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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! 12! Cheaper by the dozen!

999 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 08/02/2013 10:09

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:
MrsSlocombesPussy · 11/02/2013 12:08

Hi, can I join in? I'm halfway through my very first fast day, and feel OK so far - hunger pangs are manageable.
I need to lose 5st - I've been overweight for most of my adult life, though not by this much. I piled on the pounds after having my 2nd DC almost 6 years ago.

Maditun · 11/02/2013 12:11

Artemis. Have you ever thought about trying to gain weight?? Your BMI is below recommended. And I you put a bit of weight on, it might go onto your hips and bum, give you some sexy squidgy bits, and increase your hip to waist ratio too. Just a thought. Dieting will lose the weight, but as someone else said, if there's no fat to lose on your waist, it won't get smaller. Ever thought of wearing a corset? A la dita von tis? X

MummaMoosey · 11/02/2013 12:13

Morning all. Weigh in day for me today... Another 3lbs! I am genuinely amazed and over the moon at the same time. That's 5lbs in total so far Grin

Silver I felt the same as you to begin with, read all the positives but was worried it wouldn't work for me but it is! I am on my 5th fast day (third week) and am not restricting AT ALL on my 'normal' days for the time being. I'm not being a greedy guts or bingeing I'm just not counting calories or watching them even for now.

I have a lot of weight to lose, my current Bmi is 40 but I am a work in progress and this WOE is most definitely a step in the right direction.

Even my DP is on board, to begin with he pooh-poohed it, comments such as 'starving yourself' and 'just eat less everyday' have become 'fasting' and even planning my fast days into our weekly meals.

Feeling very positive and this thread is such an inspiration, although I don't post often I am always flicking back to read your thoughts and progress and I'm rooting for us all. :)

Ezzza · 11/02/2013 12:25

Oh, dear. Now I'm really not holding out much hope for my weigh in tomorrow. Just scoffed a whole pizza. Got a bit over excited that the closest thing I can find to a pub has reopened after the hols and went a bit mad. Normally I only eat half Blush. Ah well. Fast day tomorrow. Onwards and downwards eh?

moonbells · 11/02/2013 12:32

Back again. Have no home internet and phone isn't as smart as all that, so I'm going to vanish at weekends and evenings until they pull their fingers out and fix it.

First fast day went really well. Hoped to do a 'reasonable' weekend then friend turned up with a box of Thornton's choc gingers and then yesterday the birthday party DS went to had seriously overcatered on grown-up fingerfood.

groan no willpower here. Walked to work in snow this morning and have crumbled with some more chocolate that someone left in the staffroom.

Next fast is tomorrow. I hope it's not anyone's birthday.

Emandlu · 11/02/2013 12:36

Hello, new girl signing in here.

I'm on my first fast day having read the book over the weekend. I had a small breakfast this morning, but I think next time I will just eat my calories in the evening as I have been hungry ever since.

I haven't weighed myself as we don't own scales, but will gauge things by how well my clothes fit, I'm also interested in the possible anti inflammatory effects and the idea it may help delay/prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes (strong family history).

blueberryboybait · 11/02/2013 12:41

Well the first fast isn't going too badly! I has lemon in hot water at brekkie instead of my normal latte and it as fine, lunch was slice of weight watchers bread (53cals) and poached egg with mug of bouillon, Dinner is heaps of veg and a little roast lean chicken.

Snowkey · 11/02/2013 12:44

Fast day for me today and it's my TOM - which goes some way to explaining the 5lb gain on the scales in 2 days and my furious mood this morning - I am bloated and uncomfortable but it doesn't seem to matter how rationally I know this is water retention, I just hate seeing the gain on the scales. Sad

ThinkICan · 11/02/2013 12:47

MrsSlo - join in and start losing. I had 50 lb to lose and have lost 20, though they have been with me for 20 years now. Don't mind that I'm in the cribbing phase now as I've plateaued. But with the fab group here, you can do it. We can all do it :)

Madeyemoodysmum · 11/02/2013 12:50

Fast day 5 after 4 feast days! So far so good, though dd is off sick so having to prepare food for her but one coffee and one red bush tea has kept me on track.

Kept busy by cleaning upstairs and bath room, played wii with dd and now she is watching Harry potter so I'm keeping her company with the I pad and mumsnet.

