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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:
eatriskier · 22/11/2013 08:03

Argh, so maintaining not going well here. I'm still losing Shock. I do a 500 and a 1000 fast plus 5 days of eating to rough TDEE (I use my fitbit, so I know I'm 2000/2100 calorie burn which seems to be accurate for me). I'm trying to make an effort to make sure I am eating to 2000, but sometimes struggle.

Am making a few plans like when my current tub of spread runs out I will switch back to proper butter. I would reintroduce proper bread and milk but both make me feel a bit bleurgh. I have decided my booze is calorie free and I have majorly cut that down too. I think I may need to get into puddings Grin but I don't want to change my eating too much as I've gotten some control.

So do you sage folks have some advice? Should I carry on and hope it settles itself out? Maybe switch to two 1000 days? Or am I just going to have to go to 6:1 (I'd prefer to avoid this as I don't know if it will lead to my PA being bad again if I stop 5:2)?

Talkinpeace · 22/11/2013 16:57

Breadandwine
The trouble with long fasts for those over a certain age is that you DO NOT want your body stripping nutrients out of bone and muscle, particularly bone.
It would be a real shame if you took the enjoyment of fasting (DH and I skipped lunch today for various reasons but ARE having chips for supper) over into another ED.

eatriskier
I always lose during the week - am down 2 lb from Monday, but weekends of wine and roast meals (croissants for breakfast tomorrow) keeps the average nearly steady.
I'm aiming for 55kg by the end of term, but that will be hard work as my body likes being at 56.8 - it has been for a year

You need to relax properly on weekend NFDs, and actually going into Christmas slightly below target weight has its advantages!

OP posts:
eatriskier · 22/11/2013 22:31

Thanks tip. You are right, I do need to let myself go at times. However dh took up this woe and relies on my cc for the evening meal and it's sort of a crutch for me to keep counting. Even if I'm only counting to maintain! And Xmas season will see me splurging more so you're right again, a little extra loss now may help.

I love this woe so much. I have some pringles and Ben & Jerry's here and the change in eating them is phenomenal. The pringles are going in thirds and the ice cream in quarters. These previously would have gone I halves, but only because I would force myself to save some for the next day. I'd also eat these halves on the same day together too.

Sounds stupid but I'm scared I will go back to that. I lost my weight so quickly I'm not sure I'm ready to unleash myself yet.

Breadandwine · 24/11/2013 01:30

Thanks for your concern, Tip - but have you come across anything specific on the subject? I've had a look around and found nothing contrary to fasting for those of my age - in fact, just the opposite.

I found this interesting post on Marks Daily Apple:
www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-brain-function/#axzz2lWGyiYzL

However, I've put a request for info on The Fasting Connection - as you know, these guys are really hard core, so if there are any reasons why I should hold back, they should be aware of them.

Had a fantastic day today, running a Xmas bread workshop for 10 students in a village hall - together we made about 70+ batches of bread. 8 out of the 10 had been on one of my previous workshops!

My wife returns tomorrow - so a bit of tidying up is in order. I'll run the vacuum cleaner around a bit - just to make some marks in the carpet - she'll like that! Grin

postmanpatscat · 24/11/2013 15:37

eat I went to 6:1 then 13:1 then even as far as one fast a month until there was a holiday looming and I wanted to drop a bit to make room for all inclusive eating! You're the best judge of what works and when to tweak it. I can see from my diary that I've been staying very close to 51kg since the end of July, without fasting regularly except for pre/post holidays. I'll probably go back to 5:2 the fortnight before Christmas and maybe during the hols too, family meals permitting.

It can be scary to stop counting and tracking and fasting...but liberating too.

Talkinpeace · 24/11/2013 15:45

B&W nothing specific, but I have a massive family history of osteoporosis : hence my yoga / body pump mania - and know that older family members who 'stopped being hungry' had nasty pelvic fractures.

If you are making sure that you stay stable, you read up more than most of us!

OP posts:
Anglaise1 · 24/11/2013 17:57

Eat I would go either 6:1 or 5:2 but eat normally in the evening (not easy if you are catering for your OH I know!)
I didn't fast last week and will try one tomorrow.
Not fasting related, but certainly to fitness and helping control weigh..I ran my first race today, a 10k in Chantepie, Rennes. I've been running for a couple of years but never thought about doing races until I joined a running club a few months ago. My time today was 46 mins 28 seconds - I was 681st out of 2114 runners and 21st out of 270 in my category of Women's Veterans (I'm 48). I overtook a lot of men younger than me at the end:)
Life is a bit sh!t at the moment (it will get better, I know) so please forgive the trumpet blowing Blush but I am really pleased with such a good time!

Talkinpeace · 24/11/2013 18:29

Anglaise
That is great : and getting into 'events' will widen your social circle Wink

OP posts:
Breadandwine · 24/11/2013 21:05

Great stuff, Anglaise!

