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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:
Thread gallery
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Olika · 03/09/2024 21:00

Though I haven't succeeded fasting every day I noticed today my face looks slimmer. 👏

greengreyblue · 03/09/2024 21:55

@choc27 I had a piece of cake too! A small one- was DH’s birthday yesterday. I’ve told him to take the rest to work or something!

Rollergirl11 · 03/09/2024 22:01

Back to work for me too yesterday. Managed to fast until lunch yesterday but today a colleague had baked cookies that were offered round at 11.30 and it felt rude not to accept. 🥹 So I opened my window then and closed at 7pm. Fingers crossed hasn’t made too much difference. I’m definitely feeling hungrier throughout the day because I’m more active but less opportunity to eat which is good!

GameOfJones · 03/09/2024 22:11

An 18 hour fast for me. Lunch was a bowl of fruit and fibre cereal and dinner was avocado and falafel on some toast with hummus. Kitchen closed at 5.30pm

Enviable · 04/09/2024 12:57

Hi everyone,

I'm enjoying reading people's updates but keep putting off adding my own!

I've got into a good rhythm now with fasting from 6pm-ish, eating just one piece of toast with a sliced tomato on it mid-morning so I can take my meds, then not eating again until lunch when I have a sandwich. I have what I want after that but am being more careful than I used to be with my meal portions.

I know the fasting period isn't super long and I'm not starving myself by any means; this is supposed to be a way of eating I can maintain forever, so I'm trying to not be extreme. (Also have a history of bulimia so any sense of restriction can really trigger me into the binge/purge cycle).

I'm not weighing myself but I think I probably have lost a bit of weight as I can see it. My tummy is flatter and clothes feel more comfortable, and my digestion also feels a bit less irritated in general. I'm trying to enjoy the feeling and accept that it's a slow process when you do things sustainably.

Hope everyone's having a good week!

Queencam · 04/09/2024 14:11

Hi all, on my way back from a few days away with friends in Norfolk. Relaxed eating and drinking - but did fast until 12pm each day to try and keep some fasting going. I’ve got surgery for endometriosis Friday so am going to go easy whilst recovering - regular healthy meals and no alcohol. Will get back to fasting when I feel recovered from the op.

Enviable · 04/09/2024 16:36

Queencam · 04/09/2024 14:11

Hi all, on my way back from a few days away with friends in Norfolk. Relaxed eating and drinking - but did fast until 12pm each day to try and keep some fasting going. I’ve got surgery for endometriosis Friday so am going to go easy whilst recovering - regular healthy meals and no alcohol. Will get back to fasting when I feel recovered from the op.

Best of luck with your surgery and hope it helps a lot ❤️

greengreyblue · 04/09/2024 16:54

Good luck @Queencam !
18hr fast
lunch: chickpea and bulgar salad, apple
dinner: homemade broccoli soup, chicken skewers, air fried potatoes with crunchy salad.
Well done all.

GameOfJones · 04/09/2024 17:03

@Enviable I agree that slow and steady is the best approach.

Good luck with your surgery @Queencam.

It's been an unintentional OMAD for me today as I'd fasted for 20 hours and then caved when DJ suggested we get a McDonalds for a late lunch 🤦🏻‍♀️. So not the most sensible approach at all but I keep reminding myself that before I started IF I would have had the McDonalds and then another meal in the evening. So damage limitation as I'll be weighing in the morning.

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 04/09/2024 23:32

For those who are feeling a bit disheartened, I was thinking about the way this makes me eat. I think most of us, when we're doing it right, are eating quite healthily when we do eat. Sure there's a few glasses of wine or whatever, but overall, lots of fresh, healthy food. And then the weight pick up is after a curry (probably take out) or too much wine or whatever. And I think at least soem of that is our bodies reacting rather than actual weight gain. There was an article in The Times just today about the importance of the 30 different plant foods a week for women with menopause symptoms. Makes total sense to me.

I weighed myself this morning out of interest because a) my period started yesterday ad b) I had a day out with DD which involved NOT eating within my window and also everything i hate was basically poor quality and UPF, c) very little actual movement and walking relatively speaking and d) I didn't drink as much water as normal. And sure enough, I'd "picked up" 0.5kg. I'm not stressed though. I could feel the bloating while we were standing in queues and definitely when I put in my period pants - snug was not the word.

24 hours later, I've had a 6.5 hour eating window, done 10,000 steps, including 45 minutes with the dog first thing this morning to kick start my day, and my food has been things like tomato, mozarella and avocado salad with a slice of seeded sourdough, and a small portion of salmon, rice and stir fried veg. I'm thinking of weighing myself tomorrow to see if the sense of being less bloated I'm feeling is reflected in my weight again.

I just feel that the older I get, the more I am impacted by the smallest things. And they can be so completely random. Eggs (sometimes). Bad quality bread (often). Not getting enough movement in a day etc etc etc.

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 04/09/2024 23:32

Oh, and really really good luck for surgey @Queencam. I hope it helps!!

