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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 · 02/03/2013 07:41

damn it's Envy not [green]

swallowedAfly · 02/03/2013 07:44

seriously 2 weeks in i was 11st7 and over the moon then i went up to 11st9.2 for no reason and spent 10 days bouncing between that and 11.8.8. then suddenly this week one fast day took me to 11.6.8 and this morning i'm 11.4.8. i don't know what that pause was about because i did three fasts and was good. nor do i really know why it is magically shifting now or if it will last

keep faith - this isn't all linear logic going on - our bodies are doing their thing.

mehefin · 02/03/2013 07:47

I have been following these threads for a while and 5:2 for 5 weeks now ( 9lbs lost). I just want to say a big THANK YOU to you all.
I had to work an extra night this week,so moved my 2nd fast to friday. Woke up feeling grim but remembered someone on hear saying 'will eating make you feel better?' So I kept going with fennel tea.
Then had to go out at 3 and knew there would be cakes and biscuits around .I remembered the mushroom and bouillon soup so made some before I went and I was fine til I got home ready for my veg and small portion of lamb and leek.
So thank you all for helping me through my fast day - it's the little tips that make a difference

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 02/03/2013 08:20

Well after my bingeing yesterday I'm back up to 11.2.2! I actually thought it would be more especially as its TOM. So quite pleased with that.

I would so like to get to the elusive 11 stone precisely or even better 10 something. Id like to be able to say ive lost 3&half stone instead of almost 3&half. if that makes sense. Also I've not been 10 anything for almost 15 years!

ErikNorseman · 02/03/2013 08:39

I'm keeping the faith! And tracking my eating days on mfp so I can aim not to exceed 2000 a day.

Minimammoth · 02/03/2013 08:41

Marking place, my ds has announced his wedding in October. That's IT, motivation, I def need to drop a stone before then.

Sutinder · 02/03/2013 08:45

OMG...got to share... First week in and I am 4lbs down. I can't believe it, I'm ecstatic. I save all my calories for the evening and go to sleep on a happy tummy...swallowedafly I took your recipe for the baked beans, was so yummy and emptied bowels in the morning, thank you for that.... Off out to work now with a smug face. Have a great day everyone..

systemsaddict · 02/03/2013 09:06

I did it ... ate veggie chilli over lettuce before baking cakes with the kids last night and got through my first fast day! I was exhausted in the evening but cat woke me up at 4.30 and I was so awake I got up and got a couple of hours work in before the kids got up (and ate one of the cakes of course!) ... Even weirder, TOM arrived today (have implant so it's completely unpredictable) and I had none of my normal carb cravings or mood swings yesterday while fasting. Interesting!

Dotty342kids · 02/03/2013 09:14

Swallowedafly and Sutinder that's great news from you both! So inspiring to log on and read things like that.

Aftereightsarenolongermine · 02/03/2013 09:29

mini that's so exciting. Nothing like an incentive to help kick start a new regime!

BsshBossh · 02/03/2013 09:37

swallowed good news about the weight loss. But I'm curious - how are your calories averaging out over the week - how many calories are you, approx, eating per day, what's your calorie deficit at the end of the week? Sorry for all the question but I was wondering whether you are actually now eating quite low calories compared to simple 5:2 (500 cals x 2 days, TDEE x 5 days).

Breadandwine · 02/03/2013 10:12

Swallowedafly check out 'Fast-5' - it's a 19hr fast followed by a 5hr eating window. It sounds as if you're doing something similar.

Here is a TED talk on the subject.

BetsyVanBell · 02/03/2013 10:13

Saf On the other thread TiP mentioned that her uber-fit previously 5:2ing (I think) yoga teacher now eats 800 calories during a small daily window 4 days a week - sounds similar to what you're naturally doing. Keep at it if it suits you and is working :)

Breadandwine · 02/03/2013 11:09

Just reading through that TEDx talk (not TED as I said previously) and found a great line I thought I'd share:

'For years slogans like ?breakfast is the most important meal of the day? have fueled food sales. That?s advertising, not science. The truth is that breakfast is only the most important meal of the day for corporations like Kelloggs and General Mills. Grin

(My italics.)

