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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:
Minimammoth · 20/02/2013 16:10

Have I done it? Today one teeny scrambled egg for breakfast, soup for lunch. My last proper mean was at 5.30 yesterday. Do I have to eat frugall for the ready of the day, or can I have something more normal? Is that a fast day?
Am beginning to fantasise about toast and butter.

Minimammoth · 20/02/2013 16:11

Meal not meal....

Minimammoth · 20/02/2013 16:11

See am definitely losing it.Grin

swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 16:27

you have to stay under 500cals for the day mini.

how many have you had so far? work out what you have left.

ErikNorseman · 20/02/2013 16:32

Minimammoth the fast period is waking up until going to sleep. I'd guess you have probably reached 500 cals or nearly. Input it into mfp and see. If you want to fast today then you need to keep it to 500 cals until tomo morning.

swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 16:39

i doubt she's had more than 300 - an egg is 90cals - soup would have to be very hearty to be 410cals worth.

still not eaten here - though have had hot drinks with milk. have made soup that looks pretty unappealing but is there for later if i need it. would love to do a whole day without any food but will see how it goes.

Miffytastic · 20/02/2013 16:48

Fatcowslim Yes I felt like that, I think I've done 6 fasts now and it is getting easier. However on my last one I came over all woozy at about 10pm....
The other day I did break my 'rule' I was going for of waiting 16 hours til I ate my first fast food, - by having breakfast at about 10am so had only done 12/13 hours - I didn't feel as odd that day.

Minimammoth · 20/02/2013 16:53

Thanks for help. I reckon I have had about 350. Homemade soup, celery, artichoke, so lowish.
No toast then... Am off to yoga will eat when I get beck.

Madeyemoodysmum · 20/02/2013 17:20

Hi all, been I while since I checked in, been watching all the great progress on here. Well done all.

Just weighed. I could resist as been ages since i could as my mum has just lent me her scales Was a bit nervous as due on tomz and have felt very bloated the last two days. This is my 4th week on 5.2 Also, Just had a blow out weekend of fish and chips Saturday and Sunday a roast with treacle pudd and custard!

so I was totally gob smacked to see I've lost another 2lbs. I'm so pleased. I was expecting to see no loss as its late afternoon and a feed day as well and I'm dressed. Will weigh again first thing and see if it's even better but any case I'm thrilled. 2lb after a blow out weekend. This is the best woe ever! I haven't felt deprived at all, only today I took the kids to a national trust place with mum and indulged and a big slice of walnut cake. No guilt no cutting back for a week to make up the calories hurray......

total loss in 4 weeks 8lbs.

Madeyemoodysmum · 20/02/2013 17:21

Could not resist I mean. Oops.

holmessweetholmes · 20/02/2013 17:26

BumBiscuits - it was a bit of a cheat really, because I was in a hurry. It was just some onion, celery and tinned mixed beans, simmered briefly with some tomato puree and harissa paste. I will make some proper veg chilli and freeze portions for future fast days. I like the cauli rice though - brilliant idea and quite tasty! I'm having skinless chicken thigh, half a nest of noodles and some veg for dinner. Looking forward to non-fast day tomorrow!

PORRIDGEANYONE · 20/02/2013 17:32

Hi everyone !!

Is it me or fast day is harder with the children around, they are driving crazy :-(

swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 17:47

i definitely find it harder porridge - not least because my son is constantly hungry and after food! i am child free tonight so should be a lot easier!

PORRIDGEANYONE · 20/02/2013 17:51

I failed today...:-( I was terribly hungry and being in terrible mood...today is not fast day anymore but I wont go crazy...and I'm crying feeling so stupid. Ona positive note, yesterday I went for a run, the first in a while and it made me smile a lot.

swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 17:53

don't cry! just do it tomorrow. maybe have a better plan of attack now you know where the hurdles are x

LackaDAISYcal · 20/02/2013 17:57

Aw porridge Sad Try not to feel despondent.

