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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:
CiderwithBuda · 14/02/2013 13:07

Gonepearshaped - it could be lack of magnesium. Try taking a magnesium supplement. I get occasional migraines and a few years ago had a spate of five in a week and I went to a doctor. She had just been to a conference on headaches and there had been a talk on magnesium helping with headaches and migraines. I would take the magnesium every day and see how you go. If you still get them on a fast day maybe take extra on those days and see if it helps.

Breadandwine · 14/02/2013 13:22

Bit worried about next week though as we've got things happening / seeing people / socialising every day so I'm going to have to fast "early" in the week on Sunday, then probably won't be able to do my second one till Sat afterwards. Plus I'll have several days of eating / drinking a lot in between them.

Dotty - and anyone else in this situation - just throw a 'mini-fast' into the week. Miss out a meal or two and then eat normally afterwards. I often miss out breakfast and lunch if I've over-indulged the day before. And even if I know I'm going out for a meal later.

You get the health benefits as well as missing out on some calories! Smile

lifeistooshort · 14/02/2013 13:23

hello, can I join? I have decided to give this a go to improve my health. I have just calculated my BMI and it is clearly needed (27.6!). One thing I was wondering though is whether you need to take the calories over two meals or whether over three meals is ok.? I had planned on starting with a filling but low calories breakfast this morning but had to rush out of the door and only hate a banana. I had a low cal sachet soup at lunch with an apple. Is that working in term of the diet or is it really important to have a long period of time without food?

Dotty342kids · 14/02/2013 13:34

thanks breadandwine I was wondering about that as an option. Think may try to do one of those midweek combined with the two Saturdays..

swallowedAfly · 14/02/2013 13:50

i'm just remembering previous stuff i have learned about fasting (in the 'proper' sense) and that we do obviously flush out some toxins. now with IF i don't know how much of this goes on but some must.

the headaches may be that flushing of toxins - other things that can come of it are rashes, pimples, dry skin etc. also apparently feeling sick is a sign of being very toxic - being hungry is normal but feeling sick can be a result of toxins.

it's another reason drinking tons of water is important - to help flush that stuff out (i also pee like crazy on fast days and more than if i drank that amount of water on a non fast day which is a sign of the body eliminating stuff).

having been doing some thinking about how this fits in with other stuff and health kicks i've been on in the past i've decided that i am going to do enemas at least on fast days so as to flush out as much old crap (excuse the pun) as i can on days where my digestive system isn't clogged up with new 'crap' and to ensure i'm hydrating my body well through the bowel.

trouble for me is that i still drink coffee and tea on fast days so i'm still giving my system a hard time with that but i am a complete caffeine junky these days and not ready to tackle it.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 14/02/2013 13:56

For those of you who have plateaued it might be that you've reached the weight you are meant to be. Or if you are like me you lose nothing for a few weeks & then it all catches up. I hadn't lost anything since new year but this week when I weighed myself I'd lost 3lbs. I just carried on doing 5:2 for the health benefits & thought if that's it then so be it!

BsshBossh · 14/02/2013 13:59

lifeistooshort spreading out the 500 cals will work in terms of weight loss, so don't worry (my mum does this due to medication and she's losing fine) but if it's the health benefits you're (also) after then I would recommend leaving a longer fasting period. The longer the better but 16 hrs is supposed to be very good. Could you skip breakfast so you leave a good fasting period (no food at all) between the previous night's evening meal and lunch the next day?

DoubleMum · 14/02/2013 14:04

I wanted to hang out till dinner but I've just caved and eaten an apple.

LackaDAISYcal · 14/02/2013 14:06

Well, I survived my 2 days (though I did cheat a little), and haven't felt very hungry at all today! Having an M&S Valentine's Dine In this evening, so saving myself for that.

In also read the Michael Mosely book, and am happy to do it his way with days between fasting. Scales showing a few pounds lost. Am happy! But like any perennial dieter, am really worried that our proposed feast this evening will blow it all (even though it all comes in under my TDEE according to MyFP!)

lifeistooshort · 14/02/2013 14:08

BssBosh Thank you for your reply. I am after a bit of both so yes I might skip breakfast. I think I would find this easier than missing lunch. It is only my first day so I am sure I will find my rythm but I was a bit concerned at potentially having already screwed up on my first day Grin

LackaDAISYcal · 14/02/2013 14:11

oops, posted too soon!

It just shows how entrenched my feelings around dieting must be; I think it'll take some time to get used to a whole new way of thinking about food and my relationship with it.

LackaDAISYcal · 14/02/2013 14:16

lifeistooshort, the 5:2 recipe book by Jacqueline Whiteheart has three options (no breakfast, no lunch and breakfast/tiny lunch/dinner) and suggests trying all three till you find what suits you best.

Dotty342kids · 14/02/2013 14:19

So today is a normal eating day and I've just had some white bread with tuna / sweetcorn / lettuce and a few crisps followed by small piece of carrot cake. And I'm really feeling tired and sluggish! Guess I'm just noticing how much effect carbs actually do have!

lifeistooshort · 14/02/2013 14:22

Daisy thank for the tip, I will look for the cookbook on amazon.

suecy · 14/02/2013 14:27

Hello, just found this thread. I've been on 5:2 since a week after new year - was heavier than I've EVER been on NYD so knew I had to do something - 12 st 5.5 (am 5ft 7) and a BMI of 27.1. Have rigourously stuck to the fasting days, cut out alcohol during the week and am generally calorie counting other days but eating three proper meals. Low carb and no crisps or chocolate. Still drinking wine at weekends and having a couple of mini blow out meals a week.

