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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 · 29/11/2013 05:39

Ok really final word - wearing a helmet will never do you harm but can potentially do you a lot of good. I've cycled in London for 6years as a commuter, as has DH, as have many if my friends. I know a few people who've had accidents in which nobody else was involved (DH went into a pothole newly created by ice, another friend didn't clip out at the lights quickly enough etc) all we're absolutely saved from serious head injury by their helmets - you don't need to be a child to go off balance or lose concentration. I had this argue meant with a motorcyclist friend who said only 16%of cyclists in accidents we're saved by their helmets - id say that's a massive percentage worth paying attention to. End of the day we can be as anecdotal as we want, it will NEVER do you harm to wear one so seriously why not?

I'm only getting cross cos I kinda like you Cyclistist and MOCNK, please wear your helmets and therefore not die!!!

Managed 17:7! Turkey, green bean casserole, Brussels sprouts with pecans, cranberries and Gorgonzola, sweet potato and banana pie with pecan crumble on top (served with main, weird), cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes - followed by pecan pie and pumpkin pie. Bourbon slushies and various cheeses to start. Lots of WineWineWineWineWine

I don't want to eat for a week!!!

TheCyclistist · 29/11/2013 07:56

Morning all

Wow ATB sounds like an amazing Thanks Giving meal there.

Thanks everyone for the advice on helmets, I know it makes sense and ai will get round to wearing one sooner or later but to be be honest I've cycled over 6000kms over the past 12 months and never really felt like one was needed ~ but as I said deep down I know I should

Can't understand the concern over earphones though as why would I need to know about approaching traffic from behind if I was near the kerb and not about to manoeuvre out Confused and Listening to music or audio books has added a lot my life over the past few years.

Well just weighed in and now back down to my lowest levels in a year. Most if not all of the weightloss has been down to this WOL as opposed to exercise as haven't been able to get out on the bike as much as usual recently. Seemed pretty unlikely a month or so ago but got the initial FDS behind me then got the wind behind my sails as it were (something I'll have to remember when I fell bloated and half a stone heavier after Christmas Wink )

Well it's apparently 'Black Friday' today so time to hit the internet to try and get some of those Christmas Pressies at knockdown ( relatively speaking ) prices.

Have a great day all Smile

frenchfancy · 01/12/2013 20:40

Hi Guys, just checking in;

I've have a completely weird weekend food wise. I went out with the local ladies on Friday night, which ended up being very different to my normal Fridays in that we had one bottle of wine to share between 6 of us, and two plates of small tapas, and that was it.

Saturday morning I had to get up at 4:30am to drive to Paris for the Salon de cheval. I wasn't hungry as I'd only got to bed about midnight so I ate no breakfast. We packed a lunch, but we were busy at the salon (like an exhibition) so only ate half a sandwich and 3 slices of fruit cake. In the evening we were supposed to go to a restaurant someone else in the group had booked, only it was much further away from the hotel than planned, so we ended up driving for an hour to get there, only to spend another 20 minutes trying to find a parking place (impossible in central Paris on a Saturday night) I threw a major tissy in the end because by this time it was after 10pm and I was shattered, so I double parked, stormed into the restaurant where I'd left my daughter, had a right go at friend who had made the booking, told DD to get her bag and we drove back to the hotel (another hour!) by this time it was after 11pm and I was too angry to be hungry so no food again.

Had breakfast before setting off home, but we were on the road at lunchtime, the food at the services didn't look appetising so I skipped yet another meal.

So out of a normal 7 meals I have had just 3. Added to that I have only had a third of the wine I would normally drink at a weekend.

I am not fasting tomorrow.

Before doing 5:2 I would never skip a meal, not ever. Now I've skipped 4 in the same weekend.

Sorry for the long post, I needed to get that off my chest.

Laska42 · 02/12/2013 07:03

Oh french sounds like some trying weekend one bottle of wine to share between 6 of us, and two plates of small tapas, and that was itShock..sounds like Ladies who lunch to me .. not like my friends!Grin

right, i ate last about 4pm yesterday .. so amabout 15 hours into the liquid fast... can i make it? so hungry right now and breakfast is my main meal right now.....Sad

Breadandwine · 02/12/2013 08:38

You're ahead of me, Laska - I started at 7pm. This is easy!(sorry!)

Laska42 · 02/12/2013 10:07

Tea, tea, coffee coffee .....gawd this is hard ...shows how far I've lapsed.. Can l have miso soup later?
but will keep thinking Christmas dress

Talkinpeace · 02/12/2013 11:21

(((Frenchfancy)))
That sounds like a right PITA. Plan something yummy and tasty (I always fall back on spanish omelette but do a luzury one) for supper during the week.

next weekend I have to deliver and collect children at 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights so that will be my health kick!

Laska
you'll get there - its all in the head not the tummy remember

OP posts:
Laska42 · 02/12/2013 12:09

Yep tip am over the hungry hump now...
??

frenchfancy · 02/12/2013 18:21

Dh is doing veal escapes in Dixon and crime France sauce -yum Smile laska not like my UK friends either. French ladies don't drink. I end up staring at the bottle wondering what they would say if I had another.

frenchfancy · 02/12/2013 18:22

Dijon and creme fraiche Blush stupid phone

Laska42 · 02/12/2013 18:46

french that typo sounded a bit 'Evening All' to me .. Now we'll see if you are old enough to remember it! (I remember watching it as a child Saturday nights was it or Mondays? Got the theme tune in my head now)

Doobey ,doobey, doobey ,doobey, do do do do .. ...Dum dum ..dum dum.. Grin ..Yes ill be 56 in just over a next week Shock

I'd have just gone for another bottle ..( and some fromage frites...) let them say what they wil!

