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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.

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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:
thekingfisher · 28/01/2013 10:26

On my first fast today!
Have not eaten anything since last night at 10pm. And am shortly about to have a couple of boiled eggs!

I am a real snacking fiend so I think that is going to be the hardest challenge for me....

What is the TDEE and what bearing does it have on the fast?

speckers · 28/01/2013 10:55

Thanks everyone - decided it was a silly thing to do to weigh this morning and am back on track!

Slimmerin2013 · 28/01/2013 10:58

Hi Everyone!!
Ok, so I tried ADF for a couple of weeks in November, and have tried to do it for a week this year. However the fasting days are really hard for me, and I have discovered that I cannot fast on weekends, with 4 children and HUGE family meals, it is too difficult for a girl with absolutely NO willpower! So I have decided to go for the 5:2, fasting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and going to the gym Monday Wednesday and Friday. This leaves me with my weekends free from excercise and food restrictions. I really need some moral support because I have come to the conclusion that I am sick of being overweight, and sick of feeling unattractive in my clothes. So here goes.... first fasting day is tomorrow. I have decided to go the ready meal route just because its easier for work etc. No breakfast, a Weight Watchers soup and Muller Light for Lunch and a ready meal with whatever calories I have left. Im 14 stone exactly at the moment. Trying to get down to 11 stone by June, and 10 stone by the end of August so we'll see.....

Snowkey · 28/01/2013 11:09

Thank for vids pineapple I do lots of boxing which I thought was supposed to be good for obliques but obviously not - will try those exercises see if it makes any difference.

Ezzza I have started to measure once a month - I weigh in everyday though. I will measure this Friday and I'm ridiculously excited about seeing what my progress has been, I know my weight has dropped by about 10lbs in January but a good proportion of that will no doubt be water.

As a treat for getting back into shape after a sugarfest christmas, next week I'll be going to the big smoke for a bit of jeans shopping, so often jeans shopping is a miserable experience, trying on at least 40-60 pairs before I find something that fits. I'm hoping this time will be easier, I'll be focusing on the size 8's and hoping I find something that gives me a killer butt! Grin

Ezzza · 28/01/2013 11:10

Welcome new-fasters!

Kingfisher, TDEE is Total Daily Energy Expenditure, which is the number of calories a person needs to eat each day in order to stay the same weight. The only reason we mention TDEE is because many people on these threads have been worried about how much they should eat on non-fast days, some mistakenly thinking that they need to restrict calories to dieting levels while others are worried about over-eating and so not losing any weight. Basically, on non-fast days you just eat normally, not diet and not binge.

For people who want a guide as to how many calories 'eating normally' is the TDEE is helpful, but it's not a perfect guide and it's not a rule. If you want to work out your TDEE follow the link in the OP. Many of us on these threads, me included, don't calorie count AT ALL on non-fast days. We've found that our appetites have self regulated.

kiwigirl42 · 28/01/2013 11:11

morning all! weighed myself this morning and the scales range between 92.5 and 94kg - even at 94kg I've lost 6lb in the past 2 weeks on alternate day fasting! I was doing it before that but couldn't bear to weigh myself and lost quite a few pounds first couple of weeks.
So I'm very pleased and thinking I may need some decent scales. Funnily enough, I don't find myself wanting to weigh myself everyday on this WOE, and a) I know the weight is going to come off and b) I don't feel caught in a diet trap.

ayshigirl · 28/01/2013 11:15

I'm on my 6th fast day. Days one and two were v tough, but it's getting easier and I think I've lost around 4lbs but didn't properly measure myself first time! Anyway, I'm v pleased though I have lots more to lose. No doubt this has been posted a zillion times, so apologies but I'm confused. I've been managing this fasting/calorie restriction as I've been sticking to the 500 cals but eating v mini meals and the odd oatcake. But now I read that you actually have to fast for 16 hours - does this include your sleep? And is that def the way to go then? Today I had breakfast and am planning to skip lunch (though not sure how I'll make it through to this evening as I have a full on after school schedule with the kids on Mondays).

literarygeek · 28/01/2013 11:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thekingfisher · 28/01/2013 11:17

Thanks ezzza...I wasnt planning on doing anything different particularly on my non-fast days.
I am interested to read about the 16 hour window. I managed 13hrs today! clearly will have to stop eating late on the night before a fast - I was really worried I would be starving ( which I have been a bit) but now lots of jobs to do so should be OK....

