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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:
Talkinpeace · 28/10/2013 21:16

B&W dod you do "black cabbage" .... finely chop, then saute in soy sauce, a tad of oil and a dash of sugar ... it oxidises and goes crunchy - great with almost any meal

OP posts:
Breadandwine · 28/10/2013 21:32

Mmm, sounds delicious, Tip. I'll give it a go and report back.

Have you checked your inbox, today?

Breadandwine · 29/10/2013 12:28

Coming to the end of a 41 hour liquid fast. I've got my breakfast laid out in front of me: curried fruit naan, split and slathered with banana - yet I'm strangely reluctant to eat. I'm not in the slightest bit hungry, and I'm only eating because I think I've fasted long enough.

I know once I eat I'll flip the hunger switch and, unless I'm very careful, I'll want to eat all day!

Breakfast and lunch (if I have any - might turn breakfast into brunch) combined will come to less than 600 cals, so I'll be doing 48 hours on

mumofcrazynamedkids · 29/10/2013 12:38

breadandwine I've been watching the educating yorkshire programme and loved, also sobbed at the final episode, but also felt frustrated by the limitations and lack of inclusivity within teh education system, my Autistic brother did great at gcse's but got a d at english and therefore was not able to do teh further education he needed, his career has been strongly held back when he is a very intelligent man. I feel strongly that there needs to be more leniency on differently abled people, to allow them to progress academically (other than just having to get english and maths grade c) my sister really struggled as she has discalcula and it slowed down her academic progression and therefore confidence enormously, and i predict my daughter having similar issues with her difficulties. I won't give teh results away on the educating yorkshire programme, but thank goodness you know who got the grade he did.

but I'm not really here, I'm hiding, been off for a week with half term, gained 5 pounds (not in a week, but in a few weeks), attempted and failed a fast today, but am lurking and read cyclistist's advice with thought, maybe I should just aim for 1 successful fast this week.

I'll try again tomorrow and try and report back after a successful one.

tip I second your cavalo negro recommendation, delicious stir fried just in oil and soy, I could eat just that and also yummy with some almonds thrown in.

DumDum32 · 29/10/2013 12:48

hey all may I join, I've been doing 12 hr fasts, stop eating after 6 & then have breakfast as late as I can usually around 9-10 am. it seems to be working thought a bit slow but I want to do it healthy as I have many health problems & am on huge amount of meds so can't do without totally eating. I've cut out all sugary products like cake & biscuita etc. swapped sugar with candle and eat mostly low fat products. do have a treat now n then though as I can't live without chocolate. had a night off yday & ate very unhealthy so today I'm not going to eat & have as much water as I can. maybe have a salad for dinner as I'm sure by that point I'll be starving again. so far I've lost half a stone doing this but still have a long way to go :(

a quick question do u think this loss is just water retention loss? I can't tell.

DumDum32 · 29/10/2013 12:49

candrel not candle* Blush

Talkinpeace · 29/10/2013 12:55

Hi there Dumdum your questions are probably best on the big thread - as there are lots of people still losing weight.
Things I would pick up on

  • if you can, wean yourself off sweet altogether
  • avoid low fat products - they are horribly processed with hidden sugar and salt
come and join the fun on here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/1889711-The-5-2-thread-number-29-The-C-word-party-season-is-not-too-far-off-come-join-us-and-drop-a-few-pounds-Warning-This-way-of-eating-is-so-easy-you-may-never-want-to-stop
OP posts:
TheCyclistist · 29/10/2013 14:36

Hi all,

Second FD of the week today. Feeling a bit hungrier than last week but having got this far today it wouldn't make any sense to blow it, so a coffee in hand (well not whilst I type) and trying to concentrate on all the other stuff I need to get done.

ATB and MOCNK yeah from my experience over the past year or so it's not trying to do too much, when the time is wrong. There are times when a FD is easy and there are times when, well it ain't going to happen. Beating ourselves up about it just makes the next FD one step harder. Like a broken record I keep bleeting on about remembering that Life is Long, ie. we don't have to achieve everything today there will always be a tomorrow (and if there isn't then it makes no odds anyway Smile ) I'm a cyclist (the name gives it away), a pretty slow cyclist tbh but there aren't many that can go up a long or steep hill as fast as me and I'm good at hills because I never look at the summit or too far in front. I look at the road just in front of the front wheel and pedal, then pedal again and then again....and sooner or later I get to the top.

So when things were tough and I was piling on a few pounds I managed to keep it going with one FD a week on a day that suited. After a while I was able to step it up to two and now three FDs a week has been pretty easy, relatively speaking.

