UK Programme on fasting

mandyw30

Anybody watching the programme on fasting just finishing on BBC 2?
The presenter has just tried a 5:2 day diet - 5 days eating normally as he was before and 2 days of eating only 600 calories (fast day). He lost 14lbs and 8% body fat. He also reduced cholesterol, and a marker that they use for predicting cancer.
It's quite interesting about the effects of fasting. There was also benefits of alternating fast days and feed days and also a 4 day fast every 2-3 months.
Anybody any thoughts on it?

beccarockslife

intermittent fasting is fairly popular in the paleo/primal side of things, I'm not a fan because I am a person who has recovered from an ED so it's too tempting to just carry on.

Cazzy34

It was VERY interesting!

I think i may consider adopting this approach for 6 weeks and see what difference it makes to my life. I am not sure if the intermittent fasting or the 5:2 is a better approach.

I can see why it would possibly be a appetite suppressant on the feed days, as i know if i restrict my calories considerably i also lose my appetite.

I enjoy all the documentaries that Michael Mosley does. The one on exercise was equally interesting.

mandyw30

It was VERY interesting!

I think i may consider adopting this approach for 6 weeks and see what difference it makes to my life. I am not sure if the intermittent fasting or the 5:2 is a better approach.

I can see why it would possibly be a appetite suppressant on the feed days, as i know if i restrict my calories considerably i also lose my appetite.

I enjoy all the documentaries that Michael Mosley does. The one on exercise was equally interesting.

I was thinking that both the feed day/fast day regime and the 5:2 could be doable. Really don't think I could fast for 4 days though!!

mandyw30

intermittent fasting is fairly popular in the paleo/primal side of things, I'm not a fan because I am a person who has recovered from an ED so it's too tempting to just carry on.

Ah didn't realise it was popular amongst paleo/primal. Sounds like I wise decision by you though not to fast. Well done for overcoming an ED.

DizzyLinds

I'm currently doing 1 or 2 24hour fasts each week and am finding them good! Lost a couple of pounds too!

Cazzy34

It was VERY interesting!

I think i may consider adopting this approach for 6 weeks and see what difference it makes to my life. I am not sure if the intermittent fasting or the 5:2 is a better approach.

I can see why it would possibly be a appetite suppressant on the feed days, as i know if i restrict my calories considerably i also lose my appetite.

I enjoy all the documentaries that Michael Mosley does. The one on exercise was equally interesting.

I was thinking that both the feed day/fast day regime and the 5:2 could be doable. Really don't think I could fast for 4 days though!!

Agreed! I could do the 5:2, and i think that's what i would go with. Pick the 2 days i know i would be able to fast easily and just eat normally the other 5. I could maybe do the intermittent thing but i think that would be more difficult. AND i doubt i could fast for 4 days in a row without collapsing lol

beattie1

I saw the article about this programme on the Beeb's website a couple of days ago. Will watch it on t'internet soon - it looked intriguing. I was wondering whether to try it - perhaps if I get stuck/ plateau?
I'm interested to see what others think.

janemem

intermittent fasting is fairly popular in the paleo/primal side of things, I'm not a fan because I am a person who has recovered from an ED so it's too tempting to just carry on.

I watched it and was also tempted but, like you I think It'd be too easy to change the 5:2 ratio and I have enough difficulty making sure I reach my daily caloric goals anyway. I just know on the eating days I'd still have the 'fasting' mode switched on. If that makes sense?

DizzyLinds

What did however confuse me was the comments made on decreasing protein levels?

janemem

What did however confuse me was the comments made on decreasing protein levels?

Oh yes, I forgot about that. I've only just got in to the habit of introducing as much protein as I can into my daily diet (before MFP I was maxing 10g's a day), I really don't want to have to drop it again as I realise I LOVE protein, lol!

shanice_22

I've recorded it to watch another time but it does sound very interesting from what I've heard so far!

janemem

Did anyone else watch this last night? What are your thoughts about reducing protein?

Tenar13

The comment he made was that we should be meeting the recomended protein amounts but not exceeding them. However he did not say what those recommendations were... pity really. I have just upped my protein too - that said I have also seen much better results since doing that breaking a long plateau and from the look of it loosing fat rather than my newly toned muscle :-)

whiskeycharged

The comment he made was that we should be meeting the recomended protein amounts but not exceeding them. However he did not say what those recommendations were... pity really. I have just upped my protein too - that said I have also seen much better results since doing that breaking a long plateau and from the look of it loosing fat rather than my newly toned muscle :-)

Good. I didn't feel like reading tonight that my protein intake should be lowered. I consume 1 to 1.5 grams of protein a day per lb my body weight.

I have been doing IF for the past 2 weeks now. I fast and feed anywhere from 16 x 8 to 20 x 4. My body has been responding better with IF than 6 small meals. I am leaning out more now than ever before.

janemem

The comment he made was that we should be meeting the recomended protein amounts but not exceeding them. However he did not say what those recommendations were... pity really. I have just upped my protein too - that said I have also seen much better results since doing that breaking a long plateau and from the look of it loosing fat rather than my newly toned muscle :-)

Good. I didn't feel like reading tonight that my protein intake should be lowered. I consume 1 to 1.5 grams of protein a day per lb my body weight.

I have been doing IF for the past 2 weeks now. I fast and feed anywhere from 16 x 8 to 20 x 4. My body has been responding better with IF than 6 small meals. I am leaning out more now than ever before.

Can I just ask, in the hours that you do eat do you still calorie count or can you basically eat what you want to?
I'd never heard of IF before joining MFP but it seems I've been doing it for most of my adult life without knowing it, lol!
I hardly ever eat anything from the moment I wake until just an hour or so before I go to sleep. I drink around 5 cups of black tea with 2 sweeteners during the day though so I'm not sure if that fits in with a fast or not?

Tenar13

The other thing he did say is that it may not work for everyone and that more research is needed. I'd love to know if it would work for me as the idea of significantly reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease along side getting healthier is really interesting.

I wonder what difference exercise makes to the need to fast...

lose3stone

I also watched the programme last night and thought it was very interesting, particulary the health benefits (ofcourse weightloss too)As I'm lacking a lot of motivation I've decided to give the 5:2 a go. I'm starting today with the 500 day (for girls). As I undestood it, you don't have to have the fasting days together so I believe this could be the 'something new' boost I need.

Anyone else fancy trying for a month?

1DayAt_aTime

bump - very interested in this

Ejwelton

We watched it too, and found it really interesting.

On the 500 cal fast day do you have to eat all the calories in one meal - or can you spread them out over the day?
I notice he had one meal and switched from the recommendation to have it at lunch and had it as breakfast instead.

Tenar13

I just read the article and he appears to have split his fast day into two meals breakfast (300 cals) and dinner (300 cals) so it appears not.