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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:
Wishihadabs · 26/02/2013 16:36

Swallowed I was also freezing after going for a run.Several cups of black coffee later feel a little warmer.

cardiffmummy · 26/02/2013 16:50

Hi all have been off this thread and 5:2 for the past fortnight, after a successful first month. But am back and very relieved I can tell you!! I have attempted to "eat healthily" for the past 2 weeks whilst not 5:2ing - not exactly successful as have gained several pounds! For health reasons had stopped fasting but have the green light again and am keen to get back into it! So am sitting here sipping a mug of hot lemon squash - weird I know but strangely satisfying (for me anyway) Smile. Haven't eaten since last night and feel fine. Feels so good to be back in control!

Have a lot of catching up to do as we were only just on thread 12 when I was last here but looking forward to seeing how everyone is doing and all the news and tips Smile.

greenfig · 26/02/2013 16:52

daisy perhaps the exercise will help. I think a long bath & a large glass of something is probably in order. You really need a good nights sleep, hope you oneSmile.

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 26/02/2013 17:05

skeleton it's something i struggle with. endless cups of green tea seems to help, and chicken stock at 24-35 cal a cube (depending on brand) helps too.

Also - check your TDEE. greeneggs told me that 500 cals is 1/4 of normal daily allowance (d'oh, of course). My TDEE is actually 2100, so I've adjusted to 525 and it seemed to help (may have been a placebo effect!)

Work out your TDEE and perhaps adjust accordingly? Men are allowed 600 so with your exercise level you may well be more like that.

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 26/02/2013 17:06

I'm also freezing. But then I've had 800 cals in 2 days and most of that has come straight out again so not surprising. Have to go and deal with the kids now. And hopefully not vomit on them.

swallowedAfly · 26/02/2013 17:12

bless you panpiper.

i've snapped badly at ds, he kind of deserved it but i think it was also a combination of cold, hungry, pre-menstrual and hasn't this bloody winter gone on long enough now making me a tad more reactionary.

dines · 26/02/2013 17:28

It's my second day in the diet Havnt ate healthly at all I had chips and battered sauasge for lunch and a breakfast bar at about half 4. Has anyone done this and still lost weight? My second fast day is tomorrow.

dines · 26/02/2013 17:32

Was ment time say Havnt hate healthy

charliegreentea · 26/02/2013 17:33

Yay for normal eating day today. Yesterday was tough as smallest child had multiple meltdowns and sapped all my energy. Oh the joys of parenthood! Hope everyone is having a good week Smile

dines · 26/02/2013 17:35

My stupid fone keeps putting words I don't want.. sorry lol was ment to say I Havnt ate healthly today and has anyone else done this on the feed days and still lose the weight?

swallowedAfly · 26/02/2013 17:39

you've had one high cal meal and one breakfast bar - depending on what you eat tonight it could be fine dines.

no idea what sausage and chips come to but even if it was a 1000cals that and a breakfast bar will not have equaled your tdee

charliegreentea · 26/02/2013 17:39

Hi dines. Losing weight on this diet is all about calories in vs out over the period of a week. I eat extremely well on fast days ie mostly veg with tiny amount of chicken, egg, tuna, natural yoghurt and frozen blueberries. On other days I am eating whatever I like and still losing, but I have a fair amount to lose and seem to be going for healthier options in comparison to before starting this woe. Hope this helps [

Talkinpeace · 26/02/2013 17:41

A couple of points :
5:2 is NOT like WW and various other systems - you do not get credit for exercise. If I fast on a Wednesday when I also do my swim and yoga and bodypump, I technically burn 475 calories more than I take in, just on that, let alone staying upright.

Cold : yup. Its real, its not you. Your system is burning up fuel and thinning the insulation layer. Live with it. Put on another jumper.

Food cravings : pick up the thing you want and count to ten, looking at it, before you put it in your mouth.
During that count, decide if you want it or long term health more ....

charliegreentea · 26/02/2013 17:47

Swallowed I agree that milk in hot drinks is a waste of cals on fast days. I also wanted to offer some moral support to everyone fasting in winter and reassure you that fasting down here in summer is so easy and actually quite pleasant. Something to look forward to Smile

BsshBossh · 26/02/2013 17:53

dines I generally eat quite healthily during the week (fast and non-fast days) (though today I seem to be having a peanut butter/jam sandwich & chocolate kinda day Blush) but I'm much more lax on weekends when I'm more likely to eat whatever I want or everyone else is eating. Don't stress it. Try and eat as healthily as you can most of the time but you will still lose weight on the unhealthy stuff (please, not all the time though).

BsshBossh · 26/02/2013 17:55

dines forgot to say that yes I am losing weight even when having unhealthy days.

Fillyjonk75 · 26/02/2013 18:02

I like having the milk though, keeps me going and love my milky coffee in the morning, wouldn't be without it.

Sutinder · 26/02/2013 18:15

Hi everyone. Love everyone's achievements. 2 nd fast day foe me tomorrow. First day was breeze. Today was my feed day and I opted in for all the healthy options. It's early days hope it continues. Bring on tomorrow .. Have made home made soup in prep for tomorrow xx

BlackMaryJanes · 26/02/2013 18:16

Does anyone find that fasting makes them uber tired? Even with all the caffinne I drink on fast days I'm still exhausted. When people talk to me I can barely concentrate on what they're saying.

dines · 26/02/2013 18:16

Ok so I'll say today is my eat wot u want day tomorrow is a fast day and will eat healthy Thursday Friday and sat no sweet stuff or takeaways lol and will maybe have another treat on Sunday say maybe a glass of wine? I hope this goes to plan I might just have another fast day on Friday to make up for my rubbish one on Monday... i had about 800 cals on Monday maybe a bit more.. hope I can keep to 500this time.. will try not to have anything till about 2 tomorrow.

Sutinder · 26/02/2013 18:17

How old is everyone on here... Just curious... I'm 50 and wondered if the weight loss is slower as you get older

MWOW1 · 26/02/2013 18:21

cardiffmummy I also have been off for two weeks and started again fasting yesterday and will fast again tomorrow. It was a relief to get back on the fast but funnily i didnt find the fast hard but have found it difficult to stick to my healthy eating today on a non-fast day. Plan to go to gym tonight to take my mind of food and promising myself a small glass of vino when I get back

Sutinder I am 46 and weight loss is definitely slower as you get older....or so i keep telling myself!

catsrus · 26/02/2013 18:22

HI BMJ - no, to be honest I have far more energy on fast days, sorry.

Sutinder I'm closer to 60 than 50 Grin and yes it got harder to lose as I got older but this fasting seems to have cracked it for me!

swallowedAfly · 26/02/2013 18:24

sutinder i'm 37. i used to be able to lose half a stone by going out partying for a weekend. not any more.

Sutinder · 26/02/2013 18:26

Wow ladies thanks that's very encouraging. I'm certainly enjoying this WOE more than anything I have done before. This thread keeps me motivated.