Hi Cats and B&W, great to see you still on here.

Have a great day everyone!!!! Grin

DumDum32 · 29/10/2013 16:30

thanks takingpiece I've just reported there :)

frenchfancy · 29/10/2013 17:07

Hi all. Got back from my hols last night. We had a fab time. Beautiful weather. I feel all refreshed, if a little bloated from far too much wine. Fasting today to try and lose some of the 2kg I've put on. Found it really hard about 2pm but better now. Looking forward to diner though.

Breadandwine · 29/10/2013 20:44

takingpiece - that's wonderful, DumDum - so close to takingthepiss! Love it!

mocnk I totally agree about the artificial cut off point between a C and a D. When I was a governor at my local comprehensive, I was asked to mentor youngsters who were borderline C, with the aim of making sure they got a required grade. All because of the blasted league tables! Schools don't have a lot of choice.

And why do kids have to do 9 or 10 GCSEs when the colleges are only interested in 5 A-Cs? Why not do 5 or 6 of the ones they need, then do the rest for fun. Learning for its own sake!

And why are our kids tested to death throughout their education - no sooner is one exam over, than it's eyes down for the next. In contrast, Finland, widely lauded for its wonderful education, only gives students one exam - when they reach 18.

The difference, I suspect, is because in other countries teachers are respected and trusted.

And why is Gove (pause to spit!Angry) proposing that every teacher should have a 2:1*? My daughter got a 2:2, and she is a wonderful teacher! (Not biased, I've seen her teaching observations!).

Mind you, that bible makes a very attractive door stop! Grin

*Unless they teach in academies, or free schools - they can employ who they like, qualified or unqualified. "20 years in the army? You'll make a wonderful teacher. You'll know how to instil discipline in those brats!" [spew]

Apart from that, I'm alright - really! Smile

Talkinpeace · 29/10/2013 20:49

B&W I love the people who for some utterly random reason call me Talking Peace - they clearly do not know me Wink

PS Finland's education system has a few foibles - like the fact that it does not reward excellence at all : once you've finished the piece of work you help clean the room, not get extension work
but yes, the education boards (my other hidey hole) are full of venom against Gove.

OP posts:
eatriskier · 30/10/2013 16:55

Wow - its hard planning a mini fast. Especially as I'm trying not to make anything that will send poor DH flying off the fasting wagon. Apparently I've forgotten how to think about making a meal for one that isn't a fast day meal! Wasn't expecting that at all.

Talkinpeace · 31/10/2013 19:36

Mini fast : if in doubt fall back on the classics

  • a tub of soup and a slice of bread
  • a whole tin of beans on a slice of toast with a few slices of salami
  • 3 egg onion and mushroom omelette with side salad
all really filling, look like a real meal, around 400 calories !
OP posts:
Laska42 · 31/10/2013 20:53

Wotcha all.. I'm having a really busy week ,but just flying in so people dont think i've jumped ship .. Got my 2 fasts in ..hooray! .. back later .. hope everyone is well.. Grin

Breadandwine · 31/10/2013 21:31

Laska! I was just about to email you to see if you were OK.

Glad you're back on track! Smile

Laska42 · 31/10/2013 23:28

I'm fine, B&W just been really busy in the evenings (nothing exciting though, just lots of domestic stuff .. jam and chutney making , sewing, etc ) and so have had a bit of off line time. ( I dont tend to come on here over the weekends anyway and DH was 'marooned' offshore over here with me Sunday and Monday after the 'great storm' which meant I didnt then either, so yep, RL has intruded with my internet time!! ..

Yup I'm back on track it seems .. though not much sign of significant weight loss yet .. still about 4-5lbs up ..

Things are fine here though .. my son starts his job on Monday , and I've been doing exciting things like taking up several pairs of too-long smart trousers , and washing and ironing shirts and jumpers bought cheap on ebay for him!! ( seems like I didn't teach him to sew or Iron.. though I'm making him learn !! )

DH made a fab walnut loaf earlier this week.. its been hard keeping away from it ! but i've managed .. (and the Wine also [virtuous]Smile ).

Breadandwine · 03/11/2013 00:09

Great to hear, Laska. Those few pounds won't last long.

