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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:
Aftereightsarenolongermine · 01/02/2013 22:05

Great idea TiP though as I've still got at least 1&half stone ill still be here!

ezzza wish you better.

Wasn't hungry at all this evening & thought I would make it a fast day then remembered that I've got my heavy meds to take tonight & tomorrow & no fasting allowed. So annoying I've had to eat chocolate to make up the calories - such a hard life.

Mandy312 · 01/02/2013 22:10

Hello!
I have lurked and read nearly all of the 10 previous posts. I was horrified as someone pointed out that's 10000 posts. Several have made me laugh and I have stacks of great info so thanks everyone!

I am 5 ft 4 and 12 stone so MASSES to loose. I also have a cholesterol test soon as I have hypothyriodism.

I had a bash at 4:3 for a week and lost 4lbs then I got a rotten cold and did some serious bing eating. Would love to get some control over my eating is I hope I can get some with this WOE.

virginposter · 01/02/2013 23:00

TiP where is the maintenance thread?

Jamillie · 01/02/2013 23:00

TP2 I don't think I am but I don't know now - sounds very interesting though...

virginposter · 01/02/2013 23:06

Congrats snowkey you must be feeling and looking fabulous. Hearing news like that is a great boost to ones moral and shows what can be achieved if you stick at it.

virginposter · 01/02/2013 23:07

Fillybuster have a great holiday and don't worry we will be here waiting for you Grin

virginposter · 01/02/2013 23:18

Welcome mandy312 I think you mean you've read the previous 10 threads not posts? Well done! That info gathering is the way to go and now press forward, a half stone at a time and you will get there.Yes there's a lot of wise-cracking and banter on here and it's made me laugh many times too. The one that sticks out (and it was ages ago) is still manonboard and his TOTM (top of the morning), it still makes me smile to think of it. I do hope he's lurking in the background somewhere.

virginposter · 01/02/2013 23:29

Iwearblack well done on your size 12?s - doesn't it feel great to buy new smaller clothes. I'm hoping to need new ones by the beginning of April as I've heard that M&S have sacked their old buyers as last years stock was terrible and are planning a new launch in April. I expect many if you mums on here are too young for M&S but for us oldies it's quite exciting Blush

virginposter · 01/02/2013 23:34

Hey where is everyone??? B&W are you lurking there? Where are all the night owls? Seems like I've been doing an Ezzza all by myself, oh well off to bed.

Iwearblack · 01/02/2013 23:47

Ha ha I am old enough to be excited by an MandS sale! I got mine from Debenhams ...
I am up and quaffing Sauvignon blanc whilst watching old America's Next Top Model. Living the dream!

Breadandwine · 02/02/2013 00:11

Hi VP

I've just been on TiP2's new thread - just what I need, somewhere else to post! Grin

Talking of which I'd recommend that posters keep an eye on the 5:2 forum that sprung out of Dr M's TheFastDiet website (not that it's linked to it or anything).

There is some excellent research being posted on there, and there's a Progress Tracker facility, which allows you to see how you're doing.

You probably have to register to see the stats, but here's the state of play ATM:

361 forum members are tracking their weight loss progress and have lost a total of 608.82kg over a combined total of 1617 weeks and 4 days.
This equates to an average of 0.38kg lost per member per week.

There are graphs and piecharts on there, with a great deal of info which would be fascinating, not just to nerdie folk, but to anyone who takes an interest in this WOL.

www.52fastdiet.co.uk/index.php

Breadandwine · 02/02/2013 00:13

VP Tip's maintenance thread is here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/1674179-I-F-5-2-4-3-Maintaining-the-healthy-weight

dalek · 02/02/2013 00:24

Virginposter thankyou for your reply. I will try to take your advice and keep reading this thread. Good luck to you.

Mandy312 · 02/02/2013 06:49

Virginposter thanks for the correction!
Glad to see there were some people up later than me.
So my aim for today is to stay in my TDEE and than go for a fast tomorrow..

