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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:
LaurieFairyCake · 28/01/2013 19:31

Help! It's a non fast day and I've only managed 1271 calories which is less than my TDEE of 2076.

I don't want to diet but I'm full enough to not need to eat anymore tonight.

Am I right in saying that the worry about going into 'starvation' mode is a problem after only about a month?

I'm hoping that what you said about it being a weekly amount is true for me and it gets easier to eat after fast days Confused

TalkinPeace2 · 28/01/2013 19:33

Laurie
If you are full, sleep well tonight. Don't worry.
I've fasted today - mainly because I've got a bad throat and the thought of eating was ....
If needs be have a glass of wine :-)

GreenEggsAndNichts · 28/01/2013 19:38

Laurie then don't worry about it for today if you truly can't eat anymore. You aren't going to go into starvation mode over a couple of days. For future non-fast days, just be sure to add a piece of fruit or something which helps you bump up your calories a bit. You don't want to make a habit of eating that low-calorie in the long term.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 28/01/2013 19:38

Thanks Smile

It's very, very weird this - normally I'd be looking round for cheese and biscuits or chocolate. I might do my second fast day tomorrow and get it out the way this week. I'm likely to go for 4:3 I think - got so many stones to lose (probably 6 or 7).

BetsyVanBell · 28/01/2013 19:52

Thanks for the replies about calories in cooked wine. From a calculation I pinched from another forum I deduce that 40% of the calories are effectively burnt off if wine is simmered for 30mins! Good news for any coq au vin lovers Wink.

Southeastdweller · 28/01/2013 19:56

Just noticed that The Fast Diet book is only £3.08 on Amazon for the kindle version!

frenchfancy · 28/01/2013 20:34

Laurie I think it is a much more important lesson to learn to stop eating when you are full then to worry about the theoretical starvation response which may or may not exist. It is great that you have realised you don't have to eat. As long as that goes together with a healthy balanced diet and doesn't become extreme that is great.

hippoherostandinghere · 28/01/2013 20:52

Hi everyone. Posting for the first time. I have been following 5:2 for 3 weeks and have lost 7lb Grin so pleased as it feels so sustainable and has been relatively easy so far.

I'm delurking to ask an embarrassing question, sorry if its TMI. I take cerazette and have notice some bleeding in the last week. I shouldn't have any bleeding at all as I take it continuously and wondering if might be caused by the fasting or the fact I've taken up exercising. We just got a treadmill and have started running/walking on it in the last week. Anybody any similar experience?

Sorry again for TMI.

Southeastdweller · 28/01/2013 20:58

Has anyone tried Miracle Noodles? They were mentioned in an article about the Fast Diet recently in a Sunday Times article and are ZERO calories!

www.miraclenoodle.co.uk/#back

Will get some later ths week and will report back.

GiraffesEatPineapples · 28/01/2013 21:31

good detective work Betsy Grin

Hi Hippo I have no experience with the pill but from pharmacy 2 u "A disadvantage is that vaginal bleeding may occur at irregular intervals during the use of Cerazette. On the other hand you may not have any bleeding at all." www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/cerazette.html so it could be coincidence? Hope someone posts who has experience of it.

GiraffesEatPineapples · 28/01/2013 21:39

I think some of the older posters tried those or similar low calorie noodles and found the full sensation to be an unpleasent one and that they were quite expensive - greeneggs or laska possibly have tried them? They do sound amazing though - how can they have zero cals- if it sounds too good to be true....

GiraffesEatPineapples · 28/01/2013 21:52

Southeastdweller I had another look at those noodles and noticed that they claim they soak up stomach bile, which is esp interesting because there are some concerns about short fasts and production of gall stones. Apparently the noodles contain soluble fibre, " Soluble fiber binds bile acids that are secreted from the gall bladder. These bile acids have cholesterol in them and are bound up by the soluble fiber in the Miracle Noodle and then excreted" . Not the most pleasent concept but interesting!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 28/01/2013 22:14

I haven't tried the miracle noodles but I'm fairly certain Laska was indeed one of the ones who did. I remember they were mentioned several threads ago, and a few people quite liked them. The description of the texture was enough to put me off, if I'm honest.

