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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:
Talkinpeace · 05/03/2013 21:54

A Quick evening task.
could everybody read this article and then rate it and add their comments
www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/Pages/Does-the-5-2-intermittent-fasting-diet-work.aspx

pinklady1107 · 05/03/2013 22:12

Can anyone help - fast day today but at 4pm I began to feel sick and shaky Hmm not good whilst at work.
Any ideas how to help this?

I've managed 700 calories today because I felt sick I ate something will this still be ok?

Did my shred work out too so have burnt calories xxx

pinklady1107 · 05/03/2013 22:12

Can anyone help - fast day today but at 4pm I began to feel sick and shaky Hmm not good whilst at work.
Any ideas how to help this?

I've managed 700 calories today because I felt sick I ate something will this still be ok?

Did my shred work out too so have burnt calories xxx

notapizzaeater · 05/03/2013 22:15

The first few fasts I did I drunk lots of hot marmite, think my body needed the salt. Better now I've done a few and have managed a true 24 hours with no food at all.

Talkinpeace · 05/03/2013 22:25

pinklady
you have to stay feeling well. its more important than worrying about that last 100 calories
LOTS of fluids is the main thing ....

SerotoninButterfly · 05/03/2013 22:25

Pinklady I feel like that if I haven't drunk enough during the day. I also feel a bit 'high' towards the end of a fast (18-20 hours in) and it makes me feel like I have taken codeine or something similar x

I get through 10-12 75cl bottles of water on a fast day Grin

artemis17 · 05/03/2013 22:34

English re exercise, i guess it depends on the intensity & the time of day..I exercies in the evs of my fats days & manage Zumba no problem and eat afterwards, but i do body combat & Mai Tai martial work out which is very intense and found i had to eat my fast meal about an hour before otherwise i under performed. Try both ways, see how it affects your ability??.

artemis17 · 05/03/2013 22:35

oops meant "fast days" not fats lol

BsshBossh · 05/03/2013 22:43

English I'd just try it if I were you. See how you feel. I exercise in a fasted state because I think I burn more fat that way (no more carbs/glycogen in the tank so to speak). I certainly have enough energy to work out intensively, so far.

Iwearblack · 05/03/2013 23:03

Hello all... Today is my 6month anniversary of 5:2 and I thought I would celebrate by showing a graph of my progress! It's in my profile page and shows the really steady and slow weight loss (19lbs) in that time. I take little exercise other than daily living and have been a steady 5:2 with the 16hr fasting window... ( well in the last 4 months I have - this was unthinkable at the start).

I have always weighed every day and experience the bouncing that others have mentioned above. I think weighing once a month would have been better for motivation - if you do it daily then you see the bounce up and down; weekly/fortnightly then sometimes there is no weight loss for a few weeks. I seem to average about 3 lbs a month which is great. BMI is now normal and I feel I have further to go before I reach my 'ideal' weight.

I wish I had measured my stomach etc at the outset and not just weight as I have lost all over (any newbies take note!). As an apple shape this is certainly good news! does anyone else get annoyed when reports write about 'people who put on weight around their middles...' As though we had a choice and made a conscious decision to store it there instead of on the hips!! Grr ..
I have dropped 2 dress sizes hurrah Grin
My sister has not seen the weightloss I have, but even she reports feeling better in herself for following the WOE, andi am sure her weight will start to go to go soon (though she didn't have as much to lose as me).
Oh and another benefit - have made friends with my bowels again .....

Good luck all!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 05/03/2013 23:15

Wow this thread is flying along.

That iVillage article a few pages back was written by a complete dolt. Oh yes, we're all fainting and sleeping through our fast days, dear. Whatever you say. Hmm

Absolutely slammed with real life atm, with the move and the new house being a worksite, my mother arriving in a few days, and DS's appointments (we have an epipen now!) Yesterday was a fast, today was obviously not, made homemade pizza because I feel the need to use the oven as much as I can before next week, when I'll begin a long period of no longer having one.

Not much to add here. Great to see you back Ezzza! Nice to see the boys club gain a new member OutNoob.

Welcome to all the new no-longer-lurkers. :)

OP posts:
dines · 06/03/2013 06:03

Good morning all, been up since 5. Goin to have a mini fast today not food till my dinner but not calorie counted jus a nice normal sized meal.. feel bad about my take away last night.. me and my cousins are doin a little bake off on Sunday so will be eating a lot of cake lol I will be making triple chocolate brownies yum yum. On my feed days I Wonna be able to eat wot Illike without feeling bad but can't seem to do that.. does anyone else feel bad wen they are eating a lot on feed days ?.. Daisy I'm goin to pick up one of them soups tonyt before work, looking forward to tasting it. How was it for you?

systemsaddict · 06/03/2013 06:04

Did second fast day yesterday - much easier than first! Stuck to plan: grapefruit and kiwi fruit salad, half a carton of soup, WW beef hotpot in the evening and a coffee with milk. No unbearable hunger, a few pangs here and there and I was hungry when I went to bed - but - again, the same as after my first fast day, I woke up really early (5.15) and have been working since, which is fantastic!

I just realised I started this WOE during an incredibly busy and stressful time at work and rather than adding to the stress, so far it has given me extra energy and time and helped me cope. Early days yet but if this carries on it would be worth sticking with even without any weight loss at all.

pinklady1107 · 06/03/2013 06:26

Thanks for your help - more water for me then! Eating day today so off for breakfast now xx

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 06/03/2013 06:36

Wahey! Am at 11.0.4! I haven't been 11.0 anything for at least 10 years!

I agree with iwearbkack in regretting that I had not measured my waist etc before starting. However some of the seasoned dieters advised me to measure waist sizes of my old clothes to get an idea & it certainly helped. The other day I showed dh my size 18 trousers & compared them to the size 12s I'm in now, it was a very nice feeling.

postmanpatscat · 06/03/2013 06:45

Well done aftereights - what a great feeling!

swallowedAfly · 06/03/2013 06:49

well done after8 Smile

i've just weighed in and it has dropped a lot so i'm not getting too excited as it will be a while before i really 'own' this weight maybe but - 11.2.4 - so pleased.

5weeks into this woe today. total lost: 11.6lbs.

i fasted for the full 24hrs yesterday and then had king prawns with scrambled eggs for a protein oompf and 2 digestive biscuits to feel treated. came in at 515. obviously need to make sure i eat fruit and veg today!

i'm enjoying the experimenting i'm doing and loving how you can mix it up. i can totally see how this is a lifetime woe rather than just a diet - maintenance will be easier because you can try so many different different things to achieve it and see what works best for you.

for now though more weight to lose! my first goal is 10st though getting under the 11 mark will also be a great milestone.

swallowedAfly · 06/03/2013 06:55

it may be shallow but i am getting so much pleasure from finally losing this weight. i'd begun to think i was stuck with it and had to face being middle aged and fat at 37 years of age.

BetsyVanBell · 06/03/2013 07:16

WHOOP! Well done Saf! I had exactly the same euphoria after a weigh in last week - funnily enough same amount of weightloss in same amount of time Grin. (I'm Same age as you too!!) Isn't it exciting taking control? It just feels so doable. Brilliant x

swallowedAfly · 06/03/2013 07:20

wow we are weight loss twins bvb Grin it does feel good and yes, very doable - thank god! it feels totally natural and ok and so good that it is so good for you in other ways too.

Itsaboatjack · 06/03/2013 08:02

Well done saf. I know what you mean about the middle aged thing. I'm 38 and am so determined now that I will be fit, not fat at 40. And I'm pretty confident that I will do it.

I weighed this morning after a feed day and I have bounced back up 1.5lbs since yesterday morning after a fast day, but am still under the 12st mark so I feel great about that.

systemsaddict · 06/03/2013 08:04

Oh God I have just weighed myself to get a starting weight and it was so much worse than I thought ... by more than a stone. Sob. Please keep sharing these fantastic losses - turns out it has to be about weight loss for me after all ... On the plus side I would normally want to console myself with cake at this point and actually I am not carb craving for comfort at all...

ErikNorseman · 06/03/2013 08:11

Well done saf! I'm so impressed with your weightloss. I'm back down 2lbs this week but I'm confused as to where it came from. Next week I'm going to my ILs for 6 days so that will hopefully shake things up a bit. They eat lots of bread but also lots of fresh, clean food and no snacks. I will try to go steady on the bread and hope for the best.

whatsforyou · 06/03/2013 08:17

seratonin

Do you go to a yoga class or is there a DVD you could recommend? I much prefer a class but really struggle with childcare. I do like the idea of doing different stuff though.

countryhousehotel · 06/03/2013 08:34

Ok, just came on the thread to remind myself why I'm doing this. First fasting day of this week today, just had 2 days of mini-fasts (due to social life!) but think I'm already struggling due to very low cal supper last night (cottage cheese and ryvita x 4) following a 1500 cal lunch (which included wine, obvs!). I think I might need to eat heavier the evening before a fast!! My TDEE is a little over 2500 so I was below that yesterday by about 500 cals or more (my workout upped it a bit). So I'm already famished this morning, headachey and grumpy. DS was up at 4.20am (he did that on a fast day last week too!) - so I'm struggling and it's only 8.30am. So far I've resisted the Rude Health granola, but am tempted to dive in. Will see how I feel after schoolrun. If only DS was at school too (not really, but being up at that time of the morning, and fasting, and looking after a 3 year old all day feels HARD today!). Hope all other fasters are feeling stronger than me today!