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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.

Original poster

Starting on Monday - anyone want to be my buddy?

416 replies

SpanielFace · 02/07/2013 10:13

I'm planning on starting next week - it's my birthday on Thursday so want to wait until after then!

I'm 32, 5'7 and have about 5 stone to lose. I have a 10 month old DS and I have recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland, which slows the metabolism and makes it harder to lose weight - I started treatment 2 weeks ago and am already feeling much better, so I'm hoping to find losing weight a bit easier. 2 stone of this weight has been gained since having DS, which I feel ashamed about, but have been feeling exhausted and depressed (due mostly to the thyroid, it turns out) and have compensated by comfort eating. Confused

I really hope this will be a solution to 8 years of yo-yo dieting, which have taken me from a size 10 to a size 18 Confused A little nervous of the hunger, but I know it won't kill me.

Does anyone want to be my buddy, for a bit of mutual support?

OP posts:
AphraBehn · 26/09/2013 12:31

Hi Gator

On fast days I used to go to bed at 10 and pour over pictures of cakes, desserts and cheesey baked goods planning on how I was going to eat them the following day! When I got up, I would be completely unbothered and had no desire to eat any of it. I find now that I do enjoy a nice brunch type meal after a fast day but prefer lighter evening meals. Late night eating now tends to make me feel sick during the night. You will find out (probably through trial and error) what suits you best, and this may evolve over the weeks.

I'm not bothered about you talking about junk food either even though I'm fasting today"

PeasandCucumbers · 27/09/2013 09:04

Well I have had 2 weeks off after a really disappointing weigh in but I am planning on getting really back on track next week. I haven't been keeping up with the thread as it would have only made me feel guilty but will have a catch up later when I have more time. I have realised that the thread really helps with motivation and keeping on track so keep up the good work guys Smile

becky78 · 27/09/2013 09:36

Welcome back peas and good luck.

1lb off for me this week (helped in part by a dodgy tummy bug midweek Blush).

Discovered this morning that on my scales I weigh about 1.5 stone less in DS bedroom than in bathroom where I normally weigh in. Worth remembering for when I have a bad week Grin.

Hope everyone else is going well.

Luvvies · 27/09/2013 09:50

Hi peas, well done Becky.

2 lbs for me which makes me 1 stone off in 7 weeks. Woohoo.

Off to a family celebration thing wearing clothes I couldn't do up a while ago. Feels good.

Wearytiger · 27/09/2013 10:33

Luvvies! You are the first person on the thread to hit the one stone milestone! Congratulations! Wine

Hopefully I'll be there with you on Monday if I lose a lb this week.

GatoradeMeBitch · 27/09/2013 14:43

Congrats Becky, that's very inspiring!

I was stupid yesterday - my first non-diet day and I really went for it, I had four packets of crisps, pizza, cake... even when I didn't really fancy it anymore I kept going.

Then when I went to bed my heart was racing, it wouldn't stop. It was only when I got up and walked about for a bit that I realised I was very nauseous! I got to sleep about 3-ish with a bucket next to my head. Needless to say I'm aiming for a more balanced diet now...

GatoradeMeBitch · 27/09/2013 21:59

I hope my episode of gluttony hasn't killed the thread!

I'm going to fast again on Sunday and make sure I go right to my 500 cal limit, probably a WW meal and make up the calories with soup.

Luvvies · 28/09/2013 00:50

Not at all Gator. This thread doesn't always move fast.

Sometimes WW meals don't give you much bulk for the calories I think. Have a think about cooking yourself something?

If you want a bigger meal you can have a huge plateful of chicken or prawn stir fry with veg. Weigh out everything really carefully and use a calorie counter to add up the calories. I use an app called nutracheck but most people use myfitnesspal. You may be surprised. I think WW meals have hidden sugars to make them palatable.

