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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

Three weeks into 16:8 - ‘before and after pics’

40 replies

Smudge2201 · 20/07/2023 18:16

Hi all, after years of too many takeaways, I’ve thrown myself into it over the last three weeks.

I am doing the 16:8 intermittent fasting plan, and have lost 7lbs so far. I’ve been taking ‘after’ pics each week to motivate myself. I know it’s early days, but I feel like I can see a difference already, OH can’t see it. Am I kidding myself? Before is on the left hand side. I have another 2st to lose so I know I’m in it for the long haul!

Three weeks into 16:8 - ‘before and after pics’
OP posts:
Annaisatwat · 21/07/2023 21:46

You have definitely lost weight on your face. There is a difference!

Well done!

AdoraBell · 21/07/2023 21:49

Definitely difference between the photos. Well done 👍

mondaytosunday · 21/07/2023 22:01

Are you changing what you eat or just the same in fewer hours?

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 21/07/2023 22:39

Annaisatwat · 21/07/2023 21:46

You have definitely lost weight on your face. There is a difference!

Well done!

Yes, glad it’s not just me! Long way to go though. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Smudge2201 · 21/07/2023 22:39

AdoraBell · 21/07/2023 21:49

Definitely difference between the photos. Well done 👍

Thank you! 😊

OP posts:
3luckystars · 21/07/2023 22:40

Can you explain it to me, you eat for 8 hours and not for 16 hours. Is that it?

you definitely lost weight on your face.

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 21/07/2023 22:41

mondaytosunday · 21/07/2023 22:01

Are you changing what you eat or just the same in fewer hours?

Both I’d say. I was having a lot of takeaways / ready meals / cakes and snacks. Now I am eating only 11am - 6.30pm and although it’s three ‘meals’ and healthy snacks it’s significantly, significantly less food than before.

OP posts:
Original poster
Smudge2201 · 21/07/2023 22:43

3luckystars · 21/07/2023 22:40

Can you explain it to me, you eat for 8 hours and not for 16 hours. Is that it?

you definitely lost weight on your face.

Thank you. I’ve just typed out what I do in the post above - hope that helps. I am by no means overly knowledgable on it though, just doing what feels right within the 16:8 basics.

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 21/07/2023 22:45

You are very welcome 😁

Kona84 · 21/07/2023 23:23

i can see a difference.

I am 3 weeks into IF too - I tend to do 17:7 with a 7pm-12noon fast.
move thrown in a couple of 18:6 and 20:4’s too and yesterday was a 24hr fast. Just to shake things up.
ive lost more than I expected in just 3 weeks.

I don’t eat 3 meals though I tend to just have lunch and dinner and maybe one snack if I’m particularly hungry

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 09:16

Kona84 · 21/07/2023 23:23

i can see a difference.

I am 3 weeks into IF too - I tend to do 17:7 with a 7pm-12noon fast.
move thrown in a couple of 18:6 and 20:4’s too and yesterday was a 24hr fast. Just to shake things up.
ive lost more than I expected in just 3 weeks.

I don’t eat 3 meals though I tend to just have lunch and dinner and maybe one snack if I’m particularly hungry

Well done! I don’t think I could go down to two meals as I tend to get shaky / tired when I do that, even when not doing IF.

OP posts:
Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 09:18

End of third week weigh-in. Have lost another 2lbs so 9lbs in total now in three weeks, and bang on 13st. Really pleased as I am due my period in 3-4 days so wasn’t really expecting anything. Hoping to eventually get to 11st 5lbs, but that’s many, many weeks away.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Three weeks into 16:8 - ‘before and after pics’
OP posts:
AssertiveGertrude · 22/07/2023 09:19

You look great ! Any headaches or side effects op? What are you having for your meals - interested in this myself

Amdone123 · 22/07/2023 09:24

@Smudge2201 , you are smashing this !
You'll get to your target, I'm sure.
I enjoy 16 : 8, as it's the way I naturally eat, so I find it relatively easy. I do brunch then tea, so 2 meals, too, as per a pp. Sometimes a mid day snack, depends.

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 09:27

AssertiveGertrude · 22/07/2023 09:19

You look great ! Any headaches or side effects op? What are you having for your meals - interested in this myself

Thank you! I did have a bit of a head ache one day this week, but nothing major. And tiredness, but that seems to be passing.

In terms of what I’m eating, it varies but pretty much:

Breakfast: bran flakes with some chopped red grapes and semi-skimmed milk (11am)

Lunch: Salad with either cottage cheese / chicken / ham / prawns. Or sometimes a roll or wholemeal pitta with the same in.

Dinner: salad with as above, or green veg with the same. Usually if I’ve had a salad for lunch, I’ll have a pitta / roll for dinner or vice versa. Or sometimes share a frozen bag of risotto / veg and noodles with OH if I want something hot. (6.30pm)

Snacks in the day before dinner: satsuma, cherries, Greek yogurt.

I’m no expert, but doing ok at the moment.

OP posts:
AssertiveGertrude · 22/07/2023 09:55

That’s totally doable op! Well done

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 10:03

Amdone123 · 22/07/2023 09:24

@Smudge2201 , you are smashing this !
You'll get to your target, I'm sure.
I enjoy 16 : 8, as it's the way I naturally eat, so I find it relatively easy. I do brunch then tea, so 2 meals, too, as per a pp. Sometimes a mid day snack, depends.

