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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.

IF, 4:3, 5:2 - Maintaining a healthy weight - Chapter 3

999 replies

Talkinpeace · 19/07/2013 13:03

This thread is for those who have been practicing IF (Intermittent Fasting) for quite a while and are now at, or nearing, their target healthy weight.
It's also for anyone who is doing it for the health benefits alone.

How do we experience fasts and balance a stable food intake while having little or no weight to lose?
How do we ensure that this WOL keeps us at the healthy weight long term rather than revert to yoyo games?
How do we ensure that we keep ourselves looking great rather than just thin?

Many of us have been maintaining at our original goal weight for a few months, and others are joining all the time.
Obviously, the more the merrier!
It is also worth considering whether a second, leaner target might be achievable.

You'll find the first two maintenance threads and all the main 5:2 threads for posters practicing IF to lose weight here on the Fasting / 5:2 on the diet forum. We're currently on thread no. 23, but there is a new main thread every 2-3 weeks.

There are two other associated threads:
This one, which is an absolute goldmine of Tips and Links on how to practice IF, and the research behind it.

And here is a treasure trove of 5:2 recipes, mostly low calorie for fasting days, but there are also recipes for when you want to treat yourself. And, now we're maintaining, we'll need more of these!

PS thanks to Breadandwine (proof that this forum welcomes everybody, not just Mums) for setting up the last thread while my old name that set up the first one was on 'holiday' Grin

OP posts:
Bordercollielover · 16/08/2013 15:41

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) works to raise awareness and improve farm animal welfare worldwide. There are specific websites for USA, UK and other European countries with useful shopping guidelines.

Talkinpeace · 16/08/2013 20:41

Last night Le Havre was deserted. Tonight Vannes is "complet" hopefully tomorrow Locmariaquer will have space ....
but my webmail has crashed which is a pita as I've got some work coming in.
Ah well, will have to go to the bar instead

OP posts:
silverbeetle · 18/08/2013 14:50

Hi everyone,
Can I join you please. Started this in Feb and have finally reached my personal goal (42lbs lost as my post states on the main thread) Grin and will now need a bit of help maintaining it.

I really want to continue with FD for the health benefits but am not sure whether to still do 2 a week and maybe eat a bit more or to drop down to one and continue eating as I have been over the last 6 months.

Any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated Thanks

AmericasTorturedBrow · 18/08/2013 21:31

Welcome silverbeetle and congrats!

As with losing the weight, you kin of need to experiment and see what happens, most of us change what we do each week, some weeks my weight has crept up so I do 3 FD, some weeks I have lots on so I don't worry that I can't it in any FD but will try to stick to 16:8 to not overdo it. I think now it's bout understanding how and when to indulge without guilt and to take back control when necessary, and knowing that 3lb swings either way are normal

I was going to fast yesterday and tomorrow but a surprise visit by a friend from the UK (amazing surprise and secret kept from me and all the better for not knowing it was happening) means I've jacked it in in favour of take aways, BBQ and champagne this weekend! But I'm going to fast tues and Thursday and do 16:8 on Wednesday to make up for it. Friends for dinner Friday, will probably fast Saturday in anticipation of two days away with DH Sunday and Monday when I just want to have fun and not worry about fasting, dietin or "being good". Then I have two weeks of right control ahead of going back to the UK for a month to indulge in copious bacon buttons

Went to farmers market today to get a chicken for our BBQ this avo and found a private farmer who pasture raises his hens, chatted to him for ages, saw photos of his farm, practices including killin of the animals and spent $37 on a small chicken and a dozen eggs. DH is furious but it's a compromise I'm willing to make to be sure of where my food is coming from, and therefore reducing our consumption in order to afford it. He invited me to see the farm and I'm thinking of taking DS as well to educate him a little

AmericasTorturedBrow · 18/08/2013 21:33

Butties not buttons!

vintage52er · 18/08/2013 23:32

silverbeetle Hi and welcome.
I've also been experimenting and found what suits me (staying within 2lbs of my lowest weight). Sometimes 5:2/6:1 but always 16:8 as I no longer want or need breakfast. On my fast days I only eat an evening meal but I do not count the calories, so have what I like. NFDs I try to eat healthily but if something comes up I go for it (but I try not to snack). Weekends are my treat days where I indulge in fish and chips, choc chip cookies etc etc.

