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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 · 06/02/2013 07:35

P.S. I know not everyone is like me. I know quite a few people who enjoy being told off and find it motivational. I'm just a pig-headed stubborn cuss really not one of them.

Snowkey · 06/02/2013 07:47

Ezzza I loved you on your soapbox - we need more! I'm not too keen on people telling me what I should eat either. [Wink]
I haven't dieted in over 20 years so the word diet doesn't have any emotional impact on me, so the rebranding exercise didnt mean anything to me other than a bit of doublespeak, I appreciate now that I may be in the minority. Smile

Snowkey · 06/02/2013 07:55

Wips dh used to have Total 0% yoghurt, berries (frozen in winter) and a spoonful of seeds. After 4 months of fasting he has just started skipping breakfast. Could you eat a chilled boiled egg in the morning?

swallowedAfly · 06/02/2013 08:07

on the time issue - i boil eggs the night before a fast day and stick them in the fridge in their shells still. in the morning you can have one for breakfast if you want to eat or just pop them in your bag to have for lunch at work. i also defrosted prawns the night before on my first fast day. so in my bag went a little tupperware box with prawns in and a couple of boiled eggs. low fat protein meal sorted.

it doesn't have to take time - no one is too busy to boil a couple of eggs at some point in a 24hr day.

i'd personally recommend the only carbs on a fast day being veg, salad or a good choice of fruit like berries. once you get to bread or processed anything you are looking at serious calories for very little nutritional value and it won't keep you full but just make you hungry again ime.

i think stating the facts and giving pointers is support personally. tbh if you're in yeah but mentality (as we all are at times) nothing is going to sound supportive except colluding with your excuses.

i feel like fasting again today but i only did it on monday and am stuck on that leave 2 clear days between fasts advice i read somewhere. thoughts?

frenchfancy · 06/02/2013 08:11

swallowed I don't think there is any need to leave 2 full days between fasts. I used to do Tuesday and Thursday with no problems. I changed to Monday - Thursday just because Monday is a better day for me. If you feel like fasting go for it.

BetsyVanBell · 06/02/2013 08:12

swallowedafly if you've got a good day for it and feel like doing it then go for it! I had a mini-fast over the weekend but then on Monday morning my OH ate all the porridge thinking I'd had mine so I thought, sod it, I'm not even hungry so I might as well fast. Turned out to be my easiest fast yet Smile

swallowedAfly · 06/02/2013 08:14

incidentally if anyone is a smoothie fan low fat fromage frais from tescos is only 46cals per 100g - add frozen berries and could be pretty yummy and a good stomach filler for under 150cals for a big glass i think.

BetsyVanBell · 06/02/2013 08:15

I'm totally with the avoiding carbs on fast days - I fill up on veg and fruit with a bit of lean protein. Carbs make me hungry... for more carb, and that's how I put all the weight on in the first place Wink

Snowkey · 06/02/2013 08:18

I haven't read anything about leaving 2 days between fasts BUT we always find the Monday fast relatively easy and the Wednesday fast more challenging and we have put this down to holding a few extra Calories on a Monday from the weekend's excesses. We still do the Wednesday rather than delaying it because we like to get the fasts out of the way....we rather like a Thursday night glass of wine.

ever2optimistic · 06/02/2013 08:46

I posted for the first time at the weekend, had been following the threads for a short time. I was discouraged I hadn't lost wt over 3 weeks, but now find I am 3lb down and also have lost 2% points of body fat. All very encouraging, and it doesn't feel hard or depriving. I have also bought and read Michael Mosley's book since then and realise I need to up my protein on fast days (thanks for all the tips on boiled eggs) and reduce the carbs (I'm a big fan of ryvita). All in all I feel a lot better and really have only about 5-7lb more to lose to get to ideal weight.

BsshBossh · 06/02/2013 09:18

Thanks Natasha that's really helpful. I only have another 10lbs to lose so am considering a complete one day fast as part of my intended 6:1 maintenance plan. But I might try one complete fast day on the 5:2 WOE whilst I still need to lose weight.

My ultimate goal? To join you lot on the maintainers thread Grin.

BsshBossh · 06/02/2013 09:28

swallowedAfly I don't think you need to leave two days between a fast either. ADFers certainly don't. I would go with your body's needs and just make sure you're eating enough on the other days (which personally I'm still finding harder now my appetite on non-fast days is reducing but I'm not going to stress about it ).

Miffytastic · 06/02/2013 09:29

Ok. ... so it's the day after my second ever fast and I've still got that weird headachey, slightly woozy feeling, despite having had breakfast of porridge +raspberries+ 2 cups of tea.

