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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:
GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 13:09

Muddy that sounds about right and very heathy, maybe a bit sugary at the end but I sometimes have a square of cho with no ill effect. Maybe it was a one of and you will find the next one easier. Funnily I had kidney beans on the fast where I felt funny but that must be a coincidence. App its a good idea to eat protein your last meal before a fast and carbs the day after.

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 13:10

Sorry miffy not muddy !

starlady · 06/02/2013 13:21

Hello everyone - longterm fasters and newbies alike. I am returning to the fold after a fortnight's absence. I damaged my hip whilst running for a bus and doc put me on 400mg of nurofen 3 X a day to bring down inflammation - not fabulous for fasting.

After 2 weeks of eating 'normally' I put on 4lb Shock. More importantly I feel rubbish!

Also asked doc about the heart study because I have a markers for a weak aorta and aortic valve (the rat study about fasting and decreased blood flow to the heart [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20932467] and he was useless!! Couldn't tell me anything. Initially told me no doc would recommend 5:2, then he said he didn't think it would do much harm.

Anyway ... I am back fasting today - and am off with pals to Italia for pasta and prosecco tomorrow. Hopfully fasting on Mon again.

mobileshopgirl · 06/02/2013 13:38

Hi all Was wondering if someone could help me I'm just starting week 3 of 4/3 the first week I lost 5lb according to my fitness pal last week I put 1lb on and I did nothing different from the first week. not impressed as have followed rules to the letter.

Dotty342kids · 06/02/2013 13:49

Weird issue but you might be able to advise on this one for me....
My TDEE is 2200 (not sure why but never mind!). Anyway, on "normal" days I can sometimes find it difficult to get anywhere near this.
Today, for example, breakfast was bowl of cornflakes with chopped banana. Lunch was wholemeal bread sandwich with flaked salmon and salad and a small slice of millionaire's shortbread. And tea will be 3 x veggies sausages (I don't like much meat) with mash, carrots, broccoli and peas. According to MFP that's only 1275 calories for the day!
I'm a bit concerned that if I'm not near enough my TDEE that the effect of the fast days will be lessened.
But not sure what else to eat other than junk food, to get me up to it, which seems rather daft!
Help?

mobileshopgirl · 06/02/2013 14:01

If anyone wants to follow me friend me on my fitness pal or to give me some advice my user name is 'usernametoday'.

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 14:11

Dotty I would say go with it if you feel well other days may work out more calorific. It's like the advice for feeding toddlers - you need to look at eating over a course of a week (MFP weekly tab again Grin However if you are concerned the breakfast is the place you could look at, perhaps replacing cornflakes or having something additional, maybe porridge with nuts or seeds honey chopped banana and made with milk? Also you could have a healthy pudding and or a glass of wine after dinner?

PS I am totally a sugar junky and no right to preach but can't help myself!!

Will add you on mfp mobiles please!

Hi starlady glad your on the mend enjoy your meal tomorrow :)

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 14:15

PS mobiles you could look at it that you have lost 4lb over 2 weeks which is actually pretty good. the fast diet I think says this can happen due to waterloss the first week then going back on and hiding real fat loss Confused

virginposter · 06/02/2013 14:23

swallowed don't worry about menopause. I've just gone through it but have still lost 23lbs since last April Grin

Miffytastic · 06/02/2013 14:24

Thanks Giraffes .... off to consider some more super-protein veggie options...

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 14:32

Further on meat and calories this is from the daily fail teture of food counts . Basically eating food like chicken expends more energy than eating food like honey and this is not accounted for when working out the calories - I guess it is the old low GI story ..

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 14:37

Miffy let me know what options you come up with please, I am not a veggie but interested as cheaper than buying meat..

Dotty342kids · 06/02/2013 14:46

Thanks Giraffes, some good ideas there. Might have to add some toast to my cereal brekkie too. Or maybe some cheese and crackers after tea Grin

Ezzza · 06/02/2013 14:50

mobileshopgirl, I always expect a gain in week two if I lose more than 3lb in week one. What I've read (sorry, didn't make a note of my sources) is that when first going on a weightloss plan the body loses fat and water, it continues to lose fat if you continue the plan but will take back at least some of the water. 4lb loss over 2 weeks is a great start. You probably did lose fat this week. Keep going and focus on monthly trends. It's always nice to see the number on the scales going down each and every week, but on the weeks I either stay the same or gain weight I just compare this week's number to the number on the scales 4 weeks ago. This week's is always less.