Six weeks in have lost...................15lbs!! BMI sub 25 for first time in about 3.5 years and wearing clothes I thought I'd never wear again. I feel healthier, look healthier and feel like my whole outlook on life has changed. I still have a way to go to reach my ideal weight, but I feel more in control of my own destiny than ever before.

I can see for me that I could be doing this as a WOL rather than a 'diet' from now on - I enjoy the fast days now (nearly!) as much as those days when the wine comes out. I used to struggle to stay off the pop during the week - now it wouldn't cross my mind. I'm sleeping better, eating better, in a better mood, reading more.....I could go on and on.

I love it!

Dotty342kids · 14/02/2013 14:51

Great to hear suecy - well done!

lifeistooshort · 14/02/2013 16:18

Wow congrats sueci that is really amazing. I hope I will be posting something similar in 6 weeks (it is my first day). It is really motivating reading about your success

ConsiderablyBiggerBuns · 14/02/2013 16:19

Great to hear your success story suecy. Your before stats sound similar to mine last autumn, I then caved completely over Christmas and am just back on the wagon but I didn't put it all back on in the 2 months I had off (only 6lbs) which was a refreshing change from most diets which seem to take one sniff of full fat cheese for the stones to reappear, so am starting this time at 11st 8lb and feeling very positive.

tomorrowweeat · 14/02/2013 16:21

Oh drat :( BF left me a box of Lindt Lindoor chocs this morning and I pigged the lot! So obviously had to go out and buy a new box and eat just one so he doesn't know. Sigh. Anyone know how many calories in a Lindt chocolate? Feel sick now and fed up. Undone all the good of my two fast days Mon and Weds. Didn't even really enjoy the chocolate. Just didn't seem able to stop. Why couldn't I have just had 1 or 2? I'm not even a great fan of chocolate.

swallowedAfly · 14/02/2013 16:24

tomorrow it's done! i'm stunned at you going out to buy another box to hide it though. you must have so much shame tied up with food to do that bless you!

you haven't necessarily undone all your good work either. you could always do another fast tomorrow or over the weekend if you like or just eat well and avoid snacks for the next few days.

nothing is lost !!

BlackMaryJanes · 14/02/2013 16:28

This is the fattest I've been in a long time - and it's all thanks to this WOE. Even my friends are starting to notice it! Today at the toddler group I was moaning that I was actually getting fatter on this diet, and my friend turned to another friend and said, "She never used to be this size".

Can someone please outline the proven, scientific benefits to fasting?

I'm considering calorie counting on non-fast days - just to shift the fat that this diet has caused!!

My 1800 cal per day diet wasn't ideal (I was hungry a lot) but I was losing good amounts of weight on it! Now all that has been sabotaged by the 5:2 diet. Not impressed people :( The "eat what you like" mantra on non-fast days is misleading and grossly problematic for an ex-binge eater such as myself.

virginposter · 14/02/2013 16:31

tomorrow how many chocs were in the box? Maybe it's not as bad as you think. Do not get despondent and think you've blown it, you haven't. Continue to eat sensibly for the rest of the week and you may be pleasantly surprised when your weigh in day comes around.
Last week my friend who is doing 5:2 went out for a Chinese meal one day and then a few days later had a day where she could not stop eating biscuits and choc (she has only been doing this for about 4 weeks) and she was so low about it. When she weighed today she had lost 2.5 lbs and is over the moon. Her total so far is 10.5lbs and she is now sooooo motivated.
Stick with it Smile

LavaTwilight · 14/02/2013 16:33

Hi - newby here!

Well I read MM's book in about an hour yesterday and decided there's no time like the present. Fast day today - so far one orange and a little milk in tea. Will have a calorie controlled sensible dinner tonight.

When I don't eat I sometimes get really shaky and panicky (I do also have expereince of an anxiety disorder so not sure how much is anxiety and how much is a drop in blood sugars). Have others felt shaky etc on fast days and how have you managed this? Seems ok today...I am working from home today which was a safer experiment to begin with.

LT

Dotty342kids · 14/02/2013 16:34

blackmary so sorry to hear that. I would agree that for anyone who has issues with overeating (am assuming that was a prob for you from what you're saying?) that to hear "eat what you like on non fast days" can be problematic.
I suppose the book and website do talk about eating your regular, normal recommended allowance of cals on non fast days, whereas when people talk about it in RL that wording tends to get slightly forgotten!
I would suggest calorie counting on your non fast days for a couple of weeks, just to make sure you're not going over your 2000ish cals those days. It's what I'm doing at the moment, just because I didn't really know what 2000 cals "looked like" and am finding it helpful.
Once I'm reassured that what I would generally eat on a non fast day falls into that 2000 range then I'll stop counting and relax a bit. But will be mindful of not over eating.
Hope that helps a little and good luck!

BsshBossh · 14/02/2013 16:38

suecy that's terrific.

BlackMaryJanes I guess no single way of eating suits everyone. We're all different and have to find something that suits us. The health benefits have been linked throughout the various 5:2 threads and they've convinced me (and my scientist DH who now fasts purely for health).

The only thing I can think of is are you logging all your calories on non-fast days? I have no concept of normal eating as I've been overweight a long time so I have to log everything I eat in MFP - fast and feed days. Otherwise I'd go way way over my TDEE. It's a faff but it works for me. In time I trust I'll get a handle on normal eating amounts so won't need to log.