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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:
KnockMeDown · 25/02/2013 16:02

Thanks for the responses. Had a look at the cals in the ingredients of my ham sandwich, and the bread is the killer Shock 1 slice alone is 188!!! I had no idea. Will have to source a lower cal bread, or find other lunches which come below 300. Will need to be simple, though, as will be at work, and take in a packed lunch. The oatso comes in at just below 200.

Also, and apologies if this sounds stupid (or the result of being too lazy to read the whole thread Blush) but what is the significance of the time period? Is there an optimum amount of time for which you are meant to be fasting?

Dotty342kids · 25/02/2013 16:06

Yup, thought that might be the case knockMedown. HOw about ham salad box iwth lots of nice veggies etc and a small wholemeal roll to go with it? Then the bread's a side product rather than the main focus of the meal? Or you could prep up some lovely roasted veg to take in a lunchbox with some ham scattered on top?

PrincessUnderpaid · 25/02/2013 16:11

exit I really loved that play, the dildo reference caused fits of giggles! Grin

lucjam · 25/02/2013 16:21

Second fast day for me. only 45 mins till i can eat. will have done 23 hours. i find that i go through periods of real hunger and then feel.ok again. sorry for awful typing phone acting v strangely.

ellenbrody · 25/02/2013 16:22

Well, after feeling achey and ill yesterday, I feel (mostly) better. I, however, have very little appetite, so, I am making the most of it and having a fasting day.
Had half a bag of salad for lunch (eaten out of the bag like crisps!) and 2 cups of tea with milk aswell as some herbal teas and lots of diluted sugar free squash (I know, I know).
Dinner tonight will be a whole carton of lentil, bean and barley soup.

Daisy - :(

BetsyVanBell · 25/02/2013 16:24

Dotty I now have a massive craving for stir fried greens and broccoli to go with my prawns! Clearly had an over-indulgent weekend if I'm craving greens Wink.

Fast day today, had only 80ish calories so far - a mushroom soup (as suggested by someone on a previous thread - sorry forgotten who! - just cook up a pack of mushrooms with some bouillon, I also added a stick of celery, garlic and some chill and soy sauce, whizz up and voila, nutritious quick cuppasoup and only 40 calories), plus an apple. Not feeling at all hungry yet but will do some nice spicy veggie and prawn soup for later yum yum.

Daisy Sorry to hear about your horrible weekend xx

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 25/02/2013 16:28

Well, after pep talks from various souls, I woke up raring to go. Have had 3/4 of a carton of Glorious skinny soup for the grand total of 200 calories so far today. Omelette, salad and garlic mushrooms tonight.

Dotty342kids · 25/02/2013 16:32

Oops, sorry Betsy, maybe on your next fast day!
I wish I liked prawns, lots of you seem to use them as good fast day choices. But I don't! Never mind! I do like vegetarian / vegetable based dishes and have found some nice recipes recently which I'll be trying out soon.
Sounds good panpiper, enjoy your dinner!

swallowedAfly · 25/02/2013 16:35

just caved and ate some fresh prawns - probably only 50cals worth. not like me to be so hungry so soon.

def just soup and steamed veg later.

my pedometer tells me i've walked over 8km already today though and it is absolutely freezing so have been shivering for most of the day.

must try and hold off for a while now or i will get into munching mode.

signorapacino · 25/02/2013 16:36

Hi all just starting today wish me luck. X

BetsyVanBell · 25/02/2013 16:37

Dotty If I have them tomorrow then I can get a bit more generous with the sesame oil, and some soy, ginger, chilli, honey & garlic dressing... yum yum yum. Ok, maybe I am hungry then!!

catsrus · 25/02/2013 16:39

Hi knockmedown - the basic principle is very simple, 500 cals 2days a week. But the research it's based on suggests that once you go 12 hrs without food your body goes into repair mode not 'build' mode - which is why this WOE has other health benefits. Some of us who have doing this a while want to maximise the other health benefits so are keeping most of our calories for one evening meal. I have lost 27lb and am now on a maintenance regime - fast day today Grin - my task is to really begin to understand how much food my body needs to stay at this weight because in the past I have been on diets and then come off them and the weight has crept back up again - not this time. What this WOE teaches is control.

