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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.

16-8

948 replies

Beachcomber74 · 08/05/2024 21:06

Day 1 of this adventure. I’ve got a headache but will soon be going to bed.
My eating window today was 8am-4pm. I’ve got so much to shift & hope I can keep this up. Anyone else want to join?

OP posts:
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GameOfJones · 26/08/2024 21:21

Hello all, I'm back after my holiday and want to get back into my intermittent fasting as it all went out the window while I was away.

I stood on the scales this morning and I was SEVEN pounds up. I know that some of that will be bloating as I am pretty confident I haven't put on half a stone in a week. But the main thing is I actually feel dreadful. Too full, sluggish and just bleurgh. So I'm back to my clean fasts and I'm going to focus on fibre, fruit and vegetables this week with lots of water (and my black coffee in the mornings.)

greengreyblue · 27/08/2024 07:14

Hope you had a nice holiday @GameOfJones a d hopefully a few fasts will set you right. I feel pretty set with the fasting mornings and am quite impressed that I’ve been off work all summer and still haven’t had breakfast . Back to work next week and it’s always easier then.. The weekends are still a bit slippery where wine is concerned. Totally forgot it was Monday yesterday, not the friggin weekend!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Anyway, let’s crack on this week , we can do this!

greengreyblue · 27/08/2024 17:54

18hr fast today.
lunch: salad with leftover coleslaw and half an avocado, 2 whole grain rice cakes with low fat soft cheese, apple.
Dinner: chilli with brown rice. Kitchen just closed.

OwlsDance · 27/08/2024 17:58

I was half a kg up this morning. However, I've had carbonara for dinner last night, which was both salty and carby, I also went for 5 mile run, having not run for a week, AND I'm due on.

Fast finished after 17.5 hrs today.

choc27 · 27/08/2024 19:12

A bit annoyed with myself today, just cooked and ate a bowl of pasta that I didn't really need. On autopilot, cooking for the family and just ate out of habit.
I could easily have gone without. I'll try not to do that again.

Queencam · 27/08/2024 19:44

choc27 · 27/08/2024 19:12

A bit annoyed with myself today, just cooked and ate a bowl of pasta that I didn't really need. On autopilot, cooking for the family and just ate out of habit.
I could easily have gone without. I'll try not to do that again.

So easily done! I can’t resist bloody pasta. It’s tough cooking for the kids and stopping yourself eating it.

Fasted 16 hours and had some nachos with black beans, avocado and sour cream for lunch. Stir fry veg and prawns with brown rice for dinner.

greengreyblue · 27/08/2024 19:47

@choc27 why is pasta bad? I eat pasta still. Can you not make that for you too? Smaller portion and a big salad or veg with it.

Queencam · 27/08/2024 19:49

OwlsDance · 27/08/2024 17:58

I was half a kg up this morning. However, I've had carbonara for dinner last night, which was both salty and carby, I also went for 5 mile run, having not run for a week, AND I'm due on.

Fast finished after 17.5 hrs today.

My weight goes up just before / on my period. Thanks for that Mother Nature

choc27 · 27/08/2024 21:42

greengreyblue · 27/08/2024 19:47

@choc27 why is pasta bad? I eat pasta still. Can you not make that for you too? Smaller portion and a big salad or veg with it.

I didn't mean pasta was bad, I just didn't need any dinner at all! I wasn't hungry, but autopiloted sitting down and eating dinner at 6 like we always do. I could probably have done omad.

greengreyblue · 27/08/2024 21:59

Oh I see. That would have taken willpower of steel!
I’m not hungry but DH has just made himself toast and the smell is calling. Going to clean my teeth and go to bed where I’m safe!

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 28/08/2024 11:34

Morning all. sorry, I've been a bit off this thread as I just wasn't seeing any change and was a bit disheartened. Well done to everyone who is still seeing progress!

