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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

Supporting each other on 24+ hour fasts

285 replies

LittleLamzyDivey · 25/03/2025 05:23

As promised, here's the new thread for us long fasters as the old one is nearly full.
Check in when you are able and let us know how you're doing!

OP posts:
Jollyjoy · 19/04/2025 21:32

Wow, congratulations on the race @Flibbertyjibberty, that’s really brilliant! And lovely to break through boundaries of what your body/mind can achieve. Yes I think about the fat burning thing when cold, it helps, and I put a hot water bottle down the back of my trousers which helps a treat. It’s usually 20 odd hrs in, for me, and does pass fairly quickly. Hope today’s fast goes well for you. Hi too @Sunflowers84

Original poster
LittleLamzyDivey · 20/04/2025 04:22

Fabulous news @Flibbertyjibberty on running your half marathon fasted! I've heard fasting athletes rave about how much better their time is, etc, but it still must be a huge mental hurdle.

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleLamzyDivey · 20/04/2025 04:26

Will be thinking of you on Monday @Sunflowers84 - hope it goes well!

OP posts:
Blondebrownorred · 20/04/2025 06:54

Flibbertyjibberty · 19/04/2025 21:00

Hi crew, I’m still here too! Just been busy with work and kids being off school so not been online as much. Hope everyone is doing okay and well done on the fasting, esp those three 42/6s @LittleLamzyDivey

I’m doing another weekend fast today because it was such a busy day. Now 25 hours in so 16 to go. And I did my first fully fasted half marathon last weekend - I was about 15 hours fasted when the race began and I didn’t eat while racing for the first time in about 20 years (I’d usually gulp down a few Haribo or gels or both) and not only did it go well, I came third female! It wasn’t a huge field (I was 3rd out of 23) but only my second time coming top three so I was v happy. And also happy to prove to myself I could do it - my body must be fat adapted by now so I guess it was running off that instead to glycogen. Either way, proof that it’s possible! Woo-hoo.

Oh and I think we were talking on here recently about feeling cold when fasting. I was listening to a TFM podcast the other day where Nadia said that’s a good sign because it means you’re burning fat as fuel (can’t remember the science of why but I can dig out the pod if anyone wants a listen). That has certainly made it feel less annoying for me this week so thought I would share.

anyone fasting on Easter Sunday?! I do feel that might be next level but you never know!

Edited

How did you feel on the run? I've done 9 miles fasted but never more than that. I've been looking at half marathons but not sure how I'd work the nutrition. I wouldn't really want to run it fuelled.

Sunflowers84 · 20/04/2025 20:28

Sunflowers84 · 19/04/2025 21:16

Hi all. Sorry, I’ve not been on the thread for a while (think it might be a couple of weeks?). I’ll go back and catch up on all of your posts.

The longest fast I’ve done over the last couple of weeks has only been 18 hours (it just doesn’t really work in school holidays and not wanting to be obviously skipping meals).

I’m hoping to do a 36 hour fast at the beginning of the week. I originally thought Tues (back to routine, etc.) but family plans might actually mean I might be able to do Monday. I’ll update when I know what I’m doing.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Update - I’m not going to be able to fast tomorrow. Tues is also not looking great. Will just focus on my usual 16-18 hour daily fasts and hopefully get in a longer fast very soon.

Flibbertyjibberty · 21/04/2025 06:55

@Blondebrownorred I felt fine! In fact, for the first 8 miles I felt really good. I then had about five minutes when I thought I might need to eat the emergency Haribo I had in my pocket but the feeling quickly went away. I reckon that was when my body went from using the glycogen I’d put in my muscles with carb loading to burning fat? But other than those five minutes I didn’t feel any different to normal! It was actually 14.5 miles and was the longest I’ve ever run without fuelling. I did read that if you’re really really pushing yourself to run a long way then you should consider eating but the pace I was doing was pretty steady. If you can do 9 miles fastest then I reckon you’d be fine with a half as well - it depends how hard you race though! I’m doing a marathon in October and need to research that too. I know people do them fastest and my goal will be to do the same but equally I don’t want to get a bad time. But my body has plenty of energy and fat to burn so I’m hoping training will make sure it knows how to burn it!

Flibbertyjibberty · 21/04/2025 06:56

@Jollyjoy ha, love the hot water bottle idea!! I’m going to try that.

fastingaway · 22/04/2025 16:38

Hope everybody had a nice Easter and well done on the fasting/TRE/healthy eating. @Flibbertyjibbertyhuge respect for the fasted half marathon. Very impressive .

