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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:
GreenEggsAndNichts · 02/02/2013 15:36

BMJ well it's based on ADF, so they'd only be eating every other day. Overall calorie deficit would still be good, regardless of eating junk. Also, their stomachs would likely shrink over time (mine has over a period of months) and even if they were continuing to eat junk on their non-fast days, they'd be eating less of it.

OP posts:
BlackMaryJanes · 02/02/2013 15:45

GreenEggsAndNichts Good point on the stomach shrinkage. I'm not doing ADF though. Will I still lose weight on 5:2 with my horrible eating preferences? I still work out regularly (lots of cardio).

I'm hoping that in a few weeks, junk food will gradually lose it's 'allure' as it would be a 'forbidden food' like it has been for years.

GreenEggsAndNichts · 02/02/2013 16:07

well. Keep in mind this is anecdotal, BMJ, but I lost weight my first several weeks, even though I ate rather poorly on my non-fast days. I was doing 4:3, however, which is pretty close to ADF.

I think with ADF you do feel the temptation more to eat a bit more than you might normally on a non-fast day, because you know tomorrow will be yet another fast day. 5:2 (which I'm doing now) feels much more relaxed.

I think (again, just my opinion) that you can get away with eating not so great on eating days early on, especially if you have a lot to lose. However, you might run into a plateau, at which time you'll want to re-visit what you're eating on those days.

OP posts:
BetsyVanBell · 02/02/2013 16:14

Well that was on ADF so they did end up with a calorie deficit (turned out they just couldn't make up the calories on feed days), so yes BlackMaryJane you may find you don't lose weight on 5:2 if you eat too much junk on feed days! However, get those fast days sorted (as GreenEggs says) and the feed days will sort themselves out in time Smile. That's the theory anyway... Wink

BlackMaryJanes · 02/02/2013 16:15

I only have 1 stone to lose. Confused I hope I don't end up gaining weight on this WOE.

I'm going to stick with 5:2 for 6 weeks, then weigh myself. If I haven't gained any weight, but haven't lost any weight, I will then do 4:3. If I've gained considerable weight I'll have to revert to my old traditional calorie counting diet (which totally sucked but worked). Sound like a good idea?

Man I'm hungry at the moment. Just guzzling my cans of diet pepsi and waiting for supper.

MrsHelsBels74 · 02/02/2013 16:17

Well I've lost 4.4lb in 4 weeks since starting & I do eat very badly on non-fast days. I've been known to eat so much chocolate that I almost throw up Blush

Am sure if I ate better on non-fast days I'd lose more.

BetsyVanBell · 02/02/2013 16:22

BlackMaryJane HelsBels Don't forget that there's loads more benefits to this than just the weightloss - you're still doing amazing things for your body too even though you're eating junk - what other woe can boast that?!

MrsHelsBels74 · 02/02/2013 16:23

Well that's why I went for this rather than WW. I like the idea of only worrying about calories 2 days a week.

I wish I wasn't so fond of junk though.

BlackMaryJanes · 02/02/2013 16:26

For breakfast I'm having a stuffed crust peperroni pizza ooozing with grease and a small box of lint chocolates. Ooops.

Can't ruddy wait!

BlackMaryJanes · 02/02/2013 16:29

Well I've lost 4.4lb in 4 weeks since starting & I do eat very badly on non-fast days.

Wow! I love the sound of that Grin high five!

Apart from chocolate, what other junk have you been eating on feed days?

BetsyVanBell very true on the health benefits front. Cell repair, etc. I think about that a lot of fast days.

MrsHelsBels74 · 02/02/2013 16:33

Thank you.

Chocolate, biscuits & pizza are regular features on my non-fast days, plus gallons of orange juice Blush. We've still gots lots of Christmas goodies but once they've gone I'm hoping to eat healthier. I set a very poor example for DS1 & I must do better.

frenchfancy · 02/02/2013 16:49

BMJ and any others who find themselves eating lots of junk. Why not try planning your meals carefully on the day after a fast. I find the lunchtime after a fast food tastes great, so plan something healthy but tasty for then. I don't necessarily mean low fat, but something that has lots of goodness in it (I go for a goats cheese and sun dried tomato omelette with a large salad). That way it tastes so good that you want to eat it again and you will slowly wean yourself off the junk.

Another way to do it is to eat all those lovely things, but make them rather than buy them, so you can add in some extra veg to the pizzas etc

BlackMaryJanes · 02/02/2013 16:50

Is anyone fasting today? I haven't ate so far. I'm saving all my cals for supper so I can go to bed on a full stomach (only way I can sleep).

