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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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Laska42 · 04/06/2014 22:45

Tiip ilike that 100 cals . I did my RMR the other day for the weight I want to be as a guide to losing instead of using TDEE (as i was desperate) and it was omly 1161 cals a day! Eek.... Even at little or no exercise ( and i do nothingthat could be counted as such really if im honest ) it was less than 1400..so Iknow I have to re-adjust what i eat quite drastically ..(or go to the fking gym.. and im not going to do that realistically)

ok ..heres the new bikini plan following your idea and my preferences ....how about black tea and coffee all day (i dont drink milk) ..... 1 egg , 1 lettuce leaf and 1 bottle red in the evening (hic) Grin?? (only joking!)

Eatriskier · 05/06/2014 07:51

I've never really gotten the munchies after drinking. Even after mammoth sessions at uni I would have some water and go to bed whilst my mates mainlined toast. I do however find it hard to say no to another glass, so I suppose that's my penance

Eatriskier · 05/06/2014 07:52

Love it laska

TalkinPeace · 06/06/2014 17:26

End of the week. I am shattered.
Still got three hours work to do but I might save that for when its raining tomorrow.
Fingers crossed that the bits to mend my car come soon as driving around with no cooling system stops being funny in June.
Tonight I'm going out for supper, by taxi, so I can have Wine

OP posts:
catsrus · 06/06/2014 17:57

only 600 cals in a bottle of red....well that's the next fast day sorted Wink.

C'mon Laska you know you can do it - how about taking some motivation from knowing that if you stay healthy you'll be around many many more years to see your adorable gs grow up!

catsrus · 06/06/2014 17:59

yes TiP definitely TGIF - AND I've had some time off this week, problem was all the problems sat in my in=box waiting for me to get back! still, I knocked a major problem on the head at 4.45 - won't be implemented until Monday but sent off all the emails, filled in the forms and set up the person to do it. result. now I can enjoy the weekend Grin

Eatriskier · 06/06/2014 18:07

Tgif here too. Having big problems with 3yo Dd. She's almost at the nap dropping stage but isn't actually ready for it. Her gran has her on weds and won't make her sleep if she says no Angry (she's 3 of course she says no), nursery try their best but she didn't sleep there yesterday. So today I have over tired child from hell. A 3 hr nap has helped but hasn't improved things that much. So I'm drinking all the Wine I can tonight in preparation for telling Mil that of she doesn't put her foot down with Dd then she can't have a full day with her anymore. It's hitting our relationship with dd too much and this is becoming regular now Sad

AmericasTorturedBrow · 08/06/2014 16:38

hello all - trying to catch up slowly but my poor brain and body aren't working too well.

Got back from my ride yesterday and have to swiftly get used to not eating every hour and having huge carb laden food for dinner as obviously I'm not now burning 3000-5000 calories a day!

So, attempting a normal day today then will fast Monday and Wednesday, we fly for the UK on Thursday and straight to a hen weekend, it's going to take a lot of will power to keep the weight down...also I'm not going near the scales til I've got these FD under my belt as it was so disheartening last year to find I'd put 4lbs on during the ride!

Breadandwine · 09/06/2014 01:35

Hi all - just a quick one before retiring!

Back from my 6 monthly walking/drinking/eating fest - to find I can still pull through the same amount of belt so I won't bother with the scales. Had no breakfasts while away, but ate hugely the rest of the time.

In fact for Sunday lunch in the pub I had the most enormous plate of chips, beans and mushrooms - so much so that I decided to skip dinner and commence my Monday 24-hour LOF a bit early.

So I have 12 hours fasting up my sleeve already. First time I've tried this and found it surprisingly easy.

I've got some good advice for all you lushes wine drinkers, which I'll impart tomorrow.

Just quickly, well done, ATB!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 09/06/2014 02:13

Thanks B&W, should of course add that it was an incredible week and I climbed the hills with strength that was only burgeoning last year, wasn't half as afraid of the descents and generally made really good time.

We were about 2350 riders and raised a total of $15million+ which is jut incredible. I'm on severe emotional withdrawal though - weird not to be surrounded by thousands of literally the best, most generous, caring and kind hearted human beings on the planet

Anglaise1 · 09/06/2014 08:34

Congratulations on your ride ATB what an achievement! You must still be buzzing from the experience. Not sure I'd worry about fasting or potential weight gain the week after physical exertion like that - you always weigh more after because the muscles retain water to repair the damage done to them during hard exercise.
Enjoy your hen night!

BigChocFrenzy · 09/06/2014 11:01

Magnificent achievement ATB
Flowers
I recommend you allow at least this week to let your body repair itself, before you do any FDs.
7 days eating healthy high-nutrient food to TDEE.

That bod has done you proud, so be nice to it
Smile

BigChocFrenzy · 09/06/2014 11:13

Re: Almonds and nut butters

I find a small handful of unsalted nuts is safely boring, but I only buy nut butters (100% nuts, organic) about once per month, because I know my weakness:
Once the jar is opened, the spoon comes out and the complete contents are inhaled and half the 2nd jar too

So, I try just to have just a small salad on such days, to allow for the 1200-2000 cal nut orgy.

BetsyBell · 09/06/2014 16:26

WOW! Well done ATB - absolutely amazing achievement.

bigchoc My weakness is with plain nuts, I love them, especially with a sprinkle of dried fruits too. Nut butters I can be perfectly moderate with.

