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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:
Ezzza · 04/02/2013 12:50

That's strange. Today is the second non-fast day in a row I haven't wanted any dinner (nearly 9pm now)[. I also went to Walmart specifically to stock up on M&Ms (chocolate not plentiful here and relatively expensive) but when I got there I didn't really fancy them, so didn't get any. Not regretting it either. Grin Fast day tomorrow and weigh day too.

Dotty342kids · 04/02/2013 12:50

Oh, I see! I don't think I'll have a problem eating up to my TDEE on feed days Grin

BlackMaryJanes · 04/02/2013 13:08

Hi guys. I was reading a Mosley webchat where the following was said:

Q: Is this about weekly calorific intake plus the idea of keeping up the metabolic rate? I seem to remember something similar by an American ten years or so back. It sounds very "doable", the five days would be no problem. Are there rules for the five day bit or is it anything goes? Sel
A: If you want to know the rules and the science read my book, The Fast Diet, or google some articles I have written.

Anyone know what 'the rules' are for feast days?

mumofcrazynamedkids · 04/02/2013 13:17

breadandwine hope you're feeling better soon and thanks for teh 4:3 tip, I like it, maybe that's what i'll do on Friday, so kind of 2.5 fast days a week!

Captainladder · 04/02/2013 13:32

Hello, delurking here! Started this 2 weeks ago and am loving it. Going up to 4:3 for the next 2 weeks as away for 2 weeks afterwards! Just wanted to say hello and thanks for all the yummy recipes linked!(especially that vegan choc cake breadandwine! Hope you are feeling better.

ErikNorseman · 04/02/2013 13:32

The kingfisher - 1lb of genuine fat loss is great, not a disappointment. If you go over your TDEE regularly on feed days you will lose slower, it isn't a magic solution, it still comes down to calories in and calories burnt at the end of the day. Also, if you weigh after a feed day, esp if you have overdone the salt/fat/booze you will probably weigh heavier.

Ghanagal, that's amazing! What a result.

Mumma, I've been doing this since mid December and lost 8lb so far. I don't eat junk food but I have a prodigious appetite and can eat vast amounts of lovely healthy food!

parrotsandcarsnips · 04/02/2013 13:32

Well its day 5 of fasting (3rd week) for us and dh has lost 4lbs (keen to lose as overweight) and I have managed 1lb (doing it for health reasons as high cholesterol). It has definitely made dh agree that this WOL can be done and is not too depriving 2 days a week.
Mumsnet threads and links invaluable throughout and being on the plan with dh has made me stick to it thanks everyone

BlackMaryJanes · 04/02/2013 13:41

What's TDEE?

Mandy312 · 04/02/2013 13:56

Total Daily Energy Expenditure. See OP to calculate this Smile

chezmumof4 · 04/02/2013 14:01

Hi there. well im starting today and on my 1st fast day. Im 29 5ft 4 and weigh 13st 4. Im toned and gym a lot and have a flat tummy, but big bum and thighs, but don't wobble if that makes sense, but I feel solid and heavy and would like to be more feminine. Im a size 12 top-14-16 bottom. I really want to get 2 stone off for summer. I want to be fab and 30.
Im just a bit confused though . I eat as normal yesterday finishing with paste on toast at 9pm. today I had a tiny bowl of musuli as its my fast day...Do I fast until tomorrow morning or until 9pm tonight! Help.
Thank people x

BettySuarez · 04/02/2013 14:15

Hello chez

You have 500 calories to last you for the 36 hour period (from your meal last night to breakfast tomorrow)

So in other words all your waking hours today.

You have already had breakfast, so the reaming calories need to last you until bedtime tonight.

Example:

Sunday - eat normally
Monday - 500 calories split however you want them throughout the day
Tuesday - eat normally

Some people like to leave at least 16 hours without food to gain the health benefits.

That simply means that you eat your dinner on Sunday night, then don't eat until 1 or 2 in the afternoon on Monday (in other words you miss breakfast and split the 500 calories over lunch and dinner or even just dinner if you prefer) Smile

Dotty342kids · 04/02/2013 14:17

As far as I understand it chezmum you eat no more than 500 cals for the calendar day following your last meal. So if you ate tea at 9pm last night, you eat no more than 500 cals all day today, preferably with a gap of at least 16hrs from 9pm last night (so that'd be 1.00 today) until your first bit of food. Then you can eat whatever else you like today as long as it doesn't exceed that 500 cals.
Then as normal again tomorrow.