You need to practically dry fry though. Tiny splash of oil. Or one of those sprays. I just use soy sauce for flavour. No extra sauces. Be careful which veg too, some are more calorific than others, eg bean sprouts always surprise me. Peppers are good, courgette, mange tout.

I'm usually a veggie phobe but I got off to a really good start doing this and felt really virtuous. Have got more lazy on FDs recently, sometimes just have weetabix, slices of ham, Pre prepared salad etc, various bits and pieces. Sometimes have grilled chicken and boiled veg. Again, it's surprising how big a portion you can actually have.

Anyway I'm 7 weeks in, have lost a stone, have a few more to lose and I've never found weight loss as easy as this before, ever, so please keep trying and don't worry about one day mess up.

Luvvies · 28/09/2013 01:04

Sorry that may have come across as completely patronising. Of course you know how to weigh calculate and prepare a stir fry!

You may just prefer not to cook or not have the time. I often don't myself, we are a family of chaotic eaters.

Just from personal experience WW meals look small!

GatoradeMeBitch · 28/09/2013 09:24

No, it wasn't patronising at all, stir fry is something I've never done! I usually steam veg and grill meat/fish. I have a tiny kitchen and nor room for another piece of equipment, but I found out you can prepare a stir fry in a frying pan so I may give it a go!

I think while I'm very new to this, the good thing about WW food is that the calories are printed on the back, no guesswork. I think my Wednesday fast took me up to about 300 calories and for a couple of weeks I want to go right up to my limit while I get used to it.

GatoradeMeBitch · 29/09/2013 15:38

My second fast day and I'm feeling really positive. I can really see myself doing this for life (Or once a week if I get to my goal weight.) I had a small apple and a boiled egg for breakfast, and I'm having a Kirsty's spanish chicken and brown rice ready meal for dinner.

I told a family member about 5:2 and got moaned at, because he did gluten free for six weeks and thinks that's the way forward. But I need a solid year of dieting to sort me out, and I know I could not avoid gluten all that time! But I can avoid it for one day if I know I can have to tomorrow...

I got into this after reading the Kate Harrison 5:2 book, but I need recipe ideas so I just ordered the Hairy Bikers book, and the Fast Diet recipe book.

GatoradeMeBitch · 29/09/2013 15:39

*have it tomorrow, not 'to'. I wish we could edit our posts!

Luvvies · 29/09/2013 16:09

Hi Gator well done and keep up the good work for the rest of today.

I tend to not eat until tea time - that's what works for me and I think there is a little suggestion in the book that this may be a more effective way - leaving the fast as long a time period as you can - something to think about?

The best thing about this approach to eating is that no food groups are out of bounds. You don't have to cut anything out. You can still eat out, celebrate, have puddings, have carbs when you want etc. you just need to plan your week if you can, or flex your days if you need to. Simple.

I sometimes mention it to people, and depending on their response, tell them more, or I don't. Some say, "I couldn't do that, I'd starve". I don't say that they wouldn't, I just say that I find that I don't. Some say "Oh, I've heard of that, how does it work?" and then I explain more. But my bottom line is always never to push it on people as dieting is such a personal thing. I say I have found something that works for me, and that I can see me sticking with and was recommended to me by my GP. No one can moan about that!

FD for me tomorrow. Not had one since Weds, and I'm actually looking forward to it - just had a sausage casserole for lunch and I'm feeling rather full!

GatoradeMeBitch · 29/09/2013 22:47

Sausage casserole sounds gorgeous! I've just invested in a slow cooker, I may try that soon!

I wish I didn't tell my relative about my diet. They are the preachy type, and we have one of those relationships where growing up I was always the person who needed advice, and he dished it out. I think we'll always be stuck in that pattern now!

I can see it would be more sensible to have one meal, so the body can get all the digesting over in one go, but I have such a huge appetite I will have to build up to it. I'm about to go to bed now, and I have the same symptoms that I had at the end of fast day one - flushed face, and the beginnings of a headache. I'm not disheartened though. I've been such a bad eater that it may take a while to adjust.

