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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! Going up to 11!

999 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 29/01/2013 13:17

The continuing thread for those of us following either the 5:2 diet or the alternate-day fasting diet.

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, or approximately your TDEE (see explanation below). 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 for a woman, 600 for a man, on those days.

You'll find on these threads we use a number of acronyms. If you're new to the threads, or Mumsnet in general, they might not make much sense.

WOE/WOL = Way Of Eating/Way Of Life. We use this term instead of "diet" as many of us see this as something to do in the long term.

MFP = My Fitness Pal, a website many use for keeping track of the number of calories they're eating.

TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure, 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.

ADF = Alternate-day Fasting, as it says on the tin, fasting every other day rather than 5:2.

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!

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%).")

Something to consider 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.

Another food link, here is a link to the BBC Good Food site, with a list of low-calorie soups.

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:
MWOW1 · 31/01/2013 15:58

Hi headintheclouds. When my motivation is low I brush my teeth. Make a peppermint tea. Read this Blog or watch horizons to boost my motivation

GiraffesEatPineapples · 31/01/2013 16:06

That's one of the best things about saving your cals on a fast day, really simple food tastes amazing. I hated soup before I states this woe now its my best friend! An eating day today haven't been healthy but those links to 500 Cal meals look really interesting thanks French fancy and tip. Snow key I had a dim reaction to ibuprofen when I had a breast abscess and took them for Weeks but I am ok with one now and again.I have avoided medication while doing this luckily.

BetsyVanBell · 31/01/2013 16:10

lireal I wonder if your fast days are too close together? I know other posters have had had problems like that but felt better when they had 2 or 3 days between fasts. I couldn't manage 2 so close together. You could always try going down to 6:1 for a while and see if things improve.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 31/01/2013 16:13

tomorrow yes "tomorrow" is great incentive on a fast day. I rarely actually follow through with what I want, but the fact that I could is very motivational. :)

OP posts:
BettySuarez · 31/01/2013 17:22

catsrus do you mind me asking how long you have been doing this? 25llbs is amazing Grin

Today is my first day but I already know I won't stick to 500 cals. More like 600 but 100 of those are a half drained can of salad beans to go with my salad (so reasonably healthy)

Will an extra 100 cals ruin everything? I have 4/5 stone to lose Sad

virginposter · 31/01/2013 17:32

snowkey you are very welcome. I've said it before and I will say it again, it never ceases to amaze me the knowledge that is within these threads. I try to read all of them (I know not everyone has the time) and I always go to the links posted just incase there are nuggets of info which may not be relevant at the time but useful for storing away for another time.
So, thanks again to everyone who posts on here and especially to all those who link me to more information Wink

frenchfancy · 31/01/2013 17:45

No of course it won't ruin everything. In fact lots of us recommend that you ease into the 500 cals. Well done for getting this far.

BettySuarez · 31/01/2013 17:47

Thanks Smile it's only my first day Grin

Flojobunny · 31/01/2013 18:33

Just lurking....

TalkinPeace2 · 31/01/2013 19:06

Time to eat .... been fasting and working all day. Soup beckons.

Elegantlywasted · 31/01/2013 19:13

tomorrowweeat I'm exactly the same on a fast day, it's that day today and I've watched work colleagues scoff cakes today so I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat tomorrow, but when tomorrow comes, I know I will eat relatively healthily. I think it's because I know I could stuff the chocolate that I don't. if you are on a 1000 cal a day type diet you know you can't do that and that's what makes it such a miserable existence that eventually you crack and then your diets blown.

Laska42 · 31/01/2013 19:14

Bsshbosh said above:
I think a lot of people can't cope with waiting so long to eat their 500 cals so they eat it spread out during the day. This is fine for weight loss but in order to get the best benefits of fasting (not just weight loss) you need to have your 500 cals in a single meal.

I think you'll find the jury is still out on this and the expected health benefits ..

Lots of us eat 2 meals - its quite alright to do so - DR M has eaten 2 meals the whole time.... and I dont think its helpful to state that one or the other is optimum because were all different . I've tried several times eating just one in the 5 months i've been doing this and I simply cant eat 500 cals in one go on a fast day - and not because I simply 'cant wait' or 'cant cope'.

I do agree that its a really good idea to get your 16hrswith no food at all in if at all possible, but its better to fast even eating 2 meals than not at all or to think you've failed by not doing it one way or another.

if you are new to this or doing it another way dont be put off by the fact that some people (inc myself quite often do the whole 24hr or one meal thing) the beauty of this WOE id that the rules are plain and simple ..

500 or 600 cals twice a week n 3 meals if you want (ihappento belive two is best for me) in one two or eve..lots of fluids.. eat 'sensibly' the rest of the time ( i.e dont stuff yourself)

Thats it .. Easy..

We are all waiting to see what the health effects are ,because of course, we dont know if it will help us live longer healthier lives.. we're just hoping so.. Smile

Laska42 · 31/01/2013 19:17

sorry text probs .. that should read ....

