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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:
swallowedAfly · 07/03/2013 21:17

i have spent a couple of days eating ridiculously. lunch out with friend yesterday then takeaway in the evening. today i was at a conference scoffing free food and tonight have had leftover takeaway, biscuits etc. grim.

too scared to get on the scales tomorrow i think.

wish my period would hurry up though no doubt i'm using that as a bit of an excuse to say the least.

going to have work really hard next week to recoup this weeks excesses i think.

please remind me it's all pull back round-able.

BlackMaryJanes · 07/03/2013 21:20

I'm so glad the odd binge is fine because I plan on having a runny good one on Sunday Grin Chocolate, pizza, burger, cake - the works!

Talkinpeace Can you elaborate on why this is going to be okay for me?

Talkinpeace · 07/03/2013 21:38

Because my dear BlackMaryJanes you now know in your head that its a binge.
You'll feel fuller sooner and fasting during the week afterwards will feel great.
Part of this WOE is to learn what your body needs and recognising a binge is not "normal" is half way there.

Swallowed ask yourself whether six months ago you would have
a) not realised that you'd been eating too much
b) said sod it and given up on controlling what you eat
Whereas now you know you can fast next week and shift the possible extra weight nearly as quickly as you added it.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 07/03/2013 21:49

As usual TiP is talking sense. Thinking maybe you need to consider a name change :o

Talkinpeace · 07/03/2013 22:19

LOL
I've had this name (it started on the Ebay boards in 2005 so that I could "Talk in Peace" not using my trading ID) so long - and people who've known my real name for years still call me TiP I'll not make a lash up of a Name Change !

Breadandwine · 07/03/2013 22:35

I see MissWhiplash is free! Wink

Fazerina · 07/03/2013 23:41

I've not posted on here in ages.. Have recently got back from a holiday and in need of a serious boost to get back on the 4:3 again:(.. I've been doing 4:3 since the beginning of the year, but was eating normally during my 10-day holiday and while I didn't gain or lose any weight, I seem to be having real difficulties in getting back on the fasts.. I'm supposed to be fasting Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but this week I've only managed Monday so looks like the first week back will only be a 5:2-week:(..

parrotsandcarsnips · 08/03/2013 00:11

I made butternut squash and lentil curry for tomorrow's fast day as I think curry always tastes better the next day. I had it tonight (non fast day) with couscous and it was delicious. Thank you frenchfancy

wildwater · 08/03/2013 02:25

A break from proceedings (doing prep for a busy night in our takeaway shop!) to check in and say 'hi'.

Resisted standing on the scales this morning. Now I am facing all sorts of people commenting on my weight loss - something I have not dealt very well with in the past. It has previously meant 'permission' to start overeating again! Not this time.

I do feel like a dunce, as I have lost and regained this much weight many times before. (I am dying to see where these last 7kg I have to lose are going to go from.) Saying that, it has been 30 years since I've been this size!

This time it really does feel different: I am not dieting and nobody is telling me what I can or can't eat. I trust the change is permanent...and know that only I can make it so.

Top tip: water, water & more water. Followed by: No snacking.

Tonight - grilled fish with heaps of salad. A glass of wine.

Cheers everybody!

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 08/03/2013 05:47

fazerina I've been away a fair few times whilst on this WOE. Just start with 5:2 to ease you in gently, & maybe skip breakfast a couple of days to get some mini fasts in.

b&w :o

SquidgyMummy · 08/03/2013 06:07

Hi there,

I have obviously been living under a rock as i hadn't really heard of the 5:2 plan. Just saw the book on amazon and was wondering if it was worth actually buying it, or just using the links at the top of the thread would be enough?

Weight has been creeping on since DS (2.4) was born, ironically i hardly put on any weight when pregnant and was actually lighter afterwards. I look back wistfully to how slim sleep deprived, weepy i was when DS was 3 weeks old....

