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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

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Moominsummermadness · 08/08/2013 09:23

Morning everyone, thanks so much for your kind words and virtual hugs. We're all still coming to terms with it, and I haven't actually seen my uncle and cousins yet, as they are in London, and I'm near Birmingham. The funeral has been arranged for the 20th August, to be honest, will be glad when it's over with. Although when she was diagnosed just over a year ago, we knew that the prognosis was poor, I still can't quite believe it. So, so sad.

I did do a fast day on Monday, but I didn't really need to. My appetite (predictably) hasn't been great all week, and I've also had the stress of organising a social event for work. Have weighed in this morning, and I'm down to 8st 7.5lb. Considering that I had bounced up to 8 st 13 at the end of last week, it's quite a drop. While I can't help feeling a bit pleased, I know that I need to try to eat more. I hardly ever eat breakfast anymore, but his morning I've had some granary toast with butter and black cherry jam.

On a much more positive note, SIL has given birth to a beautiful baby girl. She has a head full of thick black hair! She honestly has twice as much hair as my DD4, who will be one next month. SIL already had two sons, and could not disguise the fact that she was hoping for a girl, so we're all over the moon for her.

Regarding the anniversary, to be honest, I was not really aware of the Horizon documentary etc at the time. I was eight months pregnant, and losing weight was the last thing on my mind (despite being the size of a bungalow). It was only through reading internet forums that I actually became aware of it. I still haven't actually seen the documentary- does anyone know if it's still available anywhere? I had to laugh yesterday, as the colleague who sits next to me started telling me in hushed tones about another colleague who had found an amazing way of losing weight, and that she was thinking about giving it a go. When she began describing the 'diet', I had to stop her in her tracks, and confess that it was exactly how I've lost nearly 1.5 stone. Now she knows why I always pass on the biscuits two days per week!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 08/08/2013 13:56

Huge congrats for your SIL moomin, that's lovely news. Again, so sorry for your loss. Hope you manage to regain your appetite soon.

Ooooh er Laska how very not Mills and Boon, weird your ex not telling his wife though, bit of a stupid move on his part, non?

I am so looking forward to curry when I get home, and a bacon butty!

I've been up amd own since pre 4am thanks to DD, determined to make it to my swim this morning as I'm not getting in any exercise at all ATM and an supposed to be on a 50mile ride on Sunday eek

vintage52er · 08/08/2013 15:16

vimeo.com/54089463

moomin the original Horizon prog is on the above link (hope it works)

Breadandwine · 08/08/2013 15:38

Sure does, VP! Oops, old habits die hard! Grin

If I had an hour I could easily watch it again - although I must have seen it half a dozen times.

Both the first part (of four) of 'The men who made us thin', and 'The men who made us fat) are on BBC2 this evening, at 9 and 11.20pm.

I hear Richard Wilson is now a convert to 5:2 and is saying good things about it.

Oh, and the 52FastDiet forum is just about to welcome its 10,000th member!

The more the merrier, eh? Smile

Moominsummermadness · 08/08/2013 18:13

Thanks for the link vintage, going over to SIL's soon for cake and champagne, but I will watch the documentary over the weekend!

Breadandwine · 08/08/2013 20:51

Don't know what's going on over on the 52fastdiet forum, it's been down for about 5 hours now.

Hope it's nothing serious!

Talkinpeace · 08/08/2013 21:04

probably gone to watch BBC2 .....

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vintage52er · 08/08/2013 23:32

B&W I agree, could watch the Horizon over and over again. I'm recording the 'The men who made us thin' series and will watch it soon. Even a year on I love any new information re healthy eating and diets etc - a bit of a junkie Wink

vintage52er · 08/08/2013 23:54

Had an unusual Thursday for me as it's usually a 'normal' healthy eating day but as the sun was shining and the sky so blue we decided to go to the beach (only 5mins away in the car) where they do the most wonderful breakfast ciabatta (bacon, egg and mushrooms) and coffee. That was about 11ish so bang went my no breakfast eating! Then we had an ice cream which was huge (cornet, vanilla ice cream dipped in clotted cream then dipped in carribean fruit pieces Blush).
We then walked on the beach and sea front for about 1.5 hours and went home for a cup of tea and piece of cake! We had nothing else until 6.30 and had a ham and salad wrap with tomatoes and olives on the side followed by a banana and plain yoghurt.
I think I will class today as my 'treat Saturday' and on Saturday have no breakfast as usual and eat only healthy stuff.
That's why I love this woe, it's so wonderfully flexible you need never ever feel guilty again Smile

Laska42 · 09/08/2013 13:49

hello My name is Laska and I am a raspberry fetishist.. Grin
I must be just munching through my 6th punnet this weelk ( yum.. I do love summer fruit!)

Have a good weekend all, im off to the seaside.. (oh I live by the sea!.. oh well, off to another another seaside..

Really looking forward to my curry tomorrow evening and my mackerel in a bun ( which I always have when in Brighton . Cats you may know the place on the seafront -Linda and Jacks take out . ? Best lunch in Brighton, and cheap (and you can get a good cuppa with it!)

