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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:
ThinkICan · 09/02/2013 12:54

No calculator for me either. The stomach's the problem - in more ways than one!

ever2optimistic · 09/02/2013 13:20

I've done this about 4 weeks now and although not lost much on scales (3lb & 2% of body fat) I feel much better and lighter and my jeans fit so much better. Yesterday I managed to persuade DH to do his first fast day along with me, and he managed fine. Feeling positive as I've been encouraging him to try to shift his excess 10-15lb for some time. DD who is coming up 14 is trying a modified 6:1 version. I know that children and adolescents are not supposed to fast, but many teens observe Ramadan and don't come to any harm. She takes in more than 500 kcal on her 'fast' day anyway.

Laska42 · 09/02/2013 15:19

marking place

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 15:27

ok finding fasting hard today but pushing onwards. broke my fast about half an hour ago with 100g of white fish steamed in water and some wilted spinach. less than 100cals all in. have used 75cals on skimmed milk in hot drinks. have 325cals left playing it safe.

was going to hold out and have nearly all my cals in one go but just got really hungry and like i wanted to give in. need to split them today. later i'll make a two egg spinach omelette and some turkey ham and still have enough spare for a slim a soup later if i'm hungry. think it might have to be a night where i knock myself out night nurse or something but i will get through it.

think it's the being at home and having to keep serving meals and snacks to ds that's made it harder. it's also the first time i've fasted without a clear 2 day gap between fasts so i don't know if that has affected it.

going to make some fresh lemon and ginger tea now. gives me something to sip and might even help shift this endless cold.

am i the only one fasting today? if so make sure you eat and drink for me too and enjoy your food Smile

Newlook · 09/02/2013 15:29

I have just watched the Horizon programme via the link above. Talk about persuasive and motivating! up until now, I had only read a Radio Times article that my Mum gave to me. I encourage anyone who hasn't watched it to make time to do so; will be reading the book too which is the first book I've bought for my Kindle Smile - Monday first fast day approaching....! hope everyone having a positive day. If not, I guess remember this is a journey, a way of life and some days/experiences will be better than others so be kind to yourselves (mind you, I'm only in get ready mode and haven't started yet, so what do I know?! Wink

Newlook · 09/02/2013 15:42

Thanks swallowedafly I will have a herbal tea too - some lurking in my cupboard somewhere - might as well explore new options in preparation. Lemon and ginger sounds lovely. I like camomile in the evening. Do you know if stock - like bisto - is recommended or is it too full of salt for the fast days?

BetsyVanBell · 09/02/2013 16:11

Swallowed Sorry to hear it's a tough one - I'll be trying the same while no doubt constantly feeding the gannets that are my children on Monday.

Newlook lots of people drink stock or miso soup on fast days.

I made the Claudia Roden Orange Cake today - it may not have butter or flour in but it certainly ain't a fast day food! I drizzled a syrup over it made from honey, lemon juice, a little lemon & grapefruit zest and a splash of calvados - should have been cointreau but didn't have any to hand. Result: Incredibly moist and tasty, not a cakey-cake as it's so eggy (in texture not taste) though I may have slightly undercooked it. I sprinkled flaked almonds over the top of the mixture before cooking. Apologies to the fasters for this paragraph!

Itsaboatjack · 09/02/2013 16:30

It's amazing how much my attitude to hunger has changed in just a few weeks.

Someone called in sick to work today so I've had to work later and it was too busy to stop for lunch. Now I have to go and collect my dd1 from a trip so no time to eat, I am taking her to her god mothers for dinner so won't get to eat till nearly 7. Whilst I am hungry it's not bothering me at all as I know it will pass and I will get food eventually. A few weeks back I'd have been 'starving' and ended up grabbing some rubbish on the go.

needtaloseit · 09/02/2013 16:46

Thats what I want to change my way of thinking around food, I think that is what I have always struggled with. Before I had my two wee women I had been down to 9 stone, but always ate overload till I was sick at weekends as felt had to eat... only time I allowed myself a treat so went completely crazy...
So this will help me lose the two stone currently at 11 stone 12 pounds and need something I can stick with and stay at forever...

U are all inspirations... do any of you have slim fast products on fast days and did you go for AFD first and then onto the 5:2???

FastFeeder · 09/02/2013 17:08

Hadn't been planning to fast today, but was up early and didn't feel like having breakfast, so I didn't. And I've been shovelling snow for about an hour and a half on that empty stomach, so I think that will have burned off yesterday's comfort food and made up for the fact that I just sat with a book in front of the fire most of the day while the snow piled up!

