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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 16:02

sorry - very me me me today because i'm struggling!

welcome to newcomers and my top tip is always have a hardboiled egg in your handbag on a fast day. if you can't do any longer you have a complete food right there that is 90cals. no decision making or ending up in a foodie environment looking at it all just eat your egg.

frenchfancy · 13/02/2013 16:08

Porridge you can do it, you started off well. Try and think about what made you reach for the chocolate biscuits. Was it because you saw them, or because you couldn't stop thinking about them? Remember fast days are much easier if you are busy. If you are tempted by anything think "I'll just finish this task then see how I feel" often by the time you have finished whatever it was you were doing the hunger wave will have passed.

frenchfancy · 13/02/2013 16:10

swallowed Find something to do (not MN!) ) distraction techniques are the best thing. Or else do some exercise. I'm going to log off MN and do my Shred in a minute.

Itsaboatjack · 13/02/2013 16:34

porridge I've done a fast on a hangover before, it is not fun. Write today off (don't go mad) and make tomorrow your fast day.

I love the tip about the boiled egg in your handbag, I can't wait till I see someone pull one out of their bag in rl Grin

ever2optimistic · 13/02/2013 16:35

Hi lottie63, just replying to your post of this morning. Good to hear from you and well done for losing your 9lb. Great to hear there is someone else out there my height and weight! Don't worry about going away this weekend, just fast a couple of days next week to make up. This WOL is meant to accommodate real life after all! The great thing, I think, is that when I have a roast dinner or birthday cake, I don't think 'well there's no point in carrying on with the diet', it's just part of normal life and I'll make up for it on the fast days and get all the metabolic benefits anyway. I'll be very happy to get to 8st 7lb but a little lower would be even better. Don't want to look too thin in the face though, which is where it tends to show. Good luck for the weekend, enjoy it.

catsrus · 13/02/2013 16:44

swallowed I hate 2 in a row - feels like being on a diet Wink I don't try it now though it works for some. porridge I can't fast with even the teensiest hangover or very late night - carbs call out to me and again, feels like being on a diet. I'm not "on a diet" I've changed my eating habits and lost 27lb Grin.

We really don't beat ourselves up on this WOE, there's always another day to fast and even a mini fast has health benefits, win win.

BsshBossh · 13/02/2013 16:52

DoubleMum I agree with trying more balance exercises. My mum has had both knees replaced and her physio gave her a 30 mins exercise routine purely based on balance. If my mum does them every day she sees great improvement in terms of walking for longer periods of time. Unfortunately she doesn't do them often enough. Could you see a physio?

PORRIDGEANYONE · 13/02/2013 16:59

Thank you so much for your encouragements, today is a write off !!! Thank you so much !!

Betterlatethan · 13/02/2013 17:02

Hello all,

Been a while since I posted on here. Hello to all the newbies! Still feel like one myself as I have only been doing this since the beginning of the year.
Whilst i have a little time, I wanted to post a little of my experiences so far in order to help those of you who are struggling, especially porridge.
Today was supposed to be a fast day, but I am both very prementstrual plus doing a fast with only one day between my last has never worked for me (my Monday fasts are always a breeze). Hence I gave in to my craving for a cadburys caramel bar (and very nice it was too!). Lesson number one: don't beat yourself up and do what your body is telling you. Once upon a time, I would have been really cross with myself and told myself I was a failure, but now, I just think that missing one fast in the grand scheme of things isn't going to cause a massive problem, and I have got the rest of the week to make up for it (I don't actually due to social commitments, but who cares, Monday I'll be back on track).
In case you want to know the stats, I'm 5 foot 6 and I was 11 stone 8 when I started. I'm now 11 stone and want to lose 1 stone to get to my goal. For 3 of those early weeks, the scales didn't budge, and in fact went up slightly for 2 of those weeks, but I don't see this as a quick fix, and certainly don't need to reach my goal by a magical time... I just want to be healthy, and the benefits I have seen so far may not be in terms of dramatic weight loss, but I have seen such dramatic changes in pmt, energy etc, that fitting into my jeans is a lovely side effect, and even though that was the reason I started this WOE in the first place, it isn't the reason why I continue it anymore. In fact, I haven't weighed myself for a week, so I'm not sure what my weight is anymore!