For anyone not losing I would say just pay attention to what you are eating on non fast days. This is what your body needs to stay the same weight. If you want to lose you have to reduce the energy available to your body - less processed food etc. I have found fasting so much easier than calorie restriction so my method of kick starting weight loss would always be to introduce an extra fast rather than calorie count on non fast days - which might be as simple as not eating until the evening but then not sticking to 500 cals.

Dotty342kids · 25/02/2013 16:44

Ah Betsy that sounds like a good plan! And if tomorrow's a non fasting day then think how much other nice stuff you can add to it!

BsshBossh · 25/02/2013 16:52

dines I would call this your first fast day then eat as normal tomorrow. When's your next fast? Well done!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 25/02/2013 16:58

I often have a semi fast day of about 800-1000 calories when I've over indulged somewhat during the week.

Prawntoast · 25/02/2013 17:14

have just managed to go through my fast day not eating, have always had to have a small lunch on previous days. Am feeling ok, but looking forward to dinner!

I would echo what others have said about looking at what you are eating on non-fast days if you aren't losing. I don't calorie count but have found that I am making more of an effort to avoid over eating. Have been doing this since mid Jan with 2 weeks off for illness and lost nearly 10lbs, it's the longest I have ever stuck to a new way of eating.

ELR · 25/02/2013 17:33

Just made kids hot buttered marmite toast and soft boiled eggs, was so tempted but I refrained! God I'm starving!!
Wish hubbie would hurry up but it's prob gonna be another 2-2.30 hours yet before he's home. I could eat without him but its nice to eat together now we are doing the 5:2 never used to wait for him before we started!

Bramblesinafield · 25/02/2013 17:35

Off to heat up my veg curry to break the fast. It was better not eating, tbh. A couple of warming marmite drinks helped in the middle of the day.

dines · 25/02/2013 17:47

bsshbossh my next fast day is on Wednesday feel like i need another one tomoro as didnt complete today very well.. r u on a fast day today?

terracottatoad · 25/02/2013 18:00

Right, I'm going to give this a go. Only problem is, when is a good time to start?! I'm away all of next week for work, which might prove tricky if fasting is factored in too... Oh well, I suppose I should just get cracking with a fast day tomorrow and see how it goes!

Breadandwine · 25/02/2013 18:09

dines I went for 6 months, before the Horizon programme was aired, eating approx 1200 calories on my 'fast' days - and still lost weight. I think you're doing brilliantly!

virginposter · 25/02/2013 18:10

knockmedown for an office lunch of less than 300 why not try a tortilla wrap (170cals) filled with either roast veg or lots of chopped salad and a little lean ham or chicken?

beaniac · 25/02/2013 18:13

Greenfig glad to hear it's not just me. I still managed to eat a curry on Friday night and homemade burger and fries on Saturday though.

Thanks Chazs think I'm going to aim for that for future fasts. Good hearty meal night before through to mid afternoon seems like it works for me because eating earlier does seem to trigger the munchies.

Enjoy whatever you're having or not having for tea tonight! I'll be busying myself with cleaning the bathroom and then enjoying it with a nice bath afterwards!

swallowedAfly · 25/02/2013 18:17

knockedmedown - easiest thing is to take a boiled egg, a few prawns and a little bit of salad. can easily do that on less than 150cals and the protein is really filling. then you have a whole 350 for evening meal and could have a piece of baked fish and steamed veg and still be within 500.

if you have something bready you use up a hell of a lot of calories and introduced refined carbs which tend to create rebound hunger ime.

Fillyjonk75 · 25/02/2013 18:19

Hi everyone. Have been doing this for two weeks now and have lost 2 lbs. And I've not even gone down to 500 cals on fast days, I reckon 600 is fine for me as I'm 12st 6lbs which is the weight of a lot of men anyway! Actually on week one I ate 800 then about 700 calories on the fast days.

I'm also going to the gym/exercising for four hours a week, though I didn't do any formal exercise last week with being half term and still lost weight. Firstly I want to lose a stone by 25th May when I go on holiday, so 12lbs to go now, then see how it goes after that. That will take me to a BMI of 25 as well.