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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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Eatriskier · 17/01/2014 09:47

Well done everyone who is back at target weight after Xmas excesses.

Unfortunately I ended up with a 1k calorie deficit this week, so have lost weight again. I do two mini fasts a week (and I'm still a little reluctant to give those up given the boost I'm getting with my PA), I eat to my fitbit burn on all other days but occasionally have a treat and 2-3 days a week I have booze and this is also extra.

But I don't think I can eat more without going back to snacking or eating crap, both of which make me want more crap and as its taken me so long to get out of that habit I don't want to get back into it! I'm finally going back to butter on my bread, cream in my coffee and occasional nut splurges to up my calories without upping my food content. Any other hints? I'm not a cheese or mayo eater sadly, so they're out.

BetsyBell · 17/01/2014 10:44

Eatriskier Raw or toasted nuts and seeds sprinkled onto salads/pasta dishes/yogurt? TBH I eat raw nuts on every NFD and that boosts up my calorie count dramatically, but in a delightfully healthy and delicious way.

Do you want my NFD salad dressing recipe? Very basic, very delicious, mostly olive oil?

Eatriskier · 17/01/2014 11:03

melanie has just put up a lovely sounding nut and yoghurt recipe which should help too - along the lines you've just suggested betsy. I think I'm definitely going to try more raw nut toppings on things.

Yes please on the salad dressing too.

EarSlaps · 17/01/2014 11:08

Eatriskier- agree re nuts and seeds. My NFD weekday breakfast is full fat Greek yoghurt (10% fat) with about 10 almonds and a heaped tbsp of mixed seeds, then a little drizzle of honey over the top. It's delicious.

Add in some lovely puddings- apple crumble with oats and ground nuts added in to the crumble topping served with custard or Greek yoghurt. Reduced sugar homemade cakes too- you can decrease the sugar in most recipes by 25% without it affecting how it turns out. Power post workout treats of dates, nuts and cocoa powder blitzed in the food processor and rolled into balls.

Nice curries with some ground almonds and coconut cream added in. Plenty of eggs and cream in things- we're big fans of pasta carbonara in our house. Occasional sausage rolls or proper crisps are nice too.

My DS is underweight and the list of food suggestions from the NHS dietician looked like the sort of things most people are told to avoid! Cakes, crisps, sausage rolls, custard with extra milk powder mixed in, ice cream etc. I've become a master at fortifying things!

BetsyBell · 17/01/2014 11:16

Dressing recipe:

1 clove garlic crushed with plenty of rock or sea salt (can be done in a pestle and mortar or with a side of heavy knife on a chopping board), pepper. Once garlic is pulped with the salt add 1 part vinegar (transfer to a jar with lid for this if needed) and 3 parts good olive oil. Blend. How much you make is up to you - I usually make half a jar full to put in the fridge for a few days of use. This dressing is awesome on everything - salad, pasta dishes, potatoes, veg etc.

The oil solidifies in the fridge a bit so it's worth taking out 15 mins before you need it.

I'm always vague with amounts I'm afraid but experiment with proportions and see what works for you.

My kids love salad because of this dressing!

BetsyBell · 17/01/2014 11:20

Coconut cream is a good idea earslaps. Mmm, Thai curries too...

What about fajita type dishes with plenty of guacamole and sour cream? Avocados are wonderful things.

EarSlaps · 17/01/2014 11:31

Avocados are amazing- if you have a soft one just spread it into your sandwich instead of butter, or spread on toast with some chicken, salad and a drizzle of Betsy's dressing. Homemade guacamole with avocado, Greek yoghurt, chopped tomato, salt and Tabasco is pretty yum too.

Eatriskier · 17/01/2014 12:03

betsy that does sound really good!

I need to get more into avocado, tried a bit when cooking for DD years ago but lacked ideas for having it myself. These threads really help

EarSlaps · 17/01/2014 12:24

A lot of people mash banana and avocado together for babies, but it might be nice on toast if you like bananas. A not too sweet sugar kick.

BsshBossh · 17/01/2014 12:32

Eatriskier slather butter on all your bread, add liberal amounts of olive oil to things, eat more deep-fried foods like homemade skin-on chunky chips and tonkatsu (pork breaded with panko crumbs) and tempura and homemade breaded fish. I second the idea of eating more unsalted nuts - macadamia nuts are high calorie and very moreish.

TalkinPeace · 17/01/2014 12:56

blimey 18 posts on this thread in a day! that must be a record

ooh I like the idea of avocado and chicken sandwich - I love them but have never convinced DH ... that might do the trick Thanks

OP posts:
EarSlaps · 17/01/2014 13:15

Even my vegetable dodging DH loves avocados, so worth a go Tip.

Eatriskier- don't forget all things deviant style- peanut butter and Nutella. I always have a fancy breakfast on the weekend- either croissants or pancakes, often covered in pb and Nutella.

