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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

To fast or not to fast? (So much contradictory information!)

59 replies

EyUpMiDuck · 30/12/2024 09:09

Good morning everyone. I just wondered if anyone has any lived experience on whether fasting is good or bad for women?

I've been doing 16:8 or 18:6 for around a year. I then read some information and listened to podcasts by Megan Ramos and Jason Fung, who recommend even sometimes doing a 24 hour or 36 hour fast. There seems to be lots of research etc about the benefits of fasting.

However, I then heard Stacy Sims talking on a podcast, saying women shouldn't fast!

For context, I'm interested in fasting partly for health benefits but also I'm trying to lose 7-10 pounds. I'm not overweight (BMI 22), but I'm quite short and definitely feel/look better around 7-10 pounds lighter. I've been trying to lose these few pounds for around 6 months but nothing is working (I track every calorie and only eat around 1200 a day plus I'm quite active).

I've now really confused myself about whether to stick with 16:8 every day, do a 24 or 36 hour fast sometimes or completely stop fasting!

OP posts:
SierraSapphire · 26/01/2025 16:55

I did a series of 3 1/2 day fasts @Jabtastic whilst I was having chemo. I think it definitely helped me to avoid the worst of the side-effects, and I think there is research as well that indicates it can make chemo more effective. Physically I found it was absolutely fine, it was more psychologically that I kept thinking, "I'll stop work now for lunch...oh"! I am so used to punctuating my day with food!

FarTooFat · 26/01/2025 17:06

I've been doing 3x 36-hour fasts every week for some time now. I do it in conjunction with low carb eating and lose about 1.5 pounds a week. I feel great when I'm fasting, have more energy, my skin improves and small injuries heal much quicker.

I read Dr. Jason Fung's info and free blogs religiously when I started and worked up to longer fasts from 16:8.

I think everyone is different and you should use yourself as the test case to discover what suits you and what you can tolerate.

Clearingaspace · 27/01/2025 14:19

The Zoe podcast is interesting because initially I was very sceptical that Longo is saying to be cautious with fasting and treat it like a medicine - because that way fasting can be monitised through programmes like the prolon one he is associated with. However it seems his advice is that for those who are otherwise healthy we should hold off fasting for longer than 12 hours until more is known about the long term effects- but this includes even fasting mimicking plans like his own. To my thinking they are confirming fasting is powerful, but it should therefore be approached withthe caution we should exercise when thinking about whether or not to use weight loss injections for example. For some people the benefit will outweigh potential risk - but for others the short term benefit might not be worth the longer term uncertainty.

Having listened to the podcast I think I will try to follow their recommendations of daily fasting 12-14 hours, but no meal skipping, and trying to eat more healthily. I do also want to try fasting mimicking once a month or so for a long fast, but not tried this so far.

Clearingaspace · 27/01/2025 14:22

Just to add, I think obesity is one of the health conditions that Longo was suggesting does warrant fasting.

nongnangning · 27/01/2025 23:25

@Clearingaspace Yes Longo seems to speak without particularly referencing prolon and his self interests although it does get a mention somewhere.
I like your "due consideration" comparison with the weight loss injections. I hadn't quite envisaged the two things as comparable until I read your post

Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 27/02/2025 11:08

FarTooFat · 26/01/2025 17:06

I've been doing 3x 36-hour fasts every week for some time now. I do it in conjunction with low carb eating and lose about 1.5 pounds a week. I feel great when I'm fasting, have more energy, my skin improves and small injuries heal much quicker.

I read Dr. Jason Fung's info and free blogs religiously when I started and worked up to longer fasts from 16:8.

I think everyone is different and you should use yourself as the test case to discover what suits you and what you can tolerate.

I'm just coming back to this thread as I'm still getting so confused about what is best!

@FarTooFat That's great that you are seeing such great results. Do you mind me asking - do you have much weight to lose?

I'm interested in fasting partly for health benefits but also I'm trying to lose 7-10 pounds. I'm not overweight (BMI 22), but I'm quite short and definitely feel/look better around 7-10 pounds lighter. I've been trying to lose these few pounds for around 8 months but nothing is working (I track every calorie and only eat around 1200 a day plus I'm quite active - lots of walking and Caroline Girvan workouts).

OP posts:
FarTooFat · 27/02/2025 11:58

@EyUpMiDuck Yes, loads to lose ... another 5 stone to go. I've lost 3 stone so far, but any slip up or extravagances cause me to stall, even if I am fasting. So it's slow progress. But I have been overweight for the last 35 years and am post-menopausal, so I think both of those things make it that much harder for me.

Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 28/02/2025 16:56

@FarTooFat Thanks for your reply. Well done for your progress so far.

