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

harriethoyle it was tasteless and took a long time to prepare. I was really tired after a whole day at school so a combination of all those things wasn't good.
I was disappointed as it was the first PoN recipe I haven't enjoyed

Term break is going great with icecream every day , thanks to hot weather in UK 😂😁..will be doing 3 FDs next week for sure 😅

@RaraRachael what's PoN?

FD for me today. Didn't drink nearly enough water yesterday so that's my mission today.

Another 1lb loss here this week. 3lbs to go until target - may go a bit lower depending on how I feel.
I did have a hard time on my second day of b2b with a monster headache and I have a big family event Saturday and had a lovely meal with DH last night so I think it could take a few weeks to get there
Feeling v motivated though

frustratedwiththepandemic PoN is Pinch of Nom. I have 3 of their cookbooks and everything I've tried has been very tasty, despite being low calorie, so I was disappointed that this one was tasteless.

I’ve been drinking every night and mindlessly snacking through the day. I had planned to have last weekend off, then back on it on Monday, but the bad habits have continued into my week days.

Not even sure I can face a FD today, but I’m posting for some accountability!

I feel you @MazDazzle I ended up managing a surprisingly successful FD yesterday but only because I was recording all day so couldn’t go in the kitchen then was location scouting in the evening so again was prevented from temptation!

466 so happy with that. I was going to try for b2b but will see how I go as it’s 7:30 and I’m starving - might shoot for a more manageable 700 calories instead

Morning everyone can I join this thread please?

I’ve done 5:2 successfully a few years ago but lockdowns + WFH mean I’ve got about a stone I’d like to lose, eeek. Weighed myself this morning and got a bit of a shock! I’m doing my first fast tomorrow and another on Wednesday, just planning and shopping for the meals today.

Not looking forward to the hunger pangs whilst working mere metres from the snack cupboard

No weight loss this week. Getting a bit fed up of fasting as I've been doing it for ages. If I just ate less than my TDEE and exercised every day, would I still be losing weight, as that seems a better idea for carrying on with?

Hi @RaraRachael I know what you mean. I just do one fast day now, a Monday. It works well after the weekend and I actually quite enjoy it. It’s keeping me at my goal of happy weight. I’ve had this week off and I didn’t fast as we had a few things on and I’m up 2lb. I’m back on it tomorrow though. It depends how likely you are to stick to it, I find the fast day resets me or it all starts to slide as it did this week.

I’ve just planned out my first fast day for tomorrow. I’m not going to eat anything all day, just fluids - a black coffee to kickstart the day, massive bottle of fizzy water (I found before they bubbles helped me feel full) and lots of normal water. If I get super desperate at lunchtime I’ll have a hot marmite drink (10 calories or so I think) if I get super extra desperate, I’ll have a hard boiled egg.

Evening meal will be a spicy creole prawn dish which comes in at 343 calories if I have a bit of rice with it but I may swap this for cauliflower rice to save more calories especially if I had to have the egg for lunch. Hopefully I’ll have some calories leftover for tiny amount of Greek yogurt and blueberries after dinner so I don’t go to bed starving.

I skipped last week. I was off work all week as it was half-term and couldn't do it. I tried a couple of times but being out and about with kids combined with the hot weather (that we are not used to these days!) I just couldn't do it.

To my great surprise my weight had stayed the same it was 1.5 weeks ago, so back in the game then today!

Hello @Adultingdecisions! You sound exactly like me, I did 5:2 successfully a few years ago but have piled on the pounds in the last year. This is now my 2nd month fasting (having skipped last week), and the weight is coming off, albeit slowly. Good luck!

@Adultingdecisions - I'm a long time faster who has started to be a bit more serious following some lock down eating

It self isolation following a Covid case at work- so going to be have to be very careful not to pile in back on

On a fast day today - was wondering whether b2b make you lose more ?
I do find them hard in the heat but could push on if people feel it makes loss easier

Good luck also @ChubbyCat! I’m flagging a bit, have had black coffee x2, copious water, sparkling water and now having a teaspoon of marmite on hot water like a fake cup a soup

Just want work to be done so I can go to the gym and keep distracted until dinner time.

@absolutelyknackeredcow we cross posted

I have done b2b in the past but only once. I remember the second day being much easier than the first one weirdly. I think the advice back then (or at least what I read) was not to do b2b but that seems to have changed.

Only done them twice - no reason to do this week so maybe will do it later in the week as I can't go anywhere . I do find them ok - but did get a headache later in second day ...

Well done on the fast @Adultingdecisions - I'm planning a lovely big salad later

I am on my third week of 5:2 ( with 16:8 most days too) I have lost about 4lbs and my clothes are starting to feel a bit looser. Today has been the easiest fast day since I started two weeks ago so I think I must be adjusting to this new WOE. Small ham salad for lunch and an omelette and some strawberries with no fat yogurt for pudding.

A long way to go ( at least 3 stone) but I feel I have started to get my eating under control! Really trying not to go mad on my NFD.

Kitchen has closed today on 510 cals.

Got through on black coffee and water, then a green salad at 1pm . Baked salmon and stir fry this evening with a small noodle serving.

@KnottyKnitting well done - I'm shutting up at 470

Just had dinner of spicy creole prawns with a tiny amount of rice, it was so good to chew something especially after a workout!

I’ve still got about 150 calories to have, I tend to save some back and have my final thing to eat as close to bedtime as possible so I don’t go to bed feeling empty.

Had today off work and so didn't fast... I feel all discombobulated and have eaten wayyyyy more than I should have. Ugh!

B2b tomorrow to undo some of the damage. Usual tuna thin and fishcake and broccoli for tea. Looking forward to getting back in the groove tbh! Might make Thursday a mini for added saintliness...!

Successful FF today. I’m cold and tired, so off to bed for me.

Went to a new exercise class tonight. The sun was belting in the windows. It felt like I was in a sauna!

Well done to everyone who’s fasted today. I’m hoping to go for a mini tomorrow to undo the last week’s bad habits.

Hoping for a mini tomorrow (tues) and proper FD weds

Morning all and good luck to everyone fasting today.

I have been eating and drinking lots of rehydration fluid to try to complete my recovery after returning from ITU but have a FD pencilled in for tomorrow, which is set to be sedentary, as I'm feeling a lot brighter and can now stand for extended periods of time without physical problems!

The dietician from the ITU gave me a ring out of the blue yesterday to check I was eating enough and congratulated me for maintaining my weight. I'm 0.7kg down from my hospital weight which is 6kg down from the beginning of the year! But never mind, I'm sure she meant well.

My plan is to use 5:2 with some strength training to try to get stronger and healthier without necessarily losing weight. My weight is fine but I'm quite flabby and my arms are as weak as noodles!

Hi all, I'm back after 1 week break and on my 1st day of b2b joining all fasters today 🤞