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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:
Aftereightsarenolongermine · 08/02/2013 22:53

Thank you for the link snowkey that made very interesting reading.

I was having a semi fast day today but come 7pm I was feeling quite rough (TOM) & I thought I couldn't cope with not eating properly tonight & to cut myself some slack. I just love this WOE as I just couldn't really do that on another diet without throwing the towel in. Which is evidence why this isn't a diet.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 08/02/2013 22:54

Well done vp

headintheclouds · 08/02/2013 22:56

i have to saystiickygingerbread that I now feel peed off. Ive considered myself overweight for a few years and have always had a big waist. im 5 ft 3, weight 11 st and waist 37" .the random calculater says that Im gossly obese which is a bit of a bummer! i know im not sleek/ svelte but Grossly obese !! i honestly believe that when I do shift some of this lard I currently carry I'll still have a big waist .. ill keep you all posted.

headintheclouds · 08/02/2013 22:57

that should read grossly obese

swallowedAfly · 08/02/2013 23:41

i'm pretty offended by that calculator because it defines a waist ratio as healthy and 'attractive'. attractive? feck off. supposed to be about health not making judgments about a woman's attractiveness.

wildwater · 09/02/2013 01:53

Just checking in...now into 2nd month of 5:2, weight loss slowing down but then it had to - would be crazy to keep losing at initial rate! What I am most happy about is how much better I feel in every way: faster, happier, healthier. I think not eating sugar (apart from in odd glass of red wine) has made a huge difference. Have had the odd blow-out (a bowl of peanuts this morning was wonderfully crunchy & delicious!) but mostly I'm making healthy choices and really do not feel like bingeing. Guess it helps that my partner is also following this WOE as enthusiastically as myself...I know how lucky I am!

GiraffesEatPineapples · 09/02/2013 02:10

Jumpingjackhash the general consensus on here is that losing weight before trying to conceive is a good idea but at 8 12 you are probably a healthy weight already? Maybe you could fast one day a week instead of 2 and concentrate on 'optimum nutrition' (there are lots of books on eating well in pg and excercise the rest of the week. I find it really hard to eat healthily in general when pg so if you could get ahead of the game by reducing alcohol or cutting out white processed stuff and sugar before getting pg that might be an advantage. Another option to 6:1 might be alternating between 900 and 2300 cals.

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 07:18

morning all Smile

well despite eating takeaway and drinking beer i didn't go mad (for me) and i feel like making today another fast day.

this will be my first attempt at a at home rather than busy at work fast day. i figure if i can get one done and out of the way now and do one on tuesday when i have a training day i won't have to worry about the rest of half term week. thinking easier to do it now than whittle about what day i will manage to do it.

the leftover indian food in the fridge will save till tomorrow and be something to look forward to. i may try and and go through to an evening meal and make it a substantial one - like most of my calories and to not eat any more after that.

off to work out a meal of about 380cals (i need cals for milk throughout the day and a little left over just in case i need to eat an egg before bed). oddly 380 is actually sounding like quite a lot for a meal now Grin

Madeyemoodysmum · 09/02/2013 07:35

I'm not happy with that calculator either. I've lost 11lb already. I only have 5lb to get to within my normal range BMI and it's called me Massively overweight or some similar insult-nice! Motivating (not)

Boby shape must be taken into account. Not everyone is an hourglass or pearshapec Some of us are boyish shaped eith a bigger waist and slim hips and it's normal to be so Grrrrr

frenchfancy · 09/02/2013 07:47

I must admit I quite like it. If I put my waist measurement in when I started 5:2 then it classes me as seriously overweight. I have now lost 6" off my waist and am classed as slender and healthy :) I've not been called slender for many years.

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 08:15

i come out as in the overweight category - i don't mind being called overweight if i'm overweight but having it contrasted to 'attractive' i don't like. attractiveness is not a waist measurement and i don't think they should be using women's manufactured obsession with being attractive v insecurity on a tool like that. note on the men's one they call it 'attractive weight' on the women's just 'attractive'.

for those finding their description offensive use it as motivation to change it as obesity is a health risk - but don't use it to define your worth or your attractiveness. we are more than numbers thankfully!

Itsaboatjack · 09/02/2013 08:30

Yes the healthy and 'attractive' is a strange thing to call it.

