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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

4-week fasting countdown to the New Year

235 replies

HarpQuartet · 03/12/2023 07:21

Welcome all, this a thread for Intermittent Fasters who want a weekly check-in on Fridays. Chat and insights between the check-ins are welcome too, share as little or as much as you like. I weigh myself in between, others don’t, some of us are in kg, some in stones, it’s all good.

Here is a roll call for those who may wish to continue with accountability, encouragement, sharing your wisdom, wins, or woes. All are very welcome plus of course anyone new who'd like to join us. Sincere apologies to anyone I’ve inadvertently missed out; and if your name’s here but you’re not planning to join this thread, then wishing you well.

@Fouramclub
@pottypotamus
@trainplane
@TheShellBeach
@Clearingaspace
@putthehamsterbackinitscage
@MegBusset (hope you are still on your happy plateau)
@iwantavuvezela
@Clearingaspace
@Blackeyeliner
@Thereyougo10
@bluejay5
@gettingolderbutcooler
@Scentorii
@BackSeatDriving (would you like to continue stiffening your resolve? Such a good phrase)
@Sonnet
@Catherhino
@loveyouradvice welcome to the December thread!

OP posts:
BlunderingAlong · 09/12/2023 12:21

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TheShellBeach · 09/12/2023 12:35

I don't have a goal weight, as the loss required is overwhelming to consider

Hi @BlunderingAlong I think most of us in this thread understand that feeling. Most of us have a great deal to lose, not just a few pounds.

I started off with ten stone to lose. I've nearly lost four stone now, but it's so slow. It's soul destroying, and I'm fed up of it.

That's why I'm not worried if I don't lose anything in the lead up to Christmas. I want a few mince pies and chox.

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 09/12/2023 14:56

Hi all

Sorry for not posting sooner.

No weigh in for me this week as I just dread what it would look like. Had good intentions for this week but got out at risk at work on Monday so this week has been mostly about wine and snacks....

Aiming to get back on it next week.

TheShellBeach · 09/12/2023 15:02

Aiming to get back on it next week

I'm not. I'm just going to enjoy Christmas and not make rules for myself, because I know I won't stick to them, and that'll just upset me.

So bring on the mince pies!

Peae · 09/12/2023 17:31

Congratulations Harp on achieving your pre-Christmas goal, and everyone who is feeling successful.

Hugs to @Catherhino and others battling with illness or just life.

@StealthOps you wrote, "I think it’s really important to start this process before the New Year" and I wholeheartedly agree. I'm going to enjoy the seasonal 'treats' but I'm also going to avoid 12-hours of grazing each day.

Welcome @Cherryblossom81 I really wanted to like Mindy Pelz's stuff, but I just wasn't convinced. There didn't seem to be any evidence behind her claims. The best I've took from it is gaining an awareness that sometimes I have energy and at other times of my cycle I don't.

I forgot to weigh-in, but the measure when I finally remembered was half a pound on. Today was the first day of my Zoe thing, so all day I have eaten some cookies and then a much-appreciated warm salad. All a bit nerve-wracking so far, but the CGM is fascinating.

Original poster
HarpQuartet · 09/12/2023 17:51

Looking forward to seeing what you think of Zoe, @Peae I only know a little bit about it. After the cookie or muffin or whatever it is they provide, do you just eat whatever you normally would, and write it down? And how long for?

OP posts:
StealthOps · 09/12/2023 17:57

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Peae · 09/12/2023 18:05

I ate two breakfast biscuits and then fasted for 4 hours. Then I ate two blue dinner biscuits and fasted for 2 hours. The biscuits reminded me of Barley's Rusks, tasted very chemically to me, and needed quite a bit of water to get them down. Then I had to do a blood test. I still have to take a poo sample(!) and then it's a case of watching for the blue biscuits to appear again.
Apparently this is the most full-on day and things become a bit less intense. My CGM graph is up and down all over the place today, but staying within the green zone, which can only be good right..?

StealthOps · 09/12/2023 18:06

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Peae · 09/12/2023 18:08

Sorry, two more things I wanted to check-in with. Firstly, I've been trying to speed up my slow ambling walk to work, since listening to the benefit of a faster walk. Then on Thursday a crazy thought popped in to my head - it might be nice to go for a run 😱. I quickly came to my senses and tried to put this madness out of my mind.

Secondly, I have recruited a friend for some kind of wellbeing/support group in the New Year. We are each going to approach another friend to see if they'd like to join us.