Anyway, just wanted to give everyone a bit of a virtual hug and tell you not to worry and go with the flow. Yes the hunger pangs do pass and yes, usually I feel great after a fast, but I know enough now when I know I need to eat rather than abstain, and in time you will too!

KnittedCharacter · 13/02/2013 17:02

hi. I have only just discovered this 5:2 diet (havent started it yet). I have been using the MF app and sticking to 1400 cals a day. I have lost 8 lbs in four weeks which i am chuffed at. However like most of us i love my food so when i heard about this 5:2 diet it sounded right up my street. I dont have lots to lose. am 10 st 4 currently so ideally would like to be 9 st 10 ish give or take. (height of 5ft 6.5).

I dont know when to move onto the 5:2 diet as i am worried all my hard work will be wasted and i may end up putting it all back on when doing the non fast days.

On the non fast days i wont go crazy on binging but does it mean i can enjoy a lunch out having a meal with chips and also enjoy treats etc? am worried i may go overboard but at the same time dont want to count calories especially as its to be a WOL. thanks for any advice in advance. And well done to all those who are currently on it.

Betterlatethan · 13/02/2013 17:05

Hello catsrus! Good to see you on here giving some encouragement. You were always lovely to me when I started! Thanks

Newlook · 13/02/2013 17:06

Well done swallowedAfly I am hugely impressed as I am not ready to be fasting all day, I need breakfast though I guess that might change over the weeks. You are quite right to be pleased with yourself!

A question - does anyone "use" the calories they burn through exercise i.e. allow themselves additional calories on fast days? I only ask because I see on my fitness pal app that it deducts these - though usefully still showing what cals have been eaten, under food. I realise that for weight loss purposes it makes sense NOT to eat cals burned but I am interested in what others do and what effect it has had. Thank you.

DoubleMum · 13/02/2013 17:08

Thanks to those who recommended the Pukka liquorice and peppermint tea, just had some in a grocery delivery and it's lovely! I don't usually like any herbal tea but peppermint but this is definitely the exception.
Bssh I did see a physio for a while after the ops, but she didn't prescribe any balance exercises. I'll have a look on youtube and see what's about.

Newlook · 13/02/2013 17:12

Knittedcharacter check out all the info on the Fast Diet info at top of this page - will answer lots of your questions. You shouldn't undo all your good work if you stick to your TDEE (again, see above for various links to understand the lingo).

Hope it works for you - I only started this week but feel like I've been doing it for months with all the info and advice shared by everyone on this wonderful thread!

Betterlatethan · 13/02/2013 17:15

Hi knitted

Good to see you on here. First thing I would say is start whenever you want, but you may want to get clued up on the health benefits first. Have a read of the links on here and also the tips and links thread. You may want to start on a day that you have loads to do or are out of the house so you aren't tempted by food and make sure you stay hydrated. Also start with slightly more that 500 cals if you feel that is too restrictive, you can always work your way down.

This is more of a way of life rather than a diet, so just using a fast day as an excuse to eat loads the next day may not work ( don't worry, we all started with that mentality!) you will still need to eat to your TDEE in order for you to lose weight if that is what you want. You may find in time, (like me) that the health benefits outweigh the perceived weight loss and you could carry on this way forever!

Good luck...

swallowedAfly · 13/02/2013 17:20

newlook i wouldn't eat them on a fast day - it's not just the calories you're sticking under but also giving your body a rest from quantity of food it has to slog through and digest and process for elimination you know?

i'm still without food. managed to sneak in 20mins meditation and it really soothed me. a hoping to wait till ds is in bed before i eat so i can head to bed pretty much straight after. i like really early night's on fast days.

think i will just have a 3 egg omelette with some turkey ham and a tiny bit of edam cheese grated in.