Only an hour and I can have my soup and have lentil cottage pie and veggies for supper.

So far 12lb lost, half on 5.2 half cal counting and exerciseing.

WannabeWilloughby · 11/02/2013 12:54

Hi ladies, really interested in learning more about 5:2. I have about 4 stone to lose, maybe 5 depending on how I feel when I get there. Would I be better doing 4:3?

I lose weight by trying to eat under 1200 cals, although some days it's 1500 as I try to eat low carb and sometimes this pushes the cals up. Need to try something different now. Thinking more about long term health too.

Can I have any tips. How many cals do you eat on non fasting days? Is there anything I can't have on fasting or non fasting days?

How much do you lose on average each week?

Have read through some of the thread and you all seem mega supportive. I've also watched the horizon film. Quite excited by it all :-)

ThinkICan · 11/02/2013 13:04

Wannabe - from my own experience - I started this 5 months back and lost 20 lb, I would suggest starting with 5:2 and then moving to 4:3, as I find many of us have reached a plateau after months of the WOL. Read the tips and the links at the top of the page and you will have all the answers in a jiffy! Good luck :)

Ninunina · 11/02/2013 13:10

Hello, I heard about this diet last week from a friend and thought I'd give it a try since I've managed to put on 3kg since December and need to lose 6kg to get to my ideal weight. On my first fast day and so far so good. I prepared a lovely low calorie marrow and cauliflower soup and just had a bowl of that for lunch (approx 42 calories). Other than that I've stuck to black coffee and a third of a teaspoon of xylitol. The challenge will be this afternoon since dd has a carnival party (don't live in the UK) and there will no doubt be some cakes. Not quite sure what to do on non-fast days though. Do you eat normally or still restrict calories?

Madeyemoodysmum · 11/02/2013 13:12

Hi wannabe wil
I do 2 fast days, usually Monday's and weds or thurs. never weekends

On non fast days I eat what I like but I do log on fitness pal and it's roughly 1600-1900 cals a day, I've given up alcohol till end feb though so that all food calories. I've lost approx 2lb a week since 5.2 started. This is week 3 for me. Post Xmas I was cal counting but that's so depressing
I love this, it's so fab knowing you can eat the same as everyone around you and still loose weight. I hope to get to 10.7lb or even better 10.2 ish but I'd be really happy at 10.7lb and a normal BMI. Health benefits seem amazing too. I intend to carry on and maybe 6.1 for mainataince.

Yesterday I had homemade blueberry pancakes. A slice of Victoria sponge.
Toad in the hole with 3 sausages gravy and laois of veg. Plus popcorn and choc while watching tv in the evening About 1900 cals and I was very happy.
Today I'm fasting so having soup at 2pm then lentil cottage pie and veg for supper abut 8pm. Worst time for me is kids tea time but I find a coffee to sip stops me form cracking. Good luck, it's a fab woe and a fab forum.

WannabeWilloughby · 11/02/2013 13:20

Yes madeye....kids teatime is a nightmare for me too! I can be full up but that scraggly piece of chicken or spoonful of beans is too appealing!

Am I allowed sweeteners in my coffee and milk on non-fast days providing I count the calories?

Thank you for your replies. Gonna research properly tonight and do my first fast day tomoz :-) thanks for your replies

Madeyemoodysmum · 11/02/2013 13:25

Yes you can have sweeteners and I used skimmed milk cals prob only 25 or so as I go sparingly. Good luck. Will look out for your posts.

welshmill · 11/02/2013 13:28

silverbeetle I'm very soon to be 46. I'm only 4ft11" and when I started this back in August was 10st 5lb. I've tried all sorts over the years. The most 'successful' was strict calorie counting and exercise. I did this for three months a few years back on 1200 cals a day exercising 3-4days a week. I was 10st 3b then and managed to get to 9st 7lb where I plateaued and gave up because I just couldn't sustain it.
This WOE was a leap of faith for me as I was so miserable. I just hoped/thought it might work....and it has. I'm now 8st 11lb having lost 22lb so far and though the fast days can be difficult I've got to say this is the easiest and most sustainable 'diet' I've ever tried. I'm working on getting down to 8st but I'm no longer stressing over it. Good luck!

Newlook I find water and chewing gum essentials on a fast day!

CiderwithBuda · 11/02/2013 13:29

Hello. Can I join you all please?

