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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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

5:2 Diet Thread! Perfect number 10!

999 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 20/01/2013 15:24

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.

Michael Mosley has recently unveiled a new website to accompany his new book on the subject. Please go check them out, as he's the whole reason most of us are here!

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:
GreenEggsAndNichts · 22/01/2013 23:34

Getting senile, I've no idea if it's been linked recently, but: remember to submit a question to Dr Mosley for his chat tomorrow. Link to the thread here, chat is at noon but can submit early. I'll try to remember to be here for it.

OP posts:
NatashaMousse · 22/01/2013 23:35

Thanks a lot for the link to the IGF-1 discussion, B&W (and for all your other helpful links). Fascinating and frustrating. Clearly, sufficient research just hasn't been done yet, as seems to be the case for so many important nutrition-related questions. Even with the little amount that's known, I'm glad I ditched milk completely a few years ago (wasn't consuming much of it anyway) and have cut way back on cheese.

literarygeek · 22/01/2013 23:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 22/01/2013 23:46

B&W thanks for the link btw, I queued it up and started watching but I've also got something on telly and I realised I wasn't paying as much attention as I should be. I'll try tomorrow when it's quiet and DS is at pre-school! It's when I do most of my catching up on that sort of thing.

OP posts:
literarygeek · 22/01/2013 23:49

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Breadandwine · 23/01/2013 00:18

Apologies, everyone! Blush Turns out that Dr Mercola in the last link I gave, is flogging whey protein powder! Shock

If you can ignore his commercial, some of the stuff he talks about is excellent - but it's a mixed bag.

That'll teach me to post a link without checking it out thoroughly!Blush

Incadreams · 23/01/2013 07:20

I am 26 years old, 5ft 3 and was 171.5lb (12.2 stone). Ideally I need to be somewhere around 9 + 1/2 stone so have a fair way to go! I'm aiming for 10 stone, with y first celebration being when I get below 11!!!

I started this diet doing 4:3 on monday 14th feb so have been doing it just over a week and am weighing myself every Monday. So this Monday I weighed myself again and had lot down to 168.6lb so about 3lb in a week yay!

I'm fasting Monday, Wednesday an Fridays, so this is my second fasting day of the week and I feel great! Now I realise how sluggish all that naughty food actually makes me feel!!! On non-fast days I'm eating my normal at the moment, but when my weight stops dropping I plan to change that to eating a healthier diet on those days, and then change again maybe to more exercise when it stops dropping again!

Sorry for the ramble, and the long post!

Hope I can join in!! Smile

whatkungfuthat · 23/01/2013 07:31

Just did my first fast day, I think tomato soup is going to be my friend until I get some recipes sorted. I felt really hungry when I went to to bed and was expecting to feel ravenous when I got up but I don't. Next one is tomorrow so I can do both in the week at first.

comraderoy · 23/01/2013 07:34

I started this properly Jan 1st , I initially lost 7lbs and then over the last two weeks just 1lb so I seemed to have hit a plateau already. I did 3 days last week and intend to do 3 days this week as I am desperate to go sub 14st which will be a first for years. Maybe I'm too impatient , but like the idea of the health benefits.

whatkungfuthat · 23/01/2013 07:56

Am I right in thinking that lots of people lose inches before they lose a lot of weight? Hopefully that will be the case for you at the moment comraderoy.
I am only going to weigh myself once a month as I know I will get despondent and start pigging out if I have a set-back.

Ezzza · 23/01/2013 08:04

Welcome new posters! Incadreams, your story sounds very similar to mine, I?m 5?3½? and was 12st6.4 when I started in September, ultimately aiming for 9st4 (have been for 12 years now, such a long time that the phrase ?9 stone 4? now makes me think of unicorns, leprechauns and pots of gold at the end of rainbows Grin). I too felt that getting under 11 stone would be a great milestone for me and I achieved it a couple of weeks ago. It felt great! I?m also doing 4:3 and feeling much perkier since starting this WOE too and have no intention of stopping. Well done on the 3lb!

phlebas · 23/01/2013 08:40

hi everyone :) I've managed to lose my Christmas gain plus a bit more & am now down to exactly 80kg (started at 101kg) my goal weight is 63kg. I fasted on Monday, planning to fast today & might do Friday too - I'd really like to be into the 70s by the end of the week.

