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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 / ADF / 4:3 / 5:2 / 6:1 / 16:8 ~ Maintaining at a healthy weight ~ Chapter 4

997 replies

TalkinPeace · 13/01/2014 20:40

This thread is for those of us 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 many 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 three maintenance threads and all the main 5:2 threads for posters practicing IF to lose weight here Fasting / 5:2 on the diet forum. We're currently on thread no. 35, but there is a new main thread every 2-3 weeks.

There are three 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!

Since I started the last Maintainers thread the importance of exercise has come to the fore, as part of our general health and to help weight loss. BigChocFrenzys thread is here

OP posts:
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Breadandwine · 02/03/2014 21:03

Yay, Laska! Nice to see you. Smile

How's Marcus these days?

BetsyBell · 03/03/2014 08:29

Good morning! Fasting today after a nice bit of Sunday lunching with pear and berry crumble yesterday!

Vanity alert: I was studying myself in the mirror this morning and 10 days of intensively Tae Kwon Do practise, preparing for grading, does amazing things for the body! I'm all toned and slim! And passed the exam too Grin

Woke up to the sun shining - I predict a straightforward fast day today :)

BsshBossh · 03/03/2014 13:56

Well done Betsy, both on passing and looking sleeker!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 03/03/2014 14:09

congrats on passing Betsy! I need to get my game on with exercise...just can't be bothered

FD today, soup soup soup

Safe flight FF

Fillybuster · 03/03/2014 16:54

Somehow over 2 weeks have passed since I last posted on this thread...I've been lurking, but spending far too much time in customer meetings where I can't actually play post on MN properly! Shock

Congrats to B&W on your 2 year anniversary and to Laska for re-locating your fasting mojo :)

FD today and I'm counting down to shakshuka (spicy eggs) for dinner; I tend to use this recipe www.jannagur.com/108704/Shakshuka---Basic-Recipe as my base, then play a bit fast and loose by adding aubergine, courgette and peppers, depending on what's in the fridge. I've got some fabulous harissa that I bought on a whim in Borough Market last year that keeps brilliantly in the fridge and is far more potent than the stuff in a jar. Going to be using 3 tins of tomatoes tonight and at least 4 eggs tonight, as dh has made it clear he's after half the pan for his supper...!

I may even have half a fresh pita bread and a teaspoon of hummous, as I'll have my full 500 cals to consumer....mmm...

Maintaining still feels like a massive challenge - definitely don't have it cracked yet. On the one hand, I weighed in at 9.3 this morning (hurrah!), on the other I have swung between 9.2 (excellent) and 9.7 (end of the world) over the past 6 days. I know logically that a 5lb variance is normal, but that doesn't mean I don't panic when I see it on the bathroom scales. And then that 'sod it' voice creeps in, and it can be hard to fast because 'I'm there' - or I do a full 24 hour fast but then eat 700-800 cals at the end...not the end of the world, but not quite enough to support maintenance either.

On my side, I don't think I've done quite enough to crack the 'bad' eating habits on my NF days; so (a bit like a bad relationship) at the moment this WoE is an enabler to snacking/unhealthy food choices/over-eating the rest of the week. I'm sure that overall I'm snacking and eating less than I was before (of course I am - I'm a stone down) but its still more than I should be, iykwim?

What I have realised is that although the weight is now off, and I'm generally much much happier with my body than I have been for years (and slowly learning about self-acceptance and self-love), I do need to exercise as well as control my weight via calorie intake for the long term. I like JMs, but have to accept I'm not motivated enough after a long day in the office to do her dvds frequently enough to make a difference, so I think it's now time to bite the bullet and re-join my local Virgin Active....

Fillybuster · 03/03/2014 16:56

Oops. Link fail... this one

Laska42 · 03/03/2014 20:43

hi again, well I have had such a pain with the broadband and PC but hopefully its all sorted now..

