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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:
BumBiscuits · 27/02/2013 11:37

Tummy rumbing and I'm wondering what to have for lunch.

M&S, Co-op & Sainsbury near work and I have access to a microwave. Any suggestions/ideas welcome

I usually stick to below 100 for daytime and have the rest in the evenings. I may split it today to 250/250.

I didn't have much to eat yesterday, that is probably why I'm hungry today.

BsshBossh · 27/02/2013 11:38

countryhousehotel to be honest I recalculate my TDEE after each weigh day (but that's cause I love numbers!).

Dotty I just go with my TDEE calculator and ignore MFP.

WithASpider · 27/02/2013 11:49

Hi everyone!

Me and DH are on week 5 of this new WOE, I'm down 8lb and 2.5 inches off my waist, he's down 25lb and 3 inches off his! :o

Finding it much easier to stick to than any other diet i've tried, and i'm definitely choosing to eat less on my normal days. Found ourselves looking forward to fasting on Mon too after a heavyish weekend.

I've got 5 stone in total to lose, DH has at least 7.

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 11:52

I'm inclined to go with the lower TDEE which is the one on MFP, rather than the higher one although rather concerned that this now means on fast days (if I stick to the 1/4 of the TDEE method) that I'll only have 470 cals to play with, rather than 500. I know it's not much difference but it means half a banana instead of a whole banana for my afternoon snack - not sure how well I'll cope with that!!!

ELR · 27/02/2013 11:53

Just checking in and reading everyone's news, stories ect. Couldn't resist and got weighed this morning even though yesterday was a normal eating day. So after 9 days and 3 fasts I have lost 3lb really pleased but its only the weight I had gained over Christmas so back to my usual weight of 10st10 which I have been for the last 10years!! But def good as usually when I gain 2 or 3lbs I loose it within a week or two but this time it had seemed to really stick.

DH has lost 4lbs and is 1/2 alb lighter than he has ever been and whithin a normal bmi.

TMI coming up but after we both weighed this morning at 7am we were so pleased and as the kids were still asleep we had a quick bit of morning action!!

Fast day tomorrow and am looking forward to it!

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 12:01

haha ELR, that made me laugh! And you burnt off some cals too, excellent news!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 27/02/2013 12:01

Dotty don't worry about the 1/4 figures. I gave that to the poster above (forgotten her name now, sorry!) because she'd had a question about being able to go above 500 calories from time to time.

The figure of 500 is a good one to stick to. If everyone took 1/4 of their TDEE, many people here would have less than 500 to eat. It's not an exactly science; they just took the average TDEE for a woman and made the fast day 1/4 of that figure. That figure it itself was just an estimate. It was their way of acknowledging that the average person is unlikely to be able to completely avoid food for a day, so what figure is realistic? Hence 1/4 was born.

So please don't worry about it, just aim for 500. :)

OP posts:
Anja1Cam · 27/02/2013 12:06

Ah well TIP already got there with an extensive answer as usual, but Dotty342kids I just wanted to add that I too got confused by the different TDEEs and just decided to go for whichever is lower... I also put my activity as minimal "to be on the safe side" as I'm definitely looking to lose some weight at the moment. Thereafter I'll see about juggling ignoring the numbers as long as the weight stays steady.

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 12:15

Thanks greeneggs and Anja1Cam, that seems wise. Actually, thinking about it, I usually exercise for an hour on my fast days so I'm probably going to stick at 500. If I can come in lower all well and good, but not going to panic over it.
Thanks folks!

holmessweetholmes · 27/02/2013 12:24

About to read up on everyone's progress. Am on first fast day of my second week. Haven't lost any weight yet, but I feel slimmer, especially round the stomach. I'm about to have home made celery soup for lunch. Was going to just have a big salad but it's too cold! I'm always cold anyway (side effect of bp medication), but this weather, combined with fasting, makes me freeze! Will post soup recipe on the other thread. It's yummy.

PanpiperAtTheGatesOfYawn · 27/02/2013 12:56

It was me greeneggs

BumBiscuits · 27/02/2013 13:27

I ended up having an M&S Count on Us Chicken Chow Mein for lunch. It is 285 calories so 200 cals for dinner tonight. I'll either have a chilli based round a tin of tomatoes and whatever veg is lurking in the fridge with cauli-rice or a 2 egg omlette with sliced chillies.

catsrus · 27/02/2013 13:27

Keep it simple Dotty -Dr M says 500 is not a magic number - its just a good base level fast. The more you keep it simple the easier it becomes. Some fasts I was under 500, others I probably went up to 800 - I still lost weight Grin.

Basically you severely restrict on a few days a week, eat sensibly the rest of the time and treat yourself when appropriate Grin.

Nothing is forbidden but if we want to lose weight we simply have to take in less calories than our bodies need. If we want the health benefits without the weight loss we need to get the calories in = calories out balance right. For me that's always been the hardest thing to get right Blush

SerotoninButterfly · 27/02/2013 13:33

Lunch today = fridge raiders at 48 cals and ainsley's minestrone cuppasoup at 85 cals.

Managed an 18hour fast on my first try - pretty good I reckon Grin

Will have v light dinner (less than 200cals) and a cup a soup later at work (working until half midnight!)

Anja1Cam · 27/02/2013 13:38

SerotoninButterfly hey well done! It took me a whole week/ 3 fasts to get past the 12hr barrier Smile (I'm only in week 2 now)

Wishihadabs · 27/02/2013 13:40

As predicted finished yesterday no problem v. full after veg soup. Didn't realy feel hungry till just now had salad fruit and a couple of my dodgy biscuits. Got a big dinner lined up but can see what others mean about the reset button.Fasting again tomorrow, now know that 4pm is difficult time so will plan something for then.

Itsaboatjack · 27/02/2013 14:23

Fasting again today, kinda forgot about it though and had milk in my tea this morning so already broken my fast. I'm actually feeling quite hungry and finding it quite a chore today, I assume because I wasn't mentally prepared as I forgot I was going to do it today.

So I've just had a bowl of carrot and lentil soup and have a turkey omelette and salad planned for tonight.

SerotoninButterfly · 27/02/2013 14:52

Have promised myself a mini-fry up tomorrow morning and am going to be doing C25K week 4 run 2 tomorrow morning so will need the extra cals Grin

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 15:53

catsrus thanks for tips. I'm currently on wk 4/5 of this and have been doing fine but got a bit confused today after trying to recalculate my TDEE after initial weight loss Grin.
Will carry on aiming for 500 on fast days and work on about 1900 on my eating days. See what happens!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 27/02/2013 16:13

itsaboat wouldn't worry too much about the milk in your tea, I sometimes have one first thing on a fast day if I think I need it. Though of course it's better if you can do without the milk. But sometimes a proper cup of tea is essential! Just remember to count it in your calories.

Dotty342kids · 27/02/2013 16:22

Blooming heck! Am having spag bol for tea with the kids today. I make it all from scratch using lamb mince (we're not beef eaters in this household!) and according to MFP it's coming out at 1000 cals!! Approx 450ish for the "bol" and 550ish for the "spag".
Can this be right?!
I'm really tired and headachey today and want to eat everything in sight, which included a nice big bowl of spaghetti bolognese. I can just about manage it within my TDEE after having banana and yog for breakfast and then a wholemeal bread mackeral salad sandwich for lunch (and small piece of cake!) but still can't believe it's that many cals. Bang goes the planned chocolatey treat for later.
Depressed!

BetsyVanBell · 27/02/2013 16:33

Dotty You could try bulking it out with loads of mushrooms & maybe other veg (courgette, aubergines) then you'll get more portions out of it for not many more calories (mushrooms are ridiculously low!). Maybe switch to wholemeal pasta - not sure if it's lower in calories but is lower GI at least. Or just eat less the rest of the day! If you haven't snacked then even if you eat 1000cals at dinner you'll probably not go over your tdee. Sometimes you can't beat a big dish of spag bol Smile.

SerotoninButterfly · 27/02/2013 16:41

Dotty, is that figure for the whole thing or per portion?

ELR · 27/02/2013 16:47

Dotty that is really high for the spat part that would mean you were having 150g of pasta before its cooked which should easily serve two adults. Are you sure you will eat tat amount of pasta that is almost 1/3 rd of a bag?

Fillyjonk75 · 27/02/2013 16:50

Sounds too much, unless it's a restaurant portion, with cream in it.

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