It says though that I only have to lose 1 inch before I am in that range. On the bmi chart I need to lose 13lbs before I am in healthy zone. I don't know if I am measuring in the right place though, I measured at my narrowest point but that is about 3 inches above my belly button. Should I be measuring at my belly button?

Madeyemoodysmum · 09/02/2013 08:39

It's a boat jack- I measure at belly button but if I measured above I would be a few inches lower 33 opposed to 35! I don't know whats correct either.
Anyone know the right place to measure?

BetsyVanBell · 09/02/2013 09:17

madeye I would always choose the smallest point! A medical professional measuring me last year did the same.

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 09:42

and where should the hip measurement be taken?

BetsyVanBell · 09/02/2013 09:58

Hip measurement should be taken round the fattest fullest part of your hips and bum.

Snowkey · 09/02/2013 10:03

Calculator says I am extremely slim - I wish! I'm an hourglass, so while my waist may be small the rest of me is not. Best to use your eyes.

parrotsandcarsnips · 09/02/2013 10:04

i agree with weighing self once a week at the most.
dh has reported varying weight loss/gain over the past 3 weeks and he was overindulging when scales said he had lost lbs and was motivated when they gained lbs.
The weigh in will be once a week now

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 10:18

ok measuring at those points i am at the lower end of healthy, normal, attractive and only 1 off of slender when i'm actually overweight both my bmi and by my knowledge of my own body.

not one to attach too much meaning to imo. i've read elsewhere that the idea of the round the middle bit has been disproved and it's actually just being overweight that is the danger wherever your body happens to store that fat.

npg1 · 09/02/2013 10:32

Morning everyone, can I join please. I was going to start healthy eating next week but have been reading about this and it seems a good idea.

Im a little confused what you can actually eat on a non fasting day? Usual foods? How many caleries is that ment to total for the day? I did the calculator but dont understand!

BMR 1350
TDEE 1858

Then on the fasting days, I was thinking more cereal and soups, would that work?

I do get shaky and dizzy if I dont eat so im a bit worried on the fasting days.

Many thanks

GreenEggsAndNichts · 09/02/2013 10:40

npg I'm a great lover of cereal (seriously, I have/had a Seinfeld-like addiction to it, and if I didn't have a family to feed I'd regularly have it for dinner) but I really wouldn't have it on a fast day. It will spark your appetite like nobody's business. Try an egg, and veg. Soups are perfect.

(btw, you can certainly try cereal, maybe porridge, I think one or two people here do that. Just for myself, personally, I wouldn't be able to deal)

I put off eating as long as possible and have an early dinner. That way, I have all my calories in one go, and don't feel hungry going to bed.

The first few fast days are tough but they get much easier. I think my reaction to not eating was more habit than physical need for food.

Non fasting days is just normal foods, eating around your TDEE.

Good luck, and welcome to the thread :)

OP posts:
GreenEggsAndNichts · 09/02/2013 10:41

also, I'm not even considering checking that calculator. Grin Since having a baby my stomach pokes out a bit so I really don't want to know how unattractive that thing thinks I am!

OP posts:
npg1 · 09/02/2013 10:48

Thank you greeneggs. I will tr the egg and veg then! On normal days how many calaries are we meant to eat? Think I will find fasting day hard too but like you said, its more of a habit!

Im guessing no wine!!!!!!????

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 11:46

npg if you want to count calories on non fast days then aim to eat around your tdee which for you is 1858.

some do calorie count on non fast days - others like me don't (so far) as one of the blessings of this woe imo is not having to. at the end of the day we all know when we've had a real pig out or when we've eaten pretty well. personally i'd try without the calorie counting for a week (except on fast days) and see what results you get. if you don't need to calorie count then why bother? calorie counting is no way to live ongoingly every day of your life imo. if you find you need to whilst you learn how much is enough food then do.

been with ds to get our hair cut - that's killed an hour of a fast day. it is harder when you're doing it with a little person nagging on about food every 5 minutes. yes you can have some cereal, yes you can have some fruit. here is a snack. now wait till lunchtime. i am being forced into contact with food far more than i want and knowing my son it will not stop!!!! Grin ha! as i typed that he has come up the stairs chanting, 'hungry! hungry! hungry!' cheers ds you are really helping Wink

Madeyemoodysmum · 09/02/2013 12:16

Green eggs- that post made me snort my coffee in public :)