OP posts:
VeraWangTea · 03/03/2025 13:17

@EyUpMiDuck Thanks for this thread I’m in exactly the same position. Been very lucky and been slim all my life, but since early menopause my weight has gradually increased and as a short arse it’s noticeable and I’m finding the exercise I used to do is harder. Just want to lose half a stone and keep it off.

Ive ‘toyed’ with IF doing a mixture and I would say when I stuck to it religiously I lost weight but I then stalled. So as someone said above it makes me feel better to do a couple of days of fasting but I am also increasing doing weights and increasing protein while reducing carbs (so bloody hard! Why is bread so good????).

Im confused at what to do like you have said and just feel like at this rate my weight is gradually going to increase.

SierraSapphire · 04/03/2025 12:58

I was listening to the doctor's kitchen's Dr Rupy on the postcards from midlife podcast yesterday, and he was saying women shouldn't exercise fasted, as Stacey Sims says. I think because the body starts to break down muscle to feed itself, which you obviously don't want. But then if you have a snack before exercising it can negate the calories that you're actually burning off!

Newcareerat50 · 04/03/2025 13:05

I’ve been down this rabbit hole.

The fasting method people are focused on people with metabolic disease. Their core clientele are morbidly obese diabetics. Fasting appears to work for this group.

Stacey Sims core clientele seems to be super fit midlife women. She talks about women who are so fit their periods stop.

Then you get thin women like Gin Stephens who fast but don’t exercise.

I am in the middle of all these groups. I need to lose a stone and I work out. I try time redirected eating, so three meals no snacks. This is harder than 16:8 for me.

Pashazade · 04/03/2025 13:34

Are you eating enough calories OP, maybe trying to up them just a bit, your body might not feel it's getting enough to let go of some weight. I find 16:8 works for me for maintaining but fasting didn't work for weight loss, although weight comes off for my husband if he does longer ie 24 hour fasts! I'd try and see if it works for you a female family member had good success with it alongside exercise.

Clearingaspace · 04/03/2025 16:37

Newcareerat50 · 04/03/2025 13:05

I’ve been down this rabbit hole.

The fasting method people are focused on people with metabolic disease. Their core clientele are morbidly obese diabetics. Fasting appears to work for this group.

Stacey Sims core clientele seems to be super fit midlife women. She talks about women who are so fit their periods stop.

Then you get thin women like Gin Stephens who fast but don’t exercise.

I am in the middle of all these groups. I need to lose a stone and I work out. I try time redirected eating, so three meals no snacks. This is harder than 16:8 for me.

Edited

Agree with all of this and I also find time restricted eating harder than IF. Once I start …

Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 04/03/2025 22:03

VeraWangTea · 03/03/2025 13:17

@EyUpMiDuck Thanks for this thread I’m in exactly the same position. Been very lucky and been slim all my life, but since early menopause my weight has gradually increased and as a short arse it’s noticeable and I’m finding the exercise I used to do is harder. Just want to lose half a stone and keep it off.

Ive ‘toyed’ with IF doing a mixture and I would say when I stuck to it religiously I lost weight but I then stalled. So as someone said above it makes me feel better to do a couple of days of fasting but I am also increasing doing weights and increasing protein while reducing carbs (so bloody hard! Why is bread so good????).

Im confused at what to do like you have said and just feel like at this rate my weight is gradually going to increase.

It's so confusing, isn't it?! What's your current plan to try to lose the few pounds? (What are your stats - weight/height, etc?).

OP posts:
Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 04/03/2025 22:08

Newcareerat50 · 04/03/2025 13:05

I’ve been down this rabbit hole.

The fasting method people are focused on people with metabolic disease. Their core clientele are morbidly obese diabetics. Fasting appears to work for this group.

Stacey Sims core clientele seems to be super fit midlife women. She talks about women who are so fit their periods stop.

Then you get thin women like Gin Stephens who fast but don’t exercise.

I am in the middle of all these groups. I need to lose a stone and I work out. I try time redirected eating, so three meals no snacks. This is harder than 16:8 for me.

Edited

That's interesting. So I wonder where I fit in based on these different groups?

I'm not overweight (I'm healthy weight/BMI but want/need to lose a few pounds). I'm not sure I'd describe myself as 'super fit) but I do walk lots and do Caroline Girvan weights workouts.

It seems like a few of us here are equally confused.

OP posts:
Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 04/03/2025 22:10

Pashazade · 04/03/2025 13:34

Are you eating enough calories OP, maybe trying to up them just a bit, your body might not feel it's getting enough to let go of some weight. I find 16:8 works for me for maintaining but fasting didn't work for weight loss, although weight comes off for my husband if he does longer ie 24 hour fasts! I'd try and see if it works for you a female family member had good success with it alongside exercise.

Thanks @Pashazade It feels a bit 'scary' to increase my calories, but maybe you're right? Can I check - what were you referring to that a female family member had success with? Fasting or increasing calories or something else?