Dotty342kids, you could try nuts. They're quite calorie dense without being unhealthy.

Ezzza · 06/02/2013 14:56

Gaaahh! Cross posted with sooo many people. Too used to posting in the middle of the night when you're all asleep!

mobileshopgirl · 06/02/2013 15:04

GiraffesEatPineapples thank you will look for your add on MFP my user name is usernametoday.

drmummmsy · 06/02/2013 15:17

been sent here by ezzza!

now officially overweight at 9 stone 6, 5 foot. eat 1200 calories during week and exercise sporadically... but eat around 2200 calories fri, sat and sun which has clearly got me to this weight! was bloody 9 stone in december!

sooo need to shift the ££££'s

DontGoThereDaisy · 06/02/2013 15:39

Dotty One of the earliest things I saw about this WOL was that it works best for people who have been 'roughly' the same weight for a length of time and as such are already used to eating 'maintainence calories' and are thus changing only two days. I cant find the reference at the moment - probably somewhere on page 1! If that is you I would ignore the TDEE, eat what you have been used to eating except for the two fast days.

Breadandwine · 06/02/2013 15:46

My two super-protein veggie favourites are r-k-beans and red lentils. These - from Sainsbugs - work out at around £1 a kilo if you buy the dried stuff.

I tend to use the lentils as a fast food, since 10 minutes of cooking is all that's required. In fact, if you want them for dinner, you can boil them up at lunchtime, turn off the heat when they boil, they'll continue cooking in the warm water, and they'll be ready to use by evening.

R-k-beans need a bit more - soaking overnight, then boiling quite fast for ten minutes, then about 20-30 minutes simmering. I then drain them, let them cool, freeze on a tray (in a plastic bag, shaking up every hour if I'm organised) then you can just pull out a handful whenever they're required.

My favourite lentil dish has to be lentils and savoy cabbage - cut the cabbage in 3/4 inch strips so it doesn't get lost in the dish. Lentils and potatoes are a vegan replacement for corned beef hash! It's the potatoes that give the dish its unique flavour - not the corned beef, as I discovered to my delight.

I also enjoy butter beans and chickpeas but tend to buy these in tins as I don't use them all that often.

Lots of these recipes are on my blog, but only this one has received the 5:2 treatment so far. Smile

Snowkey · 06/02/2013 16:14

I like puy lentils, cooked in stock and then added to some veg roasted with fresh thyme and garlic and served with a green salad with a lemon dressing.

Itsaboatjack · 06/02/2013 16:16

I second lentils. Carrot and lentil soup is one of my favourites but I will definitely try that cabbage and lentils on my next fast day.

BsshBossh · 06/02/2013 16:45

Dotty342kids I have this problem too. If I were you and I am not so feel free to ignore my advice is: replace cornflakes with granola or museli (sp?) and add toast and full-fat spread eg butter(and make sure the milk is semi-skimmed or full fat); make sure your lunch salad has seeds and beans and a nice dressing with olive oil, finish with a fullfat yoghurt; put some butter on your veggies at dinner; snack on nuts.

GiraffesEatPineapples · 06/02/2013 16:48

yum! I love lentils - no one else in my family does but I should persist! those dishes all sound delish...

BsshBossh · 06/02/2013 16:48

Dotty342kids and don't eat diet- or lowfat- anything. It's fullfat all the way. This way you don't feel like you're stuffing yourself but the calories get bumped up.

Daisy1407 · 06/02/2013 16:48

HI ALL
I just LOVE reading through all these posts - i started this last Monday i did the Fasting days on Monday and Wednesday (doing same this week) i did pig out all weekend and did a lot of excercise - I weighed on Monday and i had lost 1 LB - I was slightly gutted as i think everyone wants to see loads and loads - however this week ive been to see if the scales move a bit more (even if they dont i feel much better in myself already - just hungry!)
Im off to the cinema tonight and so far today ive had cereal at 7.30am im starving now so popping to Tesco beforehand to buy a chicken breast and some raw carrots (mmmmm) i will not give in!

Usually i drink lots of fizzy drinks however i havent had any this week so far - i feel less bloated - Although i cannot wait till the weekend for some fizzy prosecco!

I dont have too much weight to lose so if its 1LB a week and it stays off and i feel great and i eat what i like on weekend - BRILL!

hope you are all feeling good!

Daisy x