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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:
snoworneahva · 26/02/2013 08:32

Have been thinking that given at least half the battle of what you eat is in your head - Am going to try affirmations to help trick my brain and condition my sub conscious into developing more control over what I eat. I have control, it's evident - I exercise control twice a week on fast days, I never consider giving in. I still struggle to control myself when surround by tasty food on non-fast days - I eat beyond my appetite and for too long I have been telling myself I have no control!
So have decided, it's time I started telling my sub conscious that I do have control, so I'm banishing negative thoughts about food intake and I'm going to say affirmations, aloud in front of a mirror in the morning after my shower and then as many times a day as I can muster. I am in control of my food intake, I have a small appetite, I love my body and I look after it with nutritious food and exercise....these will vary in how they are phrased but they will stay positive and be focused on telling myself how well i am doing ( whether really true or not) in the present tense not the future or the past and I will counter every negative thought with at least 3 positive ones, it is working! Grin see started already!!!

Dotty342kids · 26/02/2013 09:06

itsaboatjack well done! Great news. Like swallowedafly I'm just itching to get under the 11 marker on the scales, and then a good few pounds further after that but one day at a time.
Just weighed in after fast day yest and for first time since starting this the scales tipped down to 11st4 so am really pleased. That's 4lbs in 4wks. Am sure to go back up to 11st5 after a few days of eating but last week I was hovering between 11st5 and 11st6 so the trend is downwards. Yippeeeee!

MrsHelsBels74 · 26/02/2013 09:40

Ok so I had a big slump in my mood & stopped fasting for a few weeks. I'm now finding it really hard to get motivated to start again. Any tips to get back into the swing of things?

greenfig · 26/02/2013 09:42

A new low on the scales Dotty, that's such a good feelingSmile
Well done toi you too itsaboat a new number is fabby tooSmile
saf I KNOW I'm going to have your tom probs as I always need to hoover food/sugar then. Am not really bothered by sugar rest of month, more likely to reach for cheese/wine but it's like I need to feed the monster at tomGrin
If you find any top tips pass them my way!!
catsrus we seem to be on a similar 'journey' (she says in a totally poncy way a la masterchef contestantGrin) I am down to 951/2 this am post fast so that's 51/2 lbs in a week!! Am sooo pleased & feeling really well & enjoying this woe. Was up to 9.10 post Christmas & it took me 6 wks to get back to 9.7 'healthy eating'. I took 2 steps forward but as soon as I had a glass of wine or a roast potato the scales would bob back to one step back. So frustrating! Put the lost lbs back on on hol & I've lost them + some in a week, hurrah!! Would like to stabilise like you catsrus around 9-9.3. I was 9.3 breifly last summer but realistically I was stabilised around 9.5. I think it does take a while to adjust & settle before the next lbs shift. If I get to 9 stone it will be the first time since before dc, almost 13 years agoShock
Good luck to todays fasters.

greenfig · 26/02/2013 09:43

Daisy I hope you had a good nights sleepSmile

BumBiscuits · 26/02/2013 09:44

Hi everyone

I had my 7th fast yesterday. I still wanted to eat when I'd had my 500 cals. I ended up unintentionally going to bed early. Kids were sleeping with me cos DH is away. I went in beside then for 5 mins at 8pm and didn't wake again until the alarm went off at 7am! I was dreaming I was out and about with Simon Cowell and his entourage...wtf? Grin I'll put a request into my subconscious for George Clooney (circa Ocean's 11) and no entourage next time.

I drank far too many red wines over a weekend away with DH and as a result have STS this week.

Anja1Cam · 26/02/2013 09:49

snoworneahva yes agree completely! Learning about control on non-fast days is what I also need to work on! At the moment it's MFP and trying to stay near my TDEE what keeps me there but I really must/hope to stop counting and logging everything in the long run.
I know I'm not hungry. I don't 'need' the biscuit at 10am or 3pm. In fact I can happily go with noting till lunch so why not on a average day (I'd rather not call them feast days).

Well done and good luck!

greenfig · 26/02/2013 10:06

A secret Simon Cowell fantasy AnjamWink Sub concious trying to tell you something methinks!

Fillyjonk75 · 26/02/2013 10:14

I find fasting actually helps with my moods, MrsHelsBels.

My first fast day was the day before my period and I had no PMT, snappiness, bad moods etc whatsoever. Make your fast days a treat in terms of getting lots of veg/some fruit in that you like in preparation and line up another higher calorie treat for the day after.

First fast day of the week today - had an actually really nice breakfast of broccolli, mushrooms and egg.

So how many calories are you meant to eat on your normal days in relation to your TDEE- anything up to that? Obviously I've not been doing too badly losing one pound a week so far, but just wanted to check. Pretty much every normal day bar one I do an hour of vigorous exercise anyway.

Itsaboatjack · 26/02/2013 10:25

Thanks everyone, and well done all other losers :) saf I've lost 11.5lbs in 4 weeks doing this and 18lbs since beginning of Jan.

Grin at BB's dream, Simon Cowell eh.

snow my eating habits are slowly getting better on normal days, it's still not great everyday and some days are easier than others. Funny that I'm finding fast days so easy though, but yet still find it hard to stop a binge when it's gets started.

Fillyjonk75 · 26/02/2013 10:29

One normal day I binged on shortbread biscuits and I can't remember what else in the afternoon. But I just decided not to have any dinner as I'd already had enough calories (!) and you know what, I put it all into MFP and it was only 1700 calores for the day anyway, so not so bad after all.

