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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:
harriethoyle · 20/07/2021 07:51

Morning!! Starting the fast week late this week and not doing the usual b2b. Fasting today and Thursday...

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 20/07/2021 07:53

@LifeBeginsNow - don't be too hard on yourself... bf-ing uses a huge amount of cals so it's no wonder you're STARVING!

@PotatoSalady welcome - half a stone in 8 weeks is totally doable. It's less than a pound a week!

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 20/07/2021 07:53

Well done @absolutelyknackeredcow that's a great fast day...

OP posts:
LifeBeginsNow · 20/07/2021 10:06

Well today is a bit of a shock. 4kg lost since Sunday! Just goes to show how much those biscuits were holding me back.

Going back to bed now so I hopefully wont notice any hunger pangs (baby was awful last night so not slept much).

harriethoyle · 20/07/2021 10:08

@LifeBeginsNow AMAZING!!

OP posts:
PotatoSalady · 20/07/2021 10:32

Decided in for a penny in for a pound and doing b2b fast day today as well! (🥲) is it true that if you do this your calorie allowance can increase to 650 per day? If so I think it will be more manageable than doing 2 separate 500 days. Went to the gym yesterday too and really struggled with afternoon hunger pangs after only having a cup-a-soup and melba toasts for lunch. I felt like I was losing my mind! The urge to raid the kitchen cupboard and gorge on sweet stuff was overwhelming but I had some grapes instead. 💪🏼 Hoping for a 2-3lbs loss by the end of the week

Witchone1 · 20/07/2021 11:20

Day 1 of my b2b . I am finding it harder in summer to stick with this but I'm trying my best. Badly craving icecream and bbq thanks to hot weather . Having lollies of less than 30calorie instead. Gluck to all fasters 😊

absolutelyknackeredcow · 20/07/2021 14:05

@LifeBeginsNow

Well today is a bit of a shock. 4kg lost since Sunday! Just goes to show how much those biscuits were holding me back.

Going back to bed now so I hopefully wont notice any hunger pangs (baby was awful last night so not slept much).

Amazing
absolutelyknackeredcow · 20/07/2021 14:06

@PotatoSalady

Decided in for a penny in for a pound and doing b2b fast day today as well! (🥲) is it true that if you do this your calorie allowance can increase to 650 per day? If so I think it will be more manageable than doing 2 separate 500 days. Went to the gym yesterday too and really struggled with afternoon hunger pangs after only having a cup-a-soup and melba toasts for lunch. I felt like I was losing my mind! The urge to raid the kitchen cupboard and gorge on sweet stuff was overwhelming but I had some grapes instead. 💪🏼 Hoping for a 2-3lbs loss by the end of the week
@PotatoSalady - yes 650k over two days.. I back load second day
BaconAndAvocado · 20/07/2021 17:13

Hi all 👋🏻

Been doing the 5:2 for a couple of months but fallen off the wagon over the past few weeks so have gained a couple of lb.

Need a boost to get back into the zone so here I am 😀

On a non FD which is where it can sometimes go horribly wrong as I think I can eat absolutely anything!

Just had a tiny Milky Way and planning to cook Prawn Paella.

Strangely, my Nutracheck app has calculated that I can eat 1885 cals on a non FD. It seems a lot but I'm not going to argue 😂

absolutelyknackeredcow · 20/07/2021 21:13

I'm finishing up my second day of b2b on 610: so hot though

harriethoyle · 20/07/2021 22:26

580 for me which is a bit higher than I'd like but not catastrophic

But a revelation of a ready meal tonight - aldi spinach and ricotta canneloni, 383 calories and it was SO GOOD. It's in their fresh ready meal section. I oven cooked rather than microwave and it felt properly treaty.

Will aim for a mini tomorrow and then FD 2 Thursday 🤞

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 21/07/2021 08:15

Oh thanks @harriethoyle I often go to
Aldi so will look out for it
No loss this week - just a maintain but it is TOTM so might be why
I thought I would lose in sweat alone !!!

PotatoSalady · 21/07/2021 12:42

First non FD today - felt weirdly anxious eating a ‘normal’ breakfast of two slices of whole meal toast with low fat spread and a cup of tea with skimmed milk. Had a Kitkat and another cuppa for lunch (oops) and my calorie count is at almost 500 already. 💀 Going out for dinner tonight with fiancé so not planning on eating anything until then and hoping to keep my calories for dinner to around 1000 calories (wishful thinking?) 1500 ish is acceptable for a non FD I think 🤔

Witchone1 · 21/07/2021 21:19

Finished at 570c today, yesterday was 600c ...not a great FDs but summer hasn't helped as I had to have lollies. Good choice @harriethoyle .I will def check ready meal at Aldi. Any other suggestions? I like warburtons thin slice for sandwiches.

harriethoyle · 21/07/2021 21:49

Yes @Witchone1 I get the thins for FD sandwiches. I got a range the other day. The three bean and beef chilli was very good. I've got a chicken saag to try tomorrow. Will report back!

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 22/07/2021 10:03

Anyone fasting with me today?

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 22/07/2021 11:59

harriethoyle
I'm fasting today!

Off to the beach with an apple and a plum for lunch.....

harriethoyle · 22/07/2021 19:42

Not my best fast day - closing on 659. A hobnob fell into my mouth Grin but better than giving up after my snaxident and wasting the day!

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 22/07/2021 20:54

Just snacking on some strawberries which will bring me up to 633 today.

Another Fast Day tomorrow. Waiting in till 2pm so will be a challenge!

absolutelyknackeredcow · 26/07/2021 08:41

Anyone joining today ?
Feeling exhausted so only doing a single today

harriethoyle · 26/07/2021 08:51

Good luck @absolutelyknackeredcow - I'm doing b2b tomorrow and Wednesday then low calorie days Thursday and Friday 🤞

OP posts:
TiredButDancing · 26/07/2021 10:01

Hi all, we were away so clearly there was no fasting! I didn't eat too badly but am annoyed to find this morning that the kg I lost is BACK. Although, to be fair, between a couple of nights out before we went, then a week of BBQs and BREAD BREAD BREAD, I'm not sure I can be surprised.

FD today. DH and DS are keen to do mini detoxing too so we're all having a salad for dinner tonight - they're having theirs with noodles and avocado.

This is also the week I hope to start exercising again (haven't done any for about 2 months as a result of weather, work and a minor injury) so hopefully that will make a difference.

@LifeBeginsNow well done! But also, those first few weeks are hellish and being tired makes eating well 100x harder so don't be too hard on yourself overall!

absolutelyknackeredcow · 26/07/2021 16:00

Hopefully it will come off @TiredButDancing
I dread undoing my hard work but know with 5:2 you can get it off pretty quick

absolutelyknackeredcow · 26/07/2021 17:46

Kitchen closed on 500
How have others done?