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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.

Original poster

Extended fasting, anyone?

300 replies

Bearyhumcrack · 16/03/2022 18:49

I like to fast for 48-72 hours most weeks. Works well for me and then I minimise carbs the rest of the time (weekends not so much).

I'm almost at the end of my longest ever fast of 156hours (14 to go) and I've lost about 10lb. Based on my last long fast, I expect 3-4lb of that to go back on once I have refed but half a stone or so should be in the bin!

Curious if there's anyone else on here who's a faster?

OP posts:
User6784097 · 14/07/2022 15:16

How do u cope socially? Eg going out with friends for a coffee etc? Meeting family?
I have done 20/4 fasting for a while and was thinking to get back to it would like to try longer fasts but struggle with the social aspect of it

LittlePearl · 14/07/2022 16:07

tattychicken · 14/07/2022 14:44

When you guys are fasting are you having absolutely nothing to eat or eg under 500 cals?

I have nothing.

I actually find it easier than having a small meal. But then I'm a bit of an 'all or nothing ' person by nature. The 'fast feast' approach to eating suits me well, plus I'm convinced by the science of fasting for health reasons.

LittlePearl · 14/07/2022 16:14

User6784097 · 14/07/2022 15:16

How do u cope socially? Eg going out with friends for a coffee etc? Meeting family?
I have done 20/4 fasting for a while and was thinking to get back to it would like to try longer fasts but struggle with the social aspect of it

This is the trickiest thing for me, as I don't want to be that person nursing a black coffee when everyone else is tucking in.

I try to plan ahead and fast on days when I have no social engagements. If I'm doing an eating window (usually 20:4) I change the time of the window depending on what I've got on. It's less easy when we have people coming to stay, which we do quite a lot in the summer especially.

Original poster
Bearyhumcrack · 14/07/2022 16:48

Much easier for me to eat nothing, as pp said - I'm all or nothing. I can do lunches with a black coffee but schedule fasting around any social evenings.

OP posts:
felicityfortunate · 14/07/2022 23:03

I'm going to try a b2b fast next week which is, I suppose, an extended fast?

RaisinGhost · 15/07/2022 04:07

Wow, I'm really impressed. I'm convinced of the health benefits of fasting and I do feel good after I've done a short (compared to you guys) fast of 20 hours. I want to go longer but I always give in. Thing is, if I could control myself around food, I wouldn't be overweight and I wouldn't need to fast anyway. Any thoughts on this? What keeps you going on the fast?

felicityfortunate · 15/07/2022 10:57

I'm not an expert, having just finished my first week of 5:2 😂
But the thing that got me though was that it's limited and effective
The trick for me will be sticking to it longer term

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 15/07/2022 11:03

felicityfortunate · 15/07/2022 10:57

I'm not an expert, having just finished my first week of 5:2 😂
But the thing that got me though was that it's limited and effective
The trick for me will be sticking to it longer term

On 5:2 the “fast” days aren’t true fasts? They’re just reduced calorie days?

LittlePearl · 15/07/2022 11:31

Today is day 3 of my longer fast. Feeling much better today than yesterday.

Beary, I spent so long looking at options for electrolytes that I ended up feeling overwhelmed and didn't order anything so I've decided to follow Jason Fung's advice and make bone broth. OH has gone off to buy a roast chicken, I'll make some broth with the carcass.

Original poster
Bearyhumcrack · 15/07/2022 11:41

@LittlePearl that will be spot on. You do need to keep your potassium and magnesium up, chicken broth will be fine, I always add salt which is bloody delicious during a fast!

OP posts:
OnceAgainWithFeeling · 15/07/2022 13:11

I use the 40,000 volts electrolytes from Amazon.

User6784097 · 15/07/2022 13:15

I just started back thanks to this thread. Doing OMAd to start with and then will try to go longer

tattychicken · 15/07/2022 13:33

Me too!!! Am on day 3 but am eating a little bit so not full fasting. Feeling cold and nauseous today.

LittlePearl · 15/07/2022 15:37

Unless I start to feel really unwell I'm hoping to do 7 days this time which will be my longest stretch to date. I've previously stopped at 4 - 5 days.

If I'm feeling great at 7 days I may stretch to 10 but I need to stop then to allow a few days to readjust to eating before we have family coming to stay.

This hot weather is helping as usually I feel the cold very badly when I'm fasting.

LittlePearl · 15/07/2022 15:38

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 15/07/2022 13:11

I use the 40,000 volts electrolytes from Amazon.

Thanks for the tip 🙂

LittlePearl · 19/07/2022 18:03

Well this is day 7 and I've decided to go to 10 days.

Not really hungry, but I'm missing the pleasure of eating. Everything seems a bit 'black and white' without food!

