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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
SpeckledFrogsLog · 28/02/2020 13:51

I'm currently doing WW but have hit a bit of a plateau and was thinking of incorporating 16:8 to give me a bit of a boost again. How do you all cope with exercise? I do two pretty vigorous classes a week but they're on an evening. I normally eat when I get home but of course that pushes my start time back even later the next day. Am I better off having a late breakfast and lunch? I can't eat for at least 3 hours before exercise as I have dreadful reflux!

Dd20 · 28/02/2020 14:35

Yes speckledfrogslog the later you start eating the later you can eat the later into the evening you can eat once you keep it within the 8 hour period. I find that today after the 6th day I could go longer in to the fasting period comfortably ate at 1.30 fasting from 8pm lastnight .

BetteDavisthighs · 29/02/2020 05:42

I have plateaued and it is so frustrating. Stil stuck at 72 kg. I am changing my eating window from 11 to 7, so I am not tempted to nibble in the mornings. Also upping my exercise to one hour at least 6 days a week, and have cut down carbs to a fist sized portion once a day. Plan to start weight training next month.

Boy, is it hard to lose weight post 45 and in menopause. Well done, everyone else though.

Todayisanewday75 · 01/03/2020 08:32

I’m starting today, aiming for an 11.45 - 7.45 window as I take my youngest up to bed at 7.45 and anything I eat after that tends to be crap.
Not hungry yet ...

Dd20 · 03/03/2020 09:39

So happy first week on the scale and 6 pounds down... Seems finally found something that works for me Smile

SleepyRoo · 03/03/2020 14:01

Still on a plateau.

I'm finding that I'm desperately hungry by the time it gets to supper time - and I think I'm then over-eating. Even though I stop by the end of my 8 hours.

Am trying to eat 1800 cal or less (with workouts 3/4 times a week).

Don't want to do anything more drastic as that seems unsustainable to me.

Dd20 · 03/03/2020 14:38

SleepyRoo through researching before I started 16.8 in conjunction with limited carbs 100 per day seems to have best effect for weight loss limiting cals to1500 If possible .

Todayisanewday75 · 04/03/2020 07:22

Also protein and healthy fats definitely keep you fuller for longer

fromnowhere · 07/03/2020 10:17

Hi all I'm nearly two weeks in and have lost approx 4lbs or so I think. Trying not to obsess about the scales as I do want to do it slowly and keep it off this time!

I could do with some success stories of anyone who has managed to maintain 16:8 as a lifestyle? Has anyone been doing this for more than a year? I'm trying this as I can never maintain anything restrictive for longer than a couple of months and I feel like fasting windows are simpler than counting my food. Hoping some of you can share how it works for you when you do it over a long period? Thanks

Changednamealready · 07/03/2020 15:20

From nowhere I’m a success story and a failure! I did this consistently for six months without feeling any pressure / stress and lost weight. Since going off the rails at Christmas, and being ill, work stress and knee injury (excuses excuses) I’ve gone back to craving milky coffees and carbs first thing.

What is interesting despite eating for England I haven’t put back on all the weight I had lost whilst 16:8.. which is worthy of noting.

Good luck, for me it worked and it wasn’t a lose a stone in a week, it was very slow but permanent loss without feeling like I was on a diet.

fromnowhere · 07/03/2020 19:20

changednamealready that's really good to hear actually.
Are you thinking of getting back on it or will you wait to see if you gain weight? I am kind of thinking that this way of eating will eventually teach me natural restraint so at some point I will be able to just eat in moderation... Wishful thinking?

Changednamealready · 07/03/2020 20:06

Hi, I keep planning to get back on it but have to say I’ve been rubbish for excuses listed above. I will definitely start it again and it’s just getting into the swing of it. I’ve been feeling wiped out in the mornings recently and as simple as no willpower!

Fromnowhere I have known people to swear by a healthy breakfast as a route to weight loss and satiety, but also known quite a few who have found not eating when they wake useful in helping to be more restrained with overall eating.

