Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Thread gallery
5
FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 23/02/2019 08:15

And have you lost weight doing that? Do you get hangry? I do, but I suspect that’s because I eat too much sugar.

HereIGoAgainAndAgain · 25/02/2019 07:52

I'm back, fell off the wagon, blame it all on DH he bought me a ridiculous amount of chocolate for Valentines, which I couldn't resist and it started a very bad downward spiralBlush

Still, putting that behind me now, this lovely weather has helped as I want to be slimmer for summer!!

How's everyone else doing?

giantnannyknickers · 25/02/2019 22:45

Ok guys we need to get motivated! My problem is having a cheeky cider in the evenings to wind down after the kids!
So next week I'm not going to buy any so it's not in the house.
This wknd I'm going to get myself some cake to celebrate settling at mediation! And then it's back on the diet wagon hardcore!

PrimOy · 25/02/2019 23:57

Although it's nice to read all these replies - the 16:8 method has a very obvious restriction if you understand how fasting actually works... on average, it takes roughly 14 hours to enter a true fasting-state (known as 'autophagy') - so if you fast for 16 hours, you're effectively getting 2 hours of 'benefit'... that's better than none at all, but 2 out of 24 isn't great maths.
I do one 36 hour fast a week, so I'm in a fasting-state for a solid 22 hours.
And don't listen to these internet people - if you're fasting, only consume plain water, nothing else!

Prim xx

overtheirishsea · 26/02/2019 08:59

@PrimOy You're a bit preachy. 16:8 works for many.

giantnannyknickers · 26/02/2019 09:56

@PrimOy how do you keep fasting for 36 hours? Would love to hear how you do it.

PrimOy · 26/02/2019 13:01

Ha, ha, I don't think it's 'preachy' to try and help people by pointing out hard facts.
Fasting works - the science is 100% in on it - but obviously, to get the benefits of fasting, you actually have to 'fast'... like I said, 16:8 is giving you 2 hours of the 'benefits', which is better than 0 hours.
But if you consume anything other than plain water... then you're not fasting at all - you're merely limiting colorific intake, which is a completely different thing entirely and not something I'd recommend over fasting.

PrimOy · 26/02/2019 13:07

Oh... and you just don't eat - the 'hunger pangs' subside and when you've been doing it a while you just don't get them at all. My p.b. is 60hours but that's nothing compared to what some do.
If you're a sugar monster, you'll crash hard - but it will pass.
If you love your coffee and tea you might get a caffeine withdrawal headache...
Best thing to do is cut-down on those things the day before, that'll help you.
And just push on through... you've given birth ffs, how hard can just 'not eating' be in comparison ;p

giantnannyknickers · 26/02/2019 20:46

@PrimOy so no coffee? I've a toddler and a newborn I'm
Not sure I can survive without my caffeine fix in the morning Grin would 18:6 be better than 16:8 you think?

tinkywinkyshandbag · 01/03/2019 07:25

I literally just posted about this in chat but then came across this thread. I just started this week doing 18:6 from 12.00 to 8.00. I've been doing okay, feeling quite headachy but I'm guessing that's temporary as my body adjusts. I feel more in control of my eating for the first time in ages so that cant be a bad thing. Last night I had stir fried rice for dinner and felt really rough in the night as if I was getting a migraine so I got up at 3am and broke the fast. I did actually then feel better. Planning on a day off today and then start again tomorrow. I'm 51 and weigh 15 stone and at 5 foot 4 that's way too heavy, something's got to change.

padegoke · 01/03/2019 20:09

This reply has been deleted

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

sparkle789 · 02/03/2019 15:07

Hi I’ve started 16:8 today I have 2st 5 to lose and have a history of yo-yo dieting. I’m doing 12 - 8 and hoping that it helps me stop me evening binging.
So far it’s going well but day one always does!

giantnannyknickers · 03/03/2019 00:11

Ok everyone! It's Sunday in Australia and the start of a new week! I'm back on the band wagon. I've been so bloated since I stopped fasting. Hate it.

FlamingGoat · 03/03/2019 16:26

Well I'm back and will try again. I will be starting tonight. Although I've been looking at the Dukan diet too.

sparkle789 · 04/03/2019 11:34

Day 3 now. Yesterday was hard as we were out all day for my nephews birthday. Managed to stick to to the 8hrs and didn’t eat any birthday cake. I’ve found I’m already thinking about if I really want something or not as if I’m managing to stick to the fast time I don’t want to mess it up in the 8 hours.

jinglewithbellson · 04/03/2019 16:33

Fell off the wagon aswel guys 🙄

Back in it from tomorrow and have prepped a salad wrap and fruit and a small cheese stick to break fast with at 1pm.
Scales say I've gained 3lb after initially losing 7 but I'm not fitting clothes well and have eaten so much carbs. Hmm

Gotta sort my shit out now. I feel gross all the time

UnicornPug · 05/03/2019 08:48

Joining you all! I dabbled in this before Christmas but then gave up. I gave my head a wobble recently and I've now been doing 16:8 for a week.