Good to see everyone is so lively here , I wish I could say that ihave maintained the fasting mojo and have dropped half a stone more , but sadly not quite yet , but I am having ,more fast successes than failures so hopingthat il get some spectatcular weight loss soon! Trouble is we seem to be in the middle of an 'active' period for visitors , with resulting eating drinking weekends and soup weeks , but im maintaining at just over 10.7 so thats better than it was , and im hoping that after this next weekend (old mates coming over) that ill be able to knock the partying on the head fro awhile (I want that skinny holiday in June !)

Also im pretty broke after having to replace the car so cant afford to keep partying or get new clothes (and certainly dont want o get biger ones again) . I definately need a budget makeover so Tip ill be PM ing you after seeing you on finance thread ..

Re Franks B&W i dont use the buffalo sauce , but the Franks Red Hot Extra Hot ( but its ok , you can get just the Red Hot if you want to be a Wuss Grin).
I( usually get mine in sainsburys or waitrose , but if you dont want to got to those , try Scorchio.. they are a great company and I buy a lot of stuff from them.. I have seenthe Franks buffalo sauce in our local Co op also .

I often do what i think would be an even lower cal version of 'buffalo' cauliflower bakes mentioned above.. Its on the recipe thread and i posted it on 29th Nov 2012 -
Roasted cauliflower with Cumin and lemon Juice

its still one of my favourite fast and non fast day things to eat .. and especially good with Franks! ( or indeed buffalo sauce I imagine)..

B&W posting a pic of Marcus in a min ! he came to stay th eother weekend and im hoping he will again very soon.. im still besotted..cant belive hes 15 months old now .. hes just lovely ..

BetsyBell · 03/03/2014 20:53

Pics haven't been uploading on MN Laska - just so you know it's not your broadband if you do have trouble :)

Laska42 · 03/03/2014 21:35

ah thanks Betsy I was just coming back to saw i couldn get it on!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 04/03/2014 00:28

filly your eggs sound amazing - I do huevos rancheros in a similar way (bake the eggs in the tomato rather than scramble them) but I also happen to have some harissa spices that I turn into paste - have a friend coming for dinner tomorrow in need of some healthy love so I might make it for her despite it being a NFD

I absolutely know what you mean about NFD overeating enabling - I'm totally fine today because it's a FD but tomorrow isn't and that's when I need to watch myself. Just trying to stick to my rules of fasting 2-3 days a week and not snacking but it's so annoying that this will always be a constant battle - I think I still haven't let go of the resentment that I just can't eat whatever the hell I want!

TalkinPeace · 04/03/2014 17:28

Pancake day .... that's the calorie budget blown later!
DH makes AMAZING stuffed crepes

OP posts:
BetsyBell · 04/03/2014 18:57

Photos are uploading at last! Laska let's see that gorgeous toddler then!

If any of you want to see a grown woman looking extremely pleased with herself after smashing through wooden boards with her bare hands (and getting her Tae Kwon Do yellow belt in the process) please do check my profile Grin Grin

Breadandwine · 05/03/2014 00:35

Blimey, Betsy, that's what I call a figure!

And well done on the new belt. What's the next belt for you?

Still waiting, Laska!

BsshBossh · 05/03/2014 09:14

Betsy fantastic strength! Well done on the yellow belt.

BetsyBell · 06/03/2014 10:01

Why thank you B&W!

Orange belt next...

catsrus · 06/03/2014 10:06

I've just been given some extra work that I really didn't want and I can feel the stress levels rising. Have just been away with work so hotel food, working lunch sarnies and lots of Wine, the scales were not gentle with me this morning. So what did I do? five, yes FIVE slices of toast and marmite for breakfast BlushAngry. Need to give myself a good talking to!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 06/03/2014 16:51

Oh my god cats I had four slices of marmite and toast for breakfast and a chocolate avocado cookie

catsrus · 07/03/2014 13:18

The scales this morning were horrific - evidently 5 slices of toast weighs 4lb Hmm - interesting how much eating that much carb appears to have caused fluid retention. I know we've had this discussion before and not everyone agrees - but there is a very definite correlation with me between the amount of bread i eat and what I appear to weigh the next day.