Anyway, reality check is that i want to drag my 42 yo self off the sofa to keep up with my toddler who is taking after his very sporty dad. Also I hate my apple shape, and the worst is my chin is now starting to blend into my neck...! (And i weigh more than DP who is 7 inches taller than me) Blush

i've only read a few pages of this thread, so apologies if the information is already in here.

do i buy the book / is there another recipe book recommended?
I am off to register with my Fitness Pal

Is it worth having a few sensible eating days, cutting down on cakes etc, so i don't go cold turkey on the first fast?

Any recommendation for what to eat on the first fast day?
(I keep seeing soft boiled eggs with asparagus for breakfast and chicken and steamed veggies for lunch) plus loads of water. Can i start today as i've already had a cup of tea with Full fat milk before i started reading about 5:2

Also, can you eat fruit on fast days?

Do you measure yourself before starting to see how many inches you have dropped?

Sorry so many questions. TIA for advice Thanks

hopefully a soon to be slight less Squidgy Mummy

Hasywell · 08/03/2013 06:11

Weekly weigh in this morning, another 2lbs down and have gone into the 11s! 11st 12.8lbs. That is 17lbs list since after Christmas and 15lbs in 8 wks on this WOL. Haven't been 11 something for nearly 2 years, now to work on getting into the 10s! Thank you for all the tips and motivation on here - it does keep me going. My own tips would be:
Lots of hot drinks on Fast days
Small portion of mixed fruit and nuts (unsalted) taste better than crisps
Using MFP initially
Spicing up Fast day meals
Bread and Wines tip about waiting 15-20 mins to see if you are hungry.
Relax

Happy Friday - nearly the weekend

frenchfancy · 08/03/2013 06:12

First WI since my holiday. I'm down 1 kg Grin . Very happy as I had only just moved off a plateau before going. And the holiday included one extremely boozy weekend and lots of lovely food (plus 2 mini fasts and some exercise).

ThinkICan · 08/03/2013 06:57

B&W - Grin - your name for TiP. We love her, don't we! Good going french. Daisy - chin up, you'll make it with all the lovely people on this thread. Weep no more!

monster54 · 08/03/2013 07:20

Well I'm pleased to report that I'm 1lb down from weigh in Fri last week!!

Although I don't think its easy as its 'sold' I've kept track on cals on feed days. But to be fair I went out last weekend and had a 5 course meal with a bottle of wine (belated valentines)....

I'm also ovulating at the mo so I know I hold weight around that time. Going to try and do a mini fast today so I can relax at the weekend. But no big plans this weekend apart from more relaxed meals at home!!

Bramblesinafield · 08/03/2013 07:41

Hello to new people! I'm on a fast day today. Just weighed and I'm up 1.5lbs since weigh in after my first fast day this week, but general trend still downwards. Interested to see what it will be tomorrow. This up and down fascinates me! As long as it keeps working downwards, all good!

I haven't measured myself since the initial measurement, not sure I dare as I will be sad if its still the same - although there should be a reduction due to weight loss.

Going to try to go through on drinks only until around 3, then soup, then th e lentil curry later.

headintheclouds · 08/03/2013 07:57

Hi All Friday fasters- ive changed my fast day from thursday to today to allow for a work conference over the last 2 days.I had a nice conference lunch yesterday . Today is my 12 th fast week 6. its been a bit slow going for me but I really do feel as if its starting to shift .Weighed myself this morning and Im the same as last weeks post fast weight( usually Ive been a couple of pounds up after 2 feed days) ive found 5:2 very easy so far but am interested to see what happens today as im on a day off.Usually Im in work and dont
really notice the hunger much as Im so busy. I usually do all the domestic stuff/ grocery shop on a Friday so I guess Ill just stay busy... I also have Laskas deelish curry in the fridge for my meal tonight & Im looking forward to tomorrows weigh in .its a bit of a milestone for me to have stuck to a WOE without ' cheating' myself AND found it so easy.I lurked on this thread for so long before getting off my ass and doing something,so my message to any lurkers is just do it..its great.

swallowedAfly · 08/03/2013 08:04

thanks tip you're right of course. i wouldn't have had a remedy for it before nor would i have had such a contrast. tmi alert but awful wind last night and i feel all clogged up and bleurgh today. i was able to remember what eating too much feels like and to contrast it with how much better i feel when i don't.