OP posts:
Pashazade · 04/03/2025 22:17

@EyUpMiDuck, sorry she was successful with the fasting, regular 24 hour seemed to work for her, but she was counting macro's as well. If you're doing weights then maybe up your protein a bit, 1500cals is worth trying, after all if you're not losing anyway as long as you don't start gaining then it's got to be worth a try.

Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 04/03/2025 22:27

Thanks @Pashazade for clarifying.

OP posts:
VeraWangTea · 07/03/2025 10:54

@Newcareerat50 thats helpful.

I was reflecting on the fact that my eating schedule is fucked (technical term). If I’m no IF I have non set meals I just pick through the day and then have a family meal at the end of the day. That’s why I like IF as it’s just a line in the sand. I wish I could just apply this to having 3 meals a day.

@EyUpMiDuck I’m still in healthy weight I just feel horrible and my clothes don’t fit. I am just under 10 st a lot heavier I’ve been most my life (was 8st4 most) and I know I won’t get back to that weight but if I could get to 9st I would be happy! I blame early menopause!!!

I also wish it did not take up so much space in my head!!!

Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 25/04/2025 07:59

I’m just coming back to this thread and wondered if anyone had found any answers or tried something different and been successful? I’m still very confused…!

OP posts:
noseposey · 25/04/2025 10:43

Dr mindy Patel has book called fast like a girl. It’s about timing your fasts around your cycle so your hormones aren’t impacted negatively.

DoItLikeAWoman · 27/04/2025 09:38

Hi, I have recently started IF 16:8 and I have been wondering about this. So glad I stumbled upon this thread. I do 16:8 combined with only 2 meals, no snacks. Within. This I aim for high protein, low carb - difficult as I don't eat meat. But I'm finding options and working away. I have only done a month and lost few pounds so it's hard to say how successful I'll be, but I enjoy IF and not having options between meal times.

I do weight training so I had to research a lot about how best to exercise with IF any what I found works best is to do my workouts in my eating window ie afternoon or evening rather than in my fasting window. This is working out well for me and I'm see no detrimental effects of the IF on my muscles so far.

Has anyone struggled with acidity due to the long periods of fasting?i feel like I'm ready to drop dinner couple of times in the week but I don't want to trigger acidity so I haven't tried it yet.

Original poster
EyUpMiDuck · 27/04/2025 10:34

DoItLikeAWoman · 27/04/2025 09:38

Hi, I have recently started IF 16:8 and I have been wondering about this. So glad I stumbled upon this thread. I do 16:8 combined with only 2 meals, no snacks. Within. This I aim for high protein, low carb - difficult as I don't eat meat. But I'm finding options and working away. I have only done a month and lost few pounds so it's hard to say how successful I'll be, but I enjoy IF and not having options between meal times.

I do weight training so I had to research a lot about how best to exercise with IF any what I found works best is to do my workouts in my eating window ie afternoon or evening rather than in my fasting window. This is working out well for me and I'm see no detrimental effects of the IF on my muscles so far.

Has anyone struggled with acidity due to the long periods of fasting?i feel like I'm ready to drop dinner couple of times in the week but I don't want to trigger acidity so I haven't tried it yet.

That’s great that you’ve lost a few pounds.

I’ve never had any problems with acidity.

May I ask - what’s your current height/weight? Do you have much to lose?

I’ve listened to another couple of Stacy Sims podcasts that made me think I shouldn’t be doing long fasting. But then I came back to Ramos/Fung information and they are so positive about fasting?!! However, I wonder if lots of their success stories are more with people who are overweight and maybe Stacy Sims is more suitable for me? It’s so confusing!

I know I shouldn’t overly worry as healthy BMI/weight but I have gained around 10 pounds since turning 40 (just over a year ago) and I need to reverse that! It’s definitely more challenging and more noticeable as I am small framed and 5ft2.

OP posts:
DoItLikeAWoman · 28/04/2025 19:37

@EyUpMiDuck
I am 5,7” and 79 kg, hoping to lose 6-7kg (1 stone). I’m 47 and my metabolism has slowed to a grinding halt. At 45 I lost 3 stone just with portion control, high protein and 3-4 workouts a week. Now 1 stone has crept back due to illness and I’m struggling so much to just lose this. Perimenopause is terrible 😞

glad to know you’ve not faced acidity. I think fasting is good, but like all other things should not be done in extremes. 16:8 seems like a moderate sustainable routine that I’m happy to stick to.

loveyouradvice · 28/04/2025 22:07

@EyUpMiDuck .... I hear you frozen in indecision.... Why don't you just try one for a couple of weeks and then another and see what feels good to you?

What is the worst that could happen if you just experiment??

I'm someone who lost three stone with IF (Gin Stephens) and then used it to maintain ... like many, I love the clarity of mind of a short eating window, so I'll quite often do a 4 hour eating window if there's not much happening that day... but more normally an 8-10 hour, especially if socialising.