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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:
swallowedAfly · 24/02/2013 10:24

hope so itsaboatjack - sounds like we're in a similar place. i'm hoping mondays fast is when i finally shift under this sticking point. i will have fingers crossed for both of us.

Em2905 · 24/02/2013 10:27

Morning!
I feel that I've started to see the benefits of this WOE as I have more energy and feel less sluggish. I am I little concerned that my weight loss has stopped. With a lot to lose (over 5 stone) I am starting to worry.

I have read that so many if you watch what you eat on non fast day, I wondered, how many calories do you stick too?

Here's to a great fast/ non fast day all! x

dines · 24/02/2013 10:34

Ok that swallowedafly starting tomorrow. will keep everyone posted on my weight loss for next week. Fingers crossed

dines · 24/02/2013 10:36

Was ment to say thanks rather then that lol

swallowedAfly · 24/02/2013 10:39

i thought maybe you military or something dines Grin sounded like 'roger that swallowed'

postmanpatscat · 24/02/2013 11:40

Just finished reading the book (and am already on day 4) and have to admit that I found it a bit of a disappointment. I got about 50% through on my Kindle and then there wasn't much left in the rest of the book! The meal plans aren't much help as I'm vegetarian (and not male!). I am confident though that with the help of MFP I'll manage to find meals that suit me for fast days.

There seems to be a variety of ways of managing non-fast days. Some eat whatever they like, some eat their TDEE, some still restrict calories. I have a stone to lost (though 3lbs down already) and plan to eat 500 on fast days and close to my TDEE, about 1700, on non-fast days.

Em2905 · 24/02/2013 11:48

Postmanpatscat i've found that the Good Food website is great for fast day. They have a section for 200-400 calories recipes!

countryhousehotel · 24/02/2013 11:53

postmanpatscat I haven't bothered buying the book, I've just lurked on all the forums I can find, and read all the online articles. This is just my observation, but I wouldn't have thought you can binge-eat 5 days a week and still expect to lose. I'm planning to use up my calories on healthy, unprocessed, whole foods on fast and non-fast days, hoping that will speed weight loss. I'm not fasting all day and sitting down to a ready meal or a cup a soup (bleurgggh!).

I'm planning to eat my TDEE cals - 2500 a day -tracking on MFP 5 days a week, 2 days of fasting (i may start with 600 cals which is about a quarter of my TDEE) and see how it goes. If nothing happens, I'll slowly reduce either my fasting day cals or my TDEE - or both - until I reach a point where the weight is coming off. I have about 3 stone to lose (or more) so I'm hoping that things will start off well to give me a boost to continue.

It seems that many people are tailoring their approach to what works for them and what is sustainable. This post from Talkinpeace earlier in the thread is helpful:

Talkinpeace Sat 23-Feb-13 22:41:08
ExitPursued
with 5:2 you have to stop thinking in terms of daily calorie intake
and think in weeks
try this as an approach :

2 days per week : 500 calories
2 days per week : stay within TDEE
2 days per week : try to stay within 10% of your TDEE
1 day per week : splurge / relax

Talkinpeace · 24/02/2013 12:02

I have not bought the book either - but I am quoted on MM's website Grin

Please remember 5:2 is NOT an instant fix.
It is a change of way of looking at food.
Eat what you need.
Learn to get over mild hunger.
Give your digestion a break to repair your system.
Happen to lose weight along the way.

Sutinder · 24/02/2013 12:40

I love this thread. Love reading everyone's stories. I did my first fast day yesterday and it was so easy. Didn't eat till 5pm when I had a big stir fry with zero calories noodles. It was delicious and it filled me up. Didn't feel hungry this morning either but have had a small cereal. Fingers crossed I have finally found my way of eating. This forum is going to keep me focused I love it... Thanks everyone....

countryhousehotel · 24/02/2013 12:40

Well said.....it's not just for weight loss.