Laska42 · 02/12/2013 18:51

Ok hands up.. i've cracked at 26hrs Blush.. , but its only h/m tomato and cauliflower soup .. even so still way less than 500 cals , and i reckon ill be ok for the rest of the evening ..(they'll still get my £10 though)

AmericasTorturedBrow · 02/12/2013 19:55

Ugh first week of joining you in FD Mondays and I've Realised it's DD's delayed birthday party - I've gone low key and just having some little people and mums over this avo for cake and prosecco AND out for dinner tomorrow so instead it's 18:6 both days then FD pushed back to weds

Sorry but the ONLY way to survive a toddler get together is to drink through it....

Anglaise1 · 03/12/2013 08:47

I've had a few raucous nights out with French women who did get drunk, but in general they don't drink much, it is true. Neither do the French men I've been out with! I suppose it saves on calories, but to still have a third of a bottle of wine left after dinner just wouldn't have happened in the UK with my ex.

Talkinpeace · 03/12/2013 12:51

Anglaise
and yet you go to a small town and the old chaps having Pastis after Pastis all day must be several sheets to the wind even if they only have one glass of wine
also at municipal campsites I've seen SERIOUS amounts of drinking go on - but in the privacy of their own caravans, not in public

OP posts:
Anglaise1 · 03/12/2013 14:46

TIP I was told that the only women who go to bars (in rural areas, not large towns) are either alcoholics or prostitutes.
There isn't a huge amount of things I miss about the UK, but an old comfortable cosy country pub would be on my top 5 list!

Laska42 · 03/12/2013 20:19

Anglaise and frenchfancy sounds like you two need a good old girls weekend in Blighty! If you want to get a Brittany ferry over to Portsmouth il come have a few with you ( and TiP is just up the road, so we might tempt her out..

Well i've followed my yesterday fast day with a

Breadandwine · 03/12/2013 23:27

Well done, Laska - you can do this!

Nothing dramatic for me this time - ended my fast with breakfast this morning.

6 NFDs ahead of me, including this one. Been good so far today, but the leftover lasagne layered with potatoes I had for my dinner is calling my name.

MY flirtation with No Evening Snacking has come to an end with the realisation that if I do eat at night, I just need to not eat breakfast or lunch. Trouble is, if I do have some supper, wine is often involved, whereas I've never been tempted to drink alcohol in the morning! Grin

Ah, well, we all have our burdens! Smile

frenchfancy · 04/12/2013 06:42

Funnily enough I'm in the UK this weekend for my annual girls weekend. I'm flying to Standstead though so won't be able to pop in. Then up to Walberswick so if any of you know any good eateries there let me know.

My parsimonious weekend had one good result though - I'm back down to below 65kg Grin . Just in time for the weekend.

TheCyclistist · 04/12/2013 11:38

Well done Sis on the FD successes and a happy birthday for this weekend. I'd forgotten how close together our birthdays are...hope you have a great day!

Completed 2nd FD of the week yesterday and had some real touch and go moments but at the end of the day I think what got me through was being aware of how much better I'd feel today if I kept to it yesterday. Hopefully a FD tomorrow then next Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday......then with Christmas approaching the plans get a bit more hazy Xmas Smile

What I love about this WOE is the way you can go off track but so quickly get back into the swing of things and avoid all the negative and unhealthy huge weight swings of the past. I'm not saying weight doesn't fluctuate but with this you've at least got half a chance to pull things round before your body shape changes too much for the worse. I'll be the first to admit that my habits won't be great over the next month AND my health and weight will suffer. HOWEVER I'm confident that in January after a couple of glitches (when the first few FDs will be very difficult) I'll be able to undo the weight and health issues accrued over the Christmas period.....and I'll have had a great time over the festive weeks Wine Cake Xmas Biscuit Xmas Wink

Anglaise1 · 04/12/2013 12:17

Well done Laska! Still 3 weeks to go before Christmas and you are doing really well!
No fasting for me this week, a friend is staying and I'm in training for another 10k in 10 days time and my appetite has gone up...but burning off lots of calories so hopefully my weight will remain stable. Back at under 57kgs today without fasting in the last 10 days.
B&W I am addictied to grilled on salted almonds and that is my downfall in the evening if I have a drink before eating with a glass of wine. Manage not to snack after eating but before is different!
French enjoy your girls weekend in the UK - I'm sure you will more than make up for the lack of wine last weekend Wink

Breadandwine · 04/12/2013 12:47

I'm planning to be the same weight on Jan 1st as I am now. I expect to do this by missing out breakfasts and lunches when I can - not the celebratory ones, obviously!

And, since I'm a vegan and make most of my own meals, it'll be easy for me to throw in a couple of fast day dinners circa

Anglaise1 · 04/12/2013 14:04

That should have been non salted grilled almonds, I don't like salted nuts! And yes, nuts are healthy but also very calorific, especially in the portions I eat them!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 04/12/2013 14:44

FD today - still feeling very unmotivated about everything but out the house most of the day then DH is out tonight so think I'll get an early night in the hope it helps get through evening munchies

TheCyclistist · 04/12/2013 19:57

Evening ATB ,you'll get through the FD fine, and then feel great tomorrow. Think of the positives., ignore the negatives and remember...... Tea,coffee,tea,coffe and veg veg veg