Laska42 · 17/01/2014 13:42

and how funnythat its all been about no longer losing weight! you wont find that on a weightwatchers board!.
ihave been doing mini fasts all week on my NFDs a (no morethan 1000 cal) so its been 2:5 instead p of 5:"
but although its not sustainable Iknow I have felt fine.. and a nother lb of christmas podge gone .. (ive even had some chocolate this week also!)
but its the wekend
ive k just broke my fast with veggie soup and an egg, but tominght we have pulled pork from this recipe (has been cooking all night and looked yum this morning . there wil be Wine

..and tomorrow the parents are coming so I am making this Wot?? pie on a diet?? Grin

Laska42 · 17/01/2014 13:54

aargh ! I can spell I just cant type!

BsshBossh · 17/01/2014 13:55

Oh that pie crust looks delicious, I could eat it on its own.

Eatriskier · 17/01/2014 14:35

Since the colder weather has been coming in or just in I've been doing a lot of pie. Love a meat and veg puff pastry pie. Though I'm a top and bottom pastry girl. Even on a diet!

frenchfancy · 17/01/2014 16:05

Another pie lover, though I do think pie should have a top and a bottom. I approve of the fact she is making her own pastry in the article. It really isn't that difficult and tastes so much better than bought. I get really anoyed when I see famous chefs on telly telling everyone to buy their pastry as is tastes no difference - yes it does. It is like saying sliced white tastes the same as a home baked sour dough. Both have their place I suppose but they do not taste the same.

Sorry for the rant but I'm a bit of a pastry connoisseur - probably one of the main reasons I had weight to lose in the first place. I rarely go a week without making pastry of some sort.

Enjoy your pie laska

AmericasTorturedBrow · 17/01/2014 16:28

Avocados are the best food in the world - we're really lucky to get amazing quality ones all year round here and I always eat them on NFD, sometimes make an avocado based smoothie or salad as my FD meal too

Fillybuster · 17/01/2014 20:39

Loving the high-cal food recommendations in a supposedly 'diet' thread...

Love the inspirational stories :) :) Thanks WW and Betsy

Party is tomorrow night. I've been baking and frosting like a madwoman - didn't mean to have a FD but forgot to eat or drink whilst turning out tarts, cakes, different frostings etc all day. Probably consumed several 1000s of calories in sugar and butter whilst tasting things though Grin Even made my own marshmallows...they are scarily amazing :) :) And, amongst others120 mini lemon tarts, 100 mini dark chocolate tarts, 140 mini cup-cakes, 6 tray bakes (3 apple, 3 chocolate & walnut), 80 palmiers, 250 mini meringues.....Gosh...I hope my guests eat them Shock

Utterly knackered as was up until 2.30am sorting out music, so going to wash my hair, have dinner and hit the sack early tonight. Millions of decorations and helium balloons to deal with in the morning....

BsshBossh · 17/01/2014 20:44

Filly all that baking for your own birthday? You are Superwoman! Hope you let others pamper you for your 40th. Are you actually 40 tomorrow?

BetsyBell · 18/01/2014 08:48

Wowsers Filly What an amazing amount of baking! Have you done all that at home? It sounds like you'd need an industrial sized kitchen for all that!

Is it your birthday today? Have a great day. Did I miss a post about a fabulous dress? Maybe we could have a photo of you in your finery?

TalkinPeace · 18/01/2014 14:21

did my weekend shopping in Lidl today : they are on a health kick - BIG bags of nut pieces and seeds and dried fruit at Lidl prices. nom nom
also have two avocados ripening on the kitchen windowsill ....

Fillybuster you are amazing - for my last big party I just bought loads of frozen Lidl canapes!
then again DH makes mean choux pastry and DD loves making cakes
I've never had a sweet tooth so am a bit crap at puddings

OP posts:
Eatriskier · 18/01/2014 21:15

Today was a day of cream, butter and nuts. I feel so much better too than without crap. More full and satisfied. I love how this thread is full of high calorie content.

filly hope you managed to eat some of those yourself, and happy birthday (if it is today)

AmericasTorturedBrow · 18/01/2014 21:25

FD today and easy so far as a terrible night with DD meant I then got a lie in til 11. Made pancakes with DC and didn't even want any! Going to make some fennel soup for later while the others gorge on carbonara, but I'll prob also have a decent omlette in the evening as in doing 45mile ride tomorrow

Anglaise1 · 19/01/2014 20:32

Ests Nuts are fantastic. I love unsalted grilled almonds but unfortunately eat far too many of them. They are good for you as well as being fairly calorific so go for it if you are hungry!
Filly totally in awe and hope your party was fantastic. You deserve it after all that preparation!
ATB hope your 45 mile ride went well. I did an 18km run this morning and wasn't even out of breath or sweating at the end so know that my first half marathon in April should be OK...hoping to do it in under 1 hour 40 mins. 5:2 has helped me keep the weight off so running is easier!
I never eat pies, but eat LOTS OF quiche. And salad.

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