5:2 Thread 95 : Lockdowns are lifting, as are we

[ListeningQuietly]

Welcome to the continuing thread for those following 5:2 or other forms of IF (Intermittent Fasting) such as 4:3, ADF, or daily 16:8 smile

Last thread was here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/4128689-5-2-Thread-94-Its-a-New-Year-a-New-Day-and-were-feeling-GOOD

Basically it is 2 very low cal days ("fasts") per week - which need not be consecutive - and eat "normally" to maintain on the other 5 days.

For those who have dieted or maybe overeaten for years, eating "normally"
means roughly the number of calories your body needs to maintain - NOT reduce - its weight (see TDEE calculator below).

IMPORTANT
If you have had past diagnosed Eating Disorders or serious MH problems you should NOT do 5:2 or any other kind of fasting

JARGON alert

16:8 is a different type of fasting, which can be combined with 5:2.
Daily zero-cal fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8 hour window. To lose weight, this needs a weekly calorie deficit as well

b2b (optional) back-to-back / consecutive fast days, each with an increased allowance of 650 calories instead of 500

BMI (Body Mass Index) healthy range is 18.5 - 24.9 for Caucasians. Upper limit may be 22 for some of Asian origin.

FD = single Fast Day: aim for 500 calories (600 for men or 25% TDEE whichever is higher) or 1000 cals for BF
No alcohol or junk on FDs
Even if you exercise strenuously, do NOT increase FD cals to allow for exercise

MFP = My Fitness Pal, a useful App or website to track food & drink calories

miniFD = MiniFD, 850-1000 calories, no alcohol or junk

NFD = Non-Fast Day, averages around TDEE

NSV / LSV = Non Scale Victory / LifeStyle (change) Victory, e.g. compliment, smaller waist, clothes size

SV = Scale Victory

TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure, the average number of calories you burn in a day, is calculated from your current weight, height, age, activity level.
Aim to average about this for NFDs.

WOE / WOL = Way Of Eating / Way Of Life. We say this instead of "diet", to emphasise that we must make a permanent change in how we eat, to maintain our new healthy weight long term.

There is LOTS more information in the header of Thread 93
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/4057993-5-2-Thread-number-93-Drive-in-the-fasting-lane-to-goal

Jump in and say hello

Can I ask how everyone finds B2Bs? Do you build up to doing it, and do you feel pretty weak and moody the second day?

@Equimum @Miscarriage39 ..I find Mon- Tuesday b2b easier. Get it done at the start of the week. 1st week was very hard.. I was thinking about food all the time 😂 , feeling cold and weak. I guess it gets easier. I dont count calories on weekend so Monday is tougher than Tuesdays. I try to eat nothing until 2pm, then a small snack 100cal to keep happy till 6pm. One thing that helps me a lot - a bowl of watermelon for desert. This satisfies my sweettooth and fill me up for the night.

I have done b2b but don't enjoy them, I prefer to spread mine out across the week. I think it's easier to build up to them, get used to fasting first.

I’ve always found that I’m never hungry the day after a FD anyway and used to often do -1000 the day after, so for me a b2b comes easily. I’ve always found getting into the swing of a FD after a few days of NFD is the tough bit!

Just had dinner: bacon, chicken, vegetables and mozzarella. DH and the kids had theirs with pasta.

Currently sipping a fruit tea. I still need to unpack today’s food shop. What a thought.

Wohooo!
Have just done 1st FD in years!
I'm so pleased.
3 stone to loose.
Hoping something has finally clicked in my brain 🤞
Kitchen closed at 7pm

1 tea
1 coffee
1 tsp bouillon hot drink
Salmon salad
Tofu pho

498 cals

Am going to have a sleepy tea before an early night!

I've managed a few B2B and it's good to have the flexibility to do it that way depending on what's on for the week
FD for me today. Had a 70 cal protein shake mid morning and a small portion of veg and chickpea curry early afternoon. Bol Dahl and spring greens for dinner which should scrape me in at 503 cals, so very happy with that
I've found that if I don't eat anything when I'm at work I get grumpier than is acceptable

Thanks everyone who replied about B2B fasting. I think I may leave it for a while and see how I go.