I keep my eating window as short as possible- I usually open it somewhere around 3.30-4 and close it once we've had our evening meal (anywhere from 8-10 depending on the chasing round after kids)

I have a cup of fennel tea when I wake up and then just water until I break my fast. I break with fruit salad or veg sticks and a yoghurt Occasionally I'll have a cereal or nut bar too. Then nothing else until we eat our evening meal. I'm also trying to cook vegetarian a couple of days a week. Evening meal is something like chicken/rice/veg, veggie curry, spag bol (all made from scratch). If I fancy pudding, I'll have it but otherwise I stick to fruit or something. My weakness is a cup of tea and a packet of biscuit so I'm just not doing that at all!

So far I've lost 2kg and I know my shape is changing as my jeans are getting loose. I've got about 13 kg to go get to my preferred weight and I'd like to achieve that by October. I'm on one of the 16:8 FB groups but I find it very blinkered- if you aren't doing a clean fast with a keto diet then it's not a real fast. It sounds like you lot are all more grounded! I did Slimming world a few years ago and lost almost 3 st, but after I had my gallbladder out I found that plan just stopped working.

We can do this!!

sparkle789 · 08/03/2019 09:23

You sound like your doing really well @unicornpug .
I’ve had a bit of a fail again yesterday some bad news put me straight back into emotional eating but I had a talk to myself and am back on it.
I’m not beating myself up about it I know I will have days where I struggle but if I can stick to this the majority of the time then it’ll work. I weigh in tomorrow feel a bit nervous! I’m out tomorrow night for a meal and I’m going to have what I want but not let that turn into well I may aswell eat everything I look at for the whole weekend!

Oysterbabe · 15/03/2019 10:05

I started 16:8 2 weeks ago as its time to finally tackle the baby weight. My youngest is 15 months Blush I am still breastfeeding but figured it was OK because he's eating well, it's not his main source of nutrition any more and I'd like to stop soon anyway. My approach is skip breakfast, just have water and black coffee until lunchtime, have a very low carb lunch then a normal dinner. This is just Monday - Friday, at the weekend I have breakfast too. No snacks ever. I'll probably increase the duration of the fasts and reduce the frequency once my weight loss stalls.

I read the book the Obesity Code recently so I'm following suggestions in there to reduce insulin as I'm sure that I'm insulin resistant.

I lost 6.5lbs the first week and 1.5lbs the second. I have 21lbs to go to reach a healthy weight that I'm happy with. I'm feeling positive and optimistic. Good luck everyone Smile

Home77 · 15/03/2019 10:34

Does anyone find 9-5 or 10-6 a good fasting window? I have been trying to do this, this week, and find it fits in OK...have breakfast after the school run, and then eat early usually with DCs...don't find get that hungry in the evenings, just drink lots of tea...

sparkle789 · 15/03/2019 10:50

I do 12-8 because I tend to get hungrier later in the day but I think any window of 8 is fine.
I lost 2.5 the first week and maintained this week but I’m ok with that. I wasn’t doing it properly and ate badly some days (stress eating!) doing it properly from today and hoping for a good loss this week.

Home77 · 15/03/2019 11:31

Yes, i originally tried 12-8 also, but found I seemed to eat more rubbish in the evening...so trying this instead. I guess can just see how it goes and swap about to whatever suits best.

I was at a health check yesterday (NHS) and the nurse said she was doing it also and we shared some tips! She said it was useful btw

Home77 · 15/03/2019 11:32

Brexit does not helped, the votes this week caused a wine and choc snacking here.

UrsulaPandress · 20/03/2019 15:46

Can I join in? Lost over 5 stone on the 5:2 a few years ago. Then a breast cancer diagnosis and the subsequent tablets caused my weight to increase and my motivation to decrease and I have put all of it back on. I have lots of other health problems going on and the doctor thinks they are mostly caused by my weight gain so she suggested 16:8.

Currently on day 2. Go me!

sparkle789 · 21/03/2019 09:30

Good luck Ursula!

I’ve been off it all week and have felt lethargic and blurgh compared to how good I felt on 16:8 it’s shocked me tbh.
So back on it today. Bloody hungry already but I’m hanging in there and drinking water instead.