Fillybuster · 28/01/2013 11:22

Laska Lakota GreenEggs and TiP - sorry for the delayed response to my post on Friday (gosh this thread moves fast!)....thank you for your input and suggestions. In response - as much as my weight is fine for my height and age, like TiP said, I'm just not quite where I like to be. My ideal weight is 9st 3-5lbs (pre baby size) but after 3 dcs I'm not going to get there - and dont have the time and energy to maintain it....but I loved being a skinny size 10!

Really I want to shed about 5lbs and get down to 9st 7-9lbs, which isn't 'perfect' but I know is sustainable...I was there after dc 1 and dc2 but got stuck at 10st after dc3. I'll settle for that combined with some serious abs work to find my tummy again!!

Had a good weekend - was out for lots of meals, ate tons but more mindfully than normal and was looking forward to today's fast :)

Btw, I weighed in at 9 11.4 this morning....very very unusual after a weekend of eating....so this WOE might be working for me after all. Going to stick at it this week (might do 4:3) and take next week off (going snowboarding) but be sensible....I usually lose weight when boarding anyway, so will be interesting to see where Im at when I get back.....

Ffuntimewincies · 28/01/2013 11:31

I too am starting today. Seems like everyone has picked a Monday Grin.

I've had breakfast and a couple of drinks (so just under half my 500) and my tummy is properly growling Blush.

Lunchtime with my pre-schooler is the next challenge. Preparing food for others when you're hungry is hard.

Thans for the thread Smile.

tumteetum · 28/01/2013 11:56

Does anyone have any suggestions for herbal teas to keep me going? I drink liquorice tea (cant remember make) but can only manage one per day. I have tried green tea in the past and found it bitter. cant stand black coffee or tea, and really want to save my precious calories for food. I do drink plenty of cold water but somehow doesnt hit the spot like a hot drink

virginposter · 28/01/2013 11:58

Peppermint tea for me and DH loves ginger and lemon.

kiwigirl42 · 28/01/2013 11:59

good luck all new starters. Some researchers say that a 16 hr gap between meals is needed to switch on beneficial weight loss/ growth genes but I think Dr Moseley always had breakfast on a fast day as couldn't work on an empty stomach.
Personally, I leave off eating as late as possible on a fast day. Sometimes thats 3pm sometimes thats 7pm. As people have stated more eloquently than I further up, once you start eating it can be hard to stop. I then leave off eating as long as possible, without feeling very hungry, on an eating day. Usually its half 7, 8am though that I'm cranking up the toaster Smile

Ffuntimewincies · 28/01/2013 12:04

Thanks Kiwigirl Smile.

Also lurking for drinks ideas.

I'm having breakfast and dinner so that the children still see their usual pattern of eating maintained. If it gets any easier, I might try reducing it down to one bigger meal at teatime.

Oh heck, Ds2 is watching I Can Cook. There's food everywhere today Confused!

maniacbug · 28/01/2013 12:06

Pukka teas all worth a try, but my absolute all-time favourite is Clipper 'Sleep Easy', which is widely available in supermarkets. We used to just have it before bedtime but now drink it all the time. Just checked ingredients and it contains: cinnamon, chamomile, rooibos, lemon balm, valerian root and natural orange flavouring. None of the individual ingredients dominates. Might also be worth trying for anyone struggling to sleep on a fast night?

basildonbond · 28/01/2013 12:07

And another new starter signing in ...

