Intermittent fasting

How do you work around the lack of support for intermittent fasting like 5/2?

I find it frustrating that it tho is I have an eating disorder on my fasting days.

Replies

  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    Lack of support from whom?
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    EHJW wrote: »
    How do you work around the lack of support for intermittent fasting like 5/2?

    I find it frustrating that it tho is I have an eating disorder on my fasting days.

    I am assuming you mean in your daily life. I suppose 5/2 would be hard to explain and many people would think it is a bad idea. For many people it is a bad idea but it certainly works for some.

    I think when you are doing something less mainstream you pretty much have to keep it to yourself or unwelcome advice will flow from everywhere.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I think most people do a form of what some people call IF. I find the whole IF concept really silly, but if that's what you choose, more power to you.

    For example, I typically eat between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm. You might call that 16:8 (or however it's put). I call it my life.

    The next time someone gives you grief, ask them what hours they eat between. Or don't. It's up to you.

    Personally, I don't care what others think about what or how or when I eat. This is my journey to weight loss and better health, not theirs.

    Good luck!
  • EHJW
    EHJW Posts: 6 Member
    Lack of support on the app. When I do 5/2 it thinks I have an eating disorder and won’t even let me complete my diary day.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    There's no advantage to completing the daily diary, other than to post it on your feed.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    IF is normally characterized as 16:8, 18:4 or some other fasting:eating period based on a 24 hr period.

    What is 5:2 IF?
  • EHJW
    EHJW Posts: 6 Member
    5/2 is when you eat 500-600 (or 800 as per latest update) for 2 days a week - then a normal diet for the other 5 days.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    LyndaBSS wrote: »
    There's no advantage to completing the daily diary, other than to post it on your feed.

    This^
    sgt1372 wrote: »
    IF is normally characterized as 16:8, 18:4 or some other fasting:eating period based on a 24 hr period.

    What is 5:2 IF?

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100058-5-2-fasting

    5:2 is essentially dieting 2 days a week. 5 days at maintenance, 2 days at 500-600 calories.

  • EHJW
    EHJW Posts: 6 Member
    2kw5vbjx3840.png

    This is what I get every time I do 5/2.


  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    Which makes sense, if you're not doing IF. Just stop completing the diary if it bothers you. ☺
  • EHJW
    EHJW Posts: 6 Member
    As 5/2 been around since 2012 I’m surprised the app hasn’t caught up.

    Anyone - have others on 5/2 found a good way to deal with the app?
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Just don't close your diary those days.
    No biggie
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    EHJW wrote: »
    As 5/2 been around since 2012 I’m surprised the app hasn’t caught up.

    Anyone - have others on 5/2 found a good way to deal with the app?

    The app is only looking at one day at a time. It doesn't know what you're doing or why. The projection you get from closing your diary will be absolutely meaningless for you because it is a simple formula that assumes you are doing the same thing every day. By definition, you are not doing the same thing every day, so the projection on your feeding days will be too high, and the projection on your fast days would be too low. The projection is a gimmick, it can't really tell anything.

    The way to deal with it is to not close your diary. I haven't closed my diary in 4 years. I have a 1900+ day streak, lost my weight, and am now in maintenance.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    I can't even remember the last time I closed my diary.

    MFP is a tool. It can be used for a variety of different tactics but it is designed primarily for people who want to hit a calorie goal each day. You just have to work around it.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    LyndaBSS wrote: »
    There's no advantage to completing the daily diary, other than to post it on your feed.

    This^
    sgt1372 wrote: »
    IF is normally characterized as 16:8, 18:4 or some other fasting:eating period based on a 24 hr period.

    What is 5:2 IF?

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100058-5-2-fasting

    5:2 is essentially dieting 2 days a week. 5 days at maintenance, 2 days at 500-600 calories.

    OIC, thanks.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited September 2019
    EHJW wrote: »
    Lack of support on the app. When I do 5/2 it thinks I have an eating disorder and won’t even let me complete my diary day.

    I was thinking that's what you meant. Closing is useless, just don't close.

    A friend of mine does 5/2 and loves it. For her it is easier than tracking daily since now that she is in maintenance she just eats what she wants on the 5 days (she was never actually overweight, just had some pregnancy weight to lose) and keeps to 500 on the 2 days and lost until she wanted and now, as I said, maintains. Her husband knows about the 500, but it basically means just having dinner on those days, so on the whole no one would even know except she tells them because she likes it. I've yet to see anyone react negatively, but some might, of course.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,092 Member
    EHJW wrote: »
    5/2 is when you eat 500-600 (or 800 as per latest update) for 2 days a week - then a normal diet for the other 5 days.

    Your "normal diet" 5 days a week should be maintenance, not "normal diet" as in some deficit at which MFP will let you complete your diary.
  • BarbaraHelen2013
    BarbaraHelen2013 Posts: 1,940 Member
    edited September 2019
    Maybe the MFP police will knock on your door if you don’t close your diary or you get that message!?

    Or maybe they won’t! 😉

    Seriously though, there is no benefit to closing your diary, unless you like the feeling of ‘doneness’ and it stops you reaching for a late night snack. If that’s the case ignore the daft message, you know what’s going on, it doesn’t matter if some algorithm is ‘judging’ you!

    Edit to add: just crossed my mind that I think the Premium version allows you to set varying calorie goals per day (sure I’ve seen this on discussions about ‘banking calories for weekend’ etc.) If the issue bothers you it might be worth looking at getting Premium?
  • souchie
    souchie Posts: 18 Member
    Looking for clarification, on the intermittent fasting program. If I’m fasting for 16 hours, say from 7pm until 11 am. Can I have coffee with some half and half before 11 am? Thanks!
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    souchie wrote: »
    Looking for clarification, on the intermittent fasting program. If I’m fasting for 16 hours, say from 7pm until 11 am. Can I have coffee with some half and half before 11 am? Thanks!

    In that IF is just a way of structuring your eating schedule that for some people helps them control cals, it depends on how it affects you. Try not doing it (have just black coffee) and doing it and if you don't find the half and half makes it harder to wait until 11 to eat more (I suspect it won't), then do what you want.

    If you don't like coffee black, be aware that for some coffee controls appetite, so not having the coffee could potentially make waiting until 11 harder. But again, your rules, just see what works better for you.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    LyndaBSS wrote: »
    There's no advantage to completing the daily diary, other than to post it on your feed.

    ^^^This. I never "complete" my diary...
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    souchie wrote: »
    Looking for clarification, on the intermittent fasting program. If I’m fasting for 16 hours, say from 7pm until 11 am. Can I have coffee with some half and half before 11 am? Thanks!

    Technically you would not be fasting. Physiologically I see no harm...
  • kcmcbee
    kcmcbee Posts: 179 Member
    EHJW wrote: »
    2kw5vbjx3840.png

    This is what I get every time I do 5/2.


    I get that message often as I have been restricting calories for a while also. I log everything and if I come up short of 1200 I’m OK and close it anyway. I know it’s temporary and I’ll be over 1200 calories when I’m in maintenance full time. But the message is a good reminder of a healthy minimum level for most. So be mindful and careful with your health long term don’t let it bother you in the short term.