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

[harriethoyle]

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!

I love booze so can't give it up But do think that I should cut back before Xmas
I'm kind of looking forward to making real progress in nov so I'm in a holding position until then !

Kitchen closed at 695. Not too bad all things considered. @absolutelyknackeredcow is it worth drinking something like vodka and diet coke?

I have gin and slim line but I love wine 😂
Kitchen closed on 560

Morning gang. I'm b2b today and tomorrow. Dreading it!

@absolutelyknackeredcow I also bloody love wine but I do notice the difference when I stick to spirits and slim mixers. Hopefully away with the kids from next week but once we're back I'm going to stay off the vino for a few weeks in preparation for Christmas!

I'm on day 2 of a b2b but not feeling it
About to get large black coffee

I'm mainlining black coffee today @absolutelyknackeredcow... am now on decaff because I've drunk so much! It's a stinking, cold, extremely windy wet day here and all I want to do is eat melted cheese. A pot of lentil soup on the stove instead... not sure it's going to cut it!

Hello!
Hopping back on these threads after DC2 to try and lose the baby weight that didn't miraculously melt away like it was supposed to.
5:2 has always worked before so fingers crossed. Today is my first FD and I'm saving all my calories for dinner, just tea so far and so far, so good.

Welcome @Solderingon and good luck today, you too @harriethoyle and @absolutelyknackeredcow

Member of the black coffee club here too, will need to switch to peppermint tea soon. It’s still warm here so salad for lunch and leftovers for dinner, I love panned out the calories for today and Friday yesterday morning to hopefully make it easier to stick to

Finishing on 618 but it's been SUCH a struggle. Not looking forward to tomorrow already!

It's a lock at 650 for day 2 on b2b
Breakfast already made 😀

Well done folks!

Kitchen closing more or less 500, had to guesstimate a little but def around there

I'm fasting today, woke up feeling hungry! Not sure how today's going to pan out. Although I'm quite busy today, which helps alot.

Yesterday went really well, finished at just under 600. Today is day 2 of the b2b and I've had half a pack of vegan sushi and 2 x tea so far. Eggs on toast for dinner and it should come in at 608.
I'm really pleased the first two FD have felt easy. I'm just trying to see how rigidly I want to stick to my tdee the rest of the time. I don't really want to feel like I'm dieting? What does everyone else do?

Kitchen closing on 674 which gives almost exactly 1300 across my b2b!

@Solderingon I skip breakfasts on weekdays and I don't drink alcohol either. Also avoid two carby meals a day ie wouldn't have pasta and potatoes on the same day. Means I very rarely end up on more than 1200 almost regardless of what i eat (unless i get a takeaway etc). I don't rigidly calorie count and have been pretty close to goal for a while now.

Oh and @Solderingon I generally have a choice of 2 or 3 home made things for lunch ie a ham sandwich, a tuna sandwich, pasta salad. So I know they won't be more than 400 cals.

@harriethoyle Well done on your b2b - do you skip breakfast on the day after your fast?
Not sure I could do that

GOD NO @absolutelyknackeredcow

Well done @harriethoyle!!

I’m going to do b2b Friday and Saturday as I’m staying at a friend’s babysitting their toddler and they don’t really cook so I won’t be tempted by food there

@harriethoyle thanks, thats food for thought. Does it feel hard? Or just normal now?

I stuck to tdee today and it's been fine, but I did have a very veg heavy dinner to keep it light. I guess it's just a shock to see how little you really need to maintain. And it's only going to get worse with age.

Honestly @Solderingon yes, skipping breakfast is hard because I bloody love toast 😂 but I figure a bit like not drinking 5 days a week, not toasting 4 days a week is a worthy sacrifice...

Hi all,

Been a bad week and my mind has just not been on it.

I've been going to the gym and feeling really hungry on those days. Will this get better?!

Also any thoughts on just missing breakfast & lunch and maybe having something small like a banana at some point and then evening meal on NFD's? Some
Times the more I think about food, the more I keep thinking about it.

I've also noticed I drink less when I eat more normally and that leads into eating when thirst .. if that makes sense

I’ve been off the thread for a while? How is everyone doing?

Flipping heck harriet that’s impressive.

The weight’s been steadily creeping up for the last 6 months here, but yesterday I managed a FD!

I wasn’t remotely hungry - no wonder, I’ve enough in my fat stores to last me weeks.

Going for a b2b since it’s my day off and I’m busy pottering about at home.

Onwards and downwards (hopefully!).

@needtogetfit21 had a similar end of next week, woke up feeling motivated today so have switched my plan around to make today a FD, I think being flexible with it helps, and absolutely makes sense that we often eat when we’re actually thirsty!

Welcome back @MazzleDazzle I’m a recent returner as well - I really do need to drop the extra 10lbs that has crept back on before Christmas heads into full swing!

That sounds like a realistic target Kobani. I daren’t get on the scales until I’ve a few FDs under my belt!

Had a bit of a wobble in the afternoon, but a tin of Diet Pepsi saw me through. Kitchen closed (I’m hoping!) at a total of 1200 cals over two days.

I have a Halloween party with the kids tomorrow, so I really need to stay away from all the treats! Last year I broke a tooth on one of their Halloween sweets. . Hopefully that’s a lesson learned!

Well done @MazzleDazzle!

I’m vegan and my kids are not which helps sticking away from the sweets and chocolates!