BlackMaryJanes · 26/02/2013 10:42

Wow how fast do these threads go! Shock

Okay folks I've decided. If there's still no weight loss at the weigh-in on Saturday I'm going to jack in this WOE and go back to my old diet. I feel sad as I had high hopes for this WOE but I need to eat in a way that gives me results. Perhaps my body's just not cut out for fasting. Perhaps it freaks out and holds onto every shred of fat.

Fillyjonk75 · 26/02/2013 11:03

Fair enough BMJ. You could do this for a week or two in between your normal diet anyway, to bowl yourself a googly and shake things up a bit. Could be good for shifting weight when you hit a plateau as well as a WOL.

As good as this thread/these threads are I wish there was a forum link on the official website. Sort it aht, Michael.

Wishihadabs · 26/02/2013 11:08

Well so far so good. Managed to go supermarket and cook tonight's dinner with out nibbling. Also made a fantastic salad for lunch to eat with 100g cottage cheese cheese(total 150kcal). Off on a run now ( Pilates cancellation). Realy feel I can do this.

BlackMaryJanes · 26/02/2013 11:15

Fair enough BMJ. You could do this for a week or two in between your normal diet anyway, to bowl yourself a googly and shake things up a bit. Could be good for shifting weight when you hit a plateau as well as a WOL.

I think that's an excellent idea. It doesn't have to be all or nothing :) Sometimes I forget that.

I wonder why Mosley doesn't add a forum to his website, perhaps because it will need moderating.

Keep up the good work Wishihadabs I'm fasting today too. Just had a can of diet pepsi so far.

MimsyBorogroves · 26/02/2013 11:25

Trying this for the first time today - but having to be a bit "creative" as I hate cooking, so don't want to do something different for DS1&2. We've got last night's spag bol left over (made with quorn, passata, one pepper, celery, red onion) so I'm going to have a small portion of that with no pasta, and for lunch 2 scrambled eggs (no milk etc), a carrot and one red pepper (as we have those in the fridge anyway) and hope for the best.

BetsyVanBell · 26/02/2013 11:33

Mismy Welcome! That sounds like a perfect way to do it - most of the calories tend to be in the carbs after all. My top tip for that dinner would be to have a bed of baby spinach or other salad leaves in place of the pasta (rice/potatoes whatever) - makes the meal look bigger on your plate, takes longer to eat and adds a load of healthiness.

chocolatespiders · 26/02/2013 11:45

Thanks for that catsrus I will bear that in mind for the next fast day

I had green tea when I got up and I had it in a glass instead of a mug and wow it tasted so much better from the glass.

Lunch I am having soup and for dinner I am going to have chick pea curry with steamed shredded cabbage. (cant wait for this)

Then tomorrow I will eat normally within my ww points (hoping I am doing this right)

countryhousehotel · 26/02/2013 12:10

Catsrus that's an impressive weight loss! I'm 15 stone at the moment although am reliably informed I don't "look it", whatever that's supposed to mean! I'm happiest at around 10 stone or 10 and a half, but I'm aiming to get back to my pre-DS weight of around 11 to 11.5 stone first of all. I'd been steady at just over 10 stone for years, then had DD and still maintained that with no effort, then had a miscarriage and the weight started creeping on. Got pregnant with DS, and decided to indulge myself during pregnancy and enjoyed it too much! And I've carried on gaining for the last 3 years.

First fast day today, so far so good. Nothing to eat as at midday. ONly just starting to feel hungry, probably because I've just cooked DS some lunch and I can smell it! Was going to have breakfast because I'm a breakfast person (I work out most mornings so I feel hungry once that's done) - but I decided to see how long I could last.

Waiting for a bit longer then I'll have a miso soup and a leftover tofu sausage (95 cals total). Red pepper, lentil, carrot soup for later. Strangely enjoying it!

BlackMaryJanes · 26/02/2013 12:18

countryhousehotel What work outs do you do?

MeSoFunny · 26/02/2013 12:25

oh there is nothing so good as a slice of toast and jam the morning after your fast.

Miffytastic · 26/02/2013 13:31

Struggling a bit on my fast today.... Not got much oomph, head hurts and I've just sat at my computer faffing about but not working. Not sure if that's related to fasting or not?!
Also have just done a graze order. I wanted EVERYTHING!

So far have had 3 cups of tea (only one withmilk, and one was redbush) and an egg & banana to eat. Might have to go eat some more...

Weighed myself last Friday, which was a fast day unusually, and had stayed the same. Boo :(

Itsaboatjack · 26/02/2013 13:42

OMG, I'm having lots of little wins today, firstly scales go under 12st for first time in long time and then just now I found my belt that I lost before I started this (behind the toy box - pesky children) and I just put it on and have gone in 3 whole notches. :)

I'll have to try and remember those happy thoughts when I'm having food and wine thrown at me when I'm at this do tonight.

KittyMcAllister · 26/02/2013 13:46

Hi, I've been fasting for three weeks and I'm really struggling today. Feel crap, drained of energy & snapping at the DC's Sad To top it all off my weight loss seems to have plateau'd. Rubbish when I've still got at least 1 stone to go before I reach my ideal weight. Any tips to keep motivated?

countryhousehotel · 26/02/2013 13:50

BMJ mostly HIIT (high intensity interval training) circuits and tabata. Quick and effective. I have loads of equipment at home (kettlebells, medicine balls etc).