MWOW1 · 04/02/2013 14:28

AFTER totally inspired by your post. I am on week 3 - if you cans still do it after 27 weeks it really is a WOL - Fantastic

chezmumof4 · 04/02/2013 14:42

Thankyou. That means iv screwed up up my 1st fast as I had a small breakfast. Rubbish!!!!
Off to the gym later so hopefully all wont be lost.
Feeling a bit woozy at the min though. Does this pass??
Chez x

SwivelHips · 04/02/2013 15:08

Howdy,
Just found this thread :)
I've been doing this for 3 wks now but I'm not sure anything is happening. I eat normally (not a bad diet but lots of wine!!) Hubby did it last year after the Horizon programme and lost a stone in a month, and maintains by not having a lunch. He's now lost 2 stone and is looking fab.
Anyhoo, I've worked out my TDEE is 2136 - what is this telling me? I.e. should I be keeping my calories below this on non fast days?
I also didn't know about the 16hr thing, I have my meal about half 5 then eat at 11am the next day - so that's okay?
Today is fast day AND I AM STARVING :)

Dotty342kids · 04/02/2013 15:19

swivelhips BettySuarez has explained it really clearly above.......... that should answer your questions?

nearlyniftyfifty · 04/02/2013 15:30

Wow Ganaghal, thats fantastic...well done!! Sorry, i dont seem to be able to do either bunches of flowers or smiley faces, but they are both there! xx

BettySuarez · 04/02/2013 15:34

Chez you haven't screwed up at all. Just count the the cities from breakfast and subtract them from 500 to work out how much left you gave for the day.

Some people split their 500 over the three meals Breakfast/lunch/dinner

I like to skip breakfast and share cals over lunch and dinner

Michael Mosely preferred to have breakfast, skip lunch and have dinner

Some on here prefer to show off go hardcore and just save it all for dinner Wink

That's the beauty of it, you can adapt it to suit you.

The 16 hour thing is recommended because it helps the body go into repair mode (the health benefits I mentioned up thread) but it doesn't matter.

Don't feel that you have to start with 500 either, I am on my second fast day and allowed myself 600.

It's ok to ease yourself in

BettySuarez · 04/02/2013 15:35

Cities = calories (dam phone)

At least I managed split instead of shit Grin

BettySuarez · 04/02/2013 15:37

Chez, the wooziness could be down to dehydration. Buck up woman Grin

mamarun · 04/02/2013 15:38

First fast of the week and have come down with a cold. Not helping cope with the fast. Found last couple of hours tough. Been in coffe and tea mode earlier. I always save some calories for a boiled sweet indian tea at this point of the day. As it uses a fair bit of milk it does help me feel a little full ahead of stretch to dinner at 6pm.

Someone said earlier in the thread it is strange how some fasts are easier than others. Today was hard. Probably also something to do with the fact that all the lovely weight I lost last week has come back on. Back to yo yoing. But I take heart from aftereight's post. Have seem similar trend before And I know it will come down.

BettySuarez · 04/02/2013 15:40

Swivel - you should try to ensure you don't go over your TDEE on non-fast days. But nor should you be too far below it either.

It looks as if you are getting your 16 hours in with much of it happening overnight which is ideal Smile

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 04/02/2013 15:41

Well done ghanagal.

Thanks to everyone who said I inspired them, that's exactly what I was hoping.

found I have psoriatic arthritis & rheumatologists have put me on a gluten free diet which really helps with keeping the inflammation down. They also gave me the go ahead to do this WOE. Also told me that lots of RA & PA patients fast as a way of helping keep weight down. It certainly helps my joints that I'm no longer as heavy as exercise is still a big no no for me.

b&w hope you start feeling better soon.

swallowedAfly · 04/02/2013 16:08

second fast day here. had nothing except a few cups of coffee with skimmed milk till about 2 when i broke my fast with some home made veggie juice.

i have hard boiled eggs ready downstairs but don't feel the need yet. so may hold out and have a low cal dinner like fish and veg and know the eggs are there if i get desperate late evening.

i am so hoping that i will have lost something when my week is up. i'm not calorie counting on eat days and yesterday ate a load of ben and jerry's but i want to let things happen organically if that makes sense so for now eat what i want on five days and fast on 2 and see where that goes. hopefully like others i'll find my hunger/satiation signals working better and improve general eating naturally.

well done to all those reporting losses - it is good to read Smile

SwivelHips · 04/02/2013 16:13

Excellent. 2500 seems a lot to play with if I cut out the wine :O
Thanks ladies