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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:
Itsaboatjack · 22/02/2013 08:26

Morning all, I would normally be on a fast day today but I am having a very rare child free and work free day so I am going to meet some friends for lunch, we are going to the Oxo Tower Brasserie so I hope it's good. It's a 3 course set menu, I'm really looking forward to it but my appetite and amount of food I now eat since doing this woe has changed so much I'm not sure I'm going to manage it all.

I weighed in this morning and have lost another lb so very happy there, 9.5lbs in just over 4 weeks.

I'm going to try and get back into my running from tomorrow too and have signed myself up for a half marathon in April, which is stupidly close so it's going to take a lot of training.

ELR · 22/02/2013 08:34

Myglass it could be that you haven't had enough fluids I felt a bit dizzy, light headed and sick on the morning after my first fast. I feel much better this morning just a little out of sorts if that makes sense.

ELR · 22/02/2013 08:37

Itsaboat Oxo tower brasserie is really nice enjoy your day. Good luck with the running I will start up again next week when half term s over.

BetsyVanBell · 22/02/2013 08:42

swallowed Don't be so hard on yourself - you're allowed to do that you know and look at all the days since you started this when you haven't 'pigged out'! Also, compare your pig outs now to what they used to be - you might be surprised at the difference?

I'm finding I need a lot less sleep these days, especially after a fast day (I've been doing 5:2 for 5 weeks or so). I've been waking up around 6 each day and today at 5.30 but feel absolutely fine on it I normally wake between 6.45 & 7.15. Admittedly I go to bed quite early - I'm usually asleep by 11. Still, it's nice to not feel wretched after less sleep.

Oh and on the scales issue I've been experimenting and I can be a pound heavier after breakfast (I don't eat that much!) and am usually 3 or 4lbs heavier by the evening. First thing in the morning after a wee is my lightest time. The term bouncing around the scales has been used very aptly, I suspect we're all a bit bouncy!

MyGlassIsJustHalfWet · 22/02/2013 08:45

Tbh I'm normally a massive over eater so sticking to my tdee was a bit of a shock Confused
Think I've been using the bf excuse too long!
Drank so much yesterday I hardly left the loo so don't think it's that.
Possibly viral as dd not well so might be that.
Hmm, here's my excuse not to exercise today then!!

Dotty342kids · 22/02/2013 09:05

Well done to BssBossh and Itsaboatjack, great losses and good to hear that it's all working well for you.
Fast day for me today, really feel like I need it after a week of endless eating out / lack of healthy choices.

greenfig · 22/02/2013 09:35

Morning all! Well done on your loss BssBossh & others.
Myglass Do you have any ginger? Sliced in boiling water v soothing for tummies, or peppermint tea.
Enjoy your lunch guilt free Itsaboat Really can see how this flexibility is going to fit better into life.
Am down 3lbs but that is hols weight so should have easily shifted anyway. Now comes the tougher part!
Dines I have 7lbs to lose, & I agree those pesky last lbs are the hardest! I have only just started so will just have to see how effective it is for me.
Did anyone get their bloods done? I bet GPs have been inundated with requests!! Am interested to hear of anybody that has some personal proof of health improvements as well as weight loss.
ELR I was planning todays food as I lay in bed last night but woke not hungry at all! I had oatbran porridge with sulatanas & apple but I could have waited longer. What are you planning for today? I was craving avocado & prawn salad for lunch & roast chicken with parsnip mash & lots of veg & wine for supper. Now strangely don't particularly fancy anything. Perhaps I should just havea miso soup & eggs. Weird (certainly for me)Grin

dines · 22/02/2013 10:01

Thanks for all the advice on my fast days I'd rather leave my calories till the evening I usually do dinner for four as I have to be at work at half 5.. is that to early to eat all my calories on a fast day?

Daisy1407 · 22/02/2013 10:09

Morning all - HAPPY FRIDAY (YEY!)

My fast last night was probably my easiest so far i think its because i saved the kcal's all day so went so bed happy and a little full - I managed a 24 hours fast yesterday (Really pleased)

I have been doing this 3 weeks now - i feel this could be a change for life.....Simply beacuse i can be strict 2 days a week if i know i can eat what i like the rest of the time, Im a huge food lover from indian takeaways/chinese/pizza to fizzy sweets and prossecco

im happiest when im filling my face

People always say to me how do you do it - they have for ages (i was on cambridge last year - wouldnt recommend as it can easily just go back on) Basically i have always been pretty good 1-2 days a week to allow myself my binging at weekends

Dines - Im also at 9half stone so i think it may take us a little longer to get to where we want to be however we can get there

Good luck everyone

Im just gonna go and get a skinny latte as im freezing brrrrrrr

Daisy x

dines · 22/02/2013 10:15

Hello DAISY Im glad someone else is the same as me.. I hope we can shift these pounds.. have you lost any weight in them 3 weeks? keep posting ur progress.

silverbeetle · 22/02/2013 10:19

Weighed in today and have lost the 1lb which I appeared to have put on yesterday. Found yesterday's fast very difficult, felt sooo cold and just wanted to sleep but feel energised this morning.

Even better news is my blood pressure;
BP 4 weeks ago - 138/95,
BP 2 weeks ago after losing abut 10lbs on a low carb programme - 136/90
BP yesterday after losing a further 2lb in a week and a half on 5:2 - 120/76

This is a great health benefit, I also find I am sleeping better, less restless and much reduced back ache.

