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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.

Original poster

16:8 any success?

583 replies

iddybiddymum · 15/11/2018 22:17

I've been doing 16:8 Monday - Friday for 2.5 weeks now . I pretty much eat what I like between 12-8 ( not in excess and mostly healthy).

I didn't weigh myself but do feel clothes fit slightly better and feel
A little less tired.

Does anyone have any success stories at all? Would love to hear!

OP posts:
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5
puppymouse · 18/11/2018 21:41

Didn't work for me at all and actually did some weird stuff to my body. I was gutted as it was relatively easy to follow. Had great success with 5:2 post pregnancy so trying that again next week Sad

ChocOrCheese · 12/12/2018 18:44

I lost 3 stone in about a year doing 16:8. I do it 7 days a week and it suits me very well. I was stricter with what I ate and drank while losing but I still have the same eating window whilst maintaining (have maintained for over a year)

Camille01 · 21/12/2018 17:35

I’ve just started this and I really feel the benefit so far. My digestive system badly needs the rest and I’m hoping to fine tune it over time. So far I’ve been eating anything I want in between but in the next few weeks I’m aiming to become more mindful of what I’m eating. It makes sense to me & my body is responding well so I’m going to keep at it.

SallyWD · 22/12/2018 08:17

16/8 has changed my life! I've been doing it for about 6 months but I do eat a lot during my 8 hours and certainly don't feel I'm dieting. Actually I feel I indulge most days. I lost over half a stone. This may not sound like much but I wasn't actually over weight to begin with. I wanted to lose just a few pounds to get to my happy weight. If you wanted to lose a lot of weight you could just be more careful during the 8 hours and the weight would fall off. For me I'm just amazed that I've lost weight, I look and feel so much better whilst eating whatever I want. I have more energy, my digestion is much improved. I am very interested in the health benefits of it such as the anti-cancer effects (I've had cancer) and the fact it allows your body to heal and recover during the fasting period. For me it's not a diet but a way of eating. I don't believe I'll ever stop!

CatsForLife · 27/12/2018 18:43

I’ve just started this, I’ve got about a stone to lose. Previously I’ve done WeightWatchers but last time I did I found it wasn’t as effective. I really hope the 16:8 works because I seemed to have piled weight on in the last few weeks. I’m a terrible evening snacker so it will definitely help with that!

WipsGlitter · 29/12/2018 19:24

I've just read about this. It sounds simple...

What "window" do people feel works best?

CatsForLife · 29/12/2018 20:45

I do 10-6 but I eat my evening meal early anyway.

sherrysfortea · 29/12/2018 20:55

Not on its own, I find it only works if you are having some kind of calorie deficit. I do think it speeds up weight loss if you do it in conjunction with another diet though!

sherrysfortea · 29/12/2018 20:57

And I've always done 12-8 window. Never really eaten breakfast anyway

MummaPI · 30/12/2018 19:22

Can you drink tea outside of the 8 hours? Or just water?

SarahBeeney · 01/01/2019 09:12

Everyone is different Mumma.
Personally I do have tea and coffee but don't over do it. Black tea and coffee is best of course.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 01/01/2019 11:20

Hello everyone, I am planning to give this a go. I think I need to have more structure to my day for meals. I would like to lose half a stone.

CatsForLife · 01/01/2019 12:21

I’ve been having tea too but I only have the tiniest amount of skimmed milk in it anyway. I’ve been doing it for about five days now and I definitely feel better. Less bloated etc. Not sure about weight loss yet.

WipsGlitter · 01/01/2019 13:08

Do you have to do the same window every day or can you have a different start time depending on when you have your first meal?

Nutellaoneverything · 01/01/2019 21:16

I've started 16:8 today as well as doing dry Jan. Got 5 stone to lose so I'm in it for the long haul... anything too drastic I know I won't be able to keep it up but this sounds feasible to me. Starting weight 14st 12lb.

Will be doing 12-8 as I don't feel hungry first thing and find snacking in the evening too easy... if I've eaten something substantial and brushed my teeth by 8pm then hopefully won't feel tempted. So far so good this year Halo

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 02/01/2019 21:45

Good luck, Nutella! I hope it goes well for you.

Polkadotscarf · 03/01/2019 21:32

I've literally just read about this and am starting tomorrow. My window will be 10 to 6 on a non work day and 12 to 8 on a work day (3 times a week) as I often eat after the kids go to bed on those days. Interested to know how you all get on x

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 03/01/2019 22:50

Hi Polkadotscarf, I'm going to try it from tomorrow. I usually feel hungry in the mornings so it will be a challenge. I might try 12pm-8pm to start with and switch to 11am-7pm if I don't last. Good luck!

fatpatsthong · 04/01/2019 09:08

Can I ask a question please?

I am attempting this half heartedly at the moment. Although the fasting period is manageable for me, I'm finding I'm so hungry I scoff in my 8 hours. I do 12.30 - 8.30 and lunch isn't so bad but dinner I find that I am hovering up the kids stuff, picking at stuff as I eat etc. So utterly self defeating.

Does this go and/or should I be more rigorous?

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 04/01/2019 09:42

Hi fatpatsthong, I wouldn't eat the leftovers and would stick to having two healthy meals in the 8 hour window. I'm starting 16.8 today.

hollyjollychristmas · 04/01/2019 09:46

I am doing this at the moment with the intention of moving to fast 5 (5 hour eating window). I followed this a few years ago and once I was used to it was very easy and weight came off easily

DragonMamma · 04/01/2019 09:51

I’ve done it previously and found it really easy. I’m starting again this month. I tend to do 11-7pm and just eat normally during that time - I don’t have breakfast at 11 and then lunch at 2 etc. If I can hang out until 12 I will do or I just have an earlier lunch.

I only stopped it because I was away with work so often and I love a hotel breakfast ☺️

iveneversaidanything · 05/01/2019 07:39

I've lost 1.4 pounds in three days so presumably water weight. Just completed a 19 hour fast and it felt so so easy!

SallyWD · 05/01/2019 07:50

I do 10 am to 6pm, sometimes 11 to 7. I often do feel I've over eaten but still lose weight or at worst maintain. You can have black tea or coffee, herbal teas or water during the fasting time. I have black coffee in the morning and it really suppresses my appetite until I eat. You can change the hours you fast for each day but the key thing is to make sure you have the 16 hours fasting each day. For example if you ate from 2pm to 10pm one day then decided to eat from 8am to 4pm the next day you would only have fasted 10 hours and that wouldn't work. I also find doing a little exercise in the morning before you break your fast helps. It really seems to stimulate the fat burning. I just go for for a short walk if I can.

Twodogsandahooch · 05/01/2019 08:32

I have been doing IF since Feb and have lost 10kg with relatively little effort.

I tend to vary my windows and fasting times. Some days I open at 12, others at 3. That's the beauty of IF it can be flexible around your plans. I am in a Facebook fasting group and I know some people struggle to lose with 16:8 and aim for a minimum of 18 hours.

The best fasting apps are Zero (apple) or Vora (Android) . You can time your fasts and watch the minutes tick by.

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