I'm lightheaded if I get up too quickly but other than that feel ok, which is why I'm going to try to last to the end of the week. Losing quite a bit of weight but I'm not going to get too excited about it as I know all the water weight will go back on when I start eating normally.

loveyouradvice · 21/07/2022 15:43

This is something I would like to explore more - for the health benefits.

I've lost lots of weight mainly doing 20:4, but with a regular 24 hour fast a week, sometimes 36 hrs. And am now at goal weight - for life!!

Interestingly Gin Stephens says that longer than a 36 hour fast does affect your metabolism so that for those who want to lose weight it's best not to go beyond this... but other health benefits accrue with longer fasts if one's not worried about weight loss. So yes I do believe in the benefits of 5-7 day fasts - and lots of non-Western cultures endorse these and have for centuries.

LittlePearl · 21/07/2022 17:16

Congratulations on reaching your goal weight loveyouradvice, fabulous achievement!

Yes, I was puzzled that Gin Stephens said that (about fasts over 36 hours) because she's got most of her science from Jason Fung who DOES support longer fasts. He gives many examples of studies that indicate metabolism isn't affected by extending the fasting period.

LittlePearl · 23/07/2022 17:41

Just a brief update......I did it🤗

10 full days with only black coffee and tea, and a small amount of chicken broth.

I've just broken my fast with a small dish of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber with a little olive oil and vinegar. It was SO tasty!

Very happy that it's over and hoping it's given my appetite a bit of a reset.

Girlintheframe · 23/07/2022 20:32

Wow 10 days is impressive!! Well done!

I've just completed by first 60 hr fast and loved it.

How often can you do 48-72 hr fasts does anyone know?

Also has fasting consistently resulted in weight loss for anyone? Weight loss isint really the aim but would be a nice byproduct.

LittlePearl · 01/08/2022 14:18

I think with 48 - 72 hour fasts you can probably do them pretty regularly. I go through phases of being able to fit a couple of fasts (say 40 - 48 hours) into my week when I'm in the right frame of mind.

I have definitely lost weight in the past like this, in fact it's my preferred way to achieve weight loss. I think it's a much healthier approach than calorie counting or cutting out complete food groups and it suits my personality. I like the 'feast / fast' approach to life. I just need to get better at balancing the two!

Girlintheframe · 01/08/2022 18:23

LittlePearl · 01/08/2022 14:18

I think with 48 - 72 hour fasts you can probably do them pretty regularly. I go through phases of being able to fit a couple of fasts (say 40 - 48 hours) into my week when I'm in the right frame of mind.

I have definitely lost weight in the past like this, in fact it's my preferred way to achieve weight loss. I think it's a much healthier approach than calorie counting or cutting out complete food groups and it suits my personality. I like the 'feast / fast' approach to life. I just need to get better at balancing the two!

Thanks for that.

I've now done a couple of 65-72 hour fasts and love it!

I like the fast/feast approach too. Makes me really enjoy my food without worrying about restriction.

MatchaTea · 04/08/2022 02:02

loveyouradvice · 21/07/2022 15:43

This is something I would like to explore more - for the health benefits.

I've lost lots of weight mainly doing 20:4, but with a regular 24 hour fast a week, sometimes 36 hrs. And am now at goal weight - for life!!

Interestingly Gin Stephens says that longer than a 36 hour fast does affect your metabolism so that for those who want to lose weight it's best not to go beyond this... but other health benefits accrue with longer fasts if one's not worried about weight loss. So yes I do believe in the benefits of 5-7 day fasts - and lots of non-Western cultures endorse these and have for centuries.

Extended fasting will negatively impact bone density and this is something everyone should consider.
Bone density is acquired by the age of 30 and from there it is mainly loss. You can try slow down the loss, but some actions, such as extended fasting will accelerate loss of bone density . And bone density is something almost impossible to gain back.
The health benefit from fasting are linked to the weightloss. Any overweight or obese person will benefit metabolically from losing weight. Be it by fasting or caloric restriction.
It is true that some culture embrace a prolonged fasting but only once a year.

TheOrigRights · 04/08/2022 03:17

I'm curious, can you still exercise when in the midst of one of these long fasts?
I cannot imagine being able to.
nb I am of normal/low body weight

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 04/08/2022 05:21

I can’t fast for whole days due to my medication and lifestyle, but live on a 18:6 or 20:4 daily window eat very little dairy and bread is a very rare treat maybe once a month . I love it and rarely feel hungry, I feel fantastic, my skin is better (was very dry) and I think I make healthier food choices, I do drink lots of wine & water.I never weigh myself but I have gone from a size 16 to size 10 in 5ish months.