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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:
Laska42 · 16/10/2013 13:02

My son just got an a job (an apprenticeship at a radio station) he used to volunteer at one where we lived before in Brighton.

he's been unemployed for several years ( is 24) and dropped out of college and onlt had temporary jobs (and walked out of one of those , though hewas only 18 at the time). hes dyslexicand uses that as a bit of an excuse and has squandered his educational chances so far and beenliving in a fairly rough way in grotty housing in benefits because its he hasnt been able to live at home after a row with my DH ( not his Dad) .

I know hes a been a bit of a waster ,(and I think ive been the only one who has been bothered about him for a while , as everyone ive told so far ( including my family and DH) haves been distinctly underwhelmed.

I know its only an apprenticeship and he'll still have to get some benefits etc , but hes been unemployed so long and its so hard for young ones to get a job , but I do wish someone would be happy for me,

Can you all be please?

Talkinpeace · 16/10/2013 13:05

Laska Well done him.
Getting jobs is hard.
Getting jobs on the island is very hard.
Getting jobs on the island out of season is very, very hard.
Getting jobs on the island out of season without a great work record is very, very, very hard. Well done him.
Now he just needs to keep his head down and work hard for a couple of years till the upwards doors start opening.

OP posts:
Laska42 · 16/10/2013 13:11

thanks tip I think im just feeling a bit emotional..

TheCyclistist · 16/10/2013 13:13

Hi all, loads of posts over the last day or two and great to see the pictures of your grandson B&W.

I totally relate to where you're coming from with the bit frustrated, to be on medication for teh rest of my life MOCNK. In the summer they told me I needed to be on Steroid Inhalers twice daily for life and the reality of '....for life' certainly strikes home. I suppose as with everything in life though it's usually best to concentrate on the here and now... then the far and future tends to look after itself Smile if you know what I mean

The Endocrine system which the Thyroid gland is part of is pretty complicated but diet and fasting certainly seem to have a big impact, so good luck with the research you were talking about. There are some very interesting and counter-intuitive facts about foods that will raise your TSH score so understanding the relation between TSH and t3 and t4 is important so pushing for regular tests on the NHS would probably prove to be very helpful and informative. Doctors, understandably due to the volume of their work, tend to trend towards a laissez-faire approach when we as individuals of course want answers and answers now.

At the end of the day though remember you're in good company as 20% of women in the developed world have TSH results out of the average band Smile

TheCyclistist · 16/10/2013 13:19

Great News Laska We never stop worrying about our kids and boy do they usually put us through it!

A great opportunity for him Smile I really hope it's the start of an amazing future. You must be very proud Flowers looks like tonight will be a celebratory Brew .....or even Wine Smile

AmericasTorturedBrow · 16/10/2013 15:33

That's great news Laska! He's still so young, he has plenty of time I turn it around and this sounds like a great opportunity - no doubt one he's taking because he's had your support to keep trying an looking for work and training. You're an excellent mum and grandma

You know....I'm a big foodie, I love to cook, I love good food, I love going out to eat, sharing food. I take great joy in good food.

I hate cold soups. There, I said it. I have had delicious gazpacho and vichyoisse (however you spell it), at restaurants, home made by other people, home made by me. They are massively improved with some heat.

I might give cucumber soup a go though...

FD today. Leeks and artichoke in the freezer, and eggs in the fridge. Family are having leftover tomato and mozzarella risotto from last night, followed by banana and almond bread and butter pudding. Bastards.

Tommy · 16/10/2013 16:02

I have just had my first (and last) taste of miso soup - yuck. Soooo horrible (and I can eat most stuff) Just found it really salty and "hoppy"

Finding it hard today - not sure what to eat to stave off the pangs til tea time

Talkinpeace · 16/10/2013 16:11

Miso soup
One spoonful of miso paste, one stock cube, 1/2 chopped spring onion : into a mixing bowl.
Pour over boiling water and stir until dissolved.
Serve into bowls and sprinkle over other half of chopped spring onion.

Then its yummy.
The stuff out of packets is indeed vile.

OP posts:
Tommy · 16/10/2013 16:24

ok thanks talkinpeace. Where's miso paste in Sainsbury's then?

AmericasTorturedBrow · 16/10/2013 16:30

I agree, those packets are vile! I use miso paste and make a soup out of any veg lurking to the bottom of the fridge - spinach and pak choi finely chopped are great, throw in a bit of chilli too

Talkinpeace · 16/10/2013 16:37

in our sainsburys its on the little rack with weird foods of the world in jars ....
www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1381937825274

OP posts:
Tommy · 16/10/2013 16:50

thanks - I'll check it out although just looking at cup soups there, they are all quite low calorie. I usually make my own but I was desperate this afternoon!!

mumofcrazynamedkids · 16/10/2013 19:17

laska that's truly brilliant news! hurrah for your DS, it's so hard to stay motivated and keep applying and trying in teh face of adversity, regardless if any of the adversity of his own making, it is so easy to get depressed and despondent and too disheartened to try, but he didn't, and you didn't give up supporting him, he is really and truly only just becoming an adult, 24 is still so very young, and what with becoming a father this year and the trials of all that, this is really such a brilliant step in the right direction.

definitely celebrate - bake him a cake would be my tip rather than drink wine and knock your own fasting efforts!

your DH is unlikely to ever be as empathetic as you for your son, and it must be hard to feel like no-one else truly supports or believes in him, but you're his mum, and that's your job, and you may hold teh burden, but also you will be the one who can be teh most proud when he succeeds!