I really enjoy the flexibility of this way of eating: once you're in tune with your appetite you can just decide to eat or not eat to suit yourself. An apple and a slice of cheese will be enough for my lunch and then I'll probably have a regular meal with the family for supper. (Planning to make Quiche Lorraine.)

Tomorrow I'm going to serve crispy duck to celebrate Chinese New Year. That definitely isn't going to be a fasting day. Hurrah for 5:2! Grin

GreenEggsAndNichts · 09/02/2013 17:12

needtoloseit If I recall correctly, Slim Fast products are quite high in calories. I might be wrong, it's been a while. Honestly, I just stick to real foods (so, not low-cal or low-fat), just smaller portions. Fasting days are mostly protein and veg/ veg soup. Those give you the most bang for your calorie buck, and if you leave it until late in the day to eat, you won't be going to bed hungry.

Itsaboatjack I agree. I don't even think of the feeling as hunger now. I imagine feeling the need to fix the "hungry" feeling immediately is how I ended up overweight to begin with!

OP posts:
GreenEggsAndNichts · 09/02/2013 17:19

I'm off super early tomorrow morning (6:45am flight, with a toddler, what was I thinking Confused. Oh, I know: sunshine and warmth, that's what!) on holiday, but shall return in a week. You'll barely know I'm gone.

FWIW, since I know we've got newer folks on the threads: yes, I'll carry on with 5:2, but probably modified. Over Christmas holidays I did 6:1 and managed quite well, gained a pound over the two weeks but that was eating everything I wanted on my non-fast days. For my holiday, I might do 6:1 or I might just have a couple of days where I only eat dinner. I won't worry about it too much. But that's what's so nice about this- I'm not going to feel as if I'm completely undoing everything I've worked for over the last several months.

Anyway, see you all in a week. :)

OP posts:
virginposter · 09/02/2013 17:31

There is a very interesting and positive article at the Daily Mail online written by Jenni Murray, talking about her breast cancer and how she has now found the new '2 day' diet devised by the doctors who did the Genesis research
at the purpose-built Breast Centre at the University Hospital of South Manchester. It's very similar to Dr MM's 5:2 but with no calorie counting. As has already been posted on this thread, fasting has been proven to aid in the prevention of breast cancer.

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2275971/The-Two-Day-Diet-saved-breast-cancer--late.html#ixzz2KQKJOgu1
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 17:35

have a lovely time green

i'm afraid i quit about an hour ago. i just felt persistently more and more sick and ratty and off until i decided to give in and eat. ironically i still feel sick and acidy and off so? maybe just not very well. have a cold i can't shake and a lot of sinus pain.

attempting not to feel defeated and flat. it wasn't meant to be a fast day anyway really and no one died.

swallowedAfly · 09/02/2013 17:35

oh and also attempting to not think oh well i've had some leftover curry and a beer now so might as well stuff my face silly for the rest of the day Hmm

BetsyVanBell · 09/02/2013 17:38

Swallowed BUT you still did x number of hours without food which still has it's benefits - a mini fast Smile.

BetsyVanBell · 09/02/2013 17:39

Happy hols GreenEggs, soak up some sunshine for us please Smile.

Prettymaidsallinarow · 09/02/2013 17:42

Hi everyone just dropping in. 11weeks done and 8 lb off woohoo!!

There are a few people talking about exercise Dvd's on the maintenance thread so thought I Would mention my current faves on here. 30 day shred is always a good one to fall back on and Ripped in 30 also by Jillian Michaels is good too. For a longer workout Davina's new one Davina Intense is excellent.

BsshBossh · 09/02/2013 18:26

Happy holidays GreenEggs.

Itsaboatjack totally agree about hunger. I really like Paul McKenna's eating principles - one of which is eat only when hungry and stop eating when satisfied. But I could never do this in practice because a) I wasn't comfortable with hunger and b) I didn't recognise true, physical hunger. It's taken fasting to get me to understand these two things. Even on non-fast days now I often skip food if I'm not hungry for it.

Prettymaidsallinarow · 09/02/2013 18:57

Hey Greeneggs have a fab holiday xx

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 09/02/2013 18:57

swallowed we all have fast days like that & I hope you feel better soon.

greeneggs have a great holiday.

MrTiP · 09/02/2013 19:24

That calculator says that herself is "slender and healthy" - better get her another drink while she cannot post on here Wink

BsshBossh · 09/02/2013 19:26

Welcome Mr TiP Grin As you're fasting too (?) hope you can post here too.

MrTiP · 09/02/2013 19:31

I'm allergic to scales - but have had to punch new holes in my belt since we started 5:2 in September .....

Trying2bMindful · 09/02/2013 21:12

Following with interest, well.... More akin to lurking until I take the plunge & try this WOL. Grin

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