StealthOps · 09/12/2023 18:09

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Peae · 09/12/2023 18:10

On the positive side Zoe did evidence that I’m healthy, excellent microbiome <preen>. Not pre diabetic, can metabolise fats well. I mainly eat a Mediterranean home cooked diet, even my snacks are healthy most of the time, almost teetotal, just, I eat too often, too much. so , fasting is the obvious last tool in the box to make the change, to bring my weight into the healthy zone. Which is why I’m here for the long term, no matter how long it takes to kick in, this is it for me. Or else I’m simply out of ideas.

@StealthOps how long did it take for your results to come through? Also, in terms of your diet, did they deduce that from your food diary? I'm reading comments online that it's a bit of a drag if you mostly cook from ingredients.
How long a fast are you working towards?

Peae · 09/12/2023 18:12

Stick with it, the first few days are intense but so worth it.

Thank you, by the time I'd eaten nothing but biscuits and then braved a blood test, I was having second thoughts. (I did cheer up a bit after my lovely salad. And Jammy Dodgers).

StealthOps · 09/12/2023 18:44

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StealthOps · 09/12/2023 18:50

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Peae · 10/12/2023 10:10

(I remembered to weigh myself at the right time today, so two days late I'm actually checking in with a 2lb loss. That's 2lb in to my gained weight, but I'm very happy with that).

pottypotamus · 10/12/2023 13:13

Hi all, sorry I missed Friday weight in.
Well done to everyone still losing and maintaining during December!

I'm struggling seeing all the mince pies, gingerbread and panettone's in the supermarket. I'm avoiding doing the weekly shop and sending DH instead.

No significant drop for me this week. Down from 66.8kg to 66.7kg but glad it's not a gain.

My aim was 65-ish kg by mid-Dec, I might be pushing it a bit. Hoping to dip below 66kg anyway.

Interesting the discussion about fasting during AF. I find I cannot fast for the lift of me while I'm on my period.

StealthOps · 10/12/2023 16:14

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TheShellBeach · 10/12/2023 17:20

@pottypotamus You must have been much bigger to start with, surely?
My goal weight is higher than 67kg!

Clearingaspace · 10/12/2023 19:18

Weight is crazy, there have been threads on here a few years ago where people the same height share pics of themselves and they all look so different.

I am trying to do the same stealth - I swerved the mine pies at work on Fri only to have one before my dinner and didn’t feel too great. I did it the correct order today and it really seemed better - maybe it’s placebo not sure 🤔

Clearingaspace · 10/12/2023 19:19

Same weight not same height necessarily

StealthOps · 10/12/2023 20:03

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Clearingaspace · 10/12/2023 20:27

I think I need to burn the end of that information into my brain stealth 😳, but yes logic will go out the window for me a lot of the time when I am deciding to eat something delicious but full of sugar. At the moment though fasting is helping me to lose weight but at the same time eat Christmas celebration stuff and I am amazed by this. Maybe in January I will copy that info and stick it on the leftover Christmas chocolates!

it’s interesting about how your childhood has affected your eating. My husband had a somewhat neglected childhood and he and his sister have some real issues around food. My parents were kind of show your love through food types which probably helped make me a comfort eater. Our dc def have inherited some of our issues even though I tried not to let this happen, but also some times it’s nice to show love through food! Food is such a minefield, but I imagine humans lives have always had food as a focus so it would be hard to be emotionless about food.

pottypotamus · 10/12/2023 20:56

Sorry my starting weight was 72.5kg in Mid-Oct. I have been heavier than this in the past but I'm only 5ft2" so to get out of the overweight BMI range I need to get under 61.5kg. Still a while to go for me. And Xmas might set me back a little bit I figured if I just don't buy Xmas delights to tempt myself with in the first place I might even maintain over the next 2-3 weeks.

Fouramclub · 10/12/2023 21:15

Hello all! Sorry I did actually type out a really long message on Friday (or maybe it was yesterday) but I didn't end up posting it. It thought I had. Maybe I posted it on a different thread. Who knows.

it's a shame as it was a long one replying to lost as of the other lovely posts on here but I will start afresh and just post my weigh in.

so starting weight in December of 73.6kg

weigh in today 72.7kg

almost 1kg lost as I didn't even fast this week as I've been sick and I've mainly been eating carbs. I think all the snot made me lose appetite and despite the carbs I didn't eat as much as I thought I had.

anyway, feeling much better so back on it tomorrow!

well done everyone on getting through the week!