When I first started my maintenance I panicked a bit and felt out of control but then I realised that it was just the same as doing 5:2 but with minor adjustments, in fact I think for a week or so I just carried on with 5:2 and then slowly ate more at weekends and eased off on NFDs.

I'm sure you'll soon get the hang if it, after all, look at how successful you were at losing the weight - well done Grin

vintage52er · 18/08/2013 23:50

Hey look what ceebeegeebies found on the other thread Cake
Better not use too often as I want some now - doh!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 19/08/2013 15:59

Morning all - very quiet at the moment, are you all stuffing your fat little faces Wink

16:8 today as we have lots of yummy heirloom tomatoes and organic avocados left over from a BBQ feast yesterday which if they're not eaten today will spoil, FD tomorrow and planning for next week's vegan challenge! DH making lots of grumbling noises so I'm just not going to tell him it's happening and he probably won't even notice the difference...

wildwater · 19/08/2013 17:58

Fasting today. Feeling great...won't be eating anything until about 7-8pm tonight. (23-24 hrs without.)

Last night was a big Sunday evening meal, shared with friends, of beans & rice and home-made wholemeal bread. After, we all dug into a container of the fabulous local icecream. Extremely yum! (And nothing left over to tempt.)

Tonight, the three of us fasting will have a small helping of beans with a huge salad: lettuce, tomato, onion, rocket + olive oil & vinegar.

We never drink alcohol on fast days, and we often now have three days a week without drinking...although we tend to 'make up' for it on the other days. (The Argentine red, particularly Malbec, is wonderful.) That's a huge improvement from a year ago, when we would frequently drink - at least - a bottle a night.

I am thoroughly enjoying my yoga classes and looking forward to going three times a week, starting soon. Last time, we did abdominal exercises I have never been able to do before...and I swear my stomach is reshaping itself. As a person who has never really bothered to even hold her stomach in, this is quite dramatic.

I am going to get a friend to take some (faceless) photos so I can compare where I am now with my future, more toned body. If I ever manage to solve my photo-uploading problems (am in touch with Mumsnet re this) I will post them here.

However, I must admit: I have wanted to look at some of our posters' pics, but can't work out where to go on the Mumsnet site. I am a dunce at times. Can anybody point me in the right direction? These things are so simple, I know, but sometimes they can drive you to screaming point!

Last night it snowed heavily in the hills around Lago Puelo. It isn't cold today, but drizzling and overcast...the perfect day to be inside. I am thinking in multiple directions at the moment, trying to figure out which creative angle I want to start working with. There is a lot of choice, even when I bring it down to 'use what you have'. That must be a good thing.

Salut a todos :)

silverbeetle · 19/08/2013 18:49

Thanks folks for the advice, seems like I need to experiment for a few weeks.
Feel a bit nervous Confused

Breadandwine · 19/08/2013 19:23

Hi WW

Thanks for following my blog - nice to see you there!

To see my pics on here, just click on my name, then on 'B&W's photo's'. You should see a photo of me and one of some Chelsea buns. If you can't, sounds like a problem at your end.

I've tried to upload more, but to no avail - don't know why! Confused

Welcome silverbeetle! You'll soon feel at home here. Experimenting, and finding what works for you is what it's all about.

Laska42 · 20/08/2013 11:36

Hi long time no being here, for me, no real reason except I just don?t seem to have been engaging with the internet so much in these last few summer weeks and spending a lot of evenings working in the garden instead ( inundated with courgettes , beans , tomatoes etc etc ) . Also still haven?t been able to get over my ?summer off? mood but I?m jolly well going to have to soon if I don?t want to start looking like Porky the pig again!