BsshBossh · 02/02/2013 07:32

Anyone with a Kindle, The Fast Diet is 99p on Amazon just for today!

traceyed1 · 02/02/2013 07:45

Hi everyone another newbie here started the WOE on Tuesday with a fast day and really didnt find it too bad think the fact i was in work helped as i was distracted. Ate normally on Wednesday and then another fast day on Thursday. I have found that i have lost 3.5lbs already and when i have weighed myself after non fast days i havent gained yet just stayed the same. Has anyone else found this? Also on no fast days does anyone not eat breakfast and try to eat as late as possible to leave a bigger non eating gap? or is it best to leave that to fast days?
Sorry for all the questions that have probably been done to death in all these threads lol Thanks!!

frenchfancy · 02/02/2013 07:46

Thanks for that Bssh I wasn't going to buy the book, but for 99p it would seem rude not to.

Ezzza · 02/02/2013 07:51

Thanks BsshBossh, just downloaded it to read in bed with this cold. Was a scheduled fast day today. Just as well, I can't bear the idea of eating anything right now.

ErikNorseman · 02/02/2013 08:01

Tracey, you don't need to control your eating on food days beyond trying to stick to TDEE and being as balanced as possible. No need to skip meals. I don't weigh after eating days, just once or twice a week after fasts. My pattern has settled into fast mon, wed and fri. Weigh tues or thurs- stay same. Weigh sat - drop 1lb.

Ezzza · 02/02/2013 08:03

traceyed1, now that I've finally got it out of my head that I 'must eat breakfast' whether I'm hungry or not I often end up skipping breakfast on non-fast days now, especially after a fast day. That said, I don't force myself to skip breakfast if I do wake up hungry as otherwise I find the promise I make myself on fast days that I can have it tomorrow seems hollow and less motivational. I think many on here do choose to have a 16 hour fast from dinner on a fast day until lunch on a non-fast day though.

I too have noticed the scales usually go down a little after fast days and stay about the same after eating days, though when I do have a sneaky peak at the scales mid week it's just out of interest. I don't consider myself to have actually lost (or gained) any weight unless the scales say so at my weekly weigh in time first thing every Tuesday morning.

cardiffmummy · 02/02/2013 08:07

Hi traceyed1 and welcome! Well done on the weight loss. The weight loss does seem to fluctuate, especially at the beginning I think, but I have also found that my weight is often the same after a normal day. I know some posters weigh daily to monitor this and find there is a general downward trend even with fluctuations.

Re breakfast on non-fast days - its really up to you. There's no need to try and have a bigger fasting gap as this is intended for fasting days. So its really a question about if you WANT breakfast. I've found (after 3 and a half weeks only, so no expert!!) that this WOE has really made me think about what I'm eating, when and why. Can't believe how much rubbish I was eating before - just for a quick fix! Blush

LaurieFairyCake · 02/02/2013 08:57

Third fasting day this week for me today Smile

I've really liked 2 days between fasts, always hungrier on the second day - yesterday I had a lovely 1900 calories of fish and chips, beer, 3 cakes over the day - first day in the week I've come close to my TDEE.

Feel really great.

newbiefrugalgal · 02/02/2013 09:10

Hello all,
I survived week two! Four fast days under the belt.
Not as hard as I thought but evenings were where temptation hit so think fasting all day and one dinner will suit me.
Yesterday on fast day I had a small bowl of baked beans and miso soup and milk in tea (alternating between green and English breakfast as I hate black tea)
I did hear myself think 'you can have it tomorrow'
I'm only going to weigh once a week as I think daily just causes anguish, too many variations.
I've passed on the book to family too.
Early days but I love it!
I only have 10kg to lose but that's still enough but wanting to be in control of my overall diet is much more important for me.
5:2 Bring it on!!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 02/02/2013 09:15

I've been keeping a note of my weight for the first time this week & thought for all you worried about fluctuations that I would put it here:-

Saturday 11.6.8
Sunday 11.8.2
Monday 11.10.2
Wednesday. 11.8.8
Thursday 11.7.8
Friday. 11.7.2
Saturday 11.6.0

I've only had one semi fast this week but as you can see weight has varied between 4lbs on & off. So what I'm trying to say is don't worry about the small fluctuations & just concentrate on the bigger picture.

mamarun · 02/02/2013 09:29

aftereight thank you for that. Was very timely as despite a great loss after first fasting day I stayed the same after number 2 of the week. Have also been contemplating moving to a 3rd fast day as finding fasts easier. Moving from mon and wed to a mon and thurs has really suited me this week. But I want I to feel easy so may do it slowl by skipping one meal on a non fast day and then building up slowly to a 3rd fasting day. Thx all for keeping me motivated. I don post often but am following the thread.

Off to buy book st 99p.