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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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Fast Beach Diet - are you giving it a go? Pop over here!

134 replies

AmyMumsnet · 06/06/2014 16:43

If you've heard about the Fast Beach Diet on Mumsnet and fancy giving it a go, you've come to the right place.

Share your recipes and progress with others - or just the fact that you're feeling stabby on a fast day.

Mimi Spencer will be popping in every week to see how you're doing and pass on any pearls of wisdom that might be helpful. She'll be here at 1pm next Monday and then at the same time every Thursday from the week after that.

If you're wondering what we're on about, here's some more info about the Fast Beach Diet.

Best of luck with it!

OP posts:
JaneParker · 15/06/2014 06:46

It is a commercial website with a lot of expenses. it is a difficult balance. I was acting last year on a deal to sell an app for $1m+ last year and one reason it was valuable was customers liked it as it carried no advertising, whereas in many businesses including on line part of the value is the advertising revenue.

There is much more information on good eating including on the MN threads particularly the science on the low carb way to eat for life threads and of course on the internet in general than in most books, but we do need many more women writing books, being successful, setting up businesses. Women should be encouraged.

Anyone with sense knows that 95% of diets fail and people put on more than they lost and the only way that works is to change the way you eat to a sustainable way you can keep up for life which usually means changing the foods you eat to healthier ones (and yes if some intermittent fasting works for you then do that too as it's a pretty natural and very cheap remedy to obesity).

TalkinPeace · 15/06/2014 19:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TalkinPeace · 15/06/2014 21:21

Hear ye
Hear Ye
MN get paid for threads and delete posts by those who object to the cashing in.

WaitingForMyMam · 15/06/2014 21:46

I saw your post TalkinPeace. It was fairly robust but I would like to know which talk guidelines it broke?

Breadandwine · 15/06/2014 22:19

Hi Jane

95% of diets fail

Which is one reason that, very early on in the 5:2 threads we made a concerted effort to call the 5:2 method of IF a Way of Life (WOL), rather than a diet. I've been IFing (forgive the tautology) for well over 2 years now, maintaining on 6:1 for the last 20 months, and at no time have I ever felt I was on a diet.

Breadandwine · 15/06/2014 22:26

One of my criticisms of the FBD is that it is billed as a short term solution

This enhanced version of the original Fast Diet is aimed at people who want a short term booster plan, a more vigorous protocol either to shed those lingering pounds in preparation for your beach holiday, or if you've got a big event coming up, a wedding, a key birthday...This is the Fast Diet, just a bit faster... and for six weeks only.

Sorry, but it's a gimmick pure and simple. And the fact that Mumsnet is promoting it, frankly, stinks!

If you really wanted your contributors to eat better and adopt a healthier lifestyle, you would be be directing them to the 5:2 threads rather than helping to flog a dubious short cut. There is far more information - not to mention support - on those threads than there is in the FBD.

But you don't appear to be able to tolerate an open discussion so I expect this post will be deleted also.

JustineMumsnet · 15/06/2014 22:50

@TalkinPeace

Hear ye Hear Ye MN get paid for threads and delete posts by those who object to the cashing in.

What are you on about TalkinPeace? - as said already on this thread - none of the Fast Beach diet activitty is paid for and nor do we delete posts for objecting to how we run the site. We do delete personal attacks or and posts which potentially break the law. Eg ones calling someone a "freeloader coward".

JustineMumsnet · 15/06/2014 22:53

@Breadandwine

One of my criticisms of the FBD is that it is billed as a short term solution

This enhanced version of the original Fast Diet is aimed at people who want a short term booster plan, a more vigorous protocol either to shed those lingering pounds in preparation for your beach holiday, or if you've got a big event coming up, a wedding, a key birthday...This is the Fast Diet, just a bit faster... and for six weeks only.

Sorry, but it's a gimmick pure and simple. And the fact that Mumsnet is promoting it, frankly, stinks!

If you really wanted your contributors to eat better and adopt a healthier lifestyle, you would be be directing them to the 5:2 threads rather than helping to flog a dubious short cut. There is far more information - not to mention support - on those threads than there is in the FBD.

But you don't appear to be able to tolerate an open discussion so I expect this post will be deleted also.

No Breadandwine it won't be deleted - your post was deleted because it contained an (unpleasant and unfair) personal attack.

Breadandwine · 15/06/2014 23:14

OK, Justine, thank you for coming back to me. We'll have to agree to disagree on the content of my post; IMO it was neither unpleasant or unfair - just accurate.