Have come over from the weight watchers thread. Last year between Jan and end of June I lost 33 pounds on WW. Since then I am struggling to stay motivated and have been on a cycle of gaining and losing. Regained 9lbs in total although 5 of that had gone last week. But then I have regained 2 over this week. My main problem is wine - in comes the wine and out goes the willpower. I also have issues with wheat. I had one slice of white bread last week which triggered a week of cravings.

Have been reading about this WOE over the last few days having seen the threads mount up in active convos! Over the years I have tried most diets and am still 5 stone over weight.

Started first fast today and managed to get to lunch time with two cups of tea with milk and a herbal tea. Have just had a lunch of two poached eggs and a ryvita cracker. Not sure what I will have for dinner. Will investigate the BBC Good Food 300 calories meals.

Woopsie - Migraines can be triggered by dehydration - are you drinking enough on your eating days? Just thought that maybe you are drinking lots on your fast days and not so much on eating days? Other thing could be magnesium. Migraines can be triggered by low magnesium so maybe try a magnesium supplement and take extra on the fasting days to make up for e lack of magnesium intake from food on fasting days.

welshmill · 11/02/2013 13:30

I also mean to add silverbeetle that my baby pounds are/were also around 15 years old. It's been over 15 years since I was last under 9st.

silverbeetle · 11/02/2013 13:33

Well it's lunch time, think it's time for the herbal tea thanks for the tip.
Done most of the housework and walked the dog, saving the rest of the hoovering until later to keep my mind off things. Never thought I'd be grateful to have some housework to do, even thought of mucking out the teenagers bedrooms. Decided to save that treat for another Fact day -Smile

Do feel a bit weird though, I keep swinging between tired and then feeling really elated and smiley. Better not venture out any more in case I get funny looks. Perhaps the later is because I'm finally taking control, who knows?

Great results tomorrowweeat

Measured the wobbly bits, at least it's a starting point Blush

Still can't decide on when to weigh, might not be able to last a week, might go for daily initially and plot a graph just to see what effect it's having, appeals to my scientific mind.

silverbeetle · 11/02/2013 14:18

welshmill just read your post - so it really is possible for the old flab to go, thanks so much for sharing. I will reread your post over the next few weeks to keep me motivated.

Hi Cider I was just like you had moderate success with WW over the years but could never lose the last bit. Plus the change in the points system never worked for me and I couldn't sustain the loss.

Wine was also a big problem but that was one of the reasons I did WW as you could still have it and I got to the point that I'd rather have it than food. Not very healthy I know but I have a fairly stressful job and two teenagers and I looked forward to it each evening. It was a chance to unwind.

Anyway I stopped drinking wine completely about 3 weeks ago and have been having sparkling water with lemon instead and I feel fine. I think it just became a habit, something to hold in my hand, I even put the water in a wine glass. I'm still going to drink wine but will enjoy a couple of glasses on the weekend rather than everyday.
I'm really looking forward to my first glass this weekend and I've saved a fortune!

You can do it Smile

artemis17 · 11/02/2013 14:29

Maditun thanks for your feedback, i dont own scales so tend to always use the same ones in Boots, and even allowing for clothes i hadnt lost-but it was my TOM which snowkey mentions as giving her weight gain so maybe that didnt help.
I know compared to some my weight/height/BMI all seem fine, but i can definately pinch more than an inch on my belly/above my hips/side of boobs, its just annoying that my hips are so slim. Ive never been any bigger there even with my kids, so i accept my hips are like a boys, BUT my belly could do better lol. Plus the health benefits of this WOE is a big plus, lots of early deaths from various things in my family.

If you want a nice cuppa soup, try Tescos Light Choices Thai style chicken, even with noodles in its only 60kc and is filling.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 11/02/2013 14:30

Just popping in to say hi to all newbies & a reminder to take a multi vitamin on fast days. It's certainly helped my cravings on those days. Headaches could be dehydration or possible caffeine withdrawal though am not certain! Good luck to all :o

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 11/02/2013 14:33

Oh & I really regret not measuring myself when I started this in August so I could compare then & now. But I do know I've dropped 3 clothe sizes.

welshmill · 11/02/2013 14:42

silverbeetle I started with a 38 inch waist and now it's 32....that's one sizeable lump of flesh shifted!