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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 - 2021 thread

631 replies

feliznavidad2 · 03/01/2021 11:18

Anyone else starting afresh in the coming days? I've dabbled in 16/8 in the past but then got a tummy bug and didn't restart.

I'm now the biggest I've been in 10 years and am keen to start taking some action to make me feel healthier and to lose some weight. 👋🏻

Aside from 16/8, I'm going to be reducing my carb intake (although still eating some) and ensuring I eat more fruit and vegetables.

Hello to any others who may be keen to join. I'll be weighing weekly on a Monday and using the Zero app to track my fasts.

OP posts:
Malbecca · 04/01/2021 15:18

W1D1 of Fast800 for me too! Did it for 2 weeks last year but going for the full 12 weeks this time to get back to a healthy BMI and kick my sugar habit.

Weighed myself this morning and I am 82kg, the heaviest I've ever been. Massively overdone it at Xmas, so stepping on the scales today was a rude awakening. Most of the women in my family are very overweight and there's a history of diabetes so I need to put a stop to the creeping weight gain for good.

Solidarity with everyone else starting today! Just hit the mid-afternoon chocolate craving

Glitterb · 04/01/2021 16:15

I’m not doing too badly, however the shock of the scales was enough to put me off snacking I think! 😱

Wearethetwirl · 04/01/2021 16:16

How many calories are ppl sticking to? I've seen 800 and someone even saying 600 Shock?

Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 04/01/2021 16:45

@Wearethetwirl

How many calories are ppl sticking to? I've seen 800 and someone even saying 600 Shock?
I'm not calorie counting. I'm trying to opt for whole foods and foods that make me feel good rather than avoiding specific foods (apart from bread - I've put a limit of a max of one to two slices of bread a day, as I'm a bread monster.)
OP posts:
PeacheyPeach · 04/01/2021 17:04

In the past I have tried to keep to about 1000 calories per day I'm not sure if I'm going to think about calories at the moment as I'm easing myself in , my body has been use to being regularly filled with all sorts of wonderful food so it's in for a shock!! I'm just having a large glass of orange squash and carrot sticks as a pre dinner snack!

Whoateallthechocolate · 04/01/2021 18:01

@LoveACockatoo that made me laugh!

As others have said, apparently only water and black tea and coffee are "allowed" during your fast. There is a book about this sort of way of eating called "Delay Don't Deny" and the author has a website with various bits of advice including this. I do repeat this as a mantra when gazing longingly in the fridge. I'm not calorie counting this week but will probably do so next week and aim for about 1200 cals a day.

Today:

  • 3.5 km walk this morning
  • fasted until 12.30 when I had a coffee with milk whilst cooking paella
  • 3pm chunk of Christmas cake
  • 6.30/7.00pm - it's going to be a random meal as work has been a bit manic today. I have some roast veggies which need eating up so will have those with some salad and tuna or similar. Hopefully that will then be me done for the day.
  • I've had several cups of tea today but only drunk about a pint of water. I need to crack on and drink some more as otherwise I'll keep waking up to do a wee.
Whoateallthechocolate · 04/01/2021 18:21

Oh, and a piece of rocky road which DD had made this afternoon and which jumped into my mouth when I walked into the kitchen then before I really thought about it.

Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 04/01/2021 21:27

Eaten lots today but all within my window... Now on water (and may have had a sneaky liquorice and peppermint tea, awaiting white tea delivery on Friday.)

OP posts:
Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 05/01/2021 09:33

Counting down the minutes until my window opens... one hour to go.

Hope you're all doing OK, especially in light of yesterday night's news. Gin

OP posts:
MsTSwift · 05/01/2021 09:36

Can I just chip in - I had medical and was 11st 8 am 5 ft 6 am 46. Did my own version of 16 8 and lost 2 stone in 4 months went from size 14 to 10 and feel great. It’s been a year since I lost the weight and it’s stayed off IF now my norm. Good luck this really works

Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 05/01/2021 10:05

Thanks for sharing @MsTSwift - that's really positive! 👏🏻

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonO · 05/01/2021 10:30

I did 2 weeks of 16:8 at the beginning of december and lost 3.5kg. I wanted to get down a bit before christmas. I've put 1.5kg back on again over the past 4 weeks so am going back on to it again for the next month at least. I'm currently 63kg but would like to get down to around 55kg. That will take at least a couple of months I expect as weight loss will probably slow down after the first week or two.

So black tea and water until 12. Then I have breakfast (muesli and yoghurt) and some fruit, maybe a slice of bread (the bread maker is my downfall - I made maple and oat bread today). Then dinner as normal around 7pm. This evening is pasta with mushroom and wine sauce.