Just be careful you don't run too fast to be caught! Wink

But, of course, you're now in a position to do the catching! Grin

Tip, the response I got from FC guided me to this page, with the comment:

"But I tend to believe that for some people long fasts can strip minerals but believe that intermittent fasting is a much safer way to go about fasting."

I think I'll be OK, but I won't be extending my LOFs without further evidence.

Thanks again.

eatriskier · 25/11/2013 07:49

Thanks ppc and anglaise (well done to you on your race, great work).

I've instigated calorie free alcohol this weekend - a bit too freely Blush. I struggle to treat myself as I need something that feels worth the calories so I've also made a large lime and coconut cake. I'll carry on like I am and reassess in a couple of weeks. If I am still losing I'll switch to 2 24 hour fasts with no evening restriction. This should be OK with Xmas on its way, I have 3 Fridays in a row with social functions and lots of football so that should enable letting go (though my liver is already groaning).

postmanpatscat · 25/11/2013 07:54

anglaise that's fab...makes me almost ashamed of my newly acquired PB of 56:58 at the age of 45!

ZipIt · 25/11/2013 10:53

Nettnett and thecyclist - very many thanks for your hepful replies to my excessive chocolate on non-fast-day questions.

I like the look of your week, Nettnett. But I'm obviously not eating enough on the 5 days I'm not fasting, as since I went to 5:2 my clothes are quickly starting to feel looser (didn't want this). But eating junk between meals on nonfast days I agree seems like it might counteract some of the health benefits of fasting. Hmm, back to the drawing board. The new bottle of Bailey's I've just bought may be of serious benefit.

Anglais - that is a brilliant time! Hurray!

Bread, 46 hours sounds incredible! Was it OK? By liquid do you mean calorie-free liquid, or do you have other liquids?

mumofcrazynamedkids · 25/11/2013 11:22

anglaise that's brilliant! well done you! I really want to get back into running, will have to start off from scratch as it's been over a year since i last ran, but it's such a good feeling to do that first 5k race! (10k a bit of a stretch for me, but i'll get there eventually!)

mumofcrazynamedkids · 25/11/2013 11:31

so i managed 1.5 fasts last week and i've lost 1 pound, a slow start, but better than nothing and maybe the impetus I need to manage 2 proper full fasts this week...I did also have a very alcohol and food indulgent day on saturday. I've made my horrendous budget deadline, by 10pm last night, so work stress diminishes slightly now, although I have had to admit to my boss that I haven't exactly been on top form this year, so whether there will be any chance of the job continuing remotely remains to be seen!

Breadandwine · 25/11/2013 12:31

Hey, mocnk, that's a good start! And another indication of how amenable this WOL/WOE is - one good fast can get you right back on track. Hope your boss will continue to see things your way.

ZipIt I'm continually surprised by how easy I find fasting - no hunger at all. I drank nothing but black coffee - with a large flask of lovely ground coffee as a treat in the afternoon/evening - and water, except I had a cup of cocoa around midnight. It's a lot easier, I find, than having to plan a low calorie day, but I have an agreement with my wife that I'll only do one LOF a month. Time I renegotiated that to once a fortnight! Smile

ZipIt · 25/11/2013 14:37

Breadandwine, I've also been really surprised in general at how easy it can be to just not eat for 22-24 hours. It's how to manage stuff the rest of the time that I struggle with a bit. I'm quite intrigued by the idea of one extended fast per month (didn't Michael Moseley do 3 days on Horizon?) instead of weekly fasts, but I wonder whether that's much, much harder...?

Anglaise1 · 25/11/2013 17:51

TIP yes, the running is good for the social life as well as the fitness and morale!
postie your personal best is nothing to be ashamed of! I have had time to do a lot of training which helps a lot.
This is an interesting calculator to test your current percentage level and potential for other distance events :
www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup06.html
mocnk I thought the same as you, that 10k would be difficult but it is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. I'd never run 10k until a couple of months ago. Now aiming for a half marathon in the spring.
I hope the fasting isn't too difficult for you and well done on losing a pound, it is a start and you are back on track.
I'm treating myself to a fast today and will remember to wear socks to be tonight!
B&W I don't know how you do your 46 hour fasts either, although when I get past the Really Bad Tempered stage at 7.30pm I have managed to do 36 hour fasts in the past. Breakfast is required the following day, though!
Zip Enjoy your Bailey's, could be just the thing to top you up on fast days Wink

Breadandwine · 25/11/2013 20:29

I think Dr M struggled with his 3 day fast because he went straight into it - if he had built up to his fasting, as most of us have done, it may have been easier. It's taken me 21 months to build up to 46 hours, for instance.

And my experience on any of my fasts is that I don't want them to end - there's always a slight let-down when I do.

I've just had a couple of NSVs:
First one is I now have an extra notch on my belt - my weight hasn't changed, so my waist must have gone down a bit.