i'm fasting today - small window plus only 500cal and i will try to take it relatively steady over the weekend but it's my son's birthday and mother's day so i'm out of town on saturday for my son's chosen activity (but will leave it late to eat at least and not go overboard) and on sunday there's family eating and drinking to navigate. so a fast today is a good plan and i'll do another on monday.

today may be trickier than usual because of all the carbs and sugar and crap of yesterday but i will stick with it and see it as getting all that crap and the subsequent compulsions it sets off out of my system.

oh and still no period! Angry i hate months like this where you get stuck in the pre menstrual bloated sluggish bleurgh and can't break through to the other side. feel so much better once i get my period.

swallowedAfly · 08/03/2013 08:05

x posted - conference yesterday here too headinclouds. hope you were more restrained than i was. free food seems to bring out a monster in me Grin

Anja1Cam · 08/03/2013 08:26

hello everyone, another Friday faster here. Can't wait to step on the scales tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Mini fast today - miso soup for lunch and 400 cal dinner BUT glass of wine too!

Good luck everyone - I have a parent consultation at 2pm and need to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed for that ;-)

IWantSomethingsFlesh · 08/03/2013 08:39

Squidgymummy...

You don't have to buy the book you can just do it from the links but I find it nice to have the book to read when you are hungry to remind me of the good the hunger is doing for my health. I find the best bit of the book is the science stuff about fasting and how it turns everything we have previously believed about dieting on it's head.

You don't need to cut down of cakes etc beforehand. That's what's great about the diet. You bare the hunger on your fast days so that you can eat cake on your feast days. You do have to accept that you will be hungry at times... and when you are it is doing you so much good in terms of weight loss, reducing risk of lots of illnesses, improving life expectancy etc. The hunger comes in waves so you have to ride the waves and keep busy. Sometimes when I'm hungry I walk to the shop and buy myself something I really like to eat the following day.

You can eat fruit. You just need to count the calories and stick to 500 cals on a fast day. It doesn't matter what you eat or when you eat it. You can play around with it and see what works for you. Feast days you can eat what you like. I eat the same thing every fast day, porridge, veg soup, little milk for tea and a boiled egg. That way I don't count anything. Other people like variety.

I weighed myself before starting but didn't measure. Wish I had now. I have had to buy a smaller belt though!

Good luck! Smile

SaltyandSweet · 08/03/2013 08:42

Morning everyone!

Another fast day, feeling ready and optimistic! It is a relief to me to find a way to fast that works for me and I just do the same thing every fast day, monotonous but it stops me having to stress about what to eat. Will have three coffees with milk throughout the day with lots of water and use the rest (minus the coffee and milk calories) of my calories for dinner.

Haven't weighed yet, weigh day is Monday but my belt notches are going in, my tummy is (slowly but surely) shrinking and my DH is calling me the Rapidly Shrinking Woman Grin

Good luck to all fellow fasters!

LittleFriendSusan · 08/03/2013 09:13

Morning all Smile.

2nd fast day for me today. I have woken up with a rumbly tummy - not a good start... Had 2 black coffees and am hoping it will pass. I have been sneezing a lot and feel all bloated and generally bleurgh - pre-menstrual here too. Enough moaning though!

Have packed myself a hard boiled egg, slice of ham, few tomatoes and rocket to take to work. Going to hold off as long as I can again, just keep drinking the herbal teas and hopefully I will get through it! Thanks to whoever it was recommended the pukka mint & liquorice tea - 'tis lush. Also got some twinings green tea and lemon for the bargainous price of 29p a box in B&M. Quite drinkable so may go back later and stock up!

BNS tagine for dinner tonight with a tiny portion of couscous!

SerotoninButterfly · 08/03/2013 09:15

I'm doing 4:3 and had a sneaky weigh/measure this morning after an eating day - and in 10 days have lost about 4.6lbs, and 9.5 inches across my body! And that was after a carb and cheese heavy day Grin

Anybody on mfp that I can add?

Anja1Cam · 08/03/2013 09:30

Serotonin wow that's great!