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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:
ErikNorseman · 21/02/2013 07:25

I'm now at my lowest post baby weight! Which coincidentally is my highest pre baby weight (11 st 13) which gives me a weird sense of reassurance, like I'm back in the 'acceptable fat' zone. Not sure why that is! Still won't get complacent, another stone and a half to get to goal. I've now lost 10lbs on this woe in 3 months. Roughly 1lb a week :)

bluebluecow give us some details - height, weight, age, TDEE and what do you eat on normal days?

bluebluecow · 21/02/2013 07:26

I am just eating normally on non fast days. that includes the odd treat but no more than i ate on a normal day before 5:2. the health benefits will be good but I'm really looking to lose a stone. maybe I should cut down on my non fastdays?

bluebluecow · 21/02/2013 07:28

I'm 5'4" and weigh 10stone 7 at the moment. I've ALWAYS been this weight. it seems my body likes it. I'm a large size 12. would love to get down to 9stone 7.

bluebluecow · 21/02/2013 07:30

normal days I usually eat within my calories. I'm no chocolate fan and not a lover of cakes and biscuits. I do enjoy a large glass of red though. maybe it's that!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 21/02/2013 07:37

Maybe throw in an extra fast day blue see if that makes any difference.

erik well done!

ErikNorseman · 21/02/2013 07:37

You could try 4/3. You should also track your calories on normal days and aim to eat your whole TDEE allowance.

bluebluecow · 21/02/2013 07:39

I think I'll try tracking on non fast days. I've just been eating normally. this is harder than I thought!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 21/02/2013 07:44

Aah but your idea of normal may actually be more than your tdee. When I started this I didnt lose as much as I thought so I started using mfp. I was shocked to discover that I was actually eating around 3000 calories on some days. It's helped me reevaluate portion sizes & normal amounts. I rarely use mfp now as I'm more in the swing of it.

artemis17 · 21/02/2013 07:48

To blue and others who havent lost weight in the first week or so, i was in the place a fornight ago, had done 2 weeks but not lost anything, and felt a bit disheartened...BUT fast forward 2 weeks, ive lost 2.5lbs and an inch of my belly!.
As my daughter would say "totes amazeballs" :) I may not have much to lose and in my ideal BMI range so it is taking a bit longer, but its happening. I think you do adjust really quickly, i can go for hours without eating, so long as i drink plenty, yesterday i didnt even consume my 500cal. So stick with it guys....

holmessweetholmes · 21/02/2013 08:03

Well, first fast day yesterday was surprisingly easy. I expected to wake up this morning feeling weak and feeble but I feel completely normal Smile. Big breakfast this morning, but as I've been used to trying to stick to 1200 cals a day on MFP, it just seemed big. Added up the calories and am wondering if I'll manage to eat to my TDEE of 2200!

swallowedAfly · 21/02/2013 08:04

morning all Smile

well my weight after fasting yesterday is only back down to the low end of the bracket i was going up and down in during my last week. so basically i lost half a stone in the first 2 weeks and in the third week i've just maintained really. i fasted monday and yesterday and i think i'm going to do tomorrow too - so a week of 4:3 to try and budge past this barrier.

think my first weight loss was boosted by the fact i got my period so a lot of water loss i guess around then anyway - and i have been told menstruation is a good time to 'lose' stuff be that weight, detoxing etc as the body is in that mode anyway. i'm now around ovulation point. so i'm thinking even if i hold steady for another week it's ok because i may get a shift again come period time all a learning curve.

what i have noticed this morning though is how full of energy i am - i have gotten more done yesterday and this morning than i usually do in a week Blush so i'm pleased to say that fasting definitely improves my energy levels which is really important to me as i've had bouts of chronic fatigue on and off all my life since having glandular fever badly in my teens.

i've also worked out that actually i tend to eat 500cals in around 42 hours as i don't tend to eat till mid afternoon the next day anyway. clearly this isn't giving me much of an extra edge this week.

right - stick at it! remember to note the other benefits as you find them so that you have more to go on than just those scales for motivation because they're bound to stick sometimes Smile

greenfig · 21/02/2013 08:30

Morning all
Quick question for the MFP users. Presumably I adjust to my TDEE of 1850 rather than the 1200 MFP has set me, but do you adjust your settings on the site? My first fast day today, am encouraged to see your first day went well HSH Well done & keep going to everyone, will post properly laterSmile

ErikNorseman · 21/02/2013 09:13

Hi greenfig
Yes, it's best if you adjust your calories on mfp to reflect your TDEE I think.

BumBiscuits · 21/02/2013 09:23

I adjusted mine to show my TDEE. I was fed up of being told I was over 5 days a week!

Minimammoth · 21/02/2013 09:36

Morning folks my scales say I've lost a pound. Hrah. Breadandwine agree aspartame is evil, apparently is was developed as an ant killer, and the body just has no means of processing it. Sadly it's in low cal everything, waitrose own brand tonic is the only one I've found that does not have it. Uses sacralise instead. I feel I have a safer GnT nowGrin

BetsyVanBell · 21/02/2013 09:39

Hi Swallowed - however you look at it half a stone in 3 or 4 weeks is still a fantastic achievement. And the fact that you're full of energy and even better indication of things working well.