Is this to be expected? I was kind of hoping to feel normal today and I feel the same as I did yesterday morning when I was v. hungry Confused

Ezzza · 06/02/2013 09:41

BsshBossh, I'm having a bit of a lurk over on the maintainer's thread, esp. as I've been doing this 5 months now, but I'm still a stone and a bit away from target yet.

swallowedAfly, I do 4:3 so it's only possible for me to put 2 days between fasts once a week! I think that may have been a suggestion for those who find the second fast in the week difficult if they only have one non-fast day in between fasts. Just a tip to help things along, not a rule!

Well, this week I've had a bit of a cold (no need for sympathy, I'm not suffering much Grin), but this one has been a bit different as I'm able to actually listen to my body regarding whether I should carry on and have a fast day and what I should eat on my non-fast days. I've never been able to do that before because my body is usually shouting "choccie", "drink", "takeaway" in a rather Father Jack style, but just lately it's been saying much more sensible things like "could I have some pineapple please?", "I don't fancy that fizzy pop, could I have a mug of hot water instead?" and "can I have more vegetables with dinner tonight? There weren't quite enough last time". Utterly bizarre! As a result my cold seems to be going away rather quicker than usual. Grin

chipmonkey · 06/02/2013 09:43

Miffy yesterday was my first "normal" day after a fast day and I felt a bit odd.
I told my colleagues about the 5:2 plan and that I had put a teaspoon of olive oil and some balsamic vinegar on my salad. She said that "If I was going that extreme" that I should have left off the olive oil and just had balsamic vinegar. But I was within my 500 cals at the end of the day including the olive oil. Is she right?

Snowkey · 06/02/2013 09:50

No olive oil is good for you, balsamic vinegar is not - it's very sugary! If you wish to get rid of anything get rid of the vinegar and use lemon juice instead. That's my tuppence worth!

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 09:52

No chip I don't think she is right in fact if you had had fewer cals you would have felt worse. miffymaybe you underestimated the calories you had yesterday? What did you eat? I think the only time I felt as you describe the day after a fast was when I tried this a year ago and was breastfeeding. I do sometimes feel weak on the actual fast day though.

Miffytastic · 06/02/2013 09:55

Thanks Chipmonkey did you feel odd all day?!
and I agree with Snowkey - it's a good idea to have olive oil, even WW recommends it on their core plan, essential fats and all that.

Ezza it's exciting to hear about the mental changes that happen, I could do with some of them. My attitude to food is very much work in progress....

swallowedAfly · 06/02/2013 09:57

thanks for all the thoughts - what i read was that the two days in between means your body doesn't go into starvation mode. i think i'll just see how i go today rather than fix it as a fast day. i've had 3 cups of coffee with skimmed milk already and i have a day off from time in lieu and want to get loads done round the house so i guess fasting isn't my biggest priority iyswim.

will lay off the coffee now and just drink water and see how i feel at lunchtime. i find it hard to eat in the mornings anyway generally. i have a night off from ds tonight so in the back of my mind is the awareness that i'll probably want to have a drink or two. hmm.

actually think i will delay till tomorrow as planned and make sure i defrost some prawns and have eggs ready and make tomorrow a really good fast day.

this 400-500cals thing - i'm thinking whilst i'm overweight 500 will be fine and the 400 might be needed later when i'm down to ideal weight?

Miffytastic · 06/02/2013 09:59

Girraffes - I used MFP so I think I was pretty on the nail. I had:

16 hour fast til 2pm- broke with boiled egg, mushrooms sauted in tiny bit of oil & stock, cherry tomatoes & smidge of ketchup, followed by a small
banana and cup of tea
Then 5.30 I had loads of cauliflower & green beans with veggie chilli, which I was one I'd made pre 5:2 but I only had about a ladle's worth, and it's made with tinned tomatoes, kidney beans & veg, and not much else, bit of oil and packet spices to cook the veg.

Followed this with half a choc digestive and later had half a pomegranate at 9pm
Lots of hot water with lemon all day, no exercise

Does that sound about right?

ErikNorseman · 06/02/2013 10:04

Swallowed- starvation mode doesn't happen after one day of fasting, it's a process that can take place after several weeks of under eating. Our bodies can manage short term calorie restriction just fine, it's how we were designed.

Snowkey · 06/02/2013 10:06

Swallowedafly starvation mode is a myth, so ther's no point in making it the basis of your timing decisions.

BsshBossh · 06/02/2013 10:09

Ezzza, yes I lurk too on the maintainers thread - it's a real inspiration.

BetsyVanBell · 06/02/2013 10:11

chipmonkey I feel great the morning after a fast but some days I feel bit dizzy after I start eating again, often feeling slightly peculiar until quite late in the day. In fact I have to be quite careful about my eating post-fast - if it's too filling I feel dreadful. At the moment I think this is being exacerbated by having a cold.

I feel fine on fast days and don't get the cold feeling some people talk about but do feel wonky afterwards. I am hoping this feeling will lessen over time and - I'm only on my 4th week. Have any of the more seasoned fasters had issues with this? Does it improve?

ErikNorseman · 06/02/2013 10:24

Snowkey, why do you say that?