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

Almost disastrous but pulled back from the brink... woke late because my alarm didn't go off, so no time to make a FD sandwich then no time to get to pret which does half size sandwiches. And by lunch no half sizes left! But went for salad which is 350 and stuck to fishcake for tonight so finishing on 622. Phew! Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat for once... day 2 tomorrow!

Hello gang! I'm back from a ridiculously indulgent holiday. Had a good fast day today. Currently on 284, will have a little yoghurt and fruit for pudding so will end on 372

Well done Tuesday tasters - going for a fast tomorrow
Any joiners ?

Finishing fd1 at 550. Well done @harriethoyle! Didnt know Pret did half sandwich !!😮 I love their meatball wrap ..lol.
hey @ginsparkles , good to know u had an indulgent week too and u r back!!
Hi @absolutelyknackeredcow, I will join u tomorrow🤞
Hi @CeciledeVolanges, go slow as you r still recovering..FD seems to help my flabby arms.

@Witchone1 - fingers crossed it's not too hot

Well done everyone for today’s fasts.

I’ve had a non fast day today and have tried to be healthy but also eating enough. Second FD tomorrow, going to try and eat my dinner later than I did yesterday as I was in bed at 10:30 but struggled to sleep to a rumbling stomach

Have managed to do 16:8 the last 2 days at least!

Weds fasting for me

And me @KobaniDaughters

Come on Wednesday fasters

Hello everyone, I'd like to join! I need to lose about 4 stone and definitely don't want to do a diet club (again). So I'm trying the 5:2 diet, I started this week. I ate around 500 calories on Monday and again today. My TDEE (is that right?) is around 1700 cal so going to be tracking that the other days. And trying to be a bit more active; water workout class for me in a bit!

Just hoping for some support to help keep me on track!

Kitchen closed at 490

Welcome @KatherineOfGaunt - sounds like you have got the idea

Well done @absolutelyknackeredcow . Great Fast day.

Welcome @KatherineOfGaunt

Kitchen closed here at 574 which makes an average of 600 per b2b day.

Well done @absolutelyknackeredcow and welcome @KatherineOfGaunt!

Kitchen closed just over 500 here.

Just an update , feels like a small win towards my goal 😊. I have lost 2kg since I started in mid April. Need to lose 3kg more to be at my goal weight. Though I need only 5kg loss in total, it's been the most difficult last few pounds. It's been really slow but it has worked so far. Thanks to all u lovely people here , I hope to keep up.

Well done @Witchone1 !

And to yesterday's fasters... good work!

Fd for me, so I'm sitting munching on some cherry tomatoes! I had planned fish wraps for tea but forgot that it's brownies for us tonight, so will just make myself a simple lightest philly cheese wrap with some rocket for me tea before rushing out the door!!!

Amazing work @Witchone1 - that's absolutely fab!
I'm still 3lbs off target weight - but am now stuck self isolating.. So less activity
Aiming to do it by end of June ..

@ginsparkles For some reason, when you said brownies I thought you meant chocolate ones...

Today is a normal day. I need to get in some more steps so walking to the shops now. But tracking everything.

@Witchone1 - wow, so close! I can't imagine being nearly at goal. Well done!

@KatherineOfGaunt Oooh chocolate ones! That sounds infinitely better than small girls running about!

Hi all, lots of good work going on here.

I keep planning FD's and then doing really well until the evening and then I cave in and eat. I'm not even hungry but I think I'm emotional eating after long days with either the kids or work or both.

I just need to keep up the willpower and get into a routine of 2 solid FD's under my belt. I'm doing ok on NFD's.

Kitchen closing 526

I weighed myself this morning, down 7 lbs since I first dared stepping on the scale post-lockdowns on April 21st. I'm really pleased, I started 5:2 in May and had a whole week off last week. Aiming for a slow and steady weight loss rathe than a quick fix.

@frustratedwiththepandemic I usually save some of the calories until 7-8 pm, and then have something with protein like eggs and have an early night to avoid further temptations.

Thanks @ChubbyCat, I usually just eat once at 4pm or if struggling then have something at midday and then 6ish. May have to reassess the routine, it's just when it fits in around the kids.

SV today though anyway 😀 hit my lowest (this time around) of 9stone 12.9lbs.

@frustratedwiththepandemic

I don’t eat a single calorie until about 8pm when I have my only meal of the day, I then save about 150 calories to have some Greek yogurt and berries as late as I possibly can so I spend the evening eating and don’t go to bed hungry. I appreciate that won’t work for everyone though and some need to eat earlier in the day. I found if I ate a small lunch it just made me even hungrier.