Yes folks, it?s a definite 7 lbs on from my lowest weight scenario and it?s pretty much all down to Wine I fear! But I?m feeling strangely gung-ho about this, usually it would have been a total disaster and by now I would have got into the ?might as well not bother, I?m always destined to be a fatty? mood, but in spite not quite being ready to give up the wine yet ( well at least until the end of this Bank hol weekend ) I think my fairly sanguine mood is down to two things . One of course is knowing about the power of fasting and the fact that I can and will lose it again ,if I do it, and that I will do it again , when I?m ready to . However over these last few weeks I?ve only averaged one day a week ( and that not always properly if I am being totally honest ). I?m ready to as from ?start of term? (I do think ?term? It?s a psychological thing I think for lots of us, even though I don?t have to ?do? them anymore!)

However what I?ve also learnt is that gain a bit isn?t necessarily a disaster and that weight can still be ?regulated? even if you are not totally doing 5:2 (which is good), and despite not doing proper fasting ( and putting that bit back on) I haven?t returned to everyday all-out ?sod it? eating and drinking, and the food I have been eating is still pretty much along the same lines - a couple of days of mainly veggies and the rest ?normal? it?s just that the couple of days do still seem to be including the wine right now ( its just so nice having a chilled white or two in the garden on a summer evening , and hay , life is about little pleasures too ) .

The second thing I think that has helped me ( and is also a reason for not haunting the internet quite so much in the evenings ) is the Mindfulness course I?ve been doing, which has at times been quite frankly hard for me , as it does make one think of things you may not really want think of ,sometimes But all in all I think that the practice is making me much more positive and accepting of myself. (but not so much that I don?t want to lose the weight I?ve put back on !).

Glad you liked the Aubergine curry B&W I must make it myself again d soon but as I d said at the moment its all beans , courgettes etc and soon to be tons of sweetcorn ( its all gone a bit mad this year in my veg garden ) . Well done on being discharged from the lung clinic. I had the Most Gorgeous Grandson in the World ever , come to stay for the weekend ( with his mum of course who is keen that we should still see him ) so that situation is currently looking good and I?m hoping it will remain so ) , he is crawling now and still very cute. Have I missed any Important Announcements your end B&W?

Great to see you all still here and welcome Silverbeetle What a fab weight loss.

ATB good luck with the vegan week, and TIP enjoy the wonderful French food and Wine

Laska42 · 20/08/2013 11:44

Wildwater Think i mighthave missed what you are doing (in Patagonia.. wanted to go ther since i read Bruce Chatwin all those years ago ?) Are toy at a yoga retreat , would like to hear more..

Breadandwine · 20/08/2013 13:07

Hi Laska was wondering how you're getting on!

Good to know you're enjoying this lovely summer.

No news from this end - still 6 days to go before the due date. My daughter is absolutely blooming and everything is looking good. Rest assured, nobody will miss any announcements! Grin

Very happy to hear that you're getting lots of grandson time - and that his mother is keen for that to happen. Long may it continue!Flowers

7lbs in the great scheme of things is nothing - a mere bagatelle!

Pfff! Grin

It's remarkable how our weight, and how to keep it off, is receding into the background, don't you think?

WW has started a thread on her adventures. Sounds like she's having a great time.

AmericasTorturedBrow · 20/08/2013 14:21

So great to hear about your grandson's visit Laska, and your garden - do tell more about the mindfulness course, just generally nice to hear from you

Breadandwine · 20/08/2013 15:57

ATB I've finally got my act together and posted a week's vegan menu on my blog. Hope there's something you can use.

nobreadisanisland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/a-vegan-weeks-menu.html

It's not finished, yet, in that I shall link to all the recipes that I have on my blog, and I'm still thinking of other dishes. But I thought I'd get it up there.

For instance, I haven't mentioned my famous pan-fried curried wedges yet. Grin

Lots of those meals are suitable for fast days. We vegans are very lucky, I reckon!