Today I have had:
Coffee with one sugar and a splash of milk
40 cals-ish
Grilled tofu salad 280
Quorn fillet with baked pepper & tomato & olive sauce 190

So probably a bit over the perfect 500, but I’m not going to beat myself up about on my first day.

Had chicken and boiled egg salad for dinner..Done at 513 today. This week was easier than last, as I was busier at work... Planning to bake banana cake tomorrow 😊

539 for me today and really not too tricky at all. B2b tomorrow!

Well done everyone!

And well done for getting back to it @SmiledWithTheRisingSun.

Right you’ve inspired me, I’m going to get back on the wagon with one FD this week, Weds. slowly easing back into it as the last week I’ve rediscovered my appetite post surgery!!

Morning all! Great you're feeling better @KobaniDaughters

Who's with me today?

Well done to all of yesterday's fasters! It was a shocker of a day for me yesterday. Lots of stuff to deal with, with dads estate. Felt intrusive and icky so I fell into chocolate and cake.

But today is a new day and @harriethoyle I'm joining you! Haven't cherry tomatoes and a low fat yoghurt to keep me going through the day and a salmon fillet with salad for tea.

Oh also, I have only lost 3lb since getting my brain back in gear but shape feels different already. Muffin top seems smaller. Wish I could find my tape measure! Funny how 5:2 seems to affect my shape quicker than the scales

Ugh @ginsparkles I feel you... we're nearing completion on my parents house which I am doing as my dad's attorney and yesterday it was all kicking off and i was LOSING THE WILL TO LIVE! How I didn't jump face first into a bath of gin I'll never know...!

Lost less than 0.5kg this week 😥, inspite of doing better in FD and NFD last week. Anyone had effect on period from 5:2diet? Mine seems off /delayed. May be I should check my thyroid level 😮

I’m with you @harriethoyle and @ginsparkles there’s a ton of ready meals in the freezer for everyone else so will be easy enough to figure out. Although I don’t really have a sense of what’s in the fridge right now

I think the polite phrase for today is that the fast has been postponed to Friday.

Came home to hear DD has been in tears at school again today, every day this week so far. Think the time for counselling may be on us? Then a lovely but heart wrenching letter from an old family friend about their memories of Dad and the magazine subscription he bought for DD's birthday has just arrived in time for her birthday in a couple of weeks.

Feel like I have been punched in the guts again. Trying to stay mindful, but it won't be a fast today.

V V V busy at the moment
and this thread dropped off my list
not particularly "fasting"
but definitely 16:8 with lunch trying to stay below 300 calories each day

Welcome newcomers and returners
hopefully the weather will warm up soon !!!

702 kitchen closing which makes 1241 for the b2b.

Hope you're ok @ginsparkles xx

Well done @harriethoyle .... I'll be ok. You know how it is. Good days and bad ones. Long walk tomorrow to walk off the wine!!

@ginsparkles sounds like you needed the mental health day, tomorrow is a new one. Hope you sleep well tonight.

A friend just dropped off home made vegan macaroons and I couldn’t not have one oooops!!! Have Dahl planned for later at 310kcals so maybe it’s just a low cal day (don’t really want to look up how many calories the macaroon probably was!)

Closed on 680 which included the macaroon so counting that as a win! Think I’ll do another on Friday as it felt good to get back in the driving seat and the others all have pizza in the freezer waiting for them so will be easy enough

That's definitely a win and a good FD @KobaniDaughters I would count it.

I am SO WEARY today. Had the worst night's sleep last night stressing about the sale of my parents house - I genuinely think I got about 4 hours in total. Could just cry/drink/eat everything in the cupboards including the dogs...!

Roll on Friday wine time

KobaniDaughters that’s still very low calorie, and a macaron is always worth it .

Attempting my second fast of the week today. Had a coffee with a splash of milk for breakfast, then a 219 calorie ITSU noodle pot for lunch. I’m feel g really hungry, so think I’ll have to try an early ‘dinner’ and go to bed early too.