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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:
AmericasTorturedBrow · 23/08/2013 19:51

Welcome SED

Wow Laska wise words from learnt experience indeed....

I would love to do the meetup, I just need to work out if it's feasible for me to get to Portsmouth and when, as I'll have both DC and am public transporting it, also we're here there and everywhere over our trip so I don't want you to arrange it round me then it end up being difficult for me to get there

FD today (DH finished the Percy pigs and no green and blacks open so should be fine Wink)

frenchfancy · 23/08/2013 19:54

No Laska don't turn right, head straigh down to Rennes then Nantes then keep going south. We are about 1 hour south of nantes in the beautiful sunny south Vendée. (there's no tart left though!)

Welcome SED. Yes it takes some used to being slim. I keep catching sight of myself in the mirror and thinking "who's that". It is the same with DH, I saw him walking down the beach the other day and didn't recognise him (which is worrying as we've been together 20 years);

Anglaise1 · 24/08/2013 06:59

Thankyou everyone, particularly B&W for the male point of view! I know I sound pathetic (I'm quite tough generally!) but he didn't actually go back with his ex. He was shocked when she declared her undying love for him after dumping him 2 years ago. Last week he needed some time to deal with her and make her understand he doesn't want her (she is very fragile and could do something stupid) but he loves me, not her. We have done a lot of talking this week which is good, but yes, I will be very careful.
frenchfancy your tart sounded delicious, I hope you enjoyed it!

catsrus · 24/08/2013 07:26

Sadly not sure I could get to Portsmouth in Sept, it's 2.5 hrs each way for me by train so that would be whole day. work is manic and I've maxed out my possible leave days to deal with getting dcs off to Uni and hosting some friends from the US who want to see Brighton. Looking at my diary I also have something every weekend .... Sigh.

Sometimes I really envy my friends who have retired already! So many things to do and so little time... Mind you if I wasn't working it would be "so many things to do and so little money!"

Breadandwine · 26/08/2013 10:01

BOO!!!

Grin

Morning everyone! Fasting today - aiming for

Anglaise1 · 26/08/2013 11:19

Good luck with the fast today B&W. I put on a kilo in the last week Smile I never thought I'd be happy about that! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have gone back on my boobs which is where I need it most Sad

Northstarmum · 26/08/2013 22:44

cyclistist- on the brown inhalers- I'm asthmatic and have been taking these for years. Currently on a really low dose as my asthma is well controlled and if I get a flare up, I up the dose until things settle down and then gradually reduce back down again. I'm sure you've been told they're the preventer inhaler- once I accepted them as part of my life rather than resisting I really did find that my asthma was much better controlled and less impacted by things which had previously aggravated it, like exercise and allergies. I dont know about COPD and other conditions caused by smoking, but it be helpful to speak to the practice nurse that specialises in asthma?

tip enjoy Brittany we have had many lovely holidays as a family on the peninsula with a particular highlight being kayaking with a dolphin in Audierne harbour. And ff we also had a great holiday in the vendee at aiguillon sur mer which must be near you? My all time French favourite though is the Charente Maritime where we have had wonderful holidays.

So with the school holidays I've not managed to fast much but the dcs were off with their grandparents last week and I got a couple of good fasts in and even did some exercise which was great- so I know that when term starts it will be possible to get back on it. I'm on the high side of my maintaining ideal at the moment and I'd like to drop a few lbs before half term as dh and I have a trip to the US planned when he has to go over there for a conference. I get to be the accompanying spouse in a gorgeous spa hotel- what a treat, and I want to wear my swim suit with pride!

I hope everyone on school hols enjoys the last week, back to school will be herer before we know it!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 27/08/2013 15:23

Hello all

Lovely night away with DH sans kids for the first time in 2yrs!

Back to fasting today. Despite a big night of drinking on Sunday my tummy was fine so I think it's lots of meat that sets me off more than alcohol....

Talkinpeace · 27/08/2013 16:46

Is home. Has a cold. Has laundry going!
Won't start fasting till next week - I don't think I've put on much weight, but my ab muscles have gone flabby with no yoga and swimming.

Cidre and Oysters was definitely good for my digestion though!

OP posts:
AmericasTorturedBrow · 27/08/2013 21:12

Oops Tuesday's cooking session with DS was olive and rosemary rolls (you'd be proud B&W) which were so delicious I've had two!!! Luckily I ate them just with celery and coriander, I have a soup defrosting tonight so think I might end up about 100kcal over by the end of the day....if I manage to stay away from the rolls!!

Breadandwine · 29/08/2013 00:19

if I manage to stay away from the rolls!!

Hope you succeeded, ATB! Bet you enjoyed making them with your DS as much as you enjoyed tasting them!

No movement on the new grandchild front, yet. D-day plus 2, today. My daughter had an appointment at the hospital this morning, where they were able to tell her that her baby was 7lb 13oz - and the baby's legs were slightly longer than average. Not surprising as her hubby is over 6 foot.

She's to go in on Friday again, but if it hasn't appeared by D-day plus 12, a Caesarean is on the cards.

As you can imagine, we're keeping the phone close by!

Hi Tip! Smile

cidre? Was there any need for that?

Grin
postmanpatscat · 29/08/2013 07:00

b+w fingers crossed for your daughter. My eldest is 16 on Saturday and I remember this time well! As a teacher, I'd tell her to hold on til Sunday if possible!

Breadandwine · 29/08/2013 10:14

Thanks, Postie! My daughter's a teacher as well - we've always been hoping she'll last until September.