Thank you, I hope so! It seems to suit me too, as I’m pretty sure I was easily eating an extra meals worth after dinner before starting this, so cuts that out straight away.

OP posts:
Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 10:03

AssertiveGertrude · 22/07/2023 09:55

That’s totally doable op! Well done

Thank you! I hope so 🤞🏼

OP posts:
Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 14:20

Feeling a bit low today despite the weigh-in. Pretty sure it’s just hormones. But stupidly tried on clothes that hadn’t fit for ages and got upset that I’m still miles from them fitting, and annoyed with myself for getting so big. And OH got a McDonalds and it took a lot of willpower to not have some 😞 sorry to vent.

OP posts:
Gherkingreen · 22/07/2023 14:30

You're doing brilliantly, you're bound to have off days, don't be hard on yourself and try to stay on track - you're seeing results and we know how hormones impact literally everything!
I started a similar routine a few weeks ago to try and keep perimenopausal weight gain at bay.
I tend to eat last meal at 7pm then nothing until 12noon next day.
It's working brilliantly, I wanted to shift about 7lb and have done that with ease, new routine suits me well as not cutting out any food groups.
I'm not wedded to total fasting and do tend to have a cup of tea with milk first thing but by reducing my calorie intake overall, I'm losing a steady 1lb a week.
Meals are generally healthy anyway but have cut right down on snacks and alcohol (which also helps me sleep better) and I exercise at home most days (weights/cardio) and walk my dog for about 60/90 minutes each day.

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 22/07/2023 14:34

Gherkingreen · 22/07/2023 14:30

You're doing brilliantly, you're bound to have off days, don't be hard on yourself and try to stay on track - you're seeing results and we know how hormones impact literally everything!
I started a similar routine a few weeks ago to try and keep perimenopausal weight gain at bay.
I tend to eat last meal at 7pm then nothing until 12noon next day.
It's working brilliantly, I wanted to shift about 7lb and have done that with ease, new routine suits me well as not cutting out any food groups.
I'm not wedded to total fasting and do tend to have a cup of tea with milk first thing but by reducing my calorie intake overall, I'm losing a steady 1lb a week.
Meals are generally healthy anyway but have cut right down on snacks and alcohol (which also helps me sleep better) and I exercise at home most days (weights/cardio) and walk my dog for about 60/90 minutes each day.

Thank you, Reading that really helped! And well done, you’re doing great. I am 42 and pretty sure I am peri. I know what I’m like, I’m a terror for self-sabotaging at about this point, so I just need to give myself a talking to and stick with it, as I can see from the photos that I look healthier for it.

OP posts:
Amdone123 · 23/07/2023 10:06

@Smudge2201 , hope you're feeling better today. As a pp said, we all have off days, we just have to plough through them.
Keep going!

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 23/07/2023 10:50

Amdone123 · 23/07/2023 10:06

@Smudge2201 , hope you're feeling better today. As a pp said, we all have off days, we just have to plough through them.
Keep going!

Thank you 🥰 so far I am feeling better today.

OP posts:
Nugg · 31/07/2023 08:48

Hi Smudge,

Your post has inspired and helped me! I can definitely see a difference in your face - WELL DONE YOU!

I have been thinking about doing this for a while and today I woke up and decided today is the day! I went and bought some scales on the way back from my morning walk and am horrified at the number on them - bang on 15 stone and no wonder I am busting out of size 16s.....summer 2021 I was in a size 12 easily but no idea of weight as I had no scales! I need that weigh in motivate though so I intend to weigh in weekly at first and off I go!

I did read a cup of tea with a dash of milk (literally have less than a tsp) is ok in the morning so have had one...and then will have water til around 12/1 depending on when I am hungry then work out my 8:16 from there....!

I need to read up more, as I am sure people have said eat ANYTHING you like in that time.....surely not?! I can't eat a huge amount as I have had bariatric surgery, but I graze instead and take snacks to bed and UGH - old habits have crept back in!

So here goes....hope this week's weigh in was as successful for you 😀

Original poster
Smudge2201 · 31/07/2023 19:30

Nugg · 31/07/2023 08:48

Hi Smudge,

Your post has inspired and helped me! I can definitely see a difference in your face - WELL DONE YOU!

I have been thinking about doing this for a while and today I woke up and decided today is the day! I went and bought some scales on the way back from my morning walk and am horrified at the number on them - bang on 15 stone and no wonder I am busting out of size 16s.....summer 2021 I was in a size 12 easily but no idea of weight as I had no scales! I need that weigh in motivate though so I intend to weigh in weekly at first and off I go!

I did read a cup of tea with a dash of milk (literally have less than a tsp) is ok in the morning so have had one...and then will have water til around 12/1 depending on when I am hungry then work out my 8:16 from there....!

I need to read up more, as I am sure people have said eat ANYTHING you like in that time.....surely not?! I can't eat a huge amount as I have had bariatric surgery, but I graze instead and take snacks to bed and UGH - old habits have crept back in!

So here goes....hope this week's weigh in was as successful for you 😀

Good luck! You’ll do great. I have milk and teas and coffee outside of the 16:8 window and it doesn’t seem to have any negative effect. I need it to get through so it’s that or not do it 😊

OP posts: