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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:
BetsyVanBell · 18/02/2013 16:34

I am - finding it tougher than usual today, keep feeling nauseas which hasn't been an issue before, but doing ok. Did have lunch but right now is the difficult time. Oolong tea is going down nicely though, definitely helping. Can't wait for my lovely salmon, salad & veg later.

blueberryboybait · 18/02/2013 16:37

We are having chicken with chilli and garlic, roast butternut, mushrooms and courgettes.

I made mushroom soup last week, mushrroms are 13cals per 100g so I used 100g mushrooms, 2 tsp boullion powder (25cals) and water, cooked it until the mushrooms were soft then wizzed in the blender - it was delicious and creamy.

IsletsOfLangerhans · 18/02/2013 16:42

Hi again - first fast day ever for me and wanted to report it's not been too bad at all! Started off with a small bowl of porridge, rode the wave of hunger around 11-12 and haven't felt hungry since then! I've topped up with lots of herbal teas and have managed to make the kids tea without being tempted to nibble.

I'm quite enjoying the feeling of restraint and I'm really looking forward to a big bowl of soup later this evening Smile

Moodykat · 18/02/2013 16:43

Oh my - I am SOOO hungry! I normally pig right out in the afternoons! I'm struggling and have no idea what I'm having for dinner either!

swallowedAfly · 18/02/2013 16:43

i need a blender i think! homemade mushroom soup for 38cals sounds great.

hang in there bvb - soon be dinnertime.

i got a bit ratty and hypersensitive after school run and started to think oh it's because i haven't eaten and then thought err well actually i can get ratty and overwhelmed with a manic boy and dogs jumping all over the place on days i'm eating too! Wink

BetsyVanBell · 18/02/2013 16:44

bbbb That's such a great idea for a really low cal but satisfying snack, thank you. I love roasting flat mushrooms with garlic and cherry tomatoes. [hungryface]

swallowedAfly · 18/02/2013 16:46

mmm i like roasted flat mushrooms with garlic butter and very mature cheese on top.

notapizzaeater · 18/02/2013 16:59

Ooh might go out and buy some mushrooms for soup next fast day.

I've just had a lovely bowl of Campbell's Mediterranean tomato, pepper and balsamic vinegar soup - 144 cals - tasted very creamy and satisfying ....

Am having chicken tonight stir fried with garlic and cabbage, am out later so a can of diet coke, then home and bed !!

I don't seem to have had bad breath yet but on fast days I am drinking gallons and gallons of peppermint tea Blush

I would like to loose about 5 stone

fatcowslim · 18/02/2013 17:09

Hello everyone!
Just wanted to say hi and I am starting the 5:2 diet today. Really interested to see if this will work as I need to be much slimmer by summer to feel comfortable in nice clothes! :-) I've read lots and lots of posts and I feel quite confident that I can stick to it like u lot!

Em2905 · 18/02/2013 17:58

I'm going to start listening to Paul McKenna's mind program CD to help with relationship with food.
On non fast days we don't have to worry about what we eat, but has anyone found watching the calories on these days has made a big difference to weight loss?
Smile

BsshBossh · 18/02/2013 18:23

swallowed I'm fasting today - this first one of the week. It's okay so long as I go to the gym and generally keep busy - but I shouldn't go out shopping: nearly caved in today seeingan ad for McDonald's (which I only eat once in a blue moon so I consider it a true treat!).

Em2905 - I watch calories on non-fast days because I don't trust myself to know what normal eating is. I'm still learning. But I only restrict my calories to my TDEE. 6lbs lost so far in 3 weeks (but loads of weight lost before starting 5:2 on basic calorie restriction every day - 10-15% cut of my TDEE so not really low calorie).

swallowedAfly · 18/02/2013 18:27

nothing to eat yet and find myself wondering whether i could cope with just not eating. i know that if i didn't eat tonight i would be fine in the morning. i know nothing bad will happen to me if i don't eat. i'm not struggling physically so i know it's a psychological barrier that makes me think i have to eat tonight.

given the repair state takes a long while to get into presumably not eating till the morning would give it longer to work - it would be a 36hr fast.

has anyone done this yet?

blueberryboybait · 18/02/2013 18:29

Em - I have fond I'm not as fussed by food on non fast days. The fasting seems to have broken the eating because the kids are/because it's Tuesday/I'm bored/I'm cross. I am happy to not have a pud or another helping because I'm feeling full.

orangeandlemons · 18/02/2013 19:11

Why does everyone seem to lose weight on this but me? I lost 1 1/2 labs in first week. Then 3 further weeks, and have managed to put on a pound.