Olika · 05/09/2024 06:31

Good luck for your surgery tomorrow @Queencam

greengreyblue · 05/09/2024 07:05

@IdLikeToBeAFraser I think you’re right. I haven’t been near the scales since my uptick. I feel like my digestion has slowed and It might be because I’m out of the house earlier and not having time to go to the loo first but I feel like I’m carrying the last two night’s dinner. Not getting on the scales until it picks up and my belly goes down. It’s all very weird after feeling so trim in that area. This week I’ve ensured clean fasts and I always eat good whole foods when I’m preparing them, there just happens to have been a couple of birthdays last week. Also my steps are down a bit as only walking in evening now.. I haven’t eaten before 12pm since June, not even on holiday so I hope the health benefits are there even if the scales aren’t showing it. I’m not giving up.

goingdownfighting · 05/09/2024 08:09

@greengreyblue

I'm the same. I really feel rubbish it if I've been eating junk and not getting enough sleep.

I've been off the rails this past 3 weeks and it's caught up with me.

So I'm up today, going to exercise class, fasting and an early night. It will be brutal but the alternative where I'm stressed, bloated and haggard is much worse.

However this past few weeks was a useful reminder of this.

Keep on going everyone.

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 05/09/2024 09:40

Yes, it's really odd. I'm back down half way between yesterday and the wweekend. I was looking at my chart and it's clear that I get to my lowest shortly before my period, then gain a bit, which can then take an annoying amount of time to lose, then have a sudden quick drop again before my period starts again.

Meanwhile, I just feel better than I did so I'm taking that win for now.

Queencam · 05/09/2024 10:18

Thanks for all the good wishes ladies xx

Reading the thoughts on weight loss with interest. It just seems so hard, its so frustrating! With the amount of fasting I've done over the last few months I really thought I would have lost more weight than just a few pounds. It must be age-related (I'm 40) and for me probably lack of movement. I don't do concerted exercise - can't seem to find time to fit it in between work and two small DC. I walk quite a bit and chase around after them! That's my main exercise. Ideally I'd be doing some strength training / HIIT / weights but WHEN do I do this, and how do I afford it?! I don't know.

Looking forward to getting over the endo surgery anyway and getting back to fasting. It's keyhole so hoping recovery will be swift.

greengreyblue · 05/09/2024 16:12

I listened to a podcast about small regular movement that is not exercise is worth more to fat burning than short bursts of exercise.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tM7HwQx7RsVZwih9tmo5d?si=R8Et5WGkSyaCNPrFca97Q
so get fidgeting and getting up often.

18 hr fast today
lunch: smoked mackerel salad incl some leftover bulgur wheat. Apple
dinner: making chicken curry with coconut milk and spinach, brown rice, nectarine and blueberries.

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tM7HwQx7RsVZwih9tmo5d?si=R8Et5WGkSyaCNPrFc_a97Q

OwlsDance · 05/09/2024 19:12

Good luck with the surgery @queencam!

I'm still going, although I'm finding it harder all of a sudden? Probably because veg eating has slipped quite a bit lately, so Im eating all sorts during my feast.

I'm trying not be too hard on myself, as long as ive done a 14hr+ stint, I should be ok. Averaging about 16hrs atm, last week it was 18.

Weight is bobbing around mid 71s still.

bakewellbride · 05/09/2024 19:42

@Queencam

https://youtube.com/@pregnancyandpostpartumtv?si=V4-PsrR30gCNXrs6

You said about finding time to exercise. I sometimes have the same struggle and love this YouTube channel! Now I can exercise WITH the kids, they love the minions video. Well worth a try.

greengreyblue · 05/09/2024 19:54

Another one to do with children is cosmic yoga . A bit more gentle but a good start.

greengreyblue · 06/09/2024 07:16

Morning all. Friday weigh day. Pleased to say the 4lb temporary
gain has gone and I’m back down close to my lowest.
SW 10st 6 in June
LW 9st 12.5 (Aug 23rd ish)
CW 10st
Of course now it’s the weekend so I’m going to be very careful. Don’t have anything on that should cause a problem but do usually have a few drinks. I’m driving tonight so none then.

greengreyblue · 06/09/2024 22:05

18 hr fast.
lunch: salad with chickpeas, yoghurt dressing, blueberries.
dinner:broccoli soup, chilli prawns, avocado in lettuce wraps, nectarine.
1 gin and slimline tonic.

greengreyblue · 08/09/2024 08:39

Had a 17hr fast yesterday.
lunch: leftover chickpea and spinach curry with an egg. Apple,4 walnut halves.
dinner: chilli with guacamole and a few potato wedges,2 glasses of red wine.

greengreyblue · 08/09/2024 18:49

Is anyone else out there? Just like to log here to keep me on track .
18 hr fast
lunch: beetroot salad with feta, apple, walnuts
dinner: pork skewer in wholemeal pita with crunchy salad and tzatziki, blueberries. 1 gin and slimline tonic.

Queencam · 08/09/2024 19:13

greengreyblue · 06/09/2024 07:16

Morning all. Friday weigh day. Pleased to say the 4lb temporary
gain has gone and I’m back down close to my lowest.
SW 10st 6 in June
LW 9st 12.5 (Aug 23rd ish)
CW 10st
Of course now it’s the weekend so I’m going to be very careful. Don’t have anything on that should cause a problem but do usually have a few drinks. I’m driving tonight so none then.

Great that you’re back on track. Bet you’ll see a loss at next weigh in - you’re doing really well.

I’m taking it very easy after surgery and trying to eat plenty of fibre and keep up fluids. Will probably take a good week off fasting.