I am increasingly of the opinion that some movement is really really important. Not exercise necessararily, but movement. And I've done a lot less of that the last two weeks. But I'm slowly going down again and have finally dropped below my previous lowest. Sadly, still waiting to get below my magic 82kg - a weight I haven't been below in about 5 years - but I'm close now at 82.2. Next week when kids go back to school and I'm back into my morning routine of rushing around, quick dog walk etc, I hope to see real progress again.

greengreyblue · 28/08/2024 18:47

18.5 hr fast
lunch: small jacket potato with tuna and salad
dinner: lean pork skewer with butter bean cassoulet, tender stem broccoli, apple.

Queencam · 28/08/2024 19:09

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 28/08/2024 11:34

Morning all. sorry, I've been a bit off this thread as I just wasn't seeing any change and was a bit disheartened. Well done to everyone who is still seeing progress!

I am increasingly of the opinion that some movement is really really important. Not exercise necessararily, but movement. And I've done a lot less of that the last two weeks. But I'm slowly going down again and have finally dropped below my previous lowest. Sadly, still waiting to get below my magic 82kg - a weight I haven't been below in about 5 years - but I'm close now at 82.2. Next week when kids go back to school and I'm back into my morning routine of rushing around, quick dog walk etc, I hope to see real progress again.

Well done getting down to 82 👍🏼
yes agreed on movement. There is not enough of that for me really..

managed 16 hours today and had a ham, beetroot sourdough sandwich for lunch and leftover black beans avocado nachos for dinner. Also picked at the kids pasta… but managed to resist an ice cream at this amazeballs ice cream farm today. Win some lose some

Rockfordpeach · 28/08/2024 19:48

Hi do you mind if I join in? I am considering trying OMAD with perhaps a couple of 16:8 on my busier days. Currently in the middle of my first OMAD fast

GameOfJones · 29/08/2024 14:00

Welcome @Rockfordpeach

Well, it just shows you how much the scales can vary as after weighing myself and being 7lbs up post holiday I weighed yesterday after a couple of fasts and was 5lbs down. I know that's not true fat gain and loss and is just bloat/water retention etc but it does go to show I mustn't get too hung up on the number on the scales if the overall trend is downwards.

17 hour fast yesterday. Lunch was a cheese and onion sandwich and some strawberries, I had a pint of shandy at the pub in the afternoon and then dinner was mixed vegetable filo pie with new potatoes and carrots.

16 hour fast overnight and this morning. Lunch was granola, yoghurt and berries and I've had some salted crisps. Dinner is mixed vegetable stir fry.

Rollergirl11 · 29/08/2024 14:55

Hi all, keeping on with 16:8 and sometimes doing OMAD. I am really enjoying the flexibility of this way of eating. We went out to celebrate my DS’s GCSE results last Thursday and then we were away visiting the in-laws for the bank holiday weekend where we ate out on another two occasions. On those days I did OMAD and so I have managed to keep the weight off.

I weighed this morning and I have lost 5lb in total in exactly 4 weeks so I’m pretty happy with that. When I weighed myself at the beginning I was actually 6lb more than I had estimated (the battery was gone on my scales for a good while).

SW = 10 st 9
CW = 10 st 4
TW = 9 st 9 (and then maybe 9 st 7)

greengreyblue · 29/08/2024 15:14

Oh @GameOfJones thats marvellous!!!
Hi @Rockfordpeach and welcome.
Fast 18hrs today. Lunch was a big bowl of crunchy salad vegetables and some feta dressed with a tablespoon of hummus and lemon juice and stirred. Yummy and filling . Strawberries after. Well done @Rollergirl11 . Weigh day for me tomorrow.

Queencam · 29/08/2024 21:15

18 hour fast, then popcorn and dried apricot in the cinema with my boy. Had a Nando’s chicken wrap for lunch - awful. Then Sainsburys taste the difference Spanish chicken soup with added chickpeas. Also awful

greengreyblue · 30/08/2024 08:47

Well the scales are showing I’m up just under 2 lbs. I’m not sure how that’s possible but I do feel a bit bloated. Bit of a downer as I’ve done 18 hr fasts pretty much every day , steps are still over 10,000 a day. Yesterday I did 13000! But, I know this happens and sometimes you just plateau for a bit and then drop again if you keep plodding on. Just a bit miffed as I was below 10st and now just over again! 🥴 The only thing I can think of is that I’ve had less water this week and feel like I need to be in the loo for a while.😳
SW: 10st 6
CW: was 9st 12.5- now 10.5st
TW : 9st 10 then 7.

greengreyblue · 30/08/2024 09:00

Not 10.5st, 10.035 apparently.

choc27 · 30/08/2024 10:38

I've also gone up a bit this week which I'm gutted about. Monday I was 147 lb, today 147.6. I know it's not much but I felt like I'd done really well this week! I'm out for drinks tonight so that won't help.

