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

Not looking forward to stepping on the scales tomorrow morning. Been away for a night to celebrate our anniversary, so out for a meal and some drinks. Cooked breakfast in hotel too - I can't help feeling a bit guilty as I must have exceeded my calories for the past two days and haven't had any exercise, but I was so excited at one whole night away!

Hi all
Just after a bit of advice really on 5:2.
I currently follow the 16 8 which I enjoy but I fancy a bit of a mix up as I feel my weight loss has come to a halt.
I find that I can not eat for most of the day and don't feel hungry so am quite happy to wait until late evening for my meal instead of eating little meals in the day
So if I was to include a pint of semi skimmed milk as part of the 500 calories so I can have a few coffees in the day and then later on have something like a bowl.of porridge with some fruit and seeds as my meal
Does this sound ok for a fast day,

Guys, I'm back after a break due to busy schedule. 1st FD today. Planning for dinner as my one and only meal🤞😅

I will be doing tomorrow and Wednesday B2B this week.

@PeacheyPeach

Hi all Just after a bit of advice really on 5:2. I currently follow the 16 8 which I enjoy but I fancy a bit of a mix up as I feel my weight loss has come to a halt. I find that I can not eat for most of the day and don't feel hungry so am quite happy to wait until late evening for my meal instead of eating little meals in the day So if I was to include a pint of semi skimmed milk as part of the 500 calories so I can have a few coffees in the day and then later on have something like a bowl.of porridge with some fruit and seeds as my meal Does this sound ok for a fast day,

@PeacheyPeach I find that I feel more full if have something with a bit more protein (prawns, white fish, beans, legumes tofu etc)

@Witchone1 on my first b2b today although I'm an established faster
Trying my usual pattern but might add in a boiled egg or two if I'm starving
Has a scale victory after an active weekend and weighing food
Down another one and a half pounds and only 5.5 of target
It's been so hard to shift that I got on scales twice to check
Hoping to make it in next two weeks

@kyliekoko thank you x I just thought of porridges as I know the calories for a bowl and know that it's low cal and filling!! Is it ok to have milk as part of the calories for the day?

You can have what you want as long as it's under 500 calories :-)

First FD of the week completed.
Coffee /tea for breakfast
Smoked mackerel salad for lunch
Shakshuka for tea
Am going to round things off in a minute with a herbal tea.
Im in on roughly 500 cals.
Kitchen closed 7:20pm.
Hope everyone had a lovely day 🙌🙌🙌

Right I'm going to give it a go !!!

Well done @SmiledWithTheRisingSun!

@KylieKoKo we are b2b twins this week... you can keep me on track! X

@harriethoyle I realized after I posted that that I'm going out for dinner with dsds on Wednesday so it's going to be Tuesday and Thursday now. But I am happy to keep you on track on Wednesday

I really wanted to do a FD today but I am so tired and hungover (2 months booze free starts today) however at 5pm I’m still only on 500calories as I’ve tried to just put fresh food in my poor abused body so I reckon I can end on a low calorie day and stick to weds and Friday being proper fasts at this rate

Mainly sponsored by peppermint tea and black coffee

Closing at 699 so not too bad

Well done @KylieKoKo and @SmiledWithTheRisingSun for a great FD yesterday.

Work schedule swapped around this week so I'm on B2B today and tomorrow with @harriethoyle !

Scales are being kind after in impromptu low cal day on Sunday, was at work and didn't actually have any time for food!! So starting from a nice low base should hopefully see a loss this week!

Good luck to the Tuesday fasters!

I'm on day 2 of my b2b
Felt dreadful with headache this morning but had 2 boiled eggs first thing and going to take it hour by hour.
Another pound down this am so now only 5 pounds to go

Hi all! Hoping to restart my 5:2 journey. Did brilliant with it last time but then had a baby and although I lost some after the birth I've put more on during pandemic.

Used to post here previously as purpleviolet

Im 5"2 and currently 10 stone 2lbs. TDEE is 1570 cals. Early 30's and have 2 little ones (4 and 2yo) who have medical needs.
I work part time.

Life feels so overwhelming at the moment but hoping I can knuckle down and give myself small targets to achieve. In the past I generally lost 2/3 of a lb max per week so progress was slow and that was disheartening. But this time I'm going to focus less on the scales and more on sticking to calorie allowance and fitting in 2 fast days per week. My Fibro symptoms improved when doing 5:2 so hoping to achieve the same this time.

Plan is to try FD on Tuesday and Thursdays. I tend to fall down on Mondays so I will use Mondays to focus again for the week.

Anyone else with similar weight / height? My initial goal is 9 stone. Ultimate goal is closer to 8.5 stone but will see how I do at 9 stone first.

Finished at 580 yesterday. B2b today and hope to be more disciplined. @absolutelyknackeredcow, hey, you are doing so well. I have been yo-yoing with weight loss as I lose control on NFD. Want to break the pattern this week💪.

@Witchone1 Come on we can do this !!
I was definitely over eating on NFD - since I have started weighing all food I have seen loss
I weighed wine and chips on Saturday

I'm feeling hungry already today. I'm doing my best to ignore it and staying away from dp who eats constantly yet is effortlessly slim.

After my message I just want to eat and eat I feel full and bloated though so it's not even that I'm hungry.

Should I take measurements?

Good luck to those fasting today!

Welcome @PeacheyPeach and good luck.

Yesterday was supposed to be a FD. Fasted til 5pm, but when I got home from work the sun was shining (rarely happens here!) so we sat in the garden with a fire pit and opened a bottle of wine. I’ll try again on Thursday, when the forecast is rain!

Welcome (back) @frustratedwiththepandemic it’s always hard with wee ones as I find I need the energy to keep up with them! But knowing you’ve managed it before (I’m also a returner) will help with the motivation - good luck! And yes take measurements or have a particular item of clothing, sometimes a NSV is more heartening than weight loss

TDEE day for me today, good luck to the fasters!

Absolutely a good idea to weigh and measure until you get used to portion sizes. I was shocked at how little 30g of oats is!
I did a FD yesterday but probably 600 as I’m doing 6:1 to maintain. Walking close to 10k steps daily and no snacking, lots of water and booze at weekends only.Was 1lb below target this morning but I go 1lb over too so I seem to have adjusted and settled at this weight. I’m still logging on mfp as it helps me to focus. Good luck everyone.

@KobaniDaughters

Welcome (back) *@frustratedwiththepandemic* it’s always hard with wee ones as I find I need the energy to keep up with them! But knowing you’ve managed it before (I’m also a returner) will help with the motivation - good luck! And yes take measurements or have a particular item of clothing, sometimes a NSV is more heartening than weight loss

TDEE day for me today, good luck to the fasters!

Thanks - I'm finding it much much harder with 2. Have started taking supplements to help my energy and general well-being to see if that helps