Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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 5

899 replies

TalkinPeace · 21/07/2014 12:22

This thread is for those of us who have been practicing IF (Intermittent Fasting) for quite a while ( it being nearly 2 years since the Michael Mosely TV programme aired ) 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 mix fasts and 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?

More and more 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 four maintenance threads and all the main 5:2 threads for posters practising IF to lose weight here Fasting / 5:2 on the diet forum. We're currently on thread no. 46, 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 even more to the fore, as part of our general health and to help weight loss. BigChocFrenzys thread is here

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Anglaise1 · 13/09/2014 14:41

TBBTDeena Kastor, the US olympic medallist for marathon running has body fat of 12% so unless you are a top athlete I agree, 11% is very unlikely. Body fat scales depending your body temperature too, so can be very inaccurate.
My scales are probably as inaccurate as the rest, but they do show a marked decrease in body fat since I've been running seriously, down from 20% to 14% although weight and BMI are stable.

BigChocFrenzy · 13/09/2014 16:31

This table shows body fat ranges in different sports:
Desn't categorise wrt age, probably too complicated, just those at a very good level.
Sprinters seem to have a wider possible fat range than long distance runners, who are always very lean when high level.

IF / ADF / 4:3 / 5:2 / 6:1 / 16:8 ~ Maintaining at a healthy weight ~ Chapter 5
BigChocFrenzy · 13/09/2014 16:33

I think monitoring waist (narrowest point above navel) after an FD is the most reliable & practical method for amateurs to monitor fat, especially the more dangerous visceral type.

MrsFlorrick · 13/09/2014 17:06

I like your body fat calculator Bigchoc. Grin
It tells me my body fat is currently 22.2% despite holiday gain. Grin What's not to like....

BigChocFrenzy · 13/09/2014 20:35

Good for you MrsF Smile

TheBigBumTheory · 14/09/2014 15:48

I got 20.4% which sounds more likely. I do run four times a week but my weight is stable and I'm not underweight.

Anglaise1 · 14/09/2014 16:04

Finished my 39km trail race, which in fact turned out to be 41kms because it wasn't measured properly. It took me 5 hours, a lot of walking up very steep rocky slopes...but the weather was good and because it has been dry we weren't running in mud all the time. I finished 9th woman over all, and won a medal for being 2nd veteran woman, which was good because it was the championship of Brittany. I ran with a friend from the club and we passed a lot of very exhausted men at the end! 32 out of the 344 runners didn't manage to finish at all. Knackerd now.

BigChocFrenzy · 14/09/2014 19:34

Brilliant, Anglaise You are strong !

MrsFlorrick · 14/09/2014 19:40

Anglaise. I'm in awe! Shock Incredible.

Well done. You deserve some Wine Wink

Hope you've all had a fab weekend. Just put DC to bed and having a cup of tea. Bliss the house is silent.

BetsyBell · 14/09/2014 19:45

Anglaise: you are amazing, truly awe-inspiring.

I got another Tae Kwon Do belt yesterday Grin Green now. I will very briefly have my favourite photo from grading up on my profile - I'm the one with the orange belt kicking (not really - all very controlled) my instructor. Fun!

Anglaise1 · 14/09/2014 20:12

Thanks everyone - Mrs F I enjoyed a large glass of Wine tonight, tomorrow will try and start fasting again as I really want to get back down to 57kgs. Carrying around 2 or 3 extra kgs of weight along with a 2L camelback water rucksack is heavy!
BetsyBell Congrats on your Tae Kwon Do green belt Flowers It seems no time at all since you got your orange belt (fab photo btw!)

BigChocFrenzy · 14/09/2014 20:23

Well done on your belt, Betsy Flowers
Do outline your TK career on the exercise thread too, to encourage us all. It's great to hear how someone can progress from novice stage up the ranks.

Southeastdweller · 14/09/2014 21:59

Well done Anglaise and you too Betsy Flowers. Betsy I bet you'd never thought you'd even get close to one Tae Kwon Belt a couple of years ago, did you? This WOL has so many lovely bonuses for us. Hope your mum's getting better, btw.

MrsF After I finish the introductory course, I have to do a certificated course for eight months before I start the M.A (if I do) so therefore can't start the Masters until September 2016. My degree and current job aren't related to the Masters so the two courses prior (and work experience) are essential.

BetsyBell · 14/09/2014 22:09

SED - I had no inkling this was on the cards for me, it's exciting how things can change. My mum is doing really well, thank you for asking, it's going to be a slow slow recovery but she's in such a positive frame of mind which makes all the difference. My apologies for not responding to your recent crap news, but I've been thinking of you and I hope it all adds up to something better in the long run. I'm sure you will find ways to make the best of it but it may take a bit of strength and determination to get there. It sounds like you are making positive plans already :)

I've been missing great swathes of these threads lately, real life gets busy sometimes.

BigChocFrenzy · 15/09/2014 21:00

Anyone like to add encouragement on the 5:2BF thread ?
I've posted, but could do with a few more to counter the doomsayers.

Fillybuster · 15/09/2014 23:39

Anglaise that's an amazing achievement - well done!! I am seriously in awe of you :)

Betsy you too...but I missed the photo! Please can you re-post it when I stand a chance of seeing you in action?

FD fail here again. Too much on at work and at home, but I really need to get my act together. I know all the things I'm doing 'wrong' but still doing them anyway.

Right time for bed. Tomorrow is another day, and all that jazz.

Anglaise1 · 16/09/2014 08:24

Filly don't worry, you can always fast another day.
I managed to fast yesterday - my first in ages (although it probably wasn't a wise thing to do given the physical exertion of Sunday). But no change on the scales this morning...I just hope it is due to muscle repair, swelling and water retention. I could hardly walk yesterday, so it probably is. The sharp descents of the race really made my thighs ache!

BetsyBell · 16/09/2014 08:48

I'll pop the photo back up for a bit filly!

Fillybuster · 16/09/2014 11:11

Betsy that's such a cool shot! Thanks :)

Southeastdweller · 16/09/2014 13:48

Way to go, Betsy!

TalkinPeace · 16/09/2014 14:53

Betsy LOVE that pic : scribble your face out using irfanview and then you can leave it up to inspire people Grin

Anglaise
You look so lean and fit in your running pictures that missing strict fasting is not a hassle IMHO Smile

Feeling a bit odd today as enjoying the house not smelling of litter tray but by habit went to check her normal spot. Sad

OP posts:
Anglaise1 · 16/09/2014 16:55

(((TIP))) I'm so sorry about poor Zing, she wasn't a well cat but she was very lucky to have found you and been in your care.

BigChocFrenzy · 16/09/2014 19:39

Womderful picture, Betsy You look dangerous Grin
I copy my pictures into powerpoint, then superimpose choc over my face, before copying the ppt page as jpg.

BigChocFrenzy · 16/09/2014 19:42

Aw, sorry to hear you are missing her, Tip Sad It takes quite a while.
Are you planning to visit a cat shelter soon, or do you want a break from cats ?

BigChocFrenzy · 16/09/2014 19:44

Anglaise If you want to do an occasional FD, why not do 1000 cals instead. Then you are certain to have enough food for repairs between tough runs.