The great MM says if it isn't working, just stop and try again another day. The beauty of this woe is that the old "I'll diet tomorrow" is bang on! Grin

PORRIDGEANYONE · 20/02/2013 18:04

I'll do it tomorrow, the key I think is to be constantly busy. I had decided (wrongly) to have a lazy day with the dcs...so plenty of time to do nothing and plenty of time to think about food too.

swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 18:16

it might also be good to have very clear what you're giving them for meals and have it ready or simple to prepare so that you're not stood around in the kitchen wondering what to do and staring at food iyswim.

yes busy and maybe have a list of chores/things to do that you'll go through when you get tempted. i find taking it hour by hour helps if it's hard - so i'll just do some ironing for a bit and see how i feel and an hour has passed, or i'll walk the dog then see how i feel etc.

before you know it it's mid afternoon and the home stretch.

still not eaten! it probably would be easier not to eat at all in some ways because i know once i do eat i'll be all food obsessed.

PORRIDGEANYONE · 20/02/2013 18:32

Well done Swallowed !! I'll get where you are one day !!!Thank you for the tips !

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 20/02/2013 18:34

Thanks everyone. Yes it's been totally on 5:2 & sometimes I've done 4:3 but that doesn't always fit in with my life. I started this at the beginning of August & have found it easy except at the beginning when I too would have headaches sore throats & dizziness. Now I hardly get anything at all.

and from the 3 meals that I used to do I now just save my calories for the evening as I prefer that. I find eating switches on my hunger switch. I usually have my last meal at 8.30pm & next eat at 8.30pm on a fast day, then normally the following day. Though occasionally skip breakfast following fast day if I'm not hungry.

BumBiscuits · 20/02/2013 18:54

aftereights, I'm just starting but I have a similar amount to you to lose. I have 3.5 stone to lose to get to a BMI of 25. Ideally I'd like to be 9 or slightly under. I've not been that weight for about 15 years!

LackaDAISYcal · 20/02/2013 18:56

Has anyone had any muscle cramps? I had a type of colitis this time last year and by the time I saw a gastro, I was quite dehydrated and ill, and one of the main symptoms was cramping in my calf muscles.

By the end of my fast yesterday I had similar, but not as painful, cramping and this morning it was quite sore. I am coeliac and have lupus and have to take calcium and vitD supplements (which I am rubbish at remembering) so worrying that the fasting is causing me more mineral/vitamin deficiencies Confused

Maybe I need to drink more on a fast day? though I thought I had been getting enough in.

swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 18:57

that is so good to read after8 - 3.5stone on this woe in 6.5 months-ish. including christmas and winter in general Smile encouraging.

i've had a bowl of semi home made soup. i used 300g of cubed veg for mashing and cooked it in water with some herbs then whizzed the lot with a hand blender. then i added a can of condensed low fat mushroom soup and more water, heated it and then left it to go cold and thicken and be ready for tonight.

it was really nice and very thick and the whole thing (guessing just under a litre) comes to 267cals. one bowl of it (about half) has really filled me up so i'm going to cool refridgerate the rest for fasting on friday and aim to eat nothing else today.

so say 135cals from soup and maximum of 170 from milk in hot drinks = 305. if i can stick to the plan today is a good really light fast. wish me luck.

Iwearblack · 20/02/2013 19:06

Thanks for your messages all! Due to work commitments (entertaining visitors!) can only fit in 1 fast this week so have gone for the 'mini-break' strategy of missing breakfast and just have lunch and tea. Hope this is enough to maintain this week's weight loss!
Looks like me and you are the same weight after8s! Getting under 11 stone would be a great milestone for me too ..

ErikNorseman · 20/02/2013 19:16

I haven't eaten yet today- well some tic tacs and a sherbet lemon, then an options. Prob around 75 cals. I'm fine, no hungrier than any other time of day. I doubt I'll fast til the morning as I'm baking bread Blush so I will need a slice later. But one slice with butter should be around 150 so it should be a better day than any so far, fasting wise. My bread won't be done til around 9pm so no long stretch of time afterwards to think about eating!

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