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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! 14 threads in a stone?

975 replies

GreenEggsAndNichts · 28/02/2013 10:18

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:
sunnymum44 · 04/03/2013 14:19

When to weigh?
Hi all, I'm new to the thread and new to fasting! Did my first fast day on Saturday and have to say it was easy. Was delighted that I'd dropped a couple of lbs too! However yesterday I ate "normally", probably consumed 1700 cals and burnt off 300 but I seem to have put the 2lbs back on. Decided to fast again today and am just wondering when do all of you weigh? Weekly, daily?
I have lost 21lbs recently on a different diet and wanted to lose another half a stone so decided to try 5:2 to shift the last few pounds. So am very aware (as an addicted to my scales daily weigher!) that weight goes up and down over the week but obviously for me has steadily been coming down overall.
So, is that normal to put back on when you do a non-fast day and is it from today ie. the 2nd fast day of the week, where I will see the real difference on my scales tomorrow?
Any thoughts much appreciated. By the way I've tried my best to read and lap up all the brilliant info you guys have posted on the various threads but there's just too many to get through! So apologies if the question of when to weigh has already been answered somewhere.
Many thanks! My fast is going fine today, good luck to the rest of you too.

Dotty342kids · 04/03/2013 14:23

sunnymum it's up to you how often you weigh. I can't resist the lure of the scales and am quite intrigued by the bounce effect on this WOE eg. some days it's back up but when it drops again, it drops to below the level of the last drop (iyswim!). So, I weigh most mornings but only take seriously the one I do after the second fast of each week, that's the one I record.
Well done to losing so much already and glad to hear you didn't find the first day too hard. My loss has been fairly gradual, some weeks not at all but last week (which I think was my fifth week) just went slightly bonkers and I dropped 2lbs in as many days.
Had a full of food weekend, and my period's due this week so suspect this week's weigh in may not be so pretty but overall loss of 5lbs in 5 weeks whilst feeling great is working for me Grin

sunnymum44 · 04/03/2013 14:26

Thanks dotty, that's really good to know and well done, it's obviously working. Sounds like I do need to wait to at least tomorrow before I see some real results then!

Dotty342kids · 04/03/2013 14:28

Yes, definitely. I don't think anything happened (scales wise) in the first week but I felt less bloated and "full" which was obviously really good.
Keep at it!

countryhousehotel · 04/03/2013 14:42

itsaboatjack welcome back on board! don't let the failure mentality get you down. I didn't manage my 2nd fast day last week because of a friend presenting me with an unexpected lunch (at least it was a salad, not a giant bowl of creamy pasta!) - but I came on here for advice and Talkinpeace suggested treating it like a semi-fast, so I did just that, I didn't eat anything else all day and had a bowl of soup for dinner as i had planned to do for the fast day. I've lost 4lbs since starting last Monday, because for the first time in 3 years I've not let failure / slip ups derail me.....Today was meant to be a fast, but I ended up - again- having lunch out with a friend (not planned) so again it will be a semi-fast day and I'll fast tomorrow instead. A bowl of veggie chilli for dinner, nothing in between, but I'll have the brown rice and natural yogurt that i would have left out on a fast day, because I don't think I can go to bed on an empty stomach and stick to a fast tomorrow (eventually I hope to be able to do that!). I prefer to eat an evening meal, and then wait as long as I can before eating tomorrow. The BEST thing about this WOE is the flexibility to do that, to balance it all out over the week, especially if you're not too worried right now about the long fasting periods. I'm working up to those but sticking to 500 cals in a day is enough of a challenge for now!

Tweasels · 04/03/2013 14:42

Helloooo.
After much deliberating, I'm starting fasting tomorrow. I need to lose 2 stone. I usually do a kind of low carb/slimming world red day kind of diet but I'm sick of eating the same things every day and I'm concerned that I eat too much meat.

The advice so far on here has been excellent. Thanks to those of you who have took the time. I notice the thread was linked to on the 5:2 website and was very proud to see some mumsnetters quoted in the book.