But leaving that to one side, what about my point that there is more info and support on the Mumsnet 5:2 threads than there ever could be in a gimmicky 'short-term booster plan'?

I don't think you realise just what an asset you have in those 5:2 fasting and exercising threads - and in the people who are responsible for maintaining them.

IMO, Mumsnet should be taking the collective wisdom garnered in those threads and using it to persuade the NHS and NICE to take IF seriously.

WaitingForMyMam · 16/06/2014 00:22

If it's not paid for then why are you pushing Mimi's book when so many have clearly said no 'thanks but no thanks'?

Southeastdweller · 16/06/2014 06:55

B&W, I've read the book and disagree with you that there's nothing in it that can't be found on here and that it's a 'dubious short-cut'. I hope you read my review of the book when I post it in the week.

Eatriskier · 16/06/2014 09:19

I completely agree with b&ws post of 23:14. Mumsnet have a massive asset that they're cheapening with this push, and if mn want to push anything it should be to get the likes of NICE to buy into it.

Tbh that this push isn't paid for actually makes me feel worse about the cheapening of their brilliant 5:2 asset.

JustineMumsnet · 16/06/2014 09:24

@Breadandwine

OK, Justine, thank you for coming back to me. We'll have to agree to disagree on the content of my post; IMO it was neither unpleasant or unfair - just accurate.

But leaving that to one side, what about my point that there is more info and support on the Mumsnet 5:2 threads than there ever could be in a gimmicky 'short-term booster plan'?

I don't think you realise just what an asset you have in those 5:2 fasting and exercising threads - and in the people who are responsible for maintaining them.

IMO, Mumsnet should be taking the collective wisdom garnered in those threads and using it to persuade the NHS and NICE to take IF seriously.

Having Mimi Spencer on to talk about this 6 week plan isn't meant to be a competitive act vs the Mumsnet forums - it's meant to be an added extra! Absolutely we know how popular and supportive the 5:2/ fasting forum on Mumsnet is - I said earlier on this thread around 40000 different people visit it a month.

The very reason we're promoting Mimi's book is because of the popularity of IF - and this seemed like a good way of offering people a taster/starter/booster of something that we already know works and is popular for many (though not everyone's cup of tea).

And the more popular IF becomes, IMHO, the more likely the NHS are to take it seriously as a method of health improvement.

JustineMumsnet · 16/06/2014 09:27

@WaitingForMyMam

If it's not paid for then why are you pushing Mimi's book when so many have clearly said no 'thanks but no thanks'?

As said, 40,000 users visit the fasting threads and many, many more people visit MN each month. A few from the fasting boards have said they don't need any additional help from an outside voice. Some others on the wider boards have said they don't think we should be promoting ANY kind of diet/eating plan. But I'm not at all sure we can deduce that means everyone is agin.

JaneParker · 16/06/2014 10:18

The low carb way of eating (and 5/2 ) are some of the most popular threads on mumsnet and that is because they show a healthy way of eating for life which works.

The more interesting issue is why women are so interested in how they look and what they eat whereas if I started a thread in legal or small business or investment/pensions there so many fewer takers. I suppose it shows how far feminism still has to go and who much women remain interested in how much they look, their sexual currency and the like rather than say currency exchange rates or how to earn a fortune.

May be if we can get them all eating a normal healthy way of eating they will stop having to worry about how they look.

BigChocFrenzy · 16/06/2014 19:39

Many of us on the 5:2 / IF threads wish to improve or maintain health & fitness as we age.
Some wanted to avoid specific health problems that run in their families.
So, the threads' popularity is as much women (and some men) being empowered to improve their health as by others worried about their looks.

BigChocFrenzy · 16/06/2014 20:21

I had thought that FBD just recommended the standard list of measures we've been recommending to people stuck on plateaux / slow losers:
. calorie counting, stricter NFDs - cutting booze & treats, complex carbs instead of white, HIIT, possibly doing 4:3

BUT
I have read on the FastDietForum several posters who are doing FBD and saying they have to do TDEE-500 on NFDs.
I hope they have misunderstood FBD, because this just sounds like 6 weeks very low calorie dieting.

Example for a 2000 TDEE:

  • 3 FDs per week gives 4500 deficit
  • 4 NFDs with the 500 deficit adds another 2000
So a weekly deficit of 6,500 even without increasing exercise.

