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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.

Countdown to Easter

410 replies

ItRainsItPours · 01/01/2025 10:30

All welcome!

Supportive thread for setting goals including self care and fasting, and chat in between.

OP posts:
loveyouradvice · 31/03/2025 12:18

100% agree @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans, the perfect storm and so easy to tumble into a downward spiral with the entry point being physical (favourite foods, a moment of weakness, UPFs et al) or emotional at any stage ... I make sure NOT to have any Lindt Orange Intense choc in the house as I wolf it on sight, my DH hides my favourite biscuits and I know if I have one slice of toast it will not stop at one...

Other things I can have around (usually): but if the emotions kick in, then it's just too easy to help myself to lurking chocolate..... bizarrely it helped me having masses of really gorgeous chocolate around over Christmas: it helped the "deprived little-child me" feel that there really was plenty and that it would always be there, and I didn't need to have it "now-now-now" and I could choose when to eat it...and I told DH if I ended up giving some of it away early January, that was success, it had served its purpose far more than my eating it....

On the other note - it's not bizarre at all: lots of exercise really does improve our body's metabolism. And fab to know that you can do this!!

I'm so aware that for those of us over 50, we need to build more muscle both for our general health - and as my GP delightfully said, so that you can go on eating more! more muscle ups the calories you can consumer as it uses more daily.... Another great reason for finding exercise we enjoy! Imagining all the extra food we'll be able to eat over the coming years!!

loveyouradvice · 31/03/2025 12:23

And four wellness goals for me this week....

  1. More reliable and healthier sleep - moving towards 11-7 on a regular basis: with the hour change, this week Im aiming for 12-8 by Saturday
  1. Slow deep breathing for 5 mins twice a day ... calming me and my nervous system...
  1. Looking after my teeth better - alongside flossing/brushing etc, using the water jet thing at least 3 times
  1. Walking 6,000 steps EVERY day (rebuilding up to 10-12,000 but recognising the current limitations of my auto-immune disease)
loveyouradvice · 31/03/2025 12:24

yup, @HarpQuartet sharing these four with you means I'm far more likely to do them all!!!

Clearingaspace · 31/03/2025 13:44

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans this is such good motivation to hear. I really need to start some form of exercise other than walking, but it keeps being put off.

@loveyouradvice ooh me too me too for the teeth and sleep ones. My dentist is perplexed by how much my gums bleed during hygiene cleans so I am really trying to get on top of this with interdental brushes, mouth wash and floss tape. I do have a water jet flosser somewhere I might try and dig it out.

StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans · 31/03/2025 14:56

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HarpQuartet · 31/03/2025 17:04

Absolutely brilliant, @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans and what an articulate, observant colleague you have. I'm so pleased you shared this - this inner change is surely at least as important as the outer changes.

StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans · 31/03/2025 18:51

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Clearingaspace · 31/03/2025 20:46

Love your colleague’s description @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans . Any time I have been losing weight and feeling good has been a time when I haven’t been eating upf. Have you any tips for foods you have added in?!

StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans · 31/03/2025 21:32

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Clearingaspace · 01/04/2025 07:53

Oh that all sounds delicious andfull of variety @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans . I definitely have been thinking similar thoughts re upf and addiction, really great that you have managed to cut it out, On some level I know I need to completely cut out certain things in the same way as an addict, but i just cant seem to do it! I always end up having things like bread again even though I am better off without it.

I find with alcohol I am ok if I don’t drink it too many days in a row. When I start to actively crave it I will then knock drinking at home on the head for a while and lose the desire to have a drink pretty quickly. Why can’t I do the same with cake, chocolate toast etc! I think part of my problem is that I don’t like cooking and would rather eat a piece of toast which is quick easy and comforting.

I am 1000 % addicted to milk, but funnily enough I wouldn’t ever drink a plain glass of milk - yuk!! Milkshake, latte or ice cream though - different story. But milk in a tea or coffee is the opposite to alcohol for me - even if I cut it out for weeks I will still crave it.the weird bit is milk and a coffee isn’t even upf so I’m not sure I even need to cut it out. Sorry I am rambling!

how is everyone today

Clearingaspace · 01/04/2025 08:21

Disappointed to find I am up 1lb today - might be a delayed reaction. My plan is to log calories and fast 13 hours, so starting by 7:00 pm

StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans · 01/04/2025 09:02

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Clearingaspace · 01/04/2025 11:36

I have just started reading a kindle unlimited book book about glp 1 injections and the author is talking about any future obesity medication needing to include something to deal with the ‘dopamine and opioid pathways involved in appetite’. It is pretty scary not to be able to exercise control, but I definitely want to eat food that gives me that reward! I definitely need to channel @loveyouradvice target of ‘power over food’!