Just popped round to M&S in my lunch hour for a couple of bottles of my friends favourite Wine to take and ended up spending over £100 on clothes Blush All sz 8 and 10 though!!.. Grin this dress and this skirt - the short length!! and a cardi and scarf.. Bad me!! i'll have to hide the bag in the wardrobe for a few weeks now (Oh, this? No not new. ive had it ages!! LOL) Wink.

Fillybuster · 09/08/2013 13:53

Lost you all....went on holiday (was lovely) sadly now back and dealing with all the at home pants stuff (job, mother etc)....

Will do my best to catch up but it's a long way back down this thread...

Hope you're all well?

Laska42 · 09/08/2013 13:59

Glad to see you back filly Where did you go on Holiday?

AmericasTorturedBrow · 09/08/2013 15:28

Ervintage that has got to be the best tasting ice cream I have ever heard of!

I know the place of which you speak Laska, their mackerel in a bun is stupendous, it's on my list to for my UK trip (mum lives near Brighton so we'll def have a day or two in town), and those are great outfits, well done you on the sizing!

Welcome back filly

Managed to fast all day yesterday aside from a couple of frozen strawberries, then PIGGED out on frozen piña coladas and baby back ribs and Mexican rice at DH's work (I blame breaking my alcohol fast one day in on a stressful day with DD) then came home demolished some wendesleydale and Parma ham before taking a bar of chocolate to bed. Oops. FD today proper, healthy food tomorrow - meeting friends for brunch so panning on a two meal day as then hopefully training ride Sunday and I just can't manage those bigger rides if I fast the day before, but have a lush recipe for chicken livers and brown rice Louisiana style which the kids love too.

Next week I am returning to my usual and better mon, weds, fri FD

Talkinpeace · 09/08/2013 15:58

I had a really interesting conversation with a friend at the gym who has been doing 5:2 since January.
She finds staying inside 500 calories easy, but stretching her food gap over 12 hours almost impossible.
She has also plateau'd - even though she looks really trim (still large framed and 50 plus but not at all flabby IYSWIM) - and I suggested she checked out her TDEE now she's lighter
lightbulb moment for her ...

Had pastries from Reeves for lunch. Nom nom, calorific bombs!
Then just drove home from errands with my children sitting in the back of the car, with their feet out the windows, wearing flippers - as you do.

OP posts:
Skinnyeye · 09/08/2013 19:40

Hi all happy anniversary Wine to all you early starters, I didn't start till the beginning of September (Thread 3) so I still have a few weeks to go. I'm back on track after my wobble and all's well. 3 pounds off target but in no hurry.

Heading off for a quiet week on Loch Fyne with no internet and very little mobile reception - Heavenly!. Since we last spoke I have bought a small sailing dinghy and am now learning to sail - what a difference a year makes well 11 months to be pedantic! Might fast while I am away or might not either way it's not the end of the world so won't give myself a hard time. Enjoy your weekend and talk when I get back

Talkinpeace · 09/08/2013 19:58

OOh OOh OOh, if you are in Loch Fyne, pick a quiet afternoon to walk as far up the valley at the head of it as you can
past the quarry, past the houses, past the coos
Golden Eagles - lots of (confirmed by bird geeks)

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Anglaise1 · 11/08/2013 08:23

French Fancy La Rochelle is lovely. Unfortunately campsite not (between airport and dual carriageway) but it is a beautiful town, just perhaps too many tourists in August! Sadly found text messages on OHs phone whilst there indicating he is still seeing his ex and no longer platonically judging by her flowery declarations of love for him so I came home early Friday. I feel so stupid about everything and really sad but I'm sure I'll get over him - eventually. Kids are coming back from the UK today and I can't wait to see them. Just can't eat anything at the moment (all food tastes like sawdust) either and am underweight on the BMI measure but only just.

vintage52er · 11/08/2013 08:46

Oh dear Anglaise sorry to hear your woes.
You gave the guy a second chance but looks like he's blown it?
You deserve better than this treatment and yes, one day you will be over him and better for it (hugs).

Talkinpeace · 11/08/2013 09:47

Oh Anglaise, I'm so sorry. Relax and splurge for a week with the kids and then something will sort.

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mumofcrazynamedkids · 11/08/2013 22:54

skinny enjoy your lovely sounding holiday, what kind of dinghy, i'm a sailor, and hoping to buy a dinghy next spring to teach the children to sail.

anglaise so sorry that the idiot didn't deserve your trust, but sounds like you have taken control and will do what you need to look after yourself, food will taste like shit, but maybe just some flavoursome soups in time, your kids need you to stay strong and so good they will be back as a welcome distraction. Flowers look after yourself

laska clothes splurge hurrah! Brighton visit sounds great x

vintage that unexpected food day does sound delicious!

atb you seem to have so many delicious temptations, but aiming for a specific dress definitely helped me 2 weeks ago.....although since then I seem to have lost focus again, hon-hum, back on track tomorrow, kids away and ADF planned!

filly glad to hear holiday was lovely, I'm not going to get one this year, so deeply envious of all of you who do, but you definitely deserved some time out, hows your mum doing?