KnittedCharacter · 13/02/2013 17:21

Hi thank you for your replies. I will definitley give it a go. My fiance is going to start it too does anyone have any ideas what he could take to work for his lunch on a fast day! Think lunch time is where he will struggle

swallowedAfly · 13/02/2013 17:25

boiled egg, handful of prawns and some salad?

blueberryboybait · 13/02/2013 17:30

Knitted - DH has 2 plain ryvita, and 60g of fat free cottage cheese (90 cals) (20 cals each) and a mug of bovril (20cals) for 15g) and that does him well until dinner. He has rooibos or lemon and honey first thing.

Newlook · 13/02/2013 17:32

Thanks Swallowed - good advice, thank you. It is liberating not eating but I am finding that I'm a bit "floaty" at the mo - flitting about. Come to think of it, I guess it feels strange as I would usually graze ALL the time - so I am having to do other things. It sounds like I am incredibly lazy! I'm not working at the mo - temporarily and first time in over 10 years - so all of this is strange as I am adapting.

Mentally feels like a really positive WOL and will certainly feel good when weight starts to come off.

I have never looked into meditation - I will have to check that out. Thank you.

BetsyVanBell · 13/02/2013 17:36

Hi knitted. My DH is doing this now too - I'm sending him to work with a Glorious Meal Soup to make it nice and easy for him! A whole pot is just over half a man's calorie allowance (depending on which one I suppose...) so then he can join me for a light supper - tomorrow will be a pile of salad leaves & prawns dressed with lime, ginger & chilies. I was looking at Innocent meal pots too today which look good.

You might feel the desire to binge but actually after a few fasts it's really hard to - I definitely have a case of eyes bigger than my stomach these days! Only managed one pancake yesterday and felt stupidly full and bloated.

swallowedAfly · 13/02/2013 17:57

newlook - i have a webpage with a load of podcast guided meditations if you're interested. i find them really relaxing and settling. learning to meditate is great but these little guided tracks are easy ways to relax and settle your mind.

6pm! another hour and i will put ds to bed and get my dinner.

i am literally taking it one hour at a time today! bit like an alcoholic in detox Wink

Newlook · 13/02/2013 18:17

Thanks *swallowedAfly" I would love to look at your webpage please - are you able to put the link on this thread or point me in the right direction please - thanks! could be v useful diversion, methinks!

I am about to have soup while chn have pasta and goujons - that's fine, mine will be delicious!

Only few more hours, then bed and TOMORROW - yay! Keep going everyone Grin

Dotty342kids · 13/02/2013 18:23

betterlatethan, great to hear your "story" and words of encouragement. I'm similarish in terms of size (though am a little shorter than you) so it's interesting to hear that you didn't lose for the first three weeks.
I'm on second fast of this week so intend to weigh for the first time tomorrow.
Have to say that I'm enjoying the feeling of hunger a couple of times a week and feel quite full of energy but I'll still feel very "pouty" (can't remember who coined that phrase but I love it!) if I've not lost anything.
Wish me luck!
I'll update the news in the morning...

Fillybuster · 13/02/2013 18:26

Still in the office, still haven't eaten anything all day....getting a bit hungry now though!

My top tips: cut up quarter of a cucumber into really thin long strips...they fill the 'munchy' urge, and take a while to eat (and only about 30cal). I find a medium size bag of washed mixed salad leaves (about 40cal) also helps if I treat it like a bag of crisps...

Never go out without an emergency 'something'...a few cherry tomatoes might be less noticeable than a boiled egg, though :)

Sliced lemon and fresh sliced ginger are your friends....chuck them in hot water, with or without a tea bag, and you have some decent flavour.

If you're in the office (as I am), invest in a decent small thermos flask and some nice herbal teabags (another vote for Pukka....just started on the vanilla chai today)...that way you can top up your drinks during meetings and hold off the eating urges.

Right, time to go home and find some food. Today got sooooo much easier once I was in the office, despite the bag of mini toblerones on my desk :)