But like with milk it is difficult to remove all my trigger foods from the house - my teens all love things like white bread and milk chocolate and my youngest (14) is very fussy and only really enjoys carbs and cheese! Any time I try to talk about upf etc it annoys her and she thinks I want to change her and says I will give her an ED (she won’t let me know her weight but her siblings are healthy bmi but she isn’t I would say). I am also aware my nephews have afrid and that makes me think at least my dc are eating and I shouldn’t get too worked up about it.

Yes I am in a big food mess! Being honest I need to probably focus more on improving my family food options rather than me losing weight…

ItRainsItPours · 01/04/2025 13:03

@Clearingaspace I have had to eat breakfast with my stomach issues but am keen to steer clear of normal breakfast foods like cereal and toast. I’ve bought full fat plain Greek yoghurt. To begin with it tasted quite sour but a month on I actually like it. Like it but a couple of big tablespoons is enough and I don’t crave more. Another snack option is dried fruit and nuts but portioned up so you can just grab the right amount.

OP posts:
loveyouradvice · 01/04/2025 13:06

A big step forward @Clearingaspace - I'm looking forward to hearing how the logging calories and 13 h fast goes. How are you doing with teeth and sleep? I'm slowly moving in the right direction there...

And good luck with improving family food, that's a great objective... but don't let it take priority over you! Young people can get away with so much that we can't although we clearly want to help them build habits that last a lifetime. Although DD doesnt eat healthily, and is very clear that students "just don't Mum", I'm very chuffed that when she does buy stuff that is, she often refers to opening our fridge or larder, and getting something similar. So you can be a great role model, which will gently be in the background of their decision making.

I rather like the 3 new habits a quarter @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans ... which are you planning for now?

And I loved your dissection of addiction... I think I might put a big sticker on my icecream saying Do you want to go feral?? (It's already in the outside freezer so not in easy reach or my eyeline) Yes, that's one of my gateway trigger foods too, as is chocolate and toast... luckily DH is gluten free so we don't have loaves of bread around unless DD is home... and that does get dangerous. Actually, I'm realising as I type that chocolate isn't a gateway trigger, I can often eat small quantities in the way I can't with icecream and bread... interesting...

And @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans THIS IS SO GREAT!!!!! And deserves to be shouted from the rooftops..).or perhaps another aria in the making.?).

confident, purposeful, charismatic, like I’m “busy going somewhere really interesting lesser mortals aren’t invited to”

I do notice that when I'm eating well and embedding other healthy habits that it has the most wonderful knock-on effect on feeling good about myself and confidently embracing other things, and I radiate a different energy to people...

and how are things with you @HarpQuartet ?

HarpQuartet · 01/04/2025 13:13

Hello hello, busy day and all of your messages deserve applause and acknowledgement and a longer reply, but apologies, I have to run.

BUT just popping in to say it was such a busy morning that I didn't eat until 1pm, which I liked. Something to be said for having too much to do, sometimes!

Clearingaspace · 01/04/2025 18:37

That’s the best when you are busy and the fast goes quickly, plus bonus of freeing up time not thinking about food @HarpQuartet

thanks @loveyouradvice you’re right about not losing sight of my own health needs. I think I would also be setting myself up for failure and make my dc annoyed in the process! I will try and do more meal planning with them, but avoid talking science about food choices as they always think I am scaremongering, plus then it looks even worse when I break my own rules!

I am slightly svuppered on my plans as I have realised I am supposed to be meeting friends in the pub. So either I skip breakfast for a change tomorrow and start my fast when I get home or I have sparkling water? Guess I will see what happens. Calories will be counted tomorrow!

HarpQuartet · 02/04/2025 08:38

Hello gang (we're a nice friendly gang, like the Why Don't You gang), I'm here to say that I was very tired last night and had some comfort chocolate at about 8pm and then some fudge at 9pm.

Result: uncomfortable in bed and hungry this morning.

But a different result, the result of being in this group: I deleted what I originally wrote (that I ate the chocolate because I'm an idiot) and remembered that I had a very intense day and was exhausted.

I think I am going to eat something now as it's really nagging at my stomach, but I also think it's very unlikely I'll turn to chocolate this evening.

