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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:
mumofcrazynamedkids · 30/09/2013 13:32

aahhh bugger! just sabotaged! made it til 12.30, then had a low cal biscuit, which woke my appetite and then couldn't resist leftover potato and mackerel dauphinoise....working from home with food available is a killer, oh well, am changing tacks, i am going to attempt 16:8 every day this week and no bloody snacking!

RedWineAndCheese · 30/09/2013 14:24

Good afternoon!

This seems to be the perfect place for me to migrate to Grin

I started 5:2 at the start of April, and have lost 2 stone. I didn't follow it during the summer hols so much, but got back into it.

I don't have that much to lose now. TBH I could stay here as I am but after children, my stomach is not looking good and I want to be as skinny as I can be (safely!) so that the skin has some chance to recover - I hope - without surgery!

I have converted several happy people to a fasting way of thinking.

I am considering 16:8 or a one day a week fast when I have lost this tiny extra bit. I want/need/MUST maintain. I feel fitter, happier, lighter - and after the purchase of a new bra, perkier than ever before!

TheCyclistist · 30/09/2013 15:19

Hi WB and RWAC, welcome and good luck with the maintaining Smile

Hi MOCNK, hope you're acclimatising to the north ok. I've got the same issue with you on the working from home front. I'm lucky as in Sundays I have a natural and easy Fast day. I'm coaching football from 9.00 in the morning and don't get home till around 4.00. Finding a way of kicking my heels until 7 or 8 is then relatively easy. The problem I have is the other days. My NFD eating is....well quite 'extensive' so I really need to do at least one other day a week. It is do-able but a lot easier if I can get out on my bike for 2 or 3 hours. If I'm stuck in front of my laptop in the kitchen then there's only one way that fast day is going Sad. So if you're lucky like me and able to divert yourself by walking or cycling or the gym or something else physical or diverting at the time of the day when things get 'dodgy' then it's not too bad. However I know not everyone is in a situation where they can do that.

The biscuitgate situation also sounds similar, my self control is poor probably a lot worse than yours and the way I've found round it is not to have 'snacks' in the house on a Fast day. Because like you my mind likes to play games with me and the oh sod it is never far away when temptation's around.

At the end of the day though I tell my self that there is no alternative to this WOL for me. If I want to be healthy, look good (comparatively speaking Grin ) and still eat all the things I want without going through the pain of constant weeks of calorie restriction or diets then getting 1 or 2 fasts done a week is worth it, and if I don't manage it occasionally, no harm done I'll just try again another day. And the feeling at the end of a Fast day or first thing the next morning is great

Have a great day all

Talkinpeace · 30/09/2013 15:22

Welcome redwine
Interestingly, despite having basically been maintaining since December last year I still fast two days a week.
In part that is because my TDEE is now so low that it is would be easy to go over it most days so the FD shortfalls keep my weight stable.

MOCNK
leftovers are a bugger on FSs aren't they! THey just require insane amounts of willpower to ignore. Which I have some of the time Wink

OP posts:
vintage52er · 30/09/2013 23:48

Don't think I'd be able to resist those leftovers, they sound yummy! Just has a visit from DS for 5 days and so of course had to go out and eat a lot. I'm managing to maintain (the most I've put on is 3lbs) by continuing to not eat breakfast and by still doing 2 fast days but not counting the amount of calories in my only meal which is dinner.
But it's not easy and sometimes the scales scare me and I have to reign myself in PDQ before the rot sets in. For me the key is to weigh every week and face whatever is happening and immediately do something about it.
So I'm at 10st 3lbs (lowest was 10st) 5' 5" and a size 10 and have decided to try to lose maybe 7-10 more lbs so's I too (hello wrigglebum) have room to yoyo a bit without panicing. Also Christmas (oops, sorry) is looming and I'd like to lose before I gain so I have that extra to play with.
Overall, I'd say that this maintaining is very do-able providing life doesn't get in the way too much and too often. It's great to be able to lurk around here and the other thread and feel inspired and supported when I'm flagging. This was always going to be the difficult part but, like a lot of you on here, I'm determined that I will not undo all my good work and re-gain as I've done so many many times before.

Welcome also to RedWineAndCheese.

Laska42 · 01/10/2013 07:50

Hi all just short as I'm on my phone.. But hopefully later -
TiP and I will be meeting up! I've had an eating & drinking weekend and was so glad just to have a plate of veggies last night. Not fasting today though. Tip might not want a photo of us but if not Ill post one of what we ate!..

mumofcrazynamedkids · 01/10/2013 10:32

hi cyclist and thanks for your tips and reflections, I totally agree that my busy days are by far the easiest to fast on, and when i worked in the office and just didn't take food in, or just soup then that was easier too, but being at home is much harder, i just went into kitchen to make coffee, cut a slice of fruit loaf, but then managed to force myself to put it away again, i will manage 16:8, last food at 8pm last night - managed to eat the rest of the bloody delicious but hugely calorific dauphinoise for supper, so as to prevent that temptation today (but there is still choc cupcakes, carrot cake and tea loaf!) and I am just going to mainline coffee for a while and try and emulate TIP's insane willpower!

vintage good shout about Christmas, and my brother and family from Canada will be over so another incentive to be looking my best, last time they saw me I had just had a baby and was about 14 stone 7!