Starting statistics: 5'7", 11 stone (holy crap how did that happen?), allegedly healthy BMI but I want/need to lose at least a stone

so far today I've had scrambled eggs, no butter, no toast and half a grapefruit for breakfast, 2 cups of herbal tea (Pukka detox - yummy!) and will have big bowl of soup tonight

rather pathetically I'm already thinking about what I'm going to eat tomorrow Blush

ayshigirl · 28/01/2013 12:08

thanks kiwigirl42. I've been having brekkie as late as possible but today decided to go for a boiled egg/oatcake (i think they do mini oatcakes don't they?) and have a big bowl soup/veg much later. I feel a bit sick from the egg tho :(

And does the 16 hours include sleep then?

maniacbug · 28/01/2013 12:09

(and it's organic!)

GreenEggsAndNichts · 28/01/2013 12:16

wow this thread moves quickly. :)

Welcome new folks!

Re: weighing in: I weigh in after a fast day. I know this is going to be slightly lower than my average weight, but that way, I'm weighing myself from the same starting point. So, it doesn't fluctuate as it would if the day before were a roast dinner one week, or a fast day the next week.

Also remember, "eat what you want" on non-fast days is a suggestion, not a challenge. :) You will eventually self-regulate after you've had a few fast days under your belt. Check the OP for a calculator to figure out your TDEE, if you need an idea of what a normal day's food should look like for you, personally.

basil it's natural! Especially on the first fast day. I spend my first several fast days planning baking projects and/or elaborate dinners to make the next day. I'd actually like to get back to that; we ate rather well my first month doing this. And not excessively, I might add. :)

I highly recommend Chai tea for something a bit different with some spice in it. It's not herbal but it does the trick for me. My drink of choice is coffee but I don't allow myself more than two a day, or I'd never sleep.

Jealous of the person in Perth right now. Envy I need warmth and sunshine. Holiday in two weeks, bring it on...

OP posts:
TheCatInTheHairnet · 28/01/2013 12:20

So today is start of week 3 and I can't get over how little a portion I manage on my eating days. I just seem to get full really quickly. But it's definitely working, 10 lbs gone! I'm dancing round the house, I'm so happy!!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 28/01/2013 12:28

Congratulations, Cat! I agree, my portion sizes have also shrunk. We went to the nice Chinese buffet yesterday and I didn't go back for seconds of any course, which would have been unheard of previously. I was full, happy, and knew if I had an ounce more my stomach would have hurt for ages afterward. (and yes I know it was a Chinese buffet and obviously higher calories than I'd eat on a normal day, but still far fewer calories than I'd have eaten at that same buffet earlier last year, before I discovered this.)

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 28/01/2013 12:41

Welcome new converts.
Many of us "early adopters" (in technology speak) are now several months in and even those who have returned to lurking seem to be keeping going.

Fasting on a Monday makes perfect sense. Fasting at weekends with children and social life and going out is not generally feasible. But not eating on a Monday is really, really easy.

snacking JUST DON'T hunger pangs pass. Have a pint of water if needs be. your body does not need to eat every hour. THe profits of the food companies need you to ...

No such thing as a FEAST day Please do not call them that, even in your head. They are healthy eating days, as opposed to fast days

People say I do not need to lose weight Unless the person saying that is slimmer and fitter than you, ignore them. The modern western world has an incredibly distorted view of what size is healthy. Go back to pictures of the 1950's and 1970's to see what size healthy really is.

TheCatInTheHairnet · 28/01/2013 12:44

Lol Green Eggs I think going to a Chinese Buffet would be a challenge too far for me. I'm pretty sure I would leave waddling!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 28/01/2013 12:48

I second greeneggs chai suggestion, pukka teas are also rather lovely. Not fasting this week as am scheduled for minor op & have to eat 'sensibly' docs words not mine! Weighed this am & again up on last week. Going to change my weigh days to a Thursday I think not after eating weekends which I don't think give an accurate reflection!