It's hard but we do need to focus on the unseen health benefits over the number on the scales - weight loss ought to be a pleasant side effect rather than the main effort. I'd lay money on this WOL sorting out those bouts of chronic fatigue too.

Anyone else fasting today? I've just done a Shred session and feel a sweaty mess great!

BumBiscuits · 21/02/2013 09:41

I've just woken up to the evils of aspartame.

I have Smints usually but will be swapping to tic-tacs.

I don't drink much fizzy pop, but when I do I'll have non-diet versions. My sugar-free diluting squash will be discontinued too.

My mum and gran are very into Weightwatchers products (which I've always hated) and I'm going ask them not to give them to my kids.

Moodykat · 21/02/2013 09:48

I am allergic to Aspartame - makes me cough and feel very short of breath, followed shortly by a migraine! I hate that all the squashes now have it in, as do lots of diet things. It's a nasty, nasty product. I hate it if my DC's have anything with it in but it is getting so difficult to avoid!

ellenbrody · 21/02/2013 09:57

Not planning on fasting today but I still feel decidedly queasy (and tired as DD1 now has Vomiting bug and was up in the night ) so will just see how I go. I had a bit of toast for breakfast and am now chewing gum as I can't get rid of the vile metallic taste in my mouth.
Good luck to those of you fasting today.

Daisy1407 · 21/02/2013 10:07

Happy Thursday All,

Wow i ate so many carbs last night and then i felt dreadful - so iccky!
Today is a fast day and im actually looking forward to 2mo to feel less bloated etc - just drinking loads of squash and herbal teas to get me through

x

orangeandlemons · 21/02/2013 10:11

Hi non losers, after 2 weeks of nothing, lost pound and a half this week! However, I did2 fast days and one day of 1000 calls this week, and ate relatively normally the other days. It seems that extra day of 1000 made the difference. However, I have had to be very careful on non fast days, and aim low on the calorie allowance despite my tree being 2225

swallowedAfly · 21/02/2013 10:13

yeah bvb. it's half a stone in 3 weeks really - next wednesday will be four and i'm hoping to have lost a bit more by then but if not i'll survive.

i actually feel fatter since i started losing weight Grin maybe i'm just noticing it more now or expecting to look in the mirror and see this svelte goddess and getting a shock at the reality.

good luck to those fasting today x

IsletsOfLangerhans · 21/02/2013 10:15

Morning. I've started 5:2 this week and did my two fast days Monday and yesterday - found it surprisingly okay! However, I've woken up the following morning with a headache (the day after each fast) - anyone else experienced this? I kept well hydrated on my fast days (lots of herbal teas) and also had a couple of black coffees to ward off the evil caffeine-withdrawal headache (I normally drink tea with milk). Interested if anyone else has experienced this? The headache disappears not long after waking.

Moodykat · 21/02/2013 10:24

I was supposed to be fasting yesterday and did really well until a friend came over and brought chocolate fingers! I had about 6 which took my day total to 642. Am considering doing another fast on Friday as I think the choccy finger binge ruined yesterdays!

NurseEzzzaChapel · 21/02/2013 10:25

It was a fast day Tuesday, so as usual I wasn?t hungry yesterday morning. For lunch I had cabbage and boiled rice (sounds awful, but the way they cook it here it?s soo goooood!) and at dinner time I wasn?t hungry. I went to see friends in the evening and came home around 10pm and still didn?t really want any dinner. Walking past all the still open shops I found myself in the fruit shop asking the girl in there if she?d cut an orange open for me (I have no kitchen, not even a knife) if I bought it. That could be one of the yummiest things I?ve eaten in my life. Yes, I?ve eaten oranges before, but this time I really wanted it. I was so juicy I almost needed a bath afterwards. I can?t believe on a non-fast day I passed up dinner, crisps, chocolate and biscuits in favour of an orange! (BTW ? I don?t eat this little on every non-fast day, I just didn?t see the point in eating when I really wasn?t hungry yesterday.)

BumBiscuits, re your question about which days people choose as fast days: mine are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as I do 4:3. I first heard about this WOE from a friend who?d seen the Horizon program but he only told me about ADF so I didn?t know 5:2 was an option until about 4 months later when I finally managed to see the program for myself. The question I got asked most often on ADF was ?Can you eat today?? so I decided to switch to 4:3 so that I could have fixed days for the sake of my social life. On ADF I always preferred the weeks when I was fasting Tuesday and Thursday over the weeks I was fasting Monday, Wednesday and Friday as I did most of my eating with friends during the week after class rather than at the weekend. I usually do my own thing on a Saturday so fasting then isn?t a big deal for me. So that?s why I decided to go with those days. That said, if something foodie comes up on a planned fast day I just switch my week around so I can join in (and if I couldn?t switch the week around I?d just do 5:2, no big deal). For example, there?s talk of a Mexican night next Tuesday, with ingredients flown in from Mexico and prepared by a Mexican, so I may well be fasting on Monday instead of Tuesday next week. Grin

?I have been pondering C25K.? Go for it GreenEggs. I?ve been doing it for 3 weeks and I?m really enjoying it, which I never thought I?d say because I?ve maintained that I hate running ever since school. (Honestly Miss, how many people can really sprint for 400 metres?!) If movement phobe Ezzza can do it you can too!

Ah Iwearblack, BMI normal, congrats! That must feel really good. Smile I?m about 5lbs away from that myself and really looking forward to getting there.

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