I need new jeans, i want to be able to buy size 12 (or less!), and I will have last years size 12 chino's feel more comfortable again, this will only happen if I lose the 5 pounds gained and through fasting!

I am also going to look up a pilate's class and babysitters, I need some getting out of the house time!

laska and tip have a lovely lunch, i'll toast you both with coffee!

mumofcrazynamedkids · 01/10/2013 10:49

welcome redwine to the maintainers board, a very lovely bunch of experienced 5:2 ers who never fail to support!

mumofcrazynamedkids · 01/10/2013 13:30

just a quickie, does anyone know if there has been any studies about 5:2 and thyroid? I had some bloods done last week as i joined a new dr's and had a check - up, felt in pretty good condition really, but have had a call back for more bloods as my thyroid results not right, may just be a hiccup but wondered if any of you more keen science researchers had seen any studies? cheers

Talkinpeace · 01/10/2013 15:17

Lunch was yum : stuffed now so a light supper !
Will post the pictures of the food later Grin

MOCNK Thyroid - probably no studies at all linked directly to 5:2 but if you search for intermittent fasting or calorie restriction and 5:2 there might be. Chances are no connection as hypothyroid has a strong genetic component (my clock is ticking on it )

OP posts:
TheCyclistist · 01/10/2013 16:07

Hi MOCNK

The following link to the 5:2 Forum should be pretty interesting to you. Until you know whether your levels are too high or too low you won't get to clear a picture though.

thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/thyroid-level-change-and-52/

Diet can effect how your Thyroid gland produces hormones so it may well be worth checking to see whether you're getting enough Iodene in your diet. Also too much lightly cooked veg like Brussels, Cabbage or Kale can effect your thyroid gland short term.

Thyroid dysfunction is pretty common though with 20% of women having problems too lesser or greater degrees....so probably nothing to lose sleep over

And talking of losing sleep, high levels of stress can effect the thyroid gland short term with higher levels of cortisol in the blood.

TheCyclistist · 01/10/2013 16:12

......and your recent housing issues will have raised those Smile

catsrus · 01/10/2013 17:21

Welcome to the new maintainers Smile. I went from 11.4 to 9.2 last year (August to Easter) and now aim not to go above 9.5 or below 9st. I have had the occasional 9.7 and even an 8.13, but want to keep as close to 9.2 as possible.

I had an indulgent weekend (again!) with overseas visitors and lots of treats like Fish n chips - plus a neighbour's housewarming with lots of Wine .... I had a sensible eating day yesterday and a 16:8 today with some of the sensible veggie stew leftovers from yesterday. The damage from the weekend was not great, the odd pound, so not a lot of will power needed to compensate - which is good because I'm working from home the rest of the week and that is not good for fasting - I have loads of willpower when working outside the home but when faced with my own company and kitchen a lot less so!

Talkinpeace · 01/10/2013 17:54

Whoops,
having had a glass of wine and a yummy lunch with Laska am now having wine with dinner because DH is shattered and demands it Wine

OP posts:
Laska42 · 01/10/2013 21:10

Ah well Tip we agreed it wasn't a fast day Grin. There are some new photos on my profile of us ( and on hers also ... though sadly I dont seem to be smiling ..I was having a great time, really but not good when you point a camera at me ) It was great to meet up and a lovely lunch was had .. liver, bacon and onion mash for me (yum!) As you can see, mine was a bit eat it or climb it ! (and hers was too! )

Have had a great though tiring weekend away (with a funeral in the middle) but it was a nice time all told being with family and the funeral was a celebration of a life well lived..

I'm a bit 'sausage rolled' out though - due to various family party catering options.. (though I tried to make good choices from what there was available and keep off the carbs as much as poss ) but have come home and made a veggie chilli - not wanting to see any more heavy carb for the rest of the week ..(though I do have Wine on the go this evening - those carbs dont count in my book )

Let me tell you people, that Tip is a true inspiration of 5:2 (and yes she really is the same in RL!!) .. ill never be like her .(tall and lean..though we are the same height ) but we've agreed that genetics plays a big role in how you can look. (i'm a bit stocky peasant stock) but ill be happy as a slightly less rounded me and meeting Tip has convinced me that I can do it .. ..

This truly is a WOE for life, and we really can be the best we can be on this without resorting to ghastly points or 'sins' counting...

