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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.

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Original poster

OMAD - one meal a day?

24 replies

Romanhistorytimes · 20/05/2020 14:28

Hi,
Is anyone doing this? It seems like a good idea because to me it's all or nothing throughout (presumably) the day then eat well during the evening. There's only so much you can eat in a three/four hour period surely? Has anyone lost weight and stuck to this?

OP posts:

lexloofah · 20/05/2020 14:42

Several friends and my DH do this and have lost, continue to lose and keep weight off.

I have tried on and off. First time I didn't do a clean fast as could not get past my morning cuppa, second time I was very good at sticking to my 'window', didn't feel too hungry, loved the simplicity of it but didn't lose anything. Seems to work for many other folk though. I am trying again, leaning in by cutting dinner this week, next week will cut breakfast as our one meal is lunchtime. DH eats 'normally' at the weekends and is still losing, it's just not fair!

I will also re-read 'delay don't deny' book as v good as is the fb group, the theory and other benefits (autophagy etc) make sense to me, really want to adopt it as permanent lifestyle but I really do need to see results to stick at it initially.

Are you going to start this week?

Pineappleunder · 20/05/2020 14:48

Yes. I am doing this and seeing results in inches as well as weight lost.
I think it will be harder to be as strict on my window as lockdown lifts but I'm really enjoying still being able to bake, cook and what what I want.
I also recommend the book mentioned above.
My eating window tends to be between 2 and 4 hours, usually opening at 3 or 4.
I don't seem to get hungry before then and I'm usually quite happy to stop eating early evening, sometimes its frustrating not being allowed to have an extra glass of wine later on in the evening though!

Original poster

Romanhistorytimes · 20/05/2020 15:18

lexloofa

Yes I've started this week, third day now. I basically wait until around 6pm until I eat and I'm trying to keep it healthy. I feel hungry and a bit light-headed but still have been able to work efficiently and last night went for 2 hour walk before eating at 7.00pm, so that's effectively 22 hours fasting. I need to lose around 7 lbs minimum (more would be better) so I'm hoping to achieve this in a month or so.

OP posts:

Bluebooby · 20/05/2020 15:24

I unintentionally lost a lot of weight doing this because I kept forgetting to eat and my routine got completely out of sync. I think you eat less calories overall because you're unlikely to make up for three meals worth of calories in one sitting, and I think going for so long between eating makes your stomach shrink. I don't think it's a particularly healthy way to live long term though but probably fine for short term. I'm trying to train myself back into eating during the day so I can gain the weight I lost back!

11stoneTess · 20/05/2020 16:49

I am, but only for 2 weeks. I was on 16:8 and 18:6 before that without any issues. There are occasional good days, but I'm mostly finding it hard - maybe I just havent adjusted yet, or I'm not eating enough.

In theroy its the perfect WOE for me. I'm sticking with it till the end of the month (and upping my calories) and hoping to adapt.

Weightloss hasnt been any different than the other IF regimes so far.

justanotherneighinparadise · 20/05/2020 22:34

I used to do OMAD but found the weight loss did stall. Possibly because I wasn’t eating enough. I can’t quite remember. I started 20:4 a few days ago and it has kind of morphed into OMAD. I’ll see what happens with my weight loss and if it stalls again.

blubberball · 22/05/2020 07:42

I'm currently on OMAD, and I have been here for almost 3 weeks. My weight stayed the same at my last weigh in, so I'm going to see how it goes at the next one.

Cozytoesandtoast00 · 22/05/2020 07:53

I also read DDD and lost about a stone on it. Its great for appetite correction but I do feel you should listen to your body and lengthen your eating window if needed.
My eating patterns have got really bad during this Lockdown as I lost the habit.
I only put on 5lb though which would have been a lot more before I discovered this way of eating.
I'm back on it now. Normally eat between 3pm and 6pm. Just working on the fasting time at the moment. I will then look at what I'm eating!

lexloofah · 01/06/2020 19:07

How is it going OP?