500 or 600 cals twice a week in one two or even 3 meals if you want (I happen to believe two is best for me) ..lots of fluids.. Then eat 'sensibly' the rest of the time ( i.e dont stuff yourself)

BsshBossh · 31/01/2013 19:29

Laska42 yes I think you're right, have been reading around and nothing's yet conclusive about length of fast.

catsrus · 31/01/2013 19:29

Hi betty I started way back in thread one Grin saw the original tv documentary in August - so 5 months in all. So that's only 5lb a month - very do-able!

Laska42 · 31/01/2013 19:41

and very impressive anyway cats!

Laska42 · 31/01/2013 19:46

bsshbosh I've just read my post again ..not best worded.. sorry if it might have looked like an attack on you ..wasn't meant to be..

Dr M doesn't do the 16hr fast either, but a lot of the stuff around does seem to indicate that is a good idea.. I eat my dinners early on fast day .. about 4.30 5 if I can (even if i have to take it to work) so I can get in 16hrs until I eat again the next day .. that I find is very do-able.. i have gone 24 on several occasions though I find past 22 its gets harder .. but that's probably in my head Grin

BsshBossh · 31/01/2013 19:52

Do most of you manage to eat your TDEE on your non-fast days? I only fasted yesterday and today I'm struggling to reach my TDEE. I'm hoping I can make up for it over the weekend Grin. But seriously, I don't want to undereat too much on this diet as I don't want to compromise my metabolism.

frenchfancy · 31/01/2013 19:57

I often don't eat up to my TDEE during the week, particularly as I am no longer drinking during the week. I make up for it at the weekend.

Laska42 · 31/01/2013 20:05

bsshbosh today we had a leaving do at work and I think I ate my bodyweight in cheese and bics and cheesecake!!, However this was an unusual day but yes, its near enough when you put it all together over the week but I dont really count .

I do usually tend to save my treats cheese wine etc for the weekends and eat a mainly veggie and protein based 'healthy' diet during the week , but is not far below my TDEE i would imagine (but I also count mine as on a sedentary lifestyle as I really dont do much exercise so that's about 1550 cals for me).

Hmm dont think im being that helpful here..

All I can say is that STARVATION MODE IS A DIET INDUSTRY MYTH .. ( no really it is.. you'd have to eat hardly anything for a couple of weeks really .. Do read Dr John Briffa 'Escape the Diet Trap'...

Also as TIP2 often reiterates (so rightly IMHO) .. the idea of eating several small meals to 'keep our blood sugar level up@ and three square meals a day so as not to go into 'starvation mode' is also a food industry myth to sell us snacks ....

tomorrowweeat · 31/01/2013 20:07

I would like to do the 24 hour fast thing for the health benefits but have medication that has to be taken three times a day with food. Do you think that means I will miss out on the health benefits? The most I can manage not eating and still spacing out my medication is 16 hours :(

Bordercollielover · 31/01/2013 20:17

Tomorrow eat. I think you will find that the CRONYs, who practise daily Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition, also get all the health benefits but do not fast at all. The idea of intermittent fasting is to get their health benefits without the pain of daily deprivation.
So no, it won't matter if you divide your calories up to allow for your medication, inmho. I think almost ANY move toward IF is beneficial, no matter how you modify it to suit yourself.

orangeandlemons · 31/01/2013 20:18

Can I join and ask some advice? I have been doing this a week and a Half, and am stunned at how easy the fasting days are. Normally I love eating, but tbh I don,t even think about food on fasting days, and whilst only a week and a half in, my terrible bingeing on crap has stopped completely.

However last week I lost a pound and a half (weighed on Tuesday). On fast day to day, and jeans are tight. Get on scales and wham 3 lbs out of nowhere???? Why??? Am gutted! No periods due either

BsshBossh · 31/01/2013 20:19

Thanks french and Laska. I need to stress the numbers less! I think it will all balance out - especially after a typical weekend Grin.

Laska42 · 31/01/2013 20:20

No tomorrowweeat that was the point I was trying to make (so badly) above.. We simply dont know.. DR M doesn't do a 16hr fast and the original researchers didn't expect one.. Prof Lungo said that after a three day fast you got certain benefits , but DR M started the 5:2because it simply wouldn't work in most peoples lifestyles and after the 6 weeks his health indicators were just as good as after doing the 3 day fast..

Some people (Brad Pilon etc) who have been intermittent fasting for a long time , believe that the optimum time to fast is 16hrs for men and 14hr for women.. I read this way back in 'thread 2-time' and started doing 16hrs .. though i'm a girl!! .. and writing about it (though I'm not claiming to be the first one here) .. since then several of us now do it ..

Its an experiment.. dont worry we dont know.. no one does. We just think its Its good to fast .. just do what you are doing.. and dont compromise because of your meds.. like I said lots of us here also have 3 small meals..