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. 
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.
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!
Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.
MNHQ have commented on this thread
Fasting / 5:2 diet
5:2 Diet Thread! Perfect number 10!
GreenEggsAndNichts · 20/01/2013 15:24
As it's a Sunday, and I need a place marker, I thought I'd post up my Sunday 'steam roast' lighter option - I sit a chicken in a pint or so of liquid in the roasting tray (mix of white wine & Marigold bouillon stock), pop in some herbs, celery, an onion or two, perhaps some whole carrots and roast for the usual amount of time, in a fan oven I've noticed I need to cover the bird with foil for 3 quarters of the cooking time and voila, instant gravy! (Can thicken if you like). I must admit that I did do roast potatoes & parsnips too but using only a small amount of oil! This is not a fast day option but still a nice healthier alternative to covering the whole thing with butter before roasting
3rd fast day tomorrow!
Just lost a nice long post of my ramblings - think my iPad is trying to tell me something 
. Thanks for the new thread greeneggs.
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Thanks for the oil info, Snowkey (on the last thread - things move fast on here, phew!).
I use EVOO for most things, except for cooking tempura - which I never did before this WOL came along - when I use sunflower oil. Also, when making pizzas, I add a fair amount of the (mainly) sunflower oil from a jar of s-d-tomatoes when I'm making the dough. I find it imparts a delicious crunch to the crust.
Here's another article about 5:2, from a well-respected US medic, Dr Andrew Weil - he gives the clearest, most succinct, description of the benefits of IF, I've yet come across:
www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/fasting-health_b_1557043.html
Cyclist, I used to use a 10 minute delay after making a cup of coffee before reaching for a biscuit, but leaving it for 20 minutes is in another league altogether.
Yesterday I took a piece of chocolate cake (to be found on the recipe thread - 220 cals for 50g - not recommended for fasting days, but brilliant when you don't have to care! 
) out of the freezer and had it with some soya cream. I immediately wanted more - it is, in fact, very morish! . But I thought, you don't need another chunk, and I set the timer for 20 minutes. After about 15 minutes, the desire had subsided somewhat, and after 20 minutes I didn't feel like it in the slightest - so that chunk survived 'til another day. (Till tonight, actually, I've just had my pudding!)
About tonight - I've just finished my four days of gluttony eating normally, and I've begun my first 24 hour fast of the week. Thanks to Time Team, on Ch4 at 5.25, I finished the last mouthful of my dinner at 6.10 this evening. This means I can have my dinner at 6.30 tomorrow, my normal time. Having to wait until 7.30, as I have in the past, is very frustrating!
About the haggis, Laska I've just had a piece from the freezer - weighing 160g - so I reckon the amount in my recipe would be enough for 6 servings. Making the calorie count for each one, 250 cals - very acceptable! Perhaps I'll put it on the recipe thread?
At this time of the year I generally buy a couple of Hall's veggie haggis from Morrison's - at £1.50 each, they're much better value than MacSween's at over 4 quid! 
But the shelves were empty when I was in town on Thursday. They disappear very quickly after Burn's Night on the 29th Jan.
kiwigirl let us know what you use when you get round to making it. I'm a great fan of pearl barley myself - it really is a very adaptable dish!
Good to hear, Matilda, you'll soon give up the stuff altogether!
greeneggs thanks 
matilda well done just goes to show what can be done if you put your mind to it. Keep going with the fasts and minus the coke and you will get there
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If I caught my wife melting down Lindor balls it would be grounds for divorce..
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