However, I do remember, for those of you interested in giving them a go: the price on Amazon was supposedly the best. Might not still be the case, but worth checking there if you're keen.

OP posts:
hippoherostandinghere · 28/01/2013 22:17

Thanks giraffes. I did read somewhere about irregular bleeding so it probably is a coincidence, just panicked slightly there incase it had a counter effect on the pill but I'm sure it won't.

Jobyloo · 28/01/2013 22:23

after8's hope you have a speedy recovery and enjoy the benefits of the the health insurance.

hippo I'm taking Cerazette too and experienced the unwanted side effects that you have. I'm keeping a diary to record whats happening to see if it's linked to fasting. Am giving it at least another 2 months so it will be a 6 month trial in total - think I need to give it that long because it can take ages for the hormones to settle, but tbh I'm feeling way better taking it than I did before.

maniac ouch!!! I'll steer clear of the knives Wink and think we might have a take away too as well as the fizz. I feel completely differently this Jan too, much more +ve and in control....let's hope it stays that way in Feb and beyond!

Bordercollielover · 28/01/2013 22:28

I tried the noodles but after the initial thrill of thinking I could eat a huge meal on a fast day, I found that, like GreenEggs, my desire to eat until I nearly burst has gone. I have 3 packs left in the cupboard but nowadays just don't fancy bland "filling" foods. It's now all about variety of flavour and nutritional value.

encyclogirl · 28/01/2013 22:39

Well that was a really hard day. The turkey stir fry probably came in at 200 calls (max). Had to have a bag of Skips on the way home, I was so hungry. 91 calls. I think I ended up having around 550 calls in total.

Not fasting again until Thursday. I think I will watch my crb intake carefully over the next few days though.

encyclogirl · 28/01/2013 22:41

I will admit that right now I can't wait til tomorrow to feed my face.

I hope I don't feel that way when I wake up!

encyclogirl · 28/01/2013 22:42

Calls=cals

mobileshopgirl · 28/01/2013 22:49

Wow well just completed my first week I did a 4/3 week did not really expect much bit this morning the scales told me I had lost 5lb from same time last week. Am so surprised and pleased.

encyclogirl · 28/01/2013 22:52

Wow 5lbs is amazing. Congrats!

mobileshopgirl · 28/01/2013 23:02

I really can't believe it but I weighed myself 4 times this morning just to make sure!!!!! Happy me :-)

Breadandwine · 28/01/2013 23:03

About drinks on fasting days:

I?m lucky in that I?ve always enjoyed black coffee. And when I began fasting for 24 hours I thought I had to have a treat of some sort through the day, so I made myself a large flask of filter coffee which would last me until dinner time.

(BTW, I've found that filter coffee made directly in the flask, given 5 minutes, is exactly the same as making it in a cafetière - plus it stays hot and there are no fiddly bits to wash up!)

After a while I started drinking hot water occasionally and found I really enjoyed it. Now I almost always make myself a flask of hot water ? which I intersperse with the odd glass of cold water.

I was surprised to find, perhaps because I?ve always had coffee without sugar, that water tastes sweet to me.

About terminology ? I agree that WOE is an unfortunate acronym. That?s why some of us ? I think it was Cyclist who first came up with it ? call it a WOL (Way Of Life ? or Living). Hopefully Greeneggs will put these in the OP to the new thread which is coming up soon! (For all I know, it?s already been put out there whilst I?ve been writing this! Smile)

This thread has been going 8 and a half days - pretty much a record! A lot of that is down to the newcomers on the thread.

And, as I think we'll have to get used to saying in every post, "Welcome one and all!" Grin

virginposter · 28/01/2013 23:08

aftereights speedy recovery Thanks

sarajaynevz · 29/01/2013 00:52

swallowedAfly-I've been doing an adf plan since last November and I assure you there's been no starving, deprivation, yoyoing or obsessive anything going on over here Grin Instead I've lost a little over 20lbs, have gotten rid of my belly fat that had put me at increased risk for different diseases and my bmi has gone from the overweight category to the normal category. And I've also gone from a size 14 jean, to rocking a size 8 Wink