Mumelie · 04/03/2013 14:49

Hi everyone. Last time I looked in was on the last thread (a week ago)! Boy these things move fast!
I'm in my third fast day and its going pretty well so far - nothing but black coffee and herbal tea, looking forward to a homemade soup for dinner with ryvita and some fruit.
I had dropped 3 lbs after my second fast but after a weekend of feasting (actually quite restrained but not calorie counted) that had dropped to Jst 2lbs off yesterday. Still all going in the right direction.
Sunnymum I too had lost 21 last year and have about 7 lbs left to lose. I am a compulsive weigher - sadly twice a day! Gonna just try and just weigh after each fast day and record that on mfp.
Really liking the empty feeling - might even get a flat tummy one of these days Grin

CorrieDale · 04/03/2013 14:52

2.4lbs lost this week after maintaining last week. I tried 4:3 this week since I don't want to have to think too hard about what I eat on my food days. Licorice tea, sugar free gum and being busy are my saviours!

Breadandwine · 04/03/2013 14:53

Well done, everyone! Some great stories on here again today.

I notice posters talking about 'Pages'. I find it much easier to click on 'Show all messages' once the thread goes into two pages - then I stick it in 'My favourites', and, with one click I'm on the right page. Smile

Dotty342kids · 04/03/2013 14:53

Welcome tweasels, good to have you on board.
I have done SW in the past and find this so much easier, just not having to think every day of the week about what to /not to eat! Hopefully you will too. I also use MFP to keep a track of what I eat on my "normal" days as I wasn't sure just how many calories I ate anyway. It appears that some days were fine and some days not, so now I'm just more mindful about what I'm eating and find I'm becoming more aware of just what is an appropriate amount and type of food to eat on my eating days.
Mumelie good luck with it all, enjoy your soup tonight!

Tweasels · 04/03/2013 15:00

Thanks Dotty. I have the MFP app and will have to calorie count on non fast days as I have a tendency to overeat without some restrictions Blush.

It probably sounds a bit sad but after years of SW I'm actually looking forward to a little bit of old fashioned calorie counting.

Anja1Cam · 04/03/2013 15:11

Hi all, well done, today is more than half way through!

I'm more than half-way through my 22hr fast (Dinner last night was later than usual...) and it's been remarkably easy - SO FAR. I've been shopping, unpacked the groceries and even decanted the chocolate biscuits into the tin. Not a problem today Smile, lots of DIY to keep me busy (shelves, lamps, storage) I've drilled nearly 40 holes - my poor walls!

I've got a single portion of Hairy Dieters fish pie ready for tonight (I actually made it a bit leaner than the original) - it's so yummy I can't wait, served with a pile of Broccoli and followed by a yoghurt. I need to do 30mins cycling there and back tonight so that should see me through the evening. I might allow myself a hot choc when I get home, that should in total still be under the magic 500!

Weekend has been relaxed, trip to London and a nice cafe lunch, I chose what I wanted but found it was one of the 'healthier' options anyway. When my tummy rumbled in the run up to lunch, I was able to put that to one side and forgot about it rather than having to act on it there and then.
However I have probably splurged somewhat, at the moment I still have to get over the excitement of 'you can eat what you want'.
I made a baked cheesecake (not using Philly though!) and we had a quarter and the rest is in the freezer. I am so glad I joined this WOE, I can finally really go back to enjoying cooking and baking.

Oh and I did lose 1.5 lb in the last week despite my struggle to keep the biscuit tin closed!

cardiffmummy · 04/03/2013 15:49

Fast day here and struggling a bit. Really hungry at the moment - I know that's kind of the point but its worse than usual. Just having a cup of tea to try and distract myself. Have exercised alot in the last 24hrs - swimming and 30 day shred yesterday afternoon, and a gym session this morning - so wondering if that's why. So trying to encourage myself by imagining all the fat burning going on if I continue to fast!! Smile

Dotty342kids · 04/03/2013 15:52

Gawd, that banana tasted good! So, lasted 20hrs which I'm pleased with. Looking forward to curry for tea now.

SerotoninButterfly · 04/03/2013 16:00

Well done dotty, am at 18.5 now and hoping to get to 20 (roll on half 5!)

