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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:
Salbertina · 27/02/2013 07:26

Tracey- can imagine all the food temptations of HK! Love the food there! At least snacking much less of a thing tho and lots of fish/veg. Just step away from too many of those gorgeous weekend brunches, Peak Cafe, 97 ( if still there?) and all those hotels...

swallowedAfly · 27/02/2013 07:27

i think the long fasts are still valuable even if you don't restrict the cals. so far i've done one long fast then ended up eating way over 500 at the end on monday then yesterday i managed the long fast and staying in the 500. i think i'd be quite happy to do the long fasts on non fast days in the week as standard - as in not restrict calories but restrict when i eat them.

from bits i'm reading it seems like this has benefits.

catsrus · 27/02/2013 07:29

I think you're right SaF the time does fly by because for most of the week it really doesn't feel like being on a diet. Interesting about not wanting to waste calories on something you can easily do without - I think a lot of us have found that. Yes you can pretty much much eat what you want on non fast days - but what you want to eat changes.

I had a vey delicious buffet lunch on Saturday and made the most of it - but i didn't try the little pastry puff things because I'm not that keen on pastry tbh and the filling didn't look delicious enough to waste the calories on the pastry. I ate fruit salad for desert because the cake everyone else was raving about was chocolate cake and I've not met many that I like. If it had been an old fashioned fruit cake or cherry cake then I would have had some because I love those. If it had been pavlova i would have had seconds Grin So I'm learning to genuinely eat what I want and not to just want what is there.

ErikNorseman · 27/02/2013 07:31

Breadandwine I had no idea you were in your 70s! Kudos on tearing up the dance floor :) I've just bookmarked your blog, bread is my love, my downfall and my bête noir...I could live off it quite happily if I could have a variety of types and accompaniments!

cardiffmummy · 27/02/2013 07:34

First fast of my second stint of 5:2 (after brief gap!) went really well. Was glad to be off the rubbish to be honest. Didn't really feel hungry and actually fasted for nearly 24 hours without any problems. Was fairly busy which helped keep me distracted. Long may it continue!! Smile

By the way is anyone doing the 30 day shred with 5:2? I'm just waiting for the DVD to arrive.

catsrus · 27/02/2013 07:37

SaF that's what I'm trying to do on maintenance - keep doing the fasting on non fast days (most but not all) but not keep to 500. Days I'm out of home eg in the office, I find easy to fast, if I'm at home I make huGe posts of low cal veg stews/soups/casseroles as I find it hard not to graze - even then I will try my best not to start until lunch.

swallowedAfly · 27/02/2013 07:41

catsrus - i'm thinking weekdays regardless of whether it is a fast day or not i will not eat or have anything other than water and black coffee/herbal tea till late afternoon/evening. on fast days i'll then stick to 500 and non fast days eat what i want but within a contained period of time. is that what you mean? glad it makes sense to someone. i just feel like that will be pretty easy for me to do as i lean to that way of eating anyway and according to the evidence my body will be getting loads of time to digest and rest and repair.

eating too regularly has always made me feel sluggish and bloated and apologies for tmi but like i'm totally bunged up with poo and never really empty my bowels (sorry - i did warn you Wink ).

weekends are going to be free i think.

swallowedAfly · 27/02/2013 07:43

to add to that i think i will always break the fast with a marmite drink as yesterday i found that really satisfied me and reminded me i wasn't ravenous itms. i'll then wait an hour before eating anything else.

PrincessUnderpaid · 27/02/2013 07:46

Checking in after first fast, both arms still in tact Grin

Seemed to spend most of yesterday in the loo but i guess 3 litres of water will do that to you. Felt real hunger yesterday, not bored hunger but true belly cries. I feel as if im tuning in to my body and its needs opposed to its wants already.

Good luck to today to everyone fasting and I hope to hear some more positive stories and add a few of my own.

frenchfancy · 27/02/2013 07:58

cardiff a few of us old times are doing shred with 5:2. I'm not doing it every day as I'm combining it with couch 2 5k. Moving on to level 2 this morning. I'm doing a half fast today -so 24 hours with no food followed by a normal meal with no CR. I'm on holiday at the moment so just trying not to put too much weight on.

MimsyBorogroves · 27/02/2013 08:08

Finished first fast yesterday and woke up this morning feeling dire. Hot and sick and flu-ey. Managed to keep breakfast down so far but it's touch and go.

Is this a normal reaction? I do get massive blood sugar crashes anyway, so is this a major one, or have I got a virus?

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 09:12

wow, got on scales this morning - not really sure why as normally I only weigh after a fast day and another pound has somehow disappeared! So that's 5lbs in four weeks. Expect to bounce around this point for a week or so now but still, that's very gratifying!

greenfig · 27/02/2013 09:54

morning all! welcome tracey & good luck & big shout out to Saf HURRAH!!
Must be that pooGrin
Cardiff I am a JM fan. Have just don NMTZ this am so happy to support you with the shred. ''This is not your mothers workout''Wink
Am lb up this am (daily weigher so not concerned) & out for a monster knees up slap up no holds barred lunch today, can't wait! Agree with all about adjusting attitudes & appetites, what has surprised me is how INSTANT that was! Good luck for any of todays fasters, big fast for me tomorrow. Will try to follow some of your leads in leaving longer & no milk in teaShock

countryhousehotel · 27/02/2013 10:06

How often does anyone recalculate their TDEE and adjust accordingly? Presumably as you lose weight your TDEE moves down so you need to keep an eye on it, so how often would you recommend doing that? After every half stone?