Smile
fatcowslim · 22/02/2013 10:20

Hello! Everyone seems to be doing great! :-) I keep seeing Miso soup mentioned... Could someone please tell me what this is? Thanks! :-)
I am doing good still.... Hopefully it will be worth it! :-)

Chocupid · 22/02/2013 10:25

I'm going to try another fast today after another epic fail yesterday!

Am booked in for laser eye surgery this afternoon and thought it will be easy not to eat because of nerves. and they just called to tell me the computer that speaks to the laser isn't working Shock. So not sure whether its happening or not today yet!

Will use the nerves to my advantage for now, but being Friday (ie weekend) doesn't help psychologically, how do you cope fasting on weekends?

greenfig · 22/02/2013 10:36

silverbeetle Those are impressive stats you & your doctor must be very pleased(smile)
fatcowslim (love your name!) Miso is a japanese soup sold in sachets in supermarkets in Asian section. It is lo cal, mine is 28, v savoury & satisfying! Give it a go. My favourite is Wakame.
Daisy as we are in the same situation can I ask how much you've lost so far & how long it's taken you? I started on Dukan some time ago & lost 11/2st & got down to 9.7. I then needed a break so did shred thinking I'd lose extra 3 or 4 but stabilised at about 9.10. I then had another push last Spring loosely following Dukan, basically high protein lo GI & shredding & got down to 9.3 but I stabilise around 9.7. I am just back from hols & was 9.11, started this week & 9.8 this am. Ideally I would like to stabilise around 9.3 so think I should aim to get down to 9. Would just love to see an 8 on the scale again just for fun though!!!
I am drawn to this woe as I think it will fit better with family life & budget. Also I am concerned that I seem to need to be quite high protein to maintain which I was ok with to lose the excess but not as a woe. The Horizon programme was quite eye opening to say the least.

greenfig · 22/02/2013 10:38

PS I am big foodie too! Not at all good at denialGrin

moonbells · 22/02/2013 10:42

Hello all
Not doing too well on finding days to fast this week - too many things going on that involve food in half term especially when it's so cold...

But nonetheless, 2.5 weeks in and one kilo gone!

Long may it continue :)

dines · 22/02/2013 10:47

Can someone give an idea of there fasting days food?

AntoinetteCosway · 22/02/2013 10:54

Fast day 2 here. Woke up at 7 really hungry but ignored it and now am fine. Going to drink lots of chamomile tea and hot water in an effort to avoid diet coke! Rather amazingly I weighed myself the day after my first fast and was down 3lbs, though I haven't weighed since (planning to do it once a week) and I'm sure that was mostly water loss and if I checked now it would be back!

AntoinetteCosway · 22/02/2013 10:55

Dines I'm pretty new to this but my plan for today is to have nothing till this evening and then have soup, pitta, olives, home-made tzatziki, salad and fruit. (All added up on myfitnesspal.)

greenfig · 22/02/2013 11:00

Ok sorry another question Blush
To any daily weighers, how much can I expect to bo back up following an average TDEE feed day?
No more I promise!

Daisy1407 · 22/02/2013 11:07

DINES AND GREENFIG

I started Cambridge a year ago and my highest weight was 11stone 13 i think - then i did cambridge for about 4/6 months and lost about 2 stone - so expensive and not a diet that i could do forever. It got the weight off but it could easily have gone straight back on (Friends of mine have put all thier weight from this diet back on)

However i went on holiday in September and weighed 10 stone came back 10 stone 6 - Since then i got it back down to around 9stone 12 - 10 stone been up and down, up and down

Been hitting the gym hard and i enjoy running - not really moving the scales though so......

I then decided to start this 3 weeks ago i have done 7 fasts in total

Starting weight was 9 stone 10

Week 1 - i Stayed the same (I was dissapointed)
Week 2 - i lost 1lb
Week 3 - i lost 3 lb - (buzzing)

so currently i weigh 9.6 - i am very pleased next weigh day is Monday....

My boyf is currently doing this with me and started at 14.5 he is now 13.11
he is doing amazing!

My fast day is usually a ready meal to be honest but i think i need to do more cooking on a fast day to get the carbs down a bit

i have a hectic weekend on with girlys and drinkng but hey ho we need to live and have fun!

EEEK this diet is fab x

Daisy1407 · 22/02/2013 11:08

I get a bit confused on MFP too with reagrds to the TDEE
it wont allow me to change mine

i used to have about 1200 kcal a day - when i wasnt doing this however now i go for about 1700 a day (sometime over if drinking - ooopsy!) x

dines · 22/02/2013 11:10

My first fasting day will be on Monday can I start the edit on a fasting day?.. I'm goin to have bbq chicken in a bad with a couple of boiled potatoes and veg.. can I have coffee in the morning with 2 tsps of sugar? Or is it best to leave it out ? Coffee really help my hunger but the downside is I have sugar In it.. any suggestions on other types of drinks I can have to keep my hunger at bay?

greenfig · 22/02/2013 11:14

dines yesterday was my first day. I had oatbran porridge, salad leaves with celery & lo cottage cheese then cod with garlic, ginger, chilli & soy, brocoli & spinach. MFP is useful to plan your cal allowances. There is a recipe thread link in op I believe. Hth.

Daisy1407 · 22/02/2013 11:16

Dines the best thing about this diet is you can have ANYTHING just acount for it in your calories - Use MFP to track

coffee with sugar will be on there

i have twinnings herbal teas on my fast days and loads of squash

i love fizzy drinks but tend of try and limit these to my treats on weekend x

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