I have 4 stone to lose. Am doing everything properly. I can understand slow weight loss, but not zero or putting on. Feel like throwing in the towel, but it is definitely changing my attitude to food. Do find I'm very hungry on a fast day. To the point of becoming bad tempered. I also work as a teacher, and find it too demanding to fast on a teaching day, as I have to expend so much energy. What am I doing wrong?

ErikNorseman · 18/02/2013 19:15

How much do you eat on eating days? Are you monitoring the calories at all, and are you eating enough?

orangeandlemons · 18/02/2013 19:22

I am eating about 2000 calories. I should be consuming 2,200 for my basic resting metabolic rate. Sometimes I may go a bit higher, and sometimes maybe a bit lower.

Itsaboatjack · 18/02/2013 19:26

Fast day for me and its been the easiest one so far, kids on half term so I kept myself busy taking them to clubs and park. I managed to go till 6pm before eating anything, I probably physically gone without food till tomorrow but I'm not mentally there yet. I'm off to my parents for a few days tomorrow so tonight I'm going to make some batches of soup with the veg in the fridge and freeze it ready for fast days.

I'm still using mfp on non fast days as I'm still learning what 'normal eating' is. One of the benefits of doing that as well is that I can have something 'naughty' that I fancy and realise that I am still within my TDEE, without getting that guilty feeling that could so often derail me in the past.

BsshBossh · 18/02/2013 19:34

swallowed I currently do 24 hours. My most tempting time for food is the afternoon; post 5-ish then I seem to be immune to hunger and could easily forgo the evening 500 cal meal (I think). I do wonder what my sleep would be like though. I might try it one day as I too think the fasting benefits must accrue at 24+ hours (as 24 hrs may be more beneficial than 16 hours etc).

ellenbrody · 18/02/2013 19:36

5th fast today. I was worried as I'm off with kids this week, but have found it surprisingly easy being at home. Keeping busy is the key.

I had a huge leafy salad for lunch (75 cals), a few cups of tea with counted milk and a HUGE bowl of chilli chickpeas with mushrooms for dinner (chickpeas, 100g mushrooms, bit if onion and spices), I made it super spicy and it was v filling for about 300 cals.
I froze half for the next fast.
I tend to want to nibble in the evening, so I have a sugar free jelly in the fridge.
I'm doing this for health reasons, but even though I've only lost 1.5lb, I can fit into size 10 jeans again! It's all come off my belly - woo hoo!!

ubik · 18/02/2013 19:42

Been doing thus since August am now a normal BMI but have gained a few pounds. Gah!

Thinking back, I think it's due to the rather calorific valentines meal and 2 bottles of wine consumed then more wine at weekend plus chocs and more choc at work at weekend cos it was totally stressful.

So back to basics. Cut booze right down and stick to fasts.

Upside is I have started yoga I love it.

Goober · 18/02/2013 19:51

Tra-lahhh! Grin

I'm doing it. Grin
I have had 295 calories all day.
Tomorrow I will be mostly eating chocolate.
Thanks for the encouragement ladies.

Hasywell · 18/02/2013 20:19

Hi all I am into my 6th week now and have list 9lbs so far as we'll as at least 2.5 inches off waist, BMI is currently 27. I have at least another 19lbs to lose. On fast days I eat at about 6.30pm the night before and then go through to lunchtime when I have some soup, then stir fry in the evening. Lots of hot drinks keep me going and during term time being a teacher keeps me busy!

Loving how this WOL is making me feel but more so my changing relationship with food. I am much more aware of portion size especially with the help of MFP on non fast days. For me I do not feel deprived and therefore do not over compensate on non fast days. I still have my chocolate but the difference is instead of a whole bag of mini eggs (100gms) for example, I measure out half and make sure they are counted. I feel back in control.
These forums have been brilliant for hints and tips, especially the unsalted mixed fruit and nuts for the days when I am not getting enough calories!
Today I went sailing for the first time this year and boy did I notice how much easier it was to get the wetsuit on! Looking forward to buying a smaller one next winter!
Just wanted to share story as I know that whether the losses are big or small or none at all, I like feeling in control and making healthier choices. Any fasters today - the day is nearly over ;-)

whethergirl · 18/02/2013 20:28

This is my 6th fast day and I'm bloody starving, more so than usual which might be due being pre menstrual.

I haven't really calorie counted on the non-fast days, I don't remember the doc really mentioning this in his book? I must admit, in my pre menstrual state I have overcompensated on the non fast days, although not going quite as crazy as usual which I think is due to the fact that every time I used to over eat, I used to think, right, this is the LAST time I'm ever doing this, so it was always the 'last meal' attitude where I would try and stuff in as much as possible.

whethergirl · 18/02/2013 20:29

Great post btw Hasywell you must feel fab!

Hasywell · 18/02/2013 20:49

Thank you Whether Girl.

Forgot to say, I also find ending the day with a cup of Camomile and Spearmint tea helps me to sleep.