SerotoninButterfly · 27/02/2013 10:11

Have just done an hour of Jillian + yoga, still not particularly hungry but have a REALLY dry mouth and can't seem to stop drinking.

Just over 14 hours into my first fast Grin

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 10:44

seratoninButterfly well done, just keep going, hour by hour and it'll soon be time for food! What have you got planned to eat today? And just keep drinking, drinking, drinking, it's good for you and it'll help.

BumBiscuits · 27/02/2013 10:56

Just checking in. 8th fast today. Feeling hungry but not in danger of bursting my 500 cals.

I'm thinking of reducing the 500 to 450 on my fast days.

My TDEE is just over 1800 and MM says that on fast days you should have up to a quarter of your normal intake. They go by the average for a female being 2000 to get the 500.

I won't beat myself up if I end up being between 450 and 500. I was at 522 on Monday.

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 27/02/2013 11:09

God this thread moves fast!

BMJ - on fast days I get irritable towards the end of the day, headaches, sore throats (despite drinking almost constantly) and very sleepy and apathetic. None of it stops me functioning but I'll be honest and say I don't enjoy fast days, unlike some of the people on this thread (damn you!)

I am 5'11 but lightly built, quite little bones for my height. I was 60-63kg for most of my adult life, which is a bmi of about 18, 19 I think. When I hit 30 my metabolism slowed massively but I didn't really notice as I'd never worried about my weight, but I gradually went from a 10 to a 12. Plus I'd fallen in love with a huge man with a huge appetite Grin.
When I got pg with my first, I put on 4.5 stone. I lost a fair bit before getting pg with no. 2, when I was determined to not put it all on again. Unfortunately I developed severe PGP and could barely move from about 16 weeks onwards so again I piled on the weight, another 4.5 stone. In June last year, about 3 months after birth of DD2, I weighed 83kg.

Basically this is a very long-winded way of saying that although I was only mildly overweight at that point (bmi of 26) It was clearly too much for my frame - rather than the simple height/weight calculation - and so in actuality I was more overweight than the calc allowed for.

I started WW which I HATED, but lost 6kg. Then in Nov I discovered 5:2. Nothing AT ALL happened for about 2-3 weeks, then I started losing weight hand over fist. I even lost weight Christmas week.

I am now 71kg (but this is after 24 hours of tummy bug) but the weight loss is definitely plateauing. I stutter between 73-71.5kg, and I can foresee that I will get to about 70kg and will stall, unless I do something drastic. Which I won't as I'm lazy, frankly.

I'd like to be 68kg. I can live with 70kg. I'm 37 and I'm never going to wear a bikini again after 2 c-sections, so realistically I can accept it.

What about you? What's your BMI?

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 11:10

Hmm, bit confused today.
Just went to check my TDEE on the calculator recommended which says it's 2260 (what's the BMR figure that it mentions?).
So, went over to MFP and updated my weight on there and asked it to calculate my daily intake in order to remain the same (as that's the only way to stop it giving you a much lower daily calorie allowance) and it comes up with 1840 cals as a daily target.
So which one do I go for and which one do I base my quarterly allowance for fast days on?

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 27/02/2013 11:11

Actually, let's be honest, I'd like to be 63kg again but that is never, ever going to happen Grin

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 27/02/2013 11:14

Dotty- BMR is basal metabolic rate. It's what your basic calorific need is in order to simply exist.

Base your 1/4 on your TDEE not your BMR.

Not sure why you have two different TDEEs I'm afraid.

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 11:17

ah, thanks for explaining what the BMR bit is panpiper.
Will see if anyone else can shed light on the difference between the two TDEEs!

BumBiscuits · 27/02/2013 11:21

panpiper

Your post was good to read. I've lost 9lbs overall but have been the same weight for almost 2 weeks, I'm waiting for it to start shifting! I did 2 weeks of calorie counting, discovered 5:2 and I'm not on my 4th week. So nearly six weeks on a weightloss regime overall.

I've no idea what I am in kilos. I'm 5'3" with a medium frame and put on 4 stone each pregnancy. First time I lost it all and some and second time I got down to within a stone of my pre-pg weight then started work/stopped bfing and gained 2.5 stone. I think even with the 9lbs off I'm still heavier now than when I left the hospital with DD2.

EducationalAppStore · 27/02/2013 11:23

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Talkinpeace · 27/02/2013 11:24

TDEE : there are several different research projects that come out with different versions of TDEE. I like the one in Greeneggs OP - its the most accurate for me.

Waking up feeling crap after a fast : most likely just a coincidence. THis mank weather is making lots of people feel dire. Eat healthily for the next couple of days and then try another fast, remembering to keep your fluids up (tea, coffee, miso soup are all diddly squat calories but warm)

MFP / BMR / TDEE : MFP's maths programme finds the maths of just having 500 calories two days per week a tad confusing. It has weekly settings now (I believe) that should help. But basically aim to average your TDEE on the other 5 days and you have a 3000 calorie a week deficit which equals weight loss.

Recalculating TDEE : I recalculated mine after every 7 pounds of weight loss, or for every significant change in activity level ...