Ezzza · 23/01/2013 09:07

Well, I now have to go out and won't be able to get to a computer again until 2pm British time so I'll miss the Dr MM webchat [boohiss emoticon] but will be reading it with interest when I get back in. Hope it goes well. Smile

Bordercollielover · 23/01/2013 09:26

Challenge for BandW! Can you dig up any reliable info about which of the substitute "milks" are the least damaging please? I have given up any hope that they might actually be healthful but would like something to put in my tea, coffee, sauces, custard, cakes etc that will not be actively working against the benefits of IF, which dairy milk appears to do.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 23/01/2013 09:27

Wondering whether to fast Mondays Tuesdays & Thursdays or Monday Wednesday & Thursday. what do people think? Not allowed Friday Saturday & Sunday due to medication taken on those days.

Looking forward to Dr MMs chat though probably have to catch up on it later today.

chipstick10 · 23/01/2013 09:42

Can someone pls explain to me the problem with milk. Am not quite understanding all the scientific jargon. I do worry, if not panic about the dangers of fasting on the body.

comraderoy · 23/01/2013 09:55

Hi,when and where is the web chat?

fynelady · 23/01/2013 09:56

Hi everyone,
Just joined your site and have enjoyed reading all the comments.
I am on the 5.2 way of eating which I started last Friday...my second fast day will be tomorrow..help please...On a fast day, is it o.k. to drink diet cool drinks.Also, can I drink bovril and if so, how many cals. is it?
Thaks for any help...I need it as I need to lose around 10 kgs..

skippyscuffleton · 23/01/2013 09:57

Bcl
My perspective on the milk, sugar and protein info is to not get spooked or overly alarmed by it providing that you maintain a healthy balanced diet and eat all in moderation.
I had bloods done after 10 weeks or so of 5:2 and all the results were favourable bar bilirubin count. I have roughly 1 pint of milk per day plus cream yoghurt and ice cream and too much chocolate. Smile

GreenEggsAndNichts · 23/01/2013 10:09

com see my post earlier on this page, I just linked it.

Welcome to the thread, Inca! Sounds as if you're off to a great start with it.

OP posts:
literarygeek · 23/01/2013 10:13

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Breadandwine · 23/01/2013 10:24

BCL Why not make your own milk?

vegetarian.about.com/od/rawfoodsrecipes/r/almondmilk.htm

And there are many health benefits:

www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/pros-and-cons-of-almond-milk.html#b

You can make it out of any nuts - so, choose your nut! Grin

plecofjustice · 23/01/2013 10:31

Hi all,

Been a very intermittant poster, but I need a bit of a kick up the arse! I usually fast Mondays and Wednesday, but this week I felt dreadful on Sunday, didn't really manage to eat anything and was a bit sick. By Monday I felt better, and thought it'd be better to eat than fast, as I was still a bit dizzy and feeling fragile after my flu jab too. Yesterday, bf had a really bad day at work, so I bought us a nice dinner to cheer him up. Today I'm meeting friends after work. So now, I'm going to aim for a fast on Thursday, but won't manage another this week, haven't been to the gym, just been rubbish really. I've been tracking on MFP and haven't eaten more than 1500 cals each day, but it's not the same as fasting.

Can I have a kick to get me back on track, please?!

phlebas · 23/01/2013 10:33

I just have normal milk in my coffee as usual on fast days, I measure it & count the calories towards my 500 (I allow myself 100ml of full cream milk which is about 70 calories).

TheCyclistist · 23/01/2013 10:44

Plecofjustice, if this WOE/WOL is going to work it has to be for the medium or long term. So don't beat yourself up over this week, you did what you had to do to get on with the circumstances as they arose. The most important thing IMHO is to approach your next Fast day with a positive approach and then carry on from there. A lot of us found Christmas really hard and getting back into the swing of things a challenge. But it is amazing how quickly one successful Fast makes you feel back on track.....and how great food will taste the following day Smile

Good luck all