I’ve been trying to reset. Having not fasted last week to two weeks - I’ve realised I’ve got so hungry and then just some carbs were giving me the sugar spike and then crash. So becoming much more sensitive (not in a good way) and clearly not fat adapted. I won’t even say what my scales were saying - suffice to say that happy scale has me at having regained any weight I lost since January.

i have have been focussing on low carb and so far managed yesterday and today. Just one exception of one lindor choc yesterday evening. I have felt absolutely famished all the time and can’t seem to get full. I know my hormones are out of whack and it will reset eventually. I’m finding the low carb so much harder than the fasting. Plan is to stick to it as much as I can this week to adjust then combine the two next week when I get back to the fasting. I’ll have to rebuild up to the 36-42 hrs again as right now it is feeling very daunting.

FirstTimeFasters · 22/04/2025 17:00

Just got back from a weeks holiday so lots of meals out which was nice and no real damage at the scales as did a lot of walking too.

Restarted OMAD today and just cracked for some ryvitas and cheese at 5.40 so not too bad. Hoping to do another 48er next week.

Am very impressed with marathon running and sport. Will have to try a bit more sport and see how it feels.

Do you all have some salt etc on fast days? Haven't tried that yet.

126orbust · 22/04/2025 20:18

Just finished dinner and now aiming to go through to lunch on Thursday,
Will try to drink less tea.

Jabtastic · 23/04/2025 10:49

Are there concerns about heart muscle/ health fasting?

126orbust · 23/04/2025 18:35

Hi @Jabtastic I have never heard of it as an issue and I have read and watched a lot. In the case of an eating disorder, like anorexia, where the body is starved without respite over a prolonged period of time then the heart muscle is often weakened (along with all other muscles sadly).
This is fasting for health with the benefit of weight loss.

126orbust · 24/04/2025 18:24

I made 38hrs and then had some oatcakes and a giant cup of tea.

Flibbertyjibberty · 24/04/2025 22:10

@126orbust well done! I often break a fast with a giant cup of earl grey tea with milk. I miss that more than food most of the time. How did the fast go? Did you feel like you could keep going for longer or were you ready to stop at 38?

126orbust · 24/04/2025 22:22

I was super ready to stop at 22 actually but pushed through and then at 38hrs my tummy was growling so much that I felt ready to give in.
It is much harder with having had less tea with a little milk than I normally have.
I was happy with the length so will see what the scales say tomorrow ....

126orbust · 25/04/2025 07:57

The scales say 2.5lbs off so if I can keep 1/1.5 of that I'll be happy.

126orbust · 27/04/2025 21:07

I was still 1.5lbs off this morning so am planning another fast tomorrow. Finished dinner at 6.45 so will see how far I can go.

Flibbertyjibberty · 27/04/2025 21:12

@126orbust well done on the weight loss! 1.5 is still really good going. Im aiming to fast tomorrow too, had dinner about six and hoping to go through till Tuesday lunchtime. I have a cold though - never fasted with a cold before! I’m going to play it by ear I think.

Jollyjoy · 27/04/2025 21:13

Thats a good loss @126orbust, hope it’s a smooth one tomorrow. I ended up not fasting this week while pre-period. I’d like to fast tomorrow now period here but unexpected guests coming for dinner, I might fast until they come and plan a longer one later in the week, start wed and fast thu I think. Haven’t been at the gym either since school hols so need to get the routine going again.

126orbust · 27/04/2025 21:18

Thanks @Flibbertyjibberty and @Jollyjoy I was really pleased and I will need to keep the weight loss going so as to fit into that outfit for DD1's graduation as she got her results this week.
I am planning to try it on 1st May and see how close/far I am from it fitting....

126orbust · 28/04/2025 22:37

I'm suddenly starving but obviously not going to eat at this time.
I will see how I am doing in the morning.

Flibbertyjibberty · 29/04/2025 07:34

@126orbust yes I got super hungry when I got into bed last night - I was worried it might wreck my sleep but it didn’t thankfully. I actually went for a swim last night and it was lovely, it was quite relaxing and I slept well. I don’t always on a fast day. I’m on hour 36 now so a few more to go! Time for a green tea now

126orbust · 29/04/2025 07:40

Well done on the swim. DH and I went for a 4 mile walk last night as it was such a lovely evening.
I slept fine but woke up hungry this morning so am having a tea with a little milk to see how I go.
I’ll probably eat at 12ish

126orbust · 05/05/2025 16:15

Have I killed the thread?
Lovely, very active but filled with great food, long weekend.
Back to it after dinner tonight. Kitchen closed from 8pm latest.

126orbust · 06/05/2025 11:48

Very pleased to have weighed in at 1lb higher than my weight on the morning of 1st May. We had some lovely meals but I tried to eat light for the other meals on the day. Let's see what the scales say tomorrow morning.
I may be typing to myself here 😂

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