Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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 · 28/11/2021 18:24

Evening all - anyone joining me in a b2b tomorrow and Tuesday? Mr Harriet has decided he's going to join me after putting on his favourite suit and finding the waist band rather too tight! So will probably do a Thursday FD too just to get him going...

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 28/11/2021 20:43

I am @harriethoyle: I was really good all week and then fell off the wagon this weekend. Mainly food but I was just so HUNGRY. Need to have a strict one before the Xmas party on Wednesday.
Might do a mini on Friday too

needtogetfit21 · 28/11/2021 21:33

I just can't seem to get into a rhythm Sad does anyone have any advice for gym days? I am so ravenous after a session.. and since starting the contraceptive pill (to help with fibromyalgia and joint pains) in June my appetite is through the roof in general and I'm the biggest I've ever been Sad

Any attempted fasts and I feel like my
Blood sugar drops. I know in the past BCF advised marmite but I just can't manage that. Any other suitable for vegetarian suggestions?

harriethoyle · 28/11/2021 22:17

What about miso soup @needtogetfit21? Very low calorie but warming too.

I try and keep the same fast days a week because that way it feels like less of a choice if that makes sense? Same with Jillian Michael's workouts... just have to not think about it and get on with it!

OP posts:
needtogetfit21 · 28/11/2021 22:21

Thanks @harriethoyle never tried miso soup, tell me more? Can you get it in a cup-a-soup type thing? Or do you buy the paste and add boiling water? Blush

Life is v busy right now and there are so many factors which influence when I can fast so it's hard to stick to set days. But I will try. Thanks

Any other tips most welcome! I considered doing one meal a day (with a banana or something as a snack) a few times a week on top of 2 FD's to help shrink appetite and keep overall cals over the week low. What do you think?

EatYourFive · 29/11/2021 07:53

Here for another b2b session starting today. Weekend wasn't great once again, had lots of chocolate.Blush This cold weather also makes it harder not to overdo it.

harriethoyle · 29/11/2021 11:26

@needtogetfit21 either! Just depends on what your local supermarket has - I'd go to a big superstore and have a poke around the world food aisle and see what they have there...

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 29/11/2021 13:29

Great suggestion @harriethoyle - I completely forgot about miso soups! We had a big bag of them in the kitchen cupboard, they're from our local oriental supermarket and taste great, especially in this cold weather. That's my lunch sorted at only ~30 calories! Smile

harriethoyle · 29/11/2021 13:35

Glad to help @EatYourFive Smile just had 100 calories of lentil soup for quite a late fast day lunch!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 29/11/2021 15:23

Oh my god, I'm just so FUCKING HUNGRY.
Just realised it is time of the month this week as well as the cold.

I'm going to cling on but no idea if I will make it tomorrow. Might be better doing a Friday if it's this hard

harriethoyle · 29/11/2021 17:04

The cold is a killer isn't it... it's very snowy here and we're lucky to have electricity. A lot of local folk still don't!

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 29/11/2021 18:21

The cold weather makes it so much harder! Kitchen closing at 632 today, today has definitely been the hardest FD so far.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 29/11/2021 18:29

Kitchen closed on 620. How have the other fasters got on ?

harriethoyle · 29/11/2021 18:53

Kitchen closing here at 486. Has felt surprisingly easy... god knows why!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 29/11/2021 21:02

Well done @harriethoyle That's very solid
I will see how I feel tomorrow before deciding whether to carry on
Been very very hard which is unlike me

harriethoyle · 29/11/2021 21:43

Sounds like the odds were stacked against you today @absolutelyknackeredcow so you've done brilliantly to get to the finish line! You too @EatYourFive

See you all tomorrow!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 30/11/2021 07:33

Right I was very hungry overnight but I had a piece of dry toast and a cup of tea and feel loads better. I'm going to push on today and see how I go
Good luck everyone

EatYourFive · 30/11/2021 07:33

FD2 here we go - one small flat white for breakfast. I am.a coffee addict and been trying to get used to black coffee when I have done 5:2 in the past but so far have failed, would save me lots of calories!
Good luck today!

EatYourFive · 30/11/2021 07:35

That's brilliant @absolutelyknackeredcow, good luck, we can do this!!

harriethoyle · 30/11/2021 08:52

Morning @EatYourFive and @absolutelyknackeredcow - just done a Jillian Michaels and cracking on with the first of many black coffees!

OP posts:
absolutelyknackeredcow · 30/11/2021 09:34

@EatYourFive @harriethoyle Come on ladies 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

harriethoyle · 30/11/2021 13:37

Today is definitely harder than yesterday Sad Have had to break out emergency freezer toast to go with my lunchtime soup!

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 30/11/2021 13:47

Oh no @harriethoyle, not long now, we are more than half way through this B2B session, keep going!

I find today much easier than yesterday for some reason. Have only had one milky coffee and an apple so far, and just went for a brisk lunchtime hill walk. Now going to have a miso soup for lunch (thanks again for reminding me of them!), then another milky coffee for an afternoon snack and some boiled egg and veg for dinner followed by an early night.

harriethoyle · 30/11/2021 14:01

I'm trialling a new ready meal tonight and I'm scared it won't be any good! Might have to run and pick up a tried and tested faithful after work...! Grin

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 30/11/2021 15:26

Hmmm daydreaming of what to eat tomorrow instead of working. Thinking of prepping a no-knead bread tonight to bake for breakfast tomorrow.

Swipe left for the next trending thread