Some short, middle aged women on our threads have a TDEE of 1500 or less.
So they would do 500 FDs and 1000-cal NFDs for 6 weeks ??

An additional danger is human stupidity nature: some people will FBD longterm, instead of 6 weeks

  • I think a certain celebrity did so and his hallucinations and emaciation were widely reported, which damaged the reputation of all fasting diets.

if Mimi pops in, maybe she can answer these questions:

  • Are the NFDs really TDEE-500 ?
  • Shouldn't at least one day per week be the full TDEE, to keep up the metabolism and to avoid excess cortisol from over-stressing the body ?
  • Isn't 6 weeks too long for a very low cal diet (without professional supervision) ?
TalkinPeace · 16/06/2014 20:24

Another set of threads I post on are the debt threads.
The link of health and beach holidays is offensive to those who are struggling financially.
5:2 was NOT originally designed to lose weight ; I've not lost weight on it for the last 18 months.
Turning it into a "get thin for summer" system breaks the long term nature that makes it so effective.

Southeastdweller · 16/06/2014 20:40

BigChoc Those people on that forum are wrong because at no point does Mimi advise doing T.D.E.E-500 cals on NFD's.

There's always going to be people who misconstrue weight loss plans and both Mimi and Dr M are clear that this is supposed to complement 5:2 and I don't think there's anything more they can do in this respect.

Southeastdweller · 16/06/2014 20:47

And even though those plateau busting tips are the main ones (and the most effective) she mentions other things which I haven't seen on here, or ones hardly mentioned. Like I said, I'll post more tomorrow when I've more time and energy.

Breadandwine · 16/06/2014 21:16

I hope you read my review of the book when I post it in the week.

Thanks, SED. I look forward to it.

BigChocFrenzy · 16/06/2014 21:49

Thanks for the reasuurance, SouthEast Looking forward to your crib sheet.

Eatriskier · 17/06/2014 07:56

Thanks from me too sed. Am looking forward to your review too.

I'd been under the impression the idea of the fbd was basically how I started 5:2. Two fast days plus five days more restrictive in what sort of foods you eat (no treats basically). I had to start that way to get me into a better mindset as licence to eat treats would have seen me eating all the treats!. If that impression is right then I see no issue with fbd in itself, but wouldn't have found it sustainable long term. I like my treats too much albeit in moderation now.

Southeastdweller · 19/06/2014 08:25

So, I’ve read the book and yes, much of the advice that Mimi gives to lose weight on this plan in six weeks has been brought up on here many times - trying 4:3, extending your fasting window, eating mindfully, having more soups, being meticulous about calorie consumption, eating low G.I on NFD’s, cooking more at home, and trying to sleep better. But there’s advice in there that I’ve rarely or never seen on here - cutting out alcohol and treats, banning no-no’s, eating more raw foods, eliminating juice, trying a Mediterranean diet on NFD's (as advised by Dr Harvie in her book), and having less emphasis on meat. There’s also a recap on 5:2 as most of us know it (both Mimi and Dr M are clear in this new book that the FBD should be an adjunct to 5:2) and I can imagine the week diary that Mimi includes here being useful to those struggling, seeing how a working parent combines the FBD diet with everything else. There’s a short overview on HIT exercise, some recipes, a six week diary planner, a shopping list guide, a six week meal plan, general tips, testimonials, and advice on how to look good in a bikini or shorts. In common with the first book, however, there’s not enough on emotional eating, and I hope there’ll be more of it in Mimi’s and Dr M’s new book, which is out next year, according to Mimi.

All in all, I think this is a really good one-stop guide for anyone who has a big event coming up and wants to lose weight a bit faster compared to usual weight-loss methods, or for someone who’s struggling to lose weight, though just to be clear Mimi advises against losing a lot of weight quickly and it’s only supposed to be for six weeks.

BigChocFrenzy · 19/06/2014 09:57

Good summary, thanks Southeast

We've not mentioned raw food, which is a good tip.
We always recommend healthy eating on the main thread, but just praising veg.
Michelle Harvie's studies are the only ones specifically on 5:2 (her version), so I'll add Mediterranean to our recommendations.

Cutting down on alcohol and sweet treats is in our standard "plateau-buster" list on the main thread, when someone asks for help.
BUT
some of these folk take offence, even leaving the thread.
Other suggestions, like eating to TDEE, don't cause nearly as much emotion.
You are absolutely right about the need to understand more about the psychology involved.

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