Hope all goes well for your son on Monday! Flowers

Would you believe Oscar's sitting up, now? Smile

Just about to update his post on my blog with new pics/video.

eatriskier · 04/11/2013 06:31

Hi ho hi ho its off to work I go. For a week. By the end of which I anticipate feeling relaxed after having a break from the kids and DH in complete meltdown mode and necking my wine (even though he rarely drinks). Today should be a fast day but I'm unsure of fasting in work. I will be 16:8 all week as I don't eat breakfast till late and can't figure out how to do this feasibly when I'm on a week long hot desking stint. I like to think of myself as an accomplished faster though so I am aiming for it. Will bring chewing gum, water and will mainline tea and coffee.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 04/11/2013 10:22

morning all, am attempting a first monday fast in a long while. (mainlining coffee!) 2 weeks of half term visitors has ended and I need to regain some control.

hard work and head down required for work for the next few weeks as we go into budget season.

but heartache (and therefore distracted head)
is looming as me and bf just not able to happily integrate our children.....I don't mean living together as we've taken things really slowly, but my dd and his dd (age 7 and 6) relationship just horribly volatile and been getting steadily worse, huge personality clash, and it now seems pretty impossible for us to spend time together with the children, so after almost 2 years think it's time to accept defeat, and both move on. It's more complicated than i will bore you all with, but I'm feeling a little lost, a big part of this move north was with a hope that things would work for us, and now it's looking unlikely i'm struggling with being here, and miss my london friends so much. ah well, london this weekend is well timed.

as per tip's tip soup shopping required, minimum effort and easy to manage for me and dc's, they can have bread, me not

Talkinpeace · 04/11/2013 13:26

((((MOCNK)))))
speaking as somebody who was forced to share a room with somebody I loathed for ten years and it poisoned all of the family relationships for ever
you can either do as my mum did and utterly ignore your kids feelings
or find a relationship that makes you all happy - even though it will be horribly painful for now.

Fasting today after much too much food last week. Felt v flabby in bodypump this morning!

OP posts:
Anglaise1 · 04/11/2013 17:58

MOKNC ((hugs)) So sorry to about your heartache. Recomposed families are difficult at the best of times - do both DDs live with you and BF all the time? You must feel really lost especially having left your friends in London. It was a very brave thing to do to move in the first place.
Do you still love your BF and can you talk about the situation, or is the really no hope for the relationship between two girls?
Agree about soup, fasting is easier in winter because it is filling to eat but more of a winter supper. I was going to fast today but ran 10kms this morning so wimped out as I was really hungry come lunchtime. Will try again on Thursday and make some French Onion soup to help with the willpower.

Laska42 · 04/11/2013 20:53

Bloody internet connection just fell off the cliff just as I was going to press 'post'.. Angry

Oh well, it was all one long rant anyway about how I'm just completely messing this up right now .. the scales are going the wrong way , and I seem to be able to fast until I get home and then I eat the fridge. .. sigh . I'm now over half a stone heavier , and yesterday the scales said . 10.10 ( I'm hoping its a blip but yes .. Laska is hanging her head in shame) .

Then I fasted today , but its been more like 650 rather than 500 because after a good day I just got ambushed by some popcorn (and yes, I even popped it myself) Blush and some feta cheese..

Hell, I am so pissed off with myself.. I used to be so good at this .

Talkinpeace · 04/11/2013 21:09

don't buy that stuff Wink

OP posts:
Laska42 · 04/11/2013 21:17

MOCNK (((hugs))). The trouble is with kids that age is they could just as well become really good friends in the next week and hate each other again afterwards..and of course there are bound to be potential jealousies especially if one feels that the other could possibly be 'taking' their parent away from the other.. Had they met much before ? Are they at the same school?

Obviously moving home and school etc must be also hard for your kids , so thats probably exacerbating things as well , especially as they are the 'new' kids (and bloody southerners to boot?!!Grin?) but maybe its a bit early to think of giving it all up ...

But if you do , did you say that you still have your London flat ? i know you are renting up there and you said you still had the same job freelance , so at least you may have the possibility of returning ? ..

But maybe no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater .. if you have had 2 years with BF as a long distance thing , perhaps it could still work ?

Its not quite the same , but my bf/ (now DH) and I have lived pretty much apart (except weekends) throughout the 20 years we have been together, although its as committed relationship as you could want . He has a daughter , and although she and my son mostly got on well it was a bit of a struggle sometimes when they were younger .. We used to fix it that the ex's had the children the same weekends when we could and we had some holidays apart a so we could have sometime just for us and they didn't have to spend all the time being 'brother' and 'sister' ..

Doesn't work for everyone , but our kids were five and three when we met and they are now 26 and 24 and are fine together, although not terribly close its true, (and we got married after 13 years together!) . He still works away all week, though is threatening to retire in the next year ..

Yoiks!! that means ill have to live with him f/t!! Shock But i've told him that he'll be building a shed/chalet in the garden .. For me!!Grin !!