Stirfry and sausages for dinner, maybe a small amount of sweet potato.

Daisy1407 · 04/03/2013 16:29

Grrrrrrrrr my stomach is grumbling today!
finishing work in half hour and havent eaten yet - so going strong!
Come on fellow fatsers we CAN do it x

Mrsap · 04/03/2013 16:32

Pretty impressive loses and fasting going on today. I am long time lurker, occasional poster but have been doing this since aug and lost 5.5kg so far. Fallen off the wagon once or twice but nothing too bad.

Have another 5 kg I'd like to loose but finding these last 5 v difficult indeed.

Anyone else having trouble shifting the last few?

swallowedAfly · 04/03/2013 16:39

i'm paranoid because i've just eaten a pita bread with philly light and ham at like 3.50pm. convinced i'll have put weight on tomorrow but have to give this fast-5 thing a go.

will just have to try not to go too mad. having said that i'm having pasta tonight. going to have it with tuna and a cheat sauce of that low fat condensed mushroom soup i'm always banging on about. that seems a huge amount of carbs.

we'll see. if it looks like i'm putting on weight then i'll do a 500 day. the plan now is weekdays 19/5 or 20/4 and weekends 16/8. it's really no hardship to me not to eat breakfast or lunch. question is whether it will result in weight loss.

Talkinpeace · 04/03/2013 16:43

tummy rumbling but will distract myself with getting stuff out of the loft!

BetsyVanBell · 04/03/2013 16:43

Sunnymum Take some measurements too - waist, hips etc - lots of people are finding that their waist and hips reduce in size even when the scales aren't shifting! Lots of reports of flattening tummies :)

Like you and Mumelie I'd lost lots of weight before starting 5:2 and already had a good healthy eating plan in place. I have shifted a further 11lbs in 6 weeks on this WOE, lost a further 1.5inches off my waist and am now getting a pretty flat tummy. All hopefully indicative of some healthy changes inside too Grin I certainly feel fantastic and fast days feel pretty easy now.

Hello Tweasels, great to have you join us!

pinklady1107 · 04/03/2013 16:48

Hi everyone

Just been reading and am motivated even more now!!

Will be my second fast tomorrow - but I've stuck to my tdee all weekend so am happyGrin

And I've started doing the 30 day shred which will hopefully get me fitter

Have a good week everyone xx

greenfig · 04/03/2013 17:03

Well done to todays fasters. My fast day tomorrow & like some others am looking forward to itHmm Have kept under TDEE over w/e but not especially 'clean' choices & was slightly up this am & feeling bleugh.

dines · 04/03/2013 17:59

Hello again everyone fast day today..it's really goin well I didn't eat anything till 1 had my last meal last nyt at about half 7-8. I'm really surprised how one fast day can be a struggle and the next is fine.. got a bit of a head ache but goin strong.. I ordered one of them graze boxes ,don't nice if anyone has heard of them but that I fall of nuts,savoury bits ,raisins and u get quite a lot in a box. They are divided into four boxes and each box has less then 100cals but the one I ordered has a couple if chocolate covered honey comb bits in.. (had to choose that one lol) the whole box is 524 cals so will be nibbling on them thought the day.. so today I had may main meal at 1, 345 cals and I've bin drinking tea with a dash of milk, problem is I Havnt bin adding up the calories with the milk since I don't no if I'm under or over ...I've had 4 cups.. sorry for the long essay lol

IDismyname · 04/03/2013 18:28

I thought I'd say Hello.
I've been lurking around these threads for a few weeks. Bought and read the Michael Mosley book, and woke up this morning and thought "No time like the present - lets call today a Fast Day"
So - here I am having had nothing to eat since about 8.30 last night - but... but... I've had 3 cups of tea and a cup of coffee all with semi skimmed milk. TBH, I don't like milky drinks, so there wasn't much going in to each cup.

How many calories should I delete from my 500 (before I go and 'spend' them for supper?)

dines · 04/03/2013 18:31

If I had 3 fast days in a week will that mean I can be more layed back with wot I eat on my feed days? cus wen its my feed days I do indulge lol and I feel bad about it. Is anyone the same?