HarpQuartet · 02/04/2025 08:40

@Clearingaspace I don't know the answer to eating the way I want to while sharing a house with my family, but I do sympathise! Mine are currently away at uni for weeks at a time, and I have to re-think everything when they're back. This week I've splashed out on Hello Fresh, which is a godsend in terms of switching off my brain.

StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans · 02/04/2025 10:45

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loveyouradvice · 02/04/2025 18:15

I love the approach of gathering intel and clues @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans - increasingly I'm able to do that, and it so helps me to be kind to myself and inquisitive about how Ive reacted. I'm also much better at the Tomorrow is another day, and not falling into total dismay if my weight fluctuates by 7lbs or more... I just remind myself that was a wee bit foolish as I'll have to lose the weight again, and that I know how to do it.....

I'm glad to be in your gang @HarpQuartet and love the gentle approach you took with yourself...And I so agree, some days I start eating earlier than others, sometimes I finish earlier, sometimes my eating window is longer, sometimes shorter... going with what works for my body and mind, within my framework, does seem to make life both more enjoyable and IF easier to maintain.

How did the pub go @Clearingaspace ? It was the most enormous eye opener to me to go to two Christmas parties on the same evening and only drink sparkling water (having eaten well earlier in the day) and have a really great time.... I think some of that charismatic confidence from knowing I was looking after myself well emerged... and yes, I had a great pair of new trousers (the wonderful frivolities of life). I need to remember to truly savour and remind myself of that memory the next time I'm tempted (which I so easily am) by mates having a good time.

Clearingaspace · 02/04/2025 19:17

@HarpQuartet i remember why don’t you!! so glad you are speaking gently to yourself - you are so kind in the way you speak to everyone else!

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans well done on your fast - I am aiming for 14 hours tonight - judt need to finish my coffee. 14 feels a good length. I think we will all find our way bit by bit to a healthy way of eating/fasting/exercising

@loveyouradvice i started off with a glass of water - this is going to sound strange but my blood sugar was dropping a little so I had a glass of red wine and enjoyed it and stopped at one. To be honest with that group of friends I would have been fine sticking to water I think. Good to start with water and see how things go - will do that again! Funnily enough I had done my hair nicely and had a flattering dress on and I do think that gave me some of the confidence I would have had from wine when I was just drinking water - very interesting!

my update - calories counted and I am very happy with the amount plus over 100g protein
Dental - pretty good with floss stuff but need a bit more of a routine
fasting nope, but now hoping for 14
sleep nope - but good reminder to get to bed tonight!

loveyouradvice · 02/04/2025 19:43

14 hours @Clearingaspace and @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans is a powerful step forward

And I'm intrigued @Clearingaspace - HOW do you manage to eat 100g of protein? Whenever I've tried, I've seldom made it and seemed to settle at about 70-80g a day with far more ease.

I'm hugely relieved having read Rupy Aujla's Healthy High Protein, it's what he recommends as a healthy minimum for my weight.... I've been getting so perplexed with the disparity between the NHS 46g and others' recommendations for 120g that I'm happy to go with Rupy's for now... a source I trust. But if I start exercising more and wanting to build muscle, he's suggesting more like 100g.

loveyouradvice · 03/04/2025 14:15

How is everyone doing today?

I'm very chuffed with myself having done 12 minutes of a Tai Chi course online yesterday and today... I'm aiming for 10+ mins a day as I think being able to maintain it is more important than doing lots!

Clearingaspace · 03/04/2025 15:58

Hi @loveyouradvice that is great about exercise. i feel I have done ok today, I judt managed to skip a club biscuit and have dark choc instead, which I am pleased about. I did my fast but unfortunately I was super hungry and had quite a bit of wholemeal bread with my eggs when I broke it.

Protein - is that book worth a read? I have found that eggs aren’t actually that high so an omelette with egg whites added is good but I would rather yummy runny organic eggs and a bit of cold chicken or salmon on the side to bring the level up. Cheese also isn’t that high either for the calories. Biotiful kefir yogurt has 30g per tub but it’s quite expensive per portion. Turkey steaks are crazy high in protein, cooked Chicken breasts in the fridge are handy, steak with no fat included makes a change but all obviously no use for vegetarians. Actually if pescatarian, I was very impressed with how much protein was in my tiny tuna steak yesterday! Edamame beans are quite nice as an extra source of protein. Oh and my top tip for tofu is Sainsburys organic one as it is super cheap, I slice it and air fry it in my ninja foodi for 20 mins then add it so stirfried vegetables. It’s not yum but it’s ok!

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