I’ve done it for the odd day but need to make it a way of life again. It was very odd, my relationship with food improved entirely. I really looked forward to my lunch. I did start to get into overeating a little when I got in from work closer to Christmas which was within my eating window.

Fentyplenty · 08/03/2020 20:02

Hi, can I join please? I need to lose about 10lbs - general overeating and menopausal changes have just seen my weight creep up and I want to get a grip before summer.

I started on Wednesday, with 11-7 as my eating window. I hate missing breakfast as it’s my favourite meal, but I’m hoping that this plus not being able to snack in the evening will be enough as I eat reasonably healthily at lunch and dinner.

I’m struggling with what I can drink between getting up and 11am though. Is tea with a little skimmed milk off limits? What about cordial with no added sugar? I feel like I need something with a bit of flavour - water alone isn’t enough!

SleepyRoo · 08/03/2020 21:27

I drink black coffee, hot water with a lemon slice, herbal tea (turmeric flavour) but not much cold water as for some reason I don't enjoy it during the fast period.
Anything with any calories in it breaks the fast.

BetteDavisthighs · 10/03/2020 10:02

Have managed to break the plateau, and am now at 71 kg, which is just over 5 kg lost since January. Finding it easier now as I get used to this lifestyle. Feel a lot lighter now and clothes fit so much better. Fall off the wagon occasionally, but get back on asap. This is the first diet I have ever been on and am hoping it is my last.

Todayisanewday75 · 13/03/2020 07:25

Do you all fast every day? I’ve done 5 days in a row but then this morning felt tired and hungry so had breakfast. Hoping it won’t derail me

Changednamealready · 13/03/2020 10:25

Today - I found that after I fasting for a while, esp when I had eaten an earlier dinner the previous day. I personally feel if you feel tired and hungry you should eat. For me it would be keeping breakfast healthy an ideal breakfast when feeling like that would be Greek yog, berries nuts. If your body says no ...don’t fight it. I found I had the odd morning like that and it made no difference giving in to it and having something. You haven’t “broken anything”.

Changednamealready · 13/03/2020 10:25

BetteDavisthighs Brilliant! Well done.

Todayisanewday75 · 13/03/2020 12:45

Thanks for that. I went with soya yogurt, coconut flakes, nuts and seeds. I think if I hadn’t eaten I probably wouldn’t have felt like doing a workout so it was one or the other. Back on it tomorrow though!

SleepyRoo · 13/03/2020 15:33

I had a bowl of bran flakes and pb toast today as I had a major sport thing that started 10am. I don't want to run out of energy just because of diet.
But I'm only making exceptions like that about once every 6 weeks or so

Changednamealready · 13/03/2020 18:19

Sleepy and today all on the same page I think. It happened to me more a few months to be honest but still I think I got me head round have something nutricia I was ok. Then back on it. What i did find is try to plan it to some extent. I broke it because I knew I needed to eat as a bit light headed one morning and v hungry.. had a pain au chocolate. That was a mistake Shock raving hunger all day.

I do find if I do eat in the am always make it light if it’s heavy I’m snacking or sleepy for all the rest of the morning.

Back on skipping brekkie tomorrow going out for lunch though so Looking forward to that.

SleepyRoo · 14/03/2020 09:40

Yes I think it helps if any "exceptional" breakfast isn't too much of a treat - I actually do eat choc most days, but in the feeding period and just a bit of dark - but is more of the "fuel" variety.
It's not like I wake up in the morning & think Ooh I really fancy some bran flakes...

GrimDamnFanjo · 05/04/2020 02:03

I'm interested in longer term intermittent fasting results too.
I'm currently 16:8 I've never been a breakfast fan so it suits me .
I'm low carb verging on keto too.

Violet19Falc · 14/04/2020 12:16

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ThePrettyOneX · 17/04/2020 08:12

I was doing it last year and lost about 2stones in a month - crazy weight loss as I my bmi is 21 so normal weight. But then I stopped and kind of never done it again. Now I gained some weight again - thanks to lockdown lol I am starting this 16/8 today but what do I do about coffee? I cant live without it and cant wake up for work (wfh) without a nice cup of coffee with milk . Will it ruin my fast? X