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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:
Wommer · 06/03/2013 08:54

Morning all,
Am doing my 3rd fast day today. I've a feeling this one might be a bit tougher than the others as I only did my last one on Monday - so effectively I'm doing adf today....
Is only cos I've got a client lunch tomorrow. Will try and get through by telling myself I can have whatever (burger) I want in 24 hrs :)

Does anyone else make "soup" using stock cubes on 500 days? I use a beef one and then chuck loads of spinach, spring onions, garlic and a little bit of either chicken or smoked salmon. Add a few jollops of soy sauce and its a bit like one of those Japanese noodle soups (except obv without noodles.)

Am thinking rather than have breakfast (an apple) as soon as I get to work because "that's what I always do" I'll wait until I want it. See how far I get.

My weigh in day is tomorrow so will be able to update on 1st weeks loss then :)

SerotoninButterfly · 06/03/2013 09:03

I felt horrid last night, really bloated and awful after a heavy dinner and feel really quite hungry this morning. Am going to have a workout this morning.

I use DDPyoga

And it's brill. At home rather than in a class and workouts vary in length and there are several different ones. The video is a bit of inspiration

SerotoninButterfly · 06/03/2013 09:04

And forgot to mention - fast day today and I have treated myself to very posh soups! GrinGrin

Love this WOL. Have dropped almost 5lbs and 5inches in my first week - I will see 9.5stone!

Wommer · 06/03/2013 09:10

Well done sero! How far away from 9.5 are you?

Chocupid · 06/03/2013 09:12

Finally... after 7weeks and 3where I stayed the same or crept up grr, I've finally dropped 2lb this week, making it 12lb since 15th Jan. Grin

Even after yesterday's fast where I had 3 Lg cappachinos (can't spell that) and was shocked when MFP told me that was 420 calories!! Ended up being a 700 calorie fast with a massive migraine. Sad

My motivation is back on track, even tho its an eating day for me, I was soo ready to quit if I hadn't lost this week, so keep going everyone who's struggling!

Dotty342kids · 06/03/2013 09:25

Iwearblack that's a great loss and you must feel so proud of yourself!
Feeling "heavy" today as have bounced back up a couple of lbs but period arrived this morning and def over indulged yesterday. Need to moderated it a bit today before mini fast tomorrow.

catsrus · 06/03/2013 09:27

I make similar soups wommer - you can also throw in some seaweed (I like Arame - found in health food shops) and a splash of balsamic vinegar to give it a sweet/sour flavour - and for me Tabasco to spice it up a bit. The calorie free noodles are good in it for bulk as they absorb the flavours - oh and shredded cabbage too plus tofu if I'm making a more substantial version.

I love my 'Asian style' soups Grin

RLJ1874 · 06/03/2013 09:56

Well done Chocupid the weight loss will definitely help your motivation to keep going!

I had my second fast yesterday and it was much easier than the first. I didn't feel hungry all day and ended up making myself eat something at 3pm because I started getting shivers and feeling a bit drained. I definitely didn't drink enough though because I woke up this morning with a very bad headache, so eating day today will also focus on drinking lots.
I'm doing the 5:2 with my mum and we're hoping for results tomorrow at our weigh-in after the first week of beginning 5:2.

Good luck to those fasting today Smile

ELR · 06/03/2013 10:09

Morning everyone, weighed in today and have lost 1.25 lbs this week so s nice I started 2 weeks and 2 days ago I have lost 4.25 lbs which I am pretty pleased about. DH has lost 6.25 lbs, although he is looking a little skinny in the face now, but wants to lose another half stone.

Does anyone get the feeling that its too good to be true?

Good luck everyone who is fasting today.
Fast day for me tomorrow so am going to enjoy today!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 06/03/2013 10:20

Well done everyone! Just realised I can say that I have lost 3&half stone exactly on this WOE, though its not official till Mondays weigh in!

Wommer · 06/03/2013 10:34

Wow aftereights! (Love the user name!) that's amazing Grin
How long has it taken you?