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 30/08/2024 11:28

I think when you're getting to the pointy end in terms of loss, it's hard becaus as women, our weight fluctuates quite a lot due to hormones, bloating etc. I think it's more important to be noticing how your clothes feel etc. Can you get into those trousers that you know are the trousers that fit you when you're at the right weight etc?

DH has had his own weight challenges over the years and is now an exercise instructor (and not overweight at all). He's not in the slightest bit an expert - unlike with PTs who do get a bit of training on this stuff, instructors don't - but he does say that when he speaks to colleagues etc, they all recommend to their clients that they use those machines to asses body fat percentage etc, go by how they feel to a large extent etc. ie, use the scale as just ONE measurement tool.

In my case, I think where fasting really does seem to make a difference in terms of calories in - yesterday DD and I spontaneously decided to drive down to the beach. I had a very late breakfast of just some toast (at the end of my fasting window) and we then treated ourselves to fish and chips around 5pm and a mini cupcake thing at 7:30 on our way home. By the time we got home at around 9 we were both a bit peckish but as we were past my eating window, I didn't eat anything. But if I wasn't fasting, I absolutely would have had something light like an egg on toast or something (which is what DD had). And this morning, I'm just my usual amount of hungry, not extra hungry, so clearly it was the right decision. Overall I probably still had too many calories yesterday (fish and chips are glorious, but not exactly low cal) but I didn't pack in any ADDITIONAL extra calories, if that makes sense?

Queencam · 30/08/2024 12:43

I was up last week too. Sooooooo frustrating! Yes I also thought I’m that weight where it’s difficult to lose, your body really hangs onto it.

I might give up carbs too for September and see if that speeds up loss.

I am still committed to fasting though. On the whole I feel less bloated and my energy levels have been better. I think if I wasn’t fasting I’d also be gaining..

greengreyblue · 30/08/2024 12:49

Yes you’re all right.I do feel better and all my clothes look better, just want to see that number go down. Years ago I did 5:2 and there was 2 weeks where I just stalled. It was gutting as 500 cals ( as it was then) was tough, but then all of a sudden I started going down again. Holding on to that . Haven’t eaten yet, got my sister over for lunch in a bit so it will be 19+ hr fast. Have done some Greek style foods so will be healthy but probs more than normal so I might do OMAD. Tomorrow I have a family meal/ big occasion in the evening so I’m doing OMAD for that plus wine!Have a good weekend everyone . So glad I can come on here and share, I don’t discuss with anyone else bar DH and his response is ‘you look fine’ 😁

Queencam · 30/08/2024 12:57

greengreyblue · 30/08/2024 12:49

Yes you’re all right.I do feel better and all my clothes look better, just want to see that number go down. Years ago I did 5:2 and there was 2 weeks where I just stalled. It was gutting as 500 cals ( as it was then) was tough, but then all of a sudden I started going down again. Holding on to that . Haven’t eaten yet, got my sister over for lunch in a bit so it will be 19+ hr fast. Have done some Greek style foods so will be healthy but probs more than normal so I might do OMAD. Tomorrow I have a family meal/ big occasion in the evening so I’m doing OMAD for that plus wine!Have a good weekend everyone . So glad I can come on here and share, I don’t discuss with anyone else bar DH and his response is ‘you look fine’ 😁

It’s kind of motivating seeing a gain too though isn’t it. I did my first 24 hour fast after seeing a gain. Got me determined to see loss again! Enjoy your one meal - and wine!