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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 · 08/12/2021 20:16

I'm trying a Friday fast this week because I'm busy at work and I'm travelling 4-8 so I'll take a packed tea. Probably won't be a full fast but will be a very limited day...

Maintaining once at target is fab @absolutelyknackeredcow !

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 08/12/2021 20:20

Can we talk about Christmas damage limitation please? Any suggestions very welcome...

I'm planning to do 8:16 once I suspend fasting for Christmas, for at least 4 days a week. I've a good friend staying 22nd-23rd Dec so they'll be boozy days! But can IF on both of them...

Going to aim to do Jillian work outs on days I'm wfh between now and Christmas too.

Any other tips I've not thought of?! Survival strategies very welcome!

OP posts:
Buntyforgirls · 08/12/2021 21:20

@harriethoyle I managed to close kitchen at 6 on target, so aiming for 16:8 tomorrow.
Today really helped to think about food choices- picking the tangerine over the scotch egg!
Thanks for the support, and Well done too!

EatYourFive · 08/12/2021 21:28

Don't have any good suggestions for Christmas damage limitations, I will be off work for over two weeks and we will hopefully go and stay at my mums for 9 days, she lives far and not seen her for ages.. Fasting is not an option there but I may try 8:16 and include a few wine-free days in there somehow.. Will definitely start afresh in January and give up wine (and chocolate?Shock) for a month.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 08/12/2021 22:11

@harriethoyle

Can we talk about Christmas damage limitation please? Any suggestions very welcome...

I'm planning to do 8:16 once I suspend fasting for Christmas, for at least 4 days a week. I've a good friend staying 22nd-23rd Dec so they'll be boozy days! But can IF on both of them...

Going to aim to do Jillian work outs on days I'm wfh between now and Christmas too.

Any other tips I've not thought of?! Survival strategies very welcome!

This is a very good question. I'm so divided - part of me says let's just eat but also I just know how hard it is to get it off. It has taken august - dec to get back to my target weight after not that bad eating on hols. I think my best strategy is do a fast on 22nd as I do manage my appetite well straight after a fast. I'm also aiming for a fast on the 30th to deal with the damage
harriethoyle · 09/12/2021 08:40

1.2kg off this week but I'm just gaining and losing the same 2kg. It's frustrating! I'm doing a mini tomorrow and Saturday will be my only drinking day so maybe that will kick start things a bit...

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 09/12/2021 08:41

Well done @Buntyforgirls an excellent start!

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 09/12/2021 09:44

Anyone else fasting today? I'm doing a mini FD and aiming to consume less than 800 calories.

harriethoyle · 09/12/2021 09:50

@EatYourFive I'm limiting myself - got meals planned out and should come in at c. 850...

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 09/12/2021 10:45

Sounds good @harriethoyle! Not quite sure what to eat today, was going to have avocado on toast for lunch but an average avocado seems to have lots of calories so have to have a rethink. I need to include more fibre somehow as the FDs seem to have a negative impact on my digestion (constipationBlush). Also trying to drink more water.

Does anyone else have any problems with their digestive system on and around FDs?

sweetgingercat · 09/12/2021 14:43

Hi all, can I join you lovely 5:2 fasters please?

I started 5:2 five weeks ago. I did it several years ago but I haven't maintained and now I have lots of kilos to lose Blush

I fasted for one day in the first week, two days in the second and have been doing 4:3 for the last three weeks, fasting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

I started my fasts from afternoon to afternoon to make it easier, but can do the whole day fasts now.

On fast days I normally eat 1 or 2 salads - lettuce, tomato and cucumber and one egg and 30g of grated cheese and a French dressing. I might eat one wrap with it. The later I eat, the less hungry I am. If I eat early, I am always hungry later in the day.

Cups of tea and those 8 calorie sweets from M&S have helped take the shine of hunger.

I haven't weighed myself but I can see I am getting thinner, my clothes are looser and I am much more flexible.

No one else is doing 5:2 around me in RL, so it is fantastic to find this group to give and gain support! Smile

harriethoyle · 09/12/2021 16:50

Sounds like you've got it nailed @sweetgingercat! Welcome Grin

No @EatYourFive I don't have that side effect but more fibre and water can only help...

OP posts:
sweetgingercat · 10/12/2021 10:11

Thank you @harriethoyle. I find non fasting days much more challenging because I tend to graze on things I shouldn't do. Does anyone else find this?

I'm fasting this morning. A cup of tea so far...
Anyone else fasting today?

harriethoyle · 10/12/2021 10:47

I am sort of @sweetgingercat - aiming to be under 800 calories...

YES re grazing. snacking is the worst thing for weight gain for me (and wine). I just can't have snacks in the house! I bloody love Chrstmas because of the unlimited snackage ;-) But I pay for it on the scales the week after! I try and be more disciplined on week days then if I snack at the weekend it does less damage... but it's a constant struggle to resist!

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 12/12/2021 20:44

How was the weekend fasters? Anyone joining me tomorrow? I'm b2bing and then a 3rd FD on thurs I think... determined to go into Christmas at my fighting weight!

OP posts:
sweetgingercat · 12/12/2021 21:34

Hi @harriethoyle... I had a nice weekend off fasting and I'm back on tomorrow, so will be joining you. I'm on my usual Monday, Wednesday, Friday fast this week.

I tried harder to be more organised on my off days this time and eat during meals so I didn't do so much naughty grazing. How about you?

harriethoyle · 12/12/2021 23:48

Friday was pretty good actually @sweetgingercat because I had to travel straight after work to DH so limited snaxidents Grin Saturday I was not at all well behaved but in the evening ate something that disagreed with me and spent most of the night throwing up Envy < not envy so really I've accidentally had a very virtuous weekend Grin

OP posts:
Buntyforgirls · 13/12/2021 07:19

Good morning! I will be fasting today too. Good 1st day, so feeling optimistic. Good luck, and enjoy the day everybody.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 13/12/2021 07:50

Hi @Buntyforgirls
Starting a b2b today and tomorrow - so I can hold your hand

EatYourFive · 13/12/2021 08:46

Good morning I'm in as well! B2b today and tomorrow and a mini FD on Thursday.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 13/12/2021 09:14

Yes go team

sweetgingercat · 13/12/2021 09:48

Yep, I'm in today too. I've just found some miso soup packets in the back of my cupboard and am feeling good!

I have recently been thinking of a mantra Kate Moss said she used about keeping (very) slim. (Not that I compare myself to her, nor do I advocate such thinness in models)

She said: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." I keep telling myself that.

And there's some truth in it. I do feel so strong emotionally on my fast days.

harriethoyle · 13/12/2021 11:23

@sweetgingercat Kate moss had clearly never eaten fresh warm white bread with lashings of continental butter, a wedge of brie and a side of red wine 😂

OP posts:
EatYourFive · 13/12/2021 12:58

Talking about celebs, the other day when I was fasting and feeling particularly strong about it I was wondering if this is how Victoria Beckham feels when she eats in a really fancy restaurant and only orders a plateful of steamed spinach! Grin

absolutelyknackeredcow · 13/12/2021 14:37

Rather controversially, I like that Kate Moss quote too...
That said - I couldn't do dieting every day - which is why 5:2 works for me.
The bakery near my work is defo better than skinny Smile