Second one is more long-standing. I have two white aprons that look identical, but one of them wasn't as easy to tie up as the other. I hadn't seen one of the aprons for about a year (would you believe I have about a dozen aprons?), and thought the one I was wearing had the longer ties. Turns out it wasn't - I've been using the short one all along! Smile

The 3rd NSV is that the Baby Belling oven I lug around with me - along with the 5 much lighter ones I use - was quite a bit easier to manhandle, when I took them all out to the Xmas bread workshop last Saturday!

This must be because, inspired by the exercise freaks gurus on the other thread, I've started doing press-ups! I've only been doing it for about 2 weeks, and I'm up to 40 at one go!

From the beginning, I've read that fasting and weight-training go well together - the LeanGains website, for instance - so I'm finally dipping my toe in the waters! Grin

Talkinpeace · 25/11/2013 22:29

Breadandwine woo hoo we are turning you into a gym bunny!
but actually improved muscle tone will stand you in good stead when you start to get old Wink

PS
found a link to this article just now
cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/11/13/1055-9965.EPI-13-0636
buffs fingernails on outer sweatshirt ....

OP posts:
TheCyclistist · 25/11/2013 23:03

That's great news about the successful FD MOCNK I reckon you'll be surprised how much more likely 2 FDs are this week, I hope it goes well.

Got to respect you and all the other runners on here anglaise I couldn't run around the block let alone 10k, the bike's enough for me. Has anyone else on here heard of/read/listened to a book called 'The Secret'. A friend of mine mentioned it the other weekend and as I often listen to audio books when I'm out on my bike I downloaded a copy. Tbh some of it is a bit hocus pokus but if you can get over those bits personally I reckon it's pretty good. I suppose to sum up a 6 hour book in a couple of sentences the main idea is 'what you expect is what you get' and 'having a positive attitude attracts positive things and positive people.' Many people might find that obvious........but to me it was quite a revelation.

Good luck all whether tomorrow be a FD (mine is) or NFD. Wow I got through a whole post without a single Smile........doh.......Angry

Breadandwine · 26/11/2013 00:10

when you start to get old Grin

You won't see me in a gym, Tip! If I can't do it without it costing me, I won't do it.

I quite like these exercises.

BTW, PB for me today - swum 240 metres in under 5 minutes!

Talkinpeace · 26/11/2013 12:20

My day gone rather sideways today.
Planned to take DD to her college interview and then rattle off a couple of classes but it ran late. So I came home and cleaned bathrooms in steat. Party animal me!

240 in 5 is pretty good. I aim for 400 in 9 (head up breast stroke in a 20m pool) - what size pool do you go to?

Cyclistist
be careful of listening to books while cycling - DH nearly killed a cyclist the other day who was so engrossed in his headphones that did not spot the massive red oncoming car ....

OP posts:
Breadandwine · 26/11/2013 14:06

I'm lucky enough to have access to a small pool - the length of which is…

Drum roll…

Four metres! Grin And the width is 3m.

So 60 push-offs in that 240 mtrs is cheating a bit. But I am knackered by the time I'm finished. Took me 5.15 this morning.

My other aerobic exercise is to run - lope? - around the pool (4ft deep) 100 times. My PB for that is 12 mins 50. This creates a whirlpool effect, so I then spend a couple of energetic minutes swimming against the current.

Going for a low-cal fast today,

AmericasTorturedBrow · 26/11/2013 18:11

Hi all - I'm passing through in a haze of alternating weeks if successful fasts and failed fasts - wonder if the slightly colder weather is having an effect?

B&W good for you on the exercise front! A friend and I have just started beach Bootcamp, two mornings a week of an hour each, mainly circuits with strength and cardio. It was a groupon deal that lasts for 6weeks, I have no energy for anything else so it's good she's forcing me out

Clothes feeling a bit tight and I'm getting a bit sick of feeling so unfit but we've all been struck by the lurgy and I'm knackered looking after everyone. A swim would be so welcome right now...

TheCyclistist · 26/11/2013 22:52

Hi TIP, yeah some cyclists don't do themselves any favours. However I rarely go anywhere without my headphones on.......but importantly I stay on my side of the road, don't jump red lights and always assume that other road users will do stupid things, so I usually get back in one piece.
The mayor (Boris) has a bee in his bonnet about cyclists and headphones but I'm sure anyone in a car with the radio on hears a lot less of the environment outside of the car than a cyclist with headphones in......and a driver doing 30 miles per hour that fails to hear a danger will do a lot more damage to others than me on my bike doing 20 mph. So at the end of a day it's only me that gets hurt. However before my ADF days my increased bulk probably posed more of a risk to the general public in a collision.

Well just finishing second FD of the week, have to say that I've been surprised that the more I've been fasting the easier it's got. A few months ago it really was getting difficult to do any more than one and tbh one was hard enough. But things pretty good at the mo, 4 or 5 weeks ago I'd put 10 of the 70lbs I'd lost back on and with Christmas coming I needed some drastic action. Well I've managed to lose the 10lbs now doing 4:3. Only 4 or so more lbs to go and should be able to relax at Christmas without needing to spend all January on the bike to get back in shape.

Well got to go now and charge the iPod Smile