Fast days are really non-nut days in this house...

My DH took part in a study where they monitored his calorific output for 5 days (via heart monitor, movement and temp sensor) after various tests in the lab too. Very interesting results - he walks to and from work every day (on the flat) which adds up to 10k, he had one day where he walked an extra 3k on top and his calorific burn for that day was slightly more than a day where he ran 10k in the heat! Over 4000 calories on both those days. The lucky bugger burns off 2500 on a sedentary day.

He does walk at quite a pace but I thought it was interesting that long walks can burn off as much as running.

Anglaise1 · 09/06/2014 17:44

Betsy I was reading an article on running vs walking earlier today. Per mile, there isn't a lot of difference in calories burnt but per minute there is, and also you get the afterburn effect after running, which burns more calories than after simply walking.

BigChocFrenzy · 09/06/2014 17:57

I read the earlier papers on running vs walking too.

It seems the same for all types of exercise:
The higher the intensity, the longer the afterburn or EPOC Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption)
This is one of the reasons HIIT is recommended to boost weight loss, e.g. US-NIH

HIIT-Women

BetsyBell · 09/06/2014 18:45

Very interesting Anglaise, I don't see how the monitors could account for 'afterburn' so they would definitely be additional burnt calories. The data wasn't manipulated in anyway according to exercise types so the measurements are quite linear.

His BMR is as high as my (non-exercisins level) TDEE. I really have to make sure I eat quite a bit less than him don't I? I've got much better at doing that now. He thinks he's been given a licence to eat more! I did let him have a sausage with his fast day dinner though.

BetsyBell · 09/06/2014 18:53

Bigchoc Yes, this makes good sense.

Hmm, if only I wasn't the family cook I could get some good HIIT exercise in before eating my main meal and benefit from this effect. That I can't kind of sucks actually.

BigChocFrenzy · 09/06/2014 21:44

Betsy If you got your DH to chop all the veg and do the prep, or to do the clearing and washing up, you could have a 5-10 min blast at rope-skipping.
He sounds trainable
Smile

MrsFlorrick · 10/06/2014 12:03

Americas Grinwow!! $15m! And so many participants. I'm very much in awe. Good for your body and doing a good deed at the same time. Well done.

HIIT is fantastic. I really like the results.

I've been in a lull on the exercise front after all the snorkelling on holiday.

My workout today is cleaning my filthy house. Sadly not HIITjust a boring slog. Wink

Mini fast yesterday and FDtoday. Not broken my fast yet from 6pm last night so far so good.

Not sure i will make it till DC dinner time at 5 this evening so may have a couple of scrambled eggs or an omelette so see me thru. Or perhaps some soup.

BetsyBell · 10/06/2014 16:17

bigchoc Hmm, well DH isn't usually around when I'm meal prepping but I'm sure I'll think of something. Not today though, had 3 broken hours of sleep last night for no reason so feel awful.

MrsFlorrick · 10/06/2014 20:43

(((((Betsy))))). Broken sleep sucks! And it sucks the life out of you whatever the reason.

I hope you get a decent kip tonight.

I used to sleep well however after DS and his non-sleep antics, I suffer from
Insomnia. Not all the time and its now much better than it was. Still when I can't sleep, its crap.

I've learned to channel it and if I can't sleep I now actually get up and do something. I've achieved amazing things during sleepless nights. Doesn't make the next day easier but at least it wasn't a waste of time. Grin

Got a cold. Kindly brought into house by DH from work. DD is coughing and DS is sneezing too great. I mean who gets a cold this time of year??!!

FD complete. Just need to
Stay away from kitchen till bedtime. Quite hungry but I suppose I did have dinner with DC at 5pm.

BigChocFrenzy · 10/06/2014 20:46

MrsF Clean your teeth, floss if you do that, rinse with Listerine.
After that, you won't eat anything else tonight, because it would taste godawful.

MrsFlorrick · 10/06/2014 21:26

Bigchoc. You know itGrin I've just done that and now in bed.

I'm googling for meal inspiration. The DC are going through a super fussy phase and everything I cook and serve is thrown back in my face (at times quite literally). I actually have up tonight and served them fish fingers which they then refused to eat on the basis they were "yukky and disgusted". They were not they were Waitrose chunky cod ones (spensive) and they were bloody lucky to get them and yet still they refused to eat them.

I am fed up with it so no more serving up different stuff and pandering. I am going to make stuff I want and if they don't want to eat it, they will go hungry.

They were both weaned on lovely home made organic food and have both been good eaters but have learned bad habits at that expensive school. Argh. Angry

So for I while I got suckered into pandering to them but no more. If they won't even eat naice fish fingers, they can get stuffed and eat what mummy wants. Angry

So any ideas are welcome Grin

TalkinPeace · 10/06/2014 22:04

Had better fast tomorrow.
No breakfast - OK
then a sarnie lunch in a yummy and dead cheap cafe just of Pall Mall
then tea on the lawn that included cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off Grin Wink
and the Duchess of Cambridge is much, much too thin
and then supper on the South Bank before heading home.
And my feet hurt.

MrsF
Pesto or ketchup with everything, or let them starve. THey will get adventurous again when they get older (around 14 1/2 in the case of my horrors)

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