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Fasting / 5:2 diet

Talk about intermittent fasting and 5:2, including what’s worked for others. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

5:2 thread 96: Slinking into summer, one FD at a time!

982 replies

harriethoyle · 14/07/2021 09:24

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!

OP posts:
SpikeDearheart · 04/09/2021 14:10

I'm struggling a bit today. My toddler is being stroppy and the scrambled eggs I had for lunch have made me feel sick Confused I feel tired and grumpy and the urge to mainline toast is strong! Anyway, whinge over. I hope everyone else is enjoying this sunny Saturday!

harriethoyle · 04/09/2021 15:18

Weekend fasts are HARD @SpikeDearheart don't beat yourself up! Worst comes to the worst you can try again Monday Grin

OP posts:
SpikeDearheart · 04/09/2021 15:45

That's very kind and reassuring of you! But the worst thing is I'm not even properly fasting today Blush I'm trying to do lowish-carb TDEE on my non-fast days and even that I'm finding tough today Sad

harriethoyle · 04/09/2021 15:48

@SpikeDearheart today I have eaten a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch, my first slice of an amazing cinnamon and nutella cake my dsd and I made, there's ice cream in the freezer for my second slice later on and i intend to drink both wine and gin tonight! Does that make you feel better about your inevitably healthier than me day?! Wink

OP posts:
SpikeDearheart · 04/09/2021 15:50

😂😂😂 frankly it sounds amazing Grin

BaconAndAvocado · 04/09/2021 20:31

On a non-fast day here but haven't eaten much due to the excitement of our new puppy arriving.
He's asleep now so I might have some carrot cake!

harriethoyle · 05/09/2021 08:09

@BaconAndAvocado pay the puppy tax! We need a photo!

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 05/09/2021 11:06

Here he is!

5:2 thread 96: Slinking into summer, one FD at a time!
harriethoyle · 05/09/2021 11:29

Oh my GOD, I am done. He is absolutely adorable!

OP posts:
SpikeDearheart · 05/09/2021 12:19

Wuaaah! Those melty eyes!

BaconAndAvocado · 05/09/2021 17:37

Thanks all. It seems to be going ok.......
He's currently napping whilst I make the roast. He's very placid and sleeps loads!! Though not at 4am 😂

harriethoyle · 05/09/2021 20:29

He's absolutely adorable. I have twin golden oldies here - 12 years old last week! Never met a dog I didn't like...

Anyone fasting with me tomorrow? I am doing a b2b - chicken thin for lunch and probably a ready meal for dinner. We're supposed to be going on holiday later this week but I just can't get excited until we get our PCR's back mid-week so I am treating it as any other week!

OP posts:
SpikeDearheart · 05/09/2021 21:46

I'm fasting tomorrow. I'll probably just have a coffee at breakfast time to allow myself a slightly larger lunch, as I've got a big afternoon at work tomorrow and I need to be on the ball!

I'm planning prawn salad followed by yoghurt, blueberries and chopped nuts for lunch, then lentil, sweet potato and pancetta stew on a bed of cavolo nero for dinner.

SpikeDearheart · 05/09/2021 21:47

Fingers crossed for your PCR results harriethoyle!

BaconAndAvocado · 06/09/2021 07:12

Morning all.

Your food sounds very tasty DearSpikeheart yum 😋

I was planning to fast tomorrow and Friday but we'll see how it goes. Woke up with a headache today as I was up 4 times with Newboy.
It will improve, it's early days but I'm not sure I can face fasting too at the moment.

Good luck everyone!

harriethoyle · 06/09/2021 08:10

@BaconAndAvocado I'd love to tell you it gets better but one of mine was singing the song of her people at 12.30am last night..! 😴

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 06/09/2021 09:57

harriethoyle that's made me laugh .......and cry 😂

harriethoyle · 06/09/2021 20:42

Gawd knows what she was playing at @BaconAndAvocado... but she got short shrift!

Kitchen closing on 555 which is pleasing Grin and managed a couch 25k session this evening too so I'm feeling good, and strong for tomorrow's b2b!

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 06/09/2021 20:42

@SpikeDearheart how did you get on?

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 06/09/2021 20:49

Well done the Monday Fasters !
I did a solid 474 fast today but have two dinners out with wine Tues and Wednesday and a Friday fast again so not hopeful I will lose my holiday fat this week

SpikeDearheart · 06/09/2021 21:48

@harriethoyle good thanks! Feeling a bit rumbly now but will have an early night to avoid any temptation. I'm impressed with you doing c25k during a b2b fast! Which week of c25k are you on?

harriethoyle · 06/09/2021 22:30

Well done @absolutelyknackeredcow you might not lose but you'll certainly minimise wine gain!

@SpikeDearheart I'm doing a bastardised version with a running group... this week is 3 minutes running 1 walking x 6. Was 2.3 miles and felt ok actually!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 06/09/2021 22:40

Hahaha 'wine gain '.
So true

harriethoyle · 07/09/2021 09:06

Bloody hell, scales stubbornly stuck where they were yesterday and no lovely overnight drop as usual...! GRRRR!

Anyone joining me fasting today? Day 2 of b2b for me...

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 07/09/2021 10:21

Hi my erstwhile fasting friends!

Last night I was awake with Newboy at 12, 3, 4:30, 6 then up for the day at 7.
I'm utterly exhausted, I'm going to try and just eat healthily for the next couple of weeks, unless things rapidly improve (🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻)

I've got a girls' weekend at the end of November and would love to be able the last of my weight in time.
Hopefully I'll get back on it soon.