Cheers, B&W

Talkinpeace · 20/08/2013 16:24

Well my waistline is RUINED by Breton food, but I'm loving it and know I can slim back down PDQ at the start of term.
Galettes and Cidre. Nom Nom.

OP posts:
AmericasTorturedBrow · 20/08/2013 16:45

Oh B&W that's great! I'm collating recipes now ready to start next Tuesday (we have loads of dinner plans this week then a night away in Sunday for DH and I) so will definitely spend some time later going through your plan

Laska42 · 20/08/2013 18:21

ATB I have a couple of great (accidental) vegan recipes i make a lots ( and dont forget the aubergine curry ) ill try and post them later.. Also will take a pic of my sweetcorn! its taller than me!!.

Just off to 'Mindfulness' now , will post some more about that in the next couple of days also ..

B&W bet you and your wife are beside yourselves! cant wait to see a photo of the new MGGrandchildINTW .. will try and get another photo up of Marcus before he loses the title (and Poo to the upstart pretensions of 'that one' on the BBC website earlier.. but of course looking at him just as a baby he is cute and of course he cant know what he is in for .. poor thing ) Got a recipe for curried lentils and Cabbage? (the link isnt working )

catsrus · 20/08/2013 18:33

Hi laska I reckon we've got it licked now - its that knowledge that we do know how to regulate weight now - takes away that "oh sod it" feeling - well allows us to have the oh sod it days [g]

I was 9st 1lb this morning - which is under my 9.2 new norm - so I celebrated with 4 slices of wholemeal toast and marmite - bliss! 2 is never enough! Have been at work today and there is a fab market near here so I got a pound of cherries and three figs for lunch - going home to a huge salad which is being made by my dd - along with homemade humus, guacamole and salsa! Sadly not all from the garden - the courgettes are doing ok though - we've been big on ratatouille recently. I will finish off a bottle of red too.

Tomorrow I'm in an office with the most fab canteen so will get there early and have an amazing salad bar lunch - all those fiddle litte bits and interesting combinations - probably a Yo Sushi on the way home too Grin. Long day on thursday - huge trip by car - but an Indian meal out with friends at the end of it!

Love this WOE - thanks for recipes B&w - I keep moving towards a more vegan diet as my base line.

Laska42 · 20/08/2013 18:34

TIP if you like prunes you must try the Far Breton! Oh and all the seafood . I have a good friend living near Chateaulin who i go and see often and I love all the seafood and cheeses, - especially the Moules et Cidre (et frites of course!! Grin) .

If you can get over to Finestere, and the pink granite coast (even Roscoff is nice) , I'm sure you will love it . And if you can get south of Quimper and go to Concarneau market on Friday morning (afterwards have lunch in the old fort town) and then out to Penmarch peninsula and drive round to Douarnenez I really recommend it . Another great area is around Crozon and Camaret sur mer.

Oh and Quiberon.. its all fantastic! have fun

Laska42 · 20/08/2013 18:40

Been a bit of it an 'oh sod it' summer for me Cats Grin .. Right off to Mindfulness and meditation! Back later or tomorrow

Talkinpeace · 20/08/2013 21:36

Laska
just had three FANTASTIC days at Locmariaquer - at the best campsite ever (no facilities, just THAT beach)
and about to head to crozon for a couple of days
had a pants dinner in Quimper for our 20th aniversary - so bad it was funny.

OP posts:
Breadandwine · 21/08/2013 01:19

Laska I thought I had a lentil and cabbage recipe, but couldn't find it. I'll post it tomorrow.

However, I've a lovely lentil and rice with cabbage and mushroom recipe on there.

(Note to self: Must make that again, soon!)

AmericasTorturedBrow · 21/08/2013 07:34

Oh crap, big FD fail after stressful bedtime shenanigans with DC and have packed away several shots of whisky, biscuits, cheese and green and blacks

I think sometimes I have opposite issue - scales were lower than expected this am and clearly it's tripped a "sod it" switch in my head

Bugger buggerbugger

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