AphraBehn · 30/09/2013 09:39

3.2lbs off this week! Woo hoo, hope to hit the magic stone by next weigh in Smile.

Gatorade Pay no attention to your relative, I believe you can only lose weight by finding the method that works for you. That way you will be able to sustain it.

PoshPaula · 30/09/2013 15:40

Hi! I started this diet last week. I am fasting today and have hit that mid-afternoon 'shaky' point - how do people stop feeling spacey and a bit dizzy on a Fast Day?

I ate fruit for breakfast and lunch, I've had a couple of coffees.

Luvvies · 30/09/2013 16:08

Fantastic Aphra, that's brilliant.

Welcome Posh. Personally I don't get the shaky thing. But maybe try a camomile tea rather than coffee?

It could be that having fruit little and often, i.e. for breakfast and lunch is actually messing with your sugar levels more than you need. Although I think in the book they suggest most people can tolerate bigger dips in levels than they believe. (Clearly not my nearly 18 year old who is the grumpiest chump alive if he doesn't eat at least every 3 hours).

Perhaps try eating protein rather than carbs next time - should sustain you for longer, takes longer to digest I believe?

AphraBehn · 30/09/2013 17:15

I agree with luvvies Posh. Try a slice of ham or maybe something like a mug of bovril or miso soup. The experts are on the main thread and they will have lots of advice as well.

PoshPaula · 30/09/2013 17:55

Okay thanks. Certainly a mug of Bovril sounds like something I could do. I can't seem to work out which is the main thread.

GatoradeMeBitch · 01/10/2013 09:10

I slept really badly again last night, I was still awake at 5. But though I had to get up at 8am, I didn't even find it a struggle. Again, it's not fasting night, it's the night after.

I think I'll have to keep a food diary on post-fast days to see if I'm abusing the stimulants in some way!

becky78 · 01/10/2013 09:50

Morning all, well done aphra, that's a fantastic loss, are you doing anything extra (other low cal days, extra exercise etc) or is that just with 5:2?

gator, I don't think the side affects you are feeling are a good thing, maybe you could try doing 750cals on your fast days for a couple of weeks and see if that helps. From what I've read the 500cal limit isn't scientific, it is just a suggested target for people to aim at. Well done for sticking with it though even though you are feeling a bit rough.

Successful FD for me yesterday and next one planned for Thursday, hoping for another 1lb off this week then that will be half a stone which I will be chuffed with - will be chasing you '1 stone lost' people for a while yet tho! Grin

AphraBehn · 01/10/2013 10:58

Thanks Becky and Luvvies. I don't do low cal days, tbh sometimes I just about manage the two fast days! Since the start of term I have been able to go running 3 times a week so I think the results of that have finally kicked in this week.

Gator, I had a few sleepless nights as well after about 3/4 weeks on 5:2. I used to have loads of cups of tea on FDs to stave off the hunger but now try and limit to 2 cups a day. I swear by Baxters French Onion soup (135 calories for a huge can) if I need something for lunch.

GatoradeMeBitch · 03/10/2013 12:10

I'm going to persevere. If I'm still having two sleepless nights in a month I might have to re-evaluate but I'm hoping things settle.

I did my one week weigh-in yesterday and had lost three pounds in my first week. I'm really happy, especially because I haven't been dieting at all on the non-fast days.

GatoradeMeBitch · 03/10/2013 12:11

And well done on your lossAphra that's awesome!

Luvvies · 03/10/2013 13:39

Well done Gator, that's a brilliant start and you are right, the whole point of this is that you can feel that you are not dieting on non-fast days. Probably not pigging out, but definitely not "dieting" as we have experienced it before.

Keep up the good work and keep posting here. I'll weigh in tomorrow. It may be my first plateau week, or I may have lost 1 lb. We'll see.