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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! 13! Now, the baker's dozen!

991 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 19/02/2013 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!

If you've been at this a while and are moving on to maintaining your goal weight, there is a thread here to discuss that.

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.

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:
orangeandlemons · 21/02/2013 10:30

Hi to all non losers. Stick with it! After 3 weeks of nothing, lost a pound and a half. However I did add a day of 1000 calories to my 2 fast days. I also ate very lightly on my feed days despite having a tdee of 2225.

I think I was just eating too much without really realising. Just nibbles here and there really

ELR · 21/02/2013 10:34

Morning all, my second fast day today so far do good.
Kids have opted for a pj day today so trying to keep busy.
Not really hungry yet but am drinking loads.
hopefully I will be ok today DH worked from home Monday so had him here for a bit of support, we agreed on lots of text support today but he has left his mobile at home!
He has taken loads of salad and a can of tuna for his lunch it's his 3rd fast day and he looks slimmer already and belt moved a notch!
Lets just hope I have the same success.

So what is everyone who is fasting having today?

Fillybuster · 21/02/2013 10:47

Gosh this thread moves fast!

holmessweetholmes · 21/02/2013 10:51

NurseEzzza I always hated running too, and I'm about to do my first half-marathon! Go for it GreenEggs - it's a life-changing step!

greenfig · 21/02/2013 11:16

ELR my first fast day today. So far had nothing, ginger in hot water & cup of tea. Wasn't sure whether to have b'fast as normal to stave off hunger pangs or wait until I 'needed' it. Plan to have some oatbran porridge, prob in next hour, then miso soup, cottage cheese & salad if I need, then cod with ginger garlic & chilli & a pile of steamed veg tonight. How about you?
Thanks for MFP advice I will change.
Anyone know of an aspartame free diet coke? I try to eat quite clean but developed a bit of a habit whilst losing weight on DukanBlush

ELR · 21/02/2013 11:25

So far had nothing planning on porridge with grated apple and raspberries at around mid day or as long as I can hold off! Might add a bit of oat bran to it greenfig you've reminded me I've got some in the cupboard?
Dinner tonight might be steamed salmon with chilli and garlic and loads of veg or I might have eggs in purgatory.
Don't know of any aspartame free diet coke I avoid aspartame like the plague it's really nasty stuff!

greenfig · 21/02/2013 11:39

ELR I am home working today so can support if you needSmile
Have put the kettle on for some Miso soup.

holmessweetholmes · 21/02/2013 11:48

Does anyone find that the hunger from the fast day kind of catches up with them much later on? I was fine on my fast day yesterday, had quite a big breakfast, went for a run, then just now had to eat lunch at 11:30 and practically inhaled it as I was shaky with hunger!

SharkSkinThing · 21/02/2013 12:34

Please may I join you all?

I've done the odd F day here and there and have really found it ok, but then it sort of falls apart the next time/the next week, often due to tiredness (my 2.5 DS often wakes at 4.30am!).

But I am really keen to shift 2 stone by the end of the year, so am looking for honest motivation. I work 3 days a week so I just need to make sure I F on those days, and man up a bit.

So I shall be watching and learning from ths thread!
xxx

SharkSkinThing · 21/02/2013 12:36

PS - is there any value in doing 3 days a week, or is that sanity-suicide?!!

MyGlassIsJustHalfWet · 21/02/2013 12:37

First fast day today. Had a whole day of stuff to do but dd is ill so it's a snuggled up on the sofa day desperately trying to not think of food! Luckily there is nothing to munch on so I couldn't anywayGrin
Didn't realise how much weight difference I have during a day, weighed myself last thing last night and was very ShockHmmConfused but this morning I was 6lbs lighter ShockGrin
Am planning what I can eat tomorrow!

ELR · 21/02/2013 12:37

Thanks greenfig although been too busy to think about food as kids keep fighting!!
Starting to feel hungry now but can't be bothered to make anything but I will eat before I give kids their lunch otherwise I may cave

greenfig · 21/02/2013 12:46

Ha myglass me too to planning tomorrows food!!
Can't offer any advice sharkskin as 1st day for me. I believe people upthread are doing 4:3 though, good luck!
My tummy has started rumbling but I have not got the usual wobbles surprisingly. Will let you know the knock on effects tomorrow HSH!
Off to make some porridge then out to walk the dog.