I won't do low-carb as I'm veggie and a lot of my meals include carbs (lentils, rice etc). No alcohol for the result of january though.

PeacheyPeach · 05/01/2021 12:52

Hi All
What are the views on Nespresso. If I have 2 of these within my eating hours? I only use semi skimmed milk?

OchonAgusOchonO · 05/01/2021 13:29

What are the views on Nespresso.

The problem with drinks is they don't seem like food so you're less likely to consider them to be part of your intake. Regardless of what approach you take, you need to reduce calories in to below calories out to lose weight.

namechange202086 · 05/01/2021 13:50

Managed to wait until 12 today (despite a hangover) had two slices of toast so far. Supposed to run later but not sure I'll survive... Envy

Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 05/01/2021 18:53

@namechange202086

Managed to wait until 12 today (despite a hangover) had two slices of toast so far. Supposed to run later but not sure I'll survive... Envy
You got dis. Well done on holding off the toast.
OP posts:
Whoateallthechocolate · 05/01/2021 20:04

I'm impressed at anyone hanging on for the full 16 hours whilst hungover!

The kitchen is now shut as my 8 window has ended. Terrible PMT today so are far too many carbs and chocolate. It's a battle I've given up fighting so just let it happen. The good news is that I know I'll crave protein for the next couple of days. Annoyingly, DH had eaten my emergency chocolate bar so I demolished several chocolate digestives instead as well as a lot of toast and butter.

Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 05/01/2021 22:52

Eaten loads again today but all within my window...
Sn: two slices of wholemeal toast, peanut butter and banana
L: lentil and bacon soup
Sn: small piece of cheese, two chicken satay, slither of leftover chocolate cake
D: halloumi curry and rice, small bowl of blueberries and yogurt, 1 x hotel chocolat

At work tomorrow. 🥴

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonO · 06/01/2021 08:13

Bit of a mixed bag yesterday. Stuck to my window but had 3 (or possibly 4) slices of garlic bread with dinner. One of the kids put the garlic bread on when I was out for a walk and I couldn't resist.

Black tea until 12
Muesli and yoghurt, mandarin for lunch
Slice of bread mid-afternoon
Pasta with mushroom and wine sauce plus garlic bread for dinner

Lots of water throughout the evening

IseeSwansea · 06/01/2021 11:01

Morning! I've been a half hearted faster in the past and I can see how I would clearly have great results if I committed properly. This thread has motivated me to start again, so thank you for giving me the kick start I needed SmileI haven't weighed but I know I am around 11 and a half stone and I would love to be back at around 10, which is my fighting weight for my 5ft6ins frame. I exercise almost every day, a half hour workout at home in the morning and I have two dogs to walk, so always over 10k steps per day. I have been packing away the sugar over Christmas like it"s going out of fashion, and now there's only the stuff I'm not bothered about left, phew, I can give it my full commitment.

Hiphopopotamus · 06/01/2021 12:26

I’m in please! I’ve been gradually losing weight but then it all went to shit during December so I’m kickstarting again with 16:8 and calorie counting. I’m currently starting at 82kg and my eventual aim is to get down to 65kg. Sounds like loads to lose but I started all this a couple of years ago (with a pregnancy in the middle that put things on pause) at 111kg so I just need to keep going! It’s my first time doing IF so hopefully it will give me an added boost.

Wearethetwirl · 06/01/2021 12:58

Completed my second fast but did get a headache during the fast, need to drink more!

Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 06/01/2021 12:58

Nice to see others joining - hello!

I'm feeling pretty buoyant today - don't know why. I feel like I sleep better when I'm doing IF, does anyone else feel the same?

OP posts:
Original poster
feliznavidad2 · 06/01/2021 12:59

@OchonAgusOchonO

Bit of a mixed bag yesterday. Stuck to my window but had 3 (or possibly 4) slices of garlic bread with dinner. One of the kids put the garlic bread on when I was out for a walk and I couldn't resist.

Black tea until 12
Muesli and yoghurt, mandarin for lunch
Slice of bread mid-afternoon
Pasta with mushroom and wine sauce plus garlic bread for dinner

Lots of water throughout the evening

The struggle of the garlic bread is real. 😜
OP posts:
Weaverspin · 06/01/2021 13:03

I started 16:8 last summer, and found it worked really well for me - I shifted a stubborn half a stone. I'm in my 50s and noticed the weight creeping up and clothes getting tight. I have never gone back to having breakfast, and find that eating in that window helps me keep my weight stable. Once I start eating, I get hungry! So the trick for me is to just not start. If I want to shift a few more pounds, I get stricter about the biscuits! I do have soya milk with my morning cups of tea, though, and it still works ok.