moomin new baby news after a loss is probably the best kind of news, I'm very happy for your SIL.

chatted to my brother when home, he's catching me up, he's 5 pounds from normal bmi we chatted plateau's and tip just like you pointed out to your friend at the gym, he'd realised that he was going to have to reduce his calorie intake on NFD's to continue losing, and now he's back to losing 1kg per week for past 4 weeks, and he's swapped his vast consumption of full sugar fizzy drinks on nfd's to diet (we discussed them not being good, but he's aware and decided for him that as he drinks lots and only water on fast days, it was an easy win for reducing calorie intake on NFD's) also he has said he will do fasting forever - he's only 28, but realises that if he stops he will gain teh weight back. did try to moot the idea that he could add other healthy things like fruit and veg to his diet but he shut me down dead (I figure I've got some years to win him round)

AmericasTorturedBrow · 12/08/2013 14:39

Oh Anglaise I'm sorry, what an arsehole to abuse your trust and good nature. Better off rid for sure, but hope you do manage to eat something and have a lovely time with your DC back.

mocnk back on track with you...3 FD planned this week and I'm abstaining alcohol for two more weeks, stupidly binged on cheese last night but I think that was because I finally got out n the bike yesterday am and dear god I was hungry! Hopefully once I get back into training that will adjust itself.

In the meantime I've gone on a groupon splurge so looks like Cardio Barre until my UK trip then a month of Ultimate Beach Workout on my return...

wildwater · 12/08/2013 15:26

Hi everybody. Am all over the place these days but it's really good to catch up with so many 'familiars' here.

Reality check: so easy to say one thing then do another. I acknowledge that I say stuff like 'I don't have a sweet tooth' then go and eat a whole lot of chocolate! Crazy. Especially since I really DON'T like it that much...

Anyway, that was only one day. Guess children's birthday parties can do that to the strongest soul. As a non-parent (please forgive me) I admire all of you coping with the thousand distractions and temptations involved in having hungry little people around.

I am as dedicated to 5:2 as ever. Love my fast days, and generally not inclined to overheat on food days unless I start too early.

Am frustrated by not being able to weigh myself. Working on accepting things being exactly as they are...since I cannot change them. That means not wanting or needing admiration or reassurance,

I remember times in the past when I lost weight...I became addicted to the praise, and so when that dropped off I guess I would overeat again in order to get more when I lost weight again! Bonkers.

The great thing about this forum is that everybody can express their fears/ loves/whatever without being judged.

I would appreciate somebody answering this question: should I be 'happy' with a BMI of 24.6 (at age 63) or should I be aiming lower? I am at the higher end of the 'healthy' scale...

Patagonia continues to surprise and delight...wish I could upload more pics but this site doesn't like my device, it seems.

Salut a todos :)

BetsyBell · 12/08/2013 16:09

Popping in here to say I'm having a really excellent return to fasting post-holiday. Just spoke to DH, who is also fasting, and we both remarked with surprise at how easy it is today.

During the holiday I'd been eating far more than usual (and in increasing quantities AND snacking Blush ) so I was expecting my body to complain about lack of anything beyond tea today, but apparently not. I think my digestive system is actually thanking me for giving it a break!

Hugs to Anglaise and a big grrr to the naughty man Angry

skinnyeye I was musing on the other thread about how things have changed for me too - every morning I opted to get up with the birds so I could nip out for some scenic exercise on my own. A very welcome change of personality :) Loch Fyne will be fabulous and beautiful, have a great time!

Wildwater You look great on your photos so if you're feeling great too then my instinct is to say don't stress about the numbers too much.

mumofcrazynamedkids · 12/08/2013 16:09

wildwater only you can answer that question, are you happy with bmi of 24.6? or would you like it to be lower? my feeling is that lower gives you more room for ups, and therefore some leniency built in, I'm also around the same bmi, but i'm only 40, so I think I should definitely aim lower, but when I first lost weight I was happy being here, I guess long term we need to try and get somewhere that is easy to maintain, for me this weight is too close to being overweight, so lower would be better, but I'm not in any huge rush, if you see what I mean?

my Mum is about the same age as you and she recently lost a couple of stone and she has got to a size 10/12 and is probably just above 25 bmi, but is happy there, she feels it's easy to maintain and has been for about a year, personally i think she would be better focussed on fitness at this stage for overally health rather than worrying about more weight loss, but only you can know what feels best for you, good luck wih whatever you decide!

ATB I also ate cheese last night, brie, st augur and comte on M&S crackers on the train journey home, but I finished eating at 6.30 resisted alcohol and chocolate and did 16:8 and fasting today, did just have the skinniest slice of cake, but will now only be eating soup for dinner to stay within 500 ggrrrrr

Talkinpeace · 12/08/2013 16:12

wildwater
BMI is just a number. It does not take into account how your shoulders and pelvis are structured - and they are what determines how you carry weight and whether you look better at 24 or 19.

Needing feedback without scales : doe the Diana Rigg trick : get a (beautiful) ribbon and tie it around your waist.
If its slack you have lost, if it digs in, you have gained.

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