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

On around 550- meatballs were tasty and ended up having more! Kitchen closed and I’m stuffed.

My second week of back on 5:2 ( and often do 16:8 too as don't have breakfast.)
Was very cross to find I haven't lost any weight in the last week. On my NFD I have tried to stick to my TDEE amount and haven't had any sweets, cakes, ice cream etc, no eating between meals and no snacks. It usually works so well for me so not sure where I have gone wrong.

Have really really struggled today - been ravenous all day. Apple at lunchtime, tin of soup and an omelette- probably around 55 calls. Hopefully I will wake up in the morning and not feel hungry. 🤞

Was doing oh so well but I've got a splitting headache and have been very hormonal last few days and ravenous today. Think I'll have to eat and try again tomorrow. Annoyed with myself but reminding myself it's not a race it's a marathon.. ''twas supposed to be a b2b as well.

I've had both jags and my cycles seem to be affected

Well done harriet, benji, knotty and all of the other fasters.

Fast day for me today. I’ve tried the last couple of days but just couldn’t see it through.

I’ve been consistently losing, slow and steady, for the last six weeks. I even lost when it was my totm. But my weight has shot up by nearly 4 lbs! Hopefully I will be able to turn the tide. This is the lowest I’ve been in a long time (a couple of years I think), so I know it’ll take a while before my body sits comfortably here.

Good luck to anyone else fasting today!

Off to drink some water, do the school run then do something productive on my day off (laundry and a workout, hopefully).

@MazDazzle congrats on being at lowest weight!

Day 1 of b2b done - 668 calories. Not too bad. Hope I can follow through on day 2 tomorrow as I'll have the kids 💪

Thank you @frustratedwiththepandemic! Good luck with your b2b tomorrow.

Kitchen closed at 530 cals after a Thai red curry and a protein yogurt. Not another morsel will pass my lips! I’m babysitting for my sister this evening, so there’ll be 5 kids here tonight, asking for food then abandoning it. I must remember that I am not a human dustbin!

Done at 470cal. Average of 2 FDs about 530 😅😁...just need some result in scale tomorrow 🤞🤞

Just finished my first 5:2 fast day. OK if I join you?

@MazDazzle you got this!

Well done @Witchone1 - I'm also on day 2 of b2b at 776 which makes an average of 612 per day. I'll take that! I forgot to weigh myself yesterday so no pleasing sv but I'll make tomorrow a mini and then we're off to that there London this weekend to see some dear friends and eat ALL THE FOOD

Join us @SpeedofaSloth the more the merrier!

Oooo enjoy @harriethoyle. That sounds fab.

Good luck @Witchone1!

Well done and welcome @SpeedofaSloth. How did you find your first FD?

Not nearly as hard as I was expecting, TBH. I did 800 calories (Fast 800 book) and have been doing 16:8 for 4 weeks so I had already got to the point of not being starving all of the time. Another one tomorrow 🙂
Am thinking that if I get a couple of good weeks in I might drop to 600 on fast days next.

Hi everyone - been MIA as on a film shoot in the desert and didn’t do any fasting because very limited vegan options out there so I mainly had to eat nuts and protein bars, and needed to keep energy and salts up but that’s ok - will make up for it with b2b Thurs&Fri

Hi all, I have also been MIA, been quietly getting on with things and have managed this month and last month to have lost 8lbs. Which all things considered I am happy with. Away on holiday next week, plenty of walking and fresh air to even out the gin and cakes. Will be picking up Dads ashes at the beginning of the week, so he is off on holiday with us for one last time.

Sending much love to @Witchone1 .... I genuinely feel your pain.

Well done to all the fasters, I have been lurking and watching your progress. .... will be a back properly after half term.

Morning everyone! Right, take two, I declared I was going to join you and promptly became very ill - ITU level ill - so fasting has sort of been on the back burner! I've got two 10ks coming up, which given the state of me will be walked, probably, so will be fasting on days I don't run, then looking at strength training once they are over. Just reading over the last few pages of progress is still super inspiring!
One thing I have been doing, which is probably quite weird and lazy, is just dropping an egg in a pan of soup, which makes for a pretty filling meal with absolutely zero effort. Does anyone else do this? I absolutely loathe cooking so I've found this useful.

 @ginsparkles

Hey all, so day 2 of the b2b went downhill as dh bought a suprise chippy and I ate far too much of it.

But I'm not giving up

Mon - 987 calories
Tue- 720 calories
Wed - 1800 calories

My tdee is 1550 but I use 1500 to be safe.

With two fast days, my calories limit for the week is 8,500.

So I've consumed 3507 so far and have 4,993 left. I might do 900 calories today and tomorrow and then have 1500 left for Saturday and 1500 left for Sunday.

Ideally I would just do 1300 today and 500 tomorrow but it might be tough with the kids at home and the Friday feeling.

Then reset on Monday!

Thanks @frustratedwiththepandemic

You got this! Chippy tea is hard to resist!

Thanks. I think I just need to completely buy into the way of life and calorie count this way until I nail it clear cut - 2 x FD's or a b2b.

It's great for the flexibility Isn't it

I wonder what would Happen if we just took our calorie allowance over the week and divided it by 7 so 8500/7 = 1200. I don't eat in this consistent manner anyway so not for me but wonder if it would stall the rate of loss as your not keeping your metabolism guessing

I opened a bottle of wine last night, drank it all then had two gins, along with crisps and cheese. Then I had toast before bed! It’s my day off today, so last night was my Friday night IYSWIM.

Had a bit of a wobble this morning when I almost gave up on my planned FD, but after a workout I’m feeling motivated. Calories are counted and food prepped (a small tub of houmous, celery sticks, ham, potatoes & veg) and I’m raring to go.

Let’s do this Thursday fasters!

Another Thursday faster here. Just made myself the most revolting smoothie ever for lunch. Trying to get into green smoothies but really struggling, find most of them disgusting!
Will have some smoked salmon, poached eggs and salad for dinner, can't wait.

Guys, my FD went well but NFD is a problem. My TDEE is 1400 , and any thing extra on top of 3 meals a day, like small snacks around 4pm seem to tip over TDEE . Looks like I'll be on diet all my life 😥..trying to be strict with snacking options..

@Witchone1 NFD's are my nemesis too! I try to work on the principle of
2 FD
2 at happy weight tdee
2 at current tdee
1 none counting day.

But some weeks I do
3 FD
2 happy weight tdee
2 none counting

@frustratedwiththepandemic I personally wouldn’t spread it out mainly because I’ve tried that before and calorie counting every day just isn’t for me, and also I want the additional benefits of fasting that aren’t tied to weight loss, and if you just spread the calories out you miss out on that (I think)

[quote KobaniDaughters]@frustratedwiththepandemic I personally wouldn’t spread it out mainly because I’ve tried that before and calorie counting every day just isn’t for me, and also I want the additional benefits of fasting that aren’t tied to weight loss, and if you just spread the calories out you miss out on that (I think)[/quote]
Got it thanks

It's not for me to follow just a flat 1200 everyday either but I just wondered if it would impact lost as well opposed to 5/2

Just had my evening meal. Came in at 300 cals. I’ve got to drop off a birthday present to my MIL so the spare 200 will give me a bit of leeway should there be and treats on offer!

Thursday faster checking in, should come in at about 550. I moved my normal Tuesday FD to today as I had a couple of heavy/stressful work days earlier in the week. Love the flexibility this WOE gives. The next few weeks might be hit and miss though, with the bank holiday weekend and then I have a big birthday the following weekend