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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:
swallowedAfly · 13/02/2013 09:06

i think the one thing i do believe is that it's good to hydrate the bowel and that makes a big difference to your overall hydration. especially compared to laxatives and the like that dehydrate you.

you could also try drinking redbush tea a plenty - it's what they give constipated babies in south africa.

Ezzza · 13/02/2013 09:16

Thank you for your kind words everyone. I was really glad to stick to the fast yesterday. I?m now off to eat that chicken I wanted yesterday, though it seems to have rather less appeal today. Another fast day tomorrow, and I?m hoping food places will have started opening back up by Friday so that I can eat a vegetable at last!

Fazerina · 13/02/2013 09:19

That's a good point about hydration swallowed, I hadn't thought about that.. And I wonder if that's the reason I've noticed in the past that they helped with the migraines..

Oh I didn't know that about the redbush tea! I already drink it all the time anyway so might have to up that:)!

GiraffesEatPineapples · 13/02/2013 09:22

new look do you use a pilates DVD? I have Sim pf needs ! :)

artemis17 · 13/02/2013 09:29

Well 2 weeks (4 fasts) in and though the scales havent moved (yet), i do feel, well more alert, sparky, like you imagine an animal out on the plain would feel, ready to react.
Felt i over did my non fast yday as made cookies, then proceeded to eat most of them a couple Wink. Mind you didnt have pancakes in the end so im sure it evened out to 1800.

Ninunina · 13/02/2013 09:55

Day 3 in to this new WOE and I'm not sure I did too well yesterday. It was not a fast day, but can't help feeling incredibly guilty about eating lots of junk.

MFP seems to think I was still within my daily calorie allowance of 1900 calories but I find it hard to believe since I hate the following:
Latté and 100kal cereal bar, 3 medium eggs with a few tiny drops of white truffle oil and 30g Cheddar cheese plus 1 slice bread (tasted like heaven), Skinny cappuccino & 2 generous bites of tart tatine, 2 crepes with Ham and cheese & 1 with nutella & half a banana. I also allowed myself a couple of teaspoons full of nutella from the jar since I'm giving up chocolates for Lent. How on earth does that amount to 1900 calories? It feels like I ate a feast and am feeling incredibly guilty.
oh well, we will see what the damage is when I get on the scales next week. Today is my 2nd fast day and I'm much hungrier than the first one (probably because of all the sugar I had yesterday).
I'll try to hold out as long as I can before eating, but doubt I'll make it beyond 2pm.

Newlook · 13/02/2013 10:08

HI Giraffes - I don't have a dvd, I have been doing a weekly hour long session with a Pilates teacher - 6 of us in the class - £25 bit of a bargain, I thought. Once we've completed today, we can do any of the lessons run at the leisure centre. I will ask my teacher if she can recommend a dvd and let you know. I do have a book by Alycea Ungaro - Pilates body in motion which I've dipped into (clear photos), but I find it better to have the teacher model it and explain/answer questions. I have a knee injury and my physio recommended Pilates - a bit like the fasting diet, I think this could be a WOL for me as it's for all ages (I'm 45, overweight and dodgy knee joint - had a bit of a wake up call hence the diet - AND I would love to ski again) - and feels like I am investing in my body for life. I am not usually this self-analytical, it's this thread, it brings it out in me...! hope this helps.

There is an op for PF but as I may need op on knee, I would prefer to sort it out without surgery.Blush

Gherkinsmummy · 13/02/2013 10:27

I do love this thread, it's inspiring!

Dotty342kids · 13/02/2013 10:49

artemis think you and I are at the same stage then Grin. I'm on my fourth fast day today, having started this last Monday. I too feel generally alert and energetic and look forward to my fast days. IN fact, if I wasn't out for lunch with a friend on Friday, I'd do another one then! Were they nice cookies?!

Dotty342kids · 13/02/2013 10:51

*ninunina" please don't feel guilty! That's the whole point of this, you don't need to! It doesn't sound to me as though you ate over your TDEE as there wasn't much there in the way of actual meals so it was mainly the pancakes and other nice stuff that gave you your calorie intake.
You can get to 2pm, you can!!

artemis17 · 13/02/2013 10:55

Dotty 5-2 twins lol Wink ahh they were delicious especially just out of the oven as i put extra vanilla in them....I definately a bit pleased with myself on fast days i just hope the scales show something favourable on Friday...

swallowedAfly · 13/02/2013 10:57

i may need some encouragement today.

i started thinking about food and realised what i was feeling wasn't hunger at all but a kind of boredom and desire to stuff something in itms. i should get us out of the house and walk the dogs or something. would love to do a meditation but doubt my son will leave me alone long enough somehow.

have a friend coming over for a cuppa at one. just need to distract till then i guess.