Talkinpeace · 01/10/2013 21:51

Grin Glad you got home safely.
And yes, I'll do some looking up about the teeny differences in skeletal structure that have such a huge impact on frame shape ....

and NEITHER of us ate the biccies that came with the coffee [virtuous]

OP posts:
Anglaise1 · 02/10/2013 12:47

So pleased you had a nice lunch TIP and Laska.
Welcome to RWAC two of my favourite things (and a reason why I live in France...)
MOCNK have you looked on this forum (as one as the one Cyclist posted about), there are quite a few threads on there on thyroid and fasting?
www.52fastdiet.co.uk/search.php?sid=4e48ba7e8dcb673cddcac1c19eb44abc
I still haven't managed a fast yet but weight is now back down to 56kgs without trying so no incentive to do so. Am running lots and doing a 10km race in a couple of weeks so maybe that is a reason.
Not sure if I should be fasting for the other health benefits, though...and to be able to keep posting on this forum, of course!

wildwater · 03/10/2013 23:38

Hi people. Life is getting very interesting/exciting. House plans finalised, we are ready to start building our mud hut. Just kidding - it will be small adobe house, with everything exactly as we want it, including a bath.

I seem to be changing shape although I have no idea if I've lost weight. My size 10 jeans are now seriously baggy and I'm going to have to get them taken in. That means I'm now an NZ size 8, which is US size 6. Hard to believe, but there it is. My bottom is really small.

Fasting is challenging only because I am required to co-ordinate the fasts of two other people, who say they want to do it but in fact really want to sit around the table picking until everything is gone! Tricky.

In the end I am responsible only for myself. Mostly I am 'clean' but if I am left alone I can become a human vacuum cleaner...no peanut or cracker is safe.

Anyway, I am getting heaps of exercise, am becoming increasingly tapped into my creative flow, and feeling happier and better than I have for many years.

My greatest challenge is learning to speak adequate Spanish. I can make myself understood in most circumstances, go shopping, catch busses etc but the greater range of emotion and nuance is beyond me still.

Fortunately I have a background of isolation and am more than capable of entertaining myself.

Fasting tomorrow. Won't eat from tonight until same time tomorrow night, when we'll probably eat more of the delicious vege soup I made today for lunch.

I'm enjoying reading everybody's stories. All power to 5:2 :)

Laska42 · 06/10/2013 19:25

ooh we are all quiet here.. How is everyone? i'm maintaining a bit higher than i'd like at around 10-4 at the moment and today's fast day didn't happen either because of weekend guests ..
A lot of eating and drinking was done this one, but I'm planning on fasting tomorrow , (and weds/thursday 36hours if I can make it ) as have more guests next weekend ( and the weekend after.... ah they all come at once but its great to get together with people)

My most gorgeous Grandson in the World ever , took his first steps this weekend at 9mths (like his dad did) How was your trip to see Oscar B&W

Hi Tip you've been quiet on here too.. was seeing me too much? off to look at the other thread now to see if you are all there..

Anyone see the latest Dr MM programme the other day on pain? im
planning on watching it later..

Talkinpeace · 06/10/2013 19:36

Hi there,
been away with friends for the weekend. Ate and drank too much but looking forward to an in control week.

Wildwater that sounds so, so cool. And remember that as you are being very active, you'll be getting more and more tones and slim. Go for it!

Laska Cook stuff. Early walkers = longer chaos!

Hope everybody is feelling good as the days get shorter - but wasn't the weather in England wonderful today ?

OP posts:
AmericasTorturedBrow · 07/10/2013 07:32

I'm lurking after a week so full of indulgence I can literally see the extra pounds around my midriff! I'm a bit afraid of getting on the scales but I know I just need to get back into a fasting habit to sort it out.

Feel very sluggish too which is undoubtedly late nights putting the world to rights fueled by copious amounts of booze, but I'm so looking forward to getting back to my mainly veg lifestyle and home to be honest.

We're going on a last minute surprise work paid for trip to Hawaii at the beginning of November so if that doesn't provide the motivation the nothing will!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 07/10/2013 08:50

Ok I did it, phew, a good 4lbs less than I feared, so put on 6lbs in total since I arrived and have 6lbs to lose before hitting Hawaii on 1st to get back to comfortable weight with room to breathe a little.

Shred definition has all disappeared though!

frenchfancy · 07/10/2013 16:11

I know what you mean about the shred definition ATB . Maintaining is no problem, but I'm definitely not the same shape as I was 3 months ago. I really must get back to it.

Can I come to Hawaii with you pleeeeease!

Talkinpeace · 07/10/2013 18:22

its going to be a big suitcase with all of us in it - even the slimline us Grin

OP posts:
Laska42 · 07/10/2013 19:05

.. but a lot less extra baggage in the hold than before...Grin

fasting.. and a bowl of yummy roasted cauliflower with lemon and cumin (its on the recipe thread ) for me this evening .. but there's an open bottle in the fridge which im trying to ignore..
Luckily I have our most pernickity-cleanliness-freak friends coming for the weekend on Friday , so have lots to do before they come.. (never my strong point,. cleaning.. That's why I have a husband Grin (oh yes and to put up shelves also ..)Grin Wink Grin

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