also dyslexia is an absolute bloody nightmare, and can't be underestimated, did you ever see the documentary on it by that eastenders actress....i forget her name, but it was brilliant, the best thing i'd seen on dyslexia and made me a lot more sympathetic, which i'm glad of now my daughter has been diagnosed with it.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 16/10/2013 19:28

tip thanks, your grandma living til 96 is a great thing to hear! I've done some more reading this afternoon and I realise there wasn't anything i could do about it, but would appear i am the first in my family barring a paternal half aunt, which just seemed a bit distant to fit, but perhaps not.

cyclistist sorry i couldn't help laughing at your message, as i realise that i am already on steroids for life (asthma) but as i have been on them since i was 7, i've never really thought about it much and every now and then i don't take them for a while, give myself a year or so off, which is what i am doing at the moment...my asthma seems to go in peaks and troughs, along with my allergies, hayfever currently in remission for 13 years, but i am informed by the dr's that it will return!!

so i need to stop being petulant and just be bloody grateful that it was diagnosed relativel;y early and it's just one pill a day and hopefully that's it! i'm lucky, I have a friend with crohns who suffers dreadfully and takes a hell of a lot more medication and has to pay for all her prescriptions, whereas mine will be free! no rhyme nor reason!

so apologies to anyone who has more serious things to deal with, i had a moment of self indulgent feeling sorry for myself, but i'm over it. just want the energy to do some bloody exercise, so hopefully in a few weeks!

mumofcrazynamedkids · 16/10/2013 19:32

atb I'm not keen on cold soup either! and also a foodie, but beetroot is worse! just tastes musty to me.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 16/10/2013 22:26

cyclistist re-read my last post and realised that it might have sounded like i was laughing at you, which wasn't what i meant at all, and I realise there are other conditions other than asthma where you might need steroids and so i'm sorry if i sounded flippant! just meant I was laughing at myself and fears of being 'on medication for life' lucky me to live in teh western world and have access to free healthcare!

Breadandwine · 17/10/2013 00:20

Wow! You go out for an evening of cards - and you lot go mad!

Great news, Laska! I'm so happy for you - I know how concerned you've been for him.

Thanks, everyone, on behalf of Oscar! We're visiting him again next week, so no doubt there'll be a few more pics! Smile

You didn't come across as flippant, mocnk. Not to my reading of your posts, anyway.

About steroids and asthma, etc - there's quite a bit of evidence that fasting reduces inflammation, isn't there?

Cold soup! Ugh! Bit like warm salad - what's that all about?

Welcome, Tommy!

Talkinpeace · 17/10/2013 13:15

Ooh, no, warm salads are nom nom

A bed of lettuce and finely shredded veg, then

  • niceoise : warm beans, fresh grilled tuna, half boiled eggs
  • california : strips of salami and fried chicked topped with cherry tomatoes
  • DHs : fried bacon and chicken strips (not many) and boiled eggs
  • vegan : slices of grilled aubergine and peppers and roasted celery or even stir fried bits and a sprinkling of nuts

wonderful things

Gazpacho was always an excuse for sangria which is probably why I like it :-)

OP posts:
AmericasTorturedBrow · 17/10/2013 14:08

Yeah I quite like a warm salad! Sorry B&W

Back to back FD today. Would be so much easier if I wasn't up at 5:30 every morning!!

TheCyclistist · 17/10/2013 14:33

Afternoon all.

MOCNK just seen your last post. No worries at all Smile I didn't take it as a flippant comment. But I know where you're coming from, god the amount of times I've reviewed a post I've already sent and thought...'does that say what I want it to say' Thanks.

On a FD here too, reckon I'll get through now as first thing in the morning is always the dodgiest time for me if I can get through to lunchtime early afternoon then 99% of the time I'm OK. And to be quite honest, something I realised yesterday is - I feel much better on a FD, just occasionally hungry

And more importantly on salad I don't care whether it's warm or cold, as long as there's a huge mountain of mayonnaise on top or a donor kebab underneath it.

Have a great day everyone

mumofcrazynamedkids · 17/10/2013 14:41

I love a grilled goats cheese and walnut salad or roasted butternut squash and feta.

cyclist doner? really? lol - yuckety yuck!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 17/10/2013 14:43

Bleurgh how COULD you? Mayonnaise and doner. I'm not very fussy, there's not much I don't like but bleurgh Wink

Oooh just Realised I absolutely have to complete FD today as I'm cycling for the first time in aaaaaaages on Saturday (yes, I've signed up again to do the 545mile ride from SF to LA to raise money and awareness for 2 HIV/AIDS charities) and I need a nfd before and on a ride day

So I can fast on Sunday but we're going to a pumpkin patch so will prob not - so next week Monday, weds, fri so I have to complete today.

But I'm already hungry (it's 6:43am) bloody toddler

AmericasTorturedBrow · 17/10/2013 14:45

Oh and Laska thanks for Souper green recipe on recipe thread, I need to do a food shop tomorrow for a dinner party so going to stock up on veg and cook it up for next week's fasts

TheCyclistist · 17/10/2013 14:55

ATB I'm not advocating both at the same time Grin............however most things are worth a try......maybe with a bit of chilli sauce it might work......or is this FD just getting to me Wink

and MOCNK yep 'donor', blame my teenage years, too much lager and a love of chilli sauce Smile

AmericasTorturedBrow · 17/10/2013 14:57

To be honest, there's this amazing kebab shop on the Holloway Road which does a lamb doner as slices of lamb rather than that congealed lump of disgustingness you normally find. And it's incredible

Damnit Cyclistist it's a good job I am very very far away from Holloway right now!