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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:
swallowedAfly · 20/02/2013 19:26

it doesn't get harder does it erik? the time it gets hard is once you've eaten. enjoy your slice of bread Smile

BsshBossh · 20/02/2013 19:29

Well it's a fasting day tomorrow. MIL is visiting and staying until Monday. She's doing 5:2 too but she spreads her cals through the day and I save mine up for the night time. Usually I am fasting alone (work from home alone, DD at school or holiday activity, DH at work) so it's easy to ignore food but with MIL at home with me and eating during the day it will be interesting to see how strong I am at resisting. I won't stress about it though. Well, I'll try not to.

ErikNorseman · 20/02/2013 19:32

No it doesn't! I think from now on I will wait to eat til a lot later on fast days to avoid post dinner temptation. I seem to be packing away 200 or so extra in post dinner snack most fast days Blush

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 20/02/2013 19:34

lack I have antiphospholopid & often forget my supplements. Rheumatologist advised me to take multi vitamin on fast days just in case.

blueberryboybait · 20/02/2013 19:42

I was supposed to be on a fast day today but a rocking sinus headache and horrid fever put paid to that, I needed lots of hot drinks and only fancied toast. Will see how I feel Friday for my second day. I stood on the scales this morning and nearly 3 weeks in I am 4.1 kgs (just over 9lbs) lighter and feeling, generally fantastic.

Goober · 20/02/2013 19:44

Just completed my 2nd fast day and have consumed around 450 cals.
Am not as hungry as I was after first.
I even had a square of chocolate. Grin

ellenbrody · 20/02/2013 20:31

A non-planned fast today. Was supposed to have a normal day as we (DD's and I) were off shopping. I had a normal breakfast then started to feel a bit squiffy (DD2 had d&v bug recently), so didn't really eat much. Went a bit over cals as I had a buttered crumpet when I got in and lots of cups of tea and coffee with milk.
Still got a bit of a gurgly tummy and no appetite, but got that horrid metallic taste in my mouth.

LackaDAISYcal · 20/02/2013 20:48

thanks after8 Smile I took a multi vit today and really must remeber to take it. I remember my lupus meds so why not the vits? Who knows!

Minimammoth · 20/02/2013 21:02

My day total is 550. So I am feeling pleased.

Itsaboatjack · 20/02/2013 21:29

Evening all, I was just checking my TDEE to make sure it is up to date with my weight loss. I tried a few different sites to see if there was any variation and found this one that was very detailed about activity. Hope this works.

iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

AntoinetteCosway · 20/02/2013 21:41

Hi all, I know these threads move very quickly (have been lurking for a bit Blush) but I did my first fast day yesterday and was wondering if someone could just look over my day and tell me if I did it right-I'm pretty sure I did but it seemed a lot easier than I was expecting so I just want to check!

So on Monday I finished supper at about 9pm.
On Tuesday I had a chamomile tea for 'breakfast' at about 11am, a cup of hot water and a diet coke in the afternoon and then supper at about 5.30-one piece of bread, two poached eggs, some light mayo, some asparagus, some cherry tomatoes and a third of a tin of baked beans, which clocked in at 469 kcal. I had a cup of decaf tea before bed with a little skimmed milk and made my total for the day 482.
Then today (Weds) I had breakfast at about 11am (because it's half term and DD was in nursery so I had a giant lie in!!) and then had afternoon tea instead of lunch as I'd had breakfast so late, and normal supper.

Does that all sound ok? I was hungry in the afternoon, but not ravenous.

BetsyVanBell · 20/02/2013 22:01

Hi AC You've done really well! The only thing I would suggest would be adding in a bit more liquid (ideally of the herbal tea or water variety rather than the diet fizzy though...). You got in two really great fasting stretches [respect].

BetsyVanBell · 20/02/2013 22:04

I'm fasting tomorrow, hopefully it'll go better than Monday's which was really hard - though in retrospect I think I might have had a minor stomach bug which could explain a few things. I quite enjoy the fasts normally so it's disappointing when one is tricky. I'm still feeling not brilliant but I'll see how I go, it's not a deal breaker if it doesn't work out Smile.

AntoinetteCosway · 20/02/2013 23:05

Thanks Betsy-will make an effort to get more liquid in for sure. I do love diet coke (with a bit of an unhealthy passion to be honest)-I noticed that the book didn't really talk much about soft drinks, are low-cal fizzy drinks a no-go?

Good luck with your fast tomorrow :)

BumBiscuits · 20/02/2013 23:20

I've done around 450 today (385 + cup of tea with milk and 1.5 breadsticks).

