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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:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 22/11/2021 08:38

Hello all - also joining for a b2b today and tomorrow. Weekend was ok but last I'm doing booze free so really need to maximise this week

harriethoyle · 22/11/2021 08:48

I've started the day with a Jillian Michaels workout so am feeling strong*

*absolutely exhausted. Is it bed time yet?!

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 22/11/2021 13:20

Good luck everyone!
Do you usually consume 500 or 650 kcal per day on b2b days, or different amounts each day? I'm new to b2b fasting so wondering what works best?

Solderingon · 22/11/2021 13:32

Well done @harriethoyle !
On a FD today and the second is planned for Thursday. I do miss the extra hundred Cals a day the B2B give though.
Soup for lunch and poached eggs for dinner. Not hungry yet. 💪

absolutelyknackeredcow · 22/11/2021 13:43

@EatYourFive - I play it by ear. I usually do more on the second day but can generally see out day 1 as normal - circa 500

absolutelyknackeredcow · 22/11/2021 18:28

Kitchen closed on 500. Hungry !
How are my other btb getting on?

harriethoyle · 22/11/2021 19:04

Kitchen closed on 480 for day 1. Gives me a bit of wriggle room for tomorrow!

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 22/11/2021 19:07

I'm hungry too @absolutelyknackeredcow...

What are people's thoughts on the importance of 16:8 on a FD? I can't decide whether to have breakfast tomorrow and less for lunch/dinner or push through til noon and then have more cals for the second half of the day... I think 16:8 definitely helps on NFD but I'm not sure on FDs!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 22/11/2021 20:17

I'm not sure about 16:18 on FD's
I generally have a cup of tea with milk and a Rich tea first thing

EatYourFive · 23/11/2021 07:54

Thanks @absolutelyknackeredcow!
Kitchen closed at 570 yesterday, aiming for the same today. Not feeling too bad but already planning what to have for breakfast before work tomorrow and I am usually not keen on early breakfasts. Grin

harriethoyle · 23/11/2021 11:40

@EatYourFive same... I've got the WHOLE of tomorrow's meals planned out and bought already 😂 I'm hungry today but pushed past breakfast and clock watching til lunch sandwich time (1 minute past noon!)

How's everyone else getting on? @absolutelyknackeredcow are you b2b as well?

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 23/11/2021 12:30

Yes @harriethoyle - am b2b. Had a dry piece of toast earlier and a cup of tea. About to have some soup and then eggs on toast later

absolutelyknackeredcow · 23/11/2021 12:31

I honestly don't find the b2b too hard - much easier than 2 separate fast days

harriethoyle · 23/11/2021 12:33

I find them psychologically easier @absolutelyknackeredcow but I do get really hungry on day 2 (particularly pre-bed which then makes it difficult to drop off)... funnily enough by day 3, when I am on NFD, my appetite has diminished and I find not eating much easier. The irony!

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 23/11/2021 13:10

It's only my week two of 5:2 after a break, and second ever week doing b2b. Feeling very hungry now, not helped by a trip to tesco's at lunch time to get some stuff for the family. My dinner will be boiled egg and smoked salmon with some rocket salad, tomato and cucumber. Gonna try and fill myself with some sparkling water for now.

harriethoyle · 23/11/2021 18:37

Kitchen closing on 575. Burnt the roof of my mouth on my dinner I was so keen to shovel it in Grin

OP posts:
needtogetfit21 · 23/11/2021 19:41

Does anyone here do One meal a day? Either all the time or on some days?

harriethoyle · 23/11/2021 21:09

No I'm too hungry for that @needtogetfit21! Two is the least I can do... and that's a bloody struggle!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 23/11/2021 21:34

Kitchen closed on 650 - so about 575 each day.
I have made my breakfast in anticipation

harriethoyle · 23/11/2021 21:55

Fabulous @absolutelyknackeredcow - strong b2b action right there!

I remembered tonight how much I like courgetti. (This may well be the most boring post I've ever written!) I had chickpea curry on a bed of courgetti and it was lush. One courgette is perfect portion. Definitely going to be buying more often!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 24/11/2021 08:34

Target weight klaxon!!!
10 stone 10 at 5ft 11 - if I could stay here I would be mega happy.

Although tomorrow marks the end of my sober November, I might push on being very careful as aware the eating is going to be full on

EatYourFive · 24/11/2021 11:56

Kitchen closed at 497 yesterday and the breakfast this morning tasted simply amazing.

How long do you actually fast when you do b2b? I started on Sunday at 7 pm after dinner, and finished at 7 am today, so that's 60 hours. Just wondering if that's how others do it as well?

@harriethoyle I never actually tried courgetti, should definitely give it a go by the sounds of it!

harriethoyle · 24/11/2021 12:35

Hurrah @absolutelyknackeredcow that's brilliant!

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 24/11/2021 12:35

Yes @EatYourFive I fast from after dinner the night before FD then to breakfast the day after

OP posts:
MazzleDazzle · 25/11/2021 12:32

Thanks for the encouragement guys. A quarter of a stone is a much more positive way to look at it.

Day 2 of b2b today. Yesterday was okay - but higher in cals than I’d like. I always find day 2 so much easier though.