Breadandwine · 02/03/2013 11:18

Just posted a 'cheese sauce' recipe on the recipe thread - 125 calories and very tasty!

swallowedAfly · 02/03/2013 11:29

i have no idea bssh - i refuse to track calories day in, day out - it would bleed my soul i'm afraid.

doubt i'm having extremely low cal. i had alcohol 3 times this week (5 days) - a bottle of wine at home over that time and one large one in the pub. i have eaten snickers bars and peanuts and i had takeaway cheeseburger and fries and some pizza one night. all i've done is eaten in a smaller window and one 500cal day. a couple of the nights might have been lower (like last night was about 1200 cals so under my bmr) and monday night when i gave in and ate would have been similar or a bit more i think.

so i guess i've had one 500cal day, 2 under bmr days and 2 at least my tdee days but with the common theme being the small eating window.

i roughly added stuff up in my head and i don't think i'd have much of a calorie deficit and certainly not enough to equate to 4.4lbs in 5 days. it's the timing rather than the calories as far as i can tell.

swallowedAfly · 02/03/2013 11:30

basically every day my body has had time to run on fat and nothing else. my fat percentage is down and my muscle up and water the same (i know not massively reliable on home scales but you can see a pattern with them) so it's definitely the fat that has gone.

BlackMaryJanes · 02/03/2013 11:39

I've just done my weekly weigh-in.

Lost 4 pounds and 1% body fat this week Grin Plus an inch off my waist.

THANK GOD FOR THAT.

I was starting to die a little inside after last weeks maintaining.

Today is a fast day. I'm getting my hair done. Nothing else to report. How are you lovely ladies? (and gents).

Laska42 · 02/03/2013 12:20

So glad so many of you like my Aubergine spinach and chick pea curry!

If you've not tried it yet , do, its seriously Yum! as after8s found out!! Grin

swallowedAfly · 02/03/2013 12:21

not keen on aubergine but i used to make a spinach and chick pea curry, make depressions in the top and break eggs into them to poach. was yum and probably not high calorie. maybe a bit of alternative for non aubergine fans.

Laska42 · 02/03/2013 12:24

aftereights (I posted this on the Maintenance Board but here again just so you see this message.

I'm so glad you liked the curry! (though if you ate the lot I'm also glad I wasn't sharing a bedroom with you Wink) - it was probably only about 700/ 800 the whole recipe.. I was generous in counting the calories) .. Next time just remember it really does taste nicer the next day!!

Re: feeling that you might be becoming a 'secret eater' again .. dont beat yourself up too much ...we all do it sometimes but this WOE means that we really dont have to do that anymore because it is not a diet! . So chalk it up as being an eating day and jump back in . . But I suppose the way I'm now finally looking at it , is " if I can have it tomorrow , why am I thinking of cheating myself out of today's fasting benefits? Of course as I'm human that doesn't always work, but I also feel that not only am I self sabotaging and for what? , so I can just feel cr*p about myself? but also (sorry if this sounds a bit soppy) because its not just about me - you lot are now my community , and so I'm not just cheating myself .. Does that make sense?

Laska42 · 02/03/2013 12:27

swallowedafly and other people who dont like Aubergine.. you could try putting in butternut squash instead as a low cal alternative , (I don't like BNS!!) or mushrooms?

BsshBossh · 02/03/2013 12:45

swallowed the because you're eating in a smaller window of time, your body must be burning fat (in the absence of glycogen) I think. This is terrific! It's definitely something I will think about too now :) Well done!

swallowedAfly · 02/03/2013 12:54

i reckon it's got to be that bssh. i think this whole 3000cals = a pound of fat business might work perfectly in a test tube but it's never the way i've lost or gained weight. our bodies are far from test tubes.

i also suspect drinking black coffee has had something to do with it and have found stuff that supports that idea but you know how the internet is. you can find evidence to support anything if you're googling for it.

virginposter · 02/03/2013 14:24

B&W once again you've come up trumps with the TEDx talk linked above. It looks very interesting and I've just downloaded the Fast-5 ebook to read at my leisure. Isn't it amazing how many variants of IF there are and how, if we seek and learn, there will always be another one to try. The exciting thing is that eventually on the maintenance it should be easy with all this knowledge available and people like you to find it for us. Thanks Grin