I have considerably more to lose. Should have got my backside in gear ages ago, thanks for the prompt.

Have been leaning in to it, first proper day today

blubberball · 02/06/2020 04:03

How's everyone doing? I weigh myself every 2 weeks, and I've lost 3lbs since last weigh in. 25lbs since New year. I'm feeling good about that. X

Itshotoday · 02/06/2020 07:18

Hi - I also thought about trying this. Before lockdown and to be honest from June December last year 16:8 was working well. Two meals a day.

I like the idea of a big meal! Do you feel faint during the day though? This would be my concern. Do you have anything To eat daytime?

Sorry for all the questions!

blubberball · 02/06/2020 11:23

Feeling faint was a genuine concern for me too, as I naturally have low blood sugar and low blood pressure, and I have been prone to fainting episodes at various points in my life. I honestly don't feel faint.

One hour eating window seems to suit me now, as I have a tenancy to binge eat, so it's nice to put a time limit on that. I started at 16:8, and added an hour on fasting every 2 weeks until I got to 23:1. I'm going to stay here until I've lost a lot more weight, then I hope to work my way back to 16:8 for life. Good luck!

blubberball · 02/06/2020 11:24

Outside of the eating window, you can have water, green tea and black coffee without breaking your fast.

Itshotoday · 02/06/2020 17:24

Blubber ball what time do you time your meal?

iamthankful · 03/06/2020 14:38

yes and I have lost 12kg since starting a few months ago. Sometimes i eat twice but that's like 10% of times

blubberball · 03/06/2020 20:43

Midday until 1pm is my snaffling hour. 😁

Itshotoday · 03/06/2020 22:18

Blubber - I couldn’t do that as I wouldn’t sleep at night, do you have sleep issues?

blubberball · 04/06/2020 10:42

I do actually. I have had for years. It was OK for a while, but the past couple of nights have been bad. 😬

lexloofah · 04/06/2020 15:26

When I did it properly last year I didn't sleep well the first few nights but then slept much better than ever thereafter, I think it is good to not constantly be feeding digestive system

Day 4 here, is there anything worse than a disappointing meal on OMAD? Had to do something quick: chicken kiev, new potatoes, asparagus and peas. The chicken was horrid, feel cheated until I can cook a nicer meal tmrw.

Itshotoday · 04/06/2020 19:04

Lex that comment made me laugh. I find i appreciates all food so much more when fasting as so hungry by the time it got to me.

lexloofah · 04/06/2020 21:01

Itshottoday I know, I want to inhale my meal and savour it at the same time!

But at least with this way of eating if I want to have something I onLy have to wait a day rather than think I can't have it ever as it is too fattening etc etc. Just doing my loose meal plan and shopping list for next week - no crappy, Kiev's!

Itshotoday · 05/06/2020 08:38

😂def no Kiev’s. It’s does make you appreciate food more doesn’t it. I love the idea of this, really appreciating and enjoying a meal. Not just mindless snacking. Also I like the idea you can eat with family (as long as no chicken kievs😂).

Were you an emotional eater? I wonder how you deal with stress/ moods if you were/are.

Years ago I did one meal a day. Not intentionally. I was a lot slimmer and ate whatever was offered but usually gravitated towards healthy food anyway. Interesting to not my skin was amazing and my energy levels were good. I was a lot younger though.

Itshotoday · 05/06/2020 08:40

I have had some milk in a coffee today.

lexloofah · 05/06/2020 15:07

For people I know irl who are doing omad their skin is better as are their energy levels.

I eat when bored, emotional and just because I like food and cooking and baking!

I am dreaming of a cup of milky tea right now, making do with a black roibos as not opening window until later. Was starving earlier but it has passed now, it definitely makes a difference leaving it as long as possible to eat. It's not about having a massive meal and eating as much as possible in an hour or two, I think that's where I went wrong last time.

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