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 02/02/2013 16:53

I ate very badly when I started this in August but now I no longer have those cravings for junk food. I could easily have eaten a large bar of cadburys (&used to) but now I loathe milk chocolate. But it took until around November for me to start feeling like that. Also I've lost 3 stone on this & so far have managed to keep it off. I usually give up after 3 months on Atkins, Dukan, WW, SW.....

So don't give up & think of the health benefits which are worth it on their own.

MrsHelsBels74 · 02/02/2013 17:03

Thanks, that's encouraging. I've noticed I'm better the day after a fast now but it goes downhill after that. Not considering giving up but I appear to have a lot of weight to lose (about 1/3 of my body weight now if BMIs are to be believed Shock). Still don't they say slow sustained weight loss is better?

BlackMaryJanes · 02/02/2013 17:06

Any weight loss is good MrsHelsBels74 particularly, as others have said, combined with the health benefits.

MWOW1 · 02/02/2013 18:43

when I started the diet I found that I still had cravings for chocolate on non fast day. This week I ate half a mars bar and was nearly ill. I also dont even crave my glass of red wine - strange but good! Just bought book for 99p thanks to the person who spotted it! Am now finishing week 3 and finding it easier and easier to fast

mumrunner · 02/02/2013 18:46

Itsabotjack I got lucky to get in the ballot this year. I enter every year. I ran it in 2008 with less training and it hurt, so lesson learned there. I'm getting there, it's my down week this week so will be running 13 miles tomorrow.

Ghanagal1717 · 02/02/2013 18:48

ErikNorseman: thanks for your response...actually I dont eat my full tdee ever...is that making a difference do you think? I've just looked back at my MFP daily records and I hit around 1100-1200 on my feed days (my calculated tdee was 1700). I thought it was a good thing that I was going lower than my tdee and that the tdee was just a point that I couldn't go above?

also...to Betsyvanbell...no, don't exercise at all!! :(

sarajaynevz · 02/02/2013 18:53

BlackMaryJanes Today's a fasting day for me too :)

The plan for today-
2 servings of rusk (4) and 2 wedges of laughing cow light swiss spread 190c
2 servings of light veggie and noodle soup 120c
1 cup popcorn with seasoning salt 35c
2 cup diet hot cocoa 40c

=385 calories. That leaves me 115c short. Maybe I'll throw in a hb egg too? Or when I run to the store later today I may try to find a low calorie treat, like candy Grin

TalkinPeace2 · 02/02/2013 18:53

Ghanagal
The whole point of 5:2 is that once you get to a healthy weight you have no calorie counting or restrictions on what you eat at all 5 days a week.
By starving yourself all week (600 under your TDEE is a serious deficit each day) you are not going to teach your brain what healthy meals are.
Aim for exactly your TDEE a couple of days a week - plan menus and cook from scratch.

ErikNorseman · 02/02/2013 19:04

There is a good chance that your metabolism has slowed way down because you are eating far too little overall. When you eat too few calories for your body to function (over time, it doesn't happen overnight) your metabolism slows down so as to preserve your fat reserves for upcoming famine. I bet if you started eating your TDEE every day you would start to see a loss.

Ghanagal1717 · 02/02/2013 19:14

Oh my word....Talkinpeace and Eriknorseman.....thats mindblowing!!! How could I have been so silly to have thought I was doing good going so low below the TDEE :(
Ok...armed with this new knowledge (and feeling suitably embarrassed)..I will begin again tomorrow. Thanks so much.

ErikNorseman · 02/02/2013 20:21

I think it's worth a try! Bear in mind you may see an initial gain though as your body reacts to increased calories by storing fat.
The body needs food to function. You cannot expect optimal performance if you deny it fuel constantly. There is a 'safe maximum' deficit that you should create and (presuming your weight is fairly low) you are exceeding it. Your TDEE is 1700, so you shouldn't go under around 1100 per day, which works out at 4200 deficit per week. You are going under by around 5200 pr week. That is too much. If you have been 'over dieting' for a while that will have had an effect.

swallowedAfly · 02/02/2013 20:25

first fast day was wednesday, on thursday morning i weighed myself and i'd lost nearly a pound. thursday and friday i ate whatever i liked and this morning when i weighed myself i was still the same weight as the morning after fasting.

i'm actually looking foward to monday when i'll be fasting again strangely.

i am not calorie counting in between because to me that is kind of the point of this woe that you don't do that. will see if that works or if i have to rethink.