I think I've eaten too many veggies though. My tummy is gurgly and I'm afraid for DH that I have gas.

ah well farts are like kids, your own are okay

Breadandwine · 21/02/2013 00:21

I do love diet coke (with a bit of an unhealthy passion to be honest)-I noticed that the book didn't really talk much about soft drinks, are low-cal fizzy drinks a no-go?

Hi AC - they're not great! (Typical British understatement. Grin)

Have a look at this, from the Tips and Links thread (well worth a visit!)

...For addicts, this film might give you the impetus you need to wean you off diet coke.

About 20 minutes in, Dr Christiane Northrup describes how brain cells are affected (read 'killed') when aspartame and caffeine are combined. The film then goes on to detail the myriad harmful affects of artificial sweeteners:

www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/92129/Hungry_For_Change/

emmafifema · 21/02/2013 00:22

Hi all!

So last week was my first week on 5:2 and this is how it went...

On my 2 fasting days I had a small amount of porridge for brekkie and then 12 hours later had a bowl of curried veg with a boiled egg. I drank black decaf coffee all day and lots of it!

On my non fasting days I literally ate what ever I wanted which included cakes, crisps and all the usual crap!

Week 1 loss: 4lbs!

This week I have been counting calories and restricting to around 1800 on non fasting days. Fasted yesterday and will again tomorrow.

I also find that on fasting days I get a headache and bad throat! And I have also been waking up the day after with a headache too.

Hoping my weight loss will be good this week...weighed this morning and have gone down another 3lb so after another fasting day tomorrow and then weigh on Monday morning hoping it will stay like that!

emmafifema · 21/02/2013 00:24

Oh and also thought I would mention that I am struggling to eat all my calories on non fasting days now that I'm keeping track, it's really weird......May have to eat slightly higher fat foods so less quantity!
Feel like I've been eating all day today and feel well uncomfortable!

BumBiscuits · 21/02/2013 00:25

What about carbonated water with some lime squeezed in or a glug of fruit juice? That's what I have (other than champagne) when I feel the need for fizz.

Arana · 21/02/2013 03:08

Hi all, I'm new to this :)

I lost 40kg two years ago, and was pretty good at keeping it off, but put on five kgs six months ago due to medication (that I've now stopped) that I just can't shift.

I'm on my second fast day of 5:2, first one was fine, no problems, and going well so far :) My strategy is to put off eating until midday, then a couple of snacks of fruit, and then something small for dinner. I'm going to try a variation of this recipe: www.goodchefbadchef.com.au/recipes/311 for my next fast day. I like the idea of little muffin sized portions of healthy, nutritious food, especially if I can cut out most of the fat content.

I work full time, and go to the gym Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so I'm keeping Tuesdays and Thursdays as fast days, that way I can have a pretty normal weekend.

I'm trying this for a month to see how it goes. Hopefully once I get to my target weight of 70kgs (I'm 74kg at the moment, and 170cm) I'll be able to maintain it with the occasional fast day.

I'm a bit of a Michael Mosley fan, so I'm combining the 5:2 diet with the High Intensity Interval Training that he covered in a different Horizon episode. This involves three bouts of 20 seconds full whack sprinting, three times a week. I tried this on a treadmill first time around, and after nearly falling off, I'm gonna stick to the exercise bike or solid ground!

Any other 5:2ers in Australia? I live in Brisbane, and have just found a shop in the local Chinatown that sells super-low-calorie shirataki noodles :)

Arana · 21/02/2013 03:11

www.goodchefbadchef.com.au/recipes/311

Sorry, link fail.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 21/02/2013 06:42

em I had headaches & sore throats when I started this I don't any longer. I made sure that I drank lots of water & herbal teas. I'm a bit weird according to my friends in that I've always drank lots of hot water with a bit of lemon. Though dentist says I've got to stop having lemon as its ruining enamel on my teeth. Who knew?

BetsyVanBell · 21/02/2013 07:05

Aftereights - What? I'm devastated about lemon & water ruining teeth enamel Confused Do you drink it all day? I love a cup first thing, mind you I hardly put any lemon in and my dentist hasn't mentioned any problems - I'll proceed with caution! It can't be as bad as full on OJ.

bluebluecow · 21/02/2013 07:12

hi I'm new to this thread. I've been following 5:2 for two weeks now and haven't lost a pound! today should be a fast day but I am disheartened and losing motivation. I surely should have lost something by nowSad

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 21/02/2013 07:21

BVB I know! But yes I drink it quite a bit & also lemon & ginger tea so I suppose double whammy.

blue sometimes weight loss takes a while to kick in. Think there have been others who haven't lost straight away. Also do you know how much you are eating on non fast days? Worth using mfp. Don't forget you will be getting the health benefits even if you are not losing.

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