Dotty342kids · 13/02/2013 10:58

ooh yum! I'm doing my first weigh in tomorrow. I've decided that I'll weigh the day after my second fast of each week, that way I should get a reliable indicator of whether I'm losing or not.
Good luck with yours!

Newlook · 13/02/2013 11:02

Swallowed I rarely paint my nails but did so on my first fast day - one distraction for you? or gentle music and deep breathing and then nail painting?! or toes ..?

DoubleMum · 13/02/2013 11:03

You can do it Swallowed. Get yourself out of the house for a little while (before it rains/snows!).

Minimammoth · 13/02/2013 11:22

Hi swallowed, completely agree with eating and boredom. Oral gratification and all that. I find myself doing exactly the same, and reaching, usually for toast. So def do some other activity. < another meditator here, but I can be undisturbed, - grown up kids> or have a glass of water.

ayshigirl · 13/02/2013 11:24

ninuina don't be hard on yourself. I found the first two fasts really tough but it is def getting easier, though I really do feel the cold when I'm fasting.

On another note my dh and i are confused. He tried to fast from 2pm to 2pm but should he be not eating at all during those hours or sticking to his 600 cals then?

My weight loss has plateau-ed at 6lbs but I'm fasting today (freeeeeezing) so who knows.

blueberryboybait · 13/02/2013 11:24

Second fast here today and struggling as DD2 was awake from 12.30 to 4.30 am and then I had to get up early with DD1 because DH needed to catch an early train. DD2 sent to childminder, DD1 playing quietly wit hLego and this is when I normally snack! I bake cakes for a living and have an order for tomorrow morning so baking will be horribly tempting! But I will be strong, Have had a cuppa with milk and that is keeping me going so far.

swallowedAfly · 13/02/2013 11:25

thanks people - was just about to cave and quickly looked here first! i think i will do a bit of ironing naff as that sounds and if i'm still struggling i'll eat a carrot or something rather than rush to give up and have crap. never done 2 days in a row before.

artemis17 · 13/02/2013 11:31

stay strong Swallowed..hot water and lemon really quash my hunger pangs and ironings good, bonus is it warms you up too, i am always extra cold on fast days, so either do ironing, housework or Wii just dance once im in from work.

GiraffesEatPineapples · 13/02/2013 11:35

newlook - thank you so much - if you can ask your teacher for a reccomendation that would be great! I can't afford classes unfortunately but will keep my eyes open for something affordable. I have knee problems so trying to listen to any niggles when excersing. I have been reading a book (by a jurno) called the first 20 minutes and apparently studies on marathon runners versus non runners suggests running may actually be beneficial for knees! Also cheap fairly light trainers are as effective as expensive running shoes.

OK I am here to promote excersise - only been doing it for 3 days but feel Great!! App short intensive bursts are the way forward which suits me as I find it really quite boring otherwise. Really making me feel all back on board with this woe.

Finally if you are not losing weight don't despiar! My weight has not shifted much. I started off at 12 7 in oct and I am now 11 8 or 11 10 depending on where I shift the scales to on the floor. My weight hasnt changed much recently but I look different naked - my face is slimmer, my arms look better my tummy apron is now just a round tummy - I must be losing fat but not lbs.

ayshigirl your dh should be just having water herbal teas black coffee ie zero cals. Then he can either eat normally or just 600 cals dep on if he needs weightloss.

Apologies - iwill read the thread properly tonight dont want to negelct dd - just excited and wanted to post!

GiraffesEatPineapples · 13/02/2013 11:37

btw I am 5 ft 4, so really carrying a lot of weight....

ayshigirl · 13/02/2013 11:43

Thanks Giraffe. I;m off to crank up the heating now brrrr

needtaloseit · 13/02/2013 11:54

hey stickygingerbread... Thanks for the info on the eating days, I had read that you could eat what you want and fancy as long as its in moderation and you listen to when your body if content and not bursting... I seen Dom Joly the comedian is doing the afd diet and has so far lost over 2 and a half stone. And that is his motto eat what you want but don't overdo it... Check on the internet he has an article under the independent explining his success. Fast day for me so far ok... just take it as it comes... How long have you been doing the diet and how are you finding it

Itsaboatjack · 13/02/2013 11:56

I was very busy yesterday swallowed so that probably helped me a lot, and then when I did finally stop at about 8.30 I just ate then fell asleep in front the tv. Ironing is one I definitely use for distraction too.

Giraffe I totally agree re the short burst of exercise, I just got a DVD with a selection of 10 min workouts and try to do one on most days.