So your daughter arrived on the last day of the school year! How did she find that?

I have friends who are twins - now in their seventies - one was born at 11.45pm on the 31st August, the other came about 30 minutes later. The very understanding midwife logged both births on the 1st of September!

They only found out about this in later years. Can you imagine the field day that the bureaucrats would have had if they'd known the truth? The mind boggles! Confused

catsrus · 29/08/2013 11:05

I bloody love this WOE!

Hi all Grin

Mad 5 days of visiting and being visited, meals out, takeaways, snacks (big time) lots of Wine at the end of which I appeared to have put on 5lbs. Two good fast days later I'm back at maintenance. Brilliant!

Talkinpeace · 29/08/2013 18:03

I've not fasted or been near the scales yet ... planning to go back into work mode on Monday ...

B&W
I did a search to see if I could get it over here,
No luck at supermarkets, or Majectic, but then I hit paydirt - at Next !!
Its lovely as its only 4% alcohol so light and refreshing rather than slams the head
we drank almost no wine as the cider was so pleasant

OP posts:
Laska42 · 29/08/2013 18:24

oooh this is getting exciting B&W watching this space for the Important Announcement!

Now TiP you are back from holiday now.. you really dont want to be doing what I did and allowing the holiday mood to continue.. I'm still sporting a small summer Wine gut..and 7lbs extra.. Cancel that order NOW (if you know what is good for you!!) Grin

Im fasting today..and so far only l/f hummus mixed into cottage cheese for a dip with carrot sticks and mange tout , and am just about to tuck into a 'hot and sour' soup , made only of garden courgettes and runners with a little Thai soup paste
(but there's an open bottle of Wine in the kitchen I must stay away from....)

Shame that the Portsmouth thought doest seem to be growing legs though.. perhaps will have to be later in the year then..

Ok what's the news on the 'other 'big' pregancy? Tian Tian? anyone know?

Breadandwine · 30/08/2013 01:14

I promise I'll keep you informed - MTB is incredibly relaxed, though! (More than I can say about her mother! Grin)

Went to the theatre tonight, to see Fame The Musical, which was absolutely fantastic! Wonderful entertainment by a young theatre group.

At the interval I had a bottle of Tribute, which just hit the spot! And seems to have triggered my thirst, because when I came home, I wanted, unusually in the evening, for me, another beer or two.

So I poured myself a pint - and halfway through it, I thought "What is there to eat?"

To cut a long story short, I had some lentil and coconut curry on the stove - not a lot, but enough to go with a plateful of oven chips (done in the frying pan in half the time). So that's what I had. Oh, and I moved off the beer (homemade stout, actually!) onto red wine

And ever since I finished eating, I've been wondering what else was around! Hmm

I know that if I have a mug of cocoa, I'll want something sweet - so, better not!

Just realised I've passed my 18 month anniversary on this WOL! Think I might write up a blog post on the subject.

Call it something like: 'Intermittent Fasting: The first 18 months!'

That 'cidre' comment, Tip was supposed to be about you coming all over French after your hols! Grin

Cheers, B&W

Ps. I know you'll be glad to hear that I just found a pot of 10cal jelly. Lovely!

Breadandwine · 30/08/2013 01:34

Now I'm eating chocolate - I should go to bed! Hmm

AmericasTorturedBrow · 30/08/2013 01:42

Ugh I have failed every fast this week again

I'm putting it down to all of you taking holidays too. Dinner thing every day over the weekend so going to just aim to not binge (damnit) and start afresh on Tuesday, 8days before I fly home.

Tbh I'm maintaining, but I was hoping to have the willpower to lose...

Anglaise1 · 30/08/2013 07:00

TIP I agree, cider is a delicious alternative when the weather is hot. I'm glad you had a good holiday in Brittany. I live the other side of Brittany, in the 'doormat' (dept 35) of the region, not far from Mt St Michel.
The kilo I gained came off again quickly so I'm back to 55kgs and BF has decided he doesn't love me after (there is no spontaneity left) all so it's all off again. I feel so stupid and no appetite again. At least I get the kids back tonight and next week is back to work and school so hopefully that will take my mind off him Sad

Talkinpeace · 30/08/2013 10:24

Anglaise
We stayed at Ceaux near Avranches on our way back through to the Tunnel : I like the North coast, but the south coast is warmer.
And to be honest, he never loved you as much as he loved himself. You are not stupid, just less selfish than him. You'll find a better one soon.

OP posts:
Fillybuster · 30/08/2013 16:19

Was doing well, but simply cannot stop eating today. No idea why...and its all a bit random....3 (thick) slices home-made bread and butter, half a bag of licorice allsorts (feel a bit sick...) and a very large chunk of parmesan cheese. Not normal, especially when I've been feeling so pleased with my overall maintenance, but sooooo hungry today!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 30/08/2013 18:03

Me too filly

Sorry Anglaise but TiP speaks wise words indeed, you are worth much much more than him

Breadandwine · 31/08/2013 13:05

Anglaise, you're well rid of him - now you can move on! [hugs]

Latest from the new grandchild front is that my daughter went to the hospital yesterday and was 1-2cm dilated. But apparently that doesn't mean a lot?

She's to go in on Monday and they'll give her a sweep.

Looks pretty certain it's going to be a Sept babe - unless something dramatic happens in the next twelve hours. Shock

She's feeling in excellent shape - would just like to get on with it.

wildwater · 31/08/2013 20:19

Filly buster - I know exactly what that's like. Right down to the large piece of cheese...