Anyway - huge lentil curry made this morning to see me through the next few days of being sensible. Am also going to go investigate the nettle situation, I think there should be enough growing now to do a decent pot of soup (with added wild garlic)

TalkinPeace · 08/03/2014 17:57

my weight is holding steady ... but I did drink too much last night!

ATB & cats - the newcomer to FB is mrsF Smile

nettles round here are still teeny !

OP posts:
Southeastdweller · 09/03/2014 11:39

Morning. I've had a not-too-wonderful couple of weeks. Last week I skulked back into hibernating mode and for most of this week I was on antibiotics for a mild tooth infection taking one of them 4x daily with food. The scales weren't at all forgiving when I stepped on them on Thursday, another reminder (not that I need one) that I can put on weight very easily. The only chance I've had to fast this week was yesterday which wasn't that easy with the nice, weather and being on the Southbank but OK. Spring's finally arrived and I will start running again locally very soon in addition to the gym Smile.

BetsyBell · 10/03/2014 08:04

Sorry to hear that southeast Hope you're feeling better this week.

I spent the weekend eating (mostly) puddings at various events and social gatherings. I have woken up feeling grotty with my mouth feeling like it's coated in ick. Ugh, complete sugar break for a bit I think. I think today's fast is not going to be the easiest but do have a busy day planned at least.

Anglaise1 · 10/03/2014 09:11

I hope you manage to get back on track South and that you enjoy taking up running again! BB Good luck with your fast today.
I'm going to have a week off fasting this week, scales pretty good at the moment, hovering around 58kgs even after a 10km race on Saturday night. It is the school holidays here so less sitting on my behind teaching and lots of physical work in the garden and gites so am more active than usual, as well as running (a real joy in this beautiful weather!)
Off to the UK for a long weekend break in the Cotswolds which I'm looking forward to as well, fingers crossed the sunshine will still be there then!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 10/03/2014 14:04

fasting today as well after a week of not really managing it - DD's already bad sleep has spectacularly imploded to coincide with DH coming down with a proper flu and I've been stuffing myself with sugar and carbs and cheese all week in a vain attempt to keep energy up - and drinking wine every evening which makes the next morning worse even though I don't actually get drunk. We spoke to a sleep consultant last week and have a strict and scary plan to put into place this weekend so need to get myself back into feeling vaguely healthy. 2 fasts this week and going fully vegan just to up my veg and fruit intake and avoid the dreaded heavy cheese

I am so spectacularly tired though Sad

Anglaise I went for my first run in 15years last week and going to try to get out twice a week - have a runner friend in SF and as I think I need something in place to work towards when ALC is finished, we decided we'd try to do a destination Tri together - we're both competent swimmers though much to be improved we also enjoy it, then she needs to train up her cycling and I need to train up my running....so might end up asking you for advice!

Laska42 · 10/03/2014 19:26

Hiya all, ive just finished a 24hr fast ( first really successful one for ages Yay Grin) with eggs and in spicy tomato sauce.. so feeling good about that ( though I now want to dive into the vanilla and passion fruit yoghurt I know is in the fridge,..)

We had friends staying last week and at the weekend and I feel like ive been on a 5day mega cook-a-thon!

So quite scared to get back on the scales until another fast over but the good thing is that seeing my friend (who lost 5 stones and is now half a stone slimmer than I am -though I was a few pounds less than her last year - she has maintained and I have not Sad ) , has kicked me straight back on track..

Also the warmer weekend.. I wore a dress to work to day I hadnt since last year .. it wasnt tight , but definately will be If I dont look out soon..

(ok glad Ive written this, the urge for passion fruit yog has just gone..)

So by request... there are three photos of Marcus on my page ( for you to see just for a day or so) . The exciting ( or mad) news is that this weekend hes coming to stay here without his mum ,..

Heck its been 23 years since I had a baby to look after by myself! Eek! . Shock

Laska42 · 10/03/2014 19:28

and .. Yup hes a Ginger Grandson!