SharkSkinThing · 21/02/2013 13:18

Thanks, green. I'll start with 2 days next week and if that seems ok I'll do the odd 3 day week.

Good luck to you, too.

artemis17 · 21/02/2013 13:53

Just love that theres so many new and semi new (me) posters around, it seems so many of us are finding out about this WOE and loving it, whether for weight loss or the other health benefits too.
Ive notice so much that my appetite has really reduced, its probably "normal" now, and i dont often have the rubbish-y stuff, rarely "snack" and its not a conscious thing, im not feeling deprived, its just that my body is being given the chance to decide what/when to eat, rather than my eyes lol!!.

nonmummyyet · 21/02/2013 14:02

Help help help!

I can?t stop thinking about food! I?ve had porridge for brekkie and just had a small satsuma and now I can?t bear the idea that I won?t eat again for 4 hours!

This is my first day and I think I?ve come into it a little bit unprepared as I don?t have any low-cal things such as miso soup to give me the salt I?m craving!

I have terrible willpower so any words of encouragement to keep me on track would be much appreciated because I really want to stick this one out! Smile

Daisy1407 · 21/02/2013 14:06

nonmummyyet - keep busy, well try anyway! Im on a fast day also today and havent eaten anything yet but i am thinking of food a LOT!

Try and drink lots of water (squash) it does help and herbal teas also take the edge off!

i cannot wait to have my meal tonight when i get home im starving!

Keep going you can do it!

politico · 21/02/2013 14:13

It's my fourth fast day today - I've had half a ham sandwich at 12pm (I reckon about 150 calories) and we're having veggie stew for dinner tonight, which will bring me up to 500. Aside from that I've just had water, black coffee and green tea. I'm not feeling too bad at the moment, been out at a baby class with DS but am now back in the house... need to do some chores to take my mind off food! This thread moves so quickly, but it's great to hear inspirational stories about your weight loss, really keeping me motivated!

silverbeetle · 21/02/2013 14:31

Thanks for taking the time to update us on your progress orangesandlemons
it helps us slow / no losers to hang in there.

4th fast day for me today and feeling a bit fed up. I have been weighing myself daily (i know, I know, I'm setting myself up for a fall) and after losing 2lb last week and feeling great, I have put a pound back on - AARRGH No rhyme or reason for it, kept well within TDEE of 1820.

I hope it's just water retention, will try drinking loads of water and herbal tea today.

Still I'm not giving up, hopefully my body will sort itself out Confused

ellenbrody · 21/02/2013 14:45

Non-mummy yet: if you have any stock cubes, bovril or marmite, make yourself a salty hot drink with that.
Emergency miso soup replacement! Salty craving sorted.

ConsiderablyBiggerBuns · 21/02/2013 14:58

nonmummy I was really sceptical about the premise of not eating breakfast to prevent the 'hunger gene' kicking in but there really does seem to be something in it. Not only do you not feel hungry until later in the day - I can go quite easily until 1/2pm now, but also you still have all the calories that you would have used on breakfast still to play with and have managed a longer total fast which is good for the health benefits.
Not much help to you for today, but possibly worth bearing in mind for next time. Good Luck for the rest of the day - I'm fasting today too.

kirstys23 · 21/02/2013 15:13

I agree with considerablyBiggerBuns about not eating breakfast. Eating makes me hungry! The sooner I've broken my fast the sooner I start to get hunger pangs.

I've realised this applies to Non-fasting days too. Whenever I'm on the early shift at work and have breakfast at 6am, I'm hungry again by 8am and want to snack!

2nd fasting day for me today too, planning on having a bisto cottage pie with lots of broccoli for dinner and lots of herbal tea! Haven't noticed any weight loss yet, but am enjoying not constantly thinking about food. With other diets all I'm thinking about is when can I next eat, planning the days food etc.

Daisy1407 · 21/02/2013 15:49

Gosh im freeeezing!

Salbertina · 21/02/2013 15:52

Fasting 2nd time this week also. Wavered a little but doing ok so far. Totally agree about breakfast-skipping!

ELR · 21/02/2013 16:11

Was feeling a bit off so had 45 minute nap at 3pm and now just had a cup of veg bouillon with chilli flakes best 12 calories ever!