encona i reckon , tasty but not too hot. But I also love much hotter stuff , my favourite chilli site being www.scorchio.co.uk/scorchio . Recently i was given a 'second hand' bottle of '100% Pain' by someone at work who definitely doest think he's a wuss as im the only one he knows who will eat it and he cant , and I am steadily making my way through it (though it is pretty hot Grin ) I'm now wondering if my chilli tolerance may be slightly higher than most..

If you do go for something on Scorchio (and they are a great independent site to buy from - I use then a lot) I definitely recommend Cambridge chilli farm chocolate habanero voodoo sauce (no chocolate - its the type of pepper) and the San Marcos pickled chipotle (i'm addicted to them) Oh, but dont buy any Deanos chips because they are all mine! Grin

Laska42 · 17/01/2013 20:16

sorry here is Scorchio website again, that last link was wrong

literarygeek · 17/01/2013 20:25

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literarygeek · 17/01/2013 20:28

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DogsLoveMeCosImCrazySniffable · 17/01/2013 20:30

OK literary, I see, I thought you meant it would reduce insulin requirements on a day to day basis! I take fast acting after meals and long acting background at night. I see the diabetic team once every 18 months if I'm lucky, so I'm probably not their top priority.

DogsLoveMeCosImCrazySniffable · 17/01/2013 20:30

Thanks for the article link though!

tomorrowweeat · 17/01/2013 20:31

Have you discussed this with your doc DogsLove? I'm type 2 and have been doing this against my doctor's advice :(