Talkinpeace · 24/02/2013 12:51

Please note - for any newcomers :
I am the same person as Talkinpeace2 so if you are searching threads and wondering if there are two people as blunt as I am, there are not :-)

PS : for anybody debating whether to jump in and join the gang, here is how you start.......

Eat normally today until finishing an early supper.
Tomorrow, wake up and have tea or coffee but no fruit juice and nothing to eat.
No snacks.
No lunch - just lots of tea, coffee, herbal tea or water.
No snacks.
For supper have a WHOLE POT of soup (the plastic tubs all the supermarkets sell) and a piece of fruit and more water.
No evening snacks.

GO to sleep.
Tuesday, eat normally (but try not to snack ever again)

you have just completed your first 24 hour fast and 36 hours on 500 calories ...

Sutinder · 24/02/2013 13:08

Talk peace....thanks for that info it's very useful.. Why am I finding this easy?

Talkinpeace · 24/02/2013 13:12

Because it is Grin
Hunger is mostly in your head
If I'm on a fasting day I can fix packed lunches, do shopping, pass round a buffet platter to others - without blinking an eye.

Conventional dieting, by creating lists of "forbidden" foods has separated tummy hunger from head hunger.
Once that connection is back in place its easier to listen to your body.

And unless you cannot pinch an inch anywhere around your hips, you have more than enough calories floating around your system to last you till the next day.

Sutinder · 24/02/2013 13:32

I carry all my weight round my middle. Don't know how to get rid of that. I don't have much on hips it's that waistline that bugs me. Anyone else an apple shape and any ideas how to beat the bulge x

Dotty342kids · 24/02/2013 13:35

Happy Sunday everyone! Bit of a blow out last night with some crisps, wine and chocs all featuring but worked it all out on MFP and whilst over my TDEE it's nothing I can't pull back today.
Made some gorgeous tomato soup this morning, followed by half a scone, jam and cream and looking forward to a nice Sunday dinner. Am finding that on non fasting days it is much easier to ignore hunger - after all we do it for much longer on fasting days - which is a good thing! Rather than giving in and snacking every time that feeling appears!
I'd normally fast on a Monday but am going out for curry tomorrow night wiht friends so can't. Might turn it into mini fast though and not eat all day, eat curry tomorrow night and fast on Tuesday as planned.
Was leafing through recipe folders yesterday and my vegetarian section (used to be veggie) was chock full of 2-300 recipe ideas and lots look lovely so really looking forward to trying some of them out.
Hope everyone's Sundays are going well Grin

Dotty342kids · 24/02/2013 13:35

Sutinder I'm an apple shape too. Don't think we can ever change our body shapes, but we can (I hope!) reduce the size of the bulge!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 24/02/2013 13:39

dotty don't forget to post some of the recipes on the recipe thread

ExitPursuedByABear · 24/02/2013 13:45

Thanks for the youtube link. My sound has disappeared on my laptop so had to watch it on mute, but very inspirational.

Gives me hope!

Dotty342kids · 24/02/2013 13:47

Will do aftereights. I like the challenge of finding tasty, filling, low cal meals, bizarrely enjoyable!

Sutinder · 24/02/2013 13:49

Dotty.... This is very true.. I'm very enthusiastic about this way of eating. I'm sure it will help.

Ilovegoodfoodandwine · 24/02/2013 14:05

Thank you for the link aftereights I have lost 15 lbs in 7 weeks and want to lose another 17.. so looking forward to slimmer summer clothes.. I love this WOE

Sutinder · 24/02/2013 14:21

ilivegoodfoodandwine this is amazing results. Are you finding it easy

Ilovegoodfoodandwine · 24/02/2013 14:41

Sutinder yes I am.. It's the best form of weight loss I've discovered and obviously the health benefits associated are a bonus. :)

notapizzaeater · 24/02/2013 15:38

Love the recipe thread, just been out and bought some Gorgeous smelling vine tomatoes and am making the tomato and garlic soup tomorrow, we shall all have it for tea - them as a starter me as a main ....

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