BetsyVanBell · 06/03/2013 10:48

aftereights Wonderful news, well done Thanks

staceyl900 · 06/03/2013 10:56

Aftereightsarenolongermine - wow, amazing weight loss, well done. I'm fasting today, just coffee so far, find it so much easier to just not eat for as long as possible!

greenfig · 06/03/2013 10:59

V, inspiring losses being reported today! Am so pleased for you after8 & saf it reads like you are both feeling so much more confident tooSmile
To the yoga lady, I have a Barbara Currie one which is very gentle but did have an good effect on my arms quite quickly. butterfly am off to google your you tube suggestion, I could do with some new ones I get easily bored. Anybody have any other you tube reccs?
Have done Jillians NMTZ this am, no more losses for me yet but can def report that usual PM symptoms of short temper & sugar cravings absent for first time I can remember! I my family only started to suffer in the last few years. I did have quite a lot of wholegrain carbs last week, don't know if perhaps that helped.
Good luck to any of todays fastersSmile

Wommer · 06/03/2013 11:00

Just been asked "are you doing a fast day... You seem really grumpy" by a colleague...
Any one else get more irritable on a fast day?
Really don't think the fact I'm due my period v soon can be helping tho!

dines · 06/03/2013 11:07

Is anyone else here trying to lose a little weight? Say maybe half a stone... that's all I'm looking to lose I'm 9 and half stoneat the moment.. I lost 2lbs in my first week but they have gone bk up.. I'm jus thinking to myself maybe this woe just works for ppl that have a lot to lose.

SerotoninButterfly · 06/03/2013 11:07

Wommer am currently 10.9 so a little way to go - although if these losses continue I will be there soon GrinGrin

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 06/03/2013 11:08

Thanks everyone, forgot to say that started this WOE beginning of August, mainly doing 5:2, with the occasional 4:3 if I can!

greenfig · 06/03/2013 11:19

butterfly just watched that & it made me cry! I thought it was going to be a yoga work outBlush Amazing.

greenfig · 06/03/2013 11:26

dines I am similar weight to you. Only done 4 fasts but lost a total of 6lbs in first week, although 4 of that was excess recently added holiday weight!!
Have bounced around since was 9. 61/2 this am & would also like to get to around 9 ideally. I am enjoying it & feel well in not in any rush (although was lovely to have such a good initial loss without feeling weeks of deprivation!)
Have read lots of others losing their last half stone successfully with lower starting weights. I beleive Mimi Spencer herself didn't have much to lose but still lost successfully. Plus don't forget the health benefits, I know that's probably less of a concern for you being such a spring chickenWink

surfbrickie2 · 06/03/2013 11:35

Hi All

Started 5:2 yesterday and found it VERY hard during the day as I'm such a grazer so pangs were here there and everywhere! I had 100 cal breakfast and saved the rest for evening - and then I felt fine. i might try holding off eating until late in the day next time to see if that works better. Does anyone find if they eat breakfast it makes them hungrier - like they've "woken up" their digestive system?

I'm also in training for a rowing competition so train most nights and think it might be easier if I have a snack before that, say at 4pm (this is what I usually do on non-fast days), then have dinner after my training session about 7pm.

Please tell me it gets easier!! All I could do was think about deprivation!

tracedw · 06/03/2013 11:40

Good work everyone, some great weight loss numbers.....
today is second fast of the week , i have a prawn stir fry planned for 3pm ish.
Anyway, has anyone noticed their weight plateauing when starting exercising.
I have lost 4-5lbs and this is week 7, so not a great number but i have a BMI of 24.5, and would like to crack the 9 st barrier if possible (that would be 14lbs lost)
My weight has been stuck now since i started the 30day shred,just done day 6 of L2 and strangely enough its also my 3rd week of adding in an extra half fast on a Friday, ie have a decent meal with DH in the evening with wine, so 800-1000 cals.
My tdee is only 1500 so with 2.5 fasts /wk and the shred i have a cal deficient of at least 3500 cals /wk..... help..... i am still very motivated if not a little despondent.
Thanks

Daisy1407 · 06/03/2013 11:40

Morning

Im on a fast day today - so Dines ill be tucking into that soup later tonight
Im trying to last on coffees today (black)

question - can i have squash?

Help lol

thanks and good luck today peeps x

surfbrickie2 · 06/03/2013 11:49

tracedw - you will be gaining muscle mass from the exercise, that is why your weight has plateaued - best to get the tape measure out instead - but don't stop the exercise as you want to be fit and toned as well as slim!! Keep at it and well done!

SerotoninButterfly · 06/03/2013 11:54

Tracedw I was having a similar problem before beginning the fast, training hard 6 days a week and not seeing any losses - the fasting completely kicked up my metabolism and it's awesome. Like a pp said its muscle (heavier than fat) and toning is v important! Especially if like me you are small framed but have a massive belly